“If there are a hundred people in the world, thirty of them would be happy.
However, the remaining seventy weren’t all unhappy.
About ten to twenty of them were just living their lives, accepting things as they were.
That was the case with Keldric.
“Damn it… these worthless things are crawling out now.”
“Move quickly. There’s nothing left to do anyway.”
The Ironclaw mercenaries grumbled as they dragged the bodies of the bandits.
Keldric, watching them, felt no real interest.
It was an unfortunate stroke of bad luck to encounter bandits twice on the same road between Spitzenberg and Bogenberg.
The empire, as chaotic as it was with all sorts of territorial disputes and conflicts, was still a large place.
Meeting bandits twice on the same path was rare.
But to Keldric, it wasn’t much of a threat.
Perhaps because he’d just faced monsters in Spitzenberg , the fight with the bandits that appeared as the evening sun began to set felt lackluster.
“Their armor is poor.”
“It seems that these are true bandits this time.”
As Radomar had said, the bandits they had encountered now were different from the ones they had met before.
The ones they met when heading toward Spitzenberg had been mercenaries, so their armor had been decent.
But these bandits were not the same.
They were dressed in rags, wielding clubs or rusted knives that looked like they belonged in a butcher’s shop.
They were unimpressive.
The mercenaries, who had been preparing their evening meal, had every right to complain.
Even if their equipment was poor, a blow from a club could crack skulls, and a swing of a rusted knife could tear flesh.
After fighting for their lives, if there was nothing worth looting, there was no worse situation.
There was no gain in fighting those with nothing left to lose.
That was the wisdom of life.
Keldric handed his longsword, which had cut down a dozen or so bandits, to Arno.
Arno took the much heavier steel longsword from him and grunted as he tried to lift it.
Now that he thought about it, the previous longsword had long been hanging from Boreas’ saddle.
Keldric had come to prefer the steel longsword that rarely needed sharpening.
‘If I give it to Arno…’
Keldric imagined Arno’s physique and the longsword he had used before.
He shook his head slowly.
Perhaps due to his poor nutrition, Arno was still too small to wield a longsword.
When Keldric was fourteen, he had been much larger than Arno, though even without that comparison, Arno was a little smaller than most.
Fourteen was the age of growth.
It was important to eat well and sleep enough at that age.
Now, Keldric figured that the short sword he had received from Bogenberg would be sufficient for Arno.
While Keldric was lost in these thoughts, staring absentmindedly at the bubbling barley porridge, Alyssa came and sat next to him.
“Keldric.”
“Alyssa. What’s the matter?”
“No, it’s just… it seemed lonely for you to be eating alone.”
Alyssa scooped some of the thin barley porridge and blew on it before eating.
She scrunched her face a little at the stale smell, which seemed rather insignificant.
Keldric also scooped some barley porridge into a wooden bowl.
The warmth transferred to his hand.
‘Killing people and calmly eating…’
He couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity, but Keldric just pushed the tasteless barley porridge into his stomach.
It was indeed a strange world.
The news of people dying was received as casually as someone talking about what they had for dinner the previous day.
The bandits they had just killed weren’t even considered human but were seen as little more than bugs or something similar.
No matter how many they killed, the Ironclaw mercenaries were stripping the bandits’ bodies without a shred of guilt, enjoying it without hesitation.
But the world has always been a strange place.
If you didn’t kill others, you would be killed yourself.
That held true even for a simple bandit or a well-equipped knight.
What if a bandit stuck a rusted dagger through Keldric’s helmet eyehole?
What if a bandit aimed to kill Alyssa instead of Keldric?
Of course, it probably wouldn’t happen, but one could never know.
The point was, Keldric was beginning to realize he had to make a choice.
He had spent his life being pushed around by others.
If told to do something, he did it, and if told to do something else, he did that as well.
But now, he could no longer ignore the desire whispering inside him.
He wanted to build something on his own.
He wanted to achieve something greater.
And that wasn’t impossible.
Keldric knew he could achieve anything on his own.
After all, Keldric was human.
It was inevitable to have some desires.
“Ah, the stars…”
Keldric, who had been eating the barley porridge, lifted his head at Alyssa’s words.
There, something enormous stood, drawing a small gasp of awe.
The night sky was like a stage, dotted with sparkling stars.
Between them, a meteor left a beautiful, sweeping trail across the sky.
More than one meteor fell.
Two, three, and then more, drawing elegant curves across the canvas of the night sky.
As Alyssa muttered something while tearing a piece of parchment, Keldric gazed at the resting place of those stars.
Could he ever rise that high?
Keldric couldn’t answer that question for sure.
However, Keldric had more than enough will to make it happen.
That was all he needed.
The journey back to Bogenberg was smoother than before.
The snow, which had occasionally appeared while heading toward Spitzenberg , had all melted.
While there was a worry that the road might turn into a mudslide, it wasn’t as bad as expected.
The road, half-melted and mixed with dirt, posed no significant threat.
Had there been thin ice, it might have been different, but since this area bordered the north, even in the midst of spring, chilly winds were frequent.
After walking for a while, leaving behind the bandits they had dealt with the previous night, Keldric could spot the city walls of Bogenberg in the distance, like an old acquaintance.
“Keldric, you’ve worked hard.”
“Radomar, you’ve done well too.
And your mercenaries as well.”
Keldric glanced over the Ironclaw mercenaries, who had performed their duties admirably.
Indeed, even when the request had deviated from the usual, they had followed Keldric’s orders.
Though this was likely because Baron Spitzenberg had thrown silver coins their way, there were plenty of people who wouldn’t lift a finger even for gold.
Like Jörgen, whom Keldric met in Schafendorf, these brief encounters often weave together to shape a person’s life.
There was no reason to look down on mercenaries.
Keldric stretched his body a little and urged Boreas forward.
The gates had opened early, and many were waiting to enter Bogenberg—merchants, travelers, bards, and even mercenaries.
After passing them quickly and entering the gates, Keldric was soon on the path leading toward the inner fort.
The people of Bogenberg recognized Keldric.
The guards at the gates did as well.
Though the excitement from the tournament had mostly died down, Keldric’s title as the winner still lingered in the air.
In no time, the news would probably reach Spitzenberg , and eventually even the northern town of Bellam.
Perhaps even Hilmer in Carlton Village might have heard of Keldric by now.
Though the news of his monster hunt in Spitzenberg had not yet reached many, Keldric was more or less content.
Rising in fame could only bring benefits.
“We’ll part ways here. It has been an honor to serve you.”
“No, the honor is mine.
I’m glad to have been with such excellent mercenaries.”
Keldric had not been with the Ironclaw mercenaries for long.
They probably saw this as just another regular request, not knowing the full details.
Though he parted ways with his companions once more, this time, he had Alyssa, Arno, and Helga with him.
“Go ahead.”
“Yes.”
After a while, Keldric guided Boreas, and soon enough, they arrived at the inner fort of Bogenberg.
He handed his weapons and horse to the gatekeeper and took a moment to glance at the familiar inner courtyard.
The snow, which had been scattered here and there, had all melted away.
The season was shifting; the snow was beginning to fully melt.
“The Duke of Spitzenberg is not one to say things in one breath, Keldric.
You’ve worked hard,” the Count of Bogenberg said as he read the response Keldric had brought, smiling with satisfaction as he praised Keldric’s efforts.
It was only natural. Keldric’s achievements weren’t solely due to the Baron’s cooperation in Spitzenberg .
The monster hunt in Spitzenberg had benefited Keldric’s fame, but at the same time, he had done it under the name of the Count of Bogenberg, which was also good for the Count.
Had the Count not sent Keldric to Spitzenberg , it was likely he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to hunt the monsters at all.
Keldric didn’t have much reason to dispute that.
It was the truth.
“Keldric.”
“Kuno, it’s been a while.”
Kuno handed Keldric a small leather pouch.
Keldric hesitated for a moment before opening it slightly.
Inside, there was gleaming gold. Beneath it, a few silver coins were tucked in, but the gold coins on top immediately caught his attention.
“This is the reward you rightly deserve.
Please use it wisely.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
At a glance, it looked like about seven or eight gold coins. Keldric’s lips twitched.
In truth, he felt a little sting after unexpectedly spending quite a bit of money in Spitzenberg .
“How was the response worded?”
But Keldric slipped the pouch into his coat and asked.
Money was important, but for now, it was better to focus on the matters at hand.
“He requested a partnership with me.”
“And what did he ask for in return?”
Keldric wasn’t familiar with the exact contents of the Baron’s letter from Spitzenberg .
He had simply brought it, assuming that the Count of Bogenberg would naturally handle the cooperation.
It would be illogical for Keldric to carelessly open and check the letter intended for the Count of Bogenberg.
Though the Baron of Spitzenberg might have verbally agreed to cooperate and later denied it in writing, such matters were typically carried out based on mutual trust, with the nobility’s honor and reputation on the line.
If the Baron of Spitzenberg had done that, it would have been a complete betrayal.
That was something the Baron could not afford to handle.
“The mining rights to half of the copper mine, and the monopoly on traders to be sent to Lord Yaven in the territorial wars.
Additionally, support for troops to supply Spitzenberg .”
It was a fairly decent offer.
The copper mine the Baron of Spitzenberg had pointed out was an area where the ownership boundaries had always been unclear, and the most fiercely contested territorial battle would be with Baron Yaven, who was in the southwest, making trade between the two easier.
The goods would likely be weapons and armor, and the Baron of Spitzenberg would be able to make quite a bit of money from that.
The troop issue could be resolved by the Count of Bogenberg. However, Keldric didn’t offer an opinion hastily.
“There are still a few points that need further discussion.
In any case, you’ve worked hard, Keldric.”
“I appreciate you respecting my honor.”
“Hm. Then…”
A look of determination appeared in the Count of Bogenberg’s eyes.
It was likely that the Baron of Spitzenberg ’s requests would be accepted, and if a solid cooperative relationship were established between the two, there would be no reason to delay further.
The opportunity to settle the deep conflict and old grudges with Count Rasau had finally come.
“Kuno, convene the advisory council.”
“Understood.”
In other words, it was war.
As the atmosphere grew heavy, the Count of Bogenberg spoke to Keldric.
“Sir Keldric, I will call on you again soon.
You must be tired, so rest for today.”
“Understood.”
As Keldric left the hall, he steeled himself.
There was no avoiding the battle now.
There was no turning back.
The flames of war would likely begin in Yaven, and Keldric would be the one who had to dive straight into it.
And Keldric was already prepared to step onto the battlefield.