Chapter 12

Chapter 12

12. Bromwood (3)

“We will resume the checkpoint as soon as the sun rises tomorrow!”

In the end Benrik’s group could not cross the city wall even after the sun set and the night deepened.

‘Really strict.’

The city is at a distance where if you fall your nose touches but camping.

“I should have spent tonight in Lisa’s cozy embrace, it was scheduled to be so, damn world···.”

When the members who had been swollen with dreams of eating, drinking, and enjoying for once could not hide their regret.

With the sound of weapons colliding a group passed by the side of the companions.

A chin raised confidently and a gaze fixed forward. Steps that matched with precise rhythm as if one person was making them, they were the guards of the eastern checkpoint.

Compared to Louiswell’s soldiers who were lax from one to ten, the military discipline was so properly caught that comparing was sorry.

“We will resume the checkpoint as soon as the sun rises tomorrow!”

The leading soldier who put on a green gambeson shouted. Probably intending to guide to the end of the procession where the sound wouldn’t reach.

Someone blocked in front of such a soldier.

“Logics.”

It was a face Benrik knew well.

“Spare a little time.”

“Who is this, Jenkinson!”

The soldier who was opening his eyes triangularly saw Jenkinson’s face and delighted.

“Ah, have you been well?”

It seemed they were quite close. The man sent the colleague soldiers standing behind and properly opened the waterway of conversation.

“You managed to return alive from that infamous mountain range!” “Well it’s not to that extent, exaggeration.”

Benrik who lived in the infamous mountain range just stayed still.

“More than that what on earth is the matter? I heard the story that a high fairy was kidnapped, is it true?” “Ah···. The lord directly issued a strict order. It seems certain it is human doing. If by any chance it is discovered inside the city wall···.”

He who shook his head as if horrible just imagining pointed at his own face with a finger.

“Do you see my face? I already couldn’t enter the house for six days. What kind of bastard it is if only caught···.”

Whether what was piled up was correct he grinds his teeth and pours out complaints.

“Hmm?”

He who was bursting with anger discovered Benrik standing next to Jenkinson and opened his eyes round.

“Is it your kid?”

Benrik reflexively narrowed the corners of his eyes at once, and Jenkinson who saw such Benrik muttered as if hurt.

“You, why are you feeling bad?”

Oops, I decided to treat him well. Benrik hurriedly tidied his expression.

“A bug entered my eye.”

Seeing that appearance Logics the eastern checkpoint commander’s eyes shone.

“Really, is it your kid?” “No. A newly recruited member.” “I am Benrik.” “Nice to meet you, Benrik.”

He who greeted squinted his eyes and looked at Jenkinson.

“···Even so was your mercenary group’s situation that bad to the extent of accepting even such a young child?” “To say it is long. Let’s have a seat separately later.”

At that Logics who glanced once toward the distant soldiers nodded his head.

“Let’s do so. Though I don’t know if there will be leisure.”

With that it was the end. Logics who finished the short conversation returned to work again.

Jenkinson also did not make a difficult request to him, and Logics the checkpoint commander also did not particularly try to show convenience.

Seeing that he went after complaining a lot it seems rather than that individual’s tendency it is the influence of the lord Silvan Bromwood.

‘A side without flexibility.’

Originally a group’s atmosphere is swayed according to the leader’s tendency.

Like the members of Jenkinson’s mercenary group are mostly crazy about dopamine.

And Benrik knew from past life experience.

Rolling under those without flexibility may be mentally comfortable but how physically hard a thing it is.

Jenkinson who glanced at Hodge’s reaction slightly turned around, then bent his waist and walked.

“Jenkinson, where are you going?” “Be quiet, you punk.” “···?” “Right, will you go together too?” “Where?” “A shell game has opened they said. Since you are now our member you should know how to gamble at least.”

‘Shell game?’

Hmm. At the thought that suddenly brushed past Benrik lowered his posture following him.

It might be an opportunity to test the newly obtained privilege.

“Huh? Are you really going?” “Yes, well watching a bit is fine. Anyway it’s early to sleep.”

At Benrik’s words Jenkinson grinned and asked in a teasing tone.

“So confident but why are you hiding?”

Because Hodge is the side without flexibility.

***

The shell game operator was a dwarf with an impressive long beard. He was shorter than Benrik who was about the chest of an adult male.

It was not the first time Benrik saw them.

Unlike the fairies with strong closed tendencies they are relatively active in exchange with humans so he had brushed past them a few times on the way here.

While doing so he learned one new fact.

That dwarves have muscular physiques regardless of age and gender.

Even so, that the shell game operator who seems to have no relation at all to strength-using work has muscles similar to Jenkinson who does strength training like eating rice, is still a part that is not understood.

‘Might these people also be descendants of northern barbarians?’

When he was thinking idly the shell game operator took out wooden cups stacked neatly.

But the number was a bit different from what Benrik knew.

‘Usually three isn’t it?’

The number of cups he took out from the backpack was as many as five. With that it seems eye trickery would be more difficult rather.

It was a needless worry.

“Open both eyes wide and watch.”

The shell game operator who said triumphantly confined a bead inside the cup.

The cups placed in a line on the table start to mix chaotically. Whoosh whoosh! The spectators’ eyes also spun as if they would fall out.

‘···Strange. Why do the hands look like four.’

Even with Benrik’s eyes that raised dynamic vision staking life to avoid magical beasts’ attacks it was a speed hard to follow.

‘Ugh, eyes hurt.’

Only after a long while the cups that were whirling mindlessly stopped.

He had no idea where the bead was.

Even so the quite drunk people put coins in front of the cups without hesitation.

“I clearly saw! The third cup!” “Eyes are knotholes I guess, it’s the first cup.” “No, the second! I’ll bet two silver coins on the second!” “Then I’ll three!”

Confidence overflowed as much as the action. Looking only at the way of speaking it was almost certainty. Strange. Clearly they seemed to be concentrating on the liquor glass more than the table, are they donation angels?

Jenkinson also as if unable to lose took out a few silver coins from his pocket.

“Do you know where it is? Did you see?” “No. I didn’t see.”

No so, why are you so confident when you didn’t see?

“Gambling is originally momentum.” “······.”

Benrik let his words go in one ear and concentrated his eye power. The eyes of the child who was staring through the cups sparkled for a moment.

“Is there no one else to bet more?”

The shell game operator put on a meaningful smile and said. Benrik pulled Jenkinson’s arm.

“The fifth. Do the fifth cup.” “Hmm?” “Believe me once.”

At Benrik’s words someone snorted as if to be heard.

“Ha.”

It was a man of slender physique with a large bow on his back, wearing an eyepatch on one eye.

“The ball didn’t even roll that way, kid. The first cup has the highest probability.”

Spectators who recognized him each said a word.

“Black horn bow and eyepatch···. Isn’t it Hawk Eye Bjorn?” “Who is that?” “A quarter-elf with amazing archery skill, a mercenary quite famous in Bromwood.” “With fairy eyesight it is trustworthy···! Good, I’ll also bet on the first!”

Roughly it seemed a person with extremely good eyesight.

Actually Benrik also saw. The bead particularly didn’t roll to the right.

‘But······.’

Benrik who reconfirmed the cup whose outline stood out alone said to the man.

“That we’ll know if we open it.”

At that confident attitude the mercenary called Bjorn raised one eyebrow.

Jenkinson placed one gold coin whose origin of taking out was unknown in front of the fifth cup, and Benrik was inwardly surprised.

‘Earlier he clearly took out silver coins didn’t he?’

When Benrik looked, he nods his head with a resolute expression for some reason. Whether it means he is prepared to lose money, or it is fine even if he loses he doesn’t know.

Bjorn who saw the two people exchanging glances sneered.

“Ha, is it a hidden child or something? The cheeky one resembles you exactly.”

Now seeing they knew each other. But why does everyone who sees ask if it’s a child.

‘···Not resembling at all.’

Jenkinson responded to the man with an expression as if looking at something ridiculous.

“Your tongue is long, if scared go back.”

Bjorn who glared at Jenkinson took out two gold coins and placed them in front of the first cup.

Wow, people are rich, rich. Taking out gold coins one after another.

“Open it.”

The shell game operator who was making a flustered expression at the enlarged board looked at such Bjorn and let out a sigh.

“···Ahem, then I’ll open.”

He glanced at Benrik then overturned the cups in order.

─Clack clack clack!

“Kya! It’s real!” “That kid’s words were correct.” “It’s the fifth cup!” “This Hawk Eye Bjorn has also gone downhill?”

The spectators who had been watching the confrontation interestingly sighed.

“What······?”

While Bjorn could not hide his bewilderment, Jenkinson who received a heavy pouch from the shell game operator grinned.

“Shall I recommend a new nickname? How about one-eyed?”

While jingling the money pouch as if to show.

“······If someone sees they would think you got it right.” “In result I won the money, you lost.”

When the two people were having a nerve war, the shell game operator asked Benrik in a tone as if a bit hurt in pride.

“Kid did you really see it? Even looking like this I am a person famous for hand speed.”

Benrik pondered for a moment then answered.

“See what. I just guessed. Well.” “Huh, guessed?”

Suspicious signs were clear.

“You were almost certain?”

Benrik shrugged his shoulders.

“Because they said gambling is momentum.”

***

Around the time dawn brightened the checkpoint resumed.

The mercenary group and peddlers could put an end to the long journey only when it was almost noon.

During waiting the settlement was all finished, and what remained was only saying farewell but.

“Thanks to you this trade trip also ended safely, you worked hard. Jenkinson.”

Not as much as Oswald, but a peddler with quite a bit of experience going in and out of Logon Village.

“We are the ones. Thanks for even taking care of the extra money.”

When Marcel and the others left the group the payment falling to the mercenary group decreased a bit. It seemed the merchants gathered money ten by ten and paid all the remaining payment, and even added extra money.

“Wasn’t it you who caught the bandits. We also gained. We should do this much. Then please take care next year too.”

He who said to Jenkinson slightly bent his waist then looked at Benrik.

“Benrik, then let’s see again. I hope you do well.” “Yes, uncle too.”

Right after parting with the merchants like that,

“I’m going, Lisa!” “Always that Lisa.”

The members also scattered rejoicing.

“Benrik, hyung is going to write history from now, won’t you go together?”

Matthew who was requesting accompaniment to the gambling den left with a startled expression upon receiving Hodge’s gaze, and Hodge also left his place to report to the adventurer guild.

“Let’s go too.”

Jenkinson said while walking loosely.

“Where are we going?” “Where, the office.”

Ah there was a separate office.

“Come to think of it where does Jenkinson stay?”

Thinking about it he had never heard. Is there a separate house? Or an inn? When he was thinking he replied as if natural.

“The office.” “What about the other members?” “The office or the brothel. Or the gambling den or the street. It differs each time.”

Benrik briefly retraced what the difference between a mercenary and a vagrant was then asked.

“Then what about me?” “The office.”

···Is it really the office?

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