Chapter 27

Teyr Bamon (3)

"Then I'll eat well!"

Lian wiped his lips and looked at the chicken in front of him.

When I said I would pay for the meal, he sat down without a moment's hesitation.

"Well, I came in because I was curious about fried chicken, but it was too expensive, so I was about to order something else, hahaha. Thanks to you, I get to eat for free."

As Lian picked up a chicken leg with his hand and brought it to his plate, Ashel and Barros's expressions turned sour.

'You're supposed to eat it with your hands... but...'

I wanted to eat comfortably too, but I had to use a fork for the sake of propriety.

When I took a leg, the other two also took their share.

Ashel, who seemed unfamiliar with the dish, couldn't bring it to his mouth at first and just stared at the thigh he had taken. Soon, he started to cut a bit off the end with a knife and began to eat.

Then he looked a bit surprised, and his eating speed gradually increased. It seemed to suit his taste.

'It does taste good.'

It was a chicken with a unique flavor different from the familiar taste I knew.

Fried chicken is usually hard to make taste bad.

As we ate in silence for a while, the manager came out with drinks we hadn't ordered.

"Thank you for helping the staff. I won't charge you for the food, so please enjoy it."

After saying that, he looked at me with a worried expression and continued.

"Sir, about the young lady, Denbri, who caused trouble earlier..."

"It's fine, go back to work."

He seemed to want to warn me about her, but it was unnecessary interference.

The manager hesitantly stepped back, and Lian, who had already piled bones on his plate, asked me.

"Are you really okay, sir? The mayor is practically the king of this city, you know."

"Why did you step in, then?"

"Well, I couldn't just stand by and watch someone get beaten up. And to be honest, I didn't know she was the mayor's daughter. I'm not from this city."

"Would you have not stepped in if you knew?"

"No, I would have stepped in anyway. Of course, I didn't expect to almost lose a hand, hahaha."

He laughed as if he were talking about someone else.

This man, as you can see, was a naturally optimistic person.

In the game, he even smiled until the very end, just before his final moment.

"But she seemed to have a really bad temper. I know it's not my place to say, but wouldn't it be better for you to leave the city quickly, sir?"

I changed the subject.

"From your appearance, you seem to be a wanderer."

"Yes, that's right. I'm currently traveling around Caldric."

"Why?"

"If you ask why... Is there a reason for a wanderer's travels? I just go wherever my feet take me, hahaha."

He smiled, but his words sounded a bit hollow.

I knew his current situation.

He couldn't return home where he wouldn't be welcomed, yet he couldn't completely sever ties with his family.

Of course, what I was concerned about now was something else.

I was talking to him to confirm something.

[What? How did you know about the enemy's ambush without any signs? Haha, I have a good sense, you see.]

[Sure, I'll tell you since you've helped me a lot. Don't tell anyone and keep it a secret. I have a secret.]

This was a line Teyr Bamon said to the player during the Earthhill Kingdom episode when a war with the enemy country was ongoing.

I remember it was roughly like this.

He was a rare user of a secret on this continent.

In other words, he had a secret like I do.

'Although I don't know the name, it was a secret that greatly amplifies senses and reflexes.'

Thanks to this secret, he was never caught off guard by enemy ambushes during the war.

He also defeated much stronger enemy commanders with his mediocre physical abilities.

What I wanted to confirm was one thing.

Was this the time before or after he obtained that secret?

[How did you get the secret? It was just a coincidence.]

[Until a few years ago, I was wandering around the continent. I worked as an adventurer and explored desolate areas.]

[Once, I was forced to buy a torn map from an antique shop, but it turned out to be a real treasure map leading to a dungeon. That's where I got the secret.]

I remember he said he obtained the secret in a dungeon marked on the map.

The location was vaguely mentioned in the dialogue, but unfortunately, I couldn't recall it.

'If he hasn't obtained the secret yet...'

I would have a chance to obtain it too.

A secret that amplifies senses and reflexes.

It would be a very useful ability for me.

In the past, it would have been useless since my body couldn't keep up, but now I have the Immovable Barrier.

Since I have a way to counter attacks, having sharp senses and reflexes to use it quickly is important.

'...Thinking about it, it really is a necessary ability.'

When I was ambushed by the Orc King, I realized this.

Despite the considerable distance, he approached in the blink of an eye.

If I had been a bit slower in deploying the barrier, I would have been shattered by his heavy punch.

If a 70-level monster can do that, what about higher-level monsters or other lords?

If they attack me with hostility, I would be dead before I could react and deploy the barrier.

Or if I were ambushed or sniped by someone hiding far away.

What good is an absolute defense if I die before I can use it?

There is a significant gap between the speed of the superhumans in this world and my perception.

Of course, I don't know if Lian has obtained the secret yet, so this is just speculation.

I couldn't ask directly, so I subtly asked another question.

"Have you ever discovered a dungeon or a hidden ruin while wandering around the continent?"

"A dungeon or a ruin? I've tried to find them, but unfortunately, I haven't found any yet. Oh, speaking of which..."

Lian pulled out something from his pocket, looking as if he had just remembered something.

A rolled-up, old-looking parchment.

He laughed and said,

"This is a map I bought from an antique shop in the previous city. The owner said it might be a treasure map pointing to a hidden ruin."

"..."

I looked at the map, trying to hide my surprise. Could it be?

The situation seemed to fit perfectly, almost like a coincidence.

"It's quite embarrassing. I accidentally tore it a bit when I unfolded it, so I was forced to buy it for a few silver coins. Still, since I bought it, I thought I might as well try to find the place marked on the map."

"Can I see it?"

"Of course. You can look at it ten times if you want."

Lian handed me the parchment and returned to his chicken.

I slowly unfolded it and examined it.

It was a crude and poorly drawn map that seemed impossible to be real.

The location marked on the map was between the 5th and 4th Lord's territories, with some strange code-like text written on it.

'...Is this really it?'

It looks like someone's scribble, but...

I looked back at Lian.

If this is really the map to the place where the secret is hidden, and if I obtain it...

I would be taking the secret he will obtain in the future.

"Would you consider selling this map to me?"

"Wh-what?"

Lian looked at me in surprise.

Then he waved his hands and said,

"Oh, no, no. If you're interested, just take it. I've already received your help, so it's nothing."

"...Do you think this could be a real map to a hidden ancient artifact?"

"Well, if it is, there's nothing I can do. If you find any ancient magical artifacts, use them well, hahaha."

He didn't seem to think it was a real treasure map.

...Even if he doesn't, he's being so nice that I feel a bit guilty.

But I'm not in a position to be picky.

If I were to nitpick, using future knowledge in the game would be wrong from the start.

After obtaining the map and finishing the meal, I said goodbye to him in front of the shop.

"Thank you, sir. I'll be on my way."

I watched him walk away, deep in thought.

Should I just end this meeting here?

The neutral country war in the future significantly affects the power dynamics between Caldric and Sainthea.

I can't do much about it now, and I have my own problems to deal with...

"..."

I finally spoke.

Since the moment I was incarnated into this game and became a lord of Caldric, the disorder of the future has been accumulating.

I don't have to be bound by the game's story. Ultimately, the decision is mine.

"Teyr Bamon."

Lian's steps stopped.

He slowly turned his head and looked at me with a very confused expression.

"You can't solve anything by running forever. It's better to return to the kingdom as soon as possible."

"Wait, how do you know that?"

"I am Ron, the 7th Lord of Caldric."

The sudden revelation made Ashel and Barros, who were standing nearby, jump in surprise.

Lian, Teyr, looked at me with a puzzled expression, then finally asked,

"Did you just... say what...?"

"You know the situation between the neutral countries is tense. Return to where you belong before it's too late."

"..."

"And if you find yourself in a situation you can't handle, send a messenger to the 7th Lord's territory. Depending on the situation, I might help Earthhill."

I left those words and turned to leave, leaving him standing there in shock.

Ashel and Barros followed me.

'Whether he will return to the kingdom just because of this, I don't know...'

But I've created a minimal connection. The rest is up to him.

***

Back at the inn, I examined the map again.

The location is in a forest between the 5th and 4th Lord's territories, so the route is clear.

'Will it take long to find it...?'

Obtaining a new secret is good, but the effort required is tiring.

Just as I was about to go to bed, there was a commotion outside.

Knock.

Barros opened the door cautiously and looked outside with a serious expression.

"The mayor's knights are in the hall."

I immediately understood the situation.

The sound of footsteps ascending the stairs echoed, and a group of knights appeared. Ashel blocked their path.

The knight at the front frowned at Ashel, then looked at me and said,

"Are you the one who insulted Miss Denbri?"

"..."

"It seems you are. The mayor has ordered us to bring you. Please come quietly."

I smiled wryly, understanding the situation.

I was planning to visit the mayor in the morning, but they came to me.

"Lead the way."

Let's see how far this goes.

I nodded and followed.

***

"She's in the hall of the mansion, sir."

"Understood."

Upon receiving the report that the ruffian who insulted his daughter had been brought, Colton nodded.

Denbri, who was sitting next to him, jumped up excitedly.

The administrative officer, Raika, sighed inwardly and looked at Colton.

"Can I go and watch?"

"Sure, go ahead."

As they moved to the hall, they saw three people standing in the middle.

Denbri spotted the man in the middle and smiled.

The man also noticed her and made eye contact.

She smiled wickedly and said,

"Meeting you again so soon? I told you you'd pay the price, didn't I?"

Just as Colton was about to speak to the man and the two people standing beside him,

"You insulted my daughter..."

He turned his head at a sudden gasp from the side.

Raika was looking at them with a face like he had seen a ghost, shivering as if he had a sudden chill.

Then he knelt and bowed deeply.

"I greet the Lord!"

...What?

Colton couldn't understand what he had just said and was momentarily stunned.

Denbri, who was planning to show the man what hell he would face, also looked confused.

"Wh-what?"

A heavy silence fell over the hall.

The elf frowned and looked at the bowed Raika, then spoke to the man cautiously.

"This is Raika, the administrative officer of the 7th Lord's territory. He seems to be on a business trip here."

The man, the 7th Lord, nodded and walked to one of the chairs in the hall and sat down.

"You must have called me for a reason."

He looked at the frozen Colton and the others and said,

"Since you called me, let's get to it."