kscans

t/n: The title is ライザ or Raiza. Decided to call her Riza as in some language, it can means ‘pleasure’ or ‘satisfaction’.

1

The next village they visited had a peculiar situation.

In this village, the sap of the Taricoge tree was a specialty product. The village officials, in collusion with merchants, were trying to monopolize the sap by framing the craftsmen for crimes they didn’t commit. Bard intended to prove the craftsmen’s innocence without revealing his identity, but Chantillion had other plans. He asked Bard for the royal seal dagger and began to take matters into his own hands. Left with no choice, Bard tried to reason with the village officials and merchants in the least confrontational way possible, but it still caused a commotion. Even though he tried to keep it quiet, rumors would undoubtedly spread. It seemed that Chantillion had developed a taste for punishing villains with the authority of the Grand General.

Bard told Chantillion to stop spreading his name around. Chantillion responded with a cheerful “Understood,” but Bard wasn’t sure if he truly understood. He wondered if Chantillion had always been this way. He reminded Bard of someone else. But on second thought, it made sense. Chantillion was a serious, honest, and hardworking man. He was trying to do his best on this journey, and this was just how it manifested.

Bard didn’t mind if his name was tarnished. Once he returned to the royal capital, he would be dismissed from his position due to various responsibilities being thrust upon him. Scandals were bound to happen, and this would likely be used as an opportunity to clean up the direct-controlled army. As long as it only damaged Bard’s reputation, he didn’t mind. However, he couldn’t allow the king’s name to be tarnished, nor did he want to tarnish Chantillion’s name.

Chantillion didn’t understand the danger of rumors. For example, a rumor might start like, “In a certain village, General Bard apparently helped craftsmen who were being oppressed by village officials and merchants.” But then someone might twist it like, “I heard that General Bard was the one oppressing the village officials.” The rumor would then continue to distort. Because the original story contains some truth, the distorted version carries some credibility. At the end of a rumor, a good person can become a villain, and a perpetrator can become a victim.

That’s why Bard didn’t want Chantillion to reveal his identity. In reality, the name of the Argolide family would likely have more influence than Bard’s. It was too much. To the local lords, the Grand General Bard was a temporary figure who would eventually disappear. But if they upset the Argolide family, their descendants a hundred years from now would suffer the consequences. That’s what they would think. Bard didn’t know much about this country yet, but he understood that the Argolide family was that kind of family.

“Lord Godon Zarkos often said that traveling is good, traveling is good, and it really is,” Chantillion casually mentioned.

Bard initially ignored this comment and continued his thoughts. But then he realized what Chantillion had said. He had told Chantillion about Godon Zarkos. He should have mentioned him several times. However, he hadn’t mentioned Godon’s catchphrase. Where had Chantillion heard it? Bard asked him.

“Huh? That was at the feast on the last day of the Frontier Martial Arts Tournament. I was lying in bed, but someone related to my family was a deputy judge and later told me in detail about the feast. Didn’t Jurchaga, Lord Bard’s servant, tell the story of his travels, which he also told in the palace of the Goriora Empire? Apparently, he had some special status that allowed him to enter the inner parts of the palace, where only people of significant status are allowed. He was happily telling his story while receiving meat and alcohol from the surrounding knights. I heard that you, Sir Bard, were also there.”

Jur-cha-ga! Bard did have a vague memory of seeing him. His memory wasn’t confused due to drunkenness. The beef was prepared for the knights, and others weren’t allowed to eat it. The atmosphere was such that Jurchaga shouldn’t have been able to enter. But then again, Jurchaga had been conferred the status of a quasi-noble. No, Jurchaga was the type to brazenly appear anywhere.

Heroic tales like Jurchaga’s are fine to listen to as just stories. But what if the protagonist of the story becomes the Grand General of your country? Rumors are rumors because they don’t convey the truth accurately, and in some cases, they are deliberately distorted.

Bard started to worry, but then he stopped. He would soon leave this position anyway. He would also leave this country. The knights of the Frontier Knight Order probably didn’t have much connection to the royal capital, and the participants, except for exceptions like Chantillion, were knights active in the provinces. There shouldn’t be much impact.

“I was so moved that I ordered someone to write down as much of the story of Lord Bard Rowen as they could remember.”

Don’t do unnecessary things! Bard almost shouted, but he held back. As Chantillion’s superior, Bard couldn’t complain about his personal actions, especially since Chantillion was of much higher status. Bard didn’t consider that there might be others doing the same thing.

2

“Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere,”
“Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere,”
“Dance, dance. The dancer dances,”
“Maukaryuna is a beautiful girl.”

It’s a fast-paced, intense song. The singer is a man from Eina. His young and handsome face, illuminated by the firelight, looks old if one look closely. He sings in a high-pitched tone that seems about to break.

“Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere,”
“Maukaryuna had a lover,”
“A gentle man with sweet skin,”
“The man wanted a gift to propose to Maukaryuna,”
“So he went to the battlefield with the knight.”

One man plays a four-stringed Zarbatta, and two men beat small drums. They are men from Eina. About a dozen other men and women from Eina clap their hands and shout in response to the song. (t/n: it’s similar to guitar)

“Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere,”
“Maukaryuna became lonely,”
“She became so lonely that she couldn’t stand it,”
“What Maukaryuna wanted wasn’t a gift,”
“It was the man’s soft lips.”

The audience, gathered from three villages, is scattered around, drinking alcohol or fruit juice, and enjoying the performance of the Eina people.

“Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere,”
“Maukaryuna went to the battlefield,”
“The war was still going on,”
“And the man was dead,”
“Without saying goodbye to his lover.”

In the center of the circle, a woman is dancing. She is a girl from Eina. With her fiery red hair flying and sweat spraying, she dances passionately. She swings her arms and legs widely, shakes her voluptuous chest, sways her hips, and dances intensely.

“Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere,”
“She wanted to bring the man back to the village but,”
“No one would carry the man,”
“The knight’s horse was full of war spoils,”
“There was no place to put the servant’s corpse.”

This is the second time Bard has seen this woman. The first time was on the way from Lordvan Castle to the royal capital. He saw her at a local knight’s mansion where they had to stop due to heavy rain. He doesn’t remember the name of the village or the lord anymore.

“Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere,”
“So Maukaryuna asked the knight,”
“To cut off this man’s head.”

She is a woman with striking eyes. He thought so the first time he saw her. Why does she look at him with those eyes? They are the eyes of someone who is desperately in love.

“Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere,”
“Maukaryuna looked at the head cut off by the knight with joy,”
“Everyone said this woman is crazy,”
“But Maukaryuna was happy,”
“Because the man’s lips were now hers.”

Next to him, Chantillion is staring blankly. As a high-ranking noble, he should be familiar with various forms of entertainment, but he probably doesn’t know about this kind of crude song and dance.

“Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere, Tierrere,”
“Dance, dance. The dancer dances,”
“Maukaryuna is a beautiful girl,”
“Tierrere~~TieYe~~A~!”

The song ends with a high-pitched cry that echoes throughout the area, and a big round of applause follows.

3

The Harvest Festival were being held in the villages. At this time of year, the people of Eina are in high demand in every village. Entertaining with songs, dances, tricks, and stories, they also repaired leatherwork and sold some unusual crafts. If one give a little extra to the leader of the “Tran (caravan)”, one can even dream under the shade of a tree with a girl or a man one like.

Bard and his companions decided to participate in this three-day feast at the suggestion of the village chief. Bard bought a large barrel of liquor and offered it to everyone. The village chief dedicated the first toast to Bard, who gathered applause from everyone for his generosity. After that, it was literally a free-for-all.

The tune changed. It was a quiet, sweet melody. Eina’s famous singer sang about a naive girl’s love. The dancer swayed her body to match it. There were no big gestures, but from her beautiful skin, as if aphrodisiac was spraying out, she attracted people and wouldn’t let them go.

“Again. She’s looking at me again. No. Is she making everyone think that? If so, it’s a trick as good as witchcraft.”

Eventually, the woman’s dance ended. Then, the villagers started dancing to the music of Eina’s people. After a while, Chantillion was pulled out and joined the circle of dance. Several village girls were casting feverish glances at Chantillion. Some even tried to take his hand and dance with him.

Bard moved a little away and leaned against a tree. The night wind stroked his drunken cheeks. He closed his eyes and dozed off.

Half in a dream, Bard was thinking back on the story of the swordsmith Zendatta. That story had parts that complemented and contradicted the story of Barry Toad. There were parts that were common to and different from the ancient legends Bard had heard. Either way, he was able to learn things he didn’t know before. He was beginning to see things he hadn’t seen before.

But he didn’t know what it all meant. He didn’t know what was going to happen and how it was all connected. Zendatta said that Bard was a man with a mission. Bard himself didn’t feel that way, but he didn’t want to belittle Zendatta’s words. All he could do was remember Zendatta’s words until the day he understood their meaning.

“Are you drunk already?”

A voice came from behind the tree he was leaning against. Even without seeing her face, he knew it was the woman who had been dancing. He hadn’t been worried about her approaching because there were quite a few people in the forest, but it seemed she had business with Bard.

“This is the second time I’ve met you.”

Bard replied without looking back.

“Well. You’re cold. I’ve been thinking about you since the moment I saw you.”

Bard laughed lightly at her clichéd phrase.

“You’re laughing. But I’m sure you’re the same. You couldn’t forget about me. Because you’re my man.”

It seemed this woman had decided that Bard was her customer for the night. Not a bad choice. Of all the people in the village right now, Bard seemed to have the most money. And that’s not entirely wrong.

The woman came out from behind the tree on the right and sat down. A sweet scent wafted in the air. A sweet scent that reminded him of something. What was it? That’s right. It was the scent of the Turshin flowers that bloom on the frontier.

A hand reached out and stroked Bard’s beard softly. Then the woman cupped Bard’s cheeks with both hands, twisted them forcefully, and turned Bard’s face towards her. The seductiveness she had when she was dancing was gone. She had a surprisingly beautiful face. Even in this dim place, her red hair was dazzlingly bright. Bard’s hair used to be just as red. Her sharp eyebrows and slightly upturned large eyes gave a sense of strength. Her red, slightly large mouth was smiling faintly, but why did he feel sadness?

“My name is Riza.”

The woman said. “Riza,” Bard repeated.

“That’s right.”

Riza smiled and leaned in. The scent of Turshin flowers filled Bard’s nose. He thought that would be nice. But it didn’t happen. Horses. Cavalry. Probably about twenty. He could hear the clattering of armor and weapons. It seemed someone had crashed the festival.

4

He returned to the square with Riza. The villagers and the members of the Tran (caravan) were gathering. The second moon had risen, so the square was bright.

The knights were the lord’s vassals. The people of Eina were immediately ordered to go up to the lord’s mansion. There might be a feast to celebrate the harvest at the lord’s mansion, so there was nothing suspicious about the order itself. But why did they send twenty vassals to deliver the order? At least half of the twenty looked like knights. There must be other knights in the mansion. This territory is supposed to have four villages. How are they supporting so many knights?

The leader of the Tran (caravan) gave instructions, and the people of Eina began to move their luggage into the wagons. A knight who had been circling around spotted Riza behind Bard.

“Girl. You’re also a daughter of Eina. Come.”

Dodging the outstretched hand, Riza hid further behind Bard and said, “No. I was bought by this gentleman tonight.”

The knight looked displeased and tried to grab Riza. Bard blocked his movement with his own body and said, “Sir Knight, it’s true that these people will give you a night’s dream if you pay them. But that doesn’t mean you can do it anytime, anywhere as long as you have money. These people also have feelings of what they want to do and what they don’t want to do.”

“Come or we’ll kill the leader,” he said. Riza stroked Bard’s beard with a sad look in her eyes and started walking with the wagon. Bard thought it was strange. The method was too forceful, and why did they have to put so much killing intent into it? It didn’t feel like they were calling the Eina’s people to perform. Then, he heard Chantillion’s voice.

“Then, shall we also be invited to the lord’s mansion?”

Looking at him, Chantillion was facing a knight who seemed to be the captain.

“Oh? You wish to lodge at the lord’s mansion?”

Even in the dark, if you look closely, the dignity that emanates from Chantillion is recognizable to those who can recognize it. Although he looks like a wandering poor knight.

“Yes. The lord will not regret inviting us.”

This is implicitly telling them that they are knights of considerable rank. The captain knight said, “Then, may we accompany you?”

Bard and Chantillion got on their horses. Whether one is a down-and-out beggar knight or a knight with great combat power who hasn’t lost his pride, one can tell by looking at how they ride a horse. The captain knight sent a very tight gaze at Bard and Chantillion, who might have felt their martial prowess. It was a tight gaze like the one you would give to an enemy you’re about to kill.

5

It was more of a fortress than a mansion. It was probably a fortress in the past. It was covered all around with large, sturdy rock walls. You can’t see the inside from the outside.

Bard, who entered the defensive wall last following the caravan, was startled. People were tied up all over the square. They were tied up so they couldn’t escape. Those people were commoners. Whether they were peasants or travelers, they had despair in their eyes.

It’s a manhunt!

The lord himself is leading a manhunt. Of course, he wouldn’t hunt his own people, and he probably wouldn’t attack nearby villages either. But he sends his subordinates to places where they are hard to track, kidnaps villagers, sets up nets on the highways to kidnap travelers, and sells them as slaves. It’s an easy way to boost income.

Of course, he can’t make a proper slave contract, so he can’t sell them as regular slaves. But there are always people who want disposable slaves, and those people pay higher prices than the regular market. The women, of course, become the lowest class of slave prostitutes. If they are young and attractive, they can sell for several times the price of a male slave. It’s a big expense for a brothel, but after all, they are prostitutes who don’t have to be paid a salary, so it’s easy to recoup the cost.

He and Chantillion could escape right now. But if they get off their horses and go into the building, they might not be able to get out alive. He can’t let Chantillion die. What should he do?

Under the captain’s orders, the soldiers began to restrain the Eina people they had brought. They tied their hands and tied them to walls and stones so they couldn’t move. Seeing this, Chantillion raised a protest, but,

“You two, this way.”

The captain knight guided them, and they were to enter the building.

6

The lord was young. He was probably not much over twenty. His eyes were like pasted-on smiles, and his whole face was pale and flat.

“Traveling knights. May I ask your names?” The lord said.

Chantillion nodded, turned to Bard, and respectfully extended both hands. He was asking for the dagger with the royal seal. “That’s a bad move,” Bard thought, shaking his head. “Once they know our true identities, they’ll surely consider us enemies who must not be allowed to live. It would be better to make them think we could become allies if they play their cards right.” However, Chantillion insisted on the dagger. Reluctantly, Bard handed it over. The young lord who received the dagger from Chantillion inspected it for a while, then a look of astonishment crossed his face. Chantillion, pressing on, said,

“My lord, the gentleman here is none other than Lord Bard Rowen, who has been entrusted with the seal of the Middle Army* by His Majesty the King. His lordship is on a secret journey and has no intention of causing trouble, so rest assured. I understand your desire to request the people of Eina for the harvest celebration, but your methods are too violent. It would have been better to entertain the people sufficiently and then invite them to the mansion. We will leave now, but we would like you to reward the people of Eina.” (t/n: previously translated as ‘central army’ in CH5. after another read, i think he meant Middle Army)

The lord’s servants murmured among themselves. It was no surprise that they were shocked to be told that the commander of the king’s direct army had suddenly appeared before them. Bard was also surprised. Chantillion did not understand the meaning of the scene he had just witnessed. He should know about the human hunt, but he couldn’t connect the knowledge with what he had seen.

“It’s a lie,” the lord’s voice silenced the room’s murmurs.

“I’ve never heard of a knight named Bard Rowen. This dagger is a blatant fake. To impersonate the name of the great general, the pillar of the national army, is an unforgivable crime. Men, cut down these impostors!”

Chantillion, looking flustered, tried to speak to the lord again. The lord’s order was so abrupt that his servants couldn’t move immediately. Bard didn’t waste this brief moment. He drew his ancient sword, calling the name of Stavros in his mind, and slashed at the knight in metal armor.

There were eight enemies in the room besides the lord. All of them had swords at their waists. It seemed that those who were relatively skilled had gathered in this room. He figured that if he could somehow deal with the two in helmets, he could find a way out.

The ancient magic sword, re-sharpened by a master craftsman, split the head along with the helmet, emitting an invisible blue-green light. The lord’s servants drew their swords and attacked. Bard took a step forward without paying attention to the other enemies, and swung his ancient sword from left to right aiming at the neck of another helmeted enemy. The head, still in its helmet, flew into the air. A sword hit his flank. He caught another sword with his left hand. To gain distance, he jumped back. As he jumped, he looked at Chantillion. If he could successfully restrain the lord, the situation would instantly turn in their favor.

Chantillion was standing still, not even drawing his sword. The lord was swinging his sword from the front, and the captain of the knights was thrusting his sword from behind, trying to attack Chantillion. Bard’s back hit the wall. Two enemies were approaching, raising their swords from the front. He blocked the sword of the enemy on the left with his left arm and thrust his ancient sword at the enemy on the right. The enemy on the right was blown back.

Kicking the wall with his right foot, Bard leaped forward. He grabbed the face of the enemy on the left with his left hand, pushed him forward, and threw him. He rolled over, taking the enemy behind him with him. The two enemies who had avoided falling immediately attacked Bard.

Bard glanced to the right. The lord had his right hand slashed and had dropped his sword. The captain of the knights had his abdomen slashed sideways, spilling his guts. As expected of Chantillion. Even in a state of confusion, his polished skills were alive. But something was still wrong. He had a sword, but he was trembling as if he was terrified of what he had done.

While catching this situation out of the corner of his eye, Bard quickly ran to the left. He had positioned himself so that he didn’t have to deal with two people at the same time. He blocked the incoming sword with his left arm and immediately drove his ancient sword into the enemy’s neck. The enemy, who started to spurt blood violently from his neck, was kicked away by Bard. He hit the enemy who was getting up behind him. He quickly ran up to him as he lost his balance and slashed at his neck.

Looking around, he saw that the enemy he had stabbed in the stomach first was trying to get up, so he struck him from the back to the shoulder. He then split the head of the lord, who was still holding his right hand and screaming.

Turning around, he saw that the door had been opened and the lord’s servants were peering into the room with pale faces. Bard told them that the lord who had violated the national law had been punished and that anyone who resisted would be killed. They ran away.

Chantillion was standing dumbfounded, looking down at the captain of the knights he had killed. This young man was supposed to have combat experience, but what was going on? No. Even if he had combat experience, hunting down thieves as the leader of a knight squad or chasing beasts was different from what happened today. Bard himself had suffered for days and days, remembering the sensation of his sword biting into his opponent’s flesh the first time he killed someone. The smell of human blood and spilled guts is intense. Moreover, the opponent was a knight of his own country.

But now was not the time to take it easy. He hurried Chantillion outside. He ordered him to quickly free those who were tied up. He heard a scream. It was a woman’s voice. A fleeing knight was trying to lift a woman onto a horse. Bard started running. Chantillion ran past him. Bard slowed down and looked around. He could leave the screaming woman to Chantillion. Fortunately, there were no others causing havoc.

When he returned his gaze to Chantillion, he had knocked down the scoundrel and freed the woman. She was a daughter of Eina, but not Riza. She was a younger girl with black hair. Bard went to the knight who had tried to kidnap the woman and asked where he was going. He answered with the name of a knight he didn’t know, and when asked who that was, he said it was a knight who had a territory a little south of here. Bard ordered Chantillion to release the man. After all, several people must have escaped earlier. They had to hurry.

They freed those who were bound, and Bard announced. The lord who was hunting people to sell as slaves has been punished. It would be better to run away immediately as the lord’s comrades might come. If it’s only a few days’ worth of food, they can take it from this mansion and they’ll turn a blind eye.

The people of Eina acted quickly. Without waiting for the chief’s order, they rushed into the mansion. As they entered, the mansion’s people came out and ran away. Each carrying their belongings. Some of the captured people went into the mansion, while others thanked and left immediately. Chantillion was confused.

Bard explained to Chantillion. The news of the lord’s death will soon spread to the neighborhood. He don’t know what kind of knight he was, but there will be relatives, relatives, or faction members. Those who knew the lord’s crime and were sucking up to him will try to kill them for revenge. Those who thought of the lord as a family shame will try to kill them to silence them. Either way, they can’t stand and fight here.

Bard and Chantillion entered the mansion again. They heard a scream. When they entered the room, there were women who were probably the lord’s family, and several men were attacking them. When they got closer, they were trying to steal a necklace. The owner of the necklace was probably the lord’s wife. The men trying to steal it were men who had been servants until a while ago. Bard drove the men away and declared that he would not allow anyone to touch this room, and left the room.

The chief of Eina came and thanked him for saving them, and asked where they were going. Bard replied that he wanted to go to a town or village in the north or west. The chief said that there was a village three quarters of a mile to the west, and if they go two quarters of a mile further north, there is a big town. When Bard said that they would head there, the chief asked if they could accompany them. He was asking for their protection. The people of Eina would be walking with their luggage on a cart, so they couldn’t move fast. Bard smiled slightly, praised the chief for his shrewdness, and agreed to go with them. The chief bowed deeply.

The people of Eina came out of the mansion. They were carrying dishes and furniture in their hands. In other words, they had stolen them. Bard stopped Chantillion, who was about to open his mouth. These people also need travel funds. After all, they ended up working for free in that village.

Bard urged the chief to hurry up with the packing and explained to Chantillion. There was a man earlier who was trying to kidnap a woman and deliver her to a lord in the south. That means that the lord is a person who would happily accept a kidnapped woman as a gift. Hearing this, Chantillion seemed to understand. Bard went to the well, drew water into his water bottle, and washed off the blood on his armor. Chantillion did the same. Then they left the mansion with the caravan.

7

It was fortunate that it was a night of two moons. The group hurried as much as they could. However, except for those with bad legs and the young ones, they were all on foot. No matter how bright the moon was, they couldn’t move quickly on the mountain path at night. Eventually, dawn broke. And by the time the sun was high in the sky, they had arrived at the village.

The village chief was surprised at the arrival of the group, but the Eina’s troupe was exactly who he had been hoping for. They quickly arranged to perform their arts at night, and everyone rested in the shade of the trees near the village. After all, they had been taken to the lord’s mansion after exhausting themselves with their performances, and then walked without eating. Everyone was terribly tired. The village chief thoughtfully had water brought to them. He looked a little puzzled at Bard and Chantillion, but said nothing in particular.

As the sun began to set, Chantillion woke up. Bard had woken up a little earlier and was watching the villagers prepare for the feast while taking care of his weapons and armor. There was no need to rush anymore. Even if pursuers came in such a public place, they couldn’t do anything violent. The chief brought food, but Chantillion didn’t eat. He said nothing and hugged his knees, refusing to move.

Then the festival began. The Eina’s people, who probably hadn’t been able to rest their bodies much, were energetic and performed their arts skillfully, greatly entertaining the villagers. Enjoying the hustle and bustle from a distance, Bard drank his liquor. Chantillion was as usual.

What was he suffering from? Was it the fact that there had been a knight who did not fear being confronted with justice? Was it the fact that he had killed a person?

After much thought, Bard decided to say what needed to be said. “Chantillion. Do you think it was necessary to kill everyone in that room? But it had to be done. A person who kills for a piece of bread can never return to being a decent human being. That person will kill again when they are hungry. It’s the same as a beast that has tasted human flesh and starts targeting humans next. No fool would capture a man-eating beast and release it into the wild. A person who has been poisoned and has become poison themselves can never return to their original state. If you let a person who hunts people go, they will hunt people again somewhere. We saved someone who was supposed to be hunted ahead of us.”

Whether Bard’s words entered his ears or not, Chantillion gave no reply. If he were fourteen or so, he could slap him on the cheek and then hug him. But the other party is a twenty-four-year-old adult. He’s not at an age where a father figure can hug him. It’s pitiful, but he has to recover on his own. No, wait.

Bard stood up and approached the circle of the festival. The villagers were dancing. There she was. Resting in the shade of a tree a little distance away. As Bard approached, Riza smiled broadly.

“I thought you’d come.”

Bard said to Riza. “It’s a difficult thing to ask, but I ask you. My young companion seems to be heavily burdened by the fact that he killed a knight of his own country. Perhaps it was his first time taking a person’s life. At such times, the warmth of human skin is the best medicine. Could you show that young man a gentle dream?”

Riza, still smiling, said this.

“You. Have you ever been told you’re insensitive? But I understand. Thank you for helping us. I’ll take care of the boy.”

Bard thanked her and walked away. He made a makeshift tent with a large sheet lent to him by the Eina’s chief, and filled it with soft grass. His joints hurt in the wind at dawn, so a tent that can block the wind is appreciated. Wrapped in his cloak, he lay down and thought in a daze.

What does Chantillion’s innocence mean? He was born and raised in a high-ranking noble family, so he should have seen plenty of human malice. He should have been raised to scheme as naturally as breathing. No, that’s not it. That’s just Bard’s assumption. He doesn’t actually know anything about how Chantillion was born and raised. Chantillion values justice and believes that good should be rewarded. He has a pure heart. That’s the truth. If he can maintain that good nature and develop a sense of judgment that is in line with reality, wouldn’t that be wonderful? It would be meaningful for many people in this country.

Then a cold wind blew in. Someone was sneaking into Bard’s sleeping place. The sweet scent of tulsi flowers was in the air. A soft body stretched out to snuggle against Bard’s body. Bard said he asked for Chantillion, but she said,

“I sent a young girl. She’s been properly instructed, so it’s okay. You said it, didn’t you? We also have our own feelings.”

Riza’s fingers stroked Bard’s beard.

“You smell like salsa. My man.”

Salsa grows well in the frontier, but he’d never seen it in the central plains. It’s just an ordinary grass, with no particular smell. Bard missed the wild mountains of the frontier.

Chapter 8

“Come on, let’s hurry.”

Chantillion urged Bard. He had just eaten and wanted to relax a bit. There was no point in rushing, but he wouldn’t listen. Where had last night’s meekness gone?

This morning, when Bard and Chantillion set off, the people of Eina saw them off. Among them was a young woman waving a fine white handkerchief. It was a handkerchief of Teiel silk. It was incredibly expensive and undoubtedly a gift from Chantillion. Even after the village was completely out of sight, Chantillion looked back several times.

After a sweet dream with a daughter of Eina, one must always pay a price. Bard hadn’t taught Chantillion that far, but it seemed he had given a gift instead of money. That’s fine. Let’s keep quiet for now about the fact that the handkerchief will probably be sold off immediately. Bard also tried to give Riza a considerable amount of money, but she said it wasn’t enough. She wanted money that would make the chief nod involuntarily. The chief didn’t seem that greedy. Since he wasn’t short of money, he gave her an amount that was probably a hundred or two hundred times the market price.

Chantillion complained of hunger before noon. There was a river nearby, so they took a meal and a break on its bank. Chantillion ate with great gusto. When asked if he was going to leave the mansion as it was, Bard replied,

“What, you can’t run away with the territory on your back. There must be others with a dark past. There must be a dealer who brokered the slaves without any documents. The target is there. First, we need to find the buyer and secure a witness who won’t move. Isn’t there a mine or a salt field nearby?”

Chantillion then said there was a large coal mine of Black Stone nearby. Moreover, it was a mountain owned by a family with ties to the Graybuster family.

“There is a mansion in the town along the highway, and if you go there, you will understand the situation.”

“That’s fine, but Yueitan hasn’t eaten enough grass yet. This horse becomes decidedly grumpy when it doesn’t get enough food.”

When he said that, Chantillion replied, “I’ll give you the best fodder in town, as much as you want.”

As if understanding those words, even Yueitan started urging Bard. He’s a greedy horse. He wonder who he takes after.

Urged on, Bard mounted Yueitan. When he put his hand in his chest pocket, he found a few leaves of well-dried soy straw. He thought about throwing them into this stream, but for some reason he didn’t.

After that, the two of them continued their journey for a while. They returned to the royal capital at the end of September, when autumn was deepening, exactly three months after they left.