novelraw Chapter 107 : Candlestick
Chapter 107 : Candlestick
Chapter 107: Candlestick
It was common for large and small villages to be scattered around a major city.
Old Town was the same.
A place leaning toward the west within Runeberg.
‘Looking at the map, it wasn’t far from Narvik.’
Since it was not a border region touching the Demon Realm, it was classified as a safe place.
The residents lived by cultivating workable land, though it was not fertile.
A village where no knights of the Wilcock family were stationed.
That meant public order could be maintained by the village guard alone.
‘Is it because the guards are skilled, or because it’s peaceful to begin with.’
After staying for three days, Robin concluded it was both.
“Your ordered beer is ready!”
Two beer mugs were set down on the street stall table.
Robin signaled to Sigbard with his eyes.
Sigbard looked at the server and spoke.
“Thank you.”
The lively server smiled and went back.
She was not afraid even after seeing a barbarian.
That was because Sigbard had been quietly sipping beer every day since the day he arrived in Old Town.
His enormous build still drew attention, but unlike his appearance, he was gentle.
Bathed in sunlight that matched the cool air, Sigbard emptied his mug.
“Robin, aren’t you drinking?”
“I told you. I don’t like alcohol.”
“So today again, I drink alone.”
“I’ll deduct the alcohol money from your share, so drink in moderation.”
Sigbard let Robin’s light scolding go in one ear and out the other.
Managing money was not easy for a barbarian who had lived his entire life in snowy mountains.
Fortunately, Sigbard had a trustworthy companion.
‘Two Cooper for one beer. Prices are cheap.’
Robin took charge of the finances in Sigbard’s stead.
Lodging and travel necessities were deducted from shared funds, but luxury items like beer were paid for individually.
Looking at Sigbard leisurely gulping down beer, Robin asked.
“About Cruel. Do you really think he’s a Demon Tribe worshiper?”
“Didn’t we confirm it the day we arrived? He leaked Demonic Energy.”
“That’s true, but aside from that, there’s no clear evidence.”
Guard Captain Cruel.
He had returned to duty immediately the day after getting beaten by Sigbard.
When Cruel was on patrol, there were hardly any injuries left.
For an ordinary person, at least bruises should have remained, but Cruel was an exception.
‘Was his body that sturdy to begin with.’
Aside from that, there was nothing unusual to be found.
Robin had followed him discreetly, but Cruel was a model guard captain.
His daily routine, aligned to a regular life, was rigid to the point of boredom.
‘If only one solid piece of evidence would appear…….’
From the moment he leaked Demonic Energy, it had already been decided that Cruel would be eliminated.
However, Robin could not be certain whether that diligent guard captain had truly killed the old woman’s daughter.
Since he was going to be killed anyway, one might think it didn’t matter, but to Robin, it did.
No one became strong in a short time by coincidence.
‘Maybe there’s a connection between the murder case and Cruel’s change.’
Deep-rooted hatred toward the Demon Tribe had taken hold in Robin.
Demon Tribe worshipers were also targets for eradication.
If he uncovered what made Cruel stronger, he might be able to find another Demon Tribe worshiper.
Gulp, gulp.
Whether aware of Robin’s feelings or not, Sigbard set down his second mug.
It did not even seem to reach his liver; there was no sign of drunkenness.
Now accustomed to ordering, he raised two fingers.
“Sigbard, don’t you have any good ideas?”
“No.”
“Think about it before answering.”
“Even if I think about it, it’s not a problem I can solve. If it were, I’d have said so long ago.”
That was true.
The way he chugged beer was the very image of a savage, yet he was oddly logical.
At Sigbard’s blunt remark, Robin cooled his head for a moment.
The server set down two beer mugs and one cup.
Robin pointed at the cup and asked.
“What’s this?”
“You haven’t eaten anything the whole time, have you? It’s freshly milked milk, so have a taste. I won’t charge you, so don’t worry.”
The white milk was pleasantly cold.
The server watched contentedly as Robin sipped the milk.
Keeping her gaze fixed on Robin, she asked.
“How long will you be staying in Old Town?”
“Well. I’m thinking of leaving soon, but nothing’s decided.”
“Then come to the village center later. There’s a festival today.”
“What’s the occasion?”
“A wedding. There’ll be a big feast, so come have fun. And congratulate the bride and groom too.”
Robin nodded to show he understood.
The server, smiling broadly for some reason, returned to the kitchen.
‘A wedding right in front of a Demon Tribe–worshiping guard captain.’
From afar, Cruel finished his guard duty and walked over.
Laughing with the subordinate beside him, he looked every bit the friendly guard captain.
‘If it’s a village festival, Cruel will attend too.’
Sigbard was right.
Nothing changed by worrying alone.
Now was the time to move.
Robin sipped the milk and shifted his gaze.
Sigbard grinned as he looked at Robin.
“Robin, you’ve got milk on your philtrum.”
“Ah.”
As naturally as possible, as if nothing were wrong.
Hiding his embarrassment, he wiped his philtrum with his sleeve.
The milky scent that brushed his nose was rich.
A spacious open ground prepared at the center of the village.
People who had finished their day’s work gathered one by one.
‘There are more people than I expected.’
It was not a grand wedding, but the feast prepared through the combined efforts of the residents looked appetizing.
The entire village celebrated the birth of a new family.
Robin also gave congratulatory applause.
Since it was someone else’s wedding he did not even know the faces of, it was treated more like a village festival, and many outsiders were present as well.
‘Villages with a strong sense of community are good like this.’
On auspicious days, people became generous.
Watching the food being offered without restraint, Sigbard broke into a broad grin.
‘I should at least thank that server.’
Sigbard devoured the food like a fish in water.
“Sigbard.”
Robin called out softly, but Sigbard had no room to respond.
Sigbard’s mouth was stuffed with all kinds of food.
Only after Robin gave his back a sharp smack did Sigbard stop his hands.
“You should leave enough for other people to eat.”
“I see. I’m sorry.”
At Sigbard’s apology, the people around them burst into loud laughter.
A man beside them struck up a conversation.
“You sparred with Guard Captain Cruel not long ago, right?”
“Yes. Were you watching at the time?”
The man nodded.
“I was lucky. You don’t get to see something like that often.”
Maybe he was excited from having seen it firsthand.
The man began chattering nonstop.
“It was the first time I’d ever seen Captain Cruel being pushed back like that.”
“Was he writing some kind of undefeated legend?”
At Robin’s casually tossed remark, the man replied seriously.
“That’s right. Until you arrived, Cruel had never lost to anyone.”
At the end of the man’s gaze hung the good-natured-looking guard captain.
People danced in time with the music.
The guard captain watching them with a pleased expression looked tipsy, as if he had been drinking.
“If it weren’t for Cruel, Old Town wouldn’t be as peaceful as it is now.”
Robin nodded along appropriately.
The trust placed in the guard captain was deep.
He did not know how Cruel had won them over, but the villagers liked him to a strange degree.
‘He has the kind of ability that would be welcomed anywhere, but it doesn’t sit right.’
The bride and groom stopped dancing and greeted people one by one.
Most offered words of blessing, but some gave personally prepared gifts.
Cruel was one of them.
“Wow, this candlestick looks expensive. Where did you get it?”
“I bought it in the city. Congratulations on your marriage.”
The groom, who received the polished, gleaming brass candlestick, smiled and thanked him repeatedly.
It could not have been cheap, yet Cruel showed no sign of regret.
The moment he saw the candlestick, Robin stood up from his seat.
As he strode over briskly, Cruel turned around leisurely.
“Oh, Robin. You came too.”
“Excuse me, but may I take a look at the candlestick?”
Ignoring Cruel’s familiarity, Robin held out his hand to the groom.
After hesitating briefly, the groom handed over the candlestick.
Robin slowly traced the candlestick with his fingers.
‘This is…….’
At the joint split into three branches like a trident, a gemstone was set.
At a glance, the purple gem looked like an amethyst, but Robin’s eyes turned toward Cruel.
His suspicious gaze seemed to bore straight through Cruel.
“What is it? Is there a problem with the candlestick?”
“There is a problem. Gifting a candlestick embedded with a magic stone—are you out of your mind?”
At Robin’s remark, attention gathered around them.
“This purple stone here. Demonic Energy is overflowing from it.”
“A magic stone? Why would a stone from the Demon Realm be set into this candlestick?”
“How should I know? The guard captain who has protected Old Town would know better.”
It was a demand for an explanation, but Cruel merely gave a faint chuckle.
Instead of Cruel, the groom stepped forward.
“Is there proof that this stone is a magic stone?”
“I can sense Demonic Energy. If someone here has sharp senses, they should feel an ominous aura.”
The groom lifted the candlestick while looking around.
“Is there anyone who feels something, as this person says?”
Wondering what was going on, people approached and examined it.
Not a single person could sense Demonic Energy.
Instead, some began demanding that Robin prove his identity.
“Is there any reason we should believe what you say?”
“Are you an adventurer or something? What’s your name?”
“You look like you can use a sword—where are you from?”
Robin’s answers were not sufficient for them.
Unlike Robin, who had endured the three-year war and then shut himself away in the snowy mountains to train, they were ordinary people.
For people who had never encountered the Demon Tribe, distinguishing a magic stone was no easy matter.
‘Still, I thought at least one person would notice.’
More than a hundred people had gathered, yet not a single one did.
Robin’s words turned into a baseless tale.
In the sinking atmosphere, Cruel snatched up the candlestick.
“If it’s really that ominous, I’ll just throw it away.”
“No! Cruel gave it to us—how could there be anything wrong with it? We’ll gratefully accept it as a wedding gift.”
The bride pleaded for the candlestick.
Cruel told her that if she had bad dreams or started to feel uneasy, she should throw the candlestick away at any time.
Replying that there was no need, the bride took the candlestick.
‘I’m the only one who looks strange now.’
The gazes directed at Robin were unfriendly.
Cruel smoothed things over with a good-natured smile, but the looks aimed at Robin were unmistakable.
Only after the bride and groom went to another table to greet people did the gazes withdraw.
As Robin returned to his original seat, Sigbard slid a cup toward him.
“That was unnecessary meddling.”
“I didn’t expect people to be this insensitive.”
“It’s not that they’re insensitive. Our senses have just grown sharper.”
“Even so, I thought at least one person would notice.”
With lingering regret, he drank from the cup.
Ice-cold water flowed down his throat.
“So, what now?”
“Watching longer doesn’t seem like it’ll lead to anything. Let’s end it here.”
“Tonight?”
His tone was utterly calm, but it was a question that included whether or not to end a man’s life.
Setting aside whether he truly was the murderer as the old woman claimed, they had observed enough.
‘We can’t keep staying in Old Town.’
Cruel seemed unaware of what a magic stone was, but Robin had seen it.
When magic stones were mentioned, Cruel’s pupils had wavered.
It was a classic sign of a liar.
“Tonight. Then we leave.”
After killing him.
He did not bother to say the rest.
Sigbard spoke while politely taking less food.
“I’ll pack our things.”
After that, Robin and Sigbard did not speak much for a while.
So they could enjoy the last supper they would eat in Old Town.
While filling their stomachs, they calculated how long it would take to reach their next destination.