Carmen (2)
The road from the north to the capital was long. Even by carriage, it would take several days at least.
So, Lia had personally provided me with a carriage, complete with a coachman and a knight escort, sternly warning me not to get lost again or hop into some strange cart.
Thanks to that, I could travel comfortably despite the distance. All of it was thanks to Agehis's grace.
"The next territory is quite a ways off, so we'll have to rest here for the night."
The carriage slowed to a halt, and the coachman called back to me from the front.
I stepped out following his guidance and slowly surveyed the area around where we'd be staying.
"The vibe of this neighborhood is totally different."
Yesterday's territory had been quiet and dim, but this place was the complete opposite.
Even in the dead of night, it was bustling and brightly lit.
"Is this the right road?"
"...My apologies. It seems the coachman took a wrong turn toward the Dark District."
Something about the neighborhood felt off, so I asked Sir Allerton, who was with me.
He glanced around suspiciously, went to check with the coachman, and returned with a troubled expression.
"Wrong turn?"
"No, this is still the right direction toward the capital. It's even a bit shorter than our planned route. It's just... as you've noticed, a little unsettling."
He replied like that, sweeping his uncomfortable gaze over the surroundings.
People collapsed in drugged stupors, women in revealing clothes, and shady figures hawking what looked like illegal monster parts—they were everywhere.
It reeked of a place you didn't want to linger, making the meaning of "wrong turn" crystal clear.
"The imperial family must know about this... I heard the princess isn't the type to let it slide."
At this point in time, the empire should be under the princess's rule.
The Iron Princess I knew was pouring everything into purging the rot left by the previous wastrel emperor.
It was baffling that something like this could happen in the central region, where the capital was located.
But Allerton quickly cleared up my doubts.
"No matter how much they hate it, they can't just turn the empire into a donut, can they?"
"...Yeah, I get the gist."
In short, it meant they couldn't carve out the entire central region.
With most central powers rooted around here, it was probably untouchable.
"Just ignore them. Stay the night and leave first thing."
"Got it."
It was too late to turn back, and detouring would be a hassle.
Most of the Dark District types wouldn't bother us if we didn't look their way.
So, we checked into a nearby inn, stashed our luggage, grabbed some food, and settled in for the night.
"You bitch! I've almost got you now!"
Suddenly, a commotion erupted.
"...?"
A white-haired woman burst through the tavern door, flying inside, followed by a man who ripped off the shattered doorframe and charged in.
He hurled something at her, then rushed forward swinging his fists.
She sprang up immediately, facing him head-on and trading blows.
At first, I thought they were just drunks. With mana in this world, a heated brawl could smash doors easy.
"What the...?"
But something was off.
There were things around her neck and limbs—like shackles.
They didn't look like fashion. As I puzzled over it, Allerton, watching beside me, spoke cautiously.
"Slave hunters and a slave. The woman looks like a runaway."
"Slavery exists here...?"
"More common than you'd think. Especially in the west and south—plenty of them."
Saying that, Allerton turned away in disgust.
With his strength, he could stop it easily, but he was a knight of Agehis.
Intervening could drag Agehis's name through the mud, so ignoring it was his only option.
"......"
I didn't bother leaving. I just sat and watched, with Allerton right there anyway.
She was superior in skill—movement, power, everything.
But those restraints, or maybe something else, kept putting her at a disadvantage.
In the end, she got caught. Bound by the hunter's rope.
She struggled fiercely but soon gave up, slumping like she'd died.
Her eyes, in total surrender, held an incomprehensible void.
"...Sir Allerton, one question."
Seeing that stirred something deep in my chest—not simple heroism, bravado, or pity.
Something human, raging wildly.
"Even Agehis can't touch this place easily."
"Even if my power isn't enough to save everyone."
The empire's top power couldn't save this land.
What could a fake Swordmaster with just a title and a sword do?
Especially me, all show and no substance.
But.
Even so.
"Couldn't I at least save the one right in front of me?"
Couldn't I reach out to at least one person fighting to survive before my eyes?
"If it's possible, shouldn't I?"
I asked, but I didn't wait for his answer.
Instead, I thought fast—and acted faster.
"Damn it..."
I kicked the table in front of me lightly. Soup spilled, perfectly soaking Excalibur beside it.
I grabbed the soup-drenched sword and shoved it toward the hunters celebrating their catch.
"Hey. Your little racket earlier got my sword filthy."
"Huh? Who the hell are you?"
"Just a passerby who got caught in the mess, as you can see."
I thrust the soup-smeared blade right at him.
"Tch... Tough break. Wipe it off with a rag."
He tossed a dirty cloth my way and turned to leave.
But I couldn't let him go that easy.
So I blocked him again.
"Not so fast."
"What, you want compensation?"
"This ain't a cheap fix."
"Bullshit. You wanna get punched too...?"
As he got pissed, I cut in smoothly.
I waved the sword dramatically again.
"It's not just any sword."
The reason I went through the hassle of soup-dunking it was simple.
Using my Swordmaster rep or Agehis's name directly would drag them in.
Both were straightforward, but risky—could harm the north.
"It's a gift from the lord of Agehis."
So I made it personal.
No room for them to backpedal later.
Not me flaunting prestige—but forced to.
"...What?"
"Just what I said. Not just any sword. Handed to me personally by Agehis's lord."
I declared it boldly.
This sword was a gift from Lia Agehis.
Then, gesturing at the blade—emphasizing the soup—I made it clear.
"But now it's damaged."
Because of who?
"Thanks to you lot."
I shook it, splattering soup on his pants, but pressed on undeterred.
"I'll be heading north again soon. If the sword she gave me is ruined, what'll she think of me?"
I struck a pose of mock horror, laying bare my "plight."
Then, smiling slyly, I made my demand.
"Time for compensation, don't you think?"
The hunter eyed me and the sword back and forth.
After three or four rounds, he tilted his head.
"That sword's from the Steel Diamond?"
"Yeah, finally getting it..."
"Bullshit."
He didn't.
Instead, he bared his teeth and spat at me.
"The Countess of Agehis gave a sword to some punk chugging booze in this dump? Bullshit."
"Problem?"
"If you're gonna scam, do it right. A countess hands over junk like that?"
"Told you it's no scam, but you won't believe me."
Fair enough—it did look like junk.
I could almost agree.
"Anyway, you're paying for it."
Almost there.
The picture I wanted was forming.
So I blocked the hunter trying to brush past.
"Ugh. Fuck this. I'm gonna beat your..."
His brain finally hit boiling point, rage overtaking him.
He lunged for my collar, but I didn't flinch.
Calm and satisfied, I turned to Allerton, who'd been watching.
"What do you think?"
Allerton's duty.
Protect the VIP personally appointed by Lia Agehis.
A lord's command to a knight was absolute—acting on it was natural.
"I am Allerton, knight appointed by Agehis."
So.
To fulfill that—to protect me.
Allerton could step in as an Agehis knight.
"What you do here is none of my concern, but harming a guest of Agehis is unacceptable."
He dashed over, grabbed the hunter's arm mid-lunge, and pressed his sword to the man's throat.
The hunter struggled, but couldn't break a knight's grip.
Just pointless thrashing.
After a prolonged tussle, the hunter gave up and glared at me, still cocky.
"Hah. What, some gang extortion racket...?"
As he opened his mouth again, faint aura flickered from Allerton's blade.
Not a full Swordmaster's, but high-grade nonetheless.
His cloak fell, revealing Agehis's crest emblazoned on his armor.
"...A real Agehis knight...?"
Finally realizing something was wrong, the man's face paled.
I looked down at him and kindly repeated what I'd said all along.
"As I've been telling you."
The tables had turned.
He wasn't a slave hunter anymore.
He was a peasant who'd dared touch an Agehis guest.
"Lia gave me this sword."
And I?
Not some thug stirring up the Dark District with Agehis's authority.
A rightful guest demanding compensation for damages here.
So what if it's forced?
The strong make the justification.
"What? Cat got your tongue?"
"......"
"Sweating bullets now?"
"......"
"Can't settle this quietly anymore."
Even an idiot would know by now.
He was screwed.
But I didn't care. This was exactly the picture I wanted.
"I'll have to meet your boss and hold them accountable. You and the woman come too."
I pointed at the hunter, then shifted to the bound woman slumped behind.
To resolve it properly.
"Objections? Speak now if you have any."
"......None."
"Nice and clean. Right?"
After that one-sided "agreement," I kindly helped the sprawled hunter to his feet.
Gathered him, the woman, and prepared to head out—then something hit me.
I turned back to the hunter.
"...Oh yeah, what'd you call me earlier?"
"...."
"Said I needed a beating?"
"...."
"That'll cost extra."