Chapter 43
Chapter 43
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Brothers of Mesen (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Not just Kadim, but the entire group had figured it out. The identity of the band blocking the bridge.
Vigilantes in name only—thugs wearing the guise of a militia.
It wasn't uncommon for young men in a small village to band together and form a self-defense group. But that only applied to places with poor public order, bad transportation, and little access to official authority. Mesen fit none of those descriptions.
If an armed group had formed where it wasn't needed, their purpose was obvious. Using their meager power to extort unfair gains. Blocking a busy bridge and charging tolls was just the tip of the iceberg. They were undoubtedly raking in plenty of shady profits besides that.
Of course, Enrico had never permitted such nonsense. If he'd seen this on any other day, he would have rounded up everyone involved and thrown them straight into Remtana's underground dungeons.
But right now, he was traveling incognito.
Revealing his identity would resolve the immediate issue, but word that the intendant was away from his post might reach the ears of unsavory elements.
"……."
A chill hung in the air. Even Vigilante Captain Otram sensed the mood turning sour. He judged that some sweet-talking was needed to let them pass without friction.
But the "conciliatory" offer he pulled out was pathetic.
"Normally, we charge 200 luden per person and 100 per horse. But you travelers look like you're on important business, so as a special exception this time, we'll only take half price per person! 800 luden for safe passage that's basically nothing, right?"
Otram glanced back with a signal. His men jumped out, clumsily pretending to protest. Claiming they couldn't get by on so little, that there'd be no profit, and so on.
"Of course it's a huge loss, but we're not doing this for the money, are we, men? Travelers and the village's safety always come first!"
"As expected of the captain...!"
"You're really lucky, folks! The captain hardly ever shows this kind of generosity...!"
800 luden was nearly ten times the usual toll. A hollow laugh was the only response.
"...Ha."
Watching this third-rate play was more than enough. Kadim gripped his sword hilt and turned to the intendant. The soldiers tensed on their stirrups, waiting for the order.
But Enrico didn't command the vigilantes' extermination.
"Pay it, Peldric."
"...Pardon?"
"Give it to the hardworking vigilante captain. 800 luden."
"...Understood."
The soldier reluctantly carried out the order. When the gleaming silver coins changed hands, Captain Otram's mouth gaped wide like a pumpkin.
"Hahaha, thanks for your cooperation. May Lord Remillion's golden blessings be upon you all! If any trouble comes up in Mesen, feel free to come to our vigilante corps anytime!"
Finally, the vigilantes parted to let them through. The soldiers trudged onto the bridge, faces sour with disgust. Kadim's expression twisted harshly for a moment, but he soon urged his horse forward indifferently.
Before crossing, Enrico tossed a casual question at the captain.
"So, how long do you plan to keep up with the vigilante work?"
"Hahaha, until this one life of mine gives out—nice and long! Protecting the village and travelers is my sworn duty."
The intendant pulled his hat low and spoke meaningfully.
"I see. Do make it last nice and long, then."
Mesen was small but sat midway between the Golden Highway and Remtana, so it saw a fair amount of foot traffic. The intendant's group easily found an inn with stables and a dining hall to stay the night.
But the atmosphere there wasn't exactly pleasant.
"Everyone, raise your mugs!! To our hometown and the alliance's safety—cheers!!!"
"Aaaah! Don't jinx it, hand over my mug, Samson!! I ain't drunk yet! I can down ten more bottles!!"
"My plate's empty! Hey, old man, what're you doing?! I told you to prep more food ahead if it looks like we're running low!! Huh?!"
"We are! The brave! Brothers of Mesen! If not us, then who will! Protect this place?!?!"
Because of the drunks raising hell and bellowing in the dining hall.
Their similar leather armor and long spears marked them as those vigilantes, no doubt. The other patrons scowled at their antics, while the innkeeper sweated bullets and scurried about.
To avoid any confrontations, the intendant's soldiers had already been sent upstairs. Only Kadim, Duncan, and Enrico sat around the round wooden table. Enrico shook his head and averted his gaze, as if he couldn't bear to watch.
"Seems like I'm only showing you the ugly side of my jurisdiction... I feel ashamed. I've been too focused on other matters lately to pay attention here... "
Enrico then rambled on about bits he'd overheard regarding the vigilantes.
They only shook down people leaving Remtana shrewdly... The captain seemed in cahoots with the village head... The Twin Gorge blockade had increased taxes here, which led to the group's formation...
None of that interested Kadim. He just chugged the beer, murky with unknown floaters. Whether it was lukewarm or poorly filtered, the taste here was downright awful.
He rinsed his mouth with tough rye pie and asked,
"So, you want me to lop off that giggling lump's head for you, Intendant?"
"...No, that's fine. If I wanted that, I'd have said so earlier. I'll have the captain arrested after we return from Delutana and question him personally."
"Then head up and get some sleep. My job is cutting threats and providing escort, not listening to your gripes."
"... "
The intendant fell silent with a complicated look, then let out a deep sigh.
"Sigh... You're right. If we're riding straight through for two days, I need to conserve energy. I'll head up and rest. You two should do the same before it's too late... Whoa."
"A-Are you alright, Intendant?!"
He'd nearly tripped and flipped the whole table. Duncan supported the weary, stumbling intendant and helped him to his room. Kadim stayed behind alone, finishing his food and draining the lousy beer.
That's when he sensed stealthy footsteps approaching.
Kadim turned. One of the rowdy vigilantes was heading their way, mug sloshing in hand.
"Well, well, who do we have here! The great son of the wilderness who crossed the mountains to settle! A warrior born of Atala's bloodline, kin to the famed 'Agon's Furious Horn'! What brings you to our hometown of Mesen, where the silver river flows...?"
Thud!
Kadim slammed down his empty mug with force. A loud bang echoed through the dining hall, instantly drawing all eyes.
"... "
A brief silence fell over the room, but when the man waved off his comrades like it was nothing, the clamor resumed.
Cold flames flickered in Kadim's pupils. He had no idea how long he'd have to endure hearing about that damned 'Agon's Furious Horn.' If not for the escort duty, he would've smashed the mug over the man's head instead of the table.
Sensing it vaguely, the man adopted a more subdued tone.
"Ahem, if I said something offensive, I apologize. I'm not well-versed in Atalain etiquette. Here, have this as a peace offering—care for a drink?"
"... "
Kadim didn't take the mug. The man cleared his throat awkwardly, slid into a seat uninvited, and nodded along.
"Ah, I get it. You didn't like our loud racket, huh? But try to understand. The vigilante corps isn't just about guarding passes. We solve villagers' problems, hear travelers' complaints, even take on requests... It's grueling work, so we need to blow off steam like that every night or we can't cope."
Kadim didn't tell him to shut up with his nonsense. He just stared down blankly.
Mistaking it for tacit permission to ramble, the man emptied his own mug and prattled on excitedly for a while before leaning in slyly to get to the point.
"...See that woman over there? Yeah, the one alone at the corner table."
No need to look. He'd already checked her out earlier.
Thin lips, lightly tanned skin, jewel-like yellow eyes, a slightly oversized tunic that still revealed her perfectly balanced curves. A woman in her prime with dark brown hair braided down to her back.
Her appearance didn't fit this place at all, so he'd wondered at first if she was connected to the Magic Tower and kept an eye on her. When nothing happened even after the intendant left, he'd dismissed it.
But the others, excluding Kadim, were still very interested in her. Even the rowdy vigilantes kept stealing glances, and this man ogled her outright with lecherous eyes.
"Heh heh, quite the catch, right? Everything's in the right places... In a town with decent traffic, a woman like that's a rare sight."
"... "
"Heard she's some scholar from Galentana University or whatever, out hunting ruins. But she seems fishy no matter how you slice it. Traveling alone without companions, lugging around all sorts of weird stuff... "
"... "
"Funny thing—she commissioned our vigilante corps to guide her to those ruins. We accepted, but she's still suspicious, so we're planning a discreet 'inspection' en route. We'll check her belongings and body from top to bottom, and while we're at it, have some fun... Heh heh heh, you get the idea?"
"... "
"Could use a big guy like you to hold her down while we do. I could let you join the 'inspection'... Interested?"
The man was flushed with base lust and booze. He didn't notice the lukewarm disgust in the barbarian's eyes, like he'd spotted filth. Kadim gazed at him flatly and asked dryly,
"...Fun? What kind of fun."
"Heh heh, playing dumb! With a babe built like that, obviously... "
"The kind your mother taught all those men?"
The air turned icy cold.
It took the man a moment to process the words. Even longer for the rage to surge. If he'd had any sense left, they might've found a peaceful resolution.
Unfortunately, the alcohol had clouded his judgment.
"You bastard, what did you just... Gack!"
As he rose with fist raised, the barbarian's hand struck like lightning. A rough, massive grip clamped his throat viciously. Even clawing at it with both hands, it wouldn't budge—like pushing away a golem's grasp.
"Guhk, glk, guuuuhhh... "
The man's face turned strawberry-red. Soon it purpled like moldy fruit, finally contrasting starkly with rolled-back white eyes in a dusky hue. His skull rang like a bomb had gone off inside, consciousness fading to black.
Only just before death did Kadim release him. The man, returned from hell, coughed violently and vomited up everything he'd eaten and drunk that night.
"...Huuuugh! *Cough*, *cough*, *cough*! *Bleurgh*, *bleeeeech*... "
And that was only because Kadim had held back. If he'd squeezed full force, the man's neck would've crushed and his bones pulverized.
"M-Moren! Damn it, Moren! You okay?!"
"What the hell happened?!"
"Guhk, th-that ba, that bastard, guhk, *bleurgh*, *guuuuh*... "
"... "
His comrades didn't seem grateful for the mercy. They glared daggers at Kadim, long spears raised.
But they couldn't swing recklessly. As Kadim stood, the vigilantes flinched and stepped back. His monstrous bulk, savage muscles, shadow nearly scraping the ceiling. Facing the inhuman savage, their drunken haze shattered, primal fear gripping their nerves.
"Wh-What the... "
"What kind of guy's built like that... "
Kadim turned and headed to his room while they hesitated.
Normally, he'd have slaughtered them all to leave no loose ends. But he couldn't act on his own now.
The intendant was his employer—and an accomplice in covering up the knight of Elga's murder. Starting a bloodbath and souring relations wouldn't help. If the intendant harbored a grudge and reported the incident, Kadim wouldn't escape unscathed either, and the journey would suffer major setbacks.
Still, he couldn't just let them be. Fear without accompanying agony fades like melting snow once the threat vanishes. They'd seek revenge somehow now that they'd taken offense.
He didn't regret his actions, but cleanup was needed. He'd wake the intendant, ask his preference, and decide.
'Either butcher the whole vigilante corps right now, or slip out of the village unseen.'
But retaliation came far quicker than expected.
- Ihihihihiin!
- Hihihihihiin!
As he reached his door, agonized whinnies pierced from outside.
The door burst open, and Enrico rushed out, still blinking sleep from his eyes.
"Wh-What's that noise, Kadim? I thought the stables only had our horses... "
Kadim's lips stiffened. Faint blood scent, rapidly fading hoofbeats. No need to see—he knew exactly what happened in the stables.
"... "
It looked like leaving this rotten so-called 'vigilante corps' alone and continuing the journey wouldn't be so easy after all.