Chapter 64

“…This guy is Gosling.”

“Do you know him?”

Yuri muttered this as he looked at the severed head of the bandit leader he had just killed. Pence asked in response.

“About three years ago, we had that joint request with another mercenary group to hunt down a pack of orcs. This guy was the leader of that group.”

Upon hearing this, Pence and Radley, who were nearby, both checked the face of the leader, surprised.

“Was that really his face?”

“Back then, we were just grunts, so we didn’t get a good look at the leader of the other group.”

“I was already one of the officers at the time, so I interacted with him. He had some mediocre talent in magic, and we talked a fair bit, being somewhat similar in that regard.”

According to Yuri’s memory, Gosling hadn’t seemed like a bad person. He never imagined that Gosling would fall so far as to become a bandit who attacked villages and murdered innocent people.

Yuri had avoided crossing certain lines even when he became a mercenary, but he realized that if he had strayed just a little further, he could have ended up like this himself.

Reflecting on that, Yuri closed his eyes for a few seconds, honoring the death of a former comrade who had once fought by his side.

The battle had already ended, and in front of the gates of the city of Noeina, the cleanup of the bandits’ bodies had begun.

“Even though we were bracing ourselves, we won pretty easily, didn’t we?”

As he used his golem to carry the bandits’ bodies, Noein spoke to Yuri.

“We had a ton of crossbows on our side. From a high vantage point, shooting them relentlessly from behind the barricades was bound to overwhelm the bandits. Plus, your golem was a total game-changer.”

“Haha, it was my first time using a golem seriously in a battle against humans, but I didn’t expect it to become such a one-sided slaughter. It felt more like a massacre.”

Despite the fact that he had just killed dozens of people using the golem, Noein was smiling calmly.

“It’s your first time fighting against humans, right, Noein-sama? Most people either cry, vomit, or lose control of their bladder after their first battle, but you seem pretty composed.”

“…I did gain some experience with killing back in Bendera. Everything’s easier the second time around. Besides, these guys were unquestionably a threat to the land and its people, so I don’t feel any guilt or regret.”

Ensuring no one else was within earshot, Noein replied.

“I see. Well, if you’re fine, that’s all that matters.”

While Noein was having this conversation with Yuri, Anna, who had returned from the riverbank to the city of Noeina, ran over to them. She had been tending to the wounded along with the other women and children.

“Anna, thank you for your hard work. How did it go?”

“Miraculously, we didn’t lose anyone. But there are over ten people with serious injuries. Some are particularly bad…”

According to her, two people had lost an eye, three had lost an arm or a leg, and one person had damaged the nerves in their lower back, leaving them paralyzed from the waist down.

These individuals would face lifelong challenges in both their daily lives and work. Especially those who had injured their limbs or back—they would no longer be able to do farm work.

“I see… It’s a relief that everyone survived, but I’ll have to provide compensation and arrange future work for them. First, though, we need to call a proper doctor from Retvik.”

“I’ll have someone prepare a messenger horse right away.”

“Thank you, please do… It feels a bit awkward, seeing you again so easily after saying such serious goodbyes.”

“What are you talking about? It’s always better to reunite easily.”

“True, you’re right.”

With a wry smile, they exchanged words before Anna left. As she did, Bart approached in her place.

“Noein-sama, we’ve gathered the prisoners.”

Prompted by Bart, Noein walked over to the captured bandits.

When Noein appeared before them, the prisoners glared at him with hatred.

It was no surprise. After restraining them, they had shot each of the bandits in the palms with crossbows to further reduce their ability to resist.

Unfazed by the rough stares, Noein spoke to Bart.

“Quite a few survived.”

“There are 42 in total. What do you want to do with them? You’re not planning to make them part of the people here, right?”

“Haha, even I’m not that merciful. These guys have committed atrocities like murder and rape, and they attacked our territory. We’ll sell them to the slave traders.”

When bandits or serious criminals were sold into slavery, their fates were grim. They would be worked to death in harsh labor camps.

Perhaps imagining this, one of the prisoners attempted to escape. He suddenly stood up and lunged at a guard, trying to steal a crossbow.

“Whoa!”

Bart quickly drew his sword and slashed the prisoner’s shoulder. The prisoner screamed and collapsed, his resistance easily quelled.

“His hands were tied… but the ropes are burnt through. He must’ve used magic.”

About one in every few dozen people had some magical talent, and fire magic was the most common of all. Even if they weren’t skilled enough to be called a mage, many could still create small sparks.

This prisoner had likely used a basic fire spell to burn through the ropes binding his hands and attempted to escape.

“What should we do with him? Kill him?”

“Just killing him is boring… Let’s cut his Achilles tendons and leave him in the forest. The beasts and monsters will clean him up nicely.”

“Understood.”

Upon receiving Noein’s gruesome order, Bart coolly slashed the prisoner’s legs. As the man screamed, “No! I won’t run again! Please, forgive me!” Bart dragged him into the forest.

“That’s what happens to those who try to escape. If you don’t want to be eaten alive by monsters, I suggest you behave.”

Noein calmly warned the remaining prisoners, who had paled at the sight, in a tone one might use to scold children, before walking away himself.

・・・・・

After finishing most of the work outside the gates, Noein entered the capital city of his territory, Noeina.

Approaching him was the traveling merchant, Philip.

“Ah, Lord Earlkvist,” Philip greeted.

“Ah, Philip… Not only did you deliver the warning, but you also helped in the battle. I don’t know how to thank you,” Noein responded.

“No, I am a man too… I simply wanted to do what I could to help,” Philip replied modestly.

Philip had not only delivered the warning of the bandits’ approach but also assisted in preparing for battle by carrying crossbow bolts.

“By the way, may I ask why you took the risk to deliver such information?” Noein inquired, his expression calm but his eyes filled with caution, something Philip quickly noticed.

Merchants, above all, value profit. Noein knew well that Philip hadn’t rushed to the Earlkvist territory purely out of kindness.

“…Well, I do have a bit of ambition as a merchant. I figured if something were to happen to the Earlkvist territory, where I’ve almost monopolized the market as a traveling merchant, I would suffer a great loss,” Philip said with a resigned smile.

“Besides, I thought delivering the warning would win me great favor with you, Lord Earlkvist. For a humble peddler like myself, the profits gained from this action were worth risking my life,” he added.

“Haha, I appreciate that kind of honesty. Philip, would you consider setting up a trading company here in our territory? We will provide the building for your store, and we can even arrange financing if necessary. In time, you could become the official merchant of the Earlkvist family. What do you say?”

“Is… is that really okay?” Philip asked in disbelief, eyes wide. He had expected to gain some favor, but not to the extent of being offered a store and an official position.

“I trust you, Philip. You’ve risked your life for this land. I would like you to stay here with us and become the first great merchant of this land,” Noein offered.

Noein’s proposal deeply stirred Philip’s ambition as a merchant.

“Lord Earlkvist… As a merchant, there is nothing more rewarding than receiving such an offer. I humbly accept,” Philip said, almost overwhelmed with emotion.

“Thank you. I appreciate it,” Noein smiled warmly.

After Philip left, Mai, who had been attending to the wounded nearby while listening to the conversation, approached Noein.

“Lord Noein, are you sure about this? That man was selling our information to Viscount Keinitz, wasn’t he?”

“That’s exactly why I decided to bring him under our wing and make him an ally, binding his fate to our territory. Besides, he already knows about our forces and our crossbows… Well, I do trust him after this incident, though,” Noein said, his previous warm smile replaced with a more carefree, almost mischievous grin.

“…You haven’t changed a bit, Lord Noein,” Mai sighed.

“Well, as the lord, I always have to think about what’s best for the territory. But are you okay, Mai? You’ve been moving around a lot. I hope it’s not affecting the baby,” Noein asked with concern.

“Everyone else is working hard, so I couldn’t just sit still… But I’ll take a break soon,” Mai reassured him.

“That’s for the best. Yuri would be worried too,” Noein said gently.

Afterward, Noein continued handling minor tasks—arranging for doctors, giving instructions on cleaning up the battlefield, and overseeing the prisoners. By the time the sun set, he finally returned to the manor and settled down for the evening.

・・・・・

“Ahhh, I’m so tired,” Noein sighed.

“Thank you for your hard work, Lord Noein,” Mathilda responded.

Noein submerged his body into the bathtub filled with warm water in the mansion’s bath. Naturally, Mathilda was in the bath with him, sharing the moment.

“We won… I protected the people and the land… though not everyone came out unscathed.”

“It’s already an achievement that there were no deaths. That’s all thanks to your golems, Lord Noein, and your decision in the past to recognize the usefulness of the crossbows and invest in their development.”

“Do you think I should be proud of that?” Noein asked, tilting his head back while leaning against Mathilda’s body.

“Of course. You have every right to be proud,” she said, looking down at him with a reassuring smile.

“Thank you for protecting me today, Mathilda. You were incredible. I’m alive now because of you.”

When Gosling had closed in on Noein, Mathilda had used her quick reflexes to step in front of him, likely saving his life in the process.

“Protecting you is what I’m meant to do, Lord Noein. After all, you are someone very important to me.”

“…I love you, Mathilda.”

“I love you too, Lord Noein.”

Noein’s expression was no longer that of a lord; instead, it was the face of a man who had dropped his guard, leaning on the woman he loved.

Mathilda’s face, too, was no longer that of a loyal aide, but of a woman seeking to comfort the man she loved.

The night in the Earlkvist territory, having returned to peace after the battle, passed slowly for the two, who now shared a moment as lovers.