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29. Childhood Friend – Overseas Travel

“I’m sorry, but I can’t accompany you.”

Rejected again.

Leo wandered around the city in front of the gate, looking for a merchant group to cross the border with, but everyone turned him down.

To cross the border, one had to undergo strict inspections, and Leo, who was in no position to reveal his identity, couldn’t get through alone.

He was registered as a lord’s subject under Duke Gaidan, and it was illegal for a lord’s subject to leave the territory without permission.

Since Demos Village was so small, as long as they paid taxes regularly, the lord didn’t pay much attention.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a problem to leave the village at will, but that was only possible as long as he didn’t leave the country.

Leo had obviously not sought permission and, not to mention, was running away after committing murder, so he had no legal way to cross the border. A proper merchant group wouldn’t have traveled with someone whose identity was questionable.

This was an issue that couldn’t be resolved even if he registered as a mercenary. Mercenaries also have those with confirmed identities and those without. Mercenaries with uncertain identities had to be guaranteed by their mercenary group to cross the border.

Leo glared resentfully at the tall gate in the distance and turned away.

“Looks like it’s illegal again…”

He had to cross the border through illegal routes.

He had no choice but to either avoid the gate or bribe the guards to pass through, but the first option was risky. Obviously, if he crossed the border haphazardly, he would be attacked by the guard or a ranger.

After much deliberation, Leo chose bribery. This was safer, but directly giving a bribe to the gate guards would cost too much money, so he searched for a back alley.

A family engaged in illegal activities must have some way to pass through the gate.

He called over a tough-looking thug in front of a warehouse. Now he could pick out a leader-level thug at a glance, and the thug treated Leo carefully upon that natural selection.

“Smuggling, huh? It’s not hard to help, but I need some money in return.”

“I only have this much.”

Leo emptied his pockets.

But the thug, looking at the few silver coins in his palm, laughed as if it was far too lacking.

“Don’t you have anything more? That horse behind you, is it yours?”

“…That seems a bit excessive.”

“Just return a reasonable amount.”

“Since you’re crossing illegally too, shouldn’t the fee be cheaper? Cut me some slack.”

“Not gonna happen.”

With his cold response, Leo had no choice but to make a deal. He insisted that he would deliver the horse upon arrival.

“Are you planning to escape on horseback?”

“No. I’ll hand it over as soon as we reach the village beyond the border. I don’t want to walk all the way there. Can’t you just take what I’ve got? What good will it do to run away without a dime? I’ll have to sell the horse anyway. Since I don’t have a permit, it would be better to take the money you offer.”

“Hmm… Also hand over that two-handed sword. Then I might consider it.”

“…That’s harsh.”

Leo unsheathed his sword and threatened.

“If you think you can take my weapon and do something to me, you’re in for a nasty surprise.”

“Aah, don’t worry. We don’t plan on fighting someone with a two-handed sword while riding a horse. We don’t treat you like a slave either.”

“Good.”

Thus, he got involved with the illegal arms merchant group.

Recently, families dealing in weapons were thriving due to the war.

This family from the Orun Kingdom sold weapons, but they sold for a much higher price in the Holy Kingdom.

The Holy Kingdom was located between both warring kingdoms, so naturally, they would transport weapons to the place offering higher prices, which was illegal. The Holy Kingdom had declared neutrality and prohibited the import and export of weapons.

However, the families were grateful in return. With the closest country to the battlefield banning weapon transfers, prices soared.

Even if it resulted in a death sentence, it was common in the world if money was involved.

As long as you didn’t get caught.

A few days later, the merchant group’s wagon disguised as a family successfully passed through the Orun Kingdom gate.

The wagon was loaded with various weapons and armor, pressing down on the soft ground, but thanks to the bribes, there were no inspections.

Leo, having no weapons himself, acted like a mercenary guarding the wagon as he drove the horses.

[ Achievement: First Overseas Travel – Slightly increases movement speed near the border. ]

As the achievement appeared, Audi’s steps grew lighter, and Leo happily stroked her mane.

If he traveled just one more day, there would be the gate to the Holy Kingdom, and once he crossed it and reached the village beyond, he would be successful. This family must have also bribed the Holy Kingdom gate.

He felt relaxed. It was a shame to part with Woody, but the thought of seeing Lena once they reached the capital excited him.

She would probably be surprised. He could easily picture her flailing her hands, asking how he ended up here.

‘Should I call her Priest when we meet and bow in respect?’

Thinking about how she would get flustered made him unable to contain his amusement.

Throughout the journey, Leo had managed to put his lingering feelings aside. Lena was now a good friend to him. After all, it was meaningless to consider marriage at this point, but he was happy that he hadn’t obstructed her dreams this time.

As he thought about their meeting with a smile, the merchant group suddenly came to a halt.

The not-so-wide road crossing the vast plains was blocked by dozens of soldiers.

“We’re conducting a checkpoint inspection. Coaches, please dismount and get ready for inspection.”

The unexpected situation caused a stir among the merchant group. A thug urgently tried to offer a bribe, but the soldier who seemed to be the leader cleared his throat and refused to accept it.

“What should we do, Captain?”

“…What do you think? If we get inspected, we’ll lose everything and end up in prison. There are only thirty of them. Attack.”

With the captain’s resolute command, the thugs disguised as mercenaries and drivers moved forward, weapons drawn.

In an instant, the atmosphere grew tense.

“If you don’t put down your weapons immediately, we will have no choice but to attack.”

The soldier in front warned, but the thugs acted as if they hadn’t heard.

The numbers were vastly unequal. Though the trained soldiers had strong organization, in small-scale engagements like this, sheer numbers were key.

However, having already failed at smuggling, the merchant group had no choice but to turn back.

‘We can’t go back like this…’

What a stroke of bad luck. Leo anxiously bit his nails as he watched the clash between the thugs and the soldiers.

But the situation deteriorated even further.

Emerging from behind the press of soldiers was a knight clad in armor, and Leo lost the last flicker of hope he held onto.

A holy knight, adorned in brilliant armor and bearing the insignia of the Cross Church, raised his sword and shouted.

“Oh God! Remember the wicked!”

The thugs facing the soldiers were taken aback.

“What the hell! Why is a holy knight here?!”

With the holy knight’s shout, a faint mark appeared above the thugs’ heads. The mark of the Holy, a sacred invocation usually performed by holy knights before battle.

Only those who had committed wicked deeds would have the mark, allowing the holy knight to distinguish between friend and foe.

Naturally, every thug bore the mark, and the holy knight offered no mercy to the wicked.

“Attack!”

With his shout, the soldiers fiercely charged at the discouraged thugs.

Observing the situation from the back, Leo quickly assessed it and yanked the reins of Woody.

This was a fight they couldn’t win. That holy knight alone could take on half the thugs.

So the best move was to slip away while they were busy.

With a troubled heart, Leo made his decision.

If he returned to the Orun Kingdom like this, he would certainly be caught at the gate, and the same would apply at the Holy Kingdom gate. He had to forcefully break through the border.

As Leo urged Woody into the brush, a mark appeared above his head.

*

The Monastery Church welcomed a significant guest.

The entire church buzzed with excitement due to the extraordinary new student.

“…You may proceed. Lodging and meals will all be provided here, but if you wish, you may go out in the evening. However, if you are staying out overnight, you must…”

In the presence of a young and handsome blonde noble, the noble yawned widely. The priest explaining in front of him slightly faltered, but Gilbert apologetically shrugged him off.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I apologize, but I read it all in the booklet on the way here. I’m a bit tired from my long journey, so I beg your pardon.”

The earnest priest feigned a mistake and redirected the focus to the surroundings.

“No, no, it’s my fault. I rushed through something that you could take your time with. I will be sure to share anything related to life here, anytime. Let me show you to your room first.”

Gilbert followed the priest to his room.

However, contrary to the grand hospitality, he was greeted by a narrow and desolate chamber.

Gilbert had hardly ever even been in a room like this, let alone used one.

When had he ever been to such a small room? Perhaps when he had charmed a pretty young servant? Even then, those small rooms had their charms. He had enjoyed the feeling of being trapped in a small, confined space.

But now he was expected to live in this room. Gilbert Forte’s expression shriveled slightly, though he quickly masked it with a smile, reassuring the priest that he liked the room.

Once the door closed, he surveyed the cramped space once more.

Nothing to see.

“Ugh, I should’ve just gone to war instead.”

His father had forced him to make a choice.

In the upcoming war with the Austin Kingdom, he had to either take part or stay at the Monastery Church for several years; it was an either-or command, and Gilbert chose the church.

Gilbert Forte, a noble in the heavenly hierarchy, had no desire to experience the chaos of battle.

His swordsmanship was mediocre. He was nothing like his father, the Swordmaster, and if he went to war, it was obvious he would be compared to him.

And that was the last thing Gilbert wanted.

So he chose the church. His father was disappointed once again, but what could he do? He had no talent for such things.

He plopped down on the narrow bed.

They said there was no need to bring his belongings… If he had packed his things, it would have been a disaster. To gather his clothing, a dozen of these rooms would not suffice.

Gilbert couldn’t help muttering in frustration.

“Because of that princess!”

He felt wronged.

It wasn’t my fault! She was the one who asked me for a kiss first to avoid others’ gazes.

Of course, Gilbert didn’t refuse. A true gentleman never turns down a lady’s request.

Instead, he went so far as to pull the princess into an embrace, teasing the prince standing in front of him.

At the time, he thought the princess was merely displeased with the Crown Prince of the Austin Kingdom.

He never thought she might have feelings for him.

He had his pride. What could a beautiful and virtuous princess possibly want with him, the infamous lecher from the Belita Kingdom?

It was probably just a useful line to use against the prince.

The Crown Prince of Austin, Anolf de Klaus, saw that scene and left in anger, and thereafter, it seemed Gilbert Forte and Princess Chloe de Tatalia never spoke again.

That kiss turned into a huge scandal, but nothing came back to Gilbert.

After all, the prince was just another person from another kingdom. There was no way he could harm him, and even if a war broke out, it wouldn’t involve him. The most magnificent Swordmaster, his father, would handle everything.

He faced a scolding from his father for the incident and spent a few days in confinement. And for kissing the one and only princess of the kingdom, he thought this was a fair price to pay.

At that time.

The problem came after when the princess did her next act. Princess Chloe, seemingly wanting to stir things up further, sparked a scandal with that guy, Toton Tatian.

The political arena froze.

Toton Tatian was the son of Marquis Benard Tatian, the leader of the royalist faction.

The political landscape of the Belita Kingdom was divided between the Swordmaster faction, centered around Count Hermann Forte, and the royalist faction, led by Marquis Tatian, called the ruler of the west.

The king had long since withdrawn from political affairs and kept silent, resulting in the Swordmaster faction, which held military power, gradually taking over all authority and pushing the royalist faction into a corner.

Had the Marquis Tatian not pulled the centrists into a delicate balance, the princess’s sudden actions would have been meaningless.

Yet amid the precarious balance, the scandal sparked by the princess had significant implications.

She had prodded the sons of both faction leaders, openly sowing discord between the two wary factions.

Nobles whispered that the king was using the princess to create a pretext for removing the Swordmaster faction.

Gilbert grumbled as he opened the window.

Although he had no interest in political affairs, Count Hermann Forte took this matter seriously.

The Count was determined to show his son being kicked out of the capital by any means necessary. This way, the royalists would read their gestures and back down.

And so, without any real persuasion, Gilbert found himself being sent here.

Me, the notorious wastrel of Belita, entering an educational facility of the Cross Church as a student!

Absurd.

Gilbert looked out the window.

All he could see was decor related to faith, and all the people walking around moved reverently, careful with their steps.

The hymns he could hear were all praises.

‘I’ve really come to the most boring place in the world.’

He let out a sigh.

He thought himself to be the most unfortunate person in the world.