Episode 73: A Rootless World After the Fall
The world after collapse was a foundationless one. With the greatest rulers known as governments gone, all that remained were petty fools scrambling for scraps. The world after the fall of the Golden Empire was no different. Kings still carried some air of authority, but everyone below them was little more than a neighborhood thug. For the average person, it was a harsh era of survival. Without public authority, a war of all against all was inevitable.
But for those with a bit of strength and luck, it was blatantly an age of opportunity. Everyone was equally pathetic, so the first to grow strong took it all! Of course, it was easy to say "just grow stronger." But beating down the weak, placating the strong, and carefully navigating while building power? That was no walk in the park. Even gamers familiar with medieval simulation games would despair at the grim reality of the Middle Ages. Let alone an uneducated commoner?
They'd screw up left and right.
"...Thanks."
"No problem. It's nothing."
Ian offered Damon Baron some practical advice on various matters. Nothing groundbreaking. Find a count worthy of your loyalty, get chummy with the neighboring barons, and if you're going to rob anyway, head south on an expedition. Don't fleece travelers heading to Talian, and so on. It was all common sense, nothing that could backfire on the baron.
But the baron didn't even have anyone around to give him that obvious counsel.
"What if you became my exclusive mage...?"
"I was this close to saying your conscience must've fallen off. Haha."
"..."
There was zero reason for Ian to become the bandit boss's right-hand man. You'd need at least a count's rank to even float a scouting offer. Unless the baron took a crossbow bolt to the head, acceptance was impossible.
"Yeah. It'd be tough."
"If you need talent, build a temple first."
"A temple?"
"Then priests will come."
Build a temple first, then request the pope to "send us a priest for our territory~." They'd dispatch one without complaint. The issue wasn't a shortage of priests—they could churn them out endlessly. With a priest offering advice, running the territory would be far smoother than now.
"Ah. But building a temple costs money..."
"Guess you'll have to hustle hard."
Ian flashed a grin. It wasn't his problem anyway.
Ian tossed out various tips to soothe Damon Baron. It only cost a flick of the tongue, so he shared generously—enough to get the baron to release Kira. When Kira went full aggressive pyromancer cosplay, the baron's enthusiasm for keeping her plummeted too.
"The road's almost at an end anyway."
They were leaving the baron's turf. He showed obvious regret but couldn't bring himself to detain Ian. He owed him too much.
"You're right. I've been thinking wrong."
Damon Baron let Ian's group go without fuss.
"I'll sign on with a decent count. And once the territory stabilizes, I'll head south on that expedition."
"If you're short on supplies, visit Talian territory. Say you're there on recommendation from Mage Ian—they'll treat you well."
"...Thanks. Really."
Ian had heard war was brewing in the south. Info from Calts Baron back at River Bill. If Damon led his "army" (=bandits) into the fray and earned merits, he might snag not just loot but extra land. If he had the chops, he'd make it. This was that kind of era.
"I never really got why they say to be nice to mages before."
"?"
"Seeing you, I get it now."
Damon Baron clapped Ian on the shoulder.
"Why you gotta be nice to mages."
Mages were valuable elites, especially to nobles. But to a commoner-turned-thug, they were priceless. Mages had experiences and knowledge from mingling with nobles.
"Follow the Ipari River down from here. I've got friends there—mention you're recommended by Damon Baron, and they'll treat you right."
"Got it."
Ian's group bid a warm farewell to the bandits. No deaths, and they'd swapped info and connections. A stellar encounter by any measure.
Ian relayed his chat with the baron to Galadin, who looked skeptical.
"Ipari River? Not bad, but I've heard rumors of river pirates there."
"Ah. Guess those are the baron's friends."
"...River pirates?"
River pirates operated on water. Bandits in mountains, pirates at sea, river pirates on rivers. Simple as that.
"A boat would get us there fast, sure..."
Galadin openly agonized. He'd love a boat, but a pirate den? Sketchy. But the debate didn't drag.
"Walking's a pain. Let's boat it."
"You sure? What if the pirates get ideas...?"
Ian didn't buy Galadin's worry. Pirates had eyes too—would they openly attack a mix of knights and a mage? Damon had numbers and his own mage, that's why he stopped them. And even then, he clocked Ian and held off attacking. River pirates? If their force matched Damon's, maybe a scare, but if uneasy, detour. No must-take-the-boat rule.
Ian saw no need to convince Galadin. In this group without high nobility, majority ruled.
"Belenca. I wanna meet some river pirates. You aren't... scared, right?"
At Ian's pathetically cute provocation, Belenca snorted a laugh.
"Bandit scum? Terrifying."
"Ah. What about the other knights?"
"..."
Two knights tagged along as Galadin's guards. They glanced at Belenca, then blustered boldly.
"How can a knight fear mere thieves!"
"I'm looking forward to it! Can't wait to lop off their heads!"
Brats. All bluster. Knights were human too. No match for a gang-up. If they had fancy full plate mail, they'd shrug off mobs and go invincible. But this era? No full plate yet. Chain mail and scale mail were top-tier. Pirates net you from afar, spear from range—knight or not, dead.
But they couldn't admit fear. Knight scared of punks? Ransom value tanks instantly.
"Kira..."
"Sounds annoying."
The knights eyed Kira. She drawled nonchalantly.
"If I accidentally torch the boat, we'd have to swim. Hate moving."
"..."
You win, Kira. World's top bluffer: Kira.
With everyone flexing bravado, the mood swung to meeting the pirates. Galadin's say? What say?
Ian's group headed for Ipari River.
# No life-or-death showdown with the river pirates!
The pirates groveled the moment they spotted Ian's group.
"Whoa! What esteemed guests do we have here!"
Their targets? Merchants, obviously. Prime marks: traders, then heretics. For slave sales. A party mixed with mages and knights? Ian's crew looked broke—no loot worth the hassle. Zero reason to antagonize.
Sure, gear-farming greed might tempt, but common sense says pick your fights.
"Came on Damon Baron's intro."
"Brother Damon? Whoa, he finally made baron!"
Self-proclaimed, but pirates didn't know. Ian immediately buttered up their boss.
"Damon Baron talked a lot about you."
"Huh? Me?"
"Said you'll be key for some big plans soon."
"Ooh!"
Not a lie. On expedition, pirate help would smooth things.
"Heading to Drbosi Barony."
"Uh. That's..."
Pirates shied from Drbosi waters.
"Get caught, you're done."
Galadin smirked proudly nearby. Drbosi hugged the river, owned boats. Pirates caught meddling? Straight to the gallows.
"No sweat. They won't have eyes for you."
"Huh? Why?"
"Heard the rumors? Baron's down with some curse or illness."
Galadin's face fell. Pirates grinned.
"Then it's fair game!"
"And this guy's the baron's man. Galadin. Say your piece."
"...In the baron's name, I vouch for you."
"There you go. Give us a ride?"
Ian pointed at Kira.
"P.S., don't ferry us, and we'll ferry you."
"...Pardon?"
Kira didn't blink, firing off a flare with a pop. The mercenaries geeked out over her "ma?gic?"
"Whoa! Lady Kira's pyromancy!"
"Always badass!"
Pirates gulped. Better to ferry (the boat) than be ferried (in flames)...
"W-Welcome aboard!"
"Thanks."
Departure prepped smoothly. One minor hitch: too many people for the boat.
Galadin fixed it pronto.
"Hey. You lot. Walk."
"Yes sir!"
Servants and slaves would hoof it—deal done(?). Barony was close anyway; they were expendable. Galadin didn't stop there, kicking off pirates too. The suddenly dispossessed pirates cursed up a storm, but what could they do? High-and-mighties say move, you move.
Thanks to that, Ian cruised comfy to the barony. With some breathing room, he called Kira over to sit.
Cabin cramped, forcing them shoulder-to-shoulder on the bunk, but whatever.
"..."
"Don't shake. Who's gonna eat you?"
Kira had been trembling nonstop since entering. Calm her first for talk.
"Not here to scold. Just chat."
Kira peered up at Ian with terrified eyes.
"R-Really...?"
"..."
Up close, her acting was borderline split-personality. Mage Kira vs. ordinary girl Kira.
Just to check, Ian asked.
"Still acting? Or...?"
Kira jumped, blurting.
"N-No acting! How dare I perform before a mage...!"
Ian nodded. Since her fake-mage gig got busted, she'd lost all will to act around him. If survival hinged on it, she'd scheme. But she'd just quietly trailed him on her horse. Half-given-up already.
"Anyway... anyway... sniff."
"???"
"Y-You're gonna... kill me...! Sniff, or s-sell me as a slave...!"
Kira burst into pitiful sobs. Pent-up anxiety exploding.
But Ian had no clue. He'd never once called her out on the mage cosplay?
So Ian figured casually. Ah. This girl's got a soft heart under the tough front.