Chapter 54

Chapter 54. Rotenfeld Great Castle (2)

‘Is this some kind of hidden-camera prank?’

Balun thought that before he knew it. Even though he knew that something like a hidden camera did not exist in this world, the thought still came to him.

Otherwise, it made no sense.

What was so good about a mere Barbarian mercenary like him that anyone would think of making him a knight?

Even if he had saved his life.

‘No way. He must be joking. From the look of it, he seems close with his father.’

However, it did not take long for that thought of Balun’s to shatter.

Because he was watching the warm atmosphere break apart in an instant right before his eyes.

“You certainly know how to joke, my son.”

“It is not a joke.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“You pleased me until just now, and now you are making me flustered.”

“I knew you would be flustered. I also knew that it might make you quite displeased. But Father, please hear me out……”

“Heinrich.”

Count Rotenfeld’s voice sank low.

With an expressionless face, he asked, “Ever since you were very young, I taught you what meaning the name of Rotenfeld held. Do you perhaps remember?”

“Yes. I remember.”

“Tell me.”

“More than four hundred years ago, our Founder held back the Kingdom of Corint, which had been on the brink of collapse, with a single sword, and established the Rotenfeld Family upon the red fields dyed with the blood of foreign enemies. Since then, Rotenfeld has always served as the shield that stands on the front line and holds back the foreign enemies who constantly covet the kingdom.”

Heinrich continued.

“During those four hundred years, there were countless crises, but we never once failed to fulfill our role. Because we were never breached even once, Rotenfeld could be called the Shield of the Kingdom of Corint.”

“…….”

“You said that was the honor and pride of Rotenfeld, Father. In other words, Rotenfeld bears the meaning of an iron wall that does not budge no matter what shakes it.”

“Yes. You remembered well.”

“It is thanks to your excellent teaching, Father.”

“Then you must also know what meaning your request will be taken to have.”

“Yes. I know. That is why I am asking you to listen carefully to what I have to say……”

“No.”

Count Rotenfeld met his eyes steadily and shook his head.

“That is my only answer. I will pretend I did not hear what I heard today.”

“Father……”

“Go back. Rest, and come out in the evening. Let us have dinner as a family after so long. I gave instructions in advance to slaughter a young heifer, so we will be able to eat veal tonight.”

His words, murmured as if he were soothing him, were quite gentle. It was as though he had not even stored what he had just heard in his mind.

Soon, Count Rotenfeld’s gaze reached Balun.

“Barbarian mercenary. I must repay you as well.”

He opened his mouth in a calm voice that carried no anger.

“After all, not only did you save my son, you also achieved distinguished merit in the Expedition Team. I will compensate you sufficiently, so do not worry. No one will drive you out, so rest well for a few days, then go on your way.”

“I understand.”

Balun obediently nodded. Knight or whatever else, as long as he received his reward properly, there would be no problem.

A sigh of relief came out on its own. The atmosphere had grown rather menacing, but fortunately, nothing had happened.

One way or another, Balun’s highest priority was receiving his reward without any trouble and leaving. What reason was there to deliberately get involved in a noble family quarrel?

However, there was one thing he coveted.

‘I want to cut into a veal steak too.’

Balun smacked his lips.

The lean meat would probably be tender and delicious.

‘If I ask whether I can eat it too, I will probably get slapped, right?’

The urge to ask rose all the way to his chin, but he held it in. A person had to know how to read the room. How could he intrude on a family dinner?

“Do you have anything more to say?”

“No, Father. I will withdraw.”

“Yes. I will see you in the evening.”

Count Rotenfeld turned around. Heinrich looked at his back for a moment, then left the hall with his teeth clenched. Balun followed behind him while thinking, ‘Damn it. I wanted veal steak too…….’

***

On the way back after meeting Count Rotenfeld, Balun was following Heinrich through the long corridor inside the castle when Heinrich, who had been walking silently with his head lowered, suddenly opened his mouth.

“I am sorry. I wanted to gift you the title of a knight, but I could not.”

“Hmm?”

“But Balun, just wait and see. I will not give up.”

Balun blinked.

What kind of nonsense was this all of a sudden?

“There is one thing Father overlooked. I am of Rotenfeld blood. And the people of Rotenfeld are stubborn to a fault.”

Heinrich lifted his head.

He grinned.

To Balun, that smile somehow looked ominous.

He could not help asking.

“What is it that you will not give up on?”

“Of course, making you a knight of Rotenfeld.”

Balun barely swallowed the hollow laugh that was about to burst out in disbelief.

‘No, has this man gone mad?’

Why was he trying to fan a fire that had already gone out?

“I do not understand.”

“What do you not understand?”

“Why are you trying to use Balun as a knight?”

“What do you mean, why? I already told you. I said I would like a strong and brave Warrior like you to become a strength to Rotenfeld.”

“I heard your family is strong and large. It is strong even without Balun.”

“No matter how many talented people one has, there are always too few. I want there to be more knights in Rotenfeld. And I want all of them to be strong Warriors like you. Warriors like you, who know no fear, who are brave and experienced.”

Balun was dumbfounded. Good heavens, how could he say such absurd nonsense?

“That is not true. Balun is not brave. Balun is very fearful.”

“There is no use being so modest.”

No, it was true.

“I know. I saw just how remarkable you are.”

Heinrich recalled the past. The memory of the day when he had almost died while being chased by the assassins of Black Moon.

At that moment when death had reached his chin, Balun’s figure had appeared like a miracle and slaughtered them all. He had truly been a hero itself.

He felt as though he would never forget that sight for the rest of his life.

“Three knights of the Rotenfeld Knight Order, including Sir Roton, could not properly use their strength. But you were different. You broke through that difficult ordeal and saved us.”

“That was because of Mana Poison. The knights could not use their strength properly.”

“You were also poisoned by Mana Poison. But you were different.”

“No, that was……”

Balun trailed off. He had nothing to say in response.

What was he supposed to say? Should he say that he had an ability called the Enhancement Art, and that it had not been affected by Mana Poison, so it had not mattered?

“The night after you slaughtered around a hundred assassins and saved us, I thought deeply. I wondered what that difference was. And I found the answer.”

“What was the answer?”

“It was the person.”

“The person?”

“It means that the person called Balun himself is strong.”

Heinrich continued speaking seriously.

“I am not talking about flashy Aura, advanced swordsmanship, or technique. I am talking about your indomitable willpower and your powerful body that does not waver before any obstacle.”

“…….”

“Those are your weapons, weapons even the knights of Rotenfeld do not possess.”

Balun wanted to pour cold water over Heinrich’s serious face.

What kind of damned weapons was he talking about?

‘No, I want flashy Aura, technique, and advanced swordsmanship too.’

Balun felt wronged and miserable.

Because he had no flashy Aura, no technique, and no advanced swordsmanship.

“I believe that someone like you belongs in Rotenfeld. Rotenfeld will soar even higher, and you, too, will soar on Rotenfeld’s wings.”

Balun thought, What a truly self-centered way of thinking.

Should he not get the person’s consent first?

‘What if I do not want to?’

Of course, it would be good if they made him a knight, but such a sudden recruitment offer was quite bewildering even to Balun.

Should he not have enough time to think things through and weigh them properly?

How much salary would he receive, how many days off would he get, would lodging be provided, would they give him a uniform or would he have to bring his own, what were the welfare conditions like, and could he freely use annual leave?

Also, how difficult would the work be, how large was this organization, if he got employed as a knight, would he be treated as a soldier, would he have to participate in war during emergencies, and if he refused to participate in war, could he be summarily executed, and so on……

No matter how good the offer looked, Balun had no intention of accepting it blindly. Only by checking all those many matters carefully could he avoid regretting it later.

Who knew? Perhaps he would be tempted by the fine-sounding title of “knight of a great noble family” and accept it at once, only to discover that it was actually a completely rotten black company.

“I understand what you mean. But the Count was firm. It will be impossible.”

Of course, such things only had meaning when he was in a position to choose.

For now, he simply wanted to stop this stubborn young noble master from causing trouble.

“Balun. You never know whether something is long or short until you measure it. And I am the type who is not satisfied unless I measure it myself.”

“That sounds like the thinking of a troublemaker.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Do your best. I will support you.”

He quickly gave up persuading him.

‘This will not work. I give up.’

No one could persuade that man. How could anyone persuade him when his ears were blocked?

‘It probably will not work anyway. No matter how much he pleads, who will listen to him? Even if I were a noble lord, I would dislike a mere commoner Barbarian mercenary.’

Balun shrugged. He would hurry, unpack his belongings, and look around the castle. It was incredibly large, so there seemed to be plenty to see.

***

Roughly half a day later.

Around evening, when it was growing dark.

Balun had no choice but to regret how complacently he had thought Heinrich’s persuasion would not work anyway.

Because someone picked a fight with him.

In a way that even Balun could not ignore.

Of course, Balun was patient enough not to care about a fight someone tried to pick with him. In fact, no matter which city he went to, he usually let minor provocations pass.

However, there were cases even Balun could absolutely not overlook.

Was it because his honor was greatly insulted? Because they brought up the honor of the Red Fang Tribe? Or because they insulted his parents?

No. It was not anything like that.

It was because they overturned the food he was eating.

“You, come here. Are you the Barbarian called Balun?”

Food? Of course, it could be overturned. Balun would not scold someone over food spilled by mistake, nor would he get angry.

“Can you not hear me? Did I not tell you to come here?”

If it was overturned on purpose?

He would get angry, but even that was fine.

He could just receive more food and eat it again. It was not as though he had cooked it himself. It was food prepared by a chef.

If the purpose was to provoke him, that was actually better. Responding to the provocation itself was their aim. If he simply apologized neatly, or lowered his head and let it pass, there would be no reason for trouble to happen.

Balun was a man whose pride weighed extremely lightly, so that was possible.

But what if that food had been extremely delicious?

What if it was veal steak carefully cooked by a chef employed by a noble family, and that steak had even been part of the dinner menu for a great lord’s family?

Then the situation changed greatly.

“You bastard, it seems you do not think my words sound like words! How dare a mere stinking Barbarian mercenary ignore me, a knight of great Rotenfeld!”

CRASH!

“Ah…….”

Balun looked at the overturned food with a devastated expression.

The tender piece of meat had fallen onto the floor, spilling dark brown sauce in a thick pool, and beside it, various garnish vegetables were scattered messily as they absorbed dust.

‘My veal steak…….’

Balun could not say a word and merely stared blankly at the steak. Seeing that tender piece of meat, which would have bounced springily if he had poked it with a fork, covered in dust in an instant made him feel as though his heart had collapsed.

‘I did not even get to take one bite yet…….’

Balun felt like crying.

How had he obtained this precious food, which had been placed on the dinner table of a great lord’s family?

It was precious food he had barely managed to obtain after speaking up despite the embarrassment.

He had not taken a single bite.

He had only dipped his fork into the sauce and tasted it.

What was even more ridiculous was that the sauce had been as delicious as heavenly food.

Balun could be certain.

Food of that level was a high-class steak that could only be eaten at an expensive restaurant even on Earth.

‘Why do these bastards like overturning food so much?’

It had happened with the pork gukbap-flavored stew last time, and now it was happening again. These bastards here had no respect for food.

Dog-like bastards.

“Yes. Now you are finally listening. As expected, this was the right way. Beasts only obey when their food is controlled.”

“What is going on? Why did you overturn the meat?”

Was it because Balun spoke casually? The knight flinched. However, he did not get angry and instead chuckled.

“As expected of a Barbarian, you know nothing of manners. It cannot be helped. I will generously overlook it.”

Then he spoke.

“I heard that Lord Heinrich intends to make you a knight. I was so dumbfounded that words would not come out. Therefore, I will personally verify whether you have the qualifications.”

“You overturned it for just that?”

“Just that? Ha! What reason could be more important than that?” the knight curled a finger at  him. 

“Come out at once. Come out and pick up a sword. I will judge your skill.”

“Are you confident you can win?”

“What?”

“I asked whether you are confident you can win.”

The knight soon flinched. Because anger was visible in Balun’s eyes as he stared at him.