Chapter 60 : Bluffing
Chapter 60 : Bluffing
Chapter 60: Bluffing
The Imperial Capital of the Terrinos Empire, Crystallion.
Through the office window at the heart of the Imperial Palace, the entire view of the capital could be taken in at a glance.
Various suits of armor and weapons hung on the walls, and countless banners displayed the history and tradition of the Imperial Knight Order.
On the oak desk lay scattered documents, maps, and miniature army models.
At the sound of a knock, Verman’s hand, which had been moving a quill pen, came to a stop.
“Come in.”
“Third Knight Order Nelson reporting on the mission.”
The report, trimmed down to only the essentials, was brief.
The pursuit had succeeded, but the arrest had failed. On top of that, the death of one apprentice knight.
“So that boy Robin had helpers with him.”
“I believe they may have been of the Demon Tribe.”
“In your view, are you saying that boy defected and became a Demon Tribe worshipper.”
“It was too dark to see properly, but I believe the possibility is high.”
Instead of the document he had been writing, Verman took out another sheet of paper and moved his pen.
When he handed the newly written paper to Nelson, a ripple passed over his expression.
The contents written in the short text were heavy.
Traitor Imelda Tefir and Demon Tribe worshipper Robin.
Report immediately to the Public Security Office upon discovery.
Bounty of 1 Gold per head.
“I am sorry, Sir Verman. You told me to bring them back alive, but this was due to my inadequacy.”
“That’s enough. The Knight Academy recommendation was only a matter of momentary interest.”
“I will immediately deliver the wanted notice to the Public Security Office.”
Just as Nelson saluted and was about to leave.
Verman’s flat, emotionless voice stopped his feet.
“Eric. To think an apprentice knight was killed, how lamentable.”
“…That cruel bastard Robin needs to be caught quickly.”
When Nelson turned around to face Verman, a chill ran down the back of his neck.
It was as if he were facing a ferocious beast, unable to move a single inch.
Nelson swallowed hard.
“Nelson.”
“Yes.”
“Do I look like an idiot to you.”
“…….”
Step. Step.
Verman’s footsteps as he slowly approached were nothing special, yet they carried a heavy pressure.
When he came right up close and tightly gripped Nelson’s shoulder, pain spread as if the bones were about to be crushed.
“Don’t steal the future of a promising young man because of your filthy greed.”
“…….”
“If you don’t want your head to roll after getting arrogant on the back of your family name, know your limits. I’m telling you not to trample on chivalry.”
“…Understood.”
When Verman loosened his grip, Nelson staggered out of the office.
His face had gone pale, and his entire body was drenched in cold sweat.
Seated again, Verman held the report Nelson had submitted in his hand.
Four apprentice knights – injuries due to being unhorsed.
Apprentice knight Eric – abdominal penetration wound, died from excessive bleeding.
Verman roughly tore the report in his hand to pieces and threw it into the trash bin.
Looking out the window, he ground his teeth.
“You worm-like bastard.”
Two days had passed since they had opened their eyes in an unfamiliar city.
Serena, left alone in the inn room, tried calling out to the spirits.
“Beanie. Chubby. Bokdol.”
The formless spirits revealed themselves.
The corners of Serena’s mouth lifted.
The spirits approached warmly, as if happy to see her.
After spending a long while communing with the spirits, lunchtime arrived, and Robin, Imelda, and the old man returned.
At Serena’s request, all three meals were brought to the room and eaten together, which was not bad.
“Grandpa, don’t you have any advice to give again like earlier? I feel like I could beat Robin if I push just a little more.”
“Heh heh, if it’s a request from Miss Melida, I have to listen.”
While Serena recovered, Robin and Imelda sparred during the spare time.
After sparring that continued until one side grew exhausted, they ate.
After finishing their meal, they sparred again or trained their swordsmanship.
In that process, the advice the old man threw Imelda’s way was of no small help.
As he precisely pointed out areas even Robin had not thought of, Imelda’s swordsmanship gradually improved.
Thanks to that, although Robin had initially wondered why he should bring the old man to the north, those thoughts completely disappeared.
The old man’s wisdom was like rain in a drought to Robin and Imelda.
“Come to think of it, I never even heard your name, Grandpa. What is your name?”
“Heh heh heh.”
“Grandpa?”
“Why are you calling me, old hag.”
“Ha ha…….”
There were not many moments in a day when his mind was sound, but regardless, he was helpful.
They decided to hear the old man’s name gradually, and Robin opened his mouth toward Serena.
“How is your condition.”
“It’s better. Enough to communicate with the spirits. I can’t push it to the point where they appear visually, though.”
“That’s a relief. What are you going to do from now on, Serena?”
“I don’t really have a plan.”
“Have you ever thought about going to the north?”
He brought it up naturally, but Robin held a quiet expectation.
If a Spirit Summoner joined the group, it would be helpful no matter what.
“I had thought about going someday, but I’m not sure.”
“Are you interested? How about going together with us while we’re at it?”
“With you? In my opinion, the two of you probably already have a wanted notice out on you by now.”
‘So it won’t work after all.’
It would be a lie to say he was not disappointed, but he could not cling to Serena.
If the positions were reversed, he himself would not follow people being hunted by the Empire.
Imelda also showed her regret as she looked at Serena, but Serena did not mind.
Lunch ended like that.
Clang! Clang!
They passed the time sparring with Imelda.
“The old hag’s stew has no equal in this world.”
They finished their meal while letting the old man’s drunken rambling go in one ear and out the other.
Serena had recovered enough to move around on her own and often watched Robin and Imelda spar.
She also occasionally spoke with the old man when his mind returned, nodding as if she understood.
Robin could not know what kind of conversation the two had shared.
One day passed, and the promised time with Serena came to an end.
“Serena, stay healthy. It was a short time, but thank you.”
“It would’ve been nice if you came with us…….”
“You’d better be careful starting from Bellaruka. It’s a big city, so I recommend keeping quiet until you board the ship.”
After saying their goodbyes, Serena mounted her horse and left the city.
Robin looked around at Imelda and the old man, then spoke.
“Shall we get going too.”
“Yeah.”
When the old man was lifted onto the horse, his posture was extraordinary.
‘He said he was a knight—does his body remember.’
They loaded the luggage onto the old man’s horse, and Robin and Imelda mounted theirs.
“A sandcastle that fell before the waves has returned to its homeland, so gather your tears and please find rest.”
“Grandpa, what does that mean?”
“It means honoring those who died unjustly.”
“Who died?”
“They died, very many of them.”
‘Is his mind clear right now.’
Imelda tried to continue the conversation, but it did not last long.
It was clear he had a story, yet even when his mind was lucid, he did not reveal what he had done in the past.
Like a child following instinct, the old man chased after the horses ridden by Robin and Imelda.
Kreee-kreee.
The clear cries of seagulls and the refreshing sea breeze welcomed Robin.
Thanks to dyeing their hair blond, Robin and Imelda arrived in Bellaruka without incident.
They encountered small monsters along the way, but thanks to Imelda’s performance, there was no damage.
After confirming the ship bound for the north, they secured a well-located inn.
“So now we just wait for a week.”
“Yes. Hang in there just a little longer.”
“Serena was right. I can’t believe wanted notices really went up everywhere.”
“But there wasn’t anyone who recognized us.”
They ordered food on the first floor of the inn, and the three chatted quietly among themselves.
The old man, perhaps lacking energy, only listened in silence.
When the food arrived, everyone dug into the stew without hesitation.
“Did you hear that? The southeastern city of Regiville apparently fell under Imperial ownership.”
“Regiville? Isn’t that the city famous for good security. Why did the Imperial Family take it over?”
“You don’t know about the fall of the Tefir family, the owners of Regiville? You really need to keep your ears open.”
“Hm… the extermination of a noble family? Did they wage a territorial war or something.”
“No, not that. From what I heard, they were summarily executed for conspiracy to commit treason.”
“A noble committing treason? That’s unusual. A noble, not a commoner, opposing the Imperial Family. I guess they didn’t like their treatment?”
“No one knows that. What’s more interesting is that the Tefir family’s daughter escaped! And the one who had a wanted notice issued a few days ago was that very Imelda Tefir.”
Imelda’s hand, which had been eating stew, stopped.
Her breathing grew rough, and her shoulders trembled.
Robin set down his spoon and took Imelda’s hand.
“…Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
It seemed she might calm down from Robin’s comfort, but the mouths of the gossipers showed no sign of stopping.
“They say that young thing ran off with a male servant—do you know how much the bounty is? One Gold per person! If you bring in both, that’s money you can live off for a year!”
“That’s tempting. Who’s to say they aren’t hiding somewhere in Bellaruka.”
“If you just find them, you’d make a killing.”
Imelda no longer reacted to the gossipers’ words.
She continued eating as if she were not there at all.
The girl who had grown up like a flower in a greenhouse was learning how to face the malice of the world.
“A seventeen-year-old boy and a sixteen-year-old girl. I wonder what that servant bastard was thinking, following them.”
“What else? Probably a lovers’ elopement or something like that!”
“Well, they’re young and in their prime. Maybe they got a taste for reckless passion.”
That much, she could not tolerate. Imelda’s ears turned red.
While picking at her bread, she looked at Robin, the person involved, but Robin was unfazed.
Her pride stung oddly, and she asked softly.
“Is Roy okay?”
“What would be not okay, when it’s not even true.”
“T-that’s right…….”
After drinking the last drop of stew, Robin smiled in satisfaction.
Following the saying that one should eat as much as possible when one can, Imelda also finished her meal without leaving anything behind.
The old man had already finished long ago.
As they quietly tried to return to their room, someone tapped Robin’s shoulder.
It was one of the gossipers who had been talking about the Tefir family.
In his hand was a wanted poster describing the appearances of Imelda and Robin.
“Let me ask you something.”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
“Are you perhaps Imelda and Robin.”
At the blunt, contextless question, Imelda sucked in a sharp breath.
Robin opened his mouth without hesitation.
“If by Imelda and Robin you mean the individuals written on the wanted poster, that’s strange. According to what’s written there, there was no information about blond hair.”
“You know the details well?”
“A lot of people mistake me and Melida, you see.”
At the immediate reply, the gossiper took a step back.
Robin put on a good-natured smile, as if he understood.
Those who had been secretly paying attention while pretending not to also gradually dropped their suspicions.
“Wait.”
A man with a clearly thin and scrawny build stood up.
The bespectacled man fixed his eyes on Robin’s.
After alternating his gaze between Robin and Imelda, he spoke.
“I studied medicine in the capital.”
“A man of learning, I see.”
“Your eye color. Your eyes are black.”
“That’s right. They’re black. Is there a problem.”
“There is a problem. Blond hair with black eyes is rare.”
“Well, that rare person is right here.”
“And the eye color of the young lady beside you is also brown, just as written on the wanted poster.”
Imelda’s heart pounded wildly, beating as if it had gone mad.
Bellaruka was an Imperial trade city, with a city-affiliated knight order stationed there.
If this fact became known, troops would be dispatched to arrest the two of them.
Lowering her gaze while imagining all kinds of bad outcomes, she strained her ears to listen.
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