Chapter 53
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 053
Chapter Title: The Burly Trio and Oath of Loyalty (1)
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‘Wow...’
Even from a distance, the majesty of Chester Castle hit me like a wave.
I couldn’t help letting out a gasp of admiration.
Quarrying the perfect stone for those walls, cutting it to size, hauling it all the way here...
It must have cost a fortune.
No wonder it left me in awe.
“Whoa, it’s a castle!”
“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“So amazing...”
The kids I’d rescued from Rabbit Farm stared at the walls, their eyes sparkling.
And it wasn’t just them. The able-bodied men looked stunned too.
‘Everyone’s amazed... except the baron and his wife.’
The reactions from Birch Baron’s soldiers and servants were no different from the kids and laborers.
This was clearly their first time seeing Chester Castle.
“Looks like a crowd up ahead.”
Bear spoke up, scanning the front. Sure enough, people swarmed around the stockade.
Mostly refugees, judging by their ragged clothes.
‘Feels like a fight could break out any second.’
As we drew closer, the scene sharpened into focus.
Refugees shouted for entry, while guards at the gate threatened them back with spears.
The tension was thick enough to cut. The only thing keeping it from boiling over was the knight standing watch.
Blood stained the blade in his right hand—a clear sign he wasn’t just talking tough.
“Halt! Who goes there?”
We reached the stockade, and the knight eyed us wearily, exhaustion etched on his face.
Now one of Birch Baron’s men would step up, introduce the baron.
That’s what I figured—until things took an unexpected turn.
“You haven’t changed a bit.”
Josephine’s voice floated from the carriage. She stepped down with her maid’s help.
“Miss!”
The knight startled at the sight of her. Old acquaintances, clearly.
“The stockade at Baron’s Hold couldn’t hold back the chaos. So here we are, imposing on you.”
“Imposing? Nonsense!”
Josephine gave a wry smile, but the knight shot it down vehemently.
Then, in a firm tone:
“Come in. I’m sure Earl Chester will welcome you back, miss—or rather, my lady.”
His lord’s daughter returning? The knight waved us through without hesitation.
He summoned a soldier, whispered instructions. The man bolted inside the stockade—off to report Josephine’s arrival to the castle, no doubt.
“Thank you.”
Josephine bowed politely and returned to the carriage.
With that, our group eased inside.
‘Talk about tense.’
Killer glares bored into us from all sides—refugees, every one.
The knight had let us in so easily; their frustration must have been off the charts.
Those hateful stares brimmed with resentment. But soon, they softened like lambs’ eyes.
Bear and Conal scanned the crowd, left hands on scabbards, right on hilts—ready to draw in an instant.
No surprise they felt threatened. And the troll head on our cart? That kept extreme thoughts at bay too.
“What’s with that huge head?”
“Mom, look! Monster! It’s a monster!”
“Looks like a troll...”
In these dull times, a head as big as a grown man’s thigh stole every refugee’s attention.
Reactions varied: shock, fear, curiosity...
But no more murderous glares.
‘They’ve finally realized it. Our group took down a monster like that.’
Maybe that’s why.
The hostility faded. Envy tinged their gazes instead.
Quick about-face.
With the mood lifting, the laborers under my command strode taller, soaking up the stares.
And they weren’t the only ones showing it.
Bear and Conal’s lips twitched, fighting smiles. Desperately masking their glee.
Best to play dumb here.
That’s when I noticed something odd.
‘What’s that?’
Scattered among the refugees were people with traces of mana.
Faint, barely more than civilians... but it bugged me.
Zero and one aren’t the same.
A commoner with mana? That was rare.
‘Really grating.’
I shelved it for now. Too many to count.
Not something I could fix on the spot. Time to focus on meeting Earl Chester.
‘Whoa, so many people.’
Inside the stockade, the crowd thickened.
But what struck me more: they all looked alike. Gaunt frames, lifeless eyes—textbook refugees.
No wonder they weren’t letting more in. Overflow already.
Now the knight and guards made sense.
‘Conditions are brutal.’
A sigh escaped as I took in the city.
Shoddy tents lined the streets—their beds.
Temporary shelters, sure. But health and hygiene looked dire. Epidemic waiting to happen.
“Please, help us!”
“My child’s starving—no food!”
“Have mercy...!”
While I observed, refugees spotted us and swarmed, begging.
Bear and Conal’s threats, the troll head—nothing stopped them.
Unlike the gate crowd. These folks were truly desperate.
Judgment clouded by hunger. Tragic.
‘But we can’t just stand here.’
The baron couple could be in danger.
Time to decide.
“Block them!”
My shout mobilized everyone. Birch Baron’s soldiers, my laborers, the escort guards from the gate—they held the line.
Refugees didn’t budge. Force became necessary.
“Get lost! You deaf?”
“Back off unless you wanna get hurt!”
“Move! Move it!”
Birch Baron’s men shoved. My laborers blocked with shields. Escorts lashed out with spear shafts.
A few collapsed wailing, and the chaos finally ebbed.
‘Gotta get out of here fast.’
Their stares burned. And more mana signatures among them.
Like outside. Unsettling.
First impression of Chester: unique layout.
Stockade around the city walls, castle inside those.
We crossed the stockade into the city, then the walls to the core.
Then uphill, hard. To reach the castle at the peak.
‘Smart urban planning.’
Not just Earl Chester’s wealth. Defense against raids, probably.
Nomads beyond the eastern plains. Makes sense.
I straightened up, and Bear asked from the next bed.
“Going somewhere?”
“Nah. Just sitting up.”
We were in a guest room in Chester Castle.
We’d made it inside, but no immediate audience with the earl.
Josephine came as a baroness, not his daughter—protocols or some nonsense.
Baffling to me. But what could I do? Wait.
‘Lucky break.’
Normally, a commoner outsider like me wouldn’t get in.
Birch Baron and Josephine vouched hard. My mage status probably helped too.
‘Hope the others are resting well.’
Inside the castle: Birch Baron and his squire. Josephine and her maid. Me, Gilbert, Bear, Conal. Eight total.
The rest? Inns inside the city walls.
‘Earl Chester seems decent.’
Honestly, I’d expected the kids and laborers booted to the stockade—more mouths to feed.
Instead, he housed them with the baron’s retinue. Even supplied food.
First impression: pass.
That’s when—
Knock knock.
A servant’s voice from outside.
“Lord Heros, Birch Baron requests you.”
The baron? Why me, suddenly? No clue.
I said goodbye to my roommates and headed out.
Why had Birch Baron summoned me? To accompany them to meet Earl Chester.
Caught me off guard. The couple was washed up, dressed fancy. Me? Still rugged wild-man.
“Baron.”
I tried addressing him to salvage this awkwardness.
He glanced over.
“What’s wrong?”
“Showing up like this to Earl Chester—it’s a grave insult, no?”
“Pfft, insult? Hardly.”
“You mentioned protocols. That’s why even you and the baroness couldn’t meet him right away...”
“Protocols? Nobles fuss over that. You’re no noble. Skip it.”
He shrugged. Frustrating.
‘Is this okay? Really?’
As I fretted, Josephine—walking beside the baron—spoke up.
“‘Protocols’ sounds stiff, but Father’s just being considerate. Giving us time to recover from the long trip.”
That eased me a bit. Not snubbing us—rest first.
If true, Earl Chester was a good man.
“We’ve arrived.”
The lead steward halted at a door, knocked gently.
“My lord. Birch Baron, Baroness, and Mage Heros have arrived.”
A deep voice from within:
“Send them in.”
The steward opened the door for us.
First in view: a sturdy oak desk, strewn with parchments and scrolls.
Then... a middle-aged man seated, poring over them. Earl Chester, no doubt.
‘Intimidating aura.’
I studied him. Sharp-featured, commanding presence even at rest.
Ruler’s bearing. I want that.
“Sit.”
He looked up, gestured to three chairs opposite.
I waited for the couple to sit, then took the spot beside Birch Baron.
“Josephine, you look worn. Rough journey here.”
He gazed at her steadily.
She nodded.
“Yes, tough going. Met a troll too. Brought its head—did you see?”
“I did. Partly why I called you. Wanted the full story from you all.”
His eyes shifted to me.
Why me?
Flustered, I glanced at Birch Baron—recalling his earlier words.
‘He said we’d recount everything in detail to the earl upon arrival.’
I looked his way, and he caught my eye, puffing up.
“I can explain it all!”
But the earl shut him down quick.
“You, stay quiet.”
“Yes, sir!”
Birch Baron zipped it. Then the earl met my eyes again.
“There’s reason my son-in-law and daughter traveled with a young mage. Tell me. I’m all ears.”
No dodging now—he’d singled me out.
Best play: engage sincerely, win favor.
This could be opportunity... or disaster. Depending on me.
‘Alright.’
I organized my thoughts, then spoke.
“Wicked warlocks are stirring chaos in the east.”