Chapter 37

Chapter 37

37. Reunion (1)

“······T-that, are you okay?” “Of course.”

Unlike the fast and cheerful answer the appearance did not look okay even as empty words.

The left cheek that was severely beaten by Drenor Vinter was dyed blackish as if the skin died, and the right cheek that is still only red was also swelling in real time.

The cause of this newly arisen injury is of course,

“What are you looking at.”

That shameless guy would be.

Because Jenkinson is not a person who goes around getting beaten.

But─

“···What are you looking at?” “······.”

When Benrik blankly looked and followed the words the child flinched and lowered his eyes diagonally.

If what was beaten was not Jenkinson but an ordinary adult male, it might have led to serious injury.

The strength of the twelve-year-old child who inherited some of Gerik’s monstrous strength was already a level hard to see as a child.

“Apologize.” “Sorry.”

The words of the child who learned what kind of violence recklessness returns as were immediate.

“Hmm, it is fine. The one who misunderstood first is me. So don’t be so intimidated. A man guy.”

Roughly hearing the story, it seems it is a happening that arose because Jenkinson who misunderstood Yerik as Benrik grabbed the shoulder.

Even so the part of making a person to that state just for the reason of grabbing the shoulder was a part not readily understood.

Although there is a bit of a temper that flares up he is the guy who knows how to control impulses the best among the siblings.

So─

“Why are you here? Did you come alone?”

The guy who was checking the reaction shook his head side to side.

“With father.”

As expected so.

According to Gerik’s personality he inwardly thought it might be so.

Because the count’s carrier hawk that said two or three days is enough until arrival did not bring the reply.

There is no way the appeal that isn’t it fitting for you to solve your own debt was eaten.

It seems the letter written by extremely pressing filial piety was effective.

‘Even so I didn’t know he would really come.’

At the time he was so heated that he scribbled almost without seeing anything in the eyes, but when it actually arrives he became a bit afraid of the aftermath.

“Did you receive a lot of heat?”

When Benrik carefully asked, Yerik nodded vigorously enough for the hair to flutter.

“A lot.” “Where is he now?” “I don’t know.” “Speak long. When speaking with words.”

At the chilly words Yerik bent his eyebrows into a figure eight as if unfair.

“I really don’t know. When we almost arrived he suddenly said that is Bromwood so, stay there first. And he himself went east?”

East? Coincidentally Benrik’s destination decided to go tomorrow morning was also east.

‘······Is it a coincidence?’

It was when Benrik was thinking.

─Growl···.

“···?”

“Because the food all ran out···.”

He says he has been starving for a full two days. Looking now the appearance is not even worth mentioning. Whether he could not wash for several days the face is streaming with grime, and a musty sweat smell vibrates from the body.

Like when Benrik first came down the mountain range, it was because he was wearing magical beast leather clothes with good insulation.

‘How long has it been since spring passed, tsk.’

Benrik clicked his tongue small then decided to first take Yerik and find a restaurant. He looked up at Jenkinson who still has a bewildered expression not knowing what situation it is.

“I am going to eat and go in, what about Jenkinson? Did you eat?” “Huh? I also not yet···.”

“Let’s eat together and go in, then.”

Benrik said casually while looking at Yerik.

“But did father go without even giving money?”

Really a human with no countermeasures. While thinking somehow there is no answer.

“? Did he go without giving money?”

When turning around Yerik whose face turned blue was seen.

A sense of déjà vu was felt.

Once Benrik dried and hid the rabbit meat he hunted and when caught stealing and eating that the expression was exactly like that he remembers.

At the end of short thought Benrik narrowed the corners of his eyes.

“You this bastard···.” “······.” “Did you gamble?”

Is the swindler still in front of the checkpoint? By the way this young bastard does not know the value of money.

Yerik who discovered the flames flickering in Benrik’s eyes hurriedly opened his mouth.

“Gam···.”

From old times the habit of gambling must be caught in the beginning. Only then ─

“I was robbed···.” “···What?” “I said I was robbed, damn it just disappeared at some moment. I, I really took good care of it!”

The child who shouted as if protesting trembled. The pupils shake powerlessly like an oil lamp in front of the wind.

“···Father will get angry right? Probably die right? Brother also thinks so right? What to do? If I run will I be caught?”

So he made Jenkinson to that state.

Benrik who was thinking suddenly met eyes with Jenkinson.

“······.”

The whole face is red whether it is because he is holding back laughter, or because he was hit one does not know. Seeing that the mouth is gathered stingily it seems the former.

Benrik said to protect the authority of the eldest son.

“Be quiet.” “Are you buying dinner?” “Of course. Order whatever you want to eat.”

Leaving the Jenkinson who chuckles behind he pulled the sleeve cuff of the younger brother who is about to fall into panic.

“Let’s go, Yerik. To eat.”

Well···. Isn’t it said that even a ghost who died after eating has good color.

“Huh? I have no money, no money.”

······Sss, is it because seeing after a long time, why did the kid become so pitiful?

“It’s fine, brother has a lot of money.” “Really? Did brother succeed?” “One can see it as so.”

Because recent Benrik was daily renewing the most affluent moment since being born.

First he should show the taste of capitalism to this rat kid who came up from the countryside.

‘Somehow he looks in a good mood.’

Jenkinson laughed while following the backs of such two children.

***

The restaurant east of the adventurer street.

This restaurant operated by the good-natured owner John was a place Benrik frequents as much as the mercenary group office.

Because he solves every meal here.

It is not simply because the distance is close but because it is a place where a discount is applied limited to Jenkinson’s mercenary group members.

According to what he heard the restaurant owner John once owed his life to Drenor Vinter in the past.

Benrik seated Yerik who is looking around as if amazing and acted as pretentiously as possible.

“John, give three servings each of everything on the menu.”

It is said three servings, but the number of dishes on the menu easily exceeded ten.

The restaurant owner John entered cooking without a particular sign. Yerik tried to gauge Benrik’s mind in a careful tone.

“Is it okay···?”

Because in the child’s life he had never seen an older brother this generous in front of food.

“It’s fine. You can really eat as much as you want.”

No, even now like that he might change when the food comes out. One must not let one’s guard down.

Unlike the firmly eaten heart.

Every time a plate came up on the table one by one an unavoidable exclamation burst from the child’s mouth.

“Wow!”

The appetizing posture never seen in life was also a posture, but because of starving for two days straight when smelling the food the reason flew away.

“Wow!”

Let’s eat. Along with Benrik’s words the meal started. The food that starts to disappear at a level of being sucked into the stomach not chewing. Yerik who experienced a meal where violence and curses do not go for the first time since being born was almost in ecstasy.

“Wow!”

And one man watching all those scenes.

“······.”

Jenkinson inwardly harbored pity for Benrik.

Wasn’t he a child thrown into the world at a young age moreover by his own parents’ hands suddenly.

Giving gold coins to Benrik while attaching various excuses, and making him stay in the mercenary group was for that reason.

Composedly, sometimes cunningly.

Even if he shows an appearance of overcoming the difficulties that come while simply breaking even his common sense.

Because the appearance of the kid acting unlike his age is ultimately a high possibility of being a means to somehow live in the harsh world.

Jenkinson who also had antipathy toward Benrik’s parents who sent him out holding only one sword as much as such pity.

But,

“John! Give us five more servings each of grilled chicken and pork sausage, wheat bread.”

But seeing this appearance it seemed one could understand the circumstances a bit.

Yerik was a level of emptying one plate when Benrik empties three plates, but thinking of the body volume the amount going in was the same to an abnormal degree.

“Brother, this, this too···!” “Lamb stew too.” “···Eating more? How is that possible?”

Jenkinson looked down at the mountain of plates already emptied countless times and rolling at the feet.

‘If all seven siblings are like this···.’

That would be hard to handle. No more than that somehow hasn’t the amount eaten increased more than when first meeting?

‘···Come to think of it the height also seems a bit taller.’

Is it the growth period. When thinking Benrik asked.

“What about Jenkinson?” “···I am fine.” “Eating only that?”

Jenkinson reluctantly nodded. Every time he moves the chin the face is stiff, so chewing is not easy.

Jenkinson watched the children eating for a while then stood up from the place.

“Eat and come in.”

“Yes, see you later.”

It was when Jenkinson who left the restaurant was walking while rubbing the stiff chin.

“Did you find out?” “Yes, there is a person who saw the guard team catching a little while ago.” “What? Hasn’t he never been caught even once in 5 years?”

Two men who put on gloomy hoods whispered so that all could hear.

Roughly hearing it seems one capable fence in the border area was caught by the guard team.

‘Even if one puts him in what, anyway another guy will take it.’

He who lost interest yawned long.

─Crack···.

“Ah, damn, old man···.”

Jenkinson who wrinkled his expression as much as possible forcibly fitted the dislocated jaw.

“Asking a beggar it is said Drenor Vinter came to find.”

Pause, at the familiar name Jenkinson pricked his ears.

“···! Drenor Vinter···? How does that guy know the fence?”

···Hmm, after hesitating for a while he naturally leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

“Well I also don’t know, it is said he went to find the shop directly together with some kid.” “Kid? Surely, ashen hair or something?” “Hmm? Do you know who?” “Of course I know. Isn’t it that kid called Benrik who newly joined Jenkinson’s mercenary group. Why, that one who solved the fairy-kin kidnapping incident this time···!” “Ah! That kid is that kid?” “I said it is correct···! Come to think of it, one strange rumor was circulating.” “Rumor? What rumor?” “You know the thief guild guys are quiet these days right? They don’t do robbery, don’t do pickpocketing and are as if dead mice.” “Huh? Thinking about it that is so?” “The reason is···.”

“The reason?”

A heavy voice naturally intervened.

“The reason well Jenkinson’s mercenary group···! Damn, startled, what? You?” “Continue the talk you were doing. What did Jenkinson’s mercenary group do?”

Flinch, the face of the man who found the familiar features on the swollen and burst face turned pale.

“J-Jenkinson’s mercenary group seems to be trying to establish discipline by putting the child forward···.”

···Huh, who is putting what forward and catching what? Was there more Jenkinson’s mercenary group besides us?

“Tell a bit in detail.”

Jenkinson who put an arm around the shoulder of the man who is dripping cold sweat urged the explanation.

“T-that is─”

Going around solving the requests of the adventurer guild that no one even glanced at, Going around the market street every day and sprinkling money to small merchants, Establishing the discipline of the pickpockets, And not enough with that somehow knowing the fence that is deep in the border area and putting him in as well.

“Khm, what I know is all this.” ”T-then we will leave now···.”

Those who were scared left while hesitating.

Jenkinson looked back at the restaurant that came out a little while ago with an absurd expression.

“···On earth what is that guy doing going around?”

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