[696] The Place of Reunion (5)
* * *
As they made their way down the mountain to avoid the border guards, Shirone could gauge Kazra's current state.
The number of soldiers had been bolstered, but their morale had weakened—some of them were dozing off here and there.
The crown's authority had been dented, and their pride was crawling on the ground.
"There's the village."
About forty households lived there; apart from the administrative office, everything was wooden.
Kido said this while looking down at the torch-lit settlement.
"I'd rather stay up on the mountain."
In a city it might be different, but to people in a remote mountain village, goblins were nothing more than monsters.
"You sure? If you go around, it'll take about two days."
"Heh heh—what are you on about? Goblins aren't weak like humans."
Shirone and Rian were superhuman from training, but most people couldn't match goblins' physical abilities.
"The mountain's more comfortable. Easier to find food, too."
Human cooking wasn't bad, but he longed for the taste of raw meat soaked in blood.
"Sorry. If anyone from the castle comes, I'll send a signal."
"It's fine."
Kido spun his spear and, as if turning sideways, vanished from sight in an instant.
'Kido wouldn't get caught by the guards.'
Shirone was about to enter the village when Emma spoke up, anxious.
"Um, priest, what should I tell my husband?"
If she let two strange young men into the house, he'd blow up.
"Introduce them as merchants. We can put their weapons in a ring. And we'll pay for their lodging."
Emma sighed in relief when she saw the pouch of gold coins.
This wasn't the time to obsess over money, but her husband Adox was the sort who'd sell his own family for coin.
They crossed the palisade; chickens fluttered, and dogs barked at the scent of strangers.
When they reached the thirteenth house from the east, Emma unlocked the door and looked back at Shirone and the others.
"Come in."
The roughly 14-pyeong space had no clear separation between kitchen and bedroom; stairs to a second floor sat in the corner.
Adox, who had been at the table, snapped at them.
"Where the hell have you been roaming off to?"
Emma's shoulders twitched—her husband, who normally spent nights out, was home today.
"Honey, finished already?"
Adox was a rough-faced man in his mid-thirties with a stubbled beard.
"It's long after sunset—what nonsense are you spouting? Do I look like some bum who drinks every night?"
Sore from yesterday's hangover, Adox frowned and asked Shirone and Rian,
"Who are you? I don't recognize you."
"We're merchants. Could we stay here for about two days?"
"Merchants in a place like this? Are you… heretics? Be honest."
There'd been reports lately that the Terafos cult had been extorting nearby villages.
"Haha, of course not. We're a new merchant guild looking for places to supply. We're only doing a day of market research, then we'll leave."
It wasn't impossible.
"What guild?"
Shirone hurriedly added, "The Nade merchant guild. Please keep it a secret. Emma said this place is full of gossip…"
At the sight of the gold, Adox's pupils flickered.
'With that much…'
The tavern girl Misa would swoon with joy.
'They're asking for a favor, huh.'
But as a soldier, he couldn't just pocket the money outright—taking it bluntly could cause trouble later.
"The hardware store across the street also takes lodgers. Why don't you stay there? It's just an attic, so it's about the same."
Shirone had already read Adox's mind.
"Heh heh, staying at the store would draw the other guilds' attention. This business is touchy—please show us some leniency."
"This amount still seems a bit much."
"We caused trouble, so of course the lodging fee should be higher. Think of it as merchants showing goodwill."
"Well, when you put it that way…"
Adox took the gold from Shirone and checked the coins—international standard pieces issued by the Red Line Currency Division.
"Fine. Treat them well. Don't make guests uncomfortable. I'll sleep outside tonight."
Emma guessed where Adox was headed, but in this situation she had no choice but to let him go.
"Yes, come back early."
Though her voice was soft, Emma ground her teeth the moment Adox left.
"That bastard. He's off to that whore again. He'll be splashing gold and showing off his swagger."
There was nothing Shirone could say.
"Have your meal first. There's some alcohol, too."
Maybe she couldn't keep her wits, and Emma downed the half-empty large bottle of liquor.
"Honestly, the only thing Misa's better at than me is handling men! My husband's stupid, but that woman is worse!"
As Emma vented, Shirone listened and replied without annoyance.
"Sigh. I wish your husband resembled the priest even half as much."
Drunk and barely coherent, Emma slammed her head on the table; Rian picked her up and carried her to the bed.
"Are you sure, Shirone? Wouldn't it have been better to wait at an inn?"
Emma's husband being a captain in the border guard was a problem.
"Adox's fine. Guesswork alone won't spark an interstate lawsuit. The one we really need to watch is Emma."
"Right. If Emma talks, things could spiral. So you told the high magistrate you'd stay in this house."
Shirone couldn't bring himself to kill Emma.
"Yes. Don't take your eyes off her until someone from Kazra Castle arrives. If she shows the slightest sign of talking…"
"If she does?"
Shirone's gaze grew cold.
"Then I ask you."
Mages were cold-blooded.
"…Understood."
Shirone thought she needed to be neutralized before she became uncontrollable, yet he couldn't abandon Emma in the cottage. He wanted, if possible, the best outcome for everyone.
'Walking the tightrope between ideal and reality. Is that what being a mage is?'
Like Jane, clutching her heart to keep Aria alive as she walked.
'They're living a hard life,' Rian thought—he swore he'd never be a mage, even if reborn.
* * *
The next morning.
Adox smoothed his beard and set off for duty.
"Adjutant! Migelan!"
Migelan opened the door and stepped in.
"At your command, sir?"
Adox, unaware of his wife's lover, mimed raising a cup and said, "Any honey left? Put a good amount in and bring it."
"You're not drinking again, are you?"
Adox had sworn off alcohol yesterday and gone to bed early.
After gulping the honeyed drink, Adox stroked his beard.
"Ahh—now I feel alive again."
"So you went to Misa."
"Heh heh, don't say. I had a windfall last night. It was an incredible evening."
Remembering last night, Adox changed his expression.
"Oh, and you—drop by our house for a bit."
"Is something wrong?"
"Something feels off. Merchants came last night, but I think they're up to something."
"You think they're heretics?"
"Have you ever seen a heretic spend money? No—never mind."
Adox hurriedly shook his head.
"Anyway, watch closely. I was out last night. Check what happened with Emma."
'What a garbage man.'
He'd been carousing with a tavern girl, then told his adjutant to spy on his wife.
"Understood."
Migelan hurried to Adox's house, thinking it wouldn't be a bad thing to see Emma.
'They're suspicious.'
The merchants Adox mentioned had a noble air and were handsome enough to pass for aristocrats.
"Migelan? What's the matter?"
Emma opened the door surprised, but Migelan kept his composure.
"The captain sent me on an errand. There's something important."
He wanted to tell her he loved her.
"Guests?"
"Sorry, but could you step aside for a moment?"
"I'll go upstairs, then."
As Shirone and Rian climbed the stairs, Migelan couldn't contain himself and embraced Emma.
"I missed you, Emma."
"Why are you here at this hour? What if he finds out?"
"Your husband sent me. What a piece of trash. Looks like he spent the night with Misa. Let's put our plan into motion."
They planned to poison Adox.
"I can't do that. If we're caught, we'll—"
"Don't worry. In a valley like this, nobody cares if someone dies."
The thought that God might be listening made Emma tremble.
"Trust me. We'll be together till the end."
Migelan, charmed by that look, leaned in to kiss her when the door suddenly banged open—Adox had come back.
"Emma! Those merchants who were here…! Huh?"
Migelan and Emma quickly separated, but what was seen couldn't be unseen.
"What are you doing with your hands on my wife's shoulder?"
"Ca-Captain? Why are you here?"
The problem was the gold Shirone had given them.
Most traveling merchants used international-standard coinage, but Kazra's borders had been closed for over a year.
'Maybe they really are heretics.'
Migelan had come with that in mind, but now Adox's head was full of fury at Migelan.
"How dare you touch my wife!"
Migelan raised his hands as his superior drew a blade.
"Captain! It's a misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? Is there honey on my wife's shoulder?"
"W-well…!"
Migelan's mind raced.
"Merchants! They tried to assault my wife."
"What nonsense is that?"
"Why would I lie? I only tried to calm a frightened woman."
Adox, eyes rolling, asked with murderous intent, "...Where are those bastards now?"
"Upstairs, barricaded. I blocked the exit so they're trapped."
Migelan had planned to run off with Emma if Adox rushed upstairs, but things didn't go his way.
"You damn kids! Come down now! I'll gut you alive!"
At that roaring shout, Shirone and Rian calmly descended the stairs.
Seeing the massive greatsword strapped to Rian's back, Adox's face went hard.
"W-what are you lot?"
Rian gripped the hilt of the greatsword and asked, "Shirone, now?"
"…"
If Emma revealed the secret, Shirone would have to kill Adox and Migelan too.
'Is there no choice?'
At that moment, someone knocked loudly on the door.
"Is anyone home? I'm looking for someone."
"Busy right now! Get lost!"
The door flew open with such authority it made the messenger look embarrassed, and a hulking old man strode in.
"Do you even listen to me…! Huh?"
The moment Adox and Migelan saw the emblem on the old man's armor, their faces drained.
"Th-the royal garrison of the castle?"
Sensing the tense atmosphere, the old man scanned the room and fixed his gaze on Shirone.
"Long time no see, Arian Shirone."
Given the gravity of the situation, Shirone had expected the fastest route—and this was quicker than he'd anticipated.
'Of course he'd come.'
Shirone let his murderous intent fall away and smiled at the welcome face.
"Yes. It's been a while."
It was Retni Walker, captain of Kazra Castle's guard.