Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Arrival in Augst Territory
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Unlike the Sion Dukedom, which possessed the Brandin Mountains stretching nearly eighty kilometers from the Echo-less Forest through North Mountain, High Mountain, South Mountain, and beyond, Pamon County and Augst Territory featured only low hills and forests—it was almost entirely flatland.
Thanks to that, Sion and Jouang were able to travel comfortably, reaching the Augst lord's castle in just two days.
“What will you do? Shall we go straight to the lord's castle?”
“Let's look around a bit first. It's more accurate to see for myself than to hear reports.”
One might wonder how much could have changed in just a few months, but Augst Territory was a mid-sized domain to begin with, and even the town around the lord's castle was only on the level of a township in the Sion Dukedom.
A castle town with a population of only three to four thousand (considered a fairly large village in this world) was greatly influenced by even minor decisions from the lord or his officials, so Sion had some expectations.
Using one of the identity badges he carried (this one was genuine), Sion passed through the castle gates and slowly made his way across the town.
As in any township or county seat, the market that spread out right after entering the gates was brimming with vitality, unlike a few months ago.
There seemed to be quite a few merchants and peddlers from other regions, and the faces of the laborers making their living in the market didn't look bad.
Above all, most of the children running toward whatever it was with excited oohs were a bit skinny but didn't look emaciated from starvation.
It was proof that Jenna and the territory officials had done a decent job.
“Not bad. Do you like alcohol?”
“I enjoy it occasionally.”
“It's a bit early, but let's have a drink.”
“Yes.”
Sion took Jouang to a pub at the edge of the market district.
Like most pubs in such a township castle, it doubled as an inn on the second and third floors.
“Welcome! Handsome knight sirs, will you be staying the night?”
“No, just something simple to eat and drink.”
“Got it! I'll tie up the horses over there, then.”
“Sure.”
The boy working at the pub skillfully led the three horses to a small stable near the entrance.
Sion tilted his head as he watched the boy.
“Hm. That's odd.”
“What do you mean?”
“There isn't a single horse in the stable. It's still broad daylight, but there should be plenty of customers coming in for drinks at this hour, yet not one horse? That's strange.”
“Hmm. You're right.”
Jouang, who hadn't left the royal castle many times, nodded casually, unaware of such details.
“We'll find out once we go inside.”
Creak—
The pub they entered through the weathered wooden door was filled with its characteristic stuffy air mixed with the scent of alcohol, giving a strange sense of comfort to someone like Sion who had wandered far and wide.
But as expected, there were few customers, and those present appeared to be locals from the town.
Sion took a seat at the bar counter rather than a table, and the owner, who had a friendly-looking face, approached.
“Welcome. What can I get you?”
“The most expensive wine you have. And some simple snacks, please.”
“Yes, yes. Just a moment.”
With few customers already, the owner grinned broadly at Sion's order for expensive liquor and brought it out.
“I'll bring the snacks right away. How about our village specialty, grilled olives?”
“Sounds good. Add some cheese, too.”
Realizing from that response that Sion wasn't a first-time visitor, the owner placed the order in the kitchen and then glanced sideways, speaking in a low voice.
“You've been here before, haven't you, sir knight?”
“I've stopped by a few times passing through. First time at this pub, though.”
“Ah, so that's why you came to our place.”
“Why? Is something going on?”
Sion finally got the conversation he was hoping for and asked.
The pub owner hunched his plump body low and said,
“It's because of the nobles who came from the royal castle to the lord's castle. Merchants, nobles—everyone's staying inside the lord's castle, not at pubs or inns like ours, so of course the customers have dwindled.”
“Hoo.”
“At first, when we heard great nobles from the royal castle had arrived, we were so excited. We thought fancy folks like that would spend freely.”
“That makes sense. Plus, being royal nobles, prominent locals from this town and nearby villages would flock to try making connections.”
“Of course. I thought the same. But those folks haven't stepped out of the castle once. Not even one time. So even the other lords who came to the town are spending more to stay in the lord's castle.”
“Hmm. Do you know anything about what's happening inside the castle?”
“That's the weird part. You could say the high nobles from the royal castle are staying put, but the ones who came to curry favor should be coming and going quickly, right?”
“True.”
“The first one to visit has already been stuck in there for three days straight. And yesterday, well...”
The pub owner whispered almost inaudibly.
“Folks from Lady Baretti's family—our lord's wife—came pouring in. Knights were with them, too.”
* * *
“These northeast bastards are nothing special, kuhahahaha!”
“How pathetic are the soldiers here who lost to such cowards?”
The Augst lord's castle dining hall was rowdy. Amid dozens of soldiers and mercenaries mingling and enjoying alcohol and meat, those who appeared to be knights snickered while staring at one spot.
“Do they call trash like that mercenaries in the northeast? I heard they were pretty skilled, but it's all rumors.”
“Exactly. Surrendering at first sight? What a waste of the balls dangling between their legs.”
“Maybe they don't even have any?”
Uahaha!
The knights burst into loud laughter.
In the direction their gazes were fixed sat about ten men in casual clothes, quietly eating their meals.
“Those fucking bastards... Goddamn it, this sucks. Brothers, is this really okay?”
In response to the hot-tempered young man's words, an older man who looked five or six years his senior tore into a chicken leg and said,
“Sir Seilun told us that if something like this happens, just surrender and wait. We have to follow what the employer ordered.”
“Captain Stelmann emphasized it, too.”
These were part of the Zanstrick Mercenary Corps that Sion had left behind to protect Jenna.
And they were faithfully carrying out the orders from their employer Sion and their captain Stelmann.
“Even if we fought, we couldn't take them all. You'd die, I'd die, we'd all die. And the Ferret Lady would die, too.”
“Fuck, still, this feels all wrong...”
“It's not wrong, man. Come to think of it, Sir Seilun is one strange guy. When he left us behind, I thought it was bullshit, but he clearly knew this exact situation would happen.”
“Tch. Yeah, you're right.”
They had been told that within a month at the fastest, or two months at the latest, someone from the capital or royal castle might come looking for “Sir Seilun,” or relatives of the lord's family might barge in over the issue of the Augst lordship—and it had actually come to pass.
And even more astonishingly.
-Those two might be in cahoots or part of the same gang from the start. In that case, don't fight—just surrender first.
Even that warning had come true like prophecy.
The people from Lady Baretti's family—Baron Augst's second wife—and Baron Botan, who was a close aide to the crown prince, knew each other well.
At first, they acted as if it were coincidence, but after locking Jenna up and reinstalling Anser as the lord's proxy, they openly admitted and acted as if they had planned to come here all along.
Especially Lady Baretti, who had requested knights, soldiers, and dozens of mercenaries from her family home, openly boasted about her brilliant plan's great success.
“What about the officials?”
“They're on edge. Most of them are still watching me closely. They've seen us deal with the local soldiers firsthand, so they must find it odd that we surrendered without a fight.”
“It's not because of us.”
“Huh?”
When the young mercenary looked puzzled, the mercenary who was their leader took a swig of the thick, murky beer and spoke in a low voice.
“It's because of the Sion Ducal House, not us. The officials and retainers here know full well how formidable the Sion Ducal House is. But...”
Unaware that they had surrendered on orders, he scanned the knights and mercenaries drunk and bragging about their own bravery, then grinned slyly.
“Those guys have never faced the Sion Ducal House even once. And our employer, either.”
* * *
“Argh, fuck!”
Jenna kicked away the ragged blanket that must have been at least twenty years old and cursed.
“I can't sleep because it itches so much. I told those fuckers to change the damn blanket, but this is too much.”
It had already been six days since she was locked in the prison tower of the lord's castle, and she looked a mess.
She hadn't washed at all or changed clothes during that time, so her face was dirty, and her body gave off a sour stench.
Moreover, her face, which had been considered a refreshing beauty despite its somewhat fierce impression, had changed completely from five days ago.
Her right eye socket was bruised black and blue, her lips were split and swollen, and a scab from a gash sat on her forehead.
“That fucking bastard. Even if he did, I'm still a woman—why hit my face? Should I have just sucked him off?”
Recalling the pig-like face of Baron Botan, who had tried to rape her by force and ended up beating her like a dog when it didn't go his way, Jenna shook her head vigorously.
“No. That pig bastard's face alone shows he doesn't wash properly on the regular. Sucking that thing would've given me some disease for sure.”
She wasn't particularly hung up on chastity and had done short flings or long relationships whenever the vibe was right, but she had her own standards.
By her standards, Baron Botan wasn't a man—he was a hog in heat.
Still, he knew better than to outright kill the information guild branch chief despite treating her roughly, so he had some intelligence at least.
“But pigs are among the smarter beasts, right? Yeah, he really was a pig bastard.”
Muttering to herself, she soon stuck her mouth out through the bars and raised her voice.
“Hey! You guys still alive in there?”
“Ugh, don't wanna live...”
“Tell 'em I'm dead. I'm really gonna die from hunger...”
Hearing her subordinates' relatively fine voices, Jenna's expression relaxed in relief.
She had been truly worried about one guy whose front teeth had been pulled out, but though his speech was a mess, he seemed okay.
“Hey, when we get out of here, I'll get you all gold teeth. Sis is really sorry.”
“It'sh fine. But gold teef is too flashy, it'll shcare peoplesh...”
“I'll get you gold teeth and properly deal with that Jens bastard, too. Don't worry.”
A fierce blue flame flickered in Jenna's panda-like blackened eyes.
The one who had played the decisive role in her ending up like this was Jens.
“That fucker not only sold information behind my back personally but also screwed over his fellow guild members? When I get out, I'm really gonna kill you. I'll tell Duke Highness and have you fucking executed.”
Jenna didn't know.
That the “wish” she had spat out in anger and humiliation would actually come true.
(To be continued)