Chapter 8

This is interesting. What a twist of fate.

Forgetting the fear of death he had felt just moments ago, Noein Alquvist was delighted by their encounter.

In the past, while under house arrest in the annex of the Kivleft family estate, Noein had managed to gather some information from the outside, mainly through Matilda's eavesdropping.

According to the information, the Kivleft Earl was a petty, miserly, and unscrupulous lord who cared nothing for the common people as long as it benefited him.

Additionally, when it came to the obligation of the great nobles to provide troops for the conflict with the Eastern Pallas Empire, he had heard that the Earl often hired more cheap and expendable mercenaries than regular soldiers.

When he heard the story of these thieves, who claimed to have been "discarded by the southern nobles," he thought there might be a connection, and it turned out to be a direct hit.

They, too, had been toyed with and discarded by that father. So, they were in the same situation as him.

"I see. I see, I see. You guys were also toyed with by that damn father, huh?"

A sudden feeling of compassion, almost like affection, sprang up in him, and he smiled. The thieves, for some reason, took a step back with a frightened expression.

Even the leader, who had been so intimidating, was now cowering.

Why are you afraid? Just a moment ago, you were the ones making me afraid.

"...Hey, what's wrong? You."

The leader, as if making up his mind, asked. So, you want to know? Then I'll tell you.

"I am the son of Maximilian Kivleft, who put you in this situation. I was raised locked away in a corner of the estate, and I was thrown out here in the Bazel Great Forest, where they expected me to die a miserable death."

...

I never thought I'd meet someone who shares my hatred for that damn father.

With such a joyous expression, Noein told them about his own circumstances and his hatred for his father.

The words poured out like a waterfall. When he spoke them aloud, he was surprised at how much resentment and bitterness he had harbored.

His account was heavily influenced by his own perspective and hatred, so it was quite biased in his favor, but it could be said that it ultimately worked to elicit sympathy from the thieves.

"...I understand the situation. I get that you're not just some pampered noble."

The leader, who had been listening to Noein's outpouring of emotions, finally responded with a deflated expression, as if the air had been let out of him.

"So... I won't kill you. I'm not in the mood. I can't bring myself to kill someone who was discarded by that damn noble at such a young age. Is that okay with you guys?"

When the leader turned to his four subordinates, they nodded with expressions of being caught off guard.

"But what are you going to do? At your age, with a weak body, only a rabbit girl slave and a golem as subordinates, and without enough money, do you really intend to develop the forest that your father dumped you in? Why don't you just run away?"

Sitting down on the spot, the man asked, somewhat bewildered. Noein responded with a calm expression.

"I want to take revenge on my father. I want to take revenge by living a happier and more loving life than he did."

"...Huh?"

"I hate my father. I despise my father. So, I will take everything that my father took from me and everything that my father doesn't have. I will never be like my father. I will create a territory where the people can live happily, love the people, and be loved by the people. That is my revenge."

Yuri listened to this kid's words with disbelief.

It's too idealistic. Too dreamy. Hard to accept at first.

But his eyes were looking straight at Yuri, and it didn't seem like he was lying.

"Hey, why don't you come to my territory? Why don't you become my subjects? I promise to love you all my life and fulfill my duties as a lord for your sake."

"...Huh?"

Yuri was even more confused. The words made even less sense than before.

Is this kid serious?

Inviting the people who were trying to kill him into his territory?

Loving the people who were trying to kill him?

Even us, who have fallen to the level of thieves?

"We are being pursued by your father's army. We were thieves. We didn't kill or rape, but we survived by stealing people's belongings and property."

"I can confidently say that your father wouldn't chase us all the way to the edge of the kingdom just because a few of his subordinates were killed. And what's the big deal about being thieves? If I were in the same situation, I would have done the same to survive."

"...We tried to kill you, didn't we?"

"You didn't know my situation. But now it's different, right? So, it's all in the past. It's a trivial matter."

This kid is calling the attempt on his life a trivial matter.

"Because of that damn father, you lost the chance to live a proper life, right? Then why don't you take revenge with me? The revenge of living a happy life."

...This kid's words are beyond my understanding.

If I can't understand his words, I have to judge his true intentions by looking into his eyes.

Yuri stared at this kid's eyes. Looking straight... I can't help but think he's being sincere.

I don't think a kid his age could fake such a look.

The development of the situation is incomprehensible, but there's a strange persuasiveness and charm in this kid's words.

I thought he was just a crying kid a moment ago, but now I can feel a strange charisma from him.

The inexplicable intensity of this kid has cooled down my burning desire for revenge, which was to kill only the nobles. I've become calm enough not to think of killing anyone just because they are nobles.

Now, I think my hatred from before was a very childish way of thinking.

"...What if your words are a lie?"

By asking this, I must already be drawn to this kid's words.

"If you judge that I am not a lord worthy of your love, or if you think I am a noble like your father, then you can kill me at that time."

He says this as if it's nothing, just like before. His eyes are still serious.

...I'm in a bind.

This invitation is very tempting. We used to live as mercenaries in a relatively proper way. It was abnormal to hate nobles and become thieves. If we can return to a normal life, it would be much better.

Yuri looked away from this kid and at his subordinates, who had chosen to follow him even as thieves.

They were comrades who had maintained a minimum level of pride by keeping the vow of "no killing, no raping." Even without words, their will could be confirmed by meeting their eyes.

Their thoughts seem to be the same as mine.

We have lost our status and property and have fallen to the level of thieves. Even if we keep running around the kingdom, we won't be able to live a proper life.

Then, why not go along with this strange kid's strange words?

Our lives have been destroyed by a rotten noble, and now we are putting our remaining lives on the line for his crazy noble kid. What an ironic story.

Turning back to this kid, Yuri gave his answer to the invitation.

"Alright. I'll kill you if that time comes. But until then—"

Yuri spun his sword and planted it in the ground, bowing his head and kneeling. His four subordinates followed suit.

"—We will be the swords that fight your enemies and the shields that protect you. We will serve you faithfully."

These were the well-known words of a warrior's oath in the Roadberg Kingdom.

At this moment, new citizens were added to the Alquvist territory.

...

"Thank you. I also swear to respond to your loyalty."

Noein also returned the oath to the thieves who had planted their swords and sworn.

After this impromptu ceremony, the leader of the thieves—Yuri, apparently—looked a bit embarrassed and awkward as he said, "Well, that's how it is. And about what to do from now on..."

Noein, who had just been "the thief trying to take his life," was now facing Yuri and his men, who had become his subjects, and was a bit at a loss for words.

As if to break the tension, the man whose nosebleed had finally stopped spoke up.

"Um, at least, go and untie that rabbit girl."

Just as he said that,

"Haahh!"

Matilda, in a kicking stance, burst out of the bushes and turned him back into the nosebleed man.