Chapter 28
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 028
Chapter Title: The Mage and the Sinner (3)
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On the way to Jade's mansion.
He began to unpack his bundle of tales.
"The young man tied up in the square is named Bear."
"He didn't look like a young man no matter how I saw it..."
I recalled the hulking figure in the square.
A fierce face and a bushy beard.
No way he was a youth.
Middle-aged, at best.
"It's the beard that makes him look that way. Look closely at his face—he's young."
"Ah, yes."
"Anyway, he's not from this village. About a year ago, he showed up out of nowhere. Seems he'd been wandering as a sellsword. His accent pegged him as from the west."
"What's a sellsword?"
"Mercenary work."
"Aha."
I listened intently to Jade's story.
To give him solid advice, I needed the full picture first.
"Fearless, built like an ox, and a demon in a fight. Couldn't ask for better soldier material. So I recruited him on the spot."
In my experience, the average adult man in this world stood around 170 cm tall.
Bear towered well over two meters.
And it wasn't just height—he was packed with muscle from head to toe.
If I were the lord here, I'd have snapped him up as a soldier too.
"Was Bear a good soldier?"
"Of course. His raw strength rivaled a knight's. It was a damn shame to waste that talent on grunt work."
"That good?"
True knights—ones worthy of the title—possessed physical prowess far beyond ordinary folk.
Bear's strength was on that level.
Honestly, it was hard to buy.
Jade must have caught my skepticism. He chuckled and fixed me with a look.
"You think a commoner can tear a wolf's jaws apart with his bare hands?"
"Pardon...?"
"One day in the woods, a wolf charged him. Bear grabbed its muzzle—left hand on the upper jaw, right on the lower. Then... rip!"
Jade mimed prying something open wide.
Vividly recreating the scene.
"Ooh."
"Any knight worth his spurs could manage it. But Bear's a commoner—no divine gifts there. Means he's been through hell and come out stronger. That's why I took a shine to him."
As Jade spun his yarn, a thought crossed my mind: I wanted Bear as my personal guard.
With a two-meter brute at my side, who'd dare mess with me?
And his skills seemed to match the physique—perfect for the job.
"Enough backstory. Let's get to the point."
"I'm all ears."
"A few days ago, Bear killed a man."
"Pardon?"
This twist came out of nowhere.
Still, I zeroed in on Jade's words.
"Beat the blacksmith's son to death with his fists. Over his lover getting insulted."
"Sounds like the kid had it coming."
"Fair point. The trouble's the father. Ever since, he's been hounding me daily for Bear's head."
"Just ignore him. Or squash it with authority."
This was Jade's land.
Granted by the noble he served.
He could lord it over the villagers all he wanted.
Hell, even without that, he was a knight.
Disobey? Off with their heads. Lesson learned.
"I'd have done it in my youth. But I'm old now. Could drop dead any day."
Growing soft with age?
That's what I figured—till Jade went on.
"My sons lacked the gift. Never made knight. When I go, this land reverts. Family stays on, though. Can't afford open war with the village heads."
Now it clicked—Jade's bind.
He wanted to save Bear, the sinner.
Blacksmith craved Bear's blood.
But the smith held sway in town. Hard to say no without family blowback.
One snag lingered, though.
"It's not just the smith pushing execution, right? Personal plea, you'd crush it with rank. Or settle it clean with steel."
Jade's eyes went wide.
Nailed it.
"Spot on. Every bigwig in town demands Bear's death. Like they coordinated. Bear made enemies— this is their shot."
"Hmm..."
I mulled it over.
A breakthrough plan was brewing.
One that helped Jade and lined my pockets.
"If we save Bear, fine if he leaves town?"
"Naturally. A titan like him dying at peasants' hands? Tragedy."
"Hmm... Got a solid idea."
"Spill it."
Jade's eyes gleamed.
I savored the moment and laid out my scheme.
That afternoon.
At Jade's mansion, the brewer, the priest of the Sky Church, the guard captain, and the other village notables trickled in.
The blacksmith showed too.
Grim aura rolling off him—grief for kin or hate for the killer.
"All here."
Jade entered last.
He took the head seat and eyed the room.
A long table stretched before him.
Notables lined either side.
"You all know a mage showed up, right?"
Ten-ish heads nodded in sync.
Small-town gossip spread like wildfire.
A mage's visit? Front-page news.
"I spoke with him right here. Learned he's headed east. Called himself a conscription officer."
"Conscription officer? Recruiting soldiers?"
The brewer piped up.
Jade nodded and pressed on, measured.
"To quell the eastern uprising. Needs thirty able-bodied men. That's the word."
The room exploded as his words landed.
Notables veins bulging, protests flying.
"Ridiculous! Take thirty men—who works the fields?"
"Gambling King's plant? They trashed the east, now drafting from the heartlands?"
"Tell the baron. No authority to take our folk."
Chatter built.
Soon convinced: Heros was Gambling King's recruiter.
Jade cut in, watching. Silence fell. Eyes locked on him.
"Can't refuse the mage. No power to."
He scanned faces.
They pictured Heros' boyish mug—confusion plain.
"He's a top-tier mage. Wields lightning and fire. Cross him, town burns. We fry."
Mood plummeted.
Jade barreled on.
"So I bargained. We've got a knight—take him instead. Beats thirty conscripts."
"A knight?"
The priest cocked his head.
Far as he knew, Jade was town's only one.
Jade shrugged it off.
"Pitched Bear as the knight. Tied up for murder."
"Good heavens!"
Priest gaped.
"Sir Jade! That flimsy lie stick? Grab any passerby—they know the truth. Apologize now. Send the thirty."
Notables turned on the priest.
Family in the draft pool, maybe.
Chaos reigned.
Jade watched the bickering coolly.
Spoke once it ebbed.
"Easy, all. Mage bought it. Mages love gold too. He played along."
Mage takes Bear.
Blacksmith fumed—but no backup.
Others picked Bear over thirty lives.
As dusk fell, Jade summoned me.
"Take Bear."
"Worked like a charm?"
"Your scheme was gold."
I grinned.
Plan clicked—pure joy.
"No suspicions?"
"None. All pegged you as Gambling King's man."
I'd said "conscription officer"—nothing more.
Naming nobles? Risky if exposed.
Questioned later?
Patriotic solo op.
No impersonation. Mage clout seals it.
They assumed Gambling King. Not my fault.
"Clean wrap. Feels good."
"Ditto. Next move?"
"Square first. Chat with Bear. Nail down departure."
Chat done, straight to the square.
Bear unchanged from morning.
Approached, water skin in hand.
Over a day without drink, so I'd brought some.
"Pleased to meet you. Heros. Mage."
At his feet, I introduced myself.
Head bowed, he looked up.
Sharp gaze.
Three days bound, spirit unbroken.
Impressed me more.
"You're leaving town with me. Here to say let's make it work."
"Go alone. I'll die here."
Cracked lips parted. Voice raw.
Offered skin—he shook it off.
Hmm. Not broken. Then why?
Wrench in the works.
Figured he'd jump at rescue.
Who turns down life?
"How do I change your mind?"
Dead end.
Asked straight.
He lifted his head again.
"Let me see Gloria. Gladly follow. Heh..."
Final laugh a sob.
Gloria, huh.
I knew the name.
'Bear's lover. Gloria.'
Bring her, problem solved.
One hitch: she wasn't alive.
Gloria died from head trauma fighting the smith's son.
Meet the dead?
Impossible, right?
Bear never planned to budge.
Axe or starvation—end it.
'But who am I? A mage. I make the impossible real.'
Reuniting with the dead?
Child's play for me.