Chapter 53

Chapter 53. Rotenfeld Great Castle (1)

Feldraum, the largest city even within the County of Rotenfeld and the center of Count Rotenfeld’s domain, was extremely lively. Rumors had spread far and wide that Heinrich, the legitimate son of Count Rotenfeld, who had led the ancient ruins Expedition Team, was returning after achieving a great merit.

It was an astonishing achievement—he had crushed the Black Tower’s conspiracy and returned safely!

Because of this, a grand entry ceremony was held in Feldraum.

“Long live Young Master Heinrich!”

“The Red Hawk of Rotenfeld!”

The citizens of Feldraum cheered as they called Heinrich’s name, and Heinrich, having moved onto a horse, responded to the citizens’ cheers on both sides with a fairly dignified bearing.

Then what was Balun doing at this moment, when everyone was shouting Heinrich’s name and cheering the return of a hero?

‘Wow, look at all those people.’

He was inside the carriage, watching the immense crowd beyond the window.

Balun was currently riding alone inside the carriage. That was because Heinrich had mounted a horse before entering Feldraum.

It was because responding to the citizens’ cheers from horseback was a better performance than sitting shut inside the carriage. Thanks to that, Balun could freely look around the city without receiving anyone’s gaze.

For Balun, it was truly an enormous relief.

If he had been riding in the carriage with Heinrich, he would have received the gazes of countless people all at once.

‘It is really wide. This city seems even bigger than Pordel.’

People were shouting Heinrich’s name and cheering from every direction, but to Balun, sightseeing around the city was far more interesting than all that.

‘I wonder how much the houses cost. They are probably more expensive than Pordel too, right?’

Pordel had also been larger in scale than Milford. But Feldraum looked even wider than Pordel.

On top of that, the quality of the houses seemed much better. Two- and three-story houses were standard, and four- or five-story houses could be seen quite often as well.

‘If it is a house in a central area like this, would it cost more than three hundred gold at the very least?’

The house in a remote area on the outskirts of Milford had cost around one hundred gold, and a house near Pordel’s walls was around one hundred fifty gold. Buildings in the city center exceeded two hundred fifty gold.

If the housing prices in Pordel were already like that, he guessed that housing prices in Feldraum, a more prosperous city, would be even higher.

‘Is three hundred gold too low? Would it be around four hundred? Even in Seoul, housing prices varied wildly, so it should be the same here too.’

While Balun was thinking such things, the procession had already crossed the city and was climbing a winding hill.

When the cheers suddenly diminished, Balun poked his head slightly out the window. He saw a large castle atop the hill.

‘That must be Rotenfeld Great Castle.’

Rotenfeld Great Castle. The heart of the Rotenfeld Family, and the enormous fortress ruled by Count Rotenfeld.

“Wow.”

Seeing it made Balun’s mouth open on its own.

The castle walls formed as if they covered the hill were simply too magnificent.

And what about the winding river that seemed to wrap around that hill?

It was the sort of scene that made him want to pick up a camera at once and take a dozen or so photos.

“Sir Knight. There is something I want to ask.”

Balun poked his head out the carriage window and asked the knight walking beside him. He was not one of the three knights who had been part of the Expedition Team, but an unknown knight who had joined midway.

“What is it, Barbarian?”

“How much would it cost to buy that castle?”

“What?”

“It is very large, so it must be expensive. Would it cost around ten thousand gold?”

At Balun’s question, the knight’s expression turned absurd. Buying a castle? What kind of ridiculous question was this?

“Hmm, no. It must be more expensive. Since it has a river view, after all. Around twelve thousand gold?”

“To think you would dare speak of buying the heart of Rotenfeld with money. Do you even know how absurd what you are saying is?”

The knight lowered his voice. Balun spoke calmly.

“What is impossible about it? America bought that huge landmass with money too.”

“If you are going to spout strange nonsense, do not speak to me in the first place, Barbarian. I disliked you from the beginning.”

“You are strict.”

“Consider yourself lucky. If the young master had not protected you, I would have cut off your head for irreverence. Do you know how grave a crime it is for a mere commoner to speak casually to a sword of Rotenfeld?”

“What are you talking about? Balun is being as polite as possible.”

“That is what you think.”

The knight growled coldly and turned his head away. Balun awkwardly shrugged his shoulders.

Among this large-scale procession, only Heinrich and the three knights from the Expedition Team—four people in total—were friendly to Balun. Everyone else reacted coldly.

Well, he did not particularly care. Had he come here to be welcomed? He had come to receive his reward.

In only five seconds, the knight’s warning vanished from Balun’s mind.

What was a man like him going to do by warning him?

The young master of this family was protecting him.

‘I want to have a castle like this too. If I built something like a Magic Tower on top of a castle just like this, it would be the icing on the cake.’

Each time Balun saw a rare sight, his dream grew more concrete.

‘When I make a lot of money later, I must buy a castle like that. Then I will live proudly and comfortably, without envying anyone.’

While Balun added another dream to his bucket list, the procession had already entered Rotenfeld Great Castle and arrived at its destination.

“Get down, Barbarian.”

“Here?”

“Do not talk back insolently. Just get down quickly. This place is the heart of Rotenfeld. I will not tolerate any more backtalk.”

At the knight’s threat, Balun got down without complaint. He felt a little offended by the casual insults that were thrown at him, but he had no intention of deliberately causing a dispute.

What madman would fight with nobles?

Balun got down from the carriage and was patting off his sweat-dampened backside when he saw Heinrich, who had been talking to someone, bringing that person over toward him.

He was a man who looked to be in his mid-to-late forties. Judging by the breastplate he wore, he seemed to be a knight.

“Haha. Uncle. This is the man. He is the hero who saved my life and also the hero who saved the Expedition Team.”

“This Barbarian, you mean?”

“Yes. Balun the Barbarian. A very reliable Warrior. Ah, right. Balun. You should greet him too. This is my uncle, Sir Werner von Rotenfeld. My uncle is the sword that leads the Rotenfeld Knight Order and the sturdy shield that protects Rotenfeld. He is someone I truly like.”

Balun felt rather uncomfortable at the sudden introduction.

‘Why are you introducing your uncle to me, a mere mercenary?’

Was this not like introducing a temporary contract worker at one’s company to one’s own uncle?

That was how abrupt it felt.

There was no reason for it either.

He was utterly bewildered, but he hid his thoughts and introduced himself.

“I am Balun, a Warrior of the Red Fang Tribe. I am the son of Senior Warrior Ktam and Senior Warrior Rana, the youngest candidate for Greatest Warrior, and the youngest candidate for chieftain.”

He also bowed his head. If the man looked to be in his forties, even if he looked old for his age, he was probably in his mid-to-late thirties at the youngest, which was more than old enough to be like a father to Balun. As someone from the Eastern Nation of Courtesy, it was naturally right to show respect.

Well, even without that fact, Balun always showed courtesy to anyone and everyone. It was just that, to others, he looked like an extremely rude Barbarian.

As expected, Balun’s rough way of speaking the common tongue was enough to offend a noble.

“You speak quite curtly.”

“Please be generous and overlook that, Uncle. It is because he is not fluent in our language.”

Heinrich quickly intervened and calmed Werner’s anger.

“Though he is rough and crude, he is a very genuine man. Unlike those other mercenary riffraff, he understands loyalty.”

“Since you go that far, I shall let it pass.”

Werner hid his anger and looked Balun up and down. Seeing Balun’s broad, solid body, Werner let out a small sound of admiration.

“Barbarian. Your Muscles and Bones are remarkable. It seems you trained diligently.”

“I trained diligently.”

“What is your skill level? Have you awakened the sword?”

“Balun uses an axe, not a sword? Of course, Balun is good with a sword too.”

When Balun said that, Werner frowned.

“Perhaps because you are an ignorant Barbarian, conversation with you is impossible.”

“Commander. One moment. I will explain.”

Roton, who had been behind him, quickly approached and whispered.

“Balun. The commander is not asking whether you have awakened the sword. He is asking about the realm of your martial arts.”

“Realm?”

“Yes. I told you before, did I not? About the realms of martial arts.”

“Ah, yes. You did.”

Balun nodded. Roton’s explanation made him remember. It was about the sword realms recognized in this world.

There were distinctions like Sword Beginner, User, Expert, Sword Master, and so on, and Balun had understood them as something similar to game tiers.

“Usually, when someone reaches Expert-rank, people say that they have awakened the sword, even if only slightly. In other words, the commander is asking whether you are Expert-rank or above.”

“I see.”

Balun nodded. Only then did he understand.

‘He is asking my tier.’

Come to think of it, when meeting someone who played the same game, it was only natural to ask their tier first.

“Balun is unranked.”

“Un, what?”

Balun realized his mistake. He had spoken whatever came to mind without thinking.

Of course they would not understand if he said it that way.

“Balun cannot use Aura.”

“What?”

Werner’s brow creased.

“You mean you do not know how to handle Aura?”

“That is right.”

“At all?”

“I said that is right.”

“Ha.”

Werner let out a hollow laugh and muttered softly.

“Now that I see you properly, you were only impressive on the outside.”

Soon, his eyes narrowed.

The slight warmth that had been visible in his gaze disappeared, turning into a cold stare.

It was the same for the knights around him.

“No wonder your muscles are impressive. So that was the reason. You must have had to do whatever you could to survive.”

“That is right. Balun trained hard to survive. Balun swung an axe every day and exercised every day.”

“Yes. Keep working hard. In this harsh world, you must at least struggle if you want to survive.”

“Thank you.”

Balun answered innocently and thought.

‘What? He even gave me words of encouragement. He is a good person. He looks terribly strict, like he would only say harsh things.’

For some reason, Balun’s mood improved.

Even the people of his own tribe had not acknowledged his efforts, yet here in a distant foreign land, there was someone who recognized them!

Of course, that was Balun’s misunderstanding.

For Werner, it had been sarcasm. Balun had simply taken it exactly as it was.

It was likely because he was still not used to the refined speech and metaphorical word choice unique to nobles.

Besides, it was not even his native language.

“I hear there is a reward you must receive related to this commission.”

“That is right.”

“Yes. Receive your reward properly, rest well, and then leave. Poor Barbarian Warrior who struggles to survive.”

Werner continued.

“Rotenfeld is strict, but on the other hand, it is also generous. Even if one is an ignorant Barbarian, if he is a man who saved the noble blood of Rotenfeld, we can properly treat him for a day or two.”

“Thank you. You are a good knight. An excellent knight.”

Balun was in such a good mood that he returned the blessing.

At this, Werner, who was dumbfounded, hid his inner thoughts and turned his gaze away.

The interest that had dwelled in his eyes had already disappeared completely. Naturally, he had no interest to give someone who could not even use Aura.

“In any case, Heinrich. You truly did well. Thanks to you, the family head is extremely pleased.”

“It is merely an honor that I could raise the honor of the family.”

Heinrich paid his respects with a light bow.

Werner patted Heinrich’s shoulder.

“Haha. Yes. Go see the family head quickly. He must be waiting for you.”

“Yes.”

“You there. Someone come and prepare lodging for this Barbarian mercenary, and prepare a generous meal as well.”

Werner then gave orders to the servants passing nearby, but Heinrich shook his head.

“No, Uncle. I will take Balun with me.”

“What are you saying? You must go straight to meet the family head.”

“That is why I must take him with me. I am going to introduce Balun to Father.”

“What?”

Werner’s eyes widened at those unexpected words.

“What in the world do you mean? You are going to introduce him to the family head?”

“He is a remarkable man who not only saved me, but also saved the entire Expedition Team. Naturally, should I not introduce him to Father?”

“So you mean you will take him with you? A Barbarian mercenary?”

“Yes.”

Werner was soon dumbfounded.

“It seems my nephew was bewitched by a banshee during the expedition. Seeing that you are not in your right mind.”

“Do not worry. I am in my right mind. Completely sound, in fact. Haha.”

As Werner shook his head at his nephew’s answer, Balun was wondering inwardly.

It was something he had heard for the first time.

‘If he is the young master’s father, then that means Count Rotenfeld, right? The master of this family?’

In simple terms, he was like the king of this territory.

‘Why does he want to introduce me?’

Was there any reason for it?

‘Could it be that he is going to give me an incredible reward?’

Balun’s heart began to pound for no reason.

***

Thus, Balun followed Heinrich into the central castle, located at the highest point of Rotenfeld Great Castle.

In a hall as vast as a king’s audience chamber, he faced the master of Rotenfeld.

The current head of House Rotenfeld and the lord who led the present County of Rotenfeld.

Konrad von Rotenfeld.

The man, who had been sitting on a chair carved like a throne, sprang to his feet and welcomed his returning son.

“Father. Your son, Heinrich, has returned after exposing the Black Tower’s conspiracy.”

“Yes. You worked hard. It must have been very difficult, yet you did exceedingly well.”

“This was all thanks to the greatness of Rotenfeld.”

“Come here. Let me embrace you.”

Count Rotenfeld soon embraced Heinrich and patted him.

‘Oh, what is this? A father-and-son reunion.’

Their relationship as father and son seemed quite close.

After all, Heinrich naturally accepted that touch without rejecting it.

To Balun, it was unexpected.

Somehow, he had thought the relationship between father and son in a prestigious noble family would be bleak.

The father would be cold and severe, an iron-blooded ruler who judged his children only by ability.

The children would do nothing but fight with one another, causing family strife to erupt……

But it seemed that was not the case.

“By the way, who is this man? He appears to be a Barbarian.”

“He is the man who achieved the greatest merit in this Expedition Team. He is also the benefactor who saved my life.”

“This mercenary?”

“That is correct. He is a strong and brave Warrior.”

“Hmm.”

Count Rotenfeld looked Balun up and down.

“I thought it would be truly good if such an excellent Warrior became a strength to Rotenfeld, so I brought him here.”

His eyes narrowed at Heinrich’s words that followed.

“You thought it would be good if he became a strength to Rotenfeld. Do you mean we should employ him?”

“I wish to make this Warrior a knight of Rotenfeld.”

“What?”

Heinrich spoke while kneeling on one knee.

“Please grant your permission, Father.”

At this sudden request, Balun was more surprised than Count Rotenfeld.

‘Excuse me? A knight?’

Me?

‘Why?’