Chapter 6

# Chapter 6: Tin Knight and the Knight’s Page

It took about two hours for the Tin Knight to return.

Dorothea was contemplating whether to eat the jerky and dried fruit in hand when her eyes sparkled at the roasted meat the Tin Knight brought.

“Been gone for a while and thought something was off. Did you make this yourself?”

[‘Tin Knight’ gives a thumbs up!]

A faint smile appeared on Dorothea’s lips.

If they had just finished hunting and were only starting to prepare the meal, Dorothea wouldn’t have been able to wait any longer. But since it was already complete, that changed everything.

Where exactly he finished cooking was a mystery, but she didn’t dwell on it too much.

After all, she could easily start a fire if need be, so she assumed the knight in front of her managed somehow.

[‘Tin Knight’ urges her to taste it before it gets cold!]

The Tin Knight offered up the meat.

Even though she had to use the bone as a handle without a proper plate, the warmth was surprisingly decent for outdoor food.

“I’ll have a taste.”

After upholding basic manners and greeting, Dorothea took a bite of the meat.

The flavor that spread in her mouth was something else.

“Ugh!”

[‘Tin Knight’ is taken aback!]

“I’m more shocked! What is this flavor!?”

Dorothea screeched.

It was a pretty justified reaction, really.

No blood removed. No skin taken off. No foul smell cleared. No fat trimmed. No seasoning.

At this point, the meat was almost a disaster for cooking. Plus, he swung it around like a club trying to take down thieves, so there were bruises everywhere.

After slicing off the charred skin and surface, all she was left with was the insides, which didn’t help much.

The unimaginable stench mixed with the char also created the worst flavor imaginable in the dry meat.

[‘Tin Knight’ slumps his shoulders!]

“No, this just can’t be me being at fault, right?”

After shooting him a bewildered look, as if he were the hero of a tragedy, Dorothea was about to pull out her emergency rations when suddenly…

Amidst the murmuring, a group of people holding torches began approaching Dorothea and the Tin Knight from a distance.

“Excuse us. May we have a word?”

Leading the way was a blonde woman who cautiously raised her hands as she spoke.

Dorothea narrowed her eyes.

“State your identity and intentions.”

At her cold voice, the other women in the group flinched in fear.

The exception was the blonde woman.

“I am Roni Locksley. I gained my freedom thanks to the knight here while being sold off to slave traders. The rest of my party is in a similar situation.”

“…What have you been doing?”

[‘Tin Knight’ claims he took care of the slave traders while they were at the campfire!]

Dorothea sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

How she perceived this, Roni hurriedly continued speaking.

“I swear it’s not a lie. I tried to speak to the knight here, but he gave no answers.”

Dorothea could roughly guess the situation.

Since she could hear the “voice of guidance,” she could grasp the Tin Knight’s thoughts or intentions, but to outsiders who couldn’t hear it, he must have looked like a silent doll, or rather, a knight.

An unidentified knight took down all the slave traders at a campsite at midnight and vanished without saying a word, so it was no wonder the women were confused.

‘Wait a second. So did he roast this meat right after killing the slave traders?’

Dorothea stared intently at the Tin Knight.

[‘Tin Knight’ asks what’s on his face!]

Dorothea sighed again.

She reaffirmed to herself that she shouldn’t expect normal behavior from the Tin Knight and asked Roni.

“I get your identity. What about your aim? You didn’t just come to thank us, did you?”

Roni spoke cautiously.

“I came to ask how to deal with the items left by the slave traders. We can’t just do whatever we want with the knight’s spoils.”

“Hmm. What’s in it?”

“Horses and wagons. Plus the loot gathered from the surroundings.”

The last sentence seemed to carry a hint of suppressed anger.

Looking intently at Roni, Dorothea turned to the Tin Knight beside her.

“Do you want anything?”

[‘Tin Knight’ replies he has no interest except for rare gear!]

[‘Tin Knight’ suggests that if Dorothea wants it, she can take it!]

“Why would I take that?”

Dorothea said incredulously.

Had she signed a “normal” contract with the Tin Knight, everything he obtained would have become hers, but the one she had signed was a makeshift one at best.

The only duty of the Tin Knight was to protect Dorothea’s body, and there were no other obligations.

Dorothea addressed the women.

“Take what you want. If you were captured as slaves and freed, you’ll need the money.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“I said it’s fine.”

It truly seemed like Dorothea had no interest, and the women began to murmur excitedly.

Roni calmed them down, saying, “The others are probably anxious, so please head back first and spread the news. Remember to move together since the forest is dark.”

“What about you, Roni?”

“Believe it or not, I’m a page who used to serve a knight, so I can defend myself. Now, go.”

Roni looked so reliable that one would hardly think she had just been a captive not long ago.

Once the women seemed reassured and turned to leave, only Roni remained.

After confirming that their presence had faded, Dorothea spoke.

“You’ve put in a lot of effort.”

Roni shuddered a bit.

“I couldn’t help them alone, so I guess I need to do something like this.”

There was a self-deprecating tone in her words, contrasting with the strong and reliable demeanor she showed to the women.

“So, what’s the real reason you came to us?”

It wasn’t a question of ‘Are there hidden motives?’ but rather a confirmation of, ‘I know there’s more. So spill it.’

Roni smiled bitterly but didn’t waste time with excuses.

Thud.

Roni knelt before Dorothea and the Tin Knight.

“Please, help the young lady captured by the slave traders.”

***

You listened intently to Roni’s story.

A lord who answered his old master’s call to war but met death instead of the desired victory.

The eldest son, who worked hard to restore a declining territory, died from a fall.

The only heir now is a young girl, but she too was captured by thieves while touring the territory to soothe public sentiment after her father’s death.

You tilted your head in confusion.

[‘Tin Knight’ questions if a territory can be easily plundered by thieves!]

Hearing your question, Dorothea replied.

“Territories are territories. If it’s a place that was never very significant or if it has been staggered due to a lord’s death in battle, it wouldn’t be odd for it to be targeted by thieves.”

“…It’s the latter. My lord’s lineage is a branch of that renowned Lion Duke. Under normal circumstances, it would be unthinkable for thieves to dare. However, during that last battle, all the knights and elite soldiers who went out with our lord were annihilated.”

“Still, usually there’d be some effort to secure the home front, right?”

Roni was speechless.

Whether she couldn’t respond without implying the lord was careless or if there were other circumstances was unclear.

Dorothea pondered, stroking her chin with her left hand.

[‘Tin Knight’ suggests helping out!]

Dorothea’s blue eyes locked onto you.

“Why?”

It was a short question.

One with many underlying meanings.

You answered clearly.

[‘Tin Knight’ claims killing human traffickers won’t harm their reputation!’]

Sudden silence filled the air.

Dorothea stared at you in disbelief for a long moment before exclaiming.

“…This is ridiculous.”

[‘Tin Knight’ declares he’s still thirsty for blood!’]

“You’re not sealed in that basement, are you? Like some cursed lunatic doll or something?”

[‘Tin Knight’ claims he’s not crazy, but he finds that setting cool!’]

“Seems like you might be a lunatic.”

As Dorothea absentmindedly brushed her hair over her shoulder, she turned her attention to Roni.

Roni, who was trying to gauge the conversation between you and Dorothea, flinched and trembled.

“Do you know the destination?”

“It should be Albert City. It’s the only place around here where large-scale slave trading occurs.”

“And the direction?”

“From this forest, it’s about a day’s ride south.”

“So we don’t need to circle back.”

That was the minimum requirement as if to say, and Dorothea nodded.

“If it looks like it’ll take a while, I’ll bail early since I have my own business too. And I’ll make sure to get paid properly. Is that fine?”

“Fine! Please help us!”

Roni’s voice carried intense sincerity.

[‘Tin Knight’ remarks that Roni might get taken advantage of!’]

At your words, Dorothea chuckled.

Although she didn’t say anything, you felt as if you could hear her response.

– Exactly. Rushing into a contract with a witch is a big no-no.