Chapter 50 – Greed (1)

Belloc was slightly flustered. He belonged to the knight class and was one of the pillars of the ruling powers that constituted the kingdom. Therefore, facing the spears and blades of soldiers inside a city was a novel experience.

In Hameln, he had initiated contact with the lord to save Kara, which caused a mess, but in this land, he had committed no wrongdoing whatsoever.

Adel drew the sword at her waist and shouted.

“Impudent! Who do you dare think this person is, to block his path?”

Despite the female knight’s scolding, the soldiers were not intimidated. They merely gripped the shafts of their spears and the wooden handles of their crossbows tightly, glaring at the group. ‘They are well-trained bastards.’ Just as Belloc was about to draw the sword slung on his back.

“Are you the group of knights said to have entered the forest the day before yesterday and come back out?”

Parting the soldiers, a middle-aged man wearing chainmail and a surcoat showed himself.

It was the voice from earlier. Gripping the hilt of his sword, Belloc replied.

“That is correct. Is there some sort of problem?”

The middle-aged knight’s eyes scanned Belloc’s group like a hawk.

A spellcaster, a giant greatsword. A female knight with cat-like eyes. ‘It matches the testimonies of the adventurers who escaped.’ However, the place where the middle-aged knight’s gaze lingered the longest was the group’s bulging luggage and the strange armor Belloc wore.

His eyes glistened with greed for a moment before it vanished. Stroking his chin, the middle-aged man opened his mouth.

“A problem? There is a very big problem. It seems you caught a huge fortune by taking advantage of the monster’s disappearance. That means you dug through the Lord’s land and stole relics without permission.”

“Huh?”

Kara let out a dumbfounded laugh, and Adel’s pupils grew even sharper. She opened her mouth.

“Bullshit! Strictly speaking, the Flowing Forest is the territory of the ancient elves. If we are to talk about the ownership of the land, they would have it first. Moreover, I know that countless adventurers have passed through this land and its ruins. How is it that you only target us with such a ridiculous threat?”

“My goodness…”

Kara gaped. What surprised her was something else, rather than the soldiers surrounding them or the middle-aged knight’s false accusation. Tapping Belloc, Kara muttered.

“Did she always speak that well?”

“She is a kid who does it when she has to.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Belloc turned his gaze again. Since he was a head taller than average people, he could see not only the surrounding soldiers but also others clearly.

Typically, they were mercenaries and citizens looking at them with interested expressions while crossing their arms. ‘Hmm. I’ve become a celebrity in an instant.’

The middle-aged knight spoke again.

“A long time has passed since the elves departed. The one who has protected this land all this time is none other than our Lord. Therefore, it is sufficient to claim ownership. And did you call it a ridiculous threat? Unfortunately, that is not the case. The law was changed recently. From now on, a certain portion of all treasures emerging from that forest must be offered to the Lord of Karven.”

In the end, it meant that the Lord’s word was law.

“What a son of a bitch!”

Holy power burst out from the enraged Adel’s body. The middle-aged knight was startled, but he quickly adjusted his expression and raised one hand.

“Were you a paladin? A rough ability just like your mouth. So, you truly want to see blood.”

The soldiers gripped their spears as if to break them, and the crossbowmen also placed their fingers on the triggers.

As the situation took a bad turn, Kara also stepped forward with her staff and chanted a spell. Along with her low voice, her brown eyes shone like gems. Soon, she even emitted a sinister glow. In that touch-and-go moment, Belloc spoke.

“Do we just need to go to the Lord and hand over a portion of the treasures?”

“Lord Belloc?!”

“Are you serious?”

Offering the items obtained through such hardships to those guys? The two who were guarding the surroundings stared at Belloc with bewildered voices. Soon, they were relieved. Contrary to the words he spoke, his eyes were deeply sunken.

They were achromatic-like eyes that did not shake at any surrounding scenery or situation. Facing this, the two realized how Belloc would act once he went to the castle. Thus, they quietly put away their weapons. However, the middle-aged knight did not know this. Therefore, he smirked.

No matter how great they were, there was no way they could fight an entire city. His eyes now glistened, no longer hiding his greed.

“Indeed, you know how to think. There is no need to clean up corpses for nothing. Follow me. You shall meet the Lord and apologize for your past rudeness. Since he is a merciful person, there won’t be any major trouble.”

Under the guidance of the middle-aged knight, the three headed to Karven’s Lord’s Castle.

#

Inside the inner castle where grey bricks were laid neatly.

Sitting in a gorgeously decorated gem chair and looking down at the spacious hall, the Lord asked.

“Will those guys really offer treasures to me?”

“Your authority in this city is absolute. Who would dare ignore it?”

The Lord of Karven slightly released his chin, which he was resting on his hand, and looked to the side. The mage he had hired a few months ago was standing beside him.

Although he was a bit greedy and eccentric, his ability was real. Summoning a fireball the size of a human head, or creating a powerful shockwave to crush stones, he was a grand spellcaster.

Thanks to this man, the Lord was able to control his weak mind. Even so… The Lord of Karven let out an anxious voice.

“I heard there is a mage on that side too. Moreover, there are two heavily armed knights. What if those crazy bastards try to drive a sword into my heart?”

The mage, Dmitry, smiled leisurely. However, was it because he wore a black hood? It only appeared as a gloomy smile showing nothing but his mouth.

“They are merely wanderers. Wanderers who have no decent skills and no masters to employ them. Trust this Dmitry, who is your staff, Lord. And trust the spears and blades under your command. Sir Gordon and the other knights are not ones to fall behind in skill anywhere either, are they?”

At Dmitry’s boastful guarantee, the Lord gathered his trembling arms and legs. He brightened and shouted.

“T-That is right! I have you guys. Yes, I understand. I will trust only you. If we retrieve the relics from those scoundrels, I will surely hand them over to you.”

“I am merely grateful for your generosity, Lord.”

Dmitry bowed his head deeply. However, his gaze revealed beneath the hood was cold.

The reason he remained by this short coward’s side was simple.

He was interested in the ancient elves’ relics. However, the forest was a maze itself, and after the barrier was released, it was crawling with monsters.

No matter how much he coaxed the Lord to push in adventurers, only corpses were created with no particular gain. Just as Dmitry, who had given up on everything, was about to leave the city, he heard a piece of news from the surviving adventurers.

Along with the disappearance of the monsters roaming the forest, a group of knights had emerged from the forest carrying a load of luggage.

At that moment, Dmitry thought. Rather than exploring the ruins with difficulty, it would be better to snatch it. Fortunately, the knights of this castle were sufficiently greedy, and the Lord followed his words like a terrified deer. Now, all that remained was action.

When Dmitry grinned, the door of the hall opened with a boom along with the sound of a knock. Sir Gordon, the middle-aged knight, bowed his head along with dozens of armed soldiers.

Following behind, three figures he saw for the first time entered. To Dmitry, they were the existences who would offer the treasures. The gloomy mage’s smile grew even deeper. Bending one knee toward the Lord on the high seat, Gordon spoke.

“Lord. I have brought the gang who dared to dig through the ruins without your permission.”

“Mmh.”

The Lord of Karven adjusted his posture. He raised his chin a bit more and leaned back deeper. ‘Did he want to assert his authority as a lord? It was a cocky-looking posture.’

“Well done, Sir Gordon. So, are you the ones who entered my land without even paying respects and acted recklessly?”

Even if they were wanderers, a knight was a knight. The Lord used respectful language, considering his own dignity. However, Belloc did not answer. He merely turned his gaze slowly and scanned the surroundings.

Beneath the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the smooth stone floor and the red carpet shone elegantly. Perhaps to support the roof, several thick pillars were also embedded. Numerous figures bustled between them.

Soldiers wearing steel helmets resembling overturned plates and studded leather armor, the lightly armed middle-aged knight, the Lord sitting on the high seat, and the guy in a robe standing beside him, smiling unpleasantly.

‘Is this the end? The experience points will be low.’ While Belloc tilted his head, the Lord of Karven scolded.

“Impudent! Do you dare ignore my words when you are merely wanderers?”

“You guys. What is the meaning of this? Surely, you did not come with malicious intentions, did you?”

When Gordon, furrowing his brow, gestured, the soldiers’ spears and blades directed toward the group once again. Nonetheless, the group was relaxed.

Kara, crossing her arms slightly, was staring at the mage next to the Lord, and Adel was preparing to emit holy power. Taking out a bag of gems from his bosom after rummaging through it, Belloc spoke.

“Did you say we must pay a tribute? How much will suffice?”

“What the Lord needs is not some worthless gold coins, but the elves’ relics.”

The answer came from the robed man standing beside him. Glancing at the guy, Belloc spoke.

“I do not recall asking you. Who are you?”

“The guardian of the Forgotten Forest and their ankle fortress, a mysterious land where adventurers’ footsteps never cease. The advisory mage of Karven, Dmitry.”

“You describe being a spellcaster in quite a grand manner. So, you need relics?”

When Belloc snorted, Dmitry, who seemed to have his pride hurt and furrowed his brow, took a step forward.

“That is correct. In these times when demons and monsters run wild all over the world, a relic with self-defensive properties or mysterious efficacy is truly fitting for the Lord. Therefore…”

Swallowing his words for a moment, Dmitry’s eyes sparkled. Soon, staring at Belloc as if to pierce him, he licked his lips.

“First, I would like to receive that armor you are wearing. In addition, empty out all your belongings. I will return them after sorting through a few. If you dislike that, you will face my spells along with the spears and blades of dozens of soldiers.”

With Dmitry’s words, the hall of the Lord’s Castle was submerged in silence. Only the breathing of the tense soldiers or the clinking sound of Gordon’s chainmail was heard occasionally.

Dmitry liked this silence quite a bit. It was because he thought his intimidation had worked reasonably well. At that moment.

A loud laughter echoed. Dmitry’s gaze directed toward the foreigners.

The two black-haired knights laughed while shaking their shoulders, and the red-haired mage was holding her stomach as she laughed. The female mage wiped her eyes and opened her mouth.

“Your greed is just like a pig. For the Lord? How about you look at your own face before speaking? It is the height of filth.”

Dmitry’s face, hit right on the mark, turned bright red. Even before he could open his mouth, Adel, who drew her sword, shouted loudly.

“The state of the Lord here, who keeps such a bastard as a mage, is also obvious. Lord Belloc. Your command.”

“These guys?!”

When Gordon was flustered, Belloc took out a sheet of parchment from his bosom and tossed it to the Lord. As the startled Lord blinked his eyes, a paper stamped with a cross pattern came into view. It was a recommendation letter from the Loven Church. Belloc spoke.

“You have just insulted a paladin of Helena and a knight guaranteed by the Church. This must be paid with blood.”

At the clear provocation, Gordon gritted his teeth. ‘Fine. I will turn you into a spit.’

“Strike!”

At Gordon’s command, the soldiers’ spears poured in from all directions. It was a systematic thrust. However, even before Belloc and Adel could step forward, Kara’s spell burst out.

A giant shockwave exploded in the area, sending the soldiers rolling on the floor. Leaving behind the groans of the soldiers, Dmitry shouted.

“You stupid country girl! How do you plan to block my spell without even a barrier!”

Grinning, Dmitry threw the fireball in his hand. At this rate, the entire group was in a situation where they would become charcoal. Nevertheless, Kara smiled leisurely.

“You are the stupid one.”

Right before the sizzling fireball could reach them, the patterns on Belloc’s armor glowed loudly.