Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Protecting the Subordinate
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After parting ways with Arsen, Reno went around to his acquaintances who weren't out hunting today and started persuading them.
Naturally, he skipped over any greenhorns who might cause trouble or those with broken personalities, focusing instead on people who at least acted human and knew right from wrong.
On top of that, he had to consider those who wouldn't blab, which surprisingly narrowed down the candidates quite a bit.
"...This sounds fishy. You sure this is legit? Knights and their ilk are always so..."
"It's true, I tell you! He's not like the other knights—he's as mighty as a heavenly messenger and kinder than a mother. You know what he said when he saved me?"
Reno lowered his naturally thin voice, trying to sound stern and gravelly.
"When a person's attacked by a magic beast, saving them is just the right thing to do."
Even with his voice deepened, his innate reedy tone made it come off more comical than heroic or touching.
Sidam struggled not to laugh as he pondered.
Reno's tale was a bit outlandish, but if it was real, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Living as well as the central district's gang members? It was like a dream.
After lengthy persuasion and hesitation, Sidam asked cautiously.
"So, how do I join that amazing knight... er, boss of yours?"
"Good choice! First, we've got a few things to handle, then we'll all go see him together. Not everyone who wants in gets picked—it's gotta be his call."
"You'll put in a good word for me, right? We've known each other forever."
"Of course. We've helped each other out plenty. Why do you think I came to you? I'm only picking reliable folks. Look, the guys we've got so far are all familiar faces."
At that, Sidam peeked around Reno and nodded at the people standing behind him.
Sure enough, it was all the hunters from the neighborhood known for not stabbing folks in the back—at least relatively speaking.
Even if there were only five of them.
"Alright, with you that's seven! Let's move—we've got work to do."
"What is it?"
"The boss gave me some valuable stuff. We're gonna sell it for food. Enough that we won't need to hunt magic beasts for a while."
Reno shook a small leather pouch and grinned.
It jingled faintly, like pebbles rolling inside.
* * *
"Ah, screw your 'valuable' crap—I ain't paying that much!"
"Granny, let's keep this civil, yeah?"
"That one shiny thing you just showed me might be real, but the rest? Who knows! I'm taking a risk buying this junk, so you gotta give me a break!"
"You're talking nonsense. How am I supposed to verify one-use items? I already lost out showing you one! No deal? Fine, I'll hawk it somewhere else!"
Reno had brought his persuaded crew to the market district where he usually traded.
The old woman yelling and bulging veins with him was a merchant he dealt with often.
This market district sat on the border between the central area—home to knights, their gang members, and families—and the outskirts where dropouts like Reno scraped by.
The central gangs bleeding the outskirts folk dry through this spot was Narvik's core economic principle.
The old woman could peddle here because one of her family was in a nearby gang.
A shouting match like this was fine, but if Reno laid a hand on her or stole, the gang would swarm and smash him to bits.
Not that he had any family to mourn him.
The mark on her shop showed which gang protected it.
"Hold up a sec."
As Reno whirled around mid-yell, the old woman stopped him, her voice suddenly calm.
She tossed a few heavy sacks in front of him.
Peeking inside revealed dried magic beast meat and dark loaves of bread stuffed full.
"That's it. Want more? Shop elsewhere."
Reno checked every sack before grimacing.
"This the best you got?"
"Yeah, best you're getting, kid."
Reno scowled at her for a long moment, then cracked a goofy grin and nodded.
"Alright, thanks, Granny. See you next time."
"Scram!"
Watching Reno and his crew divvy up the food and shuffle off, the old woman spat in disgust at his retreating back.
"Where'd a punk like him score something this weird..."
She pulled a stone from the pouch and rolled a few under her fingers.
She'd haggled hard earlier to knock the price down, but decades in the trade had honed her eye sharp.
She could tell these stones were made of some exotic material she'd never seen around here.
The markings etched on them were rare too, whatever technique was used.
"Who should I flip these to..."
As she mulled over gang bosses and knights who collected artifacts, someone entered the shop.
Her face hardened at the two men.
Their collars bore the emblem of a gang from another market district, not this eastern one.
"Mind if we ask a few questions?"
"What about?"
She could snap at outskirts trash like Reno and his pals, but not full-fledged gang members.
Her son was in a gang too, but equals didn't help each other out easily.
Luckily, the men showed her some respect.
"Seen any rare stuff lately? Anything unusual. Or unfamiliar faces."
"Plenty of folks buy and sell here—hard to track faces. Rare items... Why do you ask?"
The men's expressions shifted at her subtle hint that she knew something.
Moments later, one approached the counter, dead serious.
"Word of warning—this is on behalf of our boss. Steel Tiger. Not some small fry like me."
The big name made her face turn grave.
A gang's knight leader was absolute; underlings didn't drop their boss's name lightly.
Since she wasn't lying anyway, she pulled out the 'glowing stone' without hesitation.
"These? Some outskirts crew just sold 'em to me. Said they glow if you squeeze hard. Tested one—works like a charm."
"Mind if I try?"
"Pay up, and sure."
"Name your price."
He slid two silver coins over without batting an eye.
She pocketed them, and he squeezed the stone hard. Moments later, bright light poured from it.
He turned to his buddy.
"This the stuff, right?"
"Yeah, looks like it, boss."
"Hey, who sold you these? Spill, and we're square."
"Guy named Reno, lives in the outskirts that way. Brown hair, kinda flat nose."
She sold Reno out without a second thought. The man nodded and stood.
"Thanks. Keep this quiet, yeah? We'll swing by with a reward if it pans out. Oh, gimme one more stone."
He tossed two more silvers and took a stone.
* * *
"One hundred seventy-one... one hundred seventy-two..."
Arsen was doing push-ups in handstand position in the corner of the thatched hut.
With all his armor on except the helmet, it was no easy feat even for a knight's sturdy body.
He couldn't go outside, so rolling around inside would just atrophy his muscles. This was his solution.
"Wow, impressive. How do you keep going without a break?"
"Knights train till they drop, or so Palato Knight said."
Eloise, who had asked in admiration, had been buried in her book since earlier.
Luden had stayed up the night before they left the estate, scribbling notes on magic use, enchantments, tips, and secrets.
Still tons to learn, she cracked it open whenever she had time.
Soon after, Arsen finished and shed his armor.
"Whew, done..."
"Want me to rinse off your sweat?"
"Be a lifesaver."
"'Cause you stink. Sweat stinks."
Grumbling, Eloise cupped her hands and focused. Water materialized in the air, enveloping Arsen.
He quelled his mana to avoid interfering, letting it wash him clean before balling back into a sphere.
She flicked her finger, and it vanished.
"There."
"Wild every time. Feels like you're making water for real."
"Summoning, technically."
Her spell summoned water temporarily, not created it. Fine for wetting or washing, but it vanished on dismissal—useless for drinking, as absorbed moisture went too.
"Still wild... Hm?"
The growing racket outside drew Arsen to the window. He cracked it open cautiously.
Far off, at Reno's place, men with tiger emblems on their collars were beating someone.
Arsen recognized the victim quick.
"...Reno's getting thrashed, right in front of his house."
"Why?"
"Not sure. Got a hunch, though..."
He knew those marked collars meant gang members under a knight.
Likely the ones pounding Reno.
Arsen figured two reasons for it.
One: Reno was in on it, conning Arsen with them. Two: Selling the items backfired, earning him a beating. Two seemed likelier.
Arsen had expected the sold goods to draw heat from the start.
Peddling rare local stuff would snag a gang's eye, leading them to him eventually.
Plan was to let them come over days, then deal discreetly.
But this was faster and rougher than expected—too hot to trade easy.
He pressed his ear to the cracked window, sharpening his hearing.
[Damn, this guy's tough. Says he rolled outta the woods on these? Bet your shack spits out gold nuggets then, huh?]
[It's true! Just stumbled on 'em in the eastern woods...]
A gang member waved a glowing stone, grilling Reno, who shook his head furiously, claiming he just found them.
The thug didn't buy it and booted Reno's gut hard.
[Guh!]
[Quit bullshitting.]
[Boss, searched the place—nothing much.]
[Draw a blade. Hack a wrist, truth'll spill. Last chance. Talk?]
Arsen watched intently from inside.
Acting, or really taking hits to shield him?
But when one drew steel on Reno's wrist, he stood—no need to watch more.
"Be right back, Ellie."
"Yeah. Call if it's dicey."
He left Eloise tapping her earring and stepped out.
Just then, a butcher-knife-like blade rose to slice Reno's wrist.
Arsen inhaled deep, then unleashed a earth-shaking roar.
"Halt—!"
It drowned out lion or tiger roars, eagle screeches—a overwhelming bellow.
So loud the knifeman clutched his ears and dropped it.
"Urk!"
"What the—?"
Seizing the moment, Arsen strode forward. The thugs holding Reno panicked and fell back.
Arsen hauled the sprawled Reno up.
"You okay?"
"Boss... sorry. My fault..."
"If a subordinate's loyal, the boss protects him."
Taking a pasting over one save showed real grit.
Arsen couldn't quite grasp why Reno was this devoted, but respected it regardless. He eased him to the ground carefully.
Then eyed the still-frozen thugs.
"Now, let's talk. Why'd you beat my subordinate black and blue?"