Kyle (2)
When it came to deciding whether a companion could join them on an escort request, the authority belonged entirely to the client.
After asking the client for his wishes, Raoul decided to make contact with the red-haired man.
“The client says he can’t just walk past a traveler in danger and pretend not to see him. However, if we judge him to be dangerous, he has no intention of allowing him to travel with us.”
“So in the end, the choice is ours. Is that what we’re supposed to understand?”
When Ulric asked, Raoul nodded.
“What a headache.”
“Shouldn’t we at least find out what kind of man he is?”
“We’d be better off pretending we never saw him. He looks so suspicious he might as well be a trap. I heard there are a lot of bandits on the Rival Plains these days. He could be a deserter who drifted in from there.”
Even among mercenaries, opinions were divided.
Listening to the argument going back and forth, Raoul asked Lawrence, “What do you think?”
“It’s true we can’t just leave him there. No matter how you look at it, we can’t abandon a person in a dangerous place like this.”
“I asked for your opinion.”
“...May I speak frankly?”
He nodded as if to say not to worry about the others.
“We’re in the middle of an escort request right now. Five wagons. Twenty-seven people. And the escort detail is only five mercenaries. If that man with the greatsword is a bandit, and this is a trap, then we have no way of knowing where the rest will come from. If information about the escort team has already leaked, we could be wiped out before we know what hit us.”
“So you’re saying you’d rather not save him.”
“As a mercenary, yes, that’s my opinion.”
Lawrence wasn’t finished.
“But I’m also a pilgrim of the church. If there were another cleric here, I would have reached out to help without hesitation. Not even for a moment would I have hesitated.”
“Then what would you do?”
“That’s not for me to decide. Raoul is the leader. All I can do is offer my opinion.”
“Hah... Looks like you got me there.”
Raoul gave a dry laugh, equal parts exasperated and impressed.
“In other words, if we don’t help him, I’m the villain. And if we do, I’m the good guy, right?”
“I don’t remember saying it quite like that...”
“Same thing. I give with one hand and get it back with the other. Fine. Truth be told, I was uneasy about leaving him too. I’d probably sleep badly if we did. You go and speak to him, then.”
“......”
Lawrence hadn’t expected that.
And the other mercenaries... not one of them looked inclined to help.
They were all grinning as if to say good luck.
Of course they’d be perfectly in sync when it suited them.
“Understood.”
With no other choice, Lawrence approached the red-haired man.
He’d only taken five steps when a heavy gust struck him full in the face with a whoosh.
By the time the wind died down, a greatsword wrapped in cloth was in view.
“......”
His throat burned.
A hot trickle coursed down his neck, and he realized he’d been nicked there.
The red-haired man’s gaze met his.
With heavy-lidded eyes, drowsy and half-asleep, he said, “Morning...?”
There was no killing intent in the greatsword.
The blade was still hidden beneath the cloth, not even the edge visible.
It looked as though he had reacted only to the sound of someone approaching.
He wasn’t trying to kill anyone.
Maybe that was why Lawrence found himself speaking with more calm than even he expected.
“I’m a mercenary passing through. If you’re lost, would you care to travel with us?”
“......”
No answer came back.
The man still pointed the greatsword at Lawrence.
Even with the tip wrapped in cloth, Lawrence felt a cold sting at his throat, a chill that made that fact feel irrelevant.
“......”
“......”
How long had they stared at each other in silence?
By the time the mercenaries had hurried down and gathered behind Lawrence, the man finally spoke.
“What business does a pilgrim of the church have here?”
“......”
So he had to start from there again.
“Are you all right, Lawrence?”
“What did you do to our mage!”
“Told you he was a bandit!”
Lawrence steadied the mercenaries behind him before they could start making a scene.
This man wasn’t a bandit.
Even though Lawrence had seen him from the front, he still hadn’t been able to track the movement of that greatsword.
He had seen plenty of mercenaries in his time, but he had never seen a man handle a greatsword like that.
“If you’re not interested, then we’ll be on our way.”
“......”
He knew it at a glance.
This was no ordinary fighter.
There was no benefit in getting tangled up with him for no reason.
Lawrence had just turned to sort out the situation and step back when—
“You still haven’t answered my question, pilgrim of the church.”
The greatsword’s tip came for his throat again.
The sigh trapped in Lawrence’s mouth circled uselessly inside him.
“I asked whether you’d care to travel with us if you were lost.”
“Travel with you?”
The man echoed the words, and only then, as if the rest of the situation was finally registering, did he look at the mercenaries standing behind Lawrence.
Every one of them had a weapon in hand.
They were clearly ready to rush in if need be. Above them, the gypsies who had come out of the wagons were sneaking glances at the scene.
When their eyes met the man’s, they let out shrill cries and hurried back into the wagons.
“......”
For the first time since he’d opened his eyes, the man frowned.
Slowly, he lowered the greatsword.
Seeing that, Lawrence also lowered the hand he’d raised toward the man.
He’d been ready to use Bind if things went bad.
It was a relief they hadn’t gone all the way to the worst-case scenario.
“One more question.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Is it morning now?”
At that question, Lawrence felt every muscle in his body loosen.
* * *
The red-haired man said his name was Kyle.
Unfortunately, he was a man of few words, so that was about all Lawrence learned.
When he heard they were on the road to Frang, he simply climbed onto the wagon in silence.
At least he didn’t seem hostile... but honestly, Lawrence had no idea what sort of thoughts were going on inside that head.
If possible, he’d have preferred to keep some distance.
And yet Kyle climbed into the same wagon as Lawrence as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
He even sat right beside him.
Lawrence looked at the other mercenaries, but every one of them turned away, pretending not to notice.
He’d known this would happen.
As expected, the only person you could rely on at a time like this was yourself.
In the end, Lawrence climbed aboard with this dangerous companion.
Inside the wagon, Luca gave him a worried look.
Lawrence waved a hand to show he was fine.
Kyle didn’t look like he had any intention of doing anything either.
There was no way he’d suddenly start swinging that greatsword around... right?
...Probably.
“......”
“......”
No conversation passed between them.
Kyle set the greatsword down behind him and sat with his arms folded, drifting off almost immediately.
His breathing came steady and even.
Seeing him fall asleep again, Lawrence let out an incredulous laugh.
What nerves.
He couldn’t understand how a man could sleep in the company of people he’d only just met that day. Or maybe it meant he had that much confidence in his own strength.
Once Kyle was fast asleep, Cedric emerged from inside the wagon.
“Are you all right, Lord Lawrence?”
“I’m fine. You didn’t need to come out.”
“I couldn’t do that. This is your crisis, Lord Lawrence. At the very least, I ought to lend a hand.”
Lawrence almost said that staying inside would have helped more, but he stopped himself.
If Cedric had eyes, he would have seen there wasn’t any room left to sit anyway.
With the greatsword, Kyle, and Lawrence already in the back, there was simply no space to squeeze in another person.
But something about Cedric looked strange as he made his way to the rear of the wagon.
“Mr. Cedric?”
“Ah, yes! You called?”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“No. It’s nothing. I just... don’t seem to have anywhere to sit.”
“I’m glad you noticed before it was too late. Now you understand why I told you not to come out.”
It really was fortunate he’d realized it now.
Three men trying to sit back there would probably end up on the floor.
“I’ll bring some milk and be back in a moment.”
“Is there any for Kyle?”
“K... who?”
“This man’s name is Kyle.”
Now that he thought about it, Lawrence didn’t remember telling anyone.
“There is. Luca prepared some, though I don’t know whether Mr. Kyle likes milk.”
“......”
Maybe because their voices had carried.
Kyle, who had been sleeping soundly, opened his eyes.
Unlike his blazing red hair, his blue eyes settled on Cedric standing behind Lawrence.
“Uh, um...”
“......”
An awkward silence fell.
Perhaps because Cedric looked so flustered, Kyle said nothing.
After a moment, as if losing interest, he folded his arms again and went back to sleep.
At that reaction, Lawrence said, “I guess he’s not much of a milk drinker.”
“A-ahaha. Seems that way.”
Cedric gave an embarrassed laugh and disappeared back inside the wagon.
No, wait. He should at least take the milk with him...
Thankfully, Cedric soon poked his face out again.
With an awkward smile, he held a cup in his hand.
It was nearly two hours later when Kyle opened his eyes again.
“Morning...”
At the muttered words, Lawrence answered, “Morning’s been over for a while. The sun’ll be setting soon.”
“......”
Those sleepy eyes drifted toward Lawrence.
“The pilgrim of the church...”
“I’m Lawrence. And if you’re just going to repeat what you said when we first met, there may not be any dinner left for you.”
“......”
Even if he was half asleep, saying the same thing twice was just rude.
Having to hear the same thing twice was a trial for anyone else, too.
“I see. It’s evening...”
“Good to know you finally got some rest.”
They had also managed to avoid any encounter with a Horn Boar.
Since no monsters had crossed their path, there’d been no real trouble.
With the wagon steadily climbing the slope, Kyle had finally been able to sleep deeply.
“By the way, why were you there?”
“......”
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I’m only asking because I was curious. There are other safe places to rest, after all. I just thought it was strange that you were sleeping in an area where Horn Boars appear.”
He hadn’t expected an answer.
He had only spoken because sitting there in silence felt awkward.
“Rat.”
And to Lawrence’s surprise, Kyle opened his mouth.
“I followed a rat.”
“A rat?”
He nodded slowly.
“A rat... Did you catch it?”
“Not yet.”
With one hand resting on the greatsword, Kyle said in a cold voice, “But I will eradicate them all.”
“......”
A prickling chill ran down Lawrence’s spine.
Was that what killing intent felt like?
A ruthless light crept into Kyle’s eyes.
But only for a moment.
In the next instant, that terrible pressure vanished without a trace.
As if that was all he had meant to say, he folded his arms again.
After sleeping so much already, he still seemed to be planning to sleep more.
“Dinner.”
“Pardon?”
With his eyes closed, he muttered, “Dinner should be meat.”
“Uh... well... I like meat too.”
Lawrence had been wondering what on earth he was talking about.
The sudden turn to dinner had caught him off guard.
Kyle opened one eye and looked at him.
“I see. There are no bad people among those who like meat.”
“......”
Kyle might be a little strange, but he might not be a bad person.
* * *
That evening, just as Kyle had hoped, they were served a meat dish.
The band members had hunted wild game in the surrounding hills.
Thanks to that, for the first time in nearly a month since leaving Rombamel, they were able to bring roasted venison to their mouths.
“Does it suit your taste?”
“......”
No answer came, but Lawrence could tell at a glance that Kyle liked the roasted venison.
He was tearing into the deer’s hind leg with such single-minded focus that even Lawrence, who prided himself on eating quickly, couldn’t keep up.
But eating fast didn’t increase the amount you could eat.
Kyle seemed to realize that only after going back for another serving.
“......”
He returned empty-handed and looked at the roasted venison Lawrence was holding.
“I’m not giving it to you.”
“......”
At least say something sensible.
No matter what else, Lawrence would never surrender his meat.
Then Kyle turned his gaze toward the meat Luca was eating, looking almost envious.
“Uh... I’m sorry.”
“......”
After being refused three times, Kyle finally leaned back against a tree and sat down.
His arms were folded as always, and his head slowly drooped.
He was definitely not a bad person...
But after watching him all day, Lawrence couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something oddly pitiable about him.
“Is this seat taken?”
A soft voice asked.
When Lawrence looked up, he saw a gypsy with black hair as dark as the night standing there.
“It’s free, but... do you really need to sit here?”
Lawrence brought up a conversation they had once shared.
As if she remembered, Elvira burst out laughing.
“It’s hard to get a word out of you.”
“We’ve had a lot going on today.”
When Elvira sat down, Luca shifted slightly back.
“What do you think, Lawrence? Is he a dangerous man?”
“It’s hard to say what kind of person he is from just one day.”
“Hmm... Really? Big sister has never been wrong about these things...”
“Did Big Sister say something about Kyle?”
She glanced back at Kyle, sleeping some distance away, and said, “She said he has a righteous heart. At the very least, she said he doesn’t seem like someone who would threaten us.”
“So that’s why you allowed him to travel with us.”
“That’s right. He’s not some random bandit, so you can relax.”
“I can tell that much myself. He’s not a bandit or a mercenary; he’s more like...”
“More like...?”
“Nothing.”
He seemed like the kind of knight one only heard about in stories.
Lawrence kept the thought to himself.
Nothing was certain yet.
More importantly, even if that guess was right, it wouldn’t change anything.
He brought the remaining meat to his mouth.
The venison, after such a long time, was truly delicious.