Chapter 4 – Savage Age (4)

Veloc shifted his gaze. Beside the skill window, a few small stats were also visible.

Strength and Stamina.

Simple stats related to the physical body.

Hmm. After contemplating for a moment, Veloc invested the point in Strength. Instantly, he could feel that his originally powerful grip strength had become even stronger.

Even though he had simply raised a single digit, it was enough to win a contest of strength against Bourbon from earlier.

“Oh.”

Veloc could instinctively tell.

That the system window existing inside his inner self would become a great power to carve his way through this land.

A detail different from the game, a more detailed explanation, and rising images.

This is indeed fascinating. Veloc explored the inner world without realizing the passage of time.

Just then.

“I still can’t believe it. Are we really settling down in Roben?”

Adel’s excited voice shattered Veloc’s thoughts. As he slightly opened his closed eyes, her slender neckline stood out beneath her neatly tied-up black hair.

Whether she felt awkward in a dress for the first time, Adel kept fidgeting with her clothes while looking at the mirror placed in the room.

Quietly watching that scene, Veloc checked his party attire and chuckled. The rise in status of the master they served naturally extended its influence to the squire as well.

It was a matter of course that there was a difference in the weight of words between a free knight and a formal knight. It was understandable that Adel was happy. Since she had truly suffered all sorts of hardships for the two years after she was taken in by Veloc.

Currently, her head was probably filled with a flower garden. Whether she was looking forward to the upcoming banquet, her eyes shined as she kept talking.

“I heard that the two knights under his command, excluding the lord and his daughter, are also coming to this banquet. Even so, they must be guys who can’t even match Sir Veloc’s heels. Since they only ran away like cowards and couldn’t even breach the castle gate.”

She criticized the knights who were responsible for breaking through the gate at another location.

Veloc nodded inwardly. ‘Sharp.’

Those guys were indeed nothing special.

As far as he knew, because they had served the lord for a long time, they were guys the lord embraced out of affection.

Those who became knights through connections rather than skill. Their names… he couldn’t even remember. They were such minor characters.

Veloc shrugged his shoulders.

“You overevaluate me, Adel.”

Contrary to his thoughts, the words that came out were humble. His habit from the time he lived as a modern person.

“Puhu. I simply spoke the truth. If it weren’t for Sir Veloc, it would have taken several more weeks to conquer Bates.”

She praised her master’s mercenary leadership, valor, and spirit.

Even though it was clearly something he did in his memories, Veloc somehow felt tickled.

So he just listened quietly.

“There will surely be severe territoriality. But we just have to prove it with skill.”

The smart squire was already reading the future situation.

She clenched her fists tightly. Firm muscles and veins bulged over her delicate body.

Only then did Veloc understand why Adel had talked so much like that. It was her own way of relieving tension.

Knock, knock.

“Sir Veloc. The time has come, so I have come to escort you.”

At the butler’s voice echoing from outside the door, the two nodded and followed him to the banquet hall. A spacious hall located at the center of the castle. The banquet was being held there.

As if showing off the wealth of the trade city Roben, the floor was covered in red carpet, and the dining table was filled with luxurious foods.

Spices said to be more expensive than their weight in gold were heavily sprinkled over the roasted turkey and pork, and a deep, mellow aroma exuded from the long-aged wine.

Perhaps they had summoned an orchestra, as cheerful music kept echoing.

In the hall, everyone who was considered someone of importance in the territory was gathered.

Including the secretary responsible for domestic affairs and the strategist who was the lord’s advisor, as well as the two knights responsible for martial power that Adel spoke of and their squires.

Besides them, there were plenty of people from various occupations.

Among the numerous vassals, the Lord of Roben, who was seated at the highest seat of honor, naturally stood out.

He laughed out loud and spread his arms.

“My new sword has arrived. Welcome, Sir Veloc.”

Beside him stood a woman who still had a bit of a youthful look.

A beautiful face completely different from the fat lord’s appearance. But Veloc could tell at a single glance. That she was the lord’s daughter.

‘What was her name again? Was it Veronica? Surely, after Roben fell, she lived a miserable life as a slave…’

While Veloc was rummaging through his mind, Adel nudged his side. And then she whispered softly.

“Sir Veloc. You are in front of the lord.”

‘Ah.’

Only then did Veloc snap out of it. And he bowed his head.

“Thank you for the warm hospitality, My Lord.”

“Haha. Indeed, my daughter’s face is something one cannot easily take their eyes off.”

Thinking the young knight was captivated by his daughter’s beauty, the lord smiled slightly.

It was always pleasing to have one’s flesh and blood praised. The lord generously decided to forgive his mistake.

“Nice to meet you, illustrious knight. I am Veronica.”

At Veronica’s introduction, Veloc bowed his head. A brief exchange of greetings with the father and daughter ended. The lord raised his cup high.

“Now, let us begin! Today, everyone, please eat and enjoy yourselves.”

The lord gave a congratulatory speech, sat for a brief moment, and then left. Soon, only his daughter remained alone at the seat of honor.

“Welcome to Roben, Sir Veloc. I am…”

“Sir Veloc. I would like to hear in detail about the achievement of defeating Bourbon.”

Various people approached and spoke to him. Most of them were, so to speak, emerging forces who, like Veloc, had not settled in the territory for very long.

Their hidden motive was obvious. It was to somehow unite among themselves and push out the long-established local factions.

‘No matter where you go, it’s a turf war.’

Veloc sighed inwardly. That was not much different whether in the 21st century or here in the Middle Ages. Veloc responded to them moderately while eating and drinking.

Although they were luxurious foods rarely seen anywhere else, to a modern person tamed by the tastes of various seasonings, they were less delicious than a cheap hamburger.

Damn it. Another reason to escape this place has been added.

Veloc lamented.

“I want to eat gukbap.”

“Sir Veloc. What kind of food is that again?”

Adel, who was tearing into meat like crazy beside her master while not losing her decorum, asked.

“A food of the gods that makes you feel so full as if your stomach would burst with just one bowl, and supplies nutrients throughout your whole body.”

“It’s like a magical food. I really want to try it too.”

“If there’s an opportunity, I’ll make it for you.”

While the two were giggling and chatting, a group of people approached. At this, the people gathered around Veloc eyed them and slinked away.

Seeing this, a red-haired man smirked and approached confidently. And then, he deliberately bumped shoulders. His speed was quite fast.

“Oops. My mistake.”

But Veloc, who was prepared, avoided it simply by taking a slight step back.

“It’s nothing to call a mistake.”

Veloc replied calmly. The man who missed his target stumbled.

His face flushed red. The moment he was about to open his mouth in anger,

another man with a mustache approached.

Putting a hand on the red-haired man’s shoulder, he spoke.

“Sir Malcolm. You seem quite drunk. Are you alright?”

“I… I am fine, Sir Gerst.”

“I shall apologize on his behalf. It seems this fellow was very excited by the appearance of a new knight.”

“It is fine. I didn’t suffer any particular damage either.”

‘For now,’ Veloc thought to himself as he observed the two men who had intruded. A red-haired youngster and a mustached middle-aged man.

Malcolm and Gerst.

The only thing the two had in common. Having quite well-trained bodies. And dragging squires behind them.

‘So it’s these bastards.’

The two incompetent knights Adel spoke of. Men who were like passing dust even in the game, and the local faction of Roben. Veloc’s eyes sank coldly.

‘Come to think of it, there was an event where they pick a fight at the banquet.’

He had forgotten about it because it was such a minor happening. From their perspective, his existence must have been bothersome.

He, a free knight, had conquered the castle all by himself which the two of them couldn’t capture together, and even crushed the notorious enemy knight. They must have feared the lord’s favor shifting elsewhere.

Veloc was caught in a power struggle that existed anywhere.

Gerst spoke.

“I have heard much of your renown in defeating Bourbon, Sir. We will be working together in the future, so I came to see your face. I am Gerst.”

Gerst offered a handshake. But Veloc ignored him and glanced behind.

At some point, Malcolm and Gerst’s squires were surrounding Adel and giggling.

Concentrating his hearing, vulgar words were heard.

“Serving as a squire with a woman’s body. Isn’t it difficult?”

“Could she have won that position with her body?”

“Hahaha. The joke is going too far, Sanson. Even if she is the squire of a rootless wanderer…”

Adel ignored the squires’ words without even batting an eye.

Considering her personality, it was an unbelievable response, but the squire, not wanting to cause trouble for her master, was holding back and enduring for now. But she couldn’t stop her hands from trembling with rage.

‘These bastards…’

Watching that situation, a vein bulged on Veloc’s forehead.

Although it was a trivial provocation, seeing his cherished subordinate insulted was enough to enrage him.

There was no way the squire bastards would act so boldly on their own. No doubt the mustache before him had ordered it.

A shallow but dirty trick. Gerst, who had pulled it off, spoke slyly.

“Sir. My hand feels quite empty. Won’t you hold it soon?”

Gerst playfully waved his large hand in front of him. Veloc stared at him for a moment before finally nodding. The two shook hands.

Tight! Veins bulged all over Gerst’s hand. He smirked.

‘Got you.’

Although Gerst was cowardly and played it safe, he was the number one man in Roben in terms of physical strength.

He intended to break this brat’s hand just like this.

‘No doubt he killed that Bourbon guy through a pincer attack with the mercenaries.’

Achievements on the battlefield were usually prone to exaggeration.

Even if one killed a single soldier, it would be inflated to having killed dozens.

Gerst believed that Veloc killing Bourbon was a fluke.

So, partly to recover his crumpled pride, he picked a fight with this young knight.

In a banquet where people’s attention was gathered, the sight of a newly invested knight crying out would be a good spectacle. Furthermore, if he couldn’t hold a sword for a while for rehabilitation, the lord’s favor would also fade.

Gerst, who smiled despicably, squeezed with force. However, there was no reaction from the opponent.

‘Huh?’

Strange. A scream should be coming out by now.

As he looked at Veloc with a puzzled mind, the fellow was also smiling.

At that moment,

a monstrous force struck Gerst’s hand.

Crack!

“Guh.”

Veloc’s grip strength, which had become even more powerful after investing the stat point, exerted its force. The sound of bones twisting was heard.

Gerst, who had been confident until just a moment ago, groaned with a trembling face. However, gathering his last pride, he barely managed to maintain a smiling face.

Veloc snorted at the show before his eyes. ‘I have to acknowledge his poker face, at least. But how long can he keep that up?’

Veloc applied even more strength to his grip.