Chapter 272: Incognito (2)
Roan Lancephil was bewildered.
The scenery of the village was too different to what he had been expecting. Rocks, stones and logs were placed behind the fences throughout and the villagers regardless of male or female had stepped outside onto the streets with nervous expressions.
All of them had sickles and plows in their hands with some men even holding onto swords and spears. It was the appearance of a soldier in preparation for a battle.
“D, did something happen?”
Roan intentionally staggered his words and barely asked. One of the younger males replied back with a loud voice.
“We are preparing for the a.s.sault from the thieves.”
“Thieves?”
Hearing something like that for the first time, Roan widened his eyes, to which the young man nodded with a bitter smile.
“They are a bunch active in this area, calling themselves the Righteous Gave Thieves. What righteous… bunch of trash.”
A voice filled with anger. Roan made a scared face and quickly asked.
“There are still people like that? Hadn’t peace arrived after the war ended and Amaranth Kingdom was founded?”
The young man tilted his head.
“Are you really a wandering merchant? You must’ve been living under a rock.”
He continued with a short sigh.
“Those ‘righteous thieves’ appeared after the Amaranth Kingdom was founded. It’s because the kingdom’s system wasn’t fully developed yet and there are lots of things to steal now.”
“When you say lots of things to steal, you mean the…?”
Roan pretended to know what he was saying by hiding his words. The youth nodded in reply.
“Indeed, they are aiming for the war compensations.”
“Ah…”
A long sigh escaped from Roan. The young man’s words continued on.
“The king, His Majesty is very kind so he gave compensation to not only the soldiers that had partic.i.p.ated in the war, but also the citizens that had received harm in the war, yeah? So from the thieves’ perspective, it’s like they found a golden vein”.
His lips hung a bitter smile, and it was similarly on Roan’s.
‘Never thought things like this would occur because of the compensations.’
It felt bitter. The policy that had been made for the people was now threatening their lives.
“And there are lots of cases where those soldiers that had partic.i.p.ated in the war are now thieves.”
The young man smiled bitterly and shook his head.
“What?”
Roan made a surprised expression but the youth continued with a calm voice as if finding nothing surprise-worthy.
“There are people like that. Being unable to forget the war and craving for blood.”
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped.
Roan could immediately understand the young man’s words. Including the previous life, he had gone through countless battlefields for over several decades so he knew there were soldiers that had been soaked by the madness of war.
He looked around with exaggerated movements.
“Did you report to this land’s lord? Or did you ask for the army’s help?”
As soon as his words finished.
“Kukh, lord?”
“Army?…”
There was laughter breaking from all sides – self-deprecating laughter. Roan opened his eyes wide in confusion as the young man whisperingly replied with a bitter smile.
“Our lord wants to make connections with higher-ups so he is in the Capital City and has no regards to what’s happening in the land. The kingdom’s army still has not fully settled and is focusing mainly on border control. There seems to be a patrol group around this area but they are also super busy it seems. We’ve asked for help several times but there’s no response.”
It was literally in omnishambles.
‘To think it was this unorganised….’
Just looking at Capital Castle of Mediasis and its surroundings, it seemed that the nation was somehow stabilising. But in truth, the people’s lives were no different to how it was before the Amaranth Kingdom. In fact, during the process of Rinse Kingdom’s fall and the Amaranth Kingdom’s founding, there were several bigger problems arising.
And therefore,
“We should have a good monarch now but our lives are no different to before. Right?”
The youth gave a helpless smile and asked Roan. Roan couldn’t reply and made a bitter smile. He had no words to say.
At that time.
“Mark, since when did we receive help from the higher-ups? We just lived by ourselves.”
“Right, right! Now that it has come to this, we should destroy these Gave thieves or whatever!”
“d.a.m.n, we’re not just normal farmers either! We all contributed our bodies during the War for the Throne and the war for the Amaranth Kingdom!
“Ayyy, Mark was the only one who actually fought. We just moved supplies from the back.”
“Hmm, hmm. Did you have to be so honest, digging up the truth like that?”
A loud conversation continued. Roan who had been listening made a slightly surprised expression and looked at the villagers and Mark, the young man.
“Were you war veterans?”
War veterans.
That was an honourable t.i.tle given by Roan and the kingdom, to all the soldiers that had fought together in the war for the throne and the founding of the Amaranth Kingdom.
“What veteran… I was just a lowly soldier.”
Mark made an embarra.s.sed smile and shook his head. Soon, the villagers made a large commotion.
“No! Although it was temporary, you had stepped up to a centurion post so you can’t say something like that!”
“Right, right. Mark. You are the pride of our Urth Village.”
“During the war against North Rinse Kingdom, you even cut off the head of the enemy’s Deputy Leader.”
The voices got larger and larger and Mark quickly waved his hand.
“Stop guys please. Stop.”
There was still embarra.s.sment on his face while Roan wore a surprised expression.
‘A centurion…?’
That meant he was quite a skilled soldier. Roan made a wide smile and gave a thumbs up.
“A centurion is on the level of a deputy leader right? I heard the kingdom’s treatment of the soldiers are really good so why didn’t you stay in the army?”
In response, Mark replied without hesitation.
“Because I’m a farmer.”
A proud and confident voice.
“I just partic.i.p.ated because the country was in danger, not because I wanted to become a soldier. And besides…”
He smiled and gazed over the village.
“If everyone becomes a soldier just because they’re treated well, then who will farm, catch fish, make clothes and build houses? Everyone just tries their best at their given position… that too, is a way of protecting the country.”
“Hmm…”
Roan let out a low murmur.
It was amazing.
He was baffled.
Mark’s words were the best advice and reminder that gave no room for disagreement. Roan once again realised.
‘It wasn’t because my subordinates and I were excellent that we were able to found the country.’
His eyes reflected light brightly.
‘It was thanks to these citizens who had quietly done what they should in their own areas that the country was able to be made.’
He bit down on his teeth. To protect these citizens and make sure their lives and villages were safe – that was Roan’s, no, the Amaranth Kingdom’s duties.
Then.
“d.a.m.n! They’re coming! It’s the thieves!”
An urgent voice escaped from the small watchtower, and the warm atmosphere was basked in cold water.
“Everyone to their posts!”
Mark commanded in a large voice and looked at Roan.
“Go deeper into the village centre and there is a shelter made for the elderly and children. Go there and hide.”
As soon as he finished those words, he climbed up the watchtowers.
Roan stood still and checked his surroundings. The men stuck behind the fences and breathed in deeply, and the women also held onto sickles and plows, positioning themselves right behind. It was evident that they were nervous.
Roan felt his heart ache. He hadn’t founded a country to see something like this. The pitying heart soon turned into a rageful one towards the thieves.
‘It was a good thing to start the incognito investigation.’
He carried his feet across. The direction was not towards the centre but outside the village.
“I’ll borrow this for a bit.”
Roan s.n.a.t.c.hed a short spear.
“Uh, uh? W, what are you doing?!”
The owner of the short spear waved his empty hand and screamed sharply. Instead of answering him, Roan opened the firmly closed entrance and left the village.
“Huh?! Uh?!”
“T, that!”
The villagers of Urth made large exclamations with baffled expressions. Mark who had been overlooking the situation from the watchtower was similarly surprised, but there was a bigger reason for his surprise.
‘The entrance that had been blocked with logs and stones was lightly pushed away?’
It was hard to understand how. During that time, Roan slowly carried his feet and stood in front of the entrance on the outside.
Dudududu!
Along with the sounds of horse hooves, Righteous Gave… no the Gave thieves were viciously approaching.
‘The numbers are around 200, and all of them on horses.’
For thieves, their weapons and armours were in good conditions.
‘Indeed, most of them have partic.i.p.ated in the war.’
He could tell with a glance.
Roan grabbed tightly on the spear. Since he had to hide his ident.i.ty, he couldn’t use Trivias, but in the first place, there was no need to use the spear Trivias against mere thieves.
“Uhahaha! What crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d is that!”
The leader of the Gave thieves, Gave kicked on the horse’s stomach and shouted.
“He seems to be trying to defend the village by himself?”
“Must be crazy! To think he can handle all of us by himself!”
“Hahaha! But I guess this village would be a little more exciting than the other villages!”
Mad laughter could be heard from here and there.
Gave quickly waved his right hand.
“Someone go and cut the head off of that crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”
As soon as his words finished, two fast hors.e.m.e.n broke out from the group.
Dudududu!
The sound of horse hooves got louder and louder, as the s.p.a.ce between the two and Roan was rapidly closed in.
“Die!”
“Die, b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”
The two shouted while swinging their swords, but Roan was still standing still without a movement.
“d.a.m.n! We can’t shoot arrows either!”
Mark bit on his lower lips. A mistake could mean Roan being the target of the arrows. The villagers all breathed out large sighs with sorrowful expressions.
However.
Flash!
A string of light flashed in front of Roan. It resembled that of a lightning, as the light travelled through s.p.a.ce and through the two hors.e.m.e.n.
“Uh?!”
“Hmm?”
The two men felt a strange feeling penetrating their bodies and widened their eyes. In front of them was Roan still standing with a calm expression.
And that was the last thing they saw in this life.
Slit!
Following the frightening sound, the two hors.e.m.e.n along with their horses were separated into two. A perfect strike with not even a splash of blood.
Kukukung.
Their bodies rolled on the ground.
“Hupp!”
“Uh!”
“I, impossible…”
The villagers that had been expecting Roan’s death had to widen their eyes and drop their chins. They couldn’t hide their bewilderment and that was the same for other thieves including Gave.
“What?!”
“One strike and Mick and Campbell’s bodies were cut?”
“Along with the horses as well!”
“W, what in the h.e.l.l is that b.a.s.t.a.r.d?!”
Puzzled expressions and voices.
Gave gave a frown.
“d.a.m.n! They must’ve brought some mercenary!”
He couldn’t make a proper decision due to the anger, as mercenaries with that level of skill were definitely not common. He bit on his tongue and took out his long sword.
“Attack! Attack! All of you stick together and kill that crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”
The command fell.
“Kill!”
“Show them the power of the Gave Righteous Thieves!”
“How dare they! After the mercenary, it would be the villagers’ turn!”
“Charge!”
Violent words could be heard.
Dudududu!
Sound of horse hooves trembled the earth as roughly 200 thieves quickly neared Roan.
“Ah…”
“N, no!”
“Quickly avoid! Quick!”
“Come into the village!”
The Urth villagers screamed at Roan.
Their thoughts were that that wouldn’t be easy even for Roan, but he instead kicked off the ground, rushing towards the thieves.
Pabat!
His speed was too fast making it hard for the eyes to catch. The thieves found Roan approaching them and scoffed.
“This crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”
“Die!”
A loud scream, but Roan gave a hazy smile and shook his head.
“The ones that are going to die…”
The short spear pointing at the ground split s.p.a.ce apart.
“Are you guys.”
Instantaneously, dozens and hundreds of light strands appeared before Roan.
Swish! Slash! Slash!
A strand of light matching one fearsome sound. Roan’s two feet danced in a strange manner and easily pa.s.sed by the approaching thieves.
Sphat!
Along with the last strand of light, Roan’s and the thieves’ positions had been swapped. As if the two parties walked past another, Roan had been placed further away from Urth village while the thieves were standing in front of the village entrance, with both of them showing their backs to the other.
A strange sense of silence filled the air. The one breaking the silence was Gave who had been the only one that didn’t charge.
“You crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! What are you doing over there!”
He screamed with a rushed expression, as Roan was right before him.
Likewise, Mark who had been watching from the watchtower saw the thieves pa.s.s by Roan and approach the village entrance and bellowed.
“P, prepare for battle!”
“P, prepare!”
It happened when the villagers each held up their own weapons.
Slit!
Along with a bizarre noise, a red string was drawn on the thieves and the horses’ bodies. And at the same time,
Kukukukung!
The near 200 thieves all split into two segments and fell on the ground, and the same was for the horses. They had become similar to the two previous thieves that had been killed by Roan, and had turned into corpses without a drop of blood.
“U, uwekkk!”
“Cough!”
A portion of the villagers that had been nervously glaring at the thieves began vomiting.
“I, impossible…”
Mark shook his head with a soulless expression. The scene before him was not something he could believe, and that was the same for Gave.
“T, t, t, t, this…”
He greatly stuttered his words. His eyes trembled together with his body. The powerful subordinates that he ruled over had instantaneously turned into corpses.
‘I, I, I need to run!’
That was the only thought controlling his brain. Gave immediately pulled on his reins.
Neigh!
The horse gave a cry before turning its head.
Dudududududu!
The sound of rushed hooves rang as Gave gave his all in running. Roan stood still as he stared at Gave’s back and for some reason, he wasn’t chasing after him. Actually, it wasn’t that he was letting him go, but that it was someone else’s job to chase after him.
“Fu…”
Letting out a long breath, Roan paced back towards Urth village. Pa.s.sing by the corpses of the thieves, he had approached the village entrance.
Gulp.
Mark as well as other villagers all gulped in nervousness, with eyes filled with several emotions. The most evident one from within was fear – looking at Roan had given them a sense of pure fear.
‘Completely natural reaction.’
Roan smiled hazily and lowered his head.
It was a farewell greeting.
He then turned towards the direction Gave had escaped in and carried his feet across. After around ten or so steps,
“E, excuse me.”
Mark ran up with a hurried voice. Then, he handed over a bag the size of a body.
“I brought some food.”
“Ah… thanks.”
Roan smiled and received the quite-heavy bag. Mark stared directly at Roan for a bit before eventually lowering his head.
“T, thank you!”
A large voice.
“The villagers are also extremely grateful. If you so wish, you can stay for as long as you desire.”
He was being honest. It was true that watching Roan’s martial arts had made them scared, but it didn’t take long for them to realise that it was thanks to him that their village and families were safe.
Roan could feel the presence of people on the watchtowers and those along the fence. They were really innocent and kind people.
He slowly shook his head.
“No, there’s now something I have to do. Thanks for your consideration.”
“Ah…”
Mark let out a sigh seemingly being dejected.
“Could I perhaps hear your name?”
He asked very carefully. Roan wondered for a bit before giving a short reply.
“My name is Roel.”
Roel.
It was something made up on the spot after adding Roan and Aily together. He realised that it was actually quite a good name after saying it out loud.
‘Maybe I should use that as my future child’s name?’
As he thought of useless things, Mark lowered his head once again.
“I won’t ever forget my benefactor’s name.”
Roan nodded in reply with a smile.
“I too will never forget it.”
“Sorry? Forget which…?”
Mark questioned while tilting his head but Roan just smiled in reply. After another farewell, the two walked their own ways – Mark returned to the village and Roan faced towards the direction Gave had left whilst carrying the bag of food.
He was planning to finish things off cleanly like always.
Like always.
And like Roan Lancephil.