Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: A Friend Like That (4)
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There was no need to cause a ruckus like before, smashing furniture or beating down debtors. At merchant Duncan Wheeled's home, the administrative officer's mercenaries had obtained what they wanted far too easily.
Clink!
"Fifty thousand luden! Here's fifty thousand luden! That settles the debt, so don't you dare set foot in our house again!"
"......"
Aluben, the man leading the mercenaries, subtly raised an eyebrow. The pouch Duncan handed over was filled with gleaming gold coins—clearly more than fifty thousand luden at a glance.
But Aluben, having tasted easy money once, had no intention of backing off so readily.
"Come on, Duncan... How do you expect us to let you off with just the principal while throwing a tantrum like that? While you were away, that pile of cash was breeding more of itself nice and steady..."
"......!"
In the end, the mercenaries wrung out not just the principal but an outrageous amount of compound interest far exceeding it. Their faces beamed with grins as they fondled the gold coins.
"Whoa, would you look at this haul..."
"Thanks a bunch, merchant! Keep raking it in from now on! Live it up in that fine house of yours! Grab that plump wife's ass to your heart's content! Kahahaha!"
"......"
In stark contrast, Duncan's face rotted like spoiled fruit. Aluben flashed a fake smile and locked eyes with him.
"Much appreciated, Duncan! Oh, one bit of advice: don't even think about skipping town just because you've paid off your debt. If you leave without settling your transfer taxes with the administrative officer, we'll have to have another little chat. You wouldn't want us introduced to your precious son, now would you? Heh heh heh..."
Only after layering on the threats did the mercenaries finally leave. Duncan's fists trembled as he glared at their retreating backs the whole way.
The mercenaries' excitement from their plundering spree didn't fade even after leaving the house. If anything, it burned even hotter and rowdier. Aluben hoisted the heavy coin pouch triumphantly and bellowed.
"See? What'd I tell you? That merchant treats tens of thousands of luden like pocket change now! You all saw him cough up eighty thousand in interest without a peep, right?"
"Kuhuhu... But since we were asking anyway, why not squeeze a few hundred thousand out of him, Captain? Our shares would've been way bigger..."
"Can't do that, you fool! Use your head—it doesn't add up. Even with blind money, you gotta know when to pull back..."
The interest they were supposed to collect was originally around fifty thousand luden. After taking his cut, Aluben divided the profits evenly among his men and calmly added.
"And no need to rush. The administrative officer won't let that guy leave town anyway. We'll just keep finding excuses to milk him dry like a honey pot hidden in his cupboard."
"Kahahaha! You're right, Captain!"
"We'll be treating tens of thousands like pocket change ourselves soon enough, huh? Kuhuhu..."
But there was one nagging issue. The mysterious companion Duncan had brought along.
"What about that... barbarian, though?"
"......"
The mercenaries' mood plummeted as if doused with cold water.
Rumors had already spread through the whole village. That he was the 'Demon Slayer'... The mercenaries hadn't seen him themselves, but they'd heard plenty about his notoriety. Thanks to his origins in Galenta or the underworld, the tales had reached their ears whether they wanted or not.
If that barbarian really was the Demon Slayer who'd single-handedly razed the underworld in a single day... they stood no chance.
Truth be told, they'd timed their visit precisely when the barbarian was away. Still, Aluben feigned composure and waved it off.
"Nah, don't worry. There's some weird rumor going around lately calling him the Demon Slayer, but think about it—would a merc of that caliber trail after a merchant's heels? He could just wipe nobles' asses in the big cities and gold would pour out."
"......"
"And even if by some miracle he is the Demon Slayer, what do I have to fear with this blade? I'd just lop his head off in an instant..."
Shing—slash!
Aluben drew his sword in a flash and mimed slitting a throat. The mercenaries flinched, then slowly nodded.
"Y-yeah, you're right. With your sword skills, Captain..."
"Kuhuhu... Besides, fights aren't won on size alone. Even trolls and ogres drop dead with their heads cut off..."
Fear was vague; greed was crystal clear. The mood lifted again. The mercenaries lost themselves in grand dreams—calling in women with their earnings, turning this backwater into a Galenta-style pleasure district, painting a rosy future.
So no one noticed.
"......"
A quiet clearing on the outskirts of Maltana. Faint starlight pierced the dim sky, and a chilly night breeze swept the damp earth. Fallen leaves clumped and tumbled, hinting that nights warm enough to sleep without a blanket were not far off.
Kadim sat on a rock, lost in silent thought. When the moonlight hung at the earth's edge, a faint presence approached from behind.
"Oh, sir! There you are!"
Duncan plopped down naturally beside him, holding a corked bottle of liquor in each hand.
"My wife brewed this wild apple wine last year. Found it gathering dust in the warehouse corner. That scatterbrain made it and forgot all about it."
"......Did you get your son home safe?"
"Dunsen? Of course! But how'd you play with him today to get him so excited?"
About an hour ago, Duncan—dragging his weary self around the village—had run into Kadim with Dunsen perched on his shoulder.
Dunsen was spotless, without a scratch. Before coming, Kadim had hunted forest beasts and fed their blood to him via Blood Spirit. So Duncan had no clue his son had fought life-or-death battles; he just wondered at the boy's excitement as he walked him home.
Kadim took the bottle Duncan offered and chugged. Sour and thick, but better than nothing to wet his throat. Duncan swigged too, wiping his mouth with a satisfied "Ahh..." After his stressful day, even that sip brought a flush of heat.
The quiet bottle-clinking didn't last long. Buoyed by the still night air and the booze, Duncan opened up candidly.
"......Truth is, I've been worried sick about my kids. My boy's small for his age, and with me gone so long, I heard he'd been bullied a lot... But heh, while you were playing with him, the other kids didn't dare touch him. Made me feel relieved inside."
Kadim shook his head firmly.
"I've never played with your son. I only taught him how to struggle. And today, he triumphed in my struggle, so even after I leave, no one will bully him again."
"......Pardon?"
Duncan tilted his head but soon chalked it up to Kadim being bashful. A great warrior of the god of battle playing nanny? Anyway, he thanked him vaguely and changed the subject.
"By the way, sir... When do you plan to head out for the Great Forest from here?"
Kadim took another swig and replied.
"Tomorrow morning. No more business here, and I've dragged my feet long enough."
"......Oh, already? S-sooner than I thought... You could rest longer, you know. Shake off the travel fatigue... My kids really took a shine to you..."
"......"
Kadim said nothing. He just clamped his mouth shut and gazed south at skies where someone surely awaited him desperately. Awkward silence seeped into the night air in an instant.
The long quiet was broken by an emotionless voice.
"From the talk around the village, seems you're not on great terms with the neighbors."
"Pardon? Ah, hahaha... Y-yeah, that's how it is. Word got out I made a big score... Money always stirs up trouble, doesn't it?"
"Was it because of the debt?"
"......Huh?"
"Starting the merchant life, risking it all on the road—was that because of the debt?"
Duncan's eyes went wide.
He panicked for a second at how he'd figured it out, then remembered this man could hear ants crawling next door. After a hesitant glance, Duncan scratched his head sheepishly with a grin.
"Ah, w-well, not wrong... But honestly? I'm just greedy. Wanted to buy my hardworking wife nice clothes, spoil my kids, live the good life... And the debt's cleared today, interest and all. Heh heh heh..."
"I see. Then is there anything else I can help with before I go?"
At those words, Duncan froze.
A swarm of pleas bubbled up his throat in an instant.
Please help! They won't let me leave town! The officer's mercs are threatening me! Not just me—my family too! With your power, you could sweep those punks blindfolded...
"......"
But.
Duncan didn't utter a word.
......Those who don't struggle get nothing.
Kadim would leave eventually. He couldn't rely on him forever. Even if he got help this time, what about the next crisis? A man who couldn't protect his own family with his own strength—what else could he do?
Everyone has their own struggle to face. This one was Duncan's, not the warrior who slays demons. Duncan swallowed his surging emotions, shot to his feet, and clenched his fist.
"No, sir! Nothing! And who am I? The best guide! Merchant approved by you! The Duncan Wheeled who flattened Agon’s Furious Horn in one shot! Even if trouble comes, I'll handle it. No worries..."
"......One shot? Didn't you confess it was just show because he was already mangled?"
"Uh... Ahem, y-yeah, but... Keep it from my wife, yeah? Told her I smashed him at full strength in one blow..."
"......"
After that, Kadim and Duncan chatted about this and that.
About the half-year journey, the people they'd met, the future ahead... Mostly Duncan talking, Kadim listening silently—but neither minded. Their talks were always like that. So they'd stay that way, even onward.
Even after draining the bottles, even as the moonlit night deepened.
The two men's grand talk showed no sign of ending anytime soon.
The next morning, Duncan woke with a throbbing hangover pounding his skull.
"Ugh, my head..."
He threw off the cloak he'd slept under. Half-dazed, he tidied his bedding and moved to prepare breakfast. Sir would be up already, hangover or no—gotta hustle...
"Ah."
He stopped with a sharp gasp, realizing he wasn't on the road anymore.
Where Kadim should have been sat only an empty bottle, lonely.
He called out tentatively—"Sir?"—but no reply came. Kadim had indeed left at dawn, true to his gruff barbarian nature: no farewell.
Duncan slumped down. He stared blankly at the empty bottle for a while.
"......"
It felt unreal somehow.
The past half-year journey seemed like a single night's dream. If it really was a dream, he'd been quite the character. Normal folk would go mad or break down from such a nightmare. Duncan let out a wry chuckle.
Of course, it wasn't a dream. The hellfire dagger at his waist and the sprawled black cloak proved the journey real.
Gifts from a great warrior to one who'd proven his worth. As long as these remained, no one could deny he'd traveled with Atala's great warrior!
But amid his hazy sentiment, a sudden thought struck the merchant.
Wait... Sir wasn't carrying anything yesterday...? If he left the inventory behind...
Duncan bolted toward the village. It was still early; he couldn't have gone far. He'd grab it from home and catch up.
But upon arriving home, Duncan realized he had bigger problems.
Onlookers packed around the house, the interior trashed like a lightning strike, and his wife with red, swollen eyes.
Duncan rushed to her in panic.
"Yu-Yulia!! Wh-what happened? What's going on?"
"Duncan!! Dunsen, Dunsen... our boy... Hic... sob..."
"......!!"
He frantically scanned the house. No sign of his son anywhere.
His narrow shoulders shook. Dread filled his quivering pupils. Amid the chaos, the most oblivious onlookers outside still chattered.
"Tch, so stingy with others... Karma's a bitch, huh."
"Tsk tsk... What's the point of all that money if you can't even watch one kid? Look at this mess."
"Heh, no clue where his boy's been dragged off to all night. Some father..."
Duncan's eyes rolled back.
He yanked the dagger from his waist and charged the onlookers like a bared-fang beast.
Roarrrrr!
"......Huh?"
"Eek!"
In a flash, the frontmost blabbermouth was subdued. His movements were so swift and silent, the victim felt possessed by a ghost. Without hesitation, Duncan seared the man's shoulder with hellfire and growled.
Sizzle—
"Where's my son..."
"Wh-wha... Aaagh!! Kyaaah!!!"
"Shut your trap before I shove this down your throat. Tell me where my son is, you bastard..."
"Kyaahahaha!! Gack, heok..."
Mad, bloodshot eyes bulging.
Facing this unforeseen side of the merchant, the onlookers felt a deeper, fiercer terror than the burning pain on their skin.