The Collapse of the Bandit Group (3)
Stepping out of the barracks, all that met the eye were piles of collapsed buildings and corpses strewn in every direction. It was utter chaos. The stench of blood stung my nose. Each time I spotted familiar faces from the past few months in the mountain stronghold lying broken and lifeless, my expression grew harder. This was no time to smile as I had inside the barracks. I offered sincere prayers for the dead while carefully searching for Nancy's body. Yet after wandering for a long while, I found nothing no matter how hard I looked.
A sudden thought struck me. Perhaps the 8th squad Nancy belonged to had been out on a mission when the attack came. If she was still alive, that was a relief. We might meet again someday. When that time came, I could ask her about the female leader. Giving up the search for Nancy's body, I scanned the surroundings with Dana and Unia for anything worth taking when Pasvachio appeared, his face etched with despair.
"Captain, what do we do? Everyone's gone!"
"It's not time to give up yet. Follow me."
Calming the despondent man, I led everyone toward the place where Marcus and his group might be hiding. Marcus's old words echoed in my mind.
"We're petty thieves, so we have to act like timid rabbits. No matter what we do, we need to keep our eyes peeled and be ready to run at a moment's notice. Being cautious isn't a bad thing. If you want to survive long in this world, suspicion and fear are your best friends."
Given his usual way of life, I had a feeling he had escaped before the disaster struck. That was why, once I regained my senses, I had calmly waited for Pasvachio to return while searching for Nancy's body, confident that Marcus would have gotten everyone out safely. Perhaps it was proof that my bond with Marcus had deepened. Now I could almost predict his every move without even seeing it.
I guided everyone to Phelton's Cave. As expected, my guess proved correct. Familiar faces were waiting inside.
"Master Hyunwoo!"
"Daddy!"
"Master!"
"Hyunwoo!"
"Honey!"
We embraced, cheeks brushing, savoring the joy of reunion. Once we had settled in a circle inside the cave, Marcus recounted everything that had happened.
Just before dawn, right before the Guillotine Unit's attack, Marcus had received Kelly's letter via pigeon and realized catastrophe was imminent. He quickly woke Jane and the children, packed lightly, and left the stronghold under the pretense of heading out for work, driving the wagon as usual. As he skillfully made his escape, he thought to himself that saving the bandit group now was impossible. Revealing the truth—that a unit had been dispatched to wipe out the Elk Bandits—would only sow chaos, making it harder for him, Jane, Peggy, Haida, and Evynee to escape. So he told no one the truth and fled with only the members of the 15th squad.
It might have been selfish, but unlike me, tainted by morality, Marcus was a thorough bandit. And in crisis, he was always cool-headed.
"The bandit group is gone. How are we supposed to make a living now?"
Marcus let out a heavy sigh. With his age and injured body, joining a new bandit group would be difficult, and finding work on his own would be no easier. Now that the connection to the Elk Bandits was severed, he seemed to assume he would naturally part ways with me. I smiled warmly at him.
"I'll stay by your side, so don't worry."
The words must have moved him deeply, for Marcus wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
"You little rascal. You'll probably kick me out later saying I'm useless. I know everything, you brat."
He was clearly pleased but trying hard not to show it. It was written all over his face anyway.
"If I open a shop for you in Nobern later, you can just sit at the counter."
Marcus laughed heartily even as tears welled in his eyes.
"But if you open a shop in Nobern, you'll get caught right away, won't you?"
"Don't worry. I already have a building there."
"You said you only bought it and came right back. We'll have to wait and see how things play out. What if they take it back in a few days?"
"With the informant there, what is there to worry about? She even told Kelly about the Guillotine Unit coming. If she's willing to share that much, she's completely on our side. She wouldn't take it back, would she?"
Marcus pondered for a moment before speaking in a bothered tone.
"Ah, I don't know. You'll handle it fine, you rascal. Anyway, what are you planning to do now? We need to find a new place to settle. We can't all live crammed in this narrow cave."
"You're right, Captain," Pasvachio said.
"Living in the mountains doesn't feel right. How about settling in a village this time?"
Unia cut in.
"Why go to a village when you have a building in Nobern? Are you an idiot?"
Just as Unia thought, I intended to take everyone into Nobern. After explaining my plan, we packed our things and left the cave, heading straight for Nobern.
Without wagons or horses, we descended the mountain on foot, carrying our belongings through the forest, when we spotted a group of soldiers riding toward us.
"Hide, hide!"
Marcus moved first, ducking behind a nearby tree. Haida and Evynee, carrying loads half their size, quickly followed and pressed themselves against his back.
"It should be fine. You can come out."
"They're soldiers. How is it fine?"
"Looking at their armor, they're from that informant's unit."
"Lion Heart?"
"Yes."
As the soldiers drew closer, a faint smile spread across my lips. At their head was Adelia. I pulled back my hood and revealed my face without worry.
"Hyunwoo?"
Recognizing me, she halted her horse, her expression brightening slightly.
"You survived?"
"Thanks to you. Seeing you alive means things went well on your end too."
"I survived thanks to you as well."
Adelia smiled. I smiled brightly in return. In that moment, our gazes held a pleasant sense of connection that went beyond mere allies. On the way back to Nobern together, I heard the full story from Adelia and clicked my tongue in regret.
Eda and Rita, who had attacked Adelia, failed their assassination and died. The Lion Heart Unit was no easy target. When Rita fell to Adelia and Sinclair, the enraged Eda overreached and destroyed herself. She charged recklessly into the heart of the enemy lines for her sister's revenge and was killed by the surrounding soldiers. If I had gone, could I have prevented Eda and Rita's deaths? Regardless of their profession, they were kind-hearted women who would gladly help a stranger on the road. And they carried such tragic pasts.
Today was one of those days when a drink felt especially necessary. When I finally told Pasvachio, who had received their help back then, the whole story, he was startled—he had never known of Eda and Rita's existence—and then looked up at the sky with a somber expression before speaking softly.
"I'm sorry I left without even thanking them. And this time too, I couldn't even say goodbye. I won't forget their kindness. I hope they rest in peace and find happiness."
***
"You killed Orleans?"
Adelia's office. Adelia stared at me with wide, disbelieving eyes. Sinclair also looked at me in shock.
"The Guillotine Judge Orleans?"
"Yeah. I killed him."
"Incredible...!"
"For Sir Orleans to fall to mere bandits...!"
Both wore identical expressions of astonishment, as if a light tap on the back of the head would pop their eyes out. I took a sip of the tea—bitter and astringent like green tea—and quietly set the cup down.
"Our stronghold was around here. Go check if you want."
I pointed to a mountain marked on the map spread across the table. I had even drawn it myself with a pen for their sake. Adelia stroked her chin with a serious, thoughtful look.
"We should recover the bodies first and then report to our superiors. Reporting too hastily might cause misunderstandings. They could question why our unit simply stood by and watched."
If the Bittenvach Knights learned that Orleans—the most prominent figure in the southern bandit suppression and a skilled knight—had died, it would cause a massive uproar. That was why the report required extreme caution. Extremely detailed, with a touch of exaggeration.
"Setting aside our unit standing by, will the commander even believe that the Guillotine Unit was wiped out fighting bandits?" Sinclair asked. I replied,
"It's the truth."
Adelia spoke up.
"Even so, it's hard to believe that a unit boasting perfect skill and superior equipment was annihilated by insignificant bandits. Anyone hearing this news would be suspicious first. It was the strongest among the nine units dispatched to the south, yet it was wiped out so absurdly."
"They underestimated the bandits and paid the price. Did they really think the Elk Bandits would be that easy?"
A smile played on my lips. I said nothing about the female leader wiping out the Guillotine Unit with ten mysterious subordinates. I only reported that they had been annihilated fighting the Elk Bandits. I also mentioned that the leader of the Elk Bandits had died gloriously in battle.
"Then the story's over, right? I'll be going now."
I stood up. After meeting Adelia's group in the forest yesterday and returning to the city together, I had received a request to visit the Lion Heart Unit's headquarters tomorrow. So today, in the morning, I had come to explain the situation. Since I had done what needed to be done, it was time to leave.
"You should go recover the bodies before they rot or get eaten by monsters and disappear without a trace."
"Wait."
As I headed for the door, Adelia called out urgently.
"Where are you going? We're not finished talking."
"What else is there? I've told you everything."
"We need to establish a plan for how to suppress the bandits from now on."
"Why not handle the Guillotine Unit matter first and do that afterward? I only just arrived in the city yesterday, and there's a lot to prepare for a fresh start. Let's discuss it once our mercenary group is stable."
Scratching my head in annoyance, I turned back toward the door when I suddenly heard the sound of someone rising behind me, followed by quick footsteps. Adelia grabbed my arm tightly and forcibly spun me around.
"As long as I'm doing you favors, you should listen to me!"
"I am listening."
When I replied nonchalantly, she thrust her face close enough that our breaths mingled, looking displeased.
"If I say don't go, then don't go. Deciding whether to send you back home is my call. Understand? Don't forget that you can survive in this city because I'm helping you. Repay that favor properly."
Staring at her from such close range felt burdensome. Come to think of it, Adelia always pushed her face too close whenever we talked. Did she do this on purpose because she knew she was pretty?
"Favor? I'll repay it. That's why I'm asking for time. I need to sign a new contract for a place to live, buy horses for the mercenary group at the horse market, and stop by the blacksmith since my weapon broke fighting Orleans. I'd like to join you in suppressing bandits right away, but circumstances won't allow it. Can't you wait just a week?"
"Who said I'd keep holding you? We'll be busy dealing with the Guillotine Unit for a while too."
"Then hurry up and say it."
Adelia released my arm and turned to Sinclair.
"I'll step out with this guy for a moment."
"Where are you going?"
"To a restaurant in town to have a meal."
"What?"
"...What?"
Both Sinclair and I were startled by Adelia's sudden suggestion—me especially. Why eat together for no reason? Did we have some grudge to settle?