67
Chapter 67
"I...."
Just as I was about to speak, a low and deep voice came from behind me.
"Let's see. Is that the fellow?"
The crowd naturally parted.
A middle-aged man strode in.
With a coat devoid of any flashy decorations, a restrained neatness, and a straight posture and gaze, he quietly suppressed the surrounding air.
The soldiers following him felt more like background scenery.
The intimidating aura and presence exuding from him explained everything.
"Are you the one who used magic on the castle wall?"
His gaze was fixed exactly on me.
Approaching quietly but naturally through the crowd, he stated his name in a calm tone.
"I am Hiram Valoren, the lord of Mondak. A pleasure to meet you."
Silon was startled and quickly bowed his head, and Eileen quietly bowed at the waist as well.
Seeing even Baldic bow his head without a word, I didn't try to hold out and bowed my head too.
"A magician who protected Mondak... Since taking charge of this city, I've only heard such a story twice."
At those words, the surrounding soldiers showed signs of intense tension.
His tone was gentle, but the atmosphere was by no means light.
So... this is what a noble really is.
"There is no need for that. I am not here to punish you."
The lord spoke in a low, heavy voice, almost as if he were chuckling lightly.
However, there was power even in that single remark.
The statement that we didn't have to bow implied that he had the authority to demand it.
"If not for your magic, the castle gate would have fallen early. Thanks to you, many have lived."
I slightly raised my head and gave a short reply.
"...You flatter me."
He really was flattering me.
In reality, the thieves I took care of were only a fraction, and it was the soldiers who suffered the most at the front.
If I had to pick the person who contributed the most, it would undoubtedly be that gold token mercenary, Calcia.
Of course, what I did might have been visually striking in terms of performance.
He looked at me for a moment before nodding.
"But regardless of that, I will remember your name. As one of the people who protected this castle."
For a moment, a chill ran down my spine.
Because those words sounded like... a warning that he would make me do something else later.
"We will talk in detail some other time. For now, recovery and maintenance are the priorities."
Saying that, he quietly left the scene.
The surrounding people waited silently until his back disappeared into the distance, then started returning to their respective positions.
"......Phew, that was pretty tense."
As I muttered softly, Baldic snorted.
"That is a noble. A person who can move ten soldiers with a single word, even without a sword in his hand."
I shrugged my shoulders and let out a small sigh.
'...This really is the Middle Ages.'
Even with magic running rampant and monsters roaming around, this world was ultimately an era that bowed before power.
It was full of things I couldn't understand with modern sensibilities, but to survive here, I would have to get used to these aspects as well.
"Still, it is a relief. You caught his attention for a good reason this time, at least."
At Baldic's words, I quietly nodded.
"Yeah. I didn't do anything wrong... probably."
Of course, I did not feel at ease.
A noble's interest was not always a good thing.
What might be praise today could turn into wanting to own you tomorrow.
That was the reality of this world.
***
On the way back to the inn after finishing our business.
"But, it is not over yet, right? Is it okay to leave?"
Silon asked quietly.
"That is true. There are still some guys left."
Baldic shrugged.
"But it is none of our concern. These guys do not have the money to afford us anymore anyway. They probably just gave us a moderate amount and cut us loose."
"Aha...."
No wonder they gave out the rewards faster than I thought; so that was the reason.
After a brief silence, Silon spoke up again.
"...Then shouldn't we leave quickly?"
"We do have to leave."
Baldic answered briefly.
Silon's expression was still dark.
The anxiety of not knowing what would happen next was clearly visible on his face.
The city seemed to have regained its peace, but that was only on the surface.
No one could guarantee when or what might happen.
"But, we have to travel far anyway because of the war, right?"
Silon spoke up cautiously.
"Right."
Baldic replied shortly, then turned his head.
"What exactly is going on?"
I had no choice but to ask since I knew nothing.
Baldic hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
"It is a common dispute between fiefs. Adelfelit, and Gausman in the north. Both are well-known fiefs."
"To be exact... is it like a fief war?"
"Well, you could say that."
He sighed.
"On the surface, it is a dispute over trade rights, but in reality, it is a power struggle. Mondak is stuck in the middle."
"Then does this place become a battlefield?"
"It was, and it is highly likely to be one in the future."
At those words, the silver coin pouch I received felt heavier for no reason.
It felt like a sign telling me not to run away, rather than a simple reward.
"Then what happens to us?"
"It is better not to get too deeply involved. You said you were going to the Magic Tower."
"It is not as easy as it sounds."
Baldic gave a bitter smile.
His expression conveyed the message, 'That is why you work as a mercenary.'
"The Mercenary Guild does not seem to be working anyway, so where should we go?"
"Well. How about heading west?"
"West?"
"...There is one place we cannot go due to our circumstances. That place is excluded anyway."
"Hmm."
That was true.
It was uncertain if a wanted poster had actually been issued, but there was one fief we had no reason to walk into and check.
To move safely, it was right to choose a different direction.
"Well, isn't there a place to find information?"
"There should be a place called the Information Guild or something."
"The Information Guild?"
I remembered hearing about it when I traveled with Drek in the past.
I did not know the exact details, but he mentioned there were people knowledgeable in that field.
"Do you know where it is?"
"No, I do not. Trying to clumsily look into it could cost you your life."
"...Is it that bad?"
To think the Information Guild was such a terrifying place.
Even so, it did not erase my intention to visit it.
For instance, information about the Magic Tower, or the state of affairs in this world.
I had a mountain of questions, and currently lacked even a clue to resolve them.
The problem was that there was no one to ask.
Eileen was completely ignorant of such things, and Silon... even if he knew, I couldn't trust him.
Thinking about what he had done so far, even asking for directions required verification.
"...Is there really no one who would know?"
At that moment, Baldic muttered from beside me.
"The Information Guild... the Information Guild... ah!"
"Yeah?"
"Wouldn't that fence know?"
"The fence?"
"Dardan. The guy we saw at the port village."
"Ah! That bastard!"
I let out a bitter smile without realizing it.
That name, it was certainly a memorable one.
In fact, the party was practically ruined because of him.
"...I am sure he mentioned getting it from the Information Guild."
"Who?"
Silon, who was listening from the side, tilted his head.
Well, it made sense.
Back then, it was just Baldic, Drek, and me. We were traveling as a trio.
"You would not know. You were not there at the time. That swindler bastard."
Baldic spoke as if filled with anger, but in reality, it was a battle of wits with our lives on the line.
He was terrified, and we were desperate.
"I saw him again in the outskirts. He was snooping around some market, though I do not know if he will still be there."
"...I saw him too. It was at some equipment shop, and he seemed pretty close to the owner."
I rested my chin on my hand and fell into thought.
"But are we sure that guy actually has ties to the Information Guild?"
"Well. He bolted before we had a chance to verify. But judging by his way of speaking and the items he carried, he did not seem like a total fake."
"I went to that village I heard about before, and I heard talk about the ruins. What I heard then overlapped a bit with what Dardan said. It means it was not all nonsense."
The Garnian village I visited before.
Thinking back to the stories I heard in that village, I gave a small nod.
"...Haa, it looks like we will have to wander around again."
I muttered with a sigh.
If we could just find Dardan again, we might be able to find a clue about the Information Guild or whatever else.
Of course, this time I would have to grab him by the collar before he could run away.
"Let's head to where I saw him first."
"Really? Then let's start there."
Baldic said, shrugging his shoulders.
Our next destination was set.
Now, the problem depended on whether he was still there or not.
"But, does this mean we are doing mercenary work together?"
Baldic casually asked on the way.
His tone was relaxed, but his expression carried subtle expectations.
"Well, I suppose so."
When I answered, he clenched his fist tightly and shouted.
"Great!"
For a moment, I felt like I shouldn't have said that.
He looked so happy that I was actually a bit flustered.
'Was it that much of a big deal?'
We had moved together a few times before, but it was more of a companionship forced by circumstances; no one had ever suggested forming a party first.
To think he would be this happy.
Was it really tiring for him without me all this time? Or was he just a soft-hearted guy?
It felt a bit awkward to ask, so I roughly averted my gaze.
"Do not get your hopes up too much. We still do not know how long we will be traveling together."
"I know. I know, but... still, it is something to be grateful for when someone stays by your side."
Those words made me feel inexplicably sheepish.
Why did he have to speak so genuinely?
Scratching my head for a moment, I muttered.
"...Well, I do not really want to be alone either."
At that, Baldic grinned.
He did not say it, but his expression clearly meant that we ended up traveling together anyway.
He really is a soft-hearted person, this mister.
"Me too! I am here too, you know!"
"Ah, m-me too! Of course I should follow!"
Eileen and Silon also stepped forward competitively.
'Ah, right.'
Looking at Eileen reminded me of something.
"But, actually...."
I should probably tell him by now.
Since we were traveling together, I had to be honest with Baldic as well.
I carefully brought up the whole story of the commission entangled with Eileen.
As euphemistically as possible, without leaving anything out.
After hearing everything, Baldic remained silent for a moment.
"......Is it too late to cancel traveling together?"
"No, it is not."
"Damn it."
Baldic let out a hollow laugh and stroked his chin.
He had a look of firm resignation.
"I have met the two most exhausting people in my entire life, and you are one of them."
"Thank you."
"That was not a compliment...."
Despite saying that, Baldic did not run away.
He just shrugged his shoulders and let out a sigh.
"Still, it is a relief to hear it beforehand. If something had suddenly popped out later, I really would have had a heart attack."
"Will you be okay? It might be dangerous."
When I asked cautiously, Baldic narrowed his eyes briefly and looked at me.
"It is a situation you cannot back out of now. So, it is only right to fight alongside you."
"...."
I found myself nodding silently.
At that moment, Silon fidgeted and stepped up from the side.
"But... if it is dangerous, maybe I should step out-"
"No."
"Gah!"
Cut off so firmly, Silon shut his mouth.
Silence flowed for a moment, and Eileen quietly filled the gap.
"...I am sorry. Because of me, even you guys got tangled up in this."
It was a short remark, but her shoulders trembled as she bowed her head deeply.
She showed no signs of trying to run away, nor was she forcing herself to act tough.
Her sincerity simply bled through completely.
Baldic slowly turned his head and looked at Eileen.
Then he chuckled and said.
"Hey, what crime did you commit? If anyone is tangled up, that is their problem. You do not need to make that face."
At those words, Eileen could not raise her head and merely nodded quietly.
I watched her silently for a moment, then let out a small breath.
With this, our direction was roughly set.
All that was left was to move forward.
"Is that the shop over there?"
"Yes, I think so."
"...It looks like it is closed?"
Just as Silon said, the door to the shop was firmly shut.
A thin layer of old dust had accumulated on the door, and the windows were covered with cloth padded from the inside.
We could not tell if they had just closed for the day or had left completely.
"...Are we a little late?"
"Did they... perhaps run away?"
It was then, as we stared at the closed door with such empty expressions.
"Are you looking for the owner of that shop, by any chance?"
An unfamiliar voice cautiously approached from behind.
Turning around, a middle-aged man who had been packing up a nearby street stall was looking at us.
The apron tied around his waist and the briquette marks on his arms told us he was a merchant from the area.
"Pardon? Do you know something?"
I asked.
"Yes. Everyone around here knows. It hasn't been open for a few days. It was a shop that sold cheap equipment and used goods, but suspicious customers frequented it."
"Suspicious customers?"
"People wearing hoods late at night, people locking the door tight and talking... well, this isn't a neighborhood that cares about such things."
I narrowed my eyes.
As expected, it might be true that Dardan was hiding Information Guild-related movements around here.
"Then, by any chance, do you know where the shop owner went?"
"I don't know that. Some say they saw him moving luggage, while others say he just ran away overnight."
It was a somewhat disappointing answer.
But this was a clue.
At the very least, we had grasped the circumstances that they were trying to avoid or hide something.
It meant that not only Dardan, but the shop owner also had something to feel guilty about.
"...We will have to move more if we want to find him."
"That bastard, he was faster on his feet than he looked."
Baldic muttered, scratching his chin.
"We should gather other information first. There might be someone nearby who is entangled with him."
I said quietly as I readjusted my canteen.