Chapter 33

Chapter 33

33. Plan (3)

“Yes.”

Benrik who simply affirmed pointed at the request letter held in Bjorn’s hand.

“Are you going to do that?”

He did not particularly think he would deny, but because the answer was too readily Bjorn’s expression rather became strange.

“···No.” “You tore it for me. Thank you.”

He just attached words because the protagonist of the rumor was seen loitering in front of the bulletin board.

Somehow, isn’t the atmosphere different from when seen in front of the city gate?

─Requester: Ian the herbalist, blue brick house in Bromwood 3rd district ─Request content: Seeking clothes a virgin wore for one month ─Request reward: 10 copper coins

“······Are you going to do this?”

Bjorn who confirmed the request content with a reluctant face handed the request letter to the child.

“Just because I was curious what kind of person the face is.” “···I see.”

Bjorn had nothing particular to say.

So he only blankly looked at the child holding the request letter and leaving the guild.

‘···Should I also raise a report of this.’

While pondering what content to write in the report to raise to Count Silvan Bromwood.

***

Benrik who left the guild walked around the outskirts of Bromwood 3rd district and found the blue brick house.

The 3rd district written on the request letter was a neighborhood where rich people with some money live even in Bromwood.

‘Was the herbalist unexpectedly a money-making occupation?’

For reference the 1st district refers to the tent village formed inside and outside the city wall, that is the slum, and the 2nd district collectively refers to the great plaza and market street, adventurer street.

‘On earth where is one trying to use this kind of thing.’

It is really something one cannot know.

He roughly guessed after hearing the story that there is a rich person who handles magical beasts like pets.

While thinking the same thoughts how much did he walk, he found the blue brick house that was written.

When knocking on the door, a woman of a cozy impression smelling of bitter grass came out.

“I came to find Mr. Ian.” “Yes?”

She looked at Benrik with a puzzled expression then looked at the request letter held in the hand and laughed heartily.

“I am Ian. The tiny one has overflowing curiosity?”

The requester was not a man, and not a pervert either. She introduced herself as a herbalist and alchemist.

“I didn’t know there would be a person who comes saying he will solve this, I should lower the price more.” “Wasn’t it hung because help is needed?” “If so I wouldn’t have hung such an amount right?” “Then why···.”

When Benrik expressed a question the woman smiled and said.

“Hmm, it is publicity.”

She said she is selling a secret medicine that makes the eyes of men and women match as the main product. It aims for the effect of the style of ‘I make secret medicine using such special materials, how is it a bit believable?’

This was a very fresh shock to Benrik.

One can use the bulletin board in such a way.

“Moreover unexpectedly there are many pure love factions even among men.”

The woman said while winking. On one hand a heart of wondering what relation there is between seeking the secret medicine and pure love arises, on the other hand curiosity welled up.

“Does it really have an effect?”

She answered with a meaningful smile instead.

“You also later if a girl you fall in love with at first sight arises come find me. I will do it cheaply.”

The world is of course wide, but the city is also this wide.

‘There was an alchemist.’

Occupations Benrik who lived cooped up only in the mountains his whole life does not know, lives also overflow like this.

From that day the market street walk that was Benrik’s daily routine changed to solving minor requests that no one finds.

It was the simplest method to look into the lives and hardships of various people.

“Mary’s fur is soft! Really soft!” “I knew for the first time that one can subjugate powder rats like this! Really thank you.” “The ghost, was not? Wind riding the pipe···? Huh···.”

It does not become money, but there are things learned here and there and many things felt.

Separately from the worthlessness of the request the hearts of the request parties were desperate so the thanks that follows was very, a pleasant thing.

Then one day Drenor Vinter came to find Jenkinson’s mercenary group.

Benrik and Hodge, Jenkinson and Drenor Vinter four people gathered in the leader’s room.

“······.”

Why is it. Clearly the people seated are four, but it is extremely quiet. At the uncomfortable air going back and forth with one table in between Benrik also could not open his mouth carelessly.

‘···It is also somehow familiar.’

The gaze the two father and son look at each other with was roughly similar to the gaze Gerik looked at Benrik who is eating with.

‘It is not sediment accumulated for one or two days, on earth why are they doing this.’

Hodge who seems familiar with such an atmosphere brewed tea as if nothing.

“Rotten.”

The one who first broke the silence was the pot-bellied old knight.

“The complexion is rotten good.”

Somehow the gaze was fixed on the table, but contextually it was certain that it is words to Jenkinson.

“Did you want it not to be good?” “The way of speaking, I thought you changed your heart because you brought some child from the Golden Mountains, but there is not one thing changed.” “People originally do not change. The old man also walked only one path his whole life. Without even looking back.” “···Are you still keeping that matter in your heart?”

That matter? What matter? Benrik’s heart pounded.

“Don’t drink useless talk. There is nothing good about seeing each other’s faces, so quickly exchange conversation and go.”

Jenkinson revealed the intention of cutting off the conversation. Borrowing Gerik’s expression, it was a way of speaking that calls fists.

The eyes of the aged father turned to the grown son.

Lightning flew in the air. A thick hand cleaved the air. Jenkinson’s face was crushed.

─Thud!

The old knight who shoved the adult man over 190 centimeters into the bookshelf with one slap muttered.

“Ill-mannered child.”

Jenkinson who muttered curses as if to be heard or not stormed out of the leader’s room.

‘It seems he went out because he might get hit one more time.’

When Benrik was guessing based on experience the old knight lamented as if embarrassed.

“If only he married on time there would have been a child your size that guy’s insides became so narrow······.”

At the old knight’s words Hodge who was brewing tea water saying ‘water is water and mountain is mountain’ slightly took Jenkinson’s side and stepped forward.

“Because the relationship between mother and son was not particularly special.” “Now even you are taking the side of that guy who only grew the build. How is the leg?”

“Thanks to that I am running around fine.” “Fortunate.” “I will follow the leader. I don’t want to be called by the guard team in the middle of the night. Exchange stories, Benrik.”

It was me who has business.

While Benrik was thinking Hodge left the leader’s room.

“Have you been well?”

The old knight whose eyes met asked.

“Yes, thanks to Sir Vinter. But why does the leader dislike Sir Vinter so much?”

“You ask without even beating around the bush.” “Was it a difficult question?” “No, it is not. Because it has been too long since telling such a story to others.”

Drenor made an expression as if immersed in thought while putting down the teacup he was holding.

‘Did I ask too casually?’

Such a thought entered but it was brief. Originally if one asks such a thing carefully doesn’t the atmosphere become stranger.

When Benrik was thinking, Drenor Vinter opened his mouth in a calm tone.

“The day that guy first saw the light of the world, I was at the Ironblood Fortress.”

It seemed to mean the day Jenkinson was born.

“5 years ago, the day the wife passed away was also the same. I was chasing a magical beast that annihilated one village on the outskirts of the territory.”

Benrik quietly listened to the old knight’s reminiscence.

“Because that was the work I had to do.”

It was a tone where not even a handful of regret was buried. Benrik seemed to know the reason the father and son’s conflict deepened.

“Even if time can be turned back I would make the same choice. That guy also knows that so he comes out like that. Well it is such a boring story.”

The knight among knights who receives everyone’s admiration actually could not take care of only his own family.

Some silence continued.

“······Still the thought that one could have processed a bit faster arises.”

Benrik silently filled the cup placed in front of the knight.

After time enough for the smoke rising from the teacup to cool passed Drenor changed the topic.

“Come to think of it that child is not seen.”

“If it is Lucian he left the city.”

Benrik realized that the brooch the guy left was a farewell gift only when about a week passed after Lucian hid his appearance.

“Left?”

He who was looking at Benrik as if unexpected recited “···Yes, that is so.” while stroking the chin area.

“Did I pass the test?”

At Benrik’s direct words the old man who opened his eyes round soon narrowed the corners of his eyes.

“···It is Jenkinson.”

“Who one heard from is not important.”

A gentle smile bloomed at the corners of Drenor’s mouth.

“Haha that is also correct words. Will you give the hand a bit?”

Benrik readily extended his hand. Drenor who grasped the child’s wrist as if taking the pulse said.

“Did you drink the tear the great elder Leliont gave?” “Yes.” “Hmm, then the mana operation method will not be needed.”

Drenor let go of the child’s hand who is nodding and asked.

“You heard the story that I am looking for a successor?” “Yes. But I only want to learn the sword, I have no heart to become Sir Vinter’s successor, and I also do not want to inherit things like ideology. This time I might have made a choice that suits Sir Vinter’s heart but I cannot guarantee that it will be so from now on.”

Unbending belief. Goodwill, chivalry, noblesse oblige, all good.

“I am the most important myself. To the extent that I can do anything to live. So if it is not that you will only teach the sword there is no need to do anything.”

But if that degree is excessive the surrounding people become very hard.

Because Benrik who was forced to do one person’s share from the time of taking the first steps and crossed the death line countless times knew better than anyone.

And in Benrik’s eyes the old knight in front was also thought not much different.

How peaceful the city became with his belief, how many fairies’ lives were saved, how the world stood upright honestly,

Was not something Benrik had to know.

He did not show it, but Benrik was quite displeased with this matter. In the point of going up on the cutting board arbitrarily regardless of will.

“So from now on it would be good if you do not arbitrarily put me on the test stand.”

He said boldly but actually Benrik’s heart was beating as if about to burst.

Actually Gerik is a feeling like a boss mob whose pattern grasp is already finished so he could talk back while checking the reaction. The knight in front has not yet grasped whether the main attack is cheek slapping, or picking up and flying.

‘Still Crisis Sense is quiet.’

He only believes the interpretation of the character Drenor Vinter experienced until now and the quiet Crisis Sense.

“······.”

Drenor only looked at the child with deep eyes. Unreadable silence hovered.

Benrik quietly, stood up from the place.

“···There is an item Lucian left so I will bring it.”

Benrik who left the leader’s room soothed the trembling legs and climbed the stairs.

···It was really more scary than the time he first cursed at Gerik and ran.

© Burrito#1y0o9