Chapter 6
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Potbellied Cops
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Potbellied Cops
When I arrived at headquarters, checked in with the Captain, and came back out, Quarter was nowhere to be seen. He must have run straight to bed. That disloyal bastard.
“Getting off, Jojang?”
Berman, who had shed his leather armor for plain clothes, offered a casual greeting.
“Yeah. Anything happen on patrol today?”
“Our side was quiet, just sectors three and four, same as usual. But Brick’s team had some trouble over in five and six. Seems like all these outsiders lately are stirring up all sorts of trouble.”
“Oh, yeah? What kind of trouble?”
I replied as I pressed the clasps to undo my leather armor. Shucking off the stinking, worn-out armor felt like being reborn. It really was true that the more a man wore, the further he strayed from freedom.
“Heard some mercenaries got into it at one of the shops. Need a hand with that?”
“Yeah, grab that end. It’s stuck.”
“Got it.”
Berman grabbed the other side of my leather boot and pulled with all his might. After a moment of grunting and straining, the boot came off with a satisfying *pop!* My foot had regained its freedom.
“Agh. I keep saying this thing doesn’t fit. How many times do I have to tell them before I get a new pair? Stingy bastards.”
I soon had the other boot off and tossed it aside. Then I glanced at Berman’s feet, and he startled, sidestepping to hide them.
“Hey, I’m not gonna take them. I’m not.”
“I heard you took Kel’s hat. The one with the feather.”
“That was because the bastard wouldn't shut up about his woman. It was getting on my nerves.”
“You could find a woman too, Jojang. You’ve been settled here for over two years, and I heard Luna’s shown some interest.”
“Forget it. Just forget it. Anyway, what happened?”
“They must have been drinking, because the mercs ignored Brick and kept fighting. In the end, they had to call for backup from Squads Two and Three to haul them all off to the stockade.”
“Seriously? Those guys have some serious nerve.”
“That’s how all those mercenaries who live by the sword are, isn’t it?”
Berman clicked his tongue and cursed the mercenaries. For some reason, I felt a pang of guilt and got to my feet. Berman was right. No educated man would become a mercenary, forced to roll the dice with his own life every single day. You didn’t choose to live by the sword because you wanted to. You did it because it was the only thing left to eat, the only option you had.
“I don’t know why people are suddenly flocking here, but if I had my way, I’d shove every last one of those bastards into Sector Seven.”
Berman had always held a particular contempt for mercenaries. At other times, he was a proper gentleman—a rarity in these medieval times—but the moment mercenaries were involved, he’d see red.
Kel claimed it was because ‘Berman once had his lover stolen by a well-endowed mercenary,’ but that was never confirmed.
I shoved my discarded gear into a corner. The guardhouse didn't have a concept like lockers. The spot where you left your things each day became yours. My spot was well-ventilated and in plain sight.
‘A lot of people have been showing up lately.’
This was a frontier castle, so visitors were usually just wagon drivers or merchant caravans. But recently, the number of visitors had surged.
The extra silver was nice, but more people always meant more problems. It had always been that way. It looked like things were about to get busy again.
‘Then again, it was packed last year for the young lady’s birthday, too.’
Her beauty was quite famous, and I’d been so busy back then I’d barely slept. Carriages bearing noble crests had rolled in two or three a day, leaving me no time to slack off.
“…You should be careful too, Jojang.”
“What?”
“They say a lot of those mercs are gathered in Sector Five, so be careful. And this time, don’t just start by beating them up like last time. If you just call the other squads and overwhelm them with numbers, even mercenaries will back down.”
I thought he was going to say something important, but it was just nonsense. I waved a dismissive hand.
Calling another squad to handle it? What a joke.
What was the greatest perk of being a guard? Getting to eat bread and fruit on the cheap? Skimming a little extra coin during inspections and building camaraderie?
No, those were just minor byproducts, benefits at best.
The greatest perk of being a guard was that you could beat down anyone who wasn't wearing fancy clothes, no questions asked.
These ignorant medieval fools were always committing some major offense or another, so if you just beat them up, something was bound to come out. And as guards, we could beat them up to a reasonable degree without facing any real consequences.
“Ah! I mean, be careful so the rest of us don’t get our pay docked again!”
I’d more than made up for their docked pay… in fact, I’d given them extra, so what was he complaining about? I gave a light wave at Berman’s shout.
However, I had no intention of following his advice.
Why would I share the most delicious part with others? It was meant to be savored alone.
I just couldn't understand it.
***
“Agh…”
Potbellied Cops groaned as he sat down on a hard wooden chair.
He used to have enough energy to go home and dote on his wife even after a full day’s work. Now, just half a day left his body limp and drained. If he happened to make eye contact with his wife at home, a chill would run down his spine, forcing him to instinctively look away.
His workload had decreased, he’d hired help, and he finished earlier, but he still couldn’t go home. At some point, home had ceased to be a place where Cops could find true rest.
His only solace was a cup of warm tea at the Laughing Rabbit inn after work.
Cops liked the Laughing Rabbit for a few reasons. First, the inn itself was quiet.
Casedic Castle was always noisy, no matter where you went. The teahouses in Sector 1 were said to be quiet, but there was no way he could afford to go there.
And the next reason was…
“Ah! Mister Cops! Warm tea, right?!”
The waitress, Hana, was kind and warm, and the prices were very cheap.
‘My wife used to be like that when she was young… Now it’s like she’s devoured an orc.’
*Tsk.* He smacked his lips and fiddled with the teacup before him. The quiet atmosphere, filled only with the sound of Hana cleaning, brought peace to his heart.
Cops sipped the bitter tea, recalling his first visit.
He had been surprised by the quiet atmosphere, so out of place for an inn.
Other inns were always raucous, with men clinking mugs and getting into fistfights. But this place was dead quiet.
How could it be so quiet when the waitress was such a beauty? Normally, it should be bustling with men trying to hit on her.
Could something secretive be going on here?
That question had been a refreshing stimulus for Cops, who had grown weary of his repetitive daily life. From that day on, he began visiting the inn, determined to uncover its secret.
Just as Cops was beginning to acquire a taste for the bitter tea at the Laughing Rabbit, an incident occurred that revealed exactly why the inn was so quiet.
‘To think that rowdy Aron was staying here.’
A few mercenaries had started harassing Hana, and that day, the Laughing Rabbit had been twice as loud as any other inn.
He’d heard that nobles in the distant capital made mercenaries fight each other to the death for their entertainment. That day, Cops finally understood why those so-called noble lords would command such a barbaric act.
Watching the raw violence, he felt something inside him being released. As if all the frustrations he’d endured from being pushed around were melting away…
*Creak.*
The old wooden door let out a small protest against the passage of time as it opened.
‘Speak of the devil and he shall appear.’
Cops startled at the sight of the large man who entered through the open door and quickly turned his head away.
He had a handsome frame, but the scars etched across his face ruined his impression. His solid body, visible even through his plain clothes, radiated an aura so intimidating that it made other men instinctively lower their gaze.
“Ah! Aron! You worked hard today! Bath first, right?”
“Yeah.”
Only after Aron had gone upstairs could Cops breathe easily again.
‘He’s scarier than a knight.’
His job meant he saw knights often, but Cops could say with confidence that Aron was far more frightening.
*Creeak!*
“Aish! Why’s this door so damn stiff! I told you we should’ve gone to that other inn. Why’d we come all the way to this hole-in-the-wall?”
“I’m telling you, the best food is always in these rundown places.”
The wooden door groaned more loudly than before as it opened, and three rough-looking men entered. With axes on their backs and daggers strapped here and there, they were clearly the mercenaries that had become more numerous lately. They spoke boisterously as they glared around the room.
‘Is today the day!’
Cops’s heart pounded as he secretly watched them. He had been hopeful, hearing the rumors about the increase in mercenaries, but he never thought it would happen on a day he was visiting!
“Welcome! Are you here for a meal?”
“Do you offer a bed, too? Haha! Just kidding. For now, just a meal.”
“Oh! John! You were right! She’s a real looker!”
“Haha… Would you like to sit over here?”
Hana laughed awkwardly at their rude remarks and led them to a table in the center.
‘Today’s the day!’
Cops rejoiced inwardly as he watched them continue to hurl lewd jokes at Hana even as they sat down.
Forcing a smile, Hana pushed away a hand that grabbed her wrist and disappeared toward the kitchen. The men began to talk even louder.
They boasted loudly about how their current job was from a noble, how the reward was enormous, and how they would buy farming tools and live a proper life once they completed it.
Just as their ruckus was at its peak, Aron came downstairs. He was in light clothing, but as always, a sword was belted at his waist.
As Aron descended, the noisy mercenaries fell silent in an instant. They glared at Aron, their hands moving to the handles of the axes they had set beside them.
Aron paid them no mind and simply walked past. Their vigilance suddenly seemed ridiculous.
“Ah! Aron! I’ve heated the water for you!”
“Thanks.”
“How about this? Seventy coppers? I’m only doing this for you, Aron!”
Unlike how she treated others, Hana beamed, her dimples showing. She made a crude gesture and wiggled her eyebrows.
Aron looked weary as he headed inside. In response, Hana stuck out her tongue and disappeared back into the kitchen.
“What’s with that bastard’s glare…”
“Pfft. You scared?”
“Scared, my ass! You looked like you were about to draw your axe.”
“You saw that punk glaring at me. Damn right! I was about to smash his head in!”
Embarrassed by their recent silence, the three men started shouting even louder than before, spewing crude insults. They then started picking a fight with someone at a nearby table to vent their frustration.
Cowardly Guruk at the next table jumped in surprise, grabbed his mug, and moved to a table as far away as possible.
Cops realized Guruk was hoping for the same thing he was.
“But did you see that gesture from before?”
The man with sharp eyes like a goblin grinned.
‘Today’s the day!’
Cops caught Guruk’s eye and grinned back. After a moment’s hesitation, Guruk glanced at the men and subtly drew a finger across his throat.
A short while later, when Hana came out with plates of food and mugs of beer, the men were on their feet, dancing around the hall with enough energy to tear the place apart.
Hana, her lips smiling but her eyes cold, set the plates and mugs on the table. As she turned to leave, the goblin-like man grabbed her wrist.
Hana tried to pull her hand away with that same awkward smile, but this time it seemed difficult, and she furrowed her pretty brow.
“Saw you offering something nice earlier. I worked up quite a sweat today myself. How about you draw me a bath?”
“Well… I can draw you one after Mister Aron is done. We only have one bathtub.”
“That seventy coppers thing you mentioned to that other guy? I’d like that, too. A bit pricey, though. I heard you can get all sorts of things for fifty coppers over there. Must be something special, huh?”
“That was just a joke. It’s our busy time right now, so could you please let go?”
“I heard you loud and clear. Are you discriminating against me just because I’m an ignorant mercenary?!”
The largest of the men shot to his feet, shouting. The other two followed, surrounding Hana.
Cops was amazed that the mercenaries were saying the exact same things as last time. Was this some popular courting method among them? If so, their bloodlines were doomed to die out.
“Well… I know you mercenaries are rough, cool guys, but I really don’t offer those kinds of services. I’m truly sorry if my joke was misleading… but if you keep this up, it’ll become a really difficult and annoying situation for me and the other customers, so could you please stop here?”
Despite being surrounded, Hana showed no fear. Instead, she looked them over with pity in her eyes and continued to speak clearly.
“Ha! An annoying situation? Are you counting on the city guard? What a naive little lady.”
The large man stroked Hana’s cheek with the back of his hand, his voice thick with lust.
“You think the guards, who don’t even make thirty silver a month, would bother with a shabby little inn in the middle of nowhere? And you think we’d be scared of the guards in this backwater fortress?”
“…Of course. Of course. You must be right.”
At the man’s words, Hana nodded and replied dismissively, as if giving up. The man scowled and grabbed her by the hair.
*Kiiik.*
The ominous creak of a door opening was followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.
The men who had been harassing Hana all whipped their heads around. The footsteps grew closer in the heavy silence that had fallen over the hall.
And then, he appeared.
His frame was so large it seemed to fill the entire passageway.
He was shirtless, his upper body a landscape of hard muscles that looked as though they could stop a sword dead in its tracks. Atop those muscles, a tapestry of gruesome scars was etched without a single gap. The sight was so horrifying it brought to mind a demon condemned to an eternity of tearing at its own flesh.
Water, not yet wiped away, dripped from his hair, tracing a path down a long scar that ran across his chest. For a moment, the droplet looked as red as blood.
His eyes, gleaming fiercely like a predator that had found its prey, held an intensity that could make a man’s hands tremble just from meeting his gaze.
The man-eating barbarians living in the dense forests at the far western edge of the empire. Barbarians whose strength and cruelty were so great that even the empire itself had given up on them.
‘Aron must be the king of the barbarians!’
Cops was certain.
He swallowed hard, trying to suppress the scream that was clawing its way up his throat. His hands trembled, even though Aron wasn’t looking at him.
“About ten days, I guess.”
Aron, the center of everyone’s attention, muttered nonchalantly.
“…Wha-what?!”
The large mercenary shouted, but his voice trembled and cracked at the end.
“Five days! There are fewer of them than last time! And you’re a guard! This is your job in the first place, Aron!!”
The reply came not from the mercenaries, but from Hana, still in their grasp. She answered sharply in an annoyed tone, her lips forming a pout.
“I’m off duty. Nine days.”
“Six days! No more! Business has been slow lately!”
“Eight days.”
“Six days! Plus this as a bonus!”
“Fine, six days. I don’t need that.”
Aron sighed and nodded as he watched Hana, still caught by the men, making an up-and-down motion with her free hand.
“Are… are these bastards ignoring us?! The Iron Axe Trio?!”
The mercenaries, who had been cowed by his presence, finally seemed to understand the conversation, and their faces contorted with rage. They shouted, trying to turn their embarrassment into anger.
“How dare you ignore the Iron Axe Trio! You think we’ll go easy on you just ’cause you’re a country bumpkin?!”
“You insolent bitch, I’ll deal with you later.”
“Kyaa!!”
Pushed by the mercenaries, Hana slammed into a wall and screamed.
Cops, watching from the side, clicked his tongue as he saw Hana, in that very instant, subtly shove a table with a wobbly leg toward the mercenaries.
“…Ignorant medieval bastards.”
Casedic Castle’s rowdy guard, Aron, clicked his tongue with a *tsk*.
Cops pressed his body as close to the wall as he could and strained his eyes, determined not to miss a single thing that was about to happen.
He was certain that, starting tomorrow, the Laughing Rabbit inn would be quiet again for a good long while.