Chapter 30

Chapter 30

30. Lucian Belmore (7)

What···.

“Are you asking about our father’s well-being now?”

Benrik was so surprised that he asked back forgetting even Lucian’s advice that ‘one must not ask back a noble’s words’.

“Hmm? Did I ask something I must not ask?” “It is not that but···.” “Well he will be doing well. Because he was a friend whose one sturdy body was recognized.”

Sturdy body.

There would be no word that can modify the human who even breaks rocks with bare hands better than that.

“That friend would also be in his forties now.”

Silvan Bromwood continuously gulped tea water and showed curiosity about Gerik like a monologue.

It was not a namesake, and not a mistake either.

He really knows Gerik.

“···He would be close to fifty.” “Already like that? Time is fleeting.” “Does the count know Gerik, our father?” “Of course, I know well.”

At the nuance as if knowing very well Benrik’s head spun fiercely.

He took out and unraveled Gerik’s mercenary days stories that were buried in the unconscious beyond after hearing with one ear and letting go.

─I lost my virginity at fifteen.

This is not it.

─It is not that I went to war from the beginning, when I was your age I also killed beasts more than people.

This is also not it.

─After the war ended? After ending I wandered here and there. What remains in memory is Bromwood, Aingel, Rudel or so, because the residents’ faces were all peaceful. Among them Bromwood I stayed quite long. Because I lived about 1 year.

This is it.

However unfortunately it was not a very useful memory in the current situation.

Because there was not a single one related to the count.

Thinking about it Gerik is a personality that quite likes to put on airs. If there is a connection with a noble there is no way he would not have boasted to all the village people.

Benrik suddenly looked at the gray heat haze rising above the count’s shoulder.

“······.”

······Surely if entangled with Gerik in a bad matter, so Crisis Sense activated?

Then the reason for not bringing up the story of knowing a noble is also understood.

“I know very well.”

Then the count nodded his head while wearing a meaningful smile.

Benrik tried to soothe the anxiety creeping up.

‘No, there is nothing confirmed yet.’

Hoping it was a good connection, that Gerik helped when the count was in a difficult matter.

Earnestly praying he asked back.

“If it is not rude may I ask how you know?” “Hmm. Since you asked not answering is also not the way.”

While narrowing the corners of the eyes as if troubled somehow the eyes sparkled like a wildcat that discovered play.

“He took my money and fled.”

What?

“Precisely he received only the money without solving the request and fled.”

···Ah, damn human.

***

“······.”

There was no agitation in the expression, but the speed of bringing the palate cleanser after the meal to the mouth noticeably slowed.

At that transparent reaction Silvan Bromwood swallowed laughter inside.

‘There is no corner resembling from one to ten.’

If seen without knowing one would absolutely not have recognized.

To that extent associating the child in front with Gerik was not easy.

If one has to find a resembling part, the meal amount of a level surpassing the father and the ashen hair or so.

If what is in front now is not Benrik but Gerik he would have first thrown his body out that window and seen.

Silvan Bromwood found Benrik interesting.

‘How did such a guy come out from that guy whose head seems made of cast iron?’

Actually from the beginning he was not certain that he is Gerik’s son.

Oswald, ashen hair, Logon Village, and the name ‘Benrik’.

He only guessed based on the information his ‘hawk’ brought.

Bromwood who was leisurely turning the teacup looked at Benrik.

“What do you think?”

He was too curious what thoughts that small head is having.

“Excuse me, it seems you mistook the person.”

Benrik continued the words in a calm tone not different even an inch from when first meeting.

“Our father is not such a person.”

Firm way of speaking, upright gaze.

Bromwood’s smile deepened.

‘Interesting.’

Even if he himself is a complete ruffian the child farming succeeded? Or he met a spouse well.

Whichever side it is interesting.

That Benrik took his money and fled was a lie. Precisely because it is not money but the advance payment reward ‘black iron’ that he took and fled.

“It can be so. Because it is already a matter over 20 years ago, I am also old now and the memory is not the same as before.”

Silvan Bromwood too easily withdrew the previous statement.

Benrik was flustered.

‘This works?’

No matter how much he thought the atmosphere was an atmosphere of saying instead you repay with the joint responsibility system so he blurted ‘it seems not our father’.

‘He believes this?’

The reason Benrik denied was one.

Because the evaluation of Silvan Bromwood as ‘a human with clear rewards and punishments’ that Lucian said while trembling remained in the mind.

Since the ‘reward’ was paid with a grand luncheon and a thick pouch, and praise as if the ears would melt now what remains is the punishment isn’t it.

Unlike the Republic of Korea here, in the empire the joint responsibility system was alive as is.

Even Baron Belmore who cut off his own bloodline did not avoid financial damage compensation.

One does not ask for the sin as much as the person concerned, but one cannot be completely free from that responsibility.

‘Crazy human! Dare to take a noble’s money and run? And send me to this city without even one word of notice?’

Benrik inwardly continuously picked up curses.

“Then how about confirming?”

Silvan Bromwood proposed.

‘It was not believing.’

What confirmation is he saying, it would be correct that Gerik took and fled unconditionally.

Even now the mercenary occupation cannot be said to be that conscientious and decent but at the time Gerik was active it was more so.

It was an era where one was a mercenary when the mood struck while wandering with weapons, became a bandit if the mood was bad, and became a soldier if the mood struck again, just.

Gerik also enjoyed such a life within the limit of not crossing the line.

It is a fact confirmed through Demian’s memories.

Suddenly he became curious.

Why on earth did Erina marry Gerik.

“How should one confirm.” “How about sending a letter? Bring out the debt and my story once.”

It is not bad. If a carrier pigeon one will be able to buy time. One will also be able to obtain clues about the Count of Bromwood.

“I understand.”

Benrik hesitated then asked.

“······It is not related to our father, but may I ask how much the damaged amount is?” “One cannot convert the value into money dare.” “······I see.”

Benrik thought.

Perhaps he might have to leave Bromwood.

***

“······Thank you.”

That was the first thanks Lucian conveyed to a commoner in his life.

“Yes.”

What returned was a calm answer as always, but Lucian somehow felt a mood as if he grew one stage.

As Benrik said unless the Count of Bromwood personally steps forward and gives notice to father there was no method for Lucian to return to the previous life.

He might have just kicked away the only opportunity to try that.

But···.

‘Somehow I think I can live well.’

Just a few days, Among the 15 years of life lived and the countless days to live ahead just a few days, but these few days were the highest density in Lucian’s life.

The teachings engraved in the bones were not things that can be easily forgotten.

Until now no one gave such advice for Lucian.

The household members were busy checking reactions and father and older brother were indifferent.

However Benrik was different.

Even though the age is two years younger than him, he did not spare advice that becomes blood and flesh without checking reactions.

Even to the extent of almost dying because of himself he even showed leniency.

─I heard the knight who tried to kidnap the princess tried to kill the benefactor.

He heard the story the fairies of the Great Forest said while looking as if tearing him to death.

That he almost died at Giles’s hands just one day before meeting him.

Only then he knew why Baron Drenor entrusted his own disposition to a commoner child with no acquaintance.

If Lucian was in Benrik’s position he would have cut the neck on the spot without even the value of reconsideration.

‘On earth what life does one live to be able to be like that?’

Lucian even now honestly found it hard to believe Benrik’s age.

Even the children of noble families who received quality education from young know how to drink alcohol and hold women and imitate adults, but could not perfectly hide the childishness.

Things like impulsiveness that pops out or bluff of that age were not things that are hidden if one tries to hide.

It was then that a sign was felt outside the office along with the sound of a horse crying.

It was the carriage the count sent.

“I’m going.”

Lucian himself unknowingly grabbed Benrik who was speaking casually and turning his back.

“Benrik···!” “?”

He called but did not know what words to say. Lucian who was hesitating shook his head.

“···No, if you just are careful of the things I said there will be no particular matter.” “Yes.”

Like that Benrik left the office and.

Lucian headed to his own room on the 3rd floor.

And detached the decorations one by one from the clothes taken off.

Buttons, belt, the ring of the cloak.

All of these are gold, so one will be able to receive quite a price.

The decorations Lucian detached and sold yesterday were only two gold buttons attached to the sleeve cuff.

He took them out to look into an appropriate price but met an unexpected person there.

The coachman, Oren.

He was the coachman who worked at the mansion for a long time when Lucian was younger than now and retired.

He met at the general store found to sell the buttons.

He said he saved money little by little with his wife and opened a general store.

‘Thinking about it there were many stories that he is sincere then too.’

He was one of the rare people without ill feelings toward Lucian. Because he retired before Lucian’s head ripened.

‘If one pays an appropriate price he will clearly help.’

Lucian took all the decorations and left the room. He was thinking of selling this and immediately preparing then immediately leaving Bromwood.

Anyway because he was suddenly kidnapped there is not particularly anything to take care of, or prepare.

─Pause

Lucian who was about to go down the stairs immediately hesitated for a while looking at Benrik’s room.

‘Hmm···.’

A while later Lucian arrived at the general store spanning the border area of Bromwood.

“Oren! I have something to earnestly request.”

The whitish eyebrows twitched for a moment.

“Oh my, young master! Why again to such a shabby place···! If the baron knows he will scold!” “It’s fine, more than that I have something else I want to sell.”

Lucian took out from his bosom the buttons sparsely studded with gold and jewels, and the belt and placed them on the counter.

Greed flashed in the merchant’s eyes who saw the valuable items.

“No what on earth is all this···. Did you really run away?” “With the money from selling this I want to purchase a sword and travel goods. Because I want to travel a city other than Bromwood.”

The boy who was hesitating looked at Oren.

“Can you help? Of course I will pay the price.” “······Of course, young master.”

***

Benrik who arrived at the office headed to his own room while receiving the members’ greetings or not.

Because he was so tense, both body and mind were too tired.

Like that he opened the door and entered, but an unseen item catches the eye on the table next to the bed.

‘Yes?’

It was a gold brooch the size of two finger joints.

Looking closely at the center, a pattern like a leaf was delicately crafted.

He thought where he saw it, there was a memory of seeing when asking Jenkinson about the nearby nobles.

Grape cluster pattern of Grace Trident pattern of Delmar, And leaf pattern of─

“···Belmore?”

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Author’s note

Thank you for the precious support zions-nim, Child of the Date-nim, I will write hard! The writing...!