Chapter 56

A few days later, Lamber visited the Mond Count's mansion with the seven main members of the guild "Dancing Sword."

The seven consisted of the guild master Yunos and four members who had been part of the unicorn hunting party, along with two adventurers whom Lamber had not seen in the forest.

The Mond Count's mansion was a large, elegant building made of beautiful red bricks.

The mansion was surrounded by a well-maintained garden, giving a glimpse of the owner's refined taste.

Though it was slightly smaller than the Obock Count's mansion, it was still spacious enough.

The biggest difference from the Obock Count's mansion was that the latter was built to withstand external enemies in emergencies.

The Obock Count's mansion had high, thick walls.

Moreover, there were many guards, and any intruder would be noticed immediately from any point of entry.

Given that the Obock Count had been in league with the anti-state organization "Pied Piper Devil," such caution was understandable.

Yunos walked at the front and bowed politely to the two gatekeepers standing at the entrance of the wall.

"We have been invited by Count Mond. I am Yunos, the master of the guild 'Dancing Sword.'"

The gatekeeper narrowed his eyes and glared at Yunos suspiciously.

Lamber, who had been watching from behind, found this somewhat odd.

(If the 'Dancing Sword' members were coming to the mansion today, it should be known by anyone serving Count Mond...)

As Lamber was wondering, one of the gatekeepers turned away from Yunos and called out to his colleague.

"Hey, go fetch someone to guide them."

The one who was ordered nodded silently and ran towards the mansion without even acknowledging Yunos and the others.

Clearly, the response was unusual.

The gatekeepers served the nobility, and while 'Dancing Sword' was a top-tier guild, they were still just adventurers.

Nevertheless, their rudeness was excessive.

"Hey, we were invited. What's the meaning of this..."

Fand moved to confront the remaining gatekeeper.

Yunos stopped him with an arm.

"I apologize. He tends to be a bit hot-blooded."

Fand looked unconvinced but reluctantly backed down.

The gatekeeper snorted in response.

"Indeed, that's what it looks like. After all, you're just a bunch of roughnecks who've risen to some status."

Yunos did not respond to the gatekeeper's words.

He merely wore an inscrutable smile, seemingly unaffected by the sarcasm.

As they waited, the gatekeeper who had run off returned with a large man.

The man's arms were as thick as logs, and his face, with its swollen nose and cheeks, resembled a rock-skinned pig.

He clearly did not look like a guide.

"......"

Sensing the ominous atmosphere, the other members of 'Dancing Sword' became wary.

(In these peaceful times, for even the servants to not neglect their training... impressive.)

Lamber, however, was thinking about something entirely different.

In the era he had lived in, strength was everything.

Noble mansions were often attacked, so it was not unusual for a guide to be a blatant warrior.

Thus, he did not find it particularly strange.

"I see, I see, so you're the 'Dancing Sword' who brought back the unicorn's horn. It's true that you're skilled at hunting monsters in secret, unlike us! Ha! You can use anything, can't you?"

The large man laughed.

Hearing this, Lamber finally understood.

(...The unicorn's horn, which was needed urgently, could not be obtained by anyone due to the headless horse. In other words, these are the private soldiers whose pride was hurt.)

Lamber's hope in the large man had quickly faded.

"I am Grasco! The leader of the private soldiers serving Count Mond. But I'm disappointed. I came out to see the faces of the adventurers who brought back the unicorn's horn, but you're all so scrawny! I'm let down."

(So, this is the top of Count Mond's private soldiers. It seems the count really does rely on adventurers. From the lord's perspective, adventurers are pawns that can be used freely when needed, but this also means they lack a sense of responsibility. When the city of Balaira becomes a battlefield, how many will actually fight to defend this land...)

Lamber looked at the private soldier leader Grasco with a sense of disappointment.

The name of the adventurer city Balaira was not just for show, but couldn't the direct subordinates be a bit better?

"You don't seem to have any capable ones! Ha! Come, before meeting the count, let me have a little fun with you, hmm? If you're weak, it will be embarrassing for us who had our jobs taken by you. Understand? It's a nuisance, those guilds who move sneakily to earn the count's trust!"

Grasco signaled, and the gatekeeper who had fetched him rolled out two practice swords he had been carrying.

"No matter how many petty achievements you roughnecks accumulate, I won't recognize them. One of you, come out and fight me with these practice swords. If you can land a hit on me first, I'll let you through."

"......This is troublesome. I think Count Mond would be angry if he knew about this?"

"Huh?"

Yunos was genuinely flustered.

Challenging the guests invited by the lord without permission was beyond thoughtless.

Yunos was confident he could defeat Grasco, but he wanted to avoid any trouble that might follow.

It would be troublesome if they were accused of starting the trouble.

Most of Count Mond's private soldiers were from the count's relatives.

This had been the custom since the previous generation, and many families had deep ties.

Count Mond could not simply dismiss them.

The internal structure was authoritarian, unlike the merit-based system of adventurers.

While they were trained, the private soldiers, supported by their families and the count, lacked the sense of urgency of the adventurer guilds and were slow to grow, at best reaching the level of second-rate adventurers.

Occasionally, the count would recruit capable individuals, but they would be bullied and driven out by Grasco's faction, who feared losing their positions.

Grasco did not really think he could drive them away.

He simply could not stand the idea of adventurers walking around the mansion, boasting about doing the job the private soldiers could not.

"I'll go."

Lamber stepped forward.

He knew Yunos and the others were worried about damaging the guild's reputation.

He himself was unrelated to 'Dancing Sword' and did not intend to stay in this place for long.

The adventurers of 'Dancing Sword' looked relieved and were grateful for Lamber's quick thinking.

"That would be no fun if you didn't!"

Grasco grinned and took a practice sword from the gatekeeper.

(Fool! The practice sword I gave him has a weakened blade. It will break with one strike...)

As Lamber picked up the practice sword, Grasco readied his own.

"Got it? The first to land a hit anywhere on the body with the practice sword wins!"

Without waiting for a response, Grasco charged.

His target was Lamber's guard.

He intended to break the sword and then knock down the unarmed opponent.

"Hmph."

Suddenly, Lamber snapped the practice sword in two and threw it to the ground.

He dodged Grasco's sword, struck the back of Grasco's hand to make him drop his practice sword, closed the distance, and slapped him lightly on the face.

"Wha—!?"

Grasco rolled on the ground and hit his head against the wall.

Lamber's light slap was not so light.

Seven or eight of Grasco's teeth fell out, and blood pooled on the ground.

All the teeth on the side of his face that was hit had shattered.

Fortunately, that was all that happened.

If Lamber had hit him with full force, Grasco's neck would have been broken for sure.

"Ah, ah! Ow, ow...! What... What did you do to me...?"

When Grasco looked up, he saw Lamber raising the practice sword.

"The fight isn't over until I hit you with the practice sword."

Grasco turned pale, retreated, and clung to the wall, trembling.

When Lamber moved slightly, Grasco thought it was the signal for execution, and he convulsed in fear before losing consciousness.

He also wet himself, and water spread from between his legs.

"...How pitiful. If you are a soldier, why do you disgrace your lord?"

Lamber slowly lowered the raised practice sword and carefully returned it to the gatekeeper by the handle.

"Y-Yes... I'm sorry..."

The gatekeeper, who had been so rude, knelt and took the practice sword with both hands.

He had been considering intervening if Lamber gained the upper hand or complaining about the outcome, but there was no time for that.

(I was skeptical about the story of Robin Hood being driven away, but it was this bad...)

Yunos's expression changed, and he glared at Lamber's back.

Lamber noticed Yunos's gaze but did not turn around.