Agony's Ecstasy (5)
Agony's Ecstasy (5)
A fragment of a comb with a grayish, glossy sheen.
I stared into its eerie luster for a moment before finally averting my gaze.
An inexplicable sense of unease emanated from this mysterious object.
It was an instinctive revulsion, one might say.
Given how it had easily subdued the kobolds, it must possess extraordinary power.
In any case, it was one of the crucial pieces of evidence from this incident.
I carefully wrapped the fragment in cloth and tucked it inside my clothes.
I had now gathered all the items worth taking.
Finally, I severed the bandit leader's head to claim the bounty.
He was a notorious criminal with a warrant issued in the nearby regions.
If I brought his head to the city, I would surely receive the reward.
With the head collected, all the spoils were now gathered.
Though the quantity was considerable, carrying them to Rivaid wouldn't be a problem.
I just needed to load everything onto the wagon parked outside the fortress.
Fortunately, most of the loot had already been organized in the cargo hold by the bandits themselves.
After gathering this last item, all I had to do was hitch the reins and return.
How much could I earn if I sold all these items in the city?
Wouldn't at least several dozen gold coins come into my possession?
As I was estimating the profits, I suddenly noticed the surroundings brightening.
"...It's morning."
As if announcing the end of the ordeal, the sun was rising over the mountain ridge.
I raised my head and gazed at the dazzling sunrise for a moment.
The sun, seen fully for the first time in days, felt a bit warmer.
By now, Jenna must have finished her tasks.
I turned my back and returned inside the fortress.
Heading toward the source of a delicious smell, I soon found Jenna.
"You're here, unnie. I just finished preparing the meal. Please sit here."
"Thank you."
Jenna, who had even pulled out a chair for me, placed a bowl of stew in front of me.
It was a properly cooked dish with various vegetables and generously portioned meat.
"There was one pheasant left, so I caught it right away. Please try it, unnie."
I wondered what kind of meat it was—so it was pheasant.
She must have plucked and prepared it in no time to use in the cooking.
Having grown up in the mountains, Jenna would be familiar with such tasks.
Under her expectant gaze, I scooped a spoonful of stew into my mouth.
"...It's delicious."
The moderately oily broth enveloped my mouth, and the finely shredded pheasant meat chewed tenderly.
A flavor that was mild yet ended with a hot, refreshing sensation.
It somehow reminded me of chicken gomtang.
"You're good at cooking, Jenna."
"Heh. This is just basic. Please have some bread too."
Jenna smiled brightly and placed a basket of wheat bread on the table.
It was probably made in advance by the bandits for their morning meal. Though it ended up being us who ate it.
We continued our meal in silence for a while.
The warm food filling my stomach seemed to improve my mood.
Jenna, who must have been very hungry, was wholly focused on emptying her stew bowl.
Watching her, I quietly opened the conversation.
"Jenna. We have to leave this place now. Do you have anywhere to rely on? Like a relative's house or your parents' acquaintances?"
"Huh? Ah, no... I don't..."
Jenna's happy smile while eating the stew vanished without a trace.
My sudden question forced her back to the cold reality.
Her face turned gloomy as she silently lowered her head.
She had lost all foundations of her life.
Her hometown, family, friends, and neighbors—all of them.
What else could a woman left alone in this harsh world do?
At best, she might become a barmaid close to a sex worker if she were very lucky.
More commonly, she would wander the slum streets, surviving through begging and prostitution.
Just as I once did.
"Come with me."
"...Huh?"
Given the Rose's Grace's benevolence, they would surely take Jenna in.
She was skilled in cooking and household chores, so it wouldn't be too difficult to ask Madam.
I would have to reveal that I was a prostitute, but that wasn't particularly surprising anymore.
In the less than a week we'd known each other, we had already seen each other at our worst.
"I'll arrange a place to stay and a job for you. It's fate that we met like this."
"Uh, unnie...! Thank you, really..."
Jenna sniffled and repeatedly bowed her head to me.
Because of that, her round tears fell into the stew, adding more seasoning.
"Don't expect too much. It might be tough."
"Being able to work is what matters! I'll definitely repay this kindness, unnie!"
"...Alright. Finish your stew."
Jenna answered cheerfully and began eating her stew again.
I stopped eating and quietly watched her.
Despite enduring all kinds of hardships, she was still filled with the will to live.
A starkly different attitude from mine, surviving solely for revenge.
Would I someday be able to yearn for the rest of my life like her, after all this is over?
Or would I simply want to follow Rubyia to her side?
...For now, it's still a distant matter.
* * *
After finishing our baths, Jenna and I finally embarked on our return to the city.
Although we had quite a load, the two sturdy wagons pulled by strong pack horses had no trouble operating.
We struggled down descended the winding mountain path and finally settled the wagons on the road, followed by a two-day journey.
We encountered hungry wolf packs and small groups of bandits along the way, but it wasn't a big deal.
I simply cut down everything blocking our path and continued on our way.
"Jenna. Wake up. We're almost there."
"Uung..."
Jenna, who had been dozing on my shoulder, rubbed her eyes and sat up.
Ahead, Rivaid's high city walls were coming into view.
We had safely arrived at the city after the forced march.
"Wow! It's a huge city!"
"Isn't it nice? It's a good place to live."
I could see Jenna's eyes shining with anticipation.
Rivaid was a developed city with even some water and sewage facilities.
The people were generally gentle and kind, so it would be a good foundation for her.
Slowing the horse's pace, we passed through the familiar city gate.
Following the well-known roads, I drove the wagon, and soon we were in front of the mercenary guild.
"Jenna. Can you wait here for me?"
"Yes, unnie."
As I jumped down from the driver's seat, my head throbbed momentarily.
Having only caught brief naps over the past three days, my whole body was soaked in fatigue.
I wanted to sleep immediately, but I entered the guild first.
I could rest after finishing my tasks—that would put my mind at ease.
"Daygan. Long time no see."
"...You! You're back!"
Daygan, who had been working on paperwork, shot up from his seat and welcomed me as soon as he saw me.
Judging by his reaction, I must have been later than the subjugation force's original schedule.
"Yes. I'm back. It's a bit later than planned, right?"
"The council was already talking about that. So where are the other subjugation force members? I need to report to Ashekh first."
Subjugation Force Leader Ashekh.
Though our acquaintance was brief, he was someone who had readily shown me kindness.
I silently wished him peace in the afterlife and calmly announced his death.
"Ashekh fell in battle. The other subjugation force members too. I'm the only survivor."
"What? That can't be..."
Daygan's pupils wavered in confusion.
But only for a moment. Regaining his composure like the seasoned clerk he was, he asked calmly.
"...Tell me. What exactly happened?"
"It's hard to explain briefly. There are matters I can't discuss in a public place like this."
An aura expert and an unidentified mage.
Moreover, this incident involved the ominous object known as the comb fragment.
It was better to avoid conversation here where many ears could listen.
"Let's go upstairs. We'll talk in my private office."
Perhaps sensing my intention, Daygan quickly walked up the stairs.
Following him into the office, the questioning began immediately.
"Just to be sure, let me ask again. Is it really certain that all subjugation force members besides you are dead?"
"...Yes. Unfortunately, I saw it clearly with my own eyes."
"Ha. Mother Earth isiyeo..."
He collapsed onto the sofa, making the sign of the cross and closing his eyes.
As I sat facing him, Daygan spoke.
"Tell me. Everything you know."
Where should I begin?
After organizing my thoughts briefly, I proceeded to explain in chronological order.
Initially, the kobold subjugation progressed smoothly. But there were several suspicious points.
The subjugation force attributed it to higher-level monsters, but the actual cause was the bandit group dominating the area.
Caught off guard by their surprise attack, the subjugation force was ultimately annihilated.
I alone survived, took advantage of their carelessness to slaughter the bandits, and safely returned to the city.
"This is the full story of this incident."
Events spanning the past 2-3 weeks were condensed into just a few sentences.
After a period of silence, Daygan offered consolation in a subdued voice.
"...You've been through a lot."
Though I had conveyed only the facts plainly and dryly, anyone could easily guess.
What must have happened to me after being captured by the bandits.
"You don't need to worry about me. I survived in the end."
"Right. Then that's fortunate..."
The bandits who had humiliated me had long since become corpses.
By now, wild animals attracted by the scent of blood had probably picked their bones clean.
"More importantly, there's something else I need to report in detail."
I handed him the separate sack I had set aside.
The burlap bag containing the bandit leader's head.
Daygan untied the knot, looked inside, and nodded slightly.
"I remember this face. Archibald, squire of Lord Draban. Whether he earned the nobility's wrath or not, his bounty was exceptionally high among wanted criminals."
"...How much is the bounty?"
"Twenty gold coins if captured alive. Since this is just the head, you can receive eight gold coins."
Eight gold coins meant 8 denar, equivalent to 800 arshen.
That amount nearly matched the value of dire wolf materials.
Being an aura expert must have warranted such a generous bounty.
"Lord Draban was apparently grinding his teeth over this, so well done. The bounty will be paid after administrative processing. It'll take at least a few days, even if quickly."
"Thank you. And please look at this."
I took out the comb fragment from inside my clothes and placed it down.
The gray fragment ominously absorbing the sunlight cast on the table.
After moving Archibald's head aside, Daygan looked down at it with interest.
"Extraordinary. Is this that object you mentioned earlier, the comb fragment?"
"Yes. I heard the kobolds were afraid just from looking at it."
Its appearance resembled broken glass fragments or faded gems.
But the eerie power contained within was absolutely not ordinary.
"There's a high possibility black magic is involved. If so, this is a matter our guild can't handle recklessly."
"What do you mean..."
"If you're alright with it, I'd like to submit this to the council. They'll provide appropriate compensation, of course."
For me, it was a welcome suggestion.
There was no proper place to sell an ominous object like the comb fragment.
I might even get unnecessary misunderstandings, like being accused of being a witch.
"Alright. Please handle this, Daygan. Then finally, let me tell you about the mage."
The behind-the-scenes existence who provided the comb fragment to the bandits.
According to Jugeokteok, she was a young female mage with orange hair.
He even said her chest was larger than mine.
When I explained this, Daygan stroked his chin and muttered.
"Bright orange hair and excessively large breasts. Quite distinctive clues."
"Will it be easy to find her?"
"Well, shouldn't be too difficult. Mages aren't that common, after all. But this matter will likely be handled quietly and discreetly behind the scenes."
I also nodded silently at Daygan's additional comment.
In this world where divine power exists, demon worshippers and black magic are strictly punishable offenses.
If the council makes a normal decision, they won't stop at just one female mage but will try to uproot the entire behind-the-scenes of this incident.
"That's why. I'd like this matter to be classified. We can't completely prevent information leaks, but we must definitely keep the comb fragment and the mage secret."
"Yes, I will. I don't want strange rumors circulating either."
The annihilated subjugation force and me, the sole survivor.
It was a situation where bad labels could easily be attached.
Public attention was already sufficient with the dire wolf incident, so it was better to let this one pass quietly.
I should ask Jenna to keep quiet too.
"Then that concludes the report. You've worked hard."
"Ah, there's one more thing I need to tell you."
The cargo wagon I had brought from the abandoned fortress to the city.
Among the bandits' loot loaded there were also the mercenaries' belongings.
I needed to discuss this part with Daygan to handle it.
"Hmm... The horses and wagons are guild property, but according to convention, all the spoils you brought are yours. Even if the mercenaries' belongings are mixed in, the families can't claim ownership legally."
"Yes. But morally, I can yield them, right?"
"Hm?"
My question wasn't about legally solidifying ownership.
I had already gained income worth several dozen denar even excluding the belongings.
I had no intention of seizing their mementos just to pocket a few more silver coins.
"So that's what you meant. You're quite considerate."
"...It's not that, I just think it's basic courtesy."
I had a direct connection with Seyron, Tir's uncle.
I had been treated to beer brewed by Waldo's family.
Ashekh, who had readily shown me kindness, had been about to propose to his lover.
Just because I survived alone doesn't mean I can betray them.
Items to remember and mourn precious ones.
The mercenaries' belongings would be priceless to their families.
Didn't even I suffer daily from having no memento to remember Rubyia by?
In many ways, returning them was the right thing to do.
"If you're showing such goodwill, the guild will help with sorting and delivering the belongings. We can also handle selling the spoils while we're at it."
"Is that alright? I'm not causing too much trouble..."
The spoils included food ingredients, metal goods, furs, jewelry, and various other items.
Selling these would likely take days, so guild assistance was welcome.
"Don't worry about it. You've sufficiently dedicated yourself to the guild and the city. We can provide this much convenience anytime."
"...Thank you."
"It's fine. You look tired, so go get some proper rest. Your eyes are completely hollow."
My eyelids were indeed getting heavy.
I was mentally exhausted as well as physically tired.
I felt like I would collapse asleep immediately if I lay on the floor.
"Hey, get up. You should sleep comfortably at home."
"Eut..."
Had I dozed off briefly without realizing?
I gathered my senses, stood up, and went outside with Daygan.
After safely handing over the wagon to him, my work was finally complete.
"Daygan. Please take care of it."
"Don't worry. I'll sell everything at full price without you getting shortchanged."
How reliable.
Leaving Daygan to examine the cargo estimate, I took the hand of Jenna who had been waiting for me.
"Jenna, let's go now."
"Yes, unnie!"
My longed-for home.
It was time to return to the Rose's Grace.