Chapter 84

Chaf stood there in a daze.

The movements of Sora and the Flame Squad, carried out without prior consultation, replayed in his mind over and over again.

The judgment to step into the center of the confrontation as a third party, neither on the side of the residents nor the merchants.

The courage to sheathe his sword amidst those who had drawn theirs to show that he harbored no ill intent.

The loyalty of subordinates who followed without a hint of doubt and the leadership that underpinned it.

Chaf murmured, realizing that he lacked all of these qualities.

– Is the gap really this wide?

Overwhelmed by the overwhelming disparity in ability that had been displayed, Chaf was rooted to the spot, unable to move, as he watched Sora, who had driven away the merchants, walk towards the storage warehouse. The guard assigned to him by Count Tryanen clicked his tongue irritably.

"Master, shouldn't you go?"

"A, ah... Yes, you're right."

– What am I doing, spacing out like this? I should have known there was a gap.

Chaf took a deep breath to steady himself.

Regaining his composure, Chaf took small steps towards Sora to join the discussion with the residents' representative. His feet felt unusually heavy.

After a while, a man with a shaved head appeared from the storage warehouse.

He could not ignore Sora's handling of the situation, which was unprecedented for the notorious Kleinzelt family.

Given that a violent resolution was not out of the question, it made sense to try to resolve the matter through negotiation. The man awkwardly bowed before Sora and Chaf.

"Viscount Kleinzelt, I apologize for causing a disturbance. We also have lives to live, so we couldn't ignore the news that our firewood was being sold. We've fortified the building with the vigilante group."

Even as he bowed, the man made it clear that he had no intention of handing over the storage warehouse. Sora nodded in understanding.

"I understand. This is the result of our mistake, so I have no intention of punishing you."

Even though Sora had not appointed the official who had signed the contract, the residents would see it as a transfer of responsibility.

Sora chose to admit the mistake and proceed constructively.

However, the man, who was familiar with the Kleinzelt family's reputation, seemed taken aback by this unexpected response, his gaze wavering.

Sora continued with a wry smile.

"The contract is absolute. The firewood will be sold to the merchants. I want you to understand this, even if it's difficult. I've already sent my subordinates to nearby villages to purchase replacement firewood to ensure the residents can survive the winter."

As he explained his efforts to secure firewood for the winter, the residents whispered among themselves, skeptical of the speed of his actions.

For those familiar with the Kleinzelt family, this swift response was hard to believe.

As expected, the representative furrowed his brow in suspicion.

"... Your response is remarkably quick."

"Originally, I intended to prioritize securing materials for reconstruction. However, the delay in informing you has caused unnecessary confusion, which is far from perfect. By the way, you mentioned a vigilante group. Are you the leader?"

While observing the group claiming to be the vigilante group in front of the warehouse, Sora asked the representative.

None of them had weapons that could be called significant. Axes and spears could be used as weapons, but they were primarily tools for daily life, not much different from kitchen knives.

It wouldn't be a problem if they had swords, but Sora was considering the possibility of recruiting a few of them into the Flame Squad and eventually training them as the lord's army.

The representative's eyebrows furrowed as he followed Sora's gaze.

"I am the representative. The leader, well, he... ran away with the town official..."

His voice grew quieter as he spoke, embarrassed by the scandal of his group's leader fleeing.

Sora and Chaf exchanged glances with their mouths slightly open, realizing they hadn't misheard, and then looked up to the sky in unison.

"Viscount Kleinzelt, what is going on with this land?"

"I want to know too. Seriously, everyone..."

Seeing the representative's weak smile, Sora said, "You must be having a tough time," and received a weak smile in return.

The man cleared his throat and returned to the topic.

"Right now, nearby villages are also making smoked food, so it's unlikely that we can gather enough firewood. Unless you can provide the firewood or at least a plan that reassures us, we cannot hand over the warehouse."

Despite feeling somewhat relieved by Sora's demeanor, the representative conveyed his demands with a heavy heart. As a representative of the residents, he had a line he could not cross.

Sora appreciated the man's commitment to his duty despite the awkwardness.

"I understand your demands. Once the preparations are complete, I will send a messenger. Until then, it's fine for you to occupy the warehouse, but I cannot have you touch the contents. I will place guards to watch over it."

Sora pointed behind him. The man followed his gaze and saw the Flame Squad, with their intimidating faces, and looked troubled.

If they were to be watched by those men, no one would have the courage to take anything from the warehouse.

It was a stark contrast to the young viscount standing before them, but recalling the well-coordinated movements he had seen earlier, it was clear that they had a strong bond of trust.

Even if he refused, he would still be monitored from a distance.

There was no point in making things worse when the negotiations were about to reach a smooth conclusion.

However, fear is fear.

The representative accepted reluctantly, knowing that many would be troubled by the presence of the guards.

"Alright, we have an agreement for now."

Sora smiled and extended his hand for a handshake, causing a stir among the vigilante group.

The representative shook his hand, feeling the small hand and reflecting on the heavy responsibility the young man before him carried, worrying if he would be crushed by it.

"Then, we will withdraw."

Seeing the retainers greet the young noble with trusting eyes, the representative smiled, realizing his concerns were unfounded.