Ch#57
High-quality labor at a bargain price.
To Elric, Wolyeong was exactly that.
Even if their individual martial prowess couldn’t hold a candle to his own, and even if their pasts were far from clean, what did that matter?
To be blunt, Elric was the type who believed that utilizing every available tool was beneficial for both his circumstances and his peace of mind.
Moreover, the fact that their pasts were dirty—that they were assassins—actually made them more appealing.
‘They’ll serve as a more reliable defense against any assassination threats directed at my wife.’
If, by some slim chance, someone tried to assassinate Tiria while he wasn’t by her side, there was no one better suited to protect her than people of their ilk.
That was the reason for today’s meeting.
“Wife, these are the knights I’m bringing into the estate.”
Upon returning to the Portman mansion, Elric introduced Wolyeong to Tiria.
The members of Wolyeong were all loosely clad in leather armor.
“Greetings to the Madam.”
As Danal bowed his head, Tiria asked with a look of genuine surprise.
“You found them already? And five of them at once…?”
Was it too much for her?
A hint of hesitation lingered in her demeanor. Of course, it was an understandable reaction.
‘She probably expected one or two.’
Since she was a woman who put great effort into budget allocation, such an extravagant expenditure would naturally feel like a burden.
To that, Elric said, “They’ve agreed to accept low pay. They are all free knights who felt it was time to find a town to settle down in.”
“…Is that so?”
Doubt flickered in her eyes.
Elric directed a sharp wave of killing intent toward Danal’s waist.
It was a signal to do something, and Danal was quick to comply.
“Greetings! I am Dinan, a free knight from the West! I have traveled all this way to pledge my loyalty to the Lord and Madam!”
Thud!
Dropping to one knee as he shouted, he looked like a dependable knight to anyone watching.
He had a lean build, but that much was acceptable.
In fact, it was better this way. If he had been hulking and muscular, Tiria’s suspicions would have only deepened.
“…I am the mistress of Portman,” Tiria said, observing Danal before flinching slightly.
Her eyes narrowed. She even let out a small “Hmm.”
Elric’s body gave a sudden jolt.
“Haha, what is it…?”
A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Elric was incredibly tense, his heart thumping wildly for no reason, until Tiria gave her answer.
“It is nothing. I simply thought his face looked familiar.”
“E-Eh?”
Whish! Elric’s head snapped toward Danal.
Danal shook his eyes from side to side, a substitute for shaking his head. He looked as if he were pleading that this was their very first time meeting.
Was something going wrong?
Just as the thought occurred—
“Ah.”
Tiria’s eyes widened.
“I was wondering where I’d seen him. He looks just like that person who helped me with my makeup in the capital.”
“A-A-Ahaaa!”
Danal shouted at the top of his lungs.
Then—Slap!—he struck his forehead with his palm and stretched his lips into a wide, tearing smile.
“You’ve caught me!”
“E-Err?”
“That girl, Darcy, is my younger sister! In truth, I met the Lord through her! Isn’t that right, My Looord!”
At the exaggerated tone, Elric found himself nodding vigorously.
“Th-That’s right…!”
“I cannot express how fortunate I am to have met such a benefactor thanks to my sister! But do I really resemble her that much?”
“Well, your height and features are a bit…”
“Hahaha! Yes, Darcy has been quite distressed about her height since she was young! That is why she began learning the art of makeup, which led her to where she is today! Ah, it makes me so proud to see that child succeed enough to handle the grooming of noble lords and ladies!”
In that moment, Elric was deeply impressed.
‘A professional truly is different!’
A professional liar, a professional at disguise, and a professional at making excuses!
It was the kind of quick-witted improvisation expected of an assassin. Elric’s trust in Danal rose another notch.
“Regardless! I look forward to your guidance!”
Thud!
As Danal knelt, his subordinates behind him followed suit.
“We look forward to your guidance!!!”
Th-thud!
They slammed their knees down so hard it sounded like they were trying to shatter their joints.
Elric and Tiria’s gazes met. Elric gave a thin smile.
“Don’t they look reliable?”
“…Yes, very reliable indeed.”
There was a subtle hint of reluctance. Tiria didn’t seem to find them particularly trustworthy.
Regardless, the recruitment was ultimately a success.
The contract with Wolyeong was finalized in writing, and all that remained was the knights’ investiture ceremony and a few preparations for it.
“You did well. Your improvisation was excellent.”
Elric readily commended Wolyeong. Danal responded with a deep bow.
“It is all thanks to the Elder’s grace.”
“Haha, what did I even do?”
“Exactly.”
“Hmm?”
“…It is nothing.”
Had he misheard?
Elric scratched his ear and said, “First, we’ll need to procure full plate armor before the ceremony. We won’t go far… Yes, there is a master craftsman in Wibin who knows how to forge armor, so let’s pay him a visit.”
As he spoke, Elric felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
Old Man Herman of the smithy was the one who had been in charge of the equipment for Sir Sieg, the last knight of Wibin.
As a child, Elric had spent his days stopping by the smithy whenever he had time to admire the armor Herman had forged. The memory of those days suddenly resurfaced.
‘Hey, kid, you’re wearing out the armor just by looking at it.’
‘So what? I’m just checking out the armor I’m going to wear later.’
‘What do you mean, the armor you’re going to wear? Do you think becoming a knight is that easy?’
‘I can do it. I’m overflowing with talent!’
‘Who told you that?’
‘Master did!’
‘Good grief, what does that bandit know about anything?’
The old man had mostly grumbled, but thinking back, there were few people who had doted on him as much as Herman.
‘Here, eat this. Mern from the bakery baked it.’
‘What, a salt bread? I’m tired of these.’
‘If someone gives you something, just shut up and eat it! You have too many complaints!’
Elric felt a chuckle escape him as he thought of the man. He had heard that Herman was still running the smithy in the same spot.
“Then, let us depart.”
Elric immediately set out, leaning on his cane.
They rode in the carriage for about twenty minutes. After passing through the wheat fields and entering the village, they headed toward the outskirts, where the ramshackle smithy soon came into view.
Clang!
Clang!
The sound of iron being struck was a welcome one.
“Is it there?”
Danal asked skeptically, and Elric answered immediately.
“His skill is certain. In these parts, no one has crafted more suits of armor than the old man.”
As he spoke, Elric stepped inside the smithy.
“Old Man Herman!”
The metallic clanging stopped.
“Hmm?”
A gravelly, aged voice echoed.
Soon, a man as large as a mountain emerged from the back of the smithy. An old man with a messy beard and copper skin stained with black charcoal marks.
Old Man Herman’s eyes went wide.
“Kid?”
“It’s been a long time. I’ve come to visit far too late.”
“No, is it really that kid? Come here!”
Despite telling him to come over, Old Man Herman approached Elric himself and began patting him down all over.
Elric laughed heartily. It was because Old Man Herman was still taller than him. The man had to be well over two meters tall.
“Even though I’ve grown so much, I’m still smaller than you, old man.”
“Hoo…!”
A sigh escaped Herman’s lips.
“This brat actually came back alive and well…!”
Though he spoke as if he’d expected him to be dead, his eyes were full of warmth. He pulled Elric into a hug.
“Welcome back. Welcome back!”
Elric suddenly felt a sting at the tip of his nose.
“I’m glad to see you looking healthy.”
“Yeah, and you sound more like an old man than I do.”
“There are circumstances.”
“Bullshit comes in all seasons.”
It was a joyful reunion.
Old Man Herman’s smithy was exactly as Elric remembered it.
The anvil, the forge, and a little distance away, the workshop and dining table.
Elric sat at the table and said to Herman, “I’ve become the Lord here now.”
“You made such a fuss about becoming a knight, and you ended up a Lord instead.”
Was he a little disappointed? Elric gave a steady smile.
“What can I do? That’s just how things turned out. In exchange, I’ve recruited these fellows as my knights. I needed someone to craft their armor, so I came looking for you.”
Herman’s gaze shifted to Wolyeong. Narrowing his eyes to size up their builds, the old man spoke in a dissatisfied voice.
“Why are their builds like that? Are you sure you picked the right ones?”
“…I might look like this, but I can use a bit of mana, you know?” Danal said, sounding piqued.
Herman snorted.
“A knight needs a healthy body first. Why are you trying to rely on mana? Hey, kid, are you sure you picked these guys right?”
“I am, so don’t worry. I have a bit of an eye for people, you know.”
“If you say so, I won’t stop you, but…”
As he spoke, Old Man Herman smacked his lips and looked over Wolyeong once more.
It was at that moment.
“Grandfather! I’m back…”
A youthful voice rang out through the smithy.
Elric turned his head to identify the owner of the voice. In that instant, he froze stiff.
“Oh! Big brother Elric!”
“My grandson is here! Hey, kid, do you remember? He was four when you left, and look how much he’s grown.”
Herman’s grandson, Beron.
The child who was only four years old when he left. Now fifteen.
The information registered. But that was all.
Despite seeing a familiar face, a smile did not come to him. He couldn’t even offer a greeting. It wasn’t Beron’s fault.
‘Kasha!!!’
Over Beron’s face, the image of a child soldier was overlapping.
“…Hey, kid, why are you standing like that?”
Elric’s breathing grew shallow.
