Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Mini Refrigerator
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Mini Refrigerator
[Survive.]
[Run.]
I shot up, frantically fumbling for the sword by my head. Only when my hand gripped the hilt, feeling its cool steel, could I finally breathe easily.
I got out of bed and lightly stretched my stiff body.
I put on the armor I had taken off beside me, grabbed my sword, and headed to the backyard.
It was still the darkest hour of dawn, before the sun had risen.
As I stepped into the backyard, the damp morning air soothed my unsettled spirit.
I warmed up, then started with a light jog. Gradually, I picked up the pace.
The armor was heavy, and I grew winded much faster than before. I had to get used to it, so I didn’t stop, running more desperately. As if someone was chasing me from behind.
Finally, I stopped just before my heart felt like it would burst.
Catching my breath, I drew my sword.
The coldness emanating from the blade calmed my mind.
I started with horizontal slashes. Then vertical slashes, and thrusts. I repeated them over and over until my arms trembled.
At last, when every muscle in my body was screaming, I stopped. Wearing the armor, I managed significantly fewer reps than before.
*You get used to it if you keep at it.*
With that simple thought, I pushed my sweat-soaked bangs back with my hand. Even after pushing my body to its limit, the sun still hadn’t risen.
“H-here…”
Just then, I heard a small voice beside me. I turned my head to see the now much cleaner Mini Refrigerator hesitantly offering me a mug.
Hana had taken a liking to her and brought her along. Seeing her in a fresh set of clothes, it seemed Hana had grown quite fond of her. Washed up and dressed in new clothes, the Mini Refrigerator looked quite presentable.
*She’s definitely sharp.*
I thought as I took the mug she offered.
She looked like a child, but having been among those brutal men, her life must have been anything but smooth. Her soul was likely stained with all sorts of grime.
*That’s probably why she followed me yesterday.*
The child must have known. That following me was her only way to survive. There was no need for a lengthy explanation, so being sharp was better than being clueless.
“Thanks.”
The mug was filled to the brim with beer, a thin layer of ice floating on top. I swallowed hard without realizing it and slowly took a drink.
My screaming muscles instantly melted away with the cold beer. A refreshing beer like this after a workout. It was an incredible stimulus.
I drained the beer in one go and regretfully shook the empty mug.
“Th-thank… y-you…”
The Mini Refrigerator’s eyes couldn’t meet mine, darting about nervously, and her hands trembled. She looked terrified, but she was still trying her best to express her gratitude.
Yesterday’s events must have been quite a shock for her. To reassure her, I put on another gentle smile and reached out my hand.
When I extended my hand, the child’s eyes widened, but she didn’t back away, merely looking up at me with a frightened gaze.
“How old are you?”
I asked, placing my hand on her purple hair.
“T-twelve.”
She was older than she looked. Then again, it was hard to tell people’s ages by their appearance around here. There were men who looked sixteen despite having a full beard and a wrinkled face.
“Make sure you eat well.”
I didn’t have much else to say, so I just patted her head once and walked past.
“Th-thank…”
I heard a mumble from behind me.
***
“So what’s the deal? With Kanna?”
Hana asked, pouting as she pointed at the Mini Refrigerator sitting in front of me.
*Ah, so the Mini Refrigerator’s name is Kanna.*
I pondered for a moment what to say before answering.
“I just picked her up.”
“What?! You picked up a child?!”
My casual remark made Hana raise her voice, and the child lowered her head even further.
“Yeah.”
“H-here…”
The child held out the mug she was holding. It was another cold beer. My mouth watered reflexively. Just as I was about to grab the mug and drink, Hana caught my hand.
“…Aron! You can’t just pick up a child you find on the street! She could have just been lost!”
I couldn’t understand why she was looking at me with such a serious expression, saying something so obvious that I had no room to argue.
“Anyway, put any money spent on her on my tab, and make sure she’s well-fed. If she says she needs anything, buy it for her.”
“…Is she really your daughter?”
“What nonsense have you been spouting…”
“You don’t look alike. Kanna is so cute, you know?”
“Huh?”
Hana suddenly grabbed Kanna’s cheeks and stretched them. Kanna froze in that position as if she’d malfunctioned.
“But why is Kanna handing you a beer mug?”
Hana, who had been kneading Kanna’s cheeks, narrowed her eyes and asked when she saw me take a satisfying sip of beer and smile.
“She can make beer cold.”
“Oh my, Kanna, you were a mage?”
Startled, Hana let go of Kanna’s cheeks and neatened her purple hair. Kanna didn’t answer, only glancing at me nervously. Wondering why she was so timid, I sighed and replied.
“She’s a bottom-tier mage.”
“Hmm? She’s so young. Isn’t it a bit much to call her a bottom-tier mage?”
“She’s still a bottom-tier mage.”
“You must have gone through so much. Come, let this big sister give you a hug.”
Was it my imagination, or did Hana’s gaze toward Kanna grow even warmer? Hana finally managed to pull the stiffly frozen Kanna into an embrace, stroking her purple hair with a gentle smile.
“So, Kanna dear. How many cold beers can you make in a day? Within a range that won’t be too hard for our Kanna, of course.”
“…?”
Hana asked, emphasizing the words “our Kanna.”
Held in Hana’s arms, Kanna’s eyes widened as she looked at me.
Since I had nothing in particular to say, I just drank my beer.
“I hear cold beer sold by mages is all the rage in the city… The conditions will be the best in the industry… As a comrade who will be with us from now on…”
Kanna struggled slightly, but Hana only held her tighter, whispering in her ear.
It seemed the two of them would get along just fine.
I took another sip of beer, once again marveling at the refreshing coolness that filled my head.
Indeed, there was nothing as delicious as a beer before work.
***
“Ah, Captain.”
Berman, sporting a finely groomed beard, bowed his head in greeting. It seemed his injuries were just scratches, as the men in the barrel had shouted, since he returned to duty sooner than I expected.
“Hey. Berman, I hear you got your ass kicked by some mercenaries.”
“What are you…! We were just outnumbered, that’s all.”
Berman replied, his face scrunching up.
“That’s what getting your ass kicked is. Getting beaten up all the time. I guess we have been slacking on training lately. I should gather the men for some special training…”
“Arooooon!!!”
“Captain. I think the Commander is calling for you.”
Berman quickly cut me off at the sound of a pig being slaughtered.
“Anyway, I need to gather everyone for training soon…”
“Roooooon!”
“Sir, he’s going to lose his breath.”
I clicked my tongue and stood up. Wondering what that old man was fussing about now, I headed to the second floor, still thinking I needed to gather the men for training soon.
When I opened the door, the Commander was sitting in a plush chair, dressed in casual clothes. Beside him stood a wooden stand shaped like a person, on which his armor and sword were hung.
*Even so, hanging up his sword too…*
I was dumbfounded by the sight of the Commander of the Outer Wall Guard sitting around so peacefully, completely unarmed.
“Yes, it’s Aron.”
“They were looking for you from the inner castle. What trouble did you cause this time?”
The Commander asked, the flesh beneath his eyes twitching.
“Ah, it wasn’t trouble. I caught some wanted criminals yesterday and sent them to the inner castle. It’s probably about that.”
“I-is that so? You’re sure? You didn’t cause any trouble? You didn’t just beat someone up and then frame them when you realized your mistake, did you?”
“…Yes.”
For a moment, I wondered what this bastard thought of me. If you asked anyone in the Outer Wall Guard to pick the most diligent person, they would all pick me.
“As expected of our Captain Aron. I have great faith in you.”
The Commander’s expression changed in an instant as he stood up and reached for my shoulder. His hand couldn’t quite reach, so I bent my knees slightly, and he patted my shoulder with a satisfied look.
“Anyway, they’re looking for you in the inner castle, so stop by before you go on duty.”
I nodded at the Commander’s words.
I sent Berman off first and headed towards the inner castle. In front of the inner castle gate stood Bastard-squared Jace and another man I didn’t recognize.
“Halt. State your identity and purpose.”
The man, his expression somewhat stiff, asked as he aimed his spear at me. At least he was better than the last guy who just shrieked at the top of his lungs.
“Hey, Jace.”
Jace seemed intent on ignoring me, pretending not to see me as he stared off into the distance. The sight made my mouth itch.
“How are things going with the woman who throws shit out of her window?”
“…The woman who throws shit! Her name is Emma!”
The reaction was immediate. Jace’s face turned beet red as he raised his voice. As always, he was so fun to provoke.
“Aha, right. Emma, who throws shit out of her window. Anyway, how are things going?”
“Emma threw it out the window because the latrine was too far, and most people do it that way… Wait, why am I explaining this to a commoner…”
Jace trailed off after speaking in a long, breathless rush. He seemed to be aware that throwing shit out of a window was a barbaric act.
That was a relief, at least. If the shit-throwing woman and Jace were to marry, their children, the bastard-cubed generation, wouldn’t be throwing shit out of windows.
“Anyway, I’m glad to hear it’s going well.”
“…Mind your own business.”
“Mm.”
As Jace and I talked, the man who had aimed his spear at me discreetly lowered it.
“Seeing you here, you must be the guard who caught the wanted criminals.”
“That’s right. And I caught them after my shift was over, no less. How much I do for this Castle Casedic…”
“Go on in and head to the annex. Nova’s in charge of this one, too.”
“Why that woman again…”
The smirk on Jace’s face was so irritating that my hands itched, but this wasn’t a good place to throw a punch. So I just waved my hand dismissively and entered the inner castle.
*Hoo…*
Just like last time, Nova was the fieriest woman in Castle Casedic, so I took a moment to prepare myself mentally before knocking on the door.
*Knock, knock.*
I knocked with a precise rhythm, trying to convey how polite I was through the sound alone.
“Come in.”
A voice, much softer than last time, came from inside.
Relieved, I gently pushed the door open. Just like before, Nova, her vivid orange hair tied back tightly, was sitting at a desk piled high with yellowed papers.
Without stopping her quill pen, Nova glanced up at me. And immediately, her face soured.
“You again?”
“Ahem…”
Nova’s reaction felt just like last time, so I let out a slight cough.
“Well, I suppose if it isn’t Aron the Riffraff of Castle Casedic, there’s no one else in the Outer Wall Guard who could catch those bastards. But with skills like that, why are you just a captain in the Outer Wall Guard? You should move to the Inner Castle Guard… no, if that troublemaker caused any problems in the inner castle, we wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
Nova muttered, lightly scratching her head with her quill. Still, her face wasn’t as filled with annoyance as before.
“Good morning, Orange.”
“Why am I an Oran… no, let’s not even go there. Talking to you will only give me a headache.”
“Good morning, beautiful Orange.”
“…Adding ‘beautiful’ in front doesn’t make Orange a compliment. Why am I even explaining this… Anyway, I’ll get straight to the point. The men you caught and handed over to us are from the Lone Wolves, one of the three major organizations in the city of Karzan. They already had bounties on their heads, but the price doubled for the crime of murdering a nobleman’s son.”
Nova, who had been speaking in a rapid-fire manner, took a long breath and brought a cup of water to her lips. Her unlined throat moved as she swallowed.
*An orange drinking water.*
The thought almost slipped out of my mouth, but I managed to hold it back under Nova’s fierce gaze. Nova, who had been drinking with her eyes closed, put the cup down and returned to her usual fierce expression.
“As it happens, the Lord was looking for connections in Karzan, so the men you caught are quite a valuable gift.”
“…Ahem.”
“Could you try to keep a straight face in front of me? I haven’t had lunch yet.”
“Huh?”
“Seeing a heinous-looking guy like you twitching the corners of his mouth because he got a compliment is making me lose my appetite.”
At her sharp words, I grinned even wider. Nova, who had been glaring at me, couldn’t hold back a small laugh.
Then, as if her pride was hurt, she reverted to her usual sour expression, but when I flared my nostrils, Nova couldn’t help but laugh louder.
“Pfft… Anyway, I’ll relay the Lord’s message.”
“Should I kneel or something?”
“It’s fine. No one’s watching anyway, just listen. ‘You have worked hard. Thanks to you, Castle Casedic… blah blah blah… I commend your efforts.’ The end.”
Nova pulled out a particularly white piece of paper from among the yellowed ones and began to read with a slightly serious face, before trailing off vaguely.
“Huh?”
“He said you did a great job and he’s grateful. He wants you to continue protecting Castle Casedic like this.”
“With just empty words? What a complete son of a bitch…”
“Hey! You crazy bastard! Say that stuff in your own room, or with those ignorant guards of yours! Why are you spouting that crap in my office!”
As I muttered the curse under my breath, a startled Nova shot up from her seat, stood on her tiptoes, and clamped a hand over my mouth. In the process, she lost her balance and slammed her head into my chest.
*Thump.* A small sound echoed, and Nova rubbed the spot on her forehead where she’d hit, looking up. Her face was once again filled with its usual annoyance.
“Well, it’s not like anyone’s watch…”
“Shut up. Just shut up. Please. And let me finish. Anyway, the Lord commended your efforts, and I’ll set aside the bounty money on those men for you separately. The Lord is rolling in money and probably doesn’t even know there was a bounty anyway.”
“Nova, you truly are a beautiful and wise Orange.”
“I’ll say it again, adding adjectives in front doesn’t make Orange a compliment.”
“A beautiful, wise, and clever Orange.”
“Pfft… Anyway, I’ll call for you again when the bounty comes through. And on your way out, call for the executioner. Tell him the count is six.”
“Dallus?”
“Dallus, Dillus, whatever. There’s only one executioner in Castle Casedic.”
At the irritable tone of the once-again-annoyed Orange, I quickly nodded.
I left the room, the distinct scratching sound of a quill pen on paper following me.
***
In the Empire, not just anyone could become an executioner.
In an era where the labor of peasants was classified as the lord’s property, taking a life required one to either have an official executioner’s license from the Empire or be from a family of executioners by lineage.
And Dallus, the executioner of Castle Casedic, was the latter. The people of this medieval age, while enjoying executions as a sport and even holding festivals for them, shunned the executioner himself, believing him to be cursed. As a result, Dallus lived in a secluded cabin outside the castle walls.
*Knock, knock.*
“Dallus.”
I knocked on the cabin’s thick wooden door.
*Thump, thump.* Heavy footsteps approached from inside. A moment later, the door opened to reveal a man with a gaunt complexion, his body from neck to thigh covered by a red overcoat. It was Dallus, slightly taller than me. His characteristic faint scent of medicinal herbs wafted over.
“It’s been a while, Aron.”
“Yes, Dallus. Have you been well?”
Dallus spotted me and smiled gently, extending a hand. I grasped his large hand and smiled back.
The medieval folk might point fingers at the executioner, calling him unlucky and base, but Dallus was one of the most thoughtful and gentlemanly men I had ever met.
“It seems some work has come up.”
“Six of them this time. You’ll be making a pretty penny.”
I threw out a light joke, and Dallus smiled wryly and nodded.
“Will you come in?”
“I will.”
I followed Dallus as he walked inside with heavy steps. The cabin, filled with the scent of damp wood, was quite neatly organized. On one side was a fireplace filled with burnt logs, and in front of it, a long bench covered with an animal hide.
And on one wall, various execution tools were hung neatly, as if on display. It felt like a summer cottage where a psychopathic killer would spend his vacation.
“Wait a moment. I’ll bring some warm stew.”
Dallus muttered softly and headed toward the kitchen, while I sat on the bench. He must have made it himself to fit his large frame, as there was plenty of room left even after I sat down.
“Ah! Aron!”
Just then, a child with the same sunken eyes as Dallus came scampering down the stairs from the upper floor.
“Long time no see, Ted.”
“Wow! Aron, your armor looks so cool now!!”
Ted ran up to me, tapping various parts of my armor with his finger, exclaiming “Ooh…” in admiration. I struck a slight pose for him, and Ted clapped his hands in delight.
“Ted. You must have manners.”
Dallus chided as he returned, holding two wooden bowls. Ted flinched and hid behind me.
“Thank you.”
I took the bowl Dallus offered. It was filled with a hearty stew packed with ingredients.
Dallus was one of the few people who bathed every day, so I could eat his cooking without worry. On top of that, he was skilled with his hands and a decent cook, so I would occasionally visit his cabin for a free meal.
“Six, you said? That’s a lot this time.”
“They’re criminals from another city. The more the merrier, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. I suppose I’ll have to bring Ted along this time.”
“Is he old enough already?”
“…Eek.”
Ted gasped, his eyes widening. But Dallus didn’t look at him, instead gulping down the hot stew.
In this world, it was natural for a farmer’s son to become a farmer, and for an executioner’s son to become an executioner.
To go against that powerful current required considerable effort, and most people exhausted themselves trying and ended up starving to death.
*The treatment isn’t great, but at least they don’t starve.*
Even if he was ostracized by people, being an executioner was a profession that paid well and had a steady demand.
As long as you didn’t cause a gruesome scene by failing to sever a head in one blow, leaving it dangling while blood sprayed like a sprinkler, it was a lifelong job you could do for as long as you wanted.
“This one is for when the opponent’s neck is thick…”
I nodded, watching the backs of Dallus and Ted as Dallus pointed to the grim tools on the wall and explained them.
Here, not starving was a good enough job.
An executioner was similar to a mercenary in that they lived off the blood price of a man’s head, but since their own body was never at risk of a blade, it was clearly a better profession.
*The castle will be in an uproar when this news gets out.*
Whenever there was an execution, the plaza would be packed with people who came out to watch. And this time, with six of them, it was sure to be even more crowded.
As if it were a festival, everyone in the castle would bring their families, share bread and beer, and watch the ‘Head-Chopping Show x6’.
*Tsk, these barbaric medieval folks.*
My head already ached just thinking about having to control that crowd.