"Oh, little Romon?" As he reached the gate, Kosge, a guard stationed at the town entrance and an acquaintance of his, greeted him. "Hey, how did your clothes get torn?"
Romon looked at the tear in his clothes and said, "Ah, I've had terrible luck. I was hunting in the forest today when I ran into some Goblins that attacked me!"
"Oh, damn Goblins! Ah, a little wild boar!"
The little wild boar weighed around thirty pounds. Romon smiled, pressed a hand against the shortsword at his waist, and showed off somewhat proudly. "Good thing I've got some skills. I got this too. Cut off a leg for yourself!"
Romon often came and went through the town, so he had become familiar with the town guards. There were only fifty men in the entire unit, and Kosge was one of them. Offering him meat would naturally help strengthen their relationship.
Guard Kosge was immediately delighted. "Great, I'll take a hind leg."
"Oh, right. Where do I collect the reward for Goblin scalps?" Romon used his shortsword to cut off a hind leg for him. He wanted to claim his reward, but did not know who was in charge, so he asked casually.
The guard was busy with his work, his hands never stopping as he answered offhandedly, "You can go to our deputy captain, Dorana, or someone else."
Then he lowered his voice mysteriously. "But it's best not to go to the captain."
Romon was curious and wanted to ask more. But the guards were already calling out as they prepared to rotate off duty and return to rest.
Guards are always like this. Romon complained inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged.
Romon continued walking into town, thinking about dinner. He had only taken 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 who was one of the four squad leaders, Richard.
"May I ask what it is?" Romon knew he had done nothing wrong, which only made him more puzzled.
Richard said nothing. His sharp gaze fixed on Romon. He only glanced once at the little wild boar before ignoring it, but he kept staring at the shortsword. After a long while, he asked, "You were attacked by Goblins in the forest today, and then obtained this shortsword?"
Romon's spirits lifted. He immediately remembered the notice issued by the baron: Goblins had killed someone. If the baron had offered a reward because of the victim's death, then either the victim had been important, or he had been someone's relative or close friend.
Since the dead man had been someone of status, if he knew how to use weapons, he would naturally have carried a fine one. Could the shortsword at Romon's waist have belonged to him?
But if Goblins had killed him, why had they not taken it? Goblins should have craved iron or steel weapons. After killing someone and taking their belongings, they would never leave a weapon lying on the ground.
Romon could not figure it out for the moment. Still, 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 might have been pinned on them.
There might have been many twists to the matter, but it no longer had anything to do with Romon.
"Yes!" Romon admitted calmly. What the other man had asked was entirely true. As for any possible misunderstanding, he could not be bothered to point it 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 cemetery behind the Goddess's Altar. After entering the graveyard and walking for a while, Romon saw the back of a man standing there.
"Wait here for a moment." The squad leader gave the instruction, then jogged over and stopped beside the man, speaking to him respectfully. Romon looked around. Before long, he saw the squad leader wave him over.
"Greetings, Captain Koirilo!" Romon said. He was not quite sure how to address the man, nor did he know the proper etiquette for such an occasion. Neither his memories from Earth nor those of the town contained any education on etiquette.
He was a sturdy middle-aged man. From afar, Romon had judged from the size of his clothes alone that he possessed a powerful build and a large frame capable of supporting considerable muscle. Up close, Romon instinctively felt that he was a soldier. He carried an aura of iron-blooded resolve and toughness. His features were nothing remarkable, but his eyes were extremely sharp. Only the crow's feet at their corners and the strands of silver in 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 and was about to hand it over directly, but the squad leader took it midway and respectfully passed it to the man.
The middle-aged man held the sword in his hand, his left index and middle fingers slowly running along its spine all the way to the tip.
Romon lowered his head slightly in respect. Secretly, he glanced at the gravestone. The stone marker was fairly clean, though the lettering upon it had already faded. It read, "Utreid died in Sacred Origin Era 3125." There was also a detailed account of his life afterward.
Romon immediately found it strange and could not make sense of it.
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 carefully checked the date on the marker just now, and it was from more than ten years ago.
Romon looked down at the ground, his thoughts running wild. But before long, Captain Koirilo said, "You killed Goblins and avenged my family. Since you obtained this shortsword, it is yours. Hmm, your name is Romon, right? But you cannot keep the crest of my House Fasni on the hilt."
It turned out that the design Romon had taken for a pattern on the hilt was actually House Fasni's crest. Romon's face reddened in embarrassment. He felt that his knowledge of heraldry and etiquette was truly lacking. In this medieval-like world, he was like an illiterate with no education.
As Romon drifted off in thought, the last thing he heard was, "You may both leave."
Then the squad leader led him away.
After walking for a while, Squad Leader Richard gave a simple explanation. "Captain Koirilo had a nephew who died not long 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 him. The captain later gradually distinguished himself in battle, was promoted by the baron, granted knighthood, and became Knight Koirilo Fasni!"
Romon nodded silently. So 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 good care of his brother's son.
After chatting a little more, the two left the cemetery.
Richard said, "The captain asked me to look after you when appropriate. If you have any trouble that needs solving, you can come find me."
Romon immediately thought of his debts and felt deeply regretful. He began to regret not bringing it up earlier. 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 have been a small sum to Richard either. There was no reason to ask him to repay it.
As far as Romon was concerned, the help Richard could provide would most likely be connections within the military system and information he was able to share. Still, Romon spoke honestly.
"Mm, my family really does have some difficulties," Romon said. "Because I wanted to become a Druid, I gradually accumulated a debt."
Romon lowered his head and sighed, idly kicking a small stone outside his home. "Now, it totals one hundred silver coins."
"I can't help with that." Richard spread his hands and wore a helpless expression.
"No, no, debts should always be repaid." Seeing that the man could not agree, Romon did not mind. He hurriedly waved his hands, indicating that Richard had misunderstood. He followed up with another request. "Actually, I've already planned to get some goods from the forest and save enough money to pay it back, but I feel that my abilities are really insufficient."
"So you plan to find someone to teach you a few things?" Richard asked. It was a perfectly normal idea.
Romon nodded repeatedly. Usually, when asking someone for help, if they could not agree to the first request, they would feel somewhat guilty. Asking for help again right afterward made success more likely.
"That's a small matter." Richard thought for a moment, then agreed casually. "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 hope you'll continue helping me in the future!"
"Fine. Give me the Goblin scalps, and I'll get you an adventurer's certificate. Only then can I help you collect the money." Richard did not refuse. When he saw Romon preparing to use the shortsword to cut the meat, he simply drew his own sword. With a single stroke, he severed a boar leg. Laughing heartily as he picked it up, he accepted four bloody Goblin scalps and turned to leave.
"Hey! Little Romon, I've already heard what you did. You're a good kid. It's worth celebrating!" The moment Romon entered the tavern, one of the men—Bogobu, the only person in town who belonged to a mercenary group—shouted in a hearty tone, "I want to cheer for our town's beloved Romon! Let's have a drink!"
As he spoke, he took a huge gulp of beer.
The nearby mercenaries 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 differently.
Only Mrs. Motte opened her mouth wide in shock.
"We should have a drink. Here, I'll pay for your beer," said Haiwavi, the mercenary captain.
A mug of beer cost five copper coins. Mrs. Motte hurriedly poured Romon a mug. His face reddened slightly as he smiled and replied quietly. At the same time, he lightly 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, "In that case, give us this little wild boar. I'll give you five silver coins!"
"Two of the legs are for my friends. You can take the rest," Romon said after thinking it over.
"Fine, then it's settled. Mrs. Motte, come roast it for us."
!!
Before you continue