The Lord of River Bill
The ruler of River Bill was a noble named Baron Kaltz. Befitting the lord of a sizable village, he had built his home inside a castle surrounded by sturdy walls. Unlike petty nobles granted lands by greater lords, the Kaltz family were longstanding locals who had been there since River Bill's founding. The first Baron Kaltz had been the village chief. He'd swung his sword to chase off bandits, hunted monsters to expand the territory, quarried stone to erect defenses against invaders, and gradually expanded them into the River Bill Castle of today. That made Baron Kaltz a noble even other lords hesitated to tangle with. His territory was small, but his people's loyalty was fierce, and possessing even a modest castle made any show of force awkward. The one consolation was their scant soldiers—they lacked the strength to attack neighboring lands. Though if River Bill ever grew richer and more prosperous, they might one day launch wars of expansion.
"So, you want to do business in River Bill?"
Baron Kaltz glanced sidelong at the man prostrated before him and replied offhandedly. The fellow was the head of some small peddler caravan called the Rabbit's Foot Merchants. Rick or something like that.
"Yes, my lord! Actually, our caravan did business here three years ago..."
"Ah, right. I remember."
He didn't, really. Merchants came and went begging to trade all the time. Times were tough for commerce, but success meant big money, so challengers never stopped appearing. And so the Empire saw caravans born and vanish day after day.
"Don't cause any trouble. Handle your business and go."
"Thank you so much, my lord!"
True to his seasoned peddler ways, Rick wrapped up the audience successfully. He'd had to shell out a hefty bribe just to get face time with nobility, but since things went smoothly, it was worth it. Sometimes you paid up and got kicked out anyway. Then you'd feel so wronged you'd want to dive into the river. But what could you do? You were just a wandering merchant. Curse and swear all you wanted, then head to the next town.
"Heh heh. But my lord, there's something I really ought to tell you..."
"Something I need to know?"
"Truth is, another person I deeply respect is none other than you, Baron Kaltz! Every time I visit River Bill, I hear songs praising your merciful lordship..."
"Hah. Enough gilding the lily—get to the point."
As Rick poured out flattery like a man possessed, Baron Kaltz cracked a grin, his mood lifting. At the same time, his steward scowled. That lowly merchant had cheered up the baron, so for his lordship's dignity, he'd have to slip the guy some pocket money. Otherwise, the fool would whine around town, "I've done so much for you, Baron! How could you treat me like this!" Bad rumors about the baron would spread: stingy, petty, offering no reward for loyalty. Merchants and travelers would avoid deep chats with him. In an era where merchants and wanderers were the only sources of news, getting cut off from gossip was a real problem. And Rick, crafty as he was, had buttered up the baron before spilling the beans—to ensure he wouldn't get booted even if the tale was worthless.
"Truth is, I met a mage traveling with his entourage on the road."
"A mage?"
Baron Kaltz perked up at the merchant's words. Some rare artifact for sale? Mages were rare, useful, and capricious beings. It wouldn't be odd if a peddler scored some wondrous item from one.
"Yes! He saved our caravan's lives with his astonishing skills!"
Rick spun the tale with rich, persuasive flair honed on the road. A merchant had to sell well, after all—even if he walked the con artist's path. Quack doctors were merchants too, in a way.
Baron Kaltz was utterly hooked. Facts aside, mage stories were just too damn entertaining. In this era without novels or comics, amusements were mostly bland. Knightly adventure tales were the best of the lot, but a mage's bizarre exploits? Pure gold. What? Human traffickers ambushed at night? A drake swooped in to save them? And the mage talked to the drake, struck a deal, and even scolded it? Holy shit, epic! Who needed Nobelpia? This was Nobelpia.
"Truly remarkable."
Baron Kaltz was genuinely awed. A mage commanding a drake like a limb? What a powerhouse!
"The most shocking part... is that he's staying in River Bill right now."
"What?!"
Baron Kaltz shot to his feet in alarm. The sweet adventure yarn had swerved into horror thriller territory. A mage bossing drakes around on adventures? Cool. But that bastard in my territory? Chills down the spine. If the mage got pissed for some reason and unleashed a drake... River Bill would be fucked. He'd end up as the late Baron Kaltz, whether losing his lands or dying to defend them against the beast.
"He absolutely, absolutely forbade me from telling anyone where he was... but I respect you so much, my lord, that I had to whisper it secretly."
Pure bullshit. Ian had only told Rick he was staying in the village. But laying this groundwork made Rick's snitching seem more valuable. A born merchant, Rick knew how to dress up his wares. Add scarcity, and trash looks like treasure.
"...I salute your courage."
Baron Kaltz was sincerely grateful. Ignoring the mage's warning to rat him out? Such loyalty! Without Rick's tip, the Empire might've lost a baron today.
"Steward!"
"Yes, my lord."
"Give this man a generous pouch of gold and let him stay in the castle until he leaves River Bill."
"Th-thank you, my lord!"
Baron Kaltz issued orders on the spot.
"Pick reliable men to patrol the village. We can't let anything give him cause for grievance."
"Yes, sir!"
"Steward, send Knight Hanson to the inn."
The elderly steward asked politely.
"Shall we fetch the mage, my lord?"
"No. If he's chosen to stay in the village, we can't drag him to the castle by force."
The baron couldn't fathom why a mage would pick a village inn. Mages were like that—capricious, selfish, unpredictable.
"But summon the Order of Saint Santiago."
Not the castle's own Santiago knights, though. A quirky group called the "Order of Saint Santiago" was currently in River Bill. Monk-warriors who wielded weapons with godly zeal, they were madmen from wealthy families who skipped proper wars to hunt "demons" and "monsters." The baron had offered them castle quarters, but they refused, citing their ascetic vows. That alone showed how fanatically devoted they were.
The Order of Saint Santiago were lunatics, but safe ones. Self-proclaimed "guardians of humanity," they only bared fangs at demons and monsters. The problem? If they clashed with a drake-taming mage. Would humanity's guardians spare a drake-whisperer? They'd sooner rip out his tongue.
Santiago knights versus mage in River Bill... The baron would be tearing his hair out. You crazy fucks! If you're gonna fight, take it outside! Bastards! Both sides untouchable by force—pure misfortune for the baron.
"Hurry. Bring them before trouble brews."
"Yes, my lord!"
Unlike the mage, pure insanity incarnate, these knight-monks were humans under fanatic guise—capable of reason. So the baron planned to keep them in the castle until the mage left.
Sensing dire crisis, the steward dashed off, brows furrowed, to summon Knight Hanson.
"Knight Hanson!"
"What is it?"
One of River Bill's four knights, Hanson greeted the steward. Born a noble bastard, he stood apart from thuggish knights—honor-bound, devoted to chivalry.
"Emergency!"
The steward summed up the crisis. Hanson grasped the gravity, face hardening as he geared up and headed to the stables. There, he met someone utterly unwelcome.
"Young lord."
It was Bernard, son of Baron Kaltz.
"Heading to the village? Take me with you."
"...I'm carrying out an important order from the lord."
"I know! That's why we go together!"
He'd clearly eavesdropped in the hall. The young heir Bernard was a spoiled brat itching to meddle in castle affairs despite his inexperience. Pitiful, causing mishaps while playing lord.
"If the lord finds out..."
"Hah! Think getting chewed out by Dad is new? And it's important, right? What if your solo call blows up? Run back to the castle?"
"..."
Bernard, headstrong teen, occasionally nailed logic like that. Made him more infuriating—like he'd only grown sly.
"I'll take responsibility! So let me come!"
"But young lord..."
"Hey! Knight Hanson! Is your loyalty that shallow?!"
Spoiled little shit...! Hanson swallowed his rage. He'd sworn to protect River Bill's peaceful folk. Boss's kid sucked, but he loved the place—why dream of quitting? Blame fate for landing in this family firm!
"Absolutely do not step in. This is for your own good."
"What do you take me for? I swear on the heavens I won't disappoint you!"
Bernard tagging along wasn't all bad for Hanson. Higher-up on outings usually boosted confidence—if the kid didn't pull stupid stunts. Praying he'd behave, Hanson spurred his horse toward the village and the one inn, Mistveil Inn, where the capital knights lodged.
"What's that smoke...?"
Bernard muttered ominously. Hanson's heart sank. White smoke billowed from the inn's backyard—big enough for outdoor blaze?
Fight! Only combat fire fit.
Clang! Hanson drew sword without hesitation, charging wildly. Villagers scattered in panic. Neigh! Leaping off mid-gallop, he burst into the backyard—and froze at the horrific sight.
What... the hell...!
A massive cauldron big enough for a man. Beneath, logs blazed, belching white steam... But worst: a naked young man inside it!
Mage and monk-knights! The men encircling the pot were Order of Saint Santiago monk-knights. Naturally, the cauldron's occupant was the mage. The knights stared coldly at Hanson in silence. Goosebumps prickled; his stomach churned. The monk-knights were... boiling the mage alive!
The shock robbed Hanson of words. He couldn't even yell, "What the hell are you doing?!"
But young lord Bernard, arriving behind, had no such issue. Witnessing the barbaric cruelty firsthand, he channeled noble fury and bellowed.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
For that moment, Hanson was glad he'd brought the kid. Yet despite the thunderous rebuke, the monk-knights just exchanged puzzled glances, tilting heads. The mage in the pot spoke first.
"...Taking a bath?"
"???"