Chapter 68

It was quiet while passing through mountain paths and forest trails good for ambushes or hiding.

Yet, there wasn’t much happening even around narrow roads, rivers, and hills.

‘What’s this on the plains….’

In the distance, mounted bandits were seen attacking what appeared to be a caravan.

The caravan consisted of four carriages and over ten wagons.

In this era, some start trading with just one wagon, so this could be considered mid-sized if not large-scale.

And since large-scale caravans are often led by noble houses, magnates, or merchant organizations traveling together, if this is a personal caravan, it’s still pretty big.

Glancing aside, Louilin licks their lips.

Their gaze looks like they’re watching a herd of wounded deer about to fall.

“Should we turn back now and avoid trouble? Or jump in and grab a nice reward? We could raid their warehouses after interrogating these bandits. Are you just gonna sit here?”

“…….”

When it comes to worldly matters, that brain works like crazy.

Is this from desperately honing survival skills… or just something picked up along the way?

“So your conclusion is that interfering will be beneficial no matter what side we take?”

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

Then it’s settled.

Though really, it’s less about profit and more…

“What the hell are you guys?!”

“What? Just brats?”

They probably noticed us as we approached, ready to deal with unexpected situations.

Especially the mounted bandits spotted us immediately and surrounded us, saying stuff like:

“Hey wanderers, don’t butt into our elders’ business!”

“What’s wrong with these kids? Do they wanna be sold as slaves?”

“Perfect! That guy’s handsome enough to sell after playing with him…”

This ease suggests their operation is going smoothly.

Hunting is always satisfying work.

Even hunting beasts provides delicious meat, helps fatten bellies, and directly aids daily life.

Leather has many uses and can be sold; processing skills only enhance its value.

“Guh?!”

Suddenly, Louilin dashes out, creating a whirlwind beside us.

In the blink of an eye, one of the bandits flies off their horse, leaving a huge trail on the ground like a plow.

“Cough!”

“What? What?!”

Frozen stiff at the shocking sight are two others.

During their brief exchange, Louilin had already taken out one of them.

“Shut up and die already! Hurry up and die, you mangy rats! Who’s mocking who, huh?!”

Before they could react, another falls off their horse due to Louilin’s charge.

Clearly, seeing us earlier didn’t sit well with them.

Now we’re stuck in their sights.

If we escape and inform nearby villages or cities, a purge team might form.

After all, discretion is key in the bandit business.

Sometimes they even maintain relations with local lords.

Mostly though, they’re targets for elimination or execution, handled by the local lord.

Surprisingly, even bandits from other territories are sometimes claimed as property of regional lords.

Who takes responsibility, whether they’re treated as temporary militia, or likened to serfs and slaves, affects jurisdictional disputes.

‘Didn’t I learn this in church law?’

Basic knowledge nobles should know…

Though this isn’t the empire, things differ greatly.

Church law mainly applies here because it handles issues in the empire’s periphery where central intervention is slow.

“Cough!”

While lost in thought, some bandits chasing the caravan approach, and I quickly dispatch them.

A few breaths later, I’ve incapacitated four, focusing on ankles and legs but targeting vital points, making movement difficult.

I kick or punch chins to ensure compliance.

Dodging arrows and thrown weapons is manageable.

Throwing weapons are only effective in specific areas.

If you’re not too sluggish, identifying their trajectory makes dodging easy.

With calculated psychological warfare, you can control and limit the target’s movements.

Then even ranged weapons become dangerous threats.

In large battles or wars, proper coordination ensures efficiency.

“Why am I thinking about this?”

While Louilin handles mounted foes,

I focus on neutralizing those pressuring or attacking the caravan.

Killing them isn’t necessary since it benefits us otherwise.

Eliminating dangers preemptively is wise, but…

Traders with freedom of movement aren’t ordinary commoners.

Most prioritize financial power, but traders with mobility rights essentially have guaranteed financial influence.

Or they have ways to obtain permits within their jurisdiction.

If you understand this much, understanding more shouldn’t be hard.

Half the caravan’s people are captured or severely injured, losing resistance.

Some who resisted fiercely are dead or dying, but others survive.

We also hear some pursuing escaped members.

“They’ll be back soon.”

Having horses implies they’re not ordinary bandits.

As emergency treatment proceeds, the caravan leader thanks us with a warning.

“These bastards likely planned to kill us all, lock us up, and then pass off our goods as their own for trade.”

They’d pillage from one village and sell in another or to towns.

This method was common a hundred years ago.

Three hundred years ago, some made it their main business.

Ironically, some of today’s imperial and noble families started this way.

However, such despicable acts are strictly forbidden in the current empire.

If caught, the entire organization faces execution or forced labor.

Adding murder guarantees public execution.

From what I learned at the academy, Metran Kingdom seems different.

Casually talking about stealing goods and trading them is odd.

Just as things settle down, over a dozen more bandits appear.

Five are mounted.

Managing so many horses suggests they’re a surprisingly large group.

“There’s no good rock.”

I pull out a sling from my inner pocket.

Louilin looks shocked.

“You use that thing?!”

“…There’s no bow.”

“But you’ve never used it while wandering forests or mountains!”

“…It wasn’t needed then.”

In the woods, wind carries me faster than squirrels or rabbits; what’s lacking?

Still, it’s better than nothing.

Besides,

if they all charged, I wouldn’t have pulled it out.

Since someone’s aiming a bow, what can you do?

I’m just worried it won’t reach far enough.

“…Do you want to handle it, Louilin?”

“It’s about time!”

Running toward the charging bandits,

he passes right by.

“Huh?”

Naturally, they’re confused by his brazenness.

Then he turns back toward us.

“Here…”

Taking out two with stone-throwing,

I charge forward too.

Despite armed backup behind me,

dumping this on non-combatants with most fighters down would be cruel, wouldn’t it?

“Has this kid lost their mind?!”

What kind of guts does he have to talk like that?

And who guarantees his chatter time?

I slash waists and kick knees, swiftly.

They’ll likely shift targets to those behind me.

They didn’t bother with hostages before because they underestimated us.

Now, they’ll resort to any means.

Both sides know this fact.

……

We successfully resolved the situation and secured a fair reward.

We agreed to temporarily escort them further.

Selecting two of the bandits’ horses, Louilin whistled while riding.

“Protecting a caravan of this size must mean Master’s location is somewhat exposed, right? You didn’t care?”

“…….”

No, I didn’t know that.

But thanks to Louilin’s boasting.

“Weren’t you worried about that?”

…I couldn’t bring myself to admit I didn’t notice.

“I guess you spared them to find their hideout?”

“…No.”

“Then why?”

Seemingly indifferent to killing or murder, her lack of consideration is striking.

Maybe this all feels natural to her.

“We need to prove the scale so the caravan can argue their case.”

“Yes?”

“It’s a jurisdictional issue. Whose fault is poor security? And if we want to offer condolences to victims’ families, it’s better to exaggerate a bit. Handing over criminals helps with that.”

“…Why does Master care about someone else’s caravan? Let them fend for themselves.”

“Giving charity properly is better. You know that, right?”

“And with this scale, they surely had a notorious reputation locally. Highlighting the severity might prompt the lord to handle it properly, giving peace to the people.”

“So we hand over all the treasures from their hideout to them?”

Hmm…

Of course, that’s what you’re asking.

I intended to incite greed so the lord would eliminate the remaining bandits.

“Two hands full is enough. Don’t confuse possession with confusion. Greed and chaos come from trying to hold more than you can manage.”

“I can carry everything!”

“…….”

Hmm…

That leaves me speechless.

“Pursuing great justice by delaying here and eliminating bandits for the people’s peace is commendable… But living like a materialist keeps hunger away… Oh, you’re a noble, aren’t you? Always full, you don’t know what’s important! Living for honor and glory! Truly noble behavior!”

“…….”

“You impoverished nobles have no choice, do you? Not caring about wealth shows you initially had so much you didn’t envy others, right?”

“…Think about it yourself.”

By the way, both parents in my household generously spent when necessary but lived ascetically.

Did I recklessly waste money without worry under them?

“…….”

Saying this aloud would sound like an excuse.

Thus, Carriel kept silent.

“I admire you, master! A true aristocrat! Please let me be your maid! Or maybe the maid of your son or daughter…”

While Louilin endlessly flatters despite no real intention,

Carriel delivered a solid headbutt to Louilin’s head.

====

Stone walls.

The ceiling and floor alike are made of heavy stone in this barren space.

Without windows, the interior is dry and dark except for a small flickering candle.

Seated on a wooden chair at a desk,

a man scribbles words onto yellowed parchment with a quill.

He stares blankly at the burning candle for a while.

Snake-like eyes.

Black slashes cutting across, his pupils resemble two halves of a moon glued together.

Though his skin shows some wrinkles, his appearance remains handsome.

His expression alone gives a desolate impression.

Resembling a middle-aged scholar, yet his long, faded white hair makes him seem anything but a normal priest in his robes.

The dull reddish-brown fabric reflects dim light from the candle, but it leaves him unaffected.

Clang!

Heavy and coarse metal friction sounds echo as if unlocking iron chains.

Creak!

The iron-barred door groans open.

“Rupert, my old brother. I have arrived.”

Another man in similar robes enters carrying a basket wrapped in cloth, repeating his words.

His protruding abdomen isn’t hidden even by his clothes.

Clean-shaven except for a lush mustache, he gives off an everyday uncle vibe.

Only his thick gray eyebrows stand out.

His half-gray hair gleams eerily in the candlelight, but there’s no one here to criticize or point it out.

He speaks again.

“The time you foresaw is near.”

“…”

The man called Rupert sets down his quill.

His pale eyes pierce the darkness indifferently.

“Really. A Demon King born not in the Demon Realm but the Middle Realm. Revived… Do you truly believe this, especially where Grandeous’ sword lies embedded?”

Placing the basket on the narrow table, the candle flickers.

Uncovering the cloth, he pulls out a leather pouch and pours wine into a silver goblet inside without hesitation.

The pale-eyed man shows no reaction.

“Drink. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Uthserph. As always, my prophecy doesn’t change. Interpretations may vary, but the content remains constant. As before.”

The pale-eyed man’s snake-like eyes suddenly stir.

“When the sword is drawn, we may witness our doom.”

“That day…”

“Warriors and Demon Kings alike shall be born in the same place and time. In the very spot.”

The man called Uthserph sips from the goblet first.

Meanwhile, Rupert continues muttering softly.

“He who utters the language of the end shall come. He is the Savior of the End and the Guide to Ruin. Only he, by uttering the End, will finally conclude this world. Such a one shall be our Lord, Master, and Sovereign…”

We shall face it.

A trial never to return.

Mountains of wailing and pain.

…Those blinded by fleeting peace and tranquility.

Your end…

Finally comes into view.

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