Chapter 4

4. The Lord is too strong.

"…Really. It’s a Concealment Barrier."

As we approached the edge of the forest, a massive device revealed itself.

No wonder it wasn’t visible from a distance.

"Do you know what this is?"

"You don’t have to look at it with such surprise. I’ve seen something similar before."

"Given that you are the Duke’s knight, you must have participated in wars."

Many magical items are used in wars.

"That’s right."

When I recognized the Concealment Barrier, Maruk’s expression changed slightly.

I know how to destroy it as well.

"I’ll look around while you do your job."

"Yes."

Maruk took a deep breath and approached the core of the Concealment Barrier.

He muttered incomprehensible words, which seemed to be the deactivation spell he mentioned earlier.

It’s like a kind of password.

Generally, such devices have a system to distinguish between friend and foe.

As the core turned blue, Maruk placed his hand on it.

It looked like he was injecting mana, as his body trembled.

I turned away without hesitation.

He said it would take about 30 minutes, so I planned to explore the surroundings.

"Is this really the Demon Realm?"

The forest I saw from a distance was an illusion.

The forest on the other side of the barrier was indeed filled with strange plants.

It looked like the Amazon jungle, making it seem like anything could emerge.

I came here to heal, but I never expected the Demon Realm to be right next to it.

I silently prayed that I wouldn’t have to enter it.

"Huh."

As the core lost its light, Maruk collapsed.

It felt like only about 15 minutes had passed.

"What happened?"

"There seems to be a problem with the core. It appears to have reduced its maximum capacity due to its age."

"What?"

What do you mean there’s a problem?

Why did it have to happen when I just became the Lord?

"Do you mean the barrier might collapse?"

"It’s nothing serious. The device itself is permanent, but the core needs to be replaced periodically. The last core, from the Goblin King, seems to have worn out already."

"Oh, so the core is the monster’s nucleus?"

"Yes, that’s correct. It’s not the nucleus itself, but a refined magical item that serves as the core."

"Does that mean I have to hunt monsters?"

"If I send a message, the core will be delivered from the Tower of Bardum."

Phew, thank goodness.

I thought the Lord’s duties included securing cores, and I almost cursed Gareth again.

Thinking about it, I have a habit of cursing Gareth whenever something goes wrong.

According to the old saying, one should flatter the Lord.

* * *

After delivering a bucket of water for the new Lord to shower,

Maruk headed to a small building attached to the Lord’s residence.

He was going to write a letter to the Tower of Bardum.

As he opened the door, he saw someone’s silhouette.

"Who’s there!"

"It’s me, Maruk. It’s me."

"Oh. Eili. Alice is here too."

Only then did Maruk remember something he had forgotten.

Eili and Alice were sitting with dark expressions.

"I’m sorry. You’ve been waiting, haven’t you?"

They were trembling, but not from the cold.

It was early summer, after all.

"Did we do something wrong?"

"Are Eili and I going to be beheaded?"

Remembering the previous Lord’s cruel nature, they were terrified.

"No. The new Lord isn’t like that."

After visiting the forest barrier, Maruk had reserved his judgment about Kammin.

There were strange aspects, but he seemed to have considerable combat experience.

The fact that he offered to lend me a horse suggested he had consideration.

"He said you both look too weak to work."

"Ah…"

Eili bowed her head deeply at this.

In Halrun, children of this age without parents were considered useless except for one purpose.

"Can’t we both work at the Lord’s residence?"

Maruk was pleased by this.

"That’s a good idea. However, you’ll have to share one person’s meal. Is that okay?"

"Yes!"

"It’s fine!"

Seeing the two girls jump up, Maruk smiled bitterly.

"Even if you work at the Lord’s residence, you can’t avoid it."

"But it’s better than staying here, right?"

"That’s true. I like it. The new Lord will probably allow it. He’s resting now, so go back to the village. I’ll let you know the result this evening."

"Thank you, Maruk."

"Sure…"

* * *

"Hey. You’re not sleeping?"

"I don’t usually take naps. I only need two to three hours of sleep, so keep that in mind."

"Two to three hours?"

Maruk was surprised again.

"Isn’t that typical for knights?"

"…No. Even the knights of the Empire usually sleep for more than six hours."

Gareth was indeed unusual.

His other knights were all like this, so I almost died trying to follow them.

I fell off my horse and rolled on the ground countless times.

Well, in a way, that’s how I became this strong, so I can’t blame Gareth entirely.

"…Is it a special constitution?"

"Ah, I’ve also heard that people with black hair need less sleep."

That’s not true.

I’ve never even seen people with black hair wandering around.

"Before you patrol the territory, it’s best to settle the servant issue."

"Ah, right. Are there any women around twenty? I think that’s the age where I can assign tasks."

"Yes…"

Maruk suddenly asked me seriously.

"Lord Kammin."

"Yes?"

I have a bad feeling about this.

"What kind of knight are you?"

"What kind of knight?"

"I mean, your martial skills."

"Can you express that in words?"

"That’s true. Then, can you tell me what monsters you’ve faced?"

"Monsters."

I thought about it.

If I say I killed dragons or cyclopes, no one would believe me.

I wouldn’t believe it myself if someone said that.

I need to choose a reasonable one.

"Have you never hunted monsters…"

Maruk looked at me doubtfully.

This guy, is he provoking me?

"I’ve faced an ogre."

"Single-headed ogre?"

Maruk was surprised.

Why is he so surprised by a single-headed ogre?

I thought for a moment that if I told the truth, the weak Maruk might foam at the mouth and faint.

"Um… yes… that’s right."

Actually, it’s a lie.

I faced a two-headed ogre.

My attitude seemed suspicious, so Maruk asked again.

"Really? This is a very important question for me. Don’t lie."

"…Why would I lie to you? Monsters will appear in Halrun after summer. You’ll see the proof soon."

Anyway, a two-headed ogre is much stronger, so it doesn’t matter.

"Yes. That’s true…"

Maruk hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Actually, there’s another reason why Halrun’s situation is bad."

Another reason?

This territory is like an onion, with layers of problems.

Gareth, how much of a mess did you give me?

"Alright. I’m ready to listen. Tell me."

"When it’s time to harvest wheat, mercenaries come to the village."

"Mercenaries?"

"They call themselves mercenaries, but they’re no different from bandits."

"That’s strange. Wasn’t the village established to protect the barrier by developing the west?"

"…Yes. They only plunder enough to keep the village from collapsing."

"Report to the Lord… Oh, the previous Lord has been dead for a while, hasn’t he?"

Maruk bowed his head.

This guy must be frustrated too.

"Have you ever contacted the Empire? You’re a dispatched mage, even if you’re from the Kingdom."

"As I said, the management of the barrier is entrusted to Bardum. The noble who controls the western village lords is the Baron of Bardum."

"A noble who controls the Lord?"

I’ve never heard of this.

I’m a knight and belong to the House of Berte.

I ran away, but that fact can’t be changed.

Gareth must have sent me here to check on the House of Berte’s collateral… wait.

"What’s the Baron of Bardum’s name?"

"Camelia Bardum."

I muttered under my breath without realizing it.

"…Gareth, this guy. He really goes too far."

Maruk, pale and pressed by my aura, asked me.

"Yes?"

"No, nothing."

Camelia is Gareth’s relative.

I think she’s like his great-aunt.

That’s why the name sounded familiar.

The House of Bardum is one of the in-laws of the House of Berte.

I remember meeting her at a forced party.

A noble with a striking appearance, looking like she was in her thirties despite being over fifty.

'Queen of Pleasure, Camelia.'

Gareth must have sent me here to keep an eye on her.

Actually, as an illegitimate child who was on the outskirts of the House of Berte, Gareth didn’t have many useful subordinates.

In that situation, I became his closest confidant.

"Are those bandits directly under Camelia’s command?"

"No. They probably bribe the Baron, who turns a blind eye."

"Hmm. Investigate this more thoroughly."

I’m not afraid of Camelia, but it’s not wise to stir up a hornet’s nest.

"Yes."

"Hmm. But what does the bandits’ plundering have to do with the servants?"

Maruk’s face turned red as he spoke.

This guy, does he have anger management issues?

"The bribes the bandits pay are the village’s maidens."

"Wh-What?"

"They take food and money, and bring the village maidens to the Baron of Bardum. The girls are forced to become courtesans in Bardum."

This is some kind of crazy party.

Human trafficking?

"Is it possible to do this without making them slaves?"

"There are people who specialize in forging documents."

"I’m going crazy."

No wonder there were fewer women in the village than I expected.

Considering the normal ratio Maruk mentioned…

This has been a long-standing issue.

Daring to kidnap and sell my precious subjects?

Taking away the people I’m supposed to use…

I can’t just stand by and watch.

This is clearly a capital offense under Gareth’s law.

────────────────────────────────────

────────────────────────────────────