They Work While I Sip Honey
Two days after I gave the orders, Hans the chief butler had finished every last preparation in that short span of time. A long line of supply wagons loaded with every kind of relief material. An escort detail. Even the consumables they’d need on the road to their destination—everything was perfect.
“Well done. You’ve worked hard.”
I patted Hans’s exhausted shoulder. Having handled both command and supply inspection, the skin beneath his eyes had turned a deep bruise-color. I’d have to give the poor guy a vacation.
“Tell my father I said you should rest for two days. Mention it was my request.”
“…Yes, Young Master.”
Hans gave a limp nod, his face drained of energy. He looked too worn out even to feel grateful. It was almost pitiful.
“Did you pack everything I asked for?”
“I prioritized food supplies. And I also prepared the item you mentioned.”
Hans reached into his coat and pulled out a single sheet of paper. A cheque. The Glachel territory was in the worst possible state. The war had forced them to requisition every resource; they had neither money nor food. That was why I’d focused on relief rations and brought cash as well—money to pay off their debts.
‘Taking out his own assets is already surprising, but going into debt on top of that? I have to respect it.’
His patriotism was admirable, yet it was also excessive. The empire didn’t deserve that level of devotion. Looking after one’s own interests too much is a problem, but neglecting them completely creates situations like this. Heroic decisions and bold courage deserve praise, but the world is simply too cold. Loyalty should be given with discernment.
“You’ve done well.”
I accepted the cheque Hans offered and stepped forward. Everyone’s eyes turned toward me. People who owed me their lives. People who had been starving to death for lack of money. Familiar faces from the past filled the space. Even I found it strange that I could remember every single one of them.
“All right, everyone! Let’s go hear a word of thanks and get moving! Depart!”
“Depart!”
The men echoed my command and climbed aboard the wagons. I joined the column roughly in the middle. In processions like this, the head and tail are the most dangerous spots. It might look odd for a noble young master to ride in a cargo wagon, but I was used to it. It also provided camouflage. A carriage bearing a family crest makes far too easy a target.
Clatter!
The wagon wheels rolled forward, kicking up light clouds of dust.
“Young Master, I’ll make sure you travel comfortably.”
The coachman assigned exclusively to me glanced back with a smile. A good man.
“I’m counting on you.”
“Of course. If you just sleep the whole way, we’ll be there before you know it. The column is long, so the journey will take some time.”
Obviously. A single carriage would be fast, but we had dozens of them, all heavily loaded. If we had modern cargo trucks it might be different, but horse-drawn wagons could only move so fast. I stretched out in the cargo bed. Thanks to the thick cloth laid over the wooden planks, the ride wasn’t bad at all.
“Man, from what I’ve heard, people really are going too far.”
“What can you do even if they are? When people get hungry, their eyes roll back in their heads.”
“Still, humans should know gratitude. If someone wipes their mouth and forgets the favor just because their own stomach is empty, are they even human? They’re beasts.”
“Humans were always beasts to begin with.”
From the rear came philosophical musings on the subtleties of life. They weren’t wrong. Yet risking one’s life to repay a debt is also a human act. The issue lies in individual personality. That’s why judging people correctly is important, though it’s never easy.
If only I had the golden eyes that could see through hearts or a hypnosis app from the game status window. It would make things so much simpler.
Hazardous elements will be highlighted in red.
The moment I thought of the status window, a voice rang inside my head. It was one of the abilities I’d gained after possessing this body. Thanks to the knowledge I’d accumulated while reading the original romance-fantasy novel, I could minimize the damage as much as possible.
‘Let’s see.’
Still lying down, I poked my head out the side of the wagon. Being in the middle made it hard to inspect the road ahead, but once I craned my neck I could clearly see the path painted red in the distance. The current time was afternoon. A single road with no forks. Several hours had passed since departure and we’d reached a remote area, so it was about time for something to happen.
War consumes a nation’s strength to the extreme. Afterward, the victorious side tears flesh from the defeated to replenish its own nutrition. The losing country ends up in even worse shape. That was why bandits frequently appeared in the novel’s second half—and even during the first half. Everyone was supposed to pool their strength, yet there were always those excluded from “everyone.” As a result, travelers often found themselves in danger on the roads. That was exactly why escorts were necessary.
‘Fucking human bastards…’
I sighed, cooling the heat in my chest. Time to sound the alarm.
“All units, halt! Guard the front!”
“Huk?! Guard the front!”
I shouted first, and the coachman immediately repeated it. The men nearby raised their voices as well. This way the command would travel to the front and rear, allowing a fairly quick response. The column loosened. Men who had been sitting in the cargo beds poured out. They wore ordinary clothes but carried spears, axes, and bows. The soldiers we’d brought from the territory were lightly armed and advanced slowly. They weren’t at the level of the absolute frontline troops, but they had gained real combat experience through harsh trials. Reliable men.
“Bandits! Shoot!”
One soldier bellowed loudly. As if provoked, rustling sounds erupted from the bushes beside the road. The foliage surged like a wave. In that moment, the archers who had already nocked arrows let them fly toward the swaying undergrowth.
“Ughk?!”
A pained groan burst out from far away—loud enough for me to hear clearly. The strange tone suggested the arrow hadn’t struck a vital point but rather a rather sensitive area. Or maybe not. Whatever.
“Charge!”
The soldiers formed ranks and advanced. Whatever had been hiding in the bushes hurriedly rose and began to flee. As expected, they were people. The enemy numbered ten. They were outnumbered and outmatched in momentum. I couldn’t gauge their skill, but the way they ran suggested it wasn’t high. That was only speculation, of course.
Soldiers and bandits, police and thieves—pursuers and pursued created a brief clamor before everything fell silent once more.
The voice echoed in my head at the same time the red tint vanished. We were safe now.
“Young Master. We’ve wiped them out.”
One of the men who had been farther ahead came running over and reported. I already knew.
“Everyone worked hard. Any injured?”
“None.”
“Good. Check your equipment, gather the corpses in one corner and burn them, then we’ll move on. Dig a pit over there by the roadside bushes.”
“Yes. We’ll make sure the fire doesn’t spread.”
The man gave a quick salute and ran off. Military discipline was overflowing. After confirming safety, I lay down in the cargo bed again. My neck ached from stretching it out so far.
“As expected! The Young Master’s insight is the greatest on the continent!”
The coachman looked at me with sparkling eyes. His timing in sucking up was impressively sharp. Still, he didn’t fabricate nonexistent feats, so his praise carried weight. It was the weight of sincerity.
“It’s because everyone responded appropriately. Anyway, now I can really rest.”
“Yes. Please sleep comfortably. If arrows come flying, I’ll block them with my own body.”
The coachman laughed heartily and thumped his chest. That was a bit much. Still, I believe in him. It was burdensome, but the burden made it reassuring. Thanks to that, I slept comfortably.
# Head of the Glachel family. Rozel Glachel felt dazed, as if he were dreaming.
The Meyer County has decided to provide support in order to express respect and gratitude toward the Viscount’s daughter, Lady Glachel.
A few days earlier, an unexpected message brought by a man was the reason. That voice still rang vividly in his ears. Even Amelia, whose soul had been dying, had sparkled with life upon hearing the news. She had been astonished.
Of course, in the world of nobles there is no such thing as favor without reason. There would surely be a price. Rozel had made foolish choices, but he understood at least that much. Even so, he felt endless gratitude. No matter the reason, it was a hand reaching out to pull them from hell. Rozel’s son Noma and his wife Raido were so moved they shed tears. Only Amelia remained calm.
‘Why on earth…?’
Her gratitude was immense. When she had been contemplating becoming a mercenary, a hand had stretched out like magic. Yet why now, of all times? Because her hatred for humans was boiling, seeds of suspicion sprouted.
‘Do they need my power?’
She was a person treated as a monster. No matter how beautiful her appearance, she knew all too well how difficult it was to be regarded as a woman. She knew it to the bone. Were they trying to swallow the family under the pretext of support? There was no reason for them to do so. The support they were offering was many times more valuable than a viscount family like theirs.
‘I don’t understand.’
Amelia’s mind was filled with confusion. The first battlefield she had experienced. The first time facing death, blood, and flesh—it had been as shocking as any of those things. She could not reach a conclusion. The only option was to meet them in person and talk.
“Viscount!”
In the reception room where the Glachel family had gathered, the butler burst in with extreme urgency and offered a proper greeting. They had no money to maintain slaves, yet they still kept servants to guard the castle. Those servants had come to deliver the news.
“Has the honored guest arrived?”
Rozel shot to his feet. The rest of the family seated nearby rose as well. The butler nodded with an excited face, overcome with emotion.
“Yes! I don’t know their exact location, but an endless line of wagons is entering as we speak.”
“Ooh…!”
At last! Violent fireworks exploded inside Rozel’s head. He wanted to greet them immediately.
“Do the people know the news?”
“Rumors have already spread, but everyone looks dazed. They seem unable to believe it.”
“That’s understandable! It makes perfect sense!”
Strength gradually filled Rozel’s voice. He was exhilarated.
“It seems we should go out to greet them ourselves… What is your opinion?”
The other party was a noble’s son. A viscount was also a noble. The butler considered the gap between them before answering.
“It appears acceptable. Not only is the Count’s heir coming in person, but above all his intentions are excellent.”
“Indeed. Since he comes with such admirable intent, we must go out and greet him.”
Rozel nodded firmly. From the beginning, even if it seemed rash, he had intended to go out.