Guardian: Derek Walker 17 - Romentro Pallax
Romentro Pallax served as the second-in-command of the Tarsion Barony's territorial army. He commanded five knights and around eighty soldiers as a centurion.
In the barony, a centurion's rank was quite high, with only two or three superiors above him. Pallax's mission was to defend the north side of Lake Raus, located in the center of the barony. The Mallak Plains, home to Allen Village, also fell under his operational jurisdiction.
The Mallak Plains were vast, covering about 20% of the entire Tarsion Barony. The fertile soil yielded more than enough wheat for self-sufficiency, with surplus to spare. However, it was also a headache as the region with the highest monster population in the barony.
The most common monsters inhabiting the Mallak Plains were, of course, orcs. The barony had launched large-scale operations multiple times to eradicate them, but they'd only concluded that the orcs' tenacious vitality was beyond human means to fully eliminate. The extermination campaigns ended without meaningful results.
To weaken the orcs that attacked the plains' villages every year, they conducted regular monster subjugation operations. But these drained the barony's finances considerably, so lately, they'd shifted to leaving it to the individual villages.
There were two reasons for this policy change in the Tarsion Barony. First, with cheap wheat imports available through Walker Trading Company, the relative value of the Mallak Plains had dropped. Second, amid the increasingly hostile situation with neighboring territories, they wanted to avoid dispersing their central forces.
The conflict between Coolong Territory and Ernest Territory had rippled across the surrounding regions. It was like lighting a fuse—the other territories were scrambling to bolster their militaries, either to prevent the powder keg from exploding or to survive if it did.
Pallax swept back his ornate territorial army coat like he was showing it off and stopped in front of a fairly large house. It looked like the kind of place a village elder might live. It lacked flashy extravagance, but the garden was impeccably maintained, with no rough edges or damage in sight. Even the front gate was a masterpiece, straight and pristine, as if crafted with an artisan's utmost care.
"This is the place. Mr. and Mrs. Junaid live here, and Mr. Walker is staying with them."
"Mr. Walker? You don't mean that famous merchant from Coolong Territory, Derek Walker, do you?"
"I-I'm not entirely sure. But he said himself he's a merchant."
"Oh ho. What brings him here?"
"He said he's traveling for personal business and happened to pass through, helping our village along the way. That swordswoman I mentioned? She's Mr. Walker's maid, apparently. Though to me, she looks more like a bodyguard knight."
It was commonplace for a wealthy merchant to travel with skilled escorts, and just as natural for them to journey far for business. Drobin knocked on the door, and old Mrs. Junaid appeared from inside.
"Drobin, is that you? New guests?"
"Yes. This is Commander Pallax of the relief forces."
"Ah, I see. Welcome to our humble home. Forgive this old woman for not recognizing a knight's face. I'm Junaid."
Pallax had no interest in the elderly. He gave a perfunctory nod, didn't ask permission, and strode right into the house.
"I've come to see Luna. Is she inside?"
Drobin quietly asked Mrs. Junaid, who nodded.
"She's resting in her room. But that man... he wouldn't dare make advances on Lady Luna, would he?"
"......I hope there won't be any trouble."
Drobin pushed down the ominous premonition bubbling up inside him. Pallax tapped the shiny sword at his waist impatiently.
"Where's that female swordsman?"
"That's where Lady Luna is resting... She fought in today's battle, so if possible, could you let her rest—"
"That way, huh?"
Pallax marched off in the direction Drobin pointed, his stride oozing entitled arrogance.
In truth, Knight Pallax saw himself as an entirely different breed from commoners. This wasn't unique to him—most knights, nobles, or even royalty shared that universal mindset.
The moment Pallax reached for Luna's door, another door creaked open nearby, and a woman emerged. It was Rita.
"Hm?"
Pallax's gaze, about to barge into Luna's room without permission, snapped toward Rita. The instant he saw her, it was like his breath caught in his throat.
There stood a woman of such pure, ethereal beauty that she seemed out of place in this rural backwater, dressed in neat, modest attire. Her skin was as white and flawless as eternal snow on a mountaintop, seemingly spared the harsh sun of the countryside. Her flowing, lustrous hair shimmered like molten gold. Sapphire-blue eyes brimmed with warmth and kindness.
Judging character by looks was crude, but a beauty like this had to have the gentle soul of an angel. And in fact, Rita did.
Overwhelmed by Rita's appearance, Pallax stared in rapture. Rita, meanwhile, felt a chill of unease from his leering gaze.
Sensing something off, she forced an awkward smile and met his stare. Her eyes then flicked to Drobin, who looked troubled beside him. She'd come out to the living room to fetch water at Walker's request, and now she spoke softly.
"Who might this be?"
He reeked of VIP status. The flashy uniform reminiscent of territorial army garb and the ornate sword at his waist gave away his identity, but she asked anyway.
Drobin answered Rita's question. His response matched her guess.
"This is Commander Pallax of the relief forces. Lord Pallax, this is my fiancée, Rita."
Drobin emphasized "fiancée." He was boldly declaring her as his woman—and issuing a silent warning not to trespass.
Of course, a warning from a commoner hunter like Drobin wouldn't faze a knight and territorial army centurion like Pallax. Ignoring it completely, Pallax spoke up.
"Oh ho! To think such a beautiful flower blooms in this backwater. Pleased to meet you, lady. I am Romentro Pallax, centurion of the Tarsion Barony's territorial army, tasked by Baron Tarsion himself with defending the north. I've come here as commander of the relief forces for Allen Village."
His voice carried the greasy reek of butter. He'd dropped his usual haughty tone when addressing Drobin, adopting a formal one for Rita. But even then, his innate vulgarity seeped through.
Despite Pallax's brazen forwardness, Rita managed her expression and bowed her head. Failing to do so before highborns could spell disaster. It was common sense for Solari World's commoners.
Unless you ran a major trading company or wielded exceptional personal strength, someone like Rita was just an ordinary commoner aside from her looks. That beauty actually demanded extra caution in her conduct.
"The pleasure is mine. I'm Rita Enne, Drobin's fiancée."
Like Drobin, she stressed "fiancée," strongly signaling she was taken. But just as Pallax had breezily ignored Drobin, he paid her words no mind.
"Meeting such a beauty here... Looks like good things come to those who tackle the rough jobs. Rita, was it? Might I trouble you to show me around the village?"
Pallax dove straight into seduction at lightspeed. He'd already forgotten his original purpose of seeing the skilled swordswoman. To him, the beauty before him mattered far more.
Drobin's face soured instantly at Pallax's rude overture. Though Pallax couldn't see it from his angle.
Hitting on a woman with a fiancé was outrageously impolite by any standard, but Pallax was a knight and Drobin a commoner. That class gap was absolute—short of a grave offense, Drobin couldn't call him out.
Still, Drobin wasn't one to stay silent. As he mustered the courage to speak, Rita beat him to it.
"I'm sorry, but now's not a good time. I'm attending to Mr. Walker."
It wasn't an excuse—it was true. Though dropping Walker's name was also her way of brushing him off.
"Walker? You mean the Derek Walker I know? Hm. That merchant in a village like this... I'd love to see his face."
Pallax glanced toward the room Rita had emerged from.
"Is he in there? Mind if I have a quick word?"
"Of course."
Drobin answered to separate Pallax from Rita. He felt bad for Walker, but leaving this arrogant man alone with her seemed like a recipe for trouble—like with Gibbs before.
"Mr. Walker is in the room. He's recovering from injuries to both arms."
"Injured arms? Did he fight orcs too?"
"An unfortunate accident."
Drobin glossed over Pallax's question. He knocked on Walker's door.
"Mr. Walker, it's Drobin. I've brought someone who wishes to meet you."
"Come in."
Walker replied without asking who. Drobin opened the door, and Pallax entered. It was a tidy guest room—nothing extravagant in furniture or decor, but comfortable for living.
Derek Walker sat in a chair. As Drobin had said, both arms were wrapped in bandages. He turned his gaze to the newcomers.
"Derek Walker, head of Walker Trading Company. Pardon me, but who might you be?"
"Oh ho. So it is the famous merchant Derek Walker. Pleased to meet you. I'm Romentro Pallax, centurion of the Tarsion Barony's territorial army. Dispatched by the baron to defend Allen Village. What a coincidence—or perhaps the will of the gods—to encounter the renowned Mr. Walker here."
Walker's name was well-known even in the Tarsion Barony, mostly thanks to his trading company.
Luxury goods from Walker Trading Company circulated briskly here too. Snow Sugar, in particular, was a prized possession of the wealthy nobility and knights. Pallax himself had bought some from them.
"What brings you here? I never imagined meeting Mr. Walker in a place like this."
"Passing through on company business."
Walker's curt reply was plausible, if vague.
"I need a word with Mr. Walker. Wait outside."
Pallax turned to Drobin. He nodded and closed the door behind him. Alone now, Pallax let a sleazy grin spread across his face.
"Mr. Walker, straight to the point. That woman tending to you... The moment I laid eyes on her, it was like an arrow pierced my heart."
Pallax hid none of his intentions. Walker eyed him with a sour expression.
"You mean Rita. She's quite the beauty, yes."
"Exactly. I'd like her as my concubine. Could you help make it happen? Not that I'm asking for free, of course. I'm no shameless beggar expecting handouts from a merchant."
Pallax continued in a greedy tone.
"Help me claim her, and I'll pay handsomely."
A vile smirk bloomed on his face. His unabashed greed matched perfectly with his luxurious attire and fine sword.
Pallax was a man consumed by desire. His rise this far stemmed from pursuing those desires without restraint.
"I get the girl, you get the gold. In merchant terms, a fine deal, no?"