novelraw Chapter 106 : Oldtown
Chapter 106 : Oldtown
Chapter 106: Oldtown
The old woman’s voice did not waver.
Her gaze was the same.
When Robin stayed silent, wondering if he had misheard, the old woman spoke once more.
“Kill someone for me.”
“That’s a dangerous thing to say.”
“Don’t you need money?”
“No matter how much money I need, who kills someone just for money?”
“Isn’t that what mercenaries do—kill people for money?”
Robin hardened his expression and glared at the old woman.
“I saw you looking for veteran mercenaries at the cemetery. Please, listen to what I have to say.”
Sigbard looked at Robin with eyes that asked what he was going to do.
The old woman grabbed Robin’s arm with an earnest expression.
When he gave a slight nod, the old woman opened her mouth.
“Three years ago. It was when the war was in full swing. Back then, a large number of mercenaries poured in from outside.”
The old woman, who had lived alone with her daughter, had led a life that was not abundant, but satisfying.
Until the war broke out.
The war, which dragged on longer than expected, gave rise to problems.
Some mercenaries, exhausted by the brutal battles, failed to overcome the aftereffects they had gained on the battlefield.
Third-rate skills. And a mental fortitude not worth mentioning—a mere hired blade.
A mercenary who spent his days drinking from morning till night noticed a woman.
Late at night. On a deserted street, the woman vanished.
She was the old woman’s daughter.
“My daughter was found as a corpse in a collapsed stable.”
The old woman shed tears of blood, and it did not take long to find the culprit.
Drunk, the mercenary went around bragging about what he had done.
The words he spread as if they were a badge of honor reached the old woman’s ears, and she prayed for the mercenary’s punishment.
“When they went to arrest him, he had already fled.”
They searched the city from top to bottom, but they could not find the mercenary.
As time passed, the old woman heard a rumor.
A village on the road to the west—Oldtown.
Praise for Oldtown’s newly appointed guard captain was widespread.
As rumors usually are, they tended to be exaggerated, but the old woman could not simply ignore it.
Because the appearance of that guard captain closely resembled the one who had murdered her daughter in the past.
“When I went to see him myself, I was certain. It was that bastard.”
But there was nothing the old woman could do.
For whatever reason, the man had changed completely, as if he were a different person—one hundred and eighty degrees.
Personality, manner of speech, attire. Even his martial prowess.
All the old woman was allowed to do was watch from afar and lend an ear to rumors.
“It’s a pitiful story, but there’s a flaw. How can I know whether what you’re saying is true?”
“That’s right… the sheriff said the same thing, and I couldn’t prove his crime.”
“Then I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything.”
“No.”
The old woman took a small pouch out of her bosom.
Two gold coins fell from the pouch.
She handed 2 gold to Robin.
It was a huge sum that was difficult for Robin to handle at present.
When Robin made a puzzled expression, the old woman continued.
“For now, take it. Whether my words are true or not, see it for yourself and make your decision.”
“I never said I would accept.”
“You’re going west anyway, aren’t you?”
The old woman gave a bitter smile.
“I don’t have many days left to live. If I let you go, when would such a chance come again?”
‘She certainly… looks frail.’
Even so, the gold coins felt like a burden.
“What makes you trust me with such a large sum?”
“I may be a worthless old woman, but I’ve lived a long life. If you live long enough, you naturally gain an eye for judging people.”
“Just from secretly following and watching me, you made that judgment?”
The old woman forcibly pressed the gold coins into Robin’s hand.
“If I’m wrong, then that’s something I must bear as well.”
“Robin, take it. We need money.”
Robin hesitated for a moment, then accepted it.
It was on the way anyway.
If the old woman’s words turned out to be true, he would gladly point his sword.
As he stowed away the gold coins, he asked,
“What’s his name?”
“Cruel. You’ll know when you see him—he’s an unpleasant fellow.”
The old woman’s face, as she spoke calmly, was shadowed.
At the same time, her eyes were relieved yet desperate.
It was as if she had finished something she needed to do before dying.
“Thank you for granting this old woman’s request.”
“I’ll see for myself and judge.”
Robin and Sigbard left the city.
The old woman did not see them off.
She had received the money, and she had heard that he would see and judge.
That was enough.
The road to Oldtown was smooth.
The road was neatly paved, and many traveling merchants passed by.
Soldiers on regular patrols were frequently seen as well.
There were no Monsters appearing out of nowhere, nor bands of thieves preying on travelers.
It made him once again realize just how good the public order of the Domain of Count Wilcock was.
‘And yet the old woman’s daughter was murdered—how unfortunate.’
Peaceful.
This word fit the journey perfectly.
Because of that, the old woman’s grief must have been all the greater.
Robin understood that feeling all too well.
‘I wonder what that guard captain called Cruel looks like.’
He would check, but Robin did not have any particular plan.
“What do you think, Sigbard? Do you think the old woman’s story is true?”
“It doesn’t sound like complete nonsense. I could feel her desperation.”
“That’s true.”
“And isn’t there a simple way to find out what kind of man he is?”
“What is it?”
“You fight him and you’ll know.”
Robin had momentarily forgotten the barbarian way of thinking.
“Sigbard, you can’t just pick a fight with the guard captain out of nowhere.”
“What do you take me for? I know at least that much etiquette.”
“Even if you avoid fighting, you can’t provoke him either.”
“That’s not allowed either? Then how are you supposed to fight?”
“…If the other party refuses, you can’t fight. It’s better to resolve things through conversation whenever possible.”
“Is that so. Human customs are complicated.”
‘Good thing I told him in advance.’
Sigbard was relatively mild-mannered.
When a barbarian’s battle instinct awakened, they were so aggressive that sparring matches happened day after day.
It was a wonder how people who loved fighting that much had restrained themselves until now.
“But if the old woman’s words are true, you’re going to kill him anyway, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
“That’s strange. If you’re going to kill him anyway, why can’t you fight him?”
“…Are you actually listening to what I’m saying?”
Sigbard already believed the old woman’s words.
Robin decided on one policy.
He must not let Sigbard come face to face with that guard captain.
“We’ve arrived.”
The village entrance, erected with wooden pillars.
Several people were passing in and out between them.
A guard standing watch at the entrance stopped Robin and Sigbard.
“I don’t recognize your faces. Are you travelers?”
“Yes.”
“From the looks of it, you’re adventurers who know how to use a sword.”
No.
He had not yet registered with the Adventurers’ Guild.
He had gotten money, but paradoxically, that meant he no longer needed to borrow any, so he had put it off.
The untrustworthy-looking receptionist had also played a part.
Although Robin did not reply, the guard made his own assumptions and stepped aside.
As he passed the guard, Robin asked casually, as if it were nothing important.
“People say that Oldtown’s guard captain, Cruel, is very strong. Is that true?”
“Sounds like you’ve heard of our captain’s reputation. It’s true.”
The guard continued proudly.
Appearing three years ago, he had started from the bottom and seized the position of guard captain through sheer skill.
Cruel was also highly respected, rapidly rising to become an indispensable figure in Oldtown.
Sigbard, who had been listening silently, cut in.
“I want to spar with him. Where can I find him?”
The guard looked at Sigbard and frowned.
The difference in size was enormous.
“You are… far too big to be human.”
“I am a Barbarian.”
“A Barbarian? Weren’t they wiped out?”
“That’s enough. Answer the question.”
Robin poked Sigbard in the side.
Depending on the listener, such blunt speech could be taken as overbearing.
In Sigbard’s own way, he had been polite, but the guard’s expression darkened.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it in a bad wa—”
“You’re looking for me?”
Before Robin could finish speaking, a man walked up from behind.
A middle-aged man, taller than the average person, with a solid build.
The man alternated his gaze between Robin and Sigbard and spoke.
“I am Cruel. What is the matter?”
Before Robin could stop him, Sigbard stepped forward.
“Let’s have a bout.”
“What? Puhahahaha!”
At the sound of Cruel’s laughter, everyone nearby turned to look.
After laughing for a long while, he abruptly stopped.
“Are you a warrior seeking to hone his training?”
“That’s right.”
“Is that so? Follow me.”
Despite the absurd proposal, Cruel accepted readily.
His subordinates tried to stop him, but he did not listen.
On a plain slightly removed from the village entrance, the two faced each other.
“If we use weapons, someone is bound to get hurt, so let’s do it bare-handed.”
“Understood.”
“What is your name?”
“Sigbard.”
‘He’s really going to spar?’
Robin was accustomed to Sigbard’s physique from traveling with a Barbarian, but ordinary people usually shrank back in fear.
Cruel showed no such sign.
Rather, he lifted one corner of his mouth, looking amused.
Before long, onlookers gathered in a circle around them.
Clang.
Cruel set down the sword he had been wearing at his waist.
Sigbard also stood the rod slung on his back upright on the ground.
The long rod looked as if it might topple at any moment, but its center of gravity was well balanced.
“That’s a fine weapon.”
“It is. If you’re ready, come at me.”
Cruel did not hesitate and charged straight at Sigbard.
Perhaps because he had set his weapon aside.
As he sprinted at full speed with his lighter body, the distance between them closed in an instant.
Sigbard thrust his fist straight out toward the charging Cruel.
Whoosh.
Sigbard’s fist did not reach Cruel.
Just before it could connect, Cruel jumped and bent his knee, aiming for Sigbard’s face.
Smack.
A direct hit.
Cruel grinned and examined Sigbard.
Thud.
A large hand grabbed the back of Cruel’s neck.
As if it were nothing, Sigbard slammed Cruel straight into the ground.
“Crazy… is that even a human?”
“Captain Cruel! Hang in there!”
The guards cheered for Cruel, but the result did not change.
Cruel’s attacks definitely landed, but Sigbard’s toughness was greater.
That was all there was to it.
What followed was an offensive that was closer to one-sided beating.
Thud. Thump.
No matter how Cruel tried to land blows, he could not damage Sigbard.
Meanwhile, Sigbard’s lightly thrown punches left Cruel completely helpless.
“Hoo… you win.”
“I know.”
“Impressive. You said you were a Barbarian? Are they all as strong as you?”
“They are.”
“A monstrous race.”
Cruel and Sigbard exchanged a few more words.
Despite losing the spar, Cruel did not seem displeased.
Sigbard did not mock him either.
It was a clean spar, hard to believe it was their first meeting.
“I’ll head back in first. It’ll take quite some time to treat where I got beaten up.”
Cruel went back into the village with his subordinates.
The sight of him disappearing with their support felt more hearty than pitiful.
The spectators, seemingly satisfied, also dispersed.
Because of Sigbard’s size, no one approached.
“Are you okay? You took quite a few hits.”
“I let him hit me on purpose.”
“I figured as much.”
Sigbard lifted the rod he had left standing.
As if massaging sore spots, he rhythmically tapped his back and shoulders.
“So, how was it? Can you really tell now?”
“Yes. I almost failed to recognize it.”
Robin let out a shallow breath.
He stepped toward the place where Cruel had been standing moments ago.
Sweat and a small amount of blood were scattered on the ground.
The chaotically gouged footprints told of Cruel’s desperate struggle.
Sigbard spoke calmly.
“Cruel must be killed.”
“Why?”
“You felt it too, didn’t you?”
“Say it clearly.”
“Just once. Whether he got angry or lost his composure, for a brief moment he revealed his true nature.”
“As expected…….”
A faint anger welled up in Robin’s eyes.
He took a deep breath to keep his emotions in check.
“That was Demonic Energy.”
While Sigbard had been raining down attacks.
For an instant, Cruel had leaked Demonic Energy.
“What will you do?”
“It’s obvious.”
“Will you kill him today?”
Robin shook his head.
That Cruel had to be killed was certain, but he did not yet know whether the old woman’s words were true.
“For now, we’ll observe.”
‘It seems we’ll have to stay in Oldtown a bit longer.’
Perhaps he might obtain information related to the Demon Tribe.
After all, only Demon Tribe worshippers handled Demonic Energy.
Suppressing his killing intent, Robin stepped into the village.