Chapter 33: The Weight of Gold and Unspoken Origins

Yulid, who had been quietly nursing a drink nearby, suddenly clapped his hands.

“Now, now! Everyone, put down your tasks and clear the room for a moment, if you please!”

At his command, the employees scrambled to their feet and exited the room. Hay also made to leave, but Yulid swiftly closed the door before he could.

‘Why am I not being allowed to leave?’

“Lord Renoshel. Your words are quite… distasteful.”

Kisen sneered.

“What?!”

“Many soldiers and mercenaries perished, including the lord’s own men. Even the innocent villagers from the foot of Mount Senugel, who took up arms to defend their families, ultimately met a futile end. Fewer than thirty bodies were even properly interred.

And yet, to speak of ‘blaming the lord for a few deaths’? I find such a sentiment rather difficult to stomach.”

A crushing wave of intimidation suddenly filled the air.

Hay instinctively recoiled, pressing himself as far back against the wall as possible. Not that such a futile gesture would offer any true escape.

The aide’s face, directly subjected to the immense pressure, drained of color, turning an alarming shade of bluish-white. Yulid, meanwhile, subtly tightened his grip on his sword hilt.

‘Could he truly mean to strike him down if that fool utters another senseless word?’

“Why don’t you try repeating those very words to the bereaved families? I’d be quite interested to witness the outcome.”

The aide’s ashen face merely opened and closed, no sound escaping his lips.

“You asserted, ‘Didn’t they know what they were getting into anyway?’ Indeed, they did. But, Lord Renoshel, ‘knowing what one is getting into’ is hardly synonymous with ‘going there to die,’ is it?”

“No, Mr. Ludor, what I meant was….”

“More importantly, if I had simply refused this task, do you truly believe the lord would have remained idle? Two years ago, when I declined an assassination request during the inter-city conflict, he tripled our taxes, citing a litany of absurd reasons.

What was his justification then? Something about our mercenary company, being stationed in the city, having ‘consistent and stable’ profits compared to others? Stable, my arse! Utter nonsense.”

Kisen let out a cold sneer.

‘He’s found his leverage, that sly dog.’

Yulid chuckled and muttered softly.

‘He clearly harbors a deep resentment toward the lord. But is it appropriate for me, an outsider, to be privy to such a conversation?’

“Convey this to your lord: if he wishes to silence me or the people of this domain, he would do well to prepare a substantial sum for reparations. Furthermore, eliminating the Black Mage was not a term within our contract.

Therefore, we shall demand double the life price for our fallen comrades.”

“That’s preposterous…!”

“Preposterous?”

The intimidation grew stronger.

Lord Renoshel, now utterly speechless, could only gape, his mouth working silently.

Only then did Hay grasp the true depth of Kisen’s fury.

Driven by the lord’s ambition to claim glory, the subcontracted Kranze Mercenary Company had been forcibly thrust into a minefield.

Having returned, after losing his subordinates in a minefield they were unwillingly forced into, only to be hounded for a report immediately upon their arrival—it was no wonder he was incandescent with rage.

“If I may offer a piece of counsel: only by placating the fury of the domain’s populace can your lord avoid the ignominy of being summoned to the capital. Should you achieve this, regardless of whether few or many lives were lost, the fact remains that the subjugation was successful.

At most, he will face a mere reprimand. Do you grasp the implication of my words?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Threat? What nonsense. I am simply illuminating a path to survival for our esteemed lord.”

The oppressive aura vanished.

Yulid, at last, released his grip on the sword hilt.

Kisen rose from his chair, strode past Lord Renoshel, and flung the door wide open.

“Aargh!”

“Gah!”

The employees, who had been shamelessly pressing their ears to the door, eavesdropping, tumbled head over heels. Kisen paid them no mind, addressing Lord Renoshel directly.

“Please inform him that I will personally call upon him tomorrow morning to deliver the report. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

With a dismissive air, he returned to his desk and began to feign writing on a report. A chilling draft seemed to emanate from him.

Lord Renoshel’s lips trembled, his face a mask of profound humiliation, as if he had suffered an unbearable insult. He then stomped out of the commander’s office with heavy steps.

The cluster of employees by the door quickly parted for him. Once Lord Renoshel was out of sight, Kisen exhaled a long, deep sigh.

“You terrifying man, why take your frustration out on the poor aide?”

Yulid asked.

“I didn’t take it out on him.”

“Ugh! You know, I nearly wet myself, thinking you were about to kill that pathetic wretch!”

“I’m swamped as it is, and he’s only serving to irritate me, rather than assist, isn’t he?”

“You *did* take it out on him!”

Kisen shot a sharp glance at the Kranze Vice-Commander, then turned to address the employees.

“Are none of you working? Hasten to complete the settlements for the solo mercenaries.”

Just then, an employee raised a hand, speaking up.

“The settlements for Hay Styles, Lexa Morgenstern, Chen, and Adel were completed a moment ago.”

Kisen merely crooked a finger, and the employee swiftly presented the documents. He gave them a cursory glance before handing them back.

“Pay Mr. Styles first.”

Three employees exited the room, returning a short while later. Kisen rose, took a heavy money pouch from an employee, and offered it to Hay.

“This sum totals 120 gold, encompassing your daily employment fee, hazard pay, medical expenses, and your share of the profits. As you can observe, this is the magic staff once wielded by the Black Mage, and this spellbook was discovered within his lair during our mountain search.

We lack a magic item appraiser here in Nudan, preventing us from valuing these items. However, it’s believed you could fetch a considerable price for them in a larger city.”

Hay accepted the proffered money pouch and the Black Mage’s artifacts, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.

“As for the potions and magic stones recovered yesterday from the Black Orcs’ habitat and the Black Mage’s lair, we have decided to retain them. Do you have any objections regarding this settlement?”

While he wasn’t certain about other items, those two objects were undeniably of immeasurable value.

A cash profit of 120 gold. To think, he had earned 120 million for just six days of work. Hay shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“None.”

“Then please sign the documents, Mikinsa.”

The employee called Mikinsa approached and placed two documents on the desk.

Kisen offered Hay a fountain pen. The documents themselves were straightforward.

One document formally terminated his freelance contract, while the other confirmed the successful completion of his settlement. Hay affixed his signature to both.

“Your efforts are appreciated.”

Kisen extended his hand for a handshake.

“Commander Ludor, you too have endured much hardship.”

Kisen chuckled at Hay’s greeting.

“How long will you be staying in Nudan?”

“I intend to remain for a few more days. I’m quite weary, and I haven’t yet settled on my next destination.”

“To deal with those two items, you’ll have to go to a major city.”

Kisen was correct.

As a spirit user, the Black Mage’s artifacts held no practical use for Hay. He would need to sell them and convert them into coin.

“That would be the sensible course, wouldn’t it?”

“If you intend to travel to the capital, I know an appraiser of repute. He is well-known for his unwavering honesty.”

“Are you perhaps referring to Mr. Bogner Hiddam?”

“Ah, you are acquainted with him. Then my recommendation is quite unnecessary.”

He offered a slight grin, then held the office door open for Hay.

“Would you care for a drink before you leave? Lexa and Chen too.”

“Ah, I believe they plan to depart first thing tomorrow.”

“So soon?”

Kisen’s eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise in his expression.

“They said they’re going to bury Adel in Arcavia.”

At Hay’s words, Kisen let out a soft sound of understanding, nodding slowly.

“In that case, I shall call upon you personally. Would that be amenable?”

Hay considered declining, but instead, he closed his mouth and gave a slight nod.

‘After all, once I leave Nudan, I’m unlikely to cross paths with him again until some unforeseen circumstance brings me back.’

‘Just one drink.’

“Alright.”

Kisen smiled with satisfaction.

“Then, safe travels.”

“Kisen, Renoshel has departed, so I’ll be taking my leave as well, yes?”

Just then, Yulid slung an arm around Hay’s shoulders, feigning familiarity and leaning heavily on him. Kisen, pointedly ignoring Yulid, simply closed the office door.

“That man, always so abrasive.”

“Kranze Vice-Commander, please remove your arm.”

“Oh, come now, why such formality? ‘Vice-Commander,’ indeed. Work is finished, simply call me Yulid.”

‘I don’t want to.’

“We’re heading out together. You can drink with that fellow later; tonight, let’s share a drink, just us! Ah, they say you employed a truly brilliant strategy to eradicate the undead, didn’t you?

I’d love to hear the tale!”

‘Didn’t he already hear all about it from others?’

“No. I’m going back to rest.”

“Ugh, such a blunt refusal. You’d probably smash a city wall with that same decisiveness!”

“More importantly, why didn’t you let me out of the room earlier?”

“Hmm? Oh, well, what if that fellow lost his temper and killed that wretch? If he’d gotten hurt, I was planning to borrow some of that healing water or whatever it was.”

‘He doesn’t seem like it, but Kisen appears to have quite a temper after all.’

‘Was he preparing to draw his sword to stop Kisen?’

“But seriously, you won’t have a drink with me?”

“No. My child is waiting.”

Hay removed Yulid’s heavy arm and descended the stairs.

“Then I’ll be going.”

****

When he and Renki returned to the inn, they were greeted by Mr. Torres.

Meylin and Rick, it seemed, had grown tired of waiting and fallen asleep. Mr. Torres, looking weary himself, offered to prepare bathwater, but Hay and Renki declined, stating they would bathe in the morning, then headed up to their room.

The third-floor room had been meticulously tidied in their absence. Everything was perfectly arranged, clearly Meylin’s handiwork rather than Rick’s.

Hay quickly shed his clothes. Renki, also exhausted, lit a lamp, undressed, and crawled beneath the covers.

“How much did you earn this time?”

Renki’s voice was already slurred with sleep.

“120 gold.”

“You earned so much!”

At the mention of money, Renki’s eyes flew open.

Hearings his reaction, Hay chuckled.

“Indeed. I earned a great deal. Enough to live comfortably in Nudan for a year without a worry.”

Hay emptied the settlement money onto the bed. The coins clinked together, making a pleasant jingle.

“So, are we staying in Nudan now?”

“No, we’ll rest for about seven days, then head to the capital.”

“Cheafel?”

“Where else is the capital of this country?”

“It’s much bigger than Nudan, right?”

“Of course. It’s the capital.”

“And it has a royal palace?”

“Do you want to go sightseeing?”

“Not really. Just curious. I’ve never seen the Cheafel Royal Palace, so I’m a little interested.”

Hay paused at his words.

‘The Cheafel Royal Palace?’

No citizen of the Cheafel Kingdom referred to the royal palace by that name.

“You mean the ‘Sanchiafel,’ don’t you?”

Renki blinked slowly. He was on the verge of falling asleep.

“Ah, yes. The ‘Sanchiafel’….”

His voice trailed off like a worn-out tape, and he closed his eyes. Soon, his even breathing filled the room. He had fallen asleep.

Hay rose, carefully pulled the blanket over him, and gently removed the suffocating mask from his face.

His face had healed considerably, now allowing one to glimpse what he must have looked like before his injuries.

‘Where is he from?’

Since its founding, the kingdom’s royal palace had always been called ‘Sanchiafel.’

It was a bold Elvish word meaning ‘Garden of the Gods.’

Every citizen of the Cheafel Kingdom used that name, so Renki’s unfamiliarity strongly suggested he was from another country.

Hay watched Renki for a moment, then sat back on the bed.

He counted the 120 gold coins, then poured them into his spatial expansion pouch, where all his worldly possessions resided.

The sight of the polished, gleaming gold coins filled him with contentment.

‘Tomorrow, I’ll treat myself to some expensive, delicious meat.’

With that resolve, Hay lay down, and the moment his head touched the pillow, he fell into a deep sleep.