Grandpa. I'll get you the money--I just need you to do the job.

　When I returned from the fort, my grandfather told me that Kalia Vardnick had taken my place, resigned from the Order, and returned to Vardnick territory.

　Oh, what a b*tc*. What a b*tc*. Then it's none of my business. I'll selfishly take her out of Vardnik territory.

　I don't care if Kalia Vadnick hates her. I hate her. I hate her. So I have no qualms about forcibly dragging her out of Vadnick's domain. Oh, yes. It's just that, this is...

"Oh, I don't mind. I'll take the job any day, Lugis, as long as I'm paid enough for what I do.

　"But can you afford it?

　Richard's old man laughed, showing his teeth and lifting his cheeks, and sat down at the tavern table, facing him.

　As a prelude, let's start with this old Richard. We need to bring him in.

　If I'm going to drag Caria Vardnick out of her domain, there's nothing I can do if I go into Vardnick's domain alone. If a hero or heroes... If I were a brave man or a hero or a savior, I could do it all by myself.

　But unfortunately, I'm neither a hero nor a heroine. I'm not the kind of guy who can do everything by myself. So I have to use people. I have to learn to use them.

"......, a bunch of adventurer-craving bandits to the northwest. I need you to fire them up. No need to push yourself at all, but at least until the Lord's private army comes out.

　As I said this, Grandpa Richard's eyes lit up. His eyes flashed with a probing, thoughtful haze.

"That's an interesting request. I don't mind what you're trying to do.

　"I don't mind what you're trying to do," he said, with a hint of implication, as if he knew what he was talking about. The old man stroked his beard as he added, "I'm an idiot.

But I don't understand why you're asking me. Come on, Lugis. You can't do this. It's a bunch of thieves.　They're free spirits. You don't think I could do it?

　Oh, here it comes. I knew you'd come. I knew you'd come. You're right, this isn't the kind of thing an adventurer would ask for. Fomenting a band of thieves is more of a conspiracy and an adultery than a request. But I know what I'm talking about, old man.

　I can feel Richard's hands behind his back, slowly touching his waist. His gaze is now judging whether or not I should be dealt with. Strangely enough, I realize that if I say the wrong thing, my head could fly off.

　I can feel the muscles in my arms twitching. I try my best to control my breathing, which is getting faster, and bind the tension. If he knows I'm straining, it's over. His piercing gaze catches my expression, my every move.

"Of course. That's not why I'm talking to you, ...... I was just thinking. I was just thinking, maybe you should do some good once in a while.

　After a beat, he opens his lips to make a joke.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I'm not much of a do-gooder. You know that, don't you?

　You can feel a slight tension in the old man's shoulders. He's trying to pull it out. If you know anything halfway, you're a danger. A drunk who talks nonsense. Not worth keeping alive, I'd say, this scoundrel. I force myself to look away from his shoulder and open my throat, which has hardened.

"You know, there's a girl who's taking the fall for her old man's misdeeds. I'm sure the gods won't punish you for helping to save one girl who's being stalked by her old man.

　His cunning eyes quivered. In a moment, a cruel hint is thrown out from the piercing eyes, and the hint is replaced by a black sword blade.

　--I'll be back!

　The knife I reflexively raised overlapped with Richard's black sword. It was a coincidence. It was a coincidence, an unmistakable coincidence. It wasn't that I could have prevented it. It's just a reflex, the knife arriving in time where the blade should be. You can't stop the next one. That strike was just a momentary reading of his breathing.

　You can't read this old man's cunning swordsmanship like you can Kalia Vadnick's. And I don't remember seeing him swing a sword seriously that many times.

　The black blade, which seemed to melt into the darkness, was not for show, but an unmistakable sign of intent to kill. There was only one knife left. No matter what line of sword I use, I'm sure to be seen through. I learned the basics of swordsmanship from this old man.



　--I think I'm dead.

　Just when I was about to sigh in resignation, the old man flicked his black blade loosely and drank his ale.

"How much do you know?

　He didn't ask where. He didn't ask how.

　He didn't ask where or how, as if that would be a pointless act.

...... It's not a big deal, but it's a big deal.

　I'm not sure what to make of it.

　At the time of the last war, the senior noble family, the Bardnicks, were unable to attend the ceremony due to the confusion caused by the absence of the head of the family. That's the way it is in history.

　--Why was the head of the family absent, and why was the acting head of the family not appointed?

　It was only because the head of the family died suddenly before the procession. By a large scale bandit raid. Of course, a lord's private army would not easily fall behind a thief. It's just that the thieves happened to be as elite as if they had gathered a private army from somewhere else, they happened to move as if they knew the route the lord was taking, and they all happened to be after the lord's head, not his gold, silver, or food.

Youthful indiscretion, I guess. No, I don't think it was a bad thing. But one of the girls is having a hard time because of it. I think it's okay to help her.

　I think so," he added, watching the old man's behavior with narrowed eyes.

　Sniffling, he scratched his cheek.

"Hmm. I see, so you're not wielding half knowledge. Plus, I got lucky.

　The black, deadly blade disappears into its sheath. A sigh of relief escapes from my lungs, but I can't let it out yet.

If you're just half-assing it, it's best to pretend you never came here. If you had no luck, you'd be dead before you got here. That could have been the story.

　Yeah, I understand exactly. Because I almost lost an arm doing it once.

　There was no way I could have said that, so I tucked the knife into my waistband and wiped the sweat off my brow, just like the old man.

I'm not going to say anything, and I'm not going to ask. But I'm sure you still have some influence with that band of thieves ...... and their private army. I want you to fire them up. Enough to get the lord's men out.

　Richard's grandfather stroked his beard and looked at me as if he were examining me. As if searching for something. As if assessing its value. What if this doesn't work? Will I still die? Or I'll be overlooked.

　What had been a few seconds, tens of seconds at most, felt strangely drawn out.

At least dress a little better when you invite others. If you want to attract people, you have to show them that you have money.

　He muttered and showed his teeth with his cheeks raised, just like the first time.

"I'm expensive, Lugis. Be prepared.

　I'm expensive, Rougis. Be prepared." He slapped me unexpectedly hard on the shoulder and I fell down on the table in the tavern.