Chapter Two: The Difference Between a Kettle And a Brain (Pt.27)

The morning sun is rising.

At the dawn, we dropped down the baron in a remote area around the Renus City. The baron has already lost all his courage, he is completely like a zombie now. Even if he return to the city, he now has no property, no force We encouraged him to find a friend to help him, but he doesn't seem to have any friend. Revenge happily is the best thing, but look at his depressed face! We still feel very sorry. How would he not have even one friend?

I can probably understand the way of Karl's revenge. He induced the results which woulld be produced naturally from the Baron Silikian's characteristics. If Baron Silikian was a highly prestigious person, then no matter he disappears or not, he could still retain his property and prestige. Karl's revenge is to make the potential penalties happen, while a good person won't be damaged at all.

But this is very effective on Silikian. Hmm, Karl is a very scary person. Wehn I finished, Karl immediately laughed.

"You are right, Nedval. A person who commits crime, even if he didn't get any penalty that can be seen, he can't feel easy to live. Because the penalty would have been built up gradually within his heart. The so-called penalty doesn't happen anywhere else. If there is a wise judge, he will know the most appropriate penalties of criminals, already exists in the hearts of those criminals. I am just following this principle. "

Now we are in the middle of a mountain in the east of Renus, and we are camping here. Going to sleep when the sun is rising seems a bit strange, but because we haven't slept all night, so we can't move on.

While I am enjoying the morning sun, watching the vague lights of Renus City, I say:

"Renus, we have good memories there, bad memories also."

"This is the same no matter where it is. As long as it's a place where human lives, this's the same."

This was Karl's answer. I looked at Iruril.

Iruril is looking at the morning sun. Then she slowly closed her eyes slowly, facing the sunlight like a sunflower. The sunlight shining on her eyelashes is really beautiful. "Iruril? Can you compare human cities and elves cities?"

Iruril still closes her eyes, she said:

"Elves has no city."

"Then what is your point of view, as an elf, on human society? Frankly I am a bit worried, and a little ashamed. What is your opinion on our society?"

My question also attracted the attention of Karl and Sanson. Iruril said:

"Well ...... There are a lot of disappointments. There are also many amazing things, it is very difficult to define in one sentence. Although I only spent three days in that city, I feel like I've been there for 30 years. Does human usually live a day like that? "

"We certainly don't make every day that adventurous."

"Really? I was suspecting that was it because such intense life, so humans tend to have a short life. I especially couldn't imagine the behaviors you guys did last night...."

"Clever, right?"

Iruril smiled,. Then she opened her eyes and looked back.

"Yes, that's clever. Those clever acts, despite the virtue, only to express my feelings, they made me very jolly! This is a similar feeling to the sense of speed, very jolly, and comfortable. Oh, I don't know how to describe this in human words. 'Vibrant'? I don't know. "

"It's ok. We totally understand what you want to say."

I'm relieved. Iruril didn't give us any negative opinions. I was very worried that Iruril would think all humans are like the kind of Baron Silikian. I always thought humans were full of love. But after being together with other races, now I always feel that it will be great if human can be a little better, a little more elegant. I myself is a typical human.

Sanson said:

"Well! Let's sleep! We are all very tired."

Karl leaning against a tree, said:

"I didn't do much yesterday, I will guard. You quickly have a sleep!  We wasted three days, if we want to speed up, we must get enough rest ."

I had a dream, in the dream there was Jamini and my hometown Fief Heltant. Was that a nightmare?

※ ※ ※

Creak creak! That's the sound of stretching bones.

"Ah, when can we sleep on a bed again?"

While I was twisting the body, I said to myself. My bones sound scattered.

Karl leaning against the tree, is sleeping. Well, such a good guard! Sanson heard me talking and opened his eyes, then stood up. He looked at Karl and laughed, then he woke Karl up. Karl hurriedly explained that he fell asleep just now,  he is very sorry, but Sanson said with a smile:

"It doesn't matter. We all stayed up late, this is reasonable. Sleep there. It's not good to travel in the night, I think we should have a whole day of rest today here."

"Does time allows?"

"Originally we planned to finish everything in a month and a half, but we wasted three days in the Renus City, so we have around forty days left only. We have to have an audience with His Majesty the King, also to visit the Huritchell family, and to sell our fief, will there be enough time? "

"Forty days, only forty days .... Well, Percival,, I heard it takes a month to get into the palace." 

"Huh? Is the Palace so big?" 

"No, that's because it first from has to be reported to the officials, level to level, so it will take such a long tme. Fortunately I am a full-fledged deputy of Fief Heltant, what we have to report is about the king's dragon. So they should be able to arrange an audience with His Majesty the King for us immediately."

I interrupted and said: 

"But is it necessary for us to see His Majesty the King? As long as we tell the officials that Cathselprime was defeated, then they can transmit that to the King right?" 

"That could cause trouble. If it's something else, maybe we could do this, no, we do this for anything else, but the dragon is different. Wherever the dragon is, she is still the king's dragon. And Cathselprime for his Majesty the King, is a very important. His Majesty the King sent her to Fief Heltant directly. And Because it was sent by His Majesty directly, we have to report this directly to his Majesty, but not the officials under. "

"Oh! Really annoying. Is that very important?" 

"Very very important. In case His Majesty the King gets angry, we could be beheaded. The officials certainly don't want their heads chopped off." 

"Huh? Beheaded, that's death penalty?" 

Karl tittered. 

"Of course that will not be our case. Theoretically that could be a outcome, but we don't have to worry too much about it. The person in charge of operations the thane of Heltant, but we our thane has full transferred the command to Earl Huritchell. So responsibility of defeat should be on Earl Huritchell "

"So Karl you will be safe?" 

"Right, as long as we tell His Majesty:"Cathselprime was sent to support, but we were still defeated, we are really guilty, "His Majesty the King should forgive us, and then we will be fine. We have to this officially, and be recorded. Moreover I heard that his Majesty the King is very kind. After his elder brother being dethroned, when he became the Crown Prince, people were even excited about that. "

"Oh, really surprising." 

Karl took a deep breath and looked at me, then smiled. But he turned to a sad face again. 

"Only forty days... Reporting the lost war is not really a big problem. The really problem is how do we raise the money. That's what I'm worrying about. Even if Deacon Mr Hamel has huge talent, it's not possible o raise enough money within our fief, after all, the money is our responsibility. When we arrived the capital, we have to beg the King family, or beg the House of Lords, no matter what, we must raise the money. I brought all the tax right pleadings, we will sell them as the last resort."

Seeing Karl so worried, Sanson interrupted: 

"Well, we can find a way to return in a shorter time. Because I didn't traveled on these roads, I was planning by the map only, so It was a bit uneasy to plan the route. But we should get a little more familiar when we return, right? "

"You're right. I understand." 

Karl nodded, and then went into the blanket. He struggled in the blanket over and over again, distressed for a long time before he fell asleep. Sanson opened the luggage, took out the geography book, and then began looking at the map carefully. And me, I took out the basket Jusina gave us.

In the basket there are bread, beer, as well as cheese and fruits. Ha, That girl could say those funny words. What was that? Her own heart has been given stolen by a traveler? She will miss the traveler for her whole life? Ha ha ha! 

The large beer bottle is sealed tightly, it is sealed with wax. Once I opened the lid, a lot of foam came out, probably because just it was shook badly. After I drank a little, I gave it to Sanson, and then began to eat the bread.

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.21)

"Ha? Really?"

I even forgot the method of controlling my strength that I risked my life to practice, happily jumped and got my head hit by the ceiling. Gosh, my head. The place got hit yesterday got hit again, that really hurts. The soldier who talked to me looked at me with surprised eyes, and Karl laughed.

The soldier slowly said to me:

"Ah. Mr. Nedval, the thane and Earl Huritchell's troops were all captured by the goblins. I pretended to be dead, so I didn't get caught. Then a goblin came to stab the corpses to verify whether the people had died, it came to my side, and I struck it with all my strength, then finally managed to escape. "

I was too happy, and I even forgot the pain of my head. I kept saying all kinds of blessings to soldier, like becoming a billionaire no matter what kind of career, getting a super beautiful wife, the next eight generations will be wealthy and healthy etc. The soldier is laughing, and asked me:

"Hey, why can you jump so high?"

"If you can not to flatter girls who are your enemies, you will become like me!"

After the words that no one could understand, I was too happy, so began shrieking some strange noises, ran out of the hall.

On the next day after Sanson arrived, I heard this news from a escaped soldiers. Really very happy! Dad surely knows how to strain on the battlefield. I am hopping around, sometimes doing some flips, which makes the passing people think this guy is 100% crazy.

When I was lying in the middle of the training ground and smiling at the sky, Sanson ran over. Sanson had removed his dirty armor which was full of the dust and blood and put on clean clothes. I wanted to speak to Sanson, but he spoke first with a smile:

"I also heard that. On the way I saw that you were simply crazy, so I asked someone what happned. It's great, Huchi."

"Yeah! My father doesn't know anything, even doesn't know how to die."

"....Can it be considered as a compliment?"

"By the way where are you going? Why don't you take a rest, but instead even wore these formal clothes."

"I'm going to some local families, informing them that their family was killed, this is my mission."

This moment, I suddenly felt very guilty for my happiness just now. The war dead's houses will soon become scenes of tears. Sanson saw my sorry face, smiled at me and said:

"In fact, you have nothing guilty. Your happiness is exactly the same as the sadness of the families, are a matter of course."

"But... This seems that I only care about myself."

"Seeing you got happy to such a degree, that could be right too. If you still feel guilty, go to help Tyburn. I heard that you have became his assistant?"

"Okay."

Tyburn in the hall is busy taking care of the soldiers, but just like Karl said, the soldiers were able to come here then their injuries can't be too serious. Most of them are just with minor injuries, in fact, the bigger problem is that they are exhausted. They were constantly attacked by monsters in the process of fleeing, so they are extremely tired after arriving here.

Tyburn has handled several critical injuries, now he is just sitting on a chair and commanding the maids. I am commanded by Tyburn, transporting the injured soldiers to their home.

Sanson met me on the way to the village, he made a surprised expression on my strength. I am briskly pulling the cart loaded with wounded, Sanson grabbed the car and is running at the back.

"Wow, you say this is OPG? Really incredible!"

"So now I am finally similar to you. Because I have got the power of an ogre."

"What did you say! You! Your wicked mouth is still the same."

On the way sending these soldiers back to home, each of them showed a happy face. In the village, when I put them down in front of the door of their house, looked at the tears of their family members, and I felt that I was almost going to cry too. The cart I am pulling is loaded with joy. Once the villager saw me pulling the cart, they would cheer for the people above. Oh! You came back alive. All thanks to everyone's blessing, sorry for letting you worry. Cray! You came back! Oh, Diane!

I looked at a smooching couple and almost laughed out happily. This is really a happy job.

However, sometimes Sanson stopped at the doors of the homes of the war dead, went inside to convey the bad news, I really couldn't bear to watch that scene. Men handshake with Sanson with a stiff expression and say thank you,  and women clutch Sanson and cry loudly. Whenever this happened, Sanson could only motionlessly look at the sky. Tears dropped from his eyes, the cheeks of the soldiers and me are also moistened by tears.

"Hey, don't worry about it!"

"I say sit!"

We've been to the entire village, sent all the soldiers back, then I forced Sanson to sit on the cart. Sanson refused, but only carrying one person back to castle is fine for me, so he finally couldn't refuse my strong request, laughed and sat on the cart.

"Alright! Let's go!"

"Wow!"

I began to run with the speed that almost overturned the cart. Behind me is Sanson's scream.

"Cart, the cart will be entirely destroyed! You! I don't want to die here!"

"What did you say? Because it's still too slow so you are deadly bored? Charge!"

"Wow Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

I wanted to make Sanson happy, but he seems to be scared. Once we arrived the castle, where he rolled down the cart, he ran away without looking back. I looked at his back and laughed.

※

I laughed for a while, then put the cart to a side, again walked into the hall. This is in order to see if anyone had turned better. But I don't see Tyburn sitting in the hall. Karl is not here too. I don't know why, so I ran to find deacon Hamel.

"Ehh, Mr. deacon, where did Tyburn go? "

"Ah, Huchi you are back? Great. Come with me."

"Huh?"

"We are waiting for you. Hurry."

※ ※ ※

Surprisingly, after sending the wounded back, deacon Hamel directly brought me to the thane's office in the end on the first floor. I've lived so long, but I've never came in to see for even once. On the right side of the corridor, weapons hanging on the wall are flashing with the sunlight reflection, on the left side that sunlight can't shed, several portraits are hung there. I guess in the pictures are the ancestors of the thane. Hanging there probably is to prevent sunlight from damaging the color! I was thinking this kind of things, while moving forward.

Deacon Hamel proficiently opened the huge wooden door and went inside, I pouted and followed him.

I looked around the room, immediately sighed. It's almost empty. It's surrounded by straight stone walls, there are only a few desks, tables, a few chairs and some bookcases like furnitures. Sword with shield hung above the fireplace look like the only ornaments. I know our thane is very poor, but is this even an office of a thane?

There is a table near the huge window, Tyburn, Sanson and Karl are sitting there waiting for us. I don't know what is happening, so I am just standing, but Karl immediately told me to sit down.

"Nedval, come here and sit. Mr deacon?"

Deacon Hamel also sat down. The five men sitting around the table, Sanson and I don't know the reason for coming here, so we are a confused look. Deacon Hamel is a worried expression. But Tyburn and Karl have no special expression.

Deacon Hamel began.

"Now I speak in the identity of the thane's deputy..... Young master Karl? You really don't want to be the thane's deputy?"

Sanson's face changed instantly, became very surprised, but I just nodded.

Why Karl dares to stay in the forest of the thane, live in it leisurely and comfortably? Because his name is Karl Heltant. He is the younger brother of Thane Haltent. In the village, except me, only a few people know.

Karl shook his head.

"I don't have a qualification, I have never helped my brother, and just living a lazy life in the forest. And I have said several times, I don't want to take my brother's seat when he's not here.

Although deacon Hamel showed a face of regret, he didn't continue to push. Sanson is gazing at Karl if an unbelievable expression. then hurriedly looked somewhere else. Deacon Hamel said:

"Well, Guard Captain Sanson Percival!"

"Yes Sir!"

"In order to report on the status of the Heltant Fief and the defeat of The Ninth Amurtaat Crusade, and to  request assistance from the King His Majesty, we must send someone to the capital Vyseus Impel. Understand?"

Young master Karl Heltant will be going to the capital. But we need guards here, you should also know that most of the soldiers in the town are injured, into the late autumn, if the monsters found that the guards are weakened, they must desperately attack, that's within our expectation. So we can't send too many people to escort young master. Young master said he wants to go to the capital on his own, but that is simply outrageous. In this season how can you reach the capital by one person? Therefore, I hope you , together with another person to go with him."

Together with another person. Sitting here right now, the only one who is unnecessary here is...

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.19)

"Unfortunately, you're correct."

"Then, then how about the other soldiers? Only this soldier came back, then where are the other soldiers?"

Tyburn is still staring at me with his non-functional eyes, and then casually said:

"That is unable to find out now, Huchi. Earl Huritchell and the thane should be safe.I guess it would send the soldier back, is likely to ask for ransom. If Amurtaat's purpose is ransom, then she might also capture all soldiers as captives. Because if she has more captives, she can request more money. "

"Is, is that so? Really?"

At this time the soldier spoke.

"He is correct."

I don't know what to do, suddenly shouted:

"That stupid dragon!"

That white body, love eating mint stupid dragon in the end still lost to Amurtaat. Garbage! That dragon only knows raising its head arrogantly, only knows eating the food offered by the others! Amurtaat hunts its own food by itself. However, that thing only knows how to eat what humans feed it. Now I think of the White Dragon Cathselprime, get even more angry than thinking of Amurtaat.

Deacons Hamel held a meeting. Because our thane is not here, so deacon Hamel became the deputy of  the thane, Tyburn who is responsible for public safety is also attending. Karl also attended. I desperately begged Tyburn, so I am able to attend with the title of his assistant. The Guard Captain Sanson is not here, so Turner is also participating. And there are also several adjuvant officials, the village head, and a few elders. This can't be said a decent conference, so it feels very tragic.

The purpose of the meeting is to listen to the statements of Snow Malhand. The injured heavy infantry is called Snow Malhand. Although he feels very uncomfortable, he still sat down on a chair. No matter how strong his self-control is, he is able to participate in the meeting one hour after the surgery, that's simply unbelievable. He also turned down the blanket, just sat there quietly and explained the situation.

As far as the crusade arrived the Gray Mountains, there were not anything unusual. Although got attacked by some monsters, those were nothing powerful. They finally reached the deepest part of the Gray Mountains, made their formation and began the war in the entrance of the Endless Valley. According to the words of the survivors of previous crusades, as well as other intelligence, Amuraat's lair is in the deepest part of the valley. The valley is not a good place to arrange army, nonetheless the army honestly couldn't do much, but it seems that Earl Huritchell still wanted to plan a best strategy to make full use of those soldiers.

He set the strategy, Cathselprime would trigger the battle, the army then should support on both sides of the valley and from the back. The light infantry form by the guards of our town covered the archery on the cliffs of both sides . The heavy infantry from the capital with the pikes together stayed in the bottom of the valley to wait for attacking Amurtaat. Of course, this plan is entirely presumed that Cathselprime is defeated. That is, if Cathselprime defeated Amurtaat, there would be no further action to take. In case it failed, then Amurtaat would probably also be seriously wounded, so the troops wouldn't let it go, shooting arrows from both sides to prevent it from flying away, and then the heavy infantry and pikes could approach to attack. Hearing this part, Tyburn frowned.

"What a silly plan..."

Snow heard that, his entire face was taut a bit, but immediately relaxed. Tyburn couldn't see the face, but he still started explaining his words.

"He actually divded the weak enough troops into three parts. Concentrating all forces is a better idea. And this plan is completely based on, Amurtaat would appear in the valley, isn't it?"

Snow made a surprised expression, and then continued.

In the morning of the battle, Cathselprime in the valley started roaring in order to get Amurtaat out. Soldiers above and in the valley held their breath to watch the scene. However, what Cathselprime attracted was not Amurtaat, but the army of trolls and goblins on the cliffs.

The small enough army and also got divided into three teams, in addition they were separated on the top and bottom of the valley, so they couldn't quickly assemble, and each team must fight the goblins alone. The heavy infantry and pikes in the bottom of the valley was doing fine. However, the light infantry and archery above got pushed by the goblins, while behind them were cliffs. Goblins and trolls enthusiastically charged, the weakly armored light infantry got pushed back gradually. Especially the archery team, In the friend or foe mixed situation, they couldn't use any power at all. Eventually the troops on the cliffs were either slayed by the goblin's falchions, or fell off the cliff to the bottom of the valley.

In the tangled fight, there was no room for Cathselprime. It could only flew behind the goblins spitting deadly breath, that couldn't help at all. Cathselprime also tried to roar and cast Dragon Fear, but the goblins and trolls had already been stuck in the Dragon Fear of Amurtaat, so they didn't react at all to Cathselprime's roaring.

Finally the troops on the cliffs almost annihilated, the rest of the people managed to flee to the bottom of the valley, that's when Cathselprime could really spit breath above the valley, and repulsed the goblins and trolls. During the period, the heavy infantry and pikes also almost eliminated the enemies under the valley. The heavy infantry melee attack is very strong, and the pikes could hold their fauchards fight the goblins in a distance.

But at this moment, a huge shadow shrouded the valley. Black Dragon Amurtaat appeared. Amurtaat didn't even fly down, only spitting breaths downward. Cathselprime was in the valley, it was unable to spread its wings in all a sudden, so it got some major wounds. Then Amurtaat stroke downward, biting the neck of Cathselprime. But Cathselprime also resisted, bit Amurtaat's leg. Because of the battle of the two dragons , even the cliffs next to them almost got destroyed. Every time when their wings hit the rock, or the dragons rolled the ground, there were huge noises like thundering. The stones were splashed everywhere, the trees were uprooted, and many large rocks rolled down. The dragon's blood squirted like a rain-storm. When Amurtaat's acidic breath encountered the cliffs, acrid smoke began to emerge, but the dissolved got frozon immediately after Cathselprime spitting freezing breath. That instant the valley was pretty much like the inferno.

Then Earl Huritchell issued the evacuation order. The soldiers started escaping on their own. All around the valley are all forest terrain, so it's better to run after spreading out. Snow also began to flee. But after he ran for a while, he heard the sound of flapping wings behind him, also felt a strong wind hitting. He was very scared, at the moment he turned back, Amurtaat's paw hit him straight away.

After this hit, his stomach was cracked. Snow couldn't even the scream, could only lie there waiting to die quietly. But then suddenly a huge sound of vibration was tearing his eardrum. Snow's stomach was wounded, yet he still had to cover his ears. After a while, the vibration slowly calmed down, became a voice that's understandable.

"Human, your wound will not deteriorate in a week. "

Snow widened his eyes and looked upward. Although Amurtaat was hurted due to the battle with Cathselprime, its body was bleeding everywhere,  looked upward in a lying posture, the height of the dragon still almost made Snow fainted. Don't know what magic the dragon cast, his abdomen wound started flashing a weak light.

"Within a week, you will not bleed, the wound will maintain its original state. But after this period, the wounds will begin to deteriorate and rot."

Snow was terrified and trembling looked at Amurtaat. Amurtaat seemed tired, straightened its shoulder up, and then continued to speak. But it's mouth was closed.

"I did so, so your two fragile legs could maximize their speed. Go to deliver a message for me. If you still want the lifes of your commander and stupid thane back, give me 100,000 Purcell gems. The sooner the better. If you procrastinate, they will not be also the see next year's New Year. "

Amurtaat slowly began flapping its wings. The wild wind with dust were spraying on Snow's face, so he covered up his face. Amurtaat's voice converted to strange sound tearing his eardrum again.

"The deadline is one week. Your life depends on how fast you are. Go now!"

Snow finally put his hands down after quite a while. He saw Amurtaat had already flown up the sky . He immediately stood up, kept running back for four days and nights without a single rest.

"Ah.... So the wound after that long, could still maintain and you are so soon to be able to participate in the meeting."

Tyburn nodded. Snow smiled slightly.

"Yes. It was very terrifying. Helding my stomach while I was running, in order not to let my organs fall out from the wound. It is really a very horrible experience I realized that neither bloodshed, nor feeling the pain, as if the wound is others', that kind of wound is the most terrible. "

Every faces in the meeting turned pale. I can no longer wait, so I interrupted.

"Then what about the other soldiers?"

Snow looked at me and shook his head.

"I have heard that. Your father joined the battle, right? But I'm sorry, I didn't see any other soldiers."

I lowered my head, Karl patted my shoulder.

"It doesn't matter, Nedval. You didn't really see your father dead, and didn't he just say, the pike team fought until the last minute, and almost didn't suffer from any damage?"

I lifted my head and cheerfully said:

"Yes. My father promised me that he will definitely be back. Ah, maybe he is now hiding at home, preparing to stun me when I go back."

I tried to talk happily, but seeing the reaction of the people around, I know my face must be very bad. I again lowered my head. Deacon Hamel gently shook his head, said:

"Anyway, first of all, we need to liaison with the King His Majesty."

Tyburn seems to disgree and said:

"Although that sounds reasonable... This war is looked after by the King?"

"No. His Majesty is only responsible for supporting. The responsibility of the success or failure of war is on our thane. And our thane authorized Earl Huritchell to be the combat commander."

"Then all responsibilities are on Heltant Fief. No matter it's the responsibility of getting both of them back, or the responsibility of raising the money. The King should be angry enough because of the White Dragon he sent to support got killed, will he help on the ransom?"

Deacon Hamel shook his head again.

"Even if we sell all the possessions of the thane, it might not be even close to within 100,000 Purcell... Plus these possessions are mostly land, not a random person can buy... Probably even the neighboring thane wouldn't want to buy it ...... "

At this time Snow struggled to say:

"If we contact the Huritchell Family, they should be able to give us some support. And we can often see some similar examples of this situation, if we request His Majesty, he would give the Heltant Fief a long-term interest-free loan. If you are going to sell these lands, not necessarily sell them to the thane nearby. In the capital there should also be some nobles who have the ability to buy it."

"We have to do some calculations. Today is?"

Turner said: "25th September."

"The Dragon said not allowing them to see the New Year. Then we should have around six months, right?"

Hearing deacon Hamel's question, Tyburn made a disagreed expression.

"Sounds right, our country listens to the edict of King Rhuterino, the New Year is on 2nd April. But do dragons use our calender? That's is an uncertainty. If you want an insurance, then you better treat the end of December as the deadline."

"That's... That's only three months left?"

Deacon Hamel's turned his expression into despaired. Hamel is not any famous deacon, just a little deacon under our poor thane. Asking him to raise one hundred thousands Purcell, it's simply impossible.

Damn!

※ ※ ※

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.11)

In fact only a few trolls invaded the granary. The trolls were probably separated into two groups. They let the stronger be in the attack group, and drew the soldiers attention, the weaker caught the chance and went to plunder food. But because of the intervention of Tyburn, their attack group is annihilated. So the soldiers easily cleared the monsters in the granary.

After the things end, like previous order, crying began to come.

I did as the men entrusted, ran to transmit the messages the bereaved families. The girl named Sophia didn't even pretend to listen to me, just kept crying, but the man called Jack held my shoulder and said:

"Thank you, you've done well."

The victims are the three men and the woman they carried. The woman was like injured seriously, died on the way back. Anyway, at least that the woman doesn't need to become a widow, should be in heaven with her husband now. But their children are now ...

Damn!

The soldiers are trying their best to collect the three dead bodies scattered on the road. The trolls slammed them into fragments. But there is also one troll down beside them. Looks like the men fought very thoroughly, and also because the time they bought, the soldiers could arrive before the monsters hurt more innocent.

The soldiers transported their bodies back to their homes respectively, and then cleaned up the corpses of the trolls. I left gently, went to find Jamini with Sanson.

Tyburn is with Jamini, waiting in the tavern "Sindirella's Song". As soon as Sanson and I entered the tavern, we heard a blood-freezing laughter.

"Babble hee hee hee, hee hee!"

Sanson almost pulled out his sword, I became sluggish state like Jamini earlier. Jamini noticed me, waved her hands like dancing and laughed at me. What, laughing at me?

"Ah, it's Huchi? Come... Hee hee hee!"

I staggered, finally approached to the table they are sitting at. Tyburn heard me sitting on the chair then laughed, turned to me and said:

"It's Huchi? You actually have a girlfriend with such a charming laughter. Really happy ha!"

"Bull, Bullshit!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

This moment, I suddenly feel the actual "want to die" feeling. Due to the affair shortly before, many people came to the tavern to relax, they are beating the tables heavily, issuing the "Cor Cor" sound, and laughing. In particular, Sanson is opening his mouth widely, exaggeratedly laughing. Jamini saw it, don't know what she is happy about, is also laughing along.

"Hee hee ... hee hee hee!"

I stared at Jamini. Surprisingly, that Merloc... something bottle is on the table, the cup in front of Tyburn is half empty, but Jamini's is completely finished.

"Hey, what are you going to do, you actually let her drink, Tyburn!"

"Alcohol has been an elixir since the ancient. To help people to forget all worries, troubles, trepidations. Look. For this little girl with charming laughter, this thing is much more effective than my magic, right?"

"Drunk people always think that the words from their mouths are correct."

I snapped my fingers quickly.

"Auntie Hanna! Here want something!"

"You kid, what do you want?"

"Not me, for Sanson! Who do you think I am? A lad who smelt alcohol too early?"

Auntie Hanna smiled, and Sanson ordered a beer. He sat down and said to Tyburn:

"Thank you for your help, I will definitely report to the thane His Honor. Thane His Honor will absolutely give you honorarium. "

"Honorarium? Forget it. You are now busy feeding Cathselprime, and you have to raise fund for the expedition. Or you want to give me lands? Ha ha ha. Give me the cheapest land on the entire continent?"

Looks like Tyburn in these few days, has already well understood our thane.

In fact, our thane is really poor that even I don't want to admit it. Originally all the manors here belonged to our thane, people of the village are tenants of our thane, it was no different from other fiefs. But every time when someone got killed by monsters, our thane would give his bereaved families lands, so that they can make their livings. Nevertheless the bereaved families would eventually sell the land back to the only person here who has the ability to buy land, that is our thane, and then once again become tenants.

Sometimes I wonder, if that's the case, then why didn't thane give them money directly, it should be more easy. However, according to Karl, the land originally belongs to our thane, he can give it away freely. But currency belongs to the king, it can only flow under the King's permission. In other words, the currency metal pieces physically are unconditionally the king's, citizens only use the value of the currency. Although it is getting more headache, in short after the era of the Dragon Lord, money is such a thing. So our thane with his upright personality complies with this principle, doesn't give money but lands, and eventually uses money to buy back the lands. But anyway, he gives away lands and buy them back like this, sure, he wouldn't have any money left.

So now, regardless how much land our thane gives, the people of our village will sell it back with one cent Purcell. If not, our thane had long been bankrupt. Our thane is very angry about this, but we think that we are free to choose how much we want to accept,  to sell how much we want to sell, any need to care what he says? Thus the joke "the cheapest land on the entire continent" rises.

Sanson blushed and answered:

"You're a bit exaggerating."

"Is there something wrong? Listen. I don't have any personal feelings in my words.That's your thane, not my thane."

"Hmm, maybe our thane will hire you as a consultant, not to mention..."

"Official? No way. People in this age, need to go greeting in the morning? It can be very tiring."

Sanson scratched his head.

"Ah, this, I am not so sure. Anyway, I will report this, to let out thane to think of a both appropriate, but also satisfying honorarium."

"I won't stop you from reporting, but could you please at the beginning, tell him that I don't want anything first?"

"Ah, sure."

"So now it's my turn to speak. I have a few questions for you, you don't mind?"

"Ah, feel free to ask."

Tyburn raised his cup and took a gulp, and said:

"The atmosphere of this village, from the thane to the guard captain, and this blind young man with fine eyes, all overwhelmed me. Really interesting."

"What do you mean?"

"The speed for you to forget a tragedy is really fast huh? Even the atmosphere of this tavern is so."

"We are used to it."

This answer is very simple, but this simple answer from Sanson is yet infinitely heavy. I found myself with a sigh.

We often meet scourges, but also quickly forget them. If not, we might be already crazy. We like joking. We live joyfully. But we are not happy.

"Right. Well, I don't know what you think, but I'm very interested in this village. This sort of thing often happens?

"Yes, often happens."

The answer is a bit ridiculous, but it is indeed a Sanson-style answer. What answer Tyburn wanted should be how many times a year, or how many times a month. Tyburn smiled, and asked in another way.

"How many times have you fought?"

"Well... Let me see. When Charles died, I became a guard captain that was the twenty second time. Ah, so probably thirty-fifth or sixth."

I saw Tyburn suddenly made a strange expression.

"Thirty-fifth, sixth?"

Sanson scratched his head, and said hurriedly:

"Ah, I don't know the exact number. It's ridiculous for people like me who play with sword to spend time on this, but because of a feeling, feeling that experiencing more combats, the chance to die in next battle is also higher, so deliberately not to count. Charles fought more than one hundred times, but died shortly after he got the award from our thane. Because I've seen these... If you ask the official historian of the city, he should have the correct record. I can ask today after the report, but..."

"Well, I can understand. You are busy, but I am still bothering you and asking questions, I'm sorry. You may go now."

"Yes, but Mr. wizard, where do you live now?"

"I live in Karl's house."

Sanson said with a surprised face:

"Huh? So you and Karl knew each other?"

"Nope. He said he lives alone, so he welcomed me to live there before I find a house."

"Ah, that. Then I will be excused."

Sanson stood up from the seat, once again bowed to the Tyburn who can't see, and then walked out of the tavern. Now I have another thing to worry.

Jamini don't know when she put her arms on the table, and drilled her head into them, like slept. Seems I must have to take her home. But a few days before she was beaten badly because of drinking, now if she goes back with this red face and keeps giggling, I begin to worry that her hip will again suffer.

Tyburn suddenly somehow said:

"He said thirty-fifth, sixth?"

"Huh?"

"Ah, nothing. Sorry, Huchi. This is a habit of a blind. When he is speaking normally, he can't see the people who are listening, isn't it like talking to himself? So he can be talking himself any time."

"It should be a tiring habit. You mean blinds can speak out their inner hearts freely?"

"If people of your age have this habit, it may be true. But to my age, there is no difference between inner heart and outer heart. Nothing tiring."

"Outer heart? Your words are really interesting. Grandfather Tyburn. Thanks to your blessing, Jamini has completely passed out, what are you going to do to solve it? "

Then Jamini suddenly raised her head.

"I am not drunk! Woo Hee hee hee!"

Wow, I was really shocked. This girl! I thought she fainted. Of course, my mouth began to say a lot of harsh words, and Jamini hummed a few times, and then looked like she felt very noisy, covered her ears, leaned on the table again. I don't want to care about her anymore! Simply go to her home, ask her mother to come here. Hey! What am I thinking? Tyburn said:

"What should I do?"

"Can't you use magics to make her sober?"

Tyburn giggled.

"Make her sober. This makes me think of a wizard story. That wizard was addicted to alcohol, so he could neither spend the time to study and practice magics, nor maintain a clear state of mind. So one day he decided to stop drinking at all, fully concentrated on creating a sober magic. Even the name of the magic was made good, called Cure Drunken. Do you know why did he want to do this? Because he wanted to enjoy drinking, and then use this spell, then he can practice magic also."

"Isn't that very smart?"

"What are you talking about? Smart? No joke. After all this Cure Drunken is a kind of spell. You can't cast any spell under a drunken state, so if he wants to cast, he has to wait until he is sober. So what's the use?"

"Huh? God! He is really stupid!"

I jeered. Tyburn also smiled, poked his long white hair.

"Then what? The wizard couldn't practice magics in the end?"

"No. After that wizard found that he was doing the wrong thing, he found his disciple, taught the magic to him. Then he started to drink happily, asked the disciple to cast the spell on him. Guess what? The disciple became very sober. Since from the beginning, this was a magic that can only be cast on self, rather than a magic that can be cast on the others! "

"Poof, ha ha ha!"

"So the angry wizard and his disciple spent several nights together continuously, tried to amend this Cure Drunken to a spell that can cast on all objects. You know what?"

"What?"

"It's was tough. While the disciple worked with his alcoholic master, at the end became alcoholic too."

"Poof Ha ha ha, ha ha!"

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.8)

"Pooh-Pooh!"

I went to the castle to collect fat oil from the kitchen wastes. On the way out, I spitted on the back door. Deacon of the thane's house, Hamel, concerned about my health status, asked me whether I ate a gut to dare entering the castle with a strong smell of alcohol. If the way he kicked my legs, hit my head could be a sort of concern.

Because I am not going the main entrance, so there is nothing to worry about. Official guests will all use the main entrance. Besides people like me who needs to pay or collect something from the thane house, no one else would use the back door. So there will be no guards, so even if I spit, that won't be a big deal...

"You rude civilian, what you just did?"

My back head which got hit before got hit again. But there is no person can cover me in the castle, so I hurried headed down and said:

"Sorry, I was wrong. I was just unconscious..."

"Ah, willing to reflect your own mistakes now?"

Wait a second. The voice seems familiar. I headed up a little, then saw Sanson's face laughing like a fool.

"Sanson! Damn, almost scared me to death!"

"So why did you something what would make you get scared? You're here to collect the meat?"

"What meat. It's fat! By the way what's a guard captain doing at the back door?"

"Ah, last night I was drunk, I lost something here..."

Sanson spoke safely, then was like suddenly found that the object he spoke to was me. Sanson's face is froze, and I absolutely can't miss this great opportunity.

"Lost something? But your came here secretly to find on your own..."

"I have to perform my guard captain duty, don't I?"

"No, no. There should be no people on duty. If you ask them, they can certainly help you. In other words, that things can not be found by the others..."

"You, you, your imagination is just too rich?"

"Ah? See, you got excited, right? In other words, that thing is very secret, but small enough to be lost. Yes, and you must come back to find such a thing, so it is..."

Sanson's eyes widely opened, with a "Dude, how could you know something you haven't seen before?" face looked at me. I made a face like there is delicious food in front and said:

"Ring, right?"

Sanson quickly looked a me with a fainting face:

"You, you, how did you...?"

"I saw the ring on that girl's finger gone. Who would she give the ring to? I don't even want to mention her name. Her name is..."

Sanson grabbed my shoulder.

"Please... I beg you."

Sanson's expression is really good. I didn't continue, just held my stomach and kept laughing. Ha! A warrior that can duel with an Ogre?

After a while, Sanson and I started searching on the lawn around the back door. Since it's Autumn, so often there are crickets suddenly jumping up. Sanson kept searching desperately, while kept urging me to swear, asked me not to tell anyone else. I said I am only 17, smaller than the age that you can vow, and simply refused him. Vow is for adults, who can be responsible for their own words, then they can vow, isn't it?

"Promise me!"

"Promise what. This is a bit difficult. Sometimes even I myself can't control my mouth."

I was just describing a fact, and Sanson was cursing rudely. Well, so than I'm a lot more classy.

After a while, I found a small copper ring.

"Sanson, I found it! "

Sanson jumped happily. I handed him and said at the same time:

"As it's too small, you can't wear it on your fingers. If you don't want to lose it, you better connect it with a string and put it on your neck."

"Ah, in fact I did it, but the string broke. I should use a chain next time."

Sanson didn't look at me when he was speaking. All his attention focused on the copper ring, carefully touched and looked at it over and over again, as if to inspect whether it's damaged, didn't feel troublesome at all. I guess if I am not here, he would probably put the ring into his mouth, try how it tastes. My whole body is getting goosebumps, can't stand it any more.

We sat under a tree for shade. Sanson is dabbling ring his ring. He blushed and said:

"If I can come back this time, I will officially announce my wedding."

"What coming back this time?"

"Coming back after the Amurtaat Crusade."

My eyes widely opened.

"Huh? Sanson you are going to? Aren't you a guard of the castle?"

"Rather than guard of the castle, you should say guard of our thane. We guard the castle to protect our thane, don't we?"

"Ah, sounds right..."

"Our thane will also participate in the expedition."

This is more ridiculous then my father's participation. I dumbfoundingly said:

"Thane His Honor? Didn't he forget how to ride?"

"Huh? How did you know? So he is riding a chariot this time."

I suddenly opened my mouth largely. What? Chariot? In my imagination, chariot such things should be in the south, in the frontier between Zypern. I won't believe our town has this kind of thing.

"What? We have a chariot?"

"Ah, Thane His Honor ordered my father to make one. Modified from a truck."

I don't want to listen anymore. The thing must not be like a chariot, and not like a truck. But like a carriage in  the market. I truly realized the meaning of "Ridiculousness" at this moment.

"Why is Thane His Honor going? Frankly, if our thane doesn't roll down from the chariot, we have to be thankful for that. You actually want him to swing a spear?"

Sanson laughed and said:

"Well, though it's a little bit rude, but I also don't believe that he can do that."

"So why is he going?"

"Good question. This time, even the dragon and Dragon-Raja has came from the capital! So as the host of this village, he must go."

"So he has no choice, doesn't he?"

"You can't say that too. This time even Deacon Hamel can't stop him. "

"Huh?"

"Since the Sixth Crusade, Thane His Honor always wanted to go. But in that period, Deacon Hamel kept stopping him, didn't he? However, because of the VIPs from the capital, so even Deacon Hamel can't dissuade."

The Sixth Crusade... Ah, was when the only son of our thane, the Junior Thane got killed in action.

Now I remember. Junior Thane Baron Heltant. We don't care about the names of nobles, the only noble in our village is our thane Viscount Heltant, so we wouldn't mix up. But after the son of Viscount Heltant, Albans Heltant graduated from the Tax Officer School in the capital, achieved some feat in the wars with Zypern, he became Baron Heltant. And he got a fief in some distance away from our village, then we started to mix up. We called them Baron Heltant and Viscount Heltant. But we felt troublesome after some time, so we gradually developed a habit, calling them Thane and Junior Thane. I remember Junior Thane liked these titles too.

But Junior Thane didn't rule his fief long. Since he was born, his hatred towards Amurtaat who keeps ravaging his father's territory had continued to accumulate, so even his father asked him to stay, he joined the Sixth Crusade.

Three weeks later, people could see our thane's wife, who is the mother of Junior Thane, holding Junior Thane's helmet, cried on the main road in the village under heavy rain. I was confused at that time, could only follow the people around and cried with the thane's wife. Since the day, I have never seen the thane's wife. She seemed completely hid herself in her own residences and never came out.

I recalled the scene, then whispered:

"Speaking of it... After the death of the Junior Thane, even our thane is still alive, he should be like living in the hell on earth. Probably every morning when he opens his eyes which do not want to open, he will see the cruel fact his son is gone. Every night when he closes his eyes which do not want to close, he will be immersed in the nightmare of the death of his son."

Sanson looked at me with surprised eyes.

"Hey, did you get a fever? or your pulse is some unusual..."

"Enough, enough.  If you have spare time to date girl, please read some books!"

I just used the sentence Karl said to me on a day. But Sanson just smiled after hearing that.

"Then when you come back, you will get married under everyone's blessings?"

"Well. you will come to congratulate me right. I will formally invite you."

Didn't he think, he might not be able to return alive?

I am only 17 years old. But for me, it's also not easy to ask such a question. And if asked, what good answer can I expect? Even if I don't say, his own heart would also emerge such a terrible idea. So I didn't ask, but deliberately made a pleasant expression, very warmly said:

"That... That girl is really pathetic. How can she be with this ogre-like man... Have to blame the mill!"

"What did you say? You cuss!"

"Sigh, who can you blame. Knowing that he would come to the mill at night, why did you go without any vigilance? Before the day, the boy belonged to the girl. But after the day, the girl belongs to the boy. Even the moonlight was tinted red by the impatient confession of the boy. The boy used his sweet lips to lock the girl's lips, made she could not say no. Ah, really poignant. Since lips are stolen, the girl has lost her freedom. Like a bird in a cage, also like mustang horse in a rein..."

"Hey! Huchi! Come back! If you don't move, I won't beat you. Oi! If I catch you, you're dead!"

Sanson's tears are going to fly out. He's like forgotten his guard captain missions, shouting incoherently, chasing after me. I joyfully ran up to the village road. People everywhere are giving me help.

Sanson if was not tripped by a random feet, then he was bumped into a random person. And I am still singing easily, under the enthusiastic response and expectation of the people in the village, I almost said the girl's name out... but Sanson is too poor, I should give him a chance. I will keep it for now, so I can use it  for the next time.

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.7)

"So your name is Tyburn. Are you familiar with Dragons?"

"No, not familiar."

"...Look. You dare to interrupt our conversation, you must got enough wisdom and experience that can give valuable suggestions to us, right?"

I can also talk like this. Thanks to Karl. The tattoo blind called Tyburn made a smile with his blind eyes.

"Because you asked a wrong question."

"Huh?"

"Rather than familiar with Dragons, you should say that I am familiar with Magics."

"You are a wizard?"

"Oh? So you are same as me? I'm glad to meet you, blind comrade."

What he meant should be: "You saw me dressing like this, yet you didn't realize I am a wizard?" But I've never heard that a wizard must be full of tattoos, wearing a black robe and running around.

"Karl, tell him I am not blind, please?"

"That's right. This young man is not a blind. He just can't see anything with his opened eyes."

"That would be worse than a blind."

Because Karl allied with Tyburn, I became a blind with fine eyes. Karl heard my snort, he smiled and went on to say:

"I have not seen you in this area. My name is Karl."

"You already know my name. If you ask me the purpose of coming here, I can only say, I am just an elderly who is looking for a place to spend the rest of my life."

"The rest of your life?"

"Ah, I'm tired of travelling around with my blind eyes, I want to find a place to settle down, meanwhile choose a cemetery, mow a bit. So I have a request for you, please tell me what this village looks like?"

"Our thane is Viscount Heltant, a very good person. If he gets to know you've traveled around the mainland, thane His Honor will definitely invite you, ask about your great wisdom, or interesting customs from faraway places. Unfortunately you came at a wrong time."

Tyburn nodded.

"Even if you didn't say, I found that it's very noisy everywhere when I arrived. I was considering about leaving  immediately. But people to my age, will avoid making reckless decisions. If you are free, can you take me to a tavern? I will pay for you two's drinks, you should be able to give me some advice."

In contrast to his frightening appearance, Tyburn's temperament seems to be very mild. He found out the situation, then politely requested our help. And he said "You two", of course I am included. I 100% agree. Karl looked at my face, noticed that there is no need to ask me "You busy?", we began to move.

※

When we were walking to a tavern called "Sindirella's Song" in the village plaza, Tyburn surprised me.

On the way there are many puppies, as many naughty children who are as lively and naughty as the puppies, and there are pits and muddles created by livestock and carriages. But Tyburn could walk easily like he could see. Actually, we could think that's because he's wearing long boots, so he can walk causally without any hesitation, but that's not the fact. Tyburn is dodging those things naturally while moving forward. Maybe his hand holding the cane is really sensitive.

Long boots? Looking closer, it's even quality. I suddenly feel the sand fell into my wooden shoes, began to stare at Tyburn's boots with envy. Unwittingly, we have arrived "Sindirella's Song".

In the tavern there are many people, who've just seen Catheslprime's departure and came for a drink. It is really noisy inside. They are likely discussing how many times Catheslprime waves her wings in one minute. Currently the majority voted Six. So it's simply once every 10 seconds But actually, she can wave whatever times she wants.

Karl helped Tyburn to sit down politely. The tavern proprietress Auntie Hanna saw me far, and laughed loudly.

"Oh you, they said that you are used to drink the forest secretly, and runs to the valley when you are drunk. Now you come to the tavern publicly?"

Come on, what happened yesterday for the first time, how did it become my habit? I pointed to my companions with my chin, said angrily:

"They took me here."

"Sure. This two will drink beer, you will drink milk?"

"Three cups of beer!"

"No, I want red wine. Do you have Merloc Cabernet?"

The old wizard Tyburn said. Proprietress changed her face. What's wrong?  Proprietress is looking at Tyburn with surprised eyes.

"Well, there is. Ah, but...That..."

Tyburn smiled, handed into his chest, and took out a coin.

The thing appeared in front of our eyes, is reflecting the morning sun shone into the tavern to all directions. It is a glittering gold coin. As it's too bright, I almost had to shut my eyes. Under the shiny light, those who have been discussing about then number of time Catheslprime's wings waved, are all surprised and watching here. Auntie Hanna is a bit panic, looks like she is not confident enough to pick that thing up, she simply caught that thing with her skirt. Her trembling hand finally picked up the thick gold coin on her skirt.

Auntie Hanna nervously said:

"That, sir, you sure you did not give a wrong one?"

"Ah? Is that not enough? Isn't that 100 Purcell? Looks like I am too old. Hand touch becomes dull."

Tyburn handed into his chest again, Auntie Hanna said quickly:

"No, you're correct. This is 100 Purcell."

"Is it? Haha. So my hand has no problem. Great, you order too."

Karl still ordered a beer, but I am only a 17-year-old boy.

"Merlot Canetber!"

Auntie Hanna stumped the back of my head.

"It's Merloc Cabernet! You dumb."

"...Beer."

Auntie Hanna shook her head and then walked away.

"Oh, bad. It's been 7 years. Losing one bottle again. Now there are only two bottles left."

So we are now drinking two cups of beer and that....Whatever. Anyway, a bottle of strange wine was placed on the table. Auntie Hanna are sighing that this was left for her son-in-law in the future, left for her grandchildren, while running to the windows, showing the gold coin under the sunlight, gazing at it with praised eyes. People in the tavern also ran to Auntie Hanna and looked at the coin, started to esteem it.

"The feeling of this tavern is great."

"When we talk about taverns, we think of this place."

"Ah, it's really a nice village. The thane's reputation is also not bad."

"It should be more accurate to say he is weak."

"Not a bad thing. What about Catheslprime?"

"She came because of Amurtaat."

"I heard somewhere in the Central Avenue has been being devastated by the Black Dragon."

"It's here."

"Really. This is bad. Such a beautiful village is actually suffering so much."

"You reversed the causality. We should say because of Amurtaat, our village became beautiful."

"Is it? But that's also possible."

Karl exchanged with Tybur the strange questions and answers that I can't understand. Although I shut my mouth, but after hearing the last sentence of Karl, I can't stand. I am excited and recklessly interrupted.

"Well, may I ask what does this mean?"

Karl seems to have forgotten my existence. He looked at me with confused eyes, and then explained to me with a friendly expression.

"Our village is very strong, while very calm, Nedval. On the entire continent you can not find a place like our village. Our village does not have the confusing and complicated relationships that a metropolis has. Although we are all afflicted by Amurtaat, that's the reason why everyone here can live together peacefully."

I nodded. This is one of the topics I and Karl often share.

"I have heard that from you before."

"Right. The people of our village are tempered very strong because of the pain of living, but they are also equally passionate. Here, even a small soldier can deal with five Orcs at the same time. Your friend Sanson Percival, although I feel pity for him, I feel a bit wasted him, but anyway, he should have enough strength to duel an Ogre? Even so, he continued to be a simple countryside youth. In case he was in a big city like the capital, he would have long been drawn into complex relationships, aimed to become a head of knight, turned into a person who chases for fame only."

I agree with this sentence. Not because he is my friend. If Sanson is really putting on his shoulders the cloak of Knights, waist with a great sword, standing in front of the King His Majesty... It is very unsuitable. Well, Sanson is still more suitable for hiding in a waterwheel mill, impatiently waiting for his lover.

"So?"

"Nothing else special. The people of our village are very strong, but still it's a warm and quiet village. We could say we achieved certain kind of harmony with Amurtaat. But now Catheslprime has came." 

"Catheslprime?"

"If Cathesplrime defeated Amurtaat, the location of our village is very nice, it will soon be greatly flourished. You should know? Our village stands on the highest potential part in the Central Avenue. If you want to enter the unexplored West, our village is an essential checkpoint. Whatever you say, at least this is a village where you can see Merloc Cabernet.

"Is this wine really rare?"

"What are you talking about? It's rare as hell. Even our King His Majesty might not drink this arbitrarily."

My mouth suddenly opened surprisedly. What? Actually ordered a wine that even the King has no way to enjoy, who is this Tyburn guy? Karl continued talk:

"If Amurtaat is gone, that our village won't be able to maintain it's current look. It will flourish."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Well, what will it become after that?"

"Huh?"

"So, number of people coveted our village will increase. People will learn to compete for interests. Even though our thane's heart is good, but if the village gets a bunch of greedy people, can he keep his seat? Now who would want a village like Amurtaat's backyard? So a fair man like our thane can continue sitting in the seat."

I managed to understand what he was saying. In order to understand it, I must consumed a whole cup of beer. Karl added:

"So our village's position is great, the land is fertile, nevertheless doesn't draw any attention of anyone on the continent, people can quietly live with love here. These are all Amurtaat's blessing."

"Stop kidding!"

I kicked the table. Karl seems not very surprised, only Tyburn was shocked, he is moving his eyes which cannot see?

"Do you want us to thank Amurtaat that bitch? Do you mean that, our village becoming a paradise, is because of Amurtaat! Because of Amurtaat, everyone here are fighting with the desire of survival, living diligently and honestly? The monsters came because of that damn thing, got bored and killed the weak people, so now the survivors are all strong, you want us thank it because of that?"

Looks like I can't drink continuously within 12 hours. Although it's been half a day since yesterday, my tipsy feeling surged up suddenly again.

"You say because of that thing, so our village can't development even with topographic advantages, then becomes an idyll place, is a thankful thing? If Tyburn said that, I can understand, but how could you say that? Didn't you often see those tragedies? There must be one or two people die in a month, the look their families cried didn't you see that all? No, now you go to the river immediately and see. Culler who came back after four years as a dead body, you go to tell his family what you said!"

The rest of the people in the tavern, including Auntie Hanna and all the people next to her, are surprised by and looking at me. But I didn't give them a glance, just stared straight at Karl. Karl raised his cup, said to me:

"I've heard about that, Nedval -"

Karl swallowed a gulp of beer, said:

"Your words are right."

Then Tyburn opened his mouth carefully.

"Well. Your name is Huchi isn't it? From my point of view, this Karl has a bit age, so he has been disappointed with people, but teens in your age are still full of love towards people, so for you, his words might not be understandable."

"Bullshit! What do you know, you are just someone we met today aren't you?"

"But it's not the first time I meet people like you."

Then Karl spoke.

"Tyburn, stop. Nedval, this is all my fault, please forgive me."

Karl slightly smiled, and said:

"Those were all drunk words. Please don't mind, Nedval -"

I angrily looked at the two, and then stood up from the seat.

"Nedval?"

Though Karl called me, I ran out without looking back. Damn, once out of the tavern, the morning sun hit my face without any mercy.

This damn Sun.

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