Chapter 57

Chapter 57. Rotenfeld Great Castle (5)

While dueling George, Balun had assumed countless possibilities.

They were possibilities concerning what kind of result this incident might bring about.

He had carefully considered every conceivable possibility, but the current situation had not been among any of them.

This was why the future could not be known.

Who could have known?

Who could have known that the man who had picked a fight by overturning his food, and had even forced an unreasonable claim called re-verification, would change his attitude one hundred and eighty degrees like this?

“Stop crying now and dry your tears. It looks unsightly when a grown man cries like that.”

“I am all right now. Thank you. Whew.”

George rubbed his reddened eyes and let out a small sigh. A faint trace of regret was contained in that sigh.

“How utterly shameful. I showed you an ugly sight.”

“It was a little ugly. You cried like that when everyone was watching.”

He had cried for a full thirty minutes.

It was truly remarkable.

“No, not that. I mean my behavior.”

“Behavior?”

“All of it. All the unreasonable things I did to you. It was not the behavior of a man, nor the behavior of a knight. It was the behavior of trash. I am truly sorry. I asked you to stay because I wanted to say that.”

Balun suddenly grew curious.

Why was a man who had acted so venomously suddenly like this?

“Why bother apologizing? Is there any need to go that far? Our dispute ended with the duel.”

“I told you. I simply became ashamed of myself.”

“Are you reflecting on it?”

“Yes.”

George looked up at the sky as though recalling the past.

“When I heard that Lord Heinrich wanted to make you a knight, I felt my insides twist. I went straight to you and picked a fight. Because I thought that a mere Barbarian mercenary would dare take a knight’s position without effort.”

“…….”

“I felt angry and wronged. Do you know what I went through to climb to this position? It was a position I barely seized after swinging my sword as though I would die. And then some fellow appears who wants to take that position for free? Does that make sense?”

Hearing those words, Balun remembered what the unnamed maid had told him.

The rumor that George might be from commoner origins.

Those words seemed to overlap with George’s confession.

“I could not bear it. That was why I picked a fight with you. Even after losing, I could not accept it and forced my argument. That was neither the way of a man nor the way of a knight, but the behavior of trash.”

Hmm. It seemed he was indeed reflecting on it. Seeing how he was even revealing his inner thoughts.

“You certainly did seem like trash.”

“That is true. Hearing you say it hurts a little.”

“The truth is the truth.”

Balun opened his mouth while looking at the setting sun.

“But I think that can happen. Everyone makes mistakes and commits wrongs. What matters is admitting those wrongs and mistakes.”

“…….”

“If someone does not admit their wrongs and mistakes, that is irredeemable trash. But if they admit them, then they are redeemable trash.”

“…….”

“You are redeemable trash. So do not be discouraged. Improvement begins with admitting one’s wrongs. You can improve.”

At Balun’s words, George chuckled.

“You are the first person in the world I have seen comfort someone like that.”

“It is not comfort. I am stating the truth.”

“I will take back what I said. You have the qualifications to become a knight of Rotenfeld.”

At the sudden words, Balun’s eyes widened.

What abrupt nonsense was this now?

“You are stronger than I am. Moreover, you are a Warrior who knows honor. A strong Warrior who knows honor. There is no material more fitting to become a sword of Rotenfeld than that.”

“Are you suddenly praising me?”

“It is not praise. I am stating the truth.”

Balun narrowed his eyes.

This bastard was throwing the exact same words back at him, was he not?

“I think I understand why Lord Heinrich and the three knights protected you so fiercely. Before your skill, they properly saw the character of the person called Balun. The character of the true man called Balun, a man who knows honor.”

‘What nonsense is this now?’

He was thinking whatever he wanted and making a fuss about it.

“They must have thought that if you were such a person, even being a Barbarian would be no obstacle to entering Rotenfeld’s embrace.”

‘Is that praise or racial discrimination?’

Balun was about to say that, but held himself back.

“If someone like you became my comrade, it would certainly be good.”

“What?”

“It will be difficult to change the family head’s decision with the strength of a mere knight, but I will still lend my modest strength. I mean to help you become a knight of Rotenfeld. So be encouraged.”

“Balun did not particularly intend to become a knight.”

“What nonsense. A man who has no intention of becoming a knight understands a knight’s honor that well?”

No, it was true.

If they paid him a lot of money, he would at least consider it, but otherwise, why bother?

***

The duel between George and Balun spread through all of Rotenfeld Great Castle in an instant, causing an enormous reaction.

That was because no one had ever imagined that Balun would overwhelmingly defeat George.

Who was George? He was a self-made man who had become a sword of Rotenfeld with a single sword.

As George had obtained the title of a knight through nothing but his sword skill, without any backing whatsoever, his defeat held great implications.

“To think Sir George lost twice. That Barbarian must really have been strong.”

“It makes no sense. Did Sir George perhaps go easy on him?”

“Sir George said so himself. He said he did his best. He warned everyone not to find fault with that duel, saying there was no flaw in it.”

“Hmm, if Sir George went that far……”

“But does that make sense? He is a man who cannot even use Aura.”

“That is true.”

The castle quickly grew noisy. From the servants to the vassals, everyone talked about Balun, so naturally, the story had no choice but to enter Count Rotenfeld’s ears.

Thus, Count Rotenfeld summoned George.

“You called for me, my lord?”

“I called you because there is something I want to ask.”

“Yes. Please ask.”

George thought Count Rotenfeld would reprimand him, but the question that came from Count Rotenfeld’s mouth was far outside his expectations.

“I heard that Barbarian broke your sword, which had Aura gathered upon it. Is that rumor true?”

“Pardon? Ah, yes. That is correct. Balun’s axe broke my sword, which had Aura gathered upon it.”

“I also heard that the axe hummed and trembled fiercely.”

“That is correct.”

“Hmm.”

As Count Rotenfeld stroked his chin, George was seized by unease.

He worried that Count Rotenfeld might harm Balun.

Of course, as a knight, it was right for him to obey his liege’s decision, but the problem was that Balun had become something like a benefactor to him.

Balun was a grateful man who had revived his pride and honor, which had almost fallen off a cliff. George did not want Balun to be harmed. That made him open his mouth.

“M-My lord. You may have already heard, but the duel was extremely fair. Of course, Balun did use magic axes, but I also used Aura. A person who cannot use Aura used a means to oppose Aura, so this should rightly be called a fair duel.”

George bent one knee, offered a knight’s courtesy, and spoke.

“So, my lord. Please do not punish Balun. I ask this of you.”

George lowered his head. Immediately, the Count’s voice rang above him.

“You are wrong. Those are not magic axes.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“They are Ego Weapons.”

“E-Ego Weapons?”

George’s voice grew stiff. It was because he did know what Ego Weapons were.

Weapons that possessed egos. Treasures that could not be obtained even with money.

“Those axes are?”

“Yes. Moreover, what you heard was not some sinister trick, but the Weapon Cry of an Ego Weapon. And a very grand and powerful cry at that. In other words, it means you had no choice but to lose. The fact that it produced such a fierce Weapon Cry means he is a skilled person capable of awakening the Ego Weapon’s self.”

“I-I see. No wonder.”

George nodded blankly. If it had been before he fought him, he would not have accepted it, but he had now experienced a great realization. He could understand the Count’s words.

“Balun was certainly strong. He possesses enough skill to be the master of such treasures.”

“It seems that fellow stirred your heart quite a bit. To think you, of all knights, that unruly you, would make such a request of me.”

“I have no excuse.”

George bowed his head. Count Rotenfeld immediately waved his hand with a generous smile.

“It is all right. I am not trying to reprimand you. I am merely curious. Curious about the person called Balun.”

“If you are curious, in what sense……”

“A person who cannot even use Aura, yet awakens the ego of Ego Weapons and even communicates with them. This is like knowing how to run without even being able to walk, so how could I not be curious about the secret?”

Count Rotenfeld stroked his chin. Reading the interest flickering in his eyes, George asked,

“What are you thinking, my lord?”

“I am considering whether to use him or not.”

Count Rotenfeld looked toward the window.

“There is no reason to embrace someone without manners or skill. But if he lacks manners yet has skill, the story changes. It is worth considering.”

After saying that, Count Rotenfeld continued staring blankly toward the window for a while, then went on.

“I should test him once.”

“Pardon? By test, you mean……”

“Bring that Barbarian here. I will try entrusting him with a task.”

George looked up at Count Rotenfeld as he said that. Resting his chin on his hand, the Count opened his mouth, but there was no emotion on his face, so George could not read what he was thinking.

***

Balun felt strangely displeased. That was because he had been about to eat when he was suddenly made unable to.

Of course, the reason he could not eat was Count Rotenfeld’s summons, but even if Count Rotenfeld was the master of this place, Balun could not help feeling displeased when his meal was interrupted.

That was why Balun’s expression was sullen after he had been summoned to Count Rotenfeld’s office.

“Why did you call me?”

“I will state my business frankly. It seems this method will work much better on you.”

“Speak.”

“I intend to entrust you with a task. Do you have any intention of trying it?”

At Count Rotenfeld’s words, spoken with his characteristic relaxed smile, Balun’s displeasure vanished in an instant.

What was this? A commission? Then it was absolutely welcome!

Balun instantly equipped the smile of a salesperson desperately trying to secure a contract.

A commission from a great noble lord?

How could he possibly resist that?

“Oh, a task. Good. What is it?”

“Look at this map.”

Count Rotenfeld rose from his seat and pointed to one place on the map attached to a table in the corner. It was precisely a city located in the eastern part of the County of Rotenfeld.

“It is a city named Dunmore. A city in the east of my territory. Beside this city is a large mountain range, and bandits are lying in wait within that mountain range.”

“Bandits?”

“Yes. Reckless, naked brats, the lot of them.”

Count Rotenfeld then pointed to the mountain range marking beside the city and attached several red markers to it.

They were probably indicators for the bandits.

“You will go and subjugate these bandits.”

“What?”

Balun’s expression turned strange. Something felt odd.

He was suddenly being told to go subjugate bandits……

“There is something I want to know.”

“What are you curious about?”

“What does subjugate mean? Does it mean killing all the bandits? Or carrying out a specific mission? For example, capturing the boss or something like that?”

“Anything is fine. As long as those things disappear from my land, that is enough. Whether you kill them all or only kill the leadership, the method is up to you.”

“Why are you ordering Balun to do that? Can you not order your knights and soldiers?”

“That is because it is my desire. Is there a reason I must tell you that reason as well?”

Count Rotenfeld smiled gently after saying that. Balun did not hesitate.

“Then I will not do it.”

“You will not do it?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“That is Balun’s desire. Is there a reason I must tell you?”

At Balun’s words, Count Rotenfeld wore a blank expression for a moment, then burst into laughter.

“I think I understand why my son wants to make you his sword. You are very amusing. Very amusing. Haha!”

He laughed for a while, then stopped laughing and spoke.

“Very well. I will tell you. It is because I cherish my people.”

“Cherish.”

“Yes. I dislike consuming my people. Then I have no choice but to borrow outside strength. For example, a strong and brave Warrior like you.”

Balun nodded. When he put it that way, it made sense.

‘That is true. If soldiers die while subjugating bandits, that would be a loss. It must have taken a lot of time and money to train them.’

If even a knight died by some chance, that would truly be a great loss of fighting power.

“What, can you not do it?”

“No, I will do it.”

After turning it over in his mind, he concluded that accepting this was the right choice.

It was probably not an easy mission, which was why he was being given the commission, but he had also grown stronger by that much. Strong enough to defeat a knight.

Compared to before, Balun’s confidence had visibly increased. If he was careful, bandits were something he could handle well enough.

He had killed all those assassins in the middle of the night, so why would he be unable to catch bandits?

“Then it is settled. Go at once. I will look forward to news of your success.”

“No.”

Balun opened his palm.

“Before that, you have to give me the pay.”

“The pay?”

“Yes. How much will you give me? Since you are a Count and all, you will give a lot, right?”

“I will give you the title of a knight.”

“What?”

“I will give you the qualifications to become my knight. What do you think?”

Count Rotenfeld looked at Balun with a confident smile.

But for some reason, Balun’s expression was sullen.

As if he were full of dissatisfaction.

“Is that the end?”

“What?”

“There is no money?”

“It is an honorable opportunity to become my knight. What more would you need?”

Balun let out a hollow laugh. Had this man gone mad?

“Are you joking right now? This is something I might not do even if you gave me a lot of money, and you are saying you will not give me money?”

Balun soon shook his head.

“I cannot do it like that. Give me money too. Otherwise, negotiations are broken.”

“……You are insolent.”

“Do you dislike it? If you dislike it, then forget it. Balun does not care even if he does not do it.”

At that firm attitude, a thin crack passed over Count Rotenfeld’s expression, which had remained unwavering until then.