Pretty and Competent Administrator (7)
The administrator scratched his head dumbly after hearing my story.
"So... you're saying a 7th-grade administrator went missing somewhere between here and Anan?"
"That's right. I waited in Anan from yesterday, but just came down here, and they said the administrator had already left for Anan last night."
"Hmm... so what should I do about it?"
"What?"
The administrator looked troubled. "It's just a hunch of a disappearance with no hard evidence. And we can't search the entire northern highway in the middle of the night, plus..."
"Why no evidence? There's a record of him leaving the post station last night, isn't there?"
"True, but... Apenzel was the destination, right? He might've just bolted midway..."
"Are you saying a central 7th-grade bureaucrat ran away?"
The administrator laughed awkwardly, a bit flustered. "No, not that... It might've happened in Anan city's jurisdiction, not ours."
That confirmed it—this guy had zero backbone and was just annoyed by the hassle. I pulled out my ID and waved it in front of his face.
"Why are you so reluctant to do your job? Wanna taste an inspection?"
His face paled instantly. "I-Inspector...?"
"Ever seen an inspector announce himself like that?"
The administrator snapped to attention. "We'll send a search party at first light tomorrow...!"
"Can't do a night search?"
"W-Well... we're short-staffed... As you know, this is just a small town."
Faking an inspector only got this much out of him—it was probably their limit. I'd have to settle for a daytime search promise. I couldn't push harder myself.
But even a daytime search tomorrow might be too late...
"At least contact nearby cities via the post station right now and send an emergency dispatch to the capital."
"Understood. We'll do that."
I left City Hall amid his polite bow.
Hmm... now what? Should I search alone?
Should've brought the Holy Sword. Beyond detecting evil, it had all sorts of handy features I could've used... If only it had a summoning function.
Lost in thought as I rode through town, I heard rowdy noise from somewhere.
"Let's drink till we're half-dead tonight!"
"Hey! Customers incoming!"
Glancing back, I saw burly, dark-haired brutes tying their horses outside a restaurant. Messy-haired guys in grubby beast pelts that didn't suit the season.
They caroused loudly, kicking barrels at the entrance and causing a racket. Passersby skirted them, clicking their tongues.
"Those damn Benson thugs..."
Benson thugs? I grabbed a passerby and asked who they were.
"Huh? Out-of-towner? You don't know Benson's knights?"
Those were Benson's guys...?
Only heard rumors, never seen them up close.
"Must've pulled another heist and come to blow the cash."
"Heist?"
"Tch. You really from far away. Lately, they've been raiding around here. Probably here to squander stolen loot."
The post station guy in Bue mentioned something like that before I left. But Benson barony was pretty far from here.
I eyed them closely as they entered the restaurant. Once the Benson knights went in, patrons fled like roaches.
"What? Not open for business?"
"Finally found a place with good booze, and this happens. Bring out drinks and food if you wanna keep your eyes!"
Inside, the knights bullied the owner. As I turned my horse, the passerby grabbed me.
"Where you going? Don't get involved—nothing good comes of it. Just keep moving."
"Got questions for them."
"Stubborn..."
I tied my horse to a pillar and went in. The knights had claimed the biggest center table in the now-empty place. They stared as I entered but ignored me when I sat quietly in the corner.
From there, I observed them. They tossed filthy fur cloaks—worn who-knows-how-long—on the floor. Underneath, dark clothes stiff with crusted sweat on their shoulders. Weapons like swords and axes hung at their waists; they ditched cloaks and boots but never those.
The stench wafting from them reached even me. Knights? More like bandits.
The owner brought them a huge beer keg, then approached me warily.
"You here to eat...?"
"Strongest liquor you've got. Can't stand the smell."
He brought neat rum. Sipping it, the harsh bite cut through the stink somewhat.
Meanwhile, the knights cracked the keg, filling big mugs.
"Hey! Sides still coming? Hurry up!"
I nursed my rum, eavesdropping silently. They spewed vulgar filth no civilized person would utter. Gave a good sense of Benson barony's culture.
Soon, a waitress brought whole roasted chickens. As she set plates down and tried to flee, one grabbed her waist.
"Kyaaah!!"
"Ow, ears hurt. Why so hasty?"
"Let go...!"
They snickered; one groped her ass.
"Firm butt—good for popping out kids."
She twisted free, sobbing, and fled to the kitchen.
"Fucking bitch... pricey."
One gnawed a drumstick bare-handed.
"That girl dragged to the fief yesterday. Pretty tasty-looking, huh?"
I focused.
"Shut up. Baron said hands off."
"Saving her for himself? Glasses his type?"
Hm... glasses...
The knights guffawed.
"Idiot, no. She's an official. The guys who nabbed her got wrecked. Why kidnap a bureaucrat?"
"Just release her then."
"Think she'd stay quiet? Runs to the capital tattling about Benson thugs kidnapping her—war."
I set down my glass and stood. Knew what I needed.
They turned as I approached.
"Who the fuck are you?"
"Where's the woman."
"Huh?"
They exchanged baffled looks.
"What retarded shit? Go drink nicely!"
"The official. In the lord's castle?"
"Why you care? Her husband?"
As one rose, I pinned his shoulder hard.
"Urk...!"
He slammed face-first into the table, unable to resist. Beer mugs toppled, spilling everywhere.
"Fuck...!"
The rest kicked back chairs, drawing swords and axes.
"Who the hell are you? Know who we are?"
"Tell me where the woman is. You have five seconds."
I pressed harder; he screamed.
"Aaaah!! Shoulder! Shoulder!"
The others hesitated at the agony.
"One, two, three, four."
"Aaaah!! Lord's castle! Underground dungeon! Fuck! It hurts!!"
Works every time. I released; he crumpled sideways, clutching his shoulder, curled shrimp-like, trembling.
I passed the stunned knights to the empty counter, leaving rum money since the owner had fled.
Then, shouts and a table crashing behind.
"Kill him!"
I spun, dodging the lead guy's axe blade and shoulder-checking his chest.
"Kwegh!"
He flew across the hall to the kitchen door with a weird noise.
"Kyaaah!!"
The waitress inside shrieked. I yanked a hesitating knight's wrist, elbowing his jaw. It shattered; he drooled, howling nonsense.
I deflected a incoming sword, shin-kicking another.
"Uwaaaah!"
His shin folded backward; he hopped, collapsing.
The rest blanched, backing away. Trapped since I blocked the door.
Tastes good. That refreshing thrill of thrashing clueless villains.
"Stay put."
I strode to the cornered, huddled knights.
Screams, groans, cracking bones...
Soon, the interior was redecorated. Human chandeliers, frames, stairs, carpets. Surveying the broken knights strewn about, I added a gold coin to the counter—for the wrecked table and chairs.
"Good rum. Heading out."
I mounted and galloped east toward Benson barony plains.
In the dim predawn, Baron Benson's castle loomed as a dark shadow ahead. Fitting for a barony, it was wooden—not stone—with log walls.
Still near night, only torchlight from guards flickered; most lay in darkness.
Beaten the knights' info out of them: Hildeva was here. But no calling in guards—that'd be declaring war on the nobility without ironclad proof.
So I came alone.
Approaching the gate slowly, spearmen blocked me.
"Halt!"
"Here to see Baron Benson."
"Don't care who—don't wanna get skewered, scram! Baron's sleeping!"
"Tell him it's about the imprisoned official; he'll wake."
"Crazy bastard. Whip's the cure."
Bored guards advanced eagerly, gripping spears.
"Let's keep it civil. Wake the baron—good for me, no injuries for you."
"Bullshit. Why not leave nicely? Kill a stray like you in the fief—no one notices."
I sighed, dismounting. Knew it wouldn't go smooth.
Baron Benson jolted awake in his bedroom to screams outside. Rising, his chamberlain called urgently.
"What is it?"
"Some lunatic at the gate...!"
From the gate tower, torchlight revealed scattered guards below. A man knelt one before him, looking up.
He twisted the spear in the guard's thigh; a scream erupted.
"Who's that?"
"No idea! Showed up demanding you...!"
"Alone?"
"Yes. No others."
The baron counted the downed guards. Alone? What the hell? Neighboring fief assassin? Nah—too brazen.
"What now?"
"Shoot him."
At the baron's cold order, a soldier crossbowed the man. What followed left the baron gripping the railing in shock.
"N-No way...!?"