The heat of victory lingered until the late evening.
In a good mood, Lord Hermann laid out food, and thanks to that, the citizens of Belam gathered in a square near the castle to eat. Cedric, who tasted delicious food and wine, was also overcome with excitement.
Spices were scarce in the rural village of Carlton. At best, they could occasionally eat meat sprinkled lightly with rock salt. Belam, one of the larger cities in the north, was different. They roasted whole pigs coated in spices and served tender veal sprinkled with pepper.
There were dishes filled with spices from beyond the heathen lands. This made Cedric’s hidden desires stir.
Cedric sipped wine, observing the bustling cityscape. He had never thought about land or fiefs, nor had he ever felt much desire for them. It was the duties of nobles, knights, and lords that gave him headaches.
‘Will I, too, someday…?’
But now things are different.
The desire to someday acquire a city of this size began to grow in Cedric’s heart. To do that, he first needed to raise his fame.
He had defeated a band of bandits, punched a rock troll to death, and fought as a substitute warrior for Lord Hermann’s honor, winning in a trial by combat.
It was quite an accomplishment to defeat an eight-time tournament winner at such a young age.
However, these were not things that would reach the ears of the nobility across the empire. Cedric’s reputation would likely remain limited to Belam and its surrounding villages.
The traveling merchants, known for spreading rumors, would probably only talk about the Guildmaster Anshelm.
However, some of the more forward-thinking merchants were different.
Strength, honor, and belief. These made up everything except for the knight’s physical body. Cedric, with all three virtues, had now shown the immense power that had previously only been talked about. This caused merchants to admire him for his incredible prowess.
And the man who approached Cedric, sipping his wine, was no different.
“Ah! Is this not Lord Cedric of the honorable Bellaf family?”
Cedric glanced over at the man, who appeared as if they had just bumped into each other on the street.
The man, with a well-groomed mustache, was dressed neatly. His attire was not the worn-out clothes of a typical villager. The wool and fine fabrics wrapped around him indicated wealth.
“And who might you be?”
“I am Ludovico, a traveling merchant affiliated with the Bogenberg Trading Company. It is my honor to say that Lord Hermann arranged this meeting with you.”
Cedric glanced over at Lord Hermann in the distance, drinking wine like water and chatting loudly.
There was no way Lord Hermann would introduce a merchant to Cedric without reason. Cedric’s deep navy-blue eyes fixed on Ludovico.
Cedric did not feel the same uneasy sensation he had when he met Anshelm.
Though not an absolute rule, Cedric generally accepted people unless he felt a dirty feeling from them.
Meanwhile, Ludovico, facing Cedric’s intense gaze, involuntarily flinched.
‘What kind of eyes…?’
The eyes of someone who had killed a person were incredibly cold.
As a knight, Cedric had surely killed before, and this included Anshelm, who had been dragged to the underground prison earlier that day.
Ludovico grew slightly tense. Since Anshelm was a merchant like him, he feared that Cedric might suddenly lash out at him, thinking of him as unlucky.
Although he knew that Cedric wasn’t that kind of knight, he couldn’t shake the thought that knights typically acted like this.
“Is it the Bogenberg Trading Company? Are you from Bogenberg?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Our company’s president is currently staying in Bogenberg. Your insight is impressive.”
Ludovico, who hadn’t yet fully figured out who Cedric was, decided to offer some gold plating, something every knight usually appreciates.
“Hmm.”
However, Cedric’s reaction was somewhat lukewarm. Feeling awkward, Ludovico cautiously continued speaking.
“The reason I came to see you, Sir Cedric, is because we’ve recently established a new trade agreement with Carlton Village.”
“Oh, I see?”
At the time when Lord Hermann had ordered Anshelm to be thrown into the dungeon, Cedric had been focused on other matters. With the revelation that Anshelm, the president of the guild, was planning to betray Belam and was revealed to be a pagan, it was clear that merchants affiliated with the guild would soon undergo a thorough investigation.
When that happened, the weakened Mormon Trading Company would naturally break apart, and the traders in Carlton Village would be cut off from their supply routes.
Merchants, while primarily seeking profit, didn’t only pursue money. Baron Yaben, who governed Yaben, had the obligation to support even the most remote villages on the outskirts of his territory.
Therefore, he had made deals with several trading companies based in nearby cities or larger towns, allowing them to send traders to the villages, even if there was no significant profit to be made.
The decision to send traders from the Mormon Trading Company to Carlton Village had been made by Lord Geberhardt, who had once ruled the city before Lord Hermann.
Now, however, the Mormon Trading Company was on the verge of collapse, and the traders would naturally be cut off.
Cedric didn’t particularly worry about Hilmer, but he felt sorry for the residents of Carlton Village, who had unintentionally severed their ties with the outside world.
When Cedric mentioned this with a hint of concern, Lord Hermann dismissed it, reassuring him not to worry.
It seemed that Lord Hermann’s choice was in favor of the Bogenberg Trading Company.
“May I ask what kind of trade goods you handle primarily?”
“Until last year, we traded silk. We brought high-quality leather from the north and sold it to the Cakarians.”
Across the sea, far from here, was a land ruled by pagans, but the trade route for silk from the East still passed through Cakarian territories.
Cedric realized why Ludovico’s clothing looked so luxurious. It made sense, as a merchant dealing in textiles, he would wear such fine clothes.
“So, you must be making a decent profit? Why are you even bothering to come all the way to Carlton Village?”
“Eh? Oh, I’m not the one going there. I’m just visiting on behalf of our company.”
Ludovico explained that Bogenberg Trading Company was one of the well-known trading companies in the Empire. Recently, they had been troubled by unsatisfactory trade relations with the north, which had been caught up in the ongoing turmoil.
Bogenberg, located at the crossroads between the northern and central regions of the Empire, had been struggling with trade from the north, which made sense under the circumstances.
The president of Bogenberg Trading Company had two choices: abandon the north and find a new trade route or establish a new branch in a peaceful northern territory.
It was at this time that Ludovico, who had been staying in Belam, heard about the downfall of Mormon Trading Company and quickly negotiated with Lord Hermann.
For Lord Hermann, who had expelled Mormon Trading Company from the city, it was likely a favorable deal.
“Are you replacing Mormon Trading Company?”
“Yes. We plan to purchase the buildings of Mormon Trading Company soon. A branch of Bogenberg Trading Company in Belam would be a good opportunity.”
“You could just recruit the merchants who were part of Mormon Trading Company. That way, you wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of recruiting new ones.”
“That is correct.”
Indeed, it seemed like the Bogenberg Merchants’ Association was right, and it would be tempting to jump in.
With the buildings and the skilled merchants still intact, and only the heads gone, the Bogenberg Merchants’ Association could easily swallow it without the need for significant investment.
“One of the conditions was sending peddlers to Carlton village, was it?”
“Yes, it was one of the points emphasized by Lord Hermann.”
Since the Bellaf family governs Carlton village, Lord Hermann was essentially saving Cedric’s face.
“Although I am not the head of the Bellaf family, I am at least a representative. I look forward to working with you in the future.”
“Oh, it’s an honor. I will manage the trade route to Carlton village thoroughly.”
I heard that soon, when the Bogenberg Merchants’ Association’s Belam branch is established, Ludovico would be appointed as the branch head.
Cedric had various conversations with Ludovico.
Becoming the head of one of the best merchant branches in Belam, the cradle of the north, there was no harm in getting close to him.
“What is the kingdom of the Cakarians like?”
“Strictly speaking, it’s not a kingdom, but more of a confederation. It’s a community of several tribes.”
“Oh….”
“The Cakarians are nomads. They roam the plateau, hunting while riding horses, so they are very skilled at horseback riding.”
They can shoot arrows while turning around on horseback, or large groups of mounted archers rush together, shooting arrows in a storm.
Cedric imagined mounted archers charging together like a pack of wolves, shooting arrows rapidly, moving swiftly.
Just imagining that was terrifying.
Even knights would find it difficult to deal with them easily.
“By the way, Lord Cedric, may I ask you something?”
“Speak freely.”
“Do you plan to stay in Belam for the foreseeable future?”
Hearing Ludovico’s words, Cedric stroked his chin and fell into thought.
He had no definite destination in mind, but for now, Belam was his first stop on the journey.
He had been traveling directly from Carlton village to Belam without detouring anywhere else.
The reason for this was that he had been eager to see the city, but now that he had explored the city, there was nothing left to do.
Cedric had been in Belam for a little over a week, almost reaching the tenth day.
He wasn’t sure if he would stay in Belam after this.
Staying any longer, there was nothing left to see or do.
All he could do was sit idly by and watch the trade route to Carlton village.
Yet, there was no clear destination to go to if he were to leave.
Cedric wanted to see the world, but there were limits to that.
He couldn’t just travel across the Cakarians’ territory or across the sea to the land of the infidels immediately.
That would require a long journey, and at the moment, Cedric had no desire to travel to such distant foreign lands.
When Cedric cautiously expressed his thoughts, Ludovico stroked his thinning white hair and laughed heartily.
“Ha ha! You have a lot of adventurous spirit. Soon, Lord Cedric’s fame will echo across the empire.”
“Well, it’s not exactly… adventurous spirit…”
Cedric didn’t know, but Ludovico felt a strong liking for him as a potential business partner.
At this time, it was not uncommon for nobles or wealthy merchants’ associations to sponsor skilled knights.
For nobles with territories, granting land was the best form of sponsorship.
For merchant associations without land, sponsoring knights meant providing them with opportunities.
And as a sharp merchant, Ludovico saw potential in Cedric.
“Lord Cedric will become someone great!”
Ludovico’s instincts told him that Cedric had the potential for greatness.
His immense strength, knightly compassion, and wisdom—along with his ability to swiftly adapt to any situation—sparked Ludovico’s desire to invest in him.
Though Ludovico was not the head of the Bogenberg Guild, he held a respectable position within it, and he had both the qualifications and the ability to carry out what he was about to propose.
“Sir Kedrick, would you listen to what I have to say?”
“I’m listening.”
“The duel trial between you and Sir Johannes this afternoon was truly impressive. That’s why I’m saying this…”
Ludovico rummaged through his cloak and pulled out a stiffly folded piece of paper.
Kedrick looked at it with mild interest.
During this period, especially in the north, parchment was used instead of the rare paper.
However, the material in Ludovico’s hand was indeed paper—slightly rough and stiff, but still paper. He cautiously pushed it forward toward Kedrick.
“What’s this?”
“Sir Kedrick, have you heard of the tournament that will soon be held in Bogenberg?”
“A tournament?”
A tournament where one could gain wealth, fame, and possibly even more. Kedrick, imagining this, asked back. Ludovico smiled and nodded.
“The Count of Bogenberg’s fiftieth birthday is coming up. To commemorate this, a grand tournament will likely be held.”
The Count of Bogenberg’s fiftieth birthday was quite a monumental occasion.
The Count was a highly respected noble in the area, so the tournament would undoubtedly be large in scale.
And naturally, such a tournament was not open to just anyone.
Even a highly skilled knight would need a recommendation to participate, and wandering knights with nothing but rumors about them would have no chance.
Kedrick, if one were to be technical, was more of a wandering knight. Normally, it would be hard for him to participate in the Bogenberg tournament.
“I was going to pass an invitation to Sir Hermann, but he was busy dealing with the aftermath of the Belam incident. Instead, Sir Hermann recommended you, Sir Kedrick.”
But with both the invitation and the recommendation of a powerful knight who governed the city, the situation changed.
With those two solid backing supports, Kedrick could now confidently have his name added to the list of participants for the Bogenberg tournament.
Upon hearing Ludovico’s story, Kedrick’s eyes sparkled with interest. He was intrigued.
‘This sounds exciting.’
Kedrick reminisced about the exhilarating feeling he had after winning the duel trial earlier that day.
The trial had taken place in the narrow front yard surrounded by a castle wall, and the victory he had claimed after a tense, sweat-inducing battle had been met with cheers.
He imagined himself winning in a grander tournament stadium, cheered on by thousands of spectators, and he couldn’t help but clench his fist.
“It sounds good.”
“Sir Kedrick, you are very skilled, so I’m sure you can win.”
“Even if it’s just a compliment, I appreciate it.”
“Hahaha! I’m not joking! You truly have a chance!”
Kedrick smiled faintly and took a sip of his wine.
It seemed his next destination had already been decided.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
Once the next destination was set, Cedric’s course of action was also determined.
First, Cedric purchased food and supplies, and had his longsword and armor, damaged in the duel, repaired.
With the money from Baron Yaben and Sir Hermann, plus a portion of Anshelm’s estate, he had more than enough to spare.
Anshelm was executed by burning at the stake as soon as the morning sun rose.
While the citizens of Belam watched with enthusiasm, Cedric, standing alone, stared at the scene with a grim expression.
Watching a person burn alive was not exactly an enjoyable spectacle.
“I still feel like I’m burning,” he muttered.
It seemed that Alyssa felt the same way, as she sniffled and grimaced long after the execution was over.
After Anshelm had been roasted, Belam, now without the Mormon Trading Company, descended into chaos for a time.
Of course, that was not something Cedric needed to concern himself with. It was an issue for Sir Hermann and Ludovico to handle.
“Sir, are you really leaving already? You could stay a little longer…”
“I must leave now. I’ve already been indebted to you enough.”
Although Sir Hermann was reluctant to see Cedric go, he didn’t press him further.
Cedric had no intention of staying in Belam, and Sir Hermann knew that well.
Jorgen and the Suthsanyan mercenary company had decided to stay in Belam, however.
With the northern situation growing increasingly dire, mercenaries who sensed the coming of a territorial war were not likely to sit idle.
“Are you not going with them?”
“…I still have a few things to look into.”
Meanwhile, Alyssa, who had been traveling with them, remained Cedric’s companion.
She planned to stay with him, as she had something to investigate in Bogenberg, and felt more secure traveling with him.
Thus, two days after Anshelm’s execution, Cedric mounted Boreas in the morning. The cool northern air felt refreshing and invigorating.
Alyssa, who had also mounted her horse, rode beside him.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, Sir Cedric.”
The journey to Bogenberg would take approximately six days.
Cedric had no idea what might happen along the way.
Even the band of highway robbers and the rock troll they had encountered previously were unforeseen events.
However, Cedric wasn’t particularly afraid.
No one knew what awaited at the end of the journey, but that was the very thrill of travel.
After a brief farewell from Sir Hermann and the Suthsanyan mercenaries, the young knight and the sorceress set off once more.
The northern wind had grown slightly warmer.
It was the time of year when spring began to reach the frozen tundra.