Rewards (Part 1)

"Oh, little Romon?" When he reached the gate, Kosge, one of the guards stationed at the town entrance and an acquaintance of his, greeted him. "Hey, how did your clothes get torn?"

Romon looked at the rip in his clothes and said, "Ah, rotten luck. I was hunting in the forest today when some goblins attacked me!"

"Oh, those damned goblins. Ah, a little wild boar!"

This little wild boar weighed nearly thirty pounds. Romon smiled, pressed a hand against the short sword at his waist, and showed off with some pride. "Good thing I had some skills. I got this too. Cut off a leg!"

Romon came and went through town often enough that he had become familiar with the town guards. There were only fifty men in the whole force, and Kosge was one of them. Offering him meat would naturally help draw their relationship closer.

Guard Kosge was immediately delighted. "Good, then I'll take a hind leg."

"Oh, right, where do I collect the reward for goblin scalps?" Romon cut off a hind leg for him with his short sword. He was about to claim the bounty, but since he did not know who was responsible for it, he casually asked.

The guard was busy with his own work, his hands never stopping as he casually replied, "You can look for our deputy captain, Dorana, or someone else."

Then, he lowered his voice mysteriously. "But it's best not to look for the captain."

Romon was curious and wanted to ask more. However, the guards were already calling out as they began changing shifts and heading back to rest.

The guards were always like this. Romon complained inwardly without committing himself, though his expression remained perfectly normal.

Romon walked inside by himself, pondering tonight's dinner. He had taken only a few steps when someone suddenly called from behind him, "Wait a moment."

Turning around, he saw that it was the squad leader of those guards—a tall man, Richard, one of the four squad leaders.

"May I ask what this is about?" Romon knew his conscience was clear, which made him even more puzzled.

Richard said nothing. His sharp eyes stared straight at Romon. He spared the little wild boar only a glance, but kept staring at the short sword. After a long while, he asked, "You were attacked by goblins in the forest today, and then you obtained this short sword?"

Romon's spirits lifted. He immediately recalled the notice issued by Baron, which said goblins had killed someone. If Baron had issued a reward because of the victim, then either that person had been important, or they had been someone's relative, friend, or loved one.

Since the dead man had status, if he knew how to use weapons, he would naturally have carried a fine blade. Could the short sword at Romon's waist have belonged to the victim?

But if goblins had killed him, why had they not taken it? Goblins should have craved iron or steel weapons. Murdering for loot, they would never leave a weapon lying on the ground.

Romon could not make sense of it for the moment. But if the victim had been killed by a wild beast, it would have been very possible. Beasts had no need for weapons, and with goblins active nearby, the blame could have been pinned on them.

There might have been many twists and turns involved, but they no longer had anything to do with Romon.

"Yes!" Romon admitted frankly. Everything the other man had asked was entirely true. As for any possible misunderstandings, he could not be bothered to point them out. The man could understand it however he wished.

"Then come with me!"

Romon had no choice but to follow the squad leader. Before long, they arrived before a graveyard, the cemetery behind the goddess's altar. After entering the graveyard and walking a little farther, Romon saw the back of someone standing there.

"Wait here a moment." The squad leader instructed him, then jogged over and stopped, respectfully saying something to that person. Romon looked around, and before long he saw the squad leader beckoning to him, signaling him to come over.

"Hello, Captain Koirilo!" Romon said. He was not quite sure how to address the man, nor did he know the proper etiquette for this occasion. Neither his memories from Earth nor his memories of the town contained any education in manners.

This was a sturdy middle-aged man. When Romon had looked from afar, the size of his clothes alone had told him the man was powerfully built, with a large frame that could support a great deal of muscle. Now that he was close, Romon instinctively felt that this was a soldier. He carried an aura of iron-blooded resolve and unyielding toughness. There was nothing particularly outstanding about his face, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp. Only the crow's-feet at their corners and the strands of silver mixed into his hair proclaimed the merciless passage of time.

Romon did not understand etiquette, but the other man clearly did not care. He merely nodded. "Let me see the sword." Romon hurriedly untied it from his waist, intending to hand it over directly, but the squad leader took it midway and respectfully presented it to the man.

The middle-aged man held the sword in his hand, then slowly ran the index and middle fingers of his left hand along the blade's ridge, all the way to its tip.

Romon lowered his head slightly to show respect, then secretly glanced at the gravestone. The stone marker was still fairly clean, but the writing on it had already faded dark. It read, "Utreid died in Sacred Origin Era 3125." There was also a detailed account of his life afterward.

He immediately found it strange and could not quite understand.

Romon had originally guessed that this middle-aged man was Captain Koirilo, an important figure in town, and that the goblin bounty had been issued because one of his relatives had died and was now buried in that grave. But he had just carefully read the date on the tombstone, and it was from more than ten years ago.

Romon looked down at the ground, his thoughts running wild. But before long, he heard Captain Koirilo say, "You killed goblins and avenged my family. Since you obtained this short sword, it is yours. Hmm, your name is Romon, right? But you cannot keep the House Fasni crest on the hilt."

It turned out that the thing Romon had taken for a decorative pattern on the hilt was actually the crest of House Fasni. Romon's face reddened with embarrassment. He felt that his knowledge of heraldry and etiquette was truly pitifully lacking. In this world resembling the Middle Ages, he was like an illiterate fool with no education.

Romon lost focus for a moment, and the last thing he heard was, "You may both leave."

Then the squad leader led him away.

After they had walked for a while, Squad Leader Richard gave a simple explanation. "Captain Koirilo had a nephew who died a while ago. He was the only bloodline Utreid left behind. Fourteen years ago, the captain was still a soldier. Utreid died in battle against the orcs while protecting the captain. Later, the captain gradually distinguished himself in battle and was promoted by Baron, eventually being granted knighthood and becoming Knight Koirilo Fasni!"

Romon nodded silently. The person in the grave was not the victim, but the victim's father. Koirilo was praying to his brother because he had failed to take care of his brother's son.

After chatting idly for a few more moments, the two left the graveyard.

Richard said, "The captain told me to look after you when appropriate. If you have any trouble that needs resolving, you can come to me."

Romon immediately thought of his debt and felt deeply regretful. He began to regret it inwardly. If he had directly asked Knight Koirilo just now, perhaps Koirilo would have arranged for one of his men to repay it for him.

But now, although Richard had promised to help him, one hundred silver coins could not possibly be a small sum for Richard either. There was no reason to ask him to repay it on Romon's behalf.

As far as Romon was concerned, the help Richard could provide would most likely be connections within the military system and information he could share. Still, Romon spoke honestly.

"Mm, my family really does have some troubles," Romon said. "Because I wanted to become a druid, I have gradually accumulated some debt."

Romon lowered his head with a sigh and idly kicked a small stone outside his home. "It has reached one hundred silver coins now."

"I can't help you with that." Richard spread his hands, revealing a helpless expression.

"No, no, debts should be repaid," Romon said. Seeing that the other man could not agree, he did not mind. He hurriedly waved his hands, indicating that Richard had misunderstood, then followed the flow of the conversation and changed his request. "Actually, I have already planned to gather some goods in the forest and save up money to repay it, but I feel that my abilities are truly insufficient."

"So you plan to find someone and learn a few moves?" Richard asked. It was a perfectly normal thought.

Romon nodded repeatedly. Usually, when asking someone for help, if they could not agree, they would feel somewhat guilty. Asking them for help again right afterward made success more likely.

"That's a small matter." Richard thought for a moment before casually agreeing. "You can come to the barracks in the future and learn some warrior techniques for free."

"Thank you very much, Captain Richard. Take this boar leg home with you. I'll have to trouble you for much help in the future!"

"Fine. Give me the goblin scalps, and I'll help you get an adventurer's certificate. Only then can you collect the money." Richard did not refuse. Seeing Romon about to cut with his short sword, he instead drew his own sword. With a single slash, he chopped off one of the wild boar's legs. He picked it up with a hearty laugh, accepted the four bloody goblin scalps, and turned to leave.

"Hey! Little Romon, I've already heard what happened to you. You really are a good kid—this deserves celebrating!" The moment he entered the shop, one of the men, Bogobu, the only person in town who belonged to a mercenary group, shouted in a hearty voice, "I want to cheer for our town's dear Romon! Let's raise a toast!"

As he spoke, he took a huge gulp of beer.

Several mercenaries nearby were somewhat surprised and asked a few questions. When they learned that Romon had killed five goblins and caught a little wild boar, every one of them looked at him in a different light.

Only Madam Motte opened her mouth wide in shock.

"We should indeed have a drink. Here, I'll pay for your beer," said the mercenary captain, Haiwavi.

A cup of beer cost five copper coins. Madam Motte hurriedly poured Romon a cup. Romon's face reddened slightly as he smiled and replied softly. At the same time, he gently tapped the rim of his wooden cup against the captain's. "Thank you. May God be with you."

After Romon finished his beer, he heard Haiwavi say, "Since that's the case, give us this little wild boar. I'll give you five silver coins for it!"

"Two small legs are for my friends. You can take the rest," Romon said after thinking it over.

"Good, then it's settled. Madam Motte, come roast it for us."

!!