Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The First Move
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After that first batch of trolls, it was a non-stop monster party.
Encounter a monster, fight, advance, encounter another, fight, advance…
The types of monsters we faced were varied, too.
Along with the greenskins, I saw beastly variants and creatures so bizarrely mutated they were more like chimeras.
Naturally, our approach had to change depending on the monster, so things were chaotic.
But honestly, the flood of monsters wasn't the problem.
The real problem was that I couldn't fight and had to watch like a useless bystander.
The battles were generally fierce, and just watching them was killing me, I was itching for a fight.
I decided to hold back.
Now that the knights were starting to get suspicious, it was best to play it safe.
As we killed monster after monster without a moment's rest, the sky quickly darkened.
We began preparing to camp even before the sun set, as finding a suitable base camp in these mountains takes time.
Fortunately, we found a decent clearing before it got completely dark and set up there.
Osel gathered dry branches from the forest and quickly started a campfire.
Putting aside the question of why a knight was so skilled at setting up camp…
Osel’s actions went against what I knew to be common sense, so I had to ask.
“The smoke will be visible. Is that okay?”
“Most monsters at the entrance of the mountain range are diurnal, so it’s fine.”
“So there’s still a chance.”
“There’s nothing more foolish than assuming one hundred percent certainty in the Jewel Mountains.”
Osel continued.
“There are nocturnal monsters, of course, but you don’t need to worry about them.”
“Why not?”
“Because the moment you encounter them, you’ll be dead anyway.”
“…”
Was that supposed to be a threat?
I wasn’t sure.
“We’ll handle the night watch, so you should get some rest, Young Master.”
“I’ll do that. I hate waking up in the middle of the night more than anything.”
I said this, then spoke as if intentionally lecturing them.
“Don’t slack off, and make sure you stand guard properly. Got it?”
“…I will be mindful.”
Osel replied with a peculiar expression.
He looked as if he was swallowing his words, but I ignored it and took out my sleeping bag.
Unlike the other magic tools I’d packed from the warehouse, the sleeping bag was just an ordinary one.
Still, it was good quality, and my body warmed up quickly.
I was exhausted from the day, and sleepiness washed over me… but I had no intention of peacefully drifting off just yet.
I considered pretending to snore but decided that was too much and stayed quiet.
With nothing else to do, I began circulating my energy.
How much time passed like that?
I heard voices from a short distance away.
“Butler, you should get some sleep as well.”
“I am fine.”
“Haha…”
Right, Arjan was here.
She had laid out her sleeping bag, but she didn't seem to have any intention of sleeping soon.
Was she just not a sleeper, or was she suspicious of these guys, just like me?
“You worked at the main estate? It’s a shame I’ve never seen someone like you there…”
“Is that so.”
The knight hitting on her was probably named Victor.
He had a sleazy look and didn’t feel much like a knight.
To be honest, I felt the same way about Osel and the other knights…
To make matters worse, they had changed into light armor for the mountain trek, which only amplified that impression.
“How about we have a meal together when we return to the main estate? I know a great restaurant in a nearby city…”
“I appreciate the offer, but I plan to return to my post immediately afterward.”
“Ah.”
It must have been annoying to deal with him, but Arjan responded diligently.
Albeit with a stoic expression, completely shutting him down.
In any case, I had hoped for a more substantial conversation, but listening to this mind-numbingly dull exchange was making it harder to stay awake.
Still, I held on.
I waited, wondering what kind of slip-up they might make.
That thought changed about an hour later.
‘I should just sleep.’
It wasn’t a decision made because of the overwhelming sleepiness.
I had two reasons. First, I judged that the knights probably wouldn't make a move on me for a few days.
I wasn’t the only one who was suspicious.
At least two of the knights were wary of me.
Even now.
I’d been pretending to be dead asleep for an hour, and I could feel at least two of them watching me intently.
I could only sense their gazes, so I couldn't pinpoint who they were… but one of them was likely Osel.
They were clearly cautious, so I didn’t think they’d act within a day or two.
The other reason was Arjan’s presence.
She genuinely seemed to have no intention of sleeping and appeared to be just as suspicious of the knights as I was.
Of course, she could be part of their group, acting to deceive me… but I doubt it.
That’s not very likely.
I knew exactly what kind of person Arjan was from my past life.
A person who could not be threatened or persuaded.
Arjan was the type of person who would rather bite her tongue and die than do something shady.
Crucially, the knights hadn't seemed pleased about Arjan accompanying us from the start.
After mulling it over, I slowly relaxed my body…
My first day in the mountains passed in a haze of loosened tension.
* * *
The next day, I woke at dawn.
I wasn’t tied up, nor was I injured anywhere… nothing like that had happened.
Still pretending to be asleep, I checked my surroundings. One of the knights on watch was staring at the dying campfire.
Arjan was sitting a little distance away. For someone who hadn't slept a wink, her complexion looked fine.
‘She seems used to staying up all night.’
It seemed she was trained to maintain her condition for a few days without any sleep.
I had an inkling when she was beating me up, but Arjan was no ordinary butler.
This situation was getting interesting, yet annoying.
The knights were one thing, but now I had to worry about Arjan too.
And what was the reason the Family Head had summoned me?
I felt like I might have left the estate without enough thought…
Still, it was a better choice than disobeying the Family Head’s order and running away, wasn’t it?
For the next two, then three days.
The knights showed no suspicious behavior.
No monsters broke through their formation, and the strange, watchful gazes disappeared.
It was as if they were trying to claim that what happened on the first day was just a misunderstanding.
So, were the feelings of unease I had on the first day just my imagination?
Was my paranoia acting up, making me spin tales of delusion?
Perhaps if I were a little less cynical, I might have thought so.
In other words, I still suspected them.
It seemed to me that they realized I’d sensed something was off and were now just playing it safe.
This kind of psychological warfare always comes down to a battle of endurance, and the one with even a sliver more composure is bound to win.
And I was certain they weren’t as confident as I was.
“Young Master, are you alright?”
Osel approached after just having sliced a monster to bits.
“I’m perfectly fine. But Sir Osel, about your men.”
“Yes.”
At this point, I decided to test the waters.
“Can’t they fight with a little more dignity?”
“…”
Osel blinked stupidly before finally speaking.
“What do you…”
“The stench after every battle is making my nose hurt. Your knights are covered in flesh and blood every time they fight a monster.”
“…”
“To be honest, I had this fantasy about the Fang Knights. One of the two wings Bednicker prides itself on, their fame renowned even across the empire. But seeing them fight in person, well… it’s utterly vulgar.”
Osel eventually forced a smile, but to me, it looked stiff.
The fact that he, a man who would normally have some retort, was keeping his mouth shut was telling.
I muttered as if to myself.
“Is it a difficult request…? I suppose dignity stems from one’s innate character. Still, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tarnish the Bednicker name.”
Wow.
Even I had to admit that was a nasty thing to say.
The impact of the same words changes depending on who says them.
Ruan Bednicker.
How many people could maintain their composure after hearing such words from the troublemaking young master, treated as an outcast even by his own family?
After that, I frequently got on Osel’s and the knights’ nerves.
“You should refine your formation, don’t you think? It’s inefficient.”
“Ah. Let’s rest for a bit. My legs hurt.”
“What is this stew? Pig slop? No, even a pig wouldn’t eat this. Hell, boiled tree bark would taste better than this.”
For the record, the last one was sincere, which is why I was a bit more descriptive.
As I verbally tormented them, I was once again reminded of my fourth master.
My fourth master used to say it.
Finding a person’s sore spot is hard, but pressing it is easy.
Osel, who seemed to maintain his composure at first, couldn’t keep it up after a certain point.
His responses became increasingly half-hearted, and eventually, he started ignoring me altogether.
But the most effective attack was yet to come.
“This is too low-class for me to watch.”
At my quiet murmur, the expressions of all the knights changed.
‘I’m starting to get a feel for it.’
A person’s vulnerability.
The members of an elite knight order are mostly children of prominent families, but not always.
Sometimes, a commoner might join their ranks.
But these guys couldn't be commoners.
A commoner wouldn't react so sensitively to being called vulgar. They would have heard such insults countless times on their way to becoming knights.
‘Are they illegitimate sons?’
Even if not, they were half-breeds who weren't treated well by their families.
Their half-baked etiquette, their love-hate relationship with the word ‘noble.’
So, being called vulgar was a sore spot for them.
I wondered why my provocations were so effective, and it turned out there was a reason.
Wasn’t someone like me the kind of person they despised the most?
A fool born into a prestigious family who does nothing but cause trouble.
Of course, there was still an unanswered question.
Even if they were illegitimate sons, why would members of a respectable knight order be hostile toward me?
I turned my head, pretending not to see the knights’ expressions. Though unintentional, my eyes landed on Arjan.
Her complexion was a sight to behold for a different reason.
Bloodshot eyes and dark circles underneath.
Frankly, it was a change that only someone with a keen eye would notice… but still.
Just then, Arjan seemed to realize I was looking and met my gaze.
“Are you okay?”
“…Yes.”
Her voice was hoarse.
She was clearly in bad shape. Had the knights noticed?
Putting together the current situation, Arjan’s condition, and the murderous expressions the knights had shown just a moment ago, I quickly came to a conclusion.
“We’ll rest here for today.”
Osel, who was at the front, announced.
Hearing his words, I looked up at the darkening sky.
Tonight, or tomorrow at the latest, something is going to happen.
* * *
Her head was heavy, and her eyelids were heavier.
The warm campfire felt like it was gently lulling her eyes shut.
Arjan forced her eyes open, staring into the flames.
She asked herself a question.
How many days had it been since they entered the mountains?
‘Four days.’
The answer came quickly, but the fact she had to think about it for even a moment was absurd.
Arjan had been taught to always maintain a firm grasp on the situation.
The situation, in this context, referred to three elements: time, place, and finally, her own current state.
And Arjan was flustered by the fact that she had failed to grasp even one of these three with certainty.
‘Have I gone soft?’
Arjan stared blankly past the campfire.
Four of the five were asleep, and the last one was on watch.
Arjan was currently leaning against a tree with only a blanket draped over her. With her eyes half-closed, she would easily be mistaken for someone asleep.
In other words, Arjan had been feigning sleep in front of them for four days.
If someone were to ask why she was going through such trouble… she couldn’t give a clear answer herself.
Sometimes, you just have to prioritize your gut feeling over logical reasoning, and this was one of those times.
A signal that shouldn't be ignored.
This intuition had saved her life a few times before.
‘Still, going three days without a wink of sleep might have been a bit much.’
At times like these, she grew tired of her own inflexibility. She wondered if she was just wasting her energy.
Was she being overly suspicious?
These were the men who had brought a letter from the Iron-Blooded Duke.
No one in their right mind would impersonate the Iron-Blooded Duke.
It wasn't a matter of being fearless or brave…
It wasn’t that kind of problem.
It was because they knew just how miserable the end would be.
‘…Hmph.’
Her eyelids were so heavy.
She felt she was at her limit.
She had to get some sleep, even if it was just a short nap.
However, Arjan didn’t let her guard down completely.
She maintained her posture, with the blanket lightly draped over her, and only lowered her head slightly.
A position that made it ambiguous whether she was asleep or just watching the fire.
Besides, over the past four days, no one other than the knight named Victor had approached her.
Victor’s watch had been the first shift tonight, and he was now asleep, meaning there were no immediate threats.
With these various factors, Arjan’s guard gradually lowered, and the fatigue accumulated in her body slowly transformed into an overwhelming drowsiness.
…….
…….
…….
As the night deepened, the forest grew quiet.
In the clearing, where not even the sound of insects could be heard, the crackling of the campfire echoed with unusual clarity.
*Crackle…*
Despite the lack of wind, the flames began to weaken.
They were running out of fuel.
Osel, whose turn it was to be on watch, knew this.
It was clear the flickering flames would soon die out, and firewood was within arm's reach.
But instead of tossing more wood into the fire, Osel muttered in a dry voice.
“She was persistent.”
His voice was the signal.
The knights in their sleeping bags silently rose and responded.
“Indeed.”
“She doesn’t seem to be an ordinary butler.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Osel said, still staring at the flames.
“Kill them.”