Chapter 108 :The Reward

Orlando, who had rushed out with the knights, was visibly astonished.

“Sir Muno, what on earth is……”

“That bastard was the last of them. I’ve taken care of the rest, so the matter is finished.”

“Then those people are……”

“You must have heard? They are the ones who came from Trian as the Grand Princess’s escorts.”

“Ah……”

“Anyway, please explain the situation well to the Prince and the Grand Princess.”

“The situation has already gotten too big. I wonder if it will affect the party……. Ah, anyway, I will report it as such.”

After sending Orlando and the 3rd Prince’s palace knights away.

Familiar faces were left staring intently at him.

“What happened, Muno?”

“I think we need an explanation. Why, as soon as we arrived……”

Damn it.

Well, what could he do?

Surrounded by Chloe, Klarm, and Rasmia, Muno had no choice but to confess the whole story.

“Well……”

However, given the situation, he spoke quietly so that no one around could hear.

And fortunately, the reaction was not as bad as he had expected.

“So, you’re saying that arrow was this young lady’s work.”

Chloe, the red-haired female knight who had an eye for archery, looked back and forth between the remains of the corpse left after the poisonous mist had cleared and Rauel, her eyes shining.

“Her archery skills seem better than mine.”

He didn’t know what she was looking at to say that, but Chloe seemed quite surprised by her skills.

To that, Rauel, standing demurely behind Muno, simply lowered her head slightly in gratitude.

“Well, if she defected, and showed such a decisive result, she’s on our side. Muno, you’ve gained a capable comrade.”

Klarm also nodded in admiration.

However.

“I’m not too fond of her being a former assassin……”

Only Rasmia, the Spirit Master, frowned slightly.

“……Well, if you’ve decided to accept her, it’s none of my business.”

But fortunately, her reaction was more favorable than he had worried.

“As expected, after dating Commander Robero, your personality has softened……”

“Brother!!!”

Oh? Really?!

The moment the face of the pure-hearted man who was like a wild boar of Trian came to mind, Muno’s eyes couldn’t help but widen slightly.

“……Are you embarrassed, my dear sister? Puhahaha.”

“No, why are you talking about something completely unrelated here……!!”

“Because your reaction is funny!”

“You crazy son of a……!”

Just as the age-forgotten quarrel between the two middle-aged siblings was about to begin.

Chloe cut in abruptly.

“You two, first we need to deliver His Excellency’s ‘reward’ to Muno and then go see the Grand Princess right away. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

“……Khm, khm. See you later, brother.”

Rasmia seemed to be trying to control herself after hearing those words.

“See me now, right now. Why see me later.”

“Aish, really! You ate your age through your asshole……”

At Klarm’s provocation, the second round of the siblings’ fight began again.

Seeing Chloe shake her head with a deep sigh, it seemed this was not the first or second time.

‘That uncle wasn’t like that.’

Muno also watched the siblings’ quarrel with a dumbfounded look.

“……He’s happy, that man. He’s just not very honest.”

Chloe added with a click of her tongue.

“Pardon?”

“Since Rasmia started dating Commander Robero, she won’t be going to the Tower of Spirits. That’s why Sir Klarm is so happy.”

“Ah…….”

It seemed like a plausible interpretation.

“Ebebebe.”

“No, are you really a child!? Are you an idiot!!”

“Right back at you.”

“Ick……!”

Ugh…….

Looking at the middle-aged man acting like that, it didn’t seem like there was such a deep meaning behind it.

……He had no choice but to just ignore it.

“Anyway, what’s the gift? Should I be excited?”

Chloe answered the question he had thrown out to change the subject with a smile.

“Our His Excellency is not a stingy man.”

And she was right.

As Klarm, who had finished his prank (?), took out an item from his pocket.

“Ah……!”

Rauel, who had been silent all this time, let out a cry of admiration.

And Muno could fully understand her surprise.

What Klarm had taken out of his pocket was a very small crossbow that at first glance looked like a child’s toy.

But he could feel the overflowing mana from it.

“An artifact?”

And what’s more.

‘The mana of metal!’

Muno’s eyes widened.

“Its name is Headshot. He gave it to you, saying that you, who must continue to fight magicians, would need at least one long-range weapon. It will be useful if you attach it to the gauntlet of the hand you don’t mainly use.”

“It may be small, but it has the power to pierce through an iron plate from 300 meters away.

Its disadvantages are that you need to be able to use mana to use it, and you can only load about three arrows at a time, but even with that, it’s a treasure.”

“The arrows will have to be custom-made as well.”

Rauel’s eyes sparkled as she chimed in on Chloe’s added explanation.

She seemed to be very interested in such weapons.

“……Yes. It’s a flaw that the small arrows have to be custom-made, but I heard that it wouldn’t be a very difficult task for a skilled blacksmith.”

Muno only half-listened to the conversation Chloe was having with Rauel.

He had just remembered what Klarm had said earlier.

– You who must continue to fight magicians…….

It seemed that Count Trian knew what kind of order he had received from the king.

No, considering the time they would have departed, it was possible that the king had planned this mission in consultation with the count from the beginning.

‘Well……. He is an old man who reported his own faults to the king.’

The king must be showing him that much trust.

So he just had to.

“Thank you! Please be sure to tell His Excellency!”

He just had to bow his head respectfully.

That reaction made Klarm’s party smile again.

“Of course, we will. Now, try it on. I have something to explain. Miss Rasmia?”

“Ah, right. Here, Muno. Put it on.”

Hul, here?

“Hurry up.”

At their urging, Muno, while conscious of the gazes from all sides, accepted the crossbow right there in the open courtyard.

Kirik. Kirik.

Uuuuung.

“There. Try moving it as if you’re projecting mana and pulling it into the gauntlet.”

“Pardon? Into the gauntlet?”

“Hurry.”

“Ah. Yes……”

When Muno projected a moderate amount of mana into the crossbow attached to his left gauntlet.

Seureuk.

“Ut!?”

The small crossbow disappeared as if it were melting into the gauntlet.

“If the features I mentioned earlier were all, it wouldn’t be much different from a regular powerful crossbow, would it? It has to be at this level to be called an artifact.”

“Hoh…….”

Rasmia, who was watching his surprised expression as if it were cute, added an explanation.

“It’s an artifact that uses the mana of metal. In that absorbed state, the strength of the left gauntlet is also said to increase.

They said the density increases by a ‘multiple’? So it should have very good synergy with your artifact. His Excellency had a really hard time finding it for you, so you should be grateful.”

“Oh…….”

Kung.

When he actually punched his fists together, he could feel that the strength of his left gauntlet had increased quite a bit.

At least twice as much?

‘Quite useful. No, for me, this effect is actually better than anything else.’

Considering that his current armor was tough enough to chew up most artifacts, that alone was encouraging.

‘In an emergency, I can use my left hand as a shield…….’

As he was thinking of ways to use the new weapon, Rasmia’s explanation continued.

“If you project the mana again as if you’re pushing it up, the crossbow will appear. And if you move the mana as if you’re shooting it forward……”

“An arrow will be fired.”

It was literally a suitable item for someone who knew how to use mana to use as a trump card.

“Yes. You’ll need to practice for a while to use it quickly in an emergency.”

Chloe’s advice was not wrong, but he didn’t have time for that right now.

He was in a position where he had to move urgently from tomorrow.

‘I’ll have to try using it in a real battle.’

He didn’t have time to have additional arrows made, of which there were only three, so for a while, he would have to use it only when absolutely necessary.

Well, in any case, the fact that he had a new weapon, another move.

“……It feels good.”

A feeling of reassurance in one side of his chest.

At those words, Klarm’s party smiled simultaneously.

“Well, we’ve given you what we came to give……”

“We should go to the Grand Princess now, brother.”

Muno abruptly asked them as they were about to turn away.

“Did you really just come for the escort?”

“Yes. Since Karin expressed her intention to participate in the contest of virtue, His Excellency sent us, saying that someone had to guard that empty spot. Ah, the contest of virtue is……”

“I know.”

Muno cut Klarm off first, seeing him glance around as if he had just become conscious of the gazes around them.

Even if it was an open secret, it wasn’t something to be said in a place with so many listening ears.

And he had a question.

“Still, it seems a bit excessive……”

What dangerous things could happen to the Grand Princess, who wouldn’t be moving from the royal palace…….

“I thought so too, but seeing that, my thoughts have changed a bit.”

Ah.

“It seems His Excellency considered the case where these magician bastards would stir up trouble like this.”

“……I see.”

It was a very convincing explanation.

“I’d rather you join us, but His Excellency said you would have something else to do.”

As expected…….

“Yes, I have something to do.”

Now that things had turned out this way, it felt meaningless to have tried so hard not to get involved in the princes’ factions.

The king had given an order, what could they do?

Of course, if he had gotten involved with the 3rd Prince…….

‘I would have a lord to serve for the rest of my life. Ugh, the worst. Long live the free knight!’

He felt a renewed sense of gratitude for Karin, who had woken him up when he was about to fall for it.

“Um, Sir Muno?”

“Hm? Ah……”

“What should I do now?”

Rauel, her gray eyes, which were not hidden by the artifact, shining brightly, tapped his shoulder.

“Go to Drasen.”

After sending Klarm’s party off, the words that came out after some thought made Rauel express her bewilderment.

“Pardon? Suddenly……?”

“I have to do something else for a while under the king’s command. If something comes up where I need you, I’ll contact Drasen, so go there and wait.”

“But I have pledged my allegiance to you, Sir Muno……”

She was confused, but he couldn’t just add an unagreed-upon companion to the expedition he was leaving on under the king’s secret command.

“Winter isn’t completely over yet. Drasen needs more archers like you. I’ll write a letter to explain the situation. With your skills, my father will also welcome you.”

“But……”

Rauel still seemed disappointed.

She probably thought he was going to war with Aslan right away.

“Can’t I follow you?”

“Hm? Ah, I’m not going to fight Aslan……”

“Even if not, I want to be by your side, Sir Muno.”

……Why?

Ah.

“I really have no intention of making you a servant. A 4-Star Corporeal Arts user as a servant, that’s out of the question. Go to Drasen and become a knight……”

“I have decided to protect you, Sir Muno. Didn’t you agree to that?”

“Uh……”

Was she the type to be hung up on promises?

It was a little disconcerting.

“Even so, I have a job to do right now.”

“If it is a matter of the king’s command where no information can be leaked, I will not leave your side for a single moment, Sir Muno.”

……Why go to such lengths.

But it didn’t feel so bad to have someone wanting to follow him to this extent.

Rather, it felt like his abilities were being recognized, which made him feel a little good.

Especially if it was a beauty like Rauel……. ah, no, a talented person.

Khm.

“Actually, I don’t have a single penny, so I don’t have a place to sleep right now……”

A dry cough came out as he saw Rauel’s slightly flushed face as she bowed her head deeply.

Kuluck.

‘Oh, is that so…….’

Well, in any case, there were honestly many ways to make use of her.

“Hmm. Still, the king’s command is……”

It’s not a matter where absolutely no information can be leaked.

Anyway, if a real subjugation was needed, they would mobilize the nearby army or knights, so eventually, many people would find out.

But he still couldn’t just add Rauel to the party without consulting them.

In that case.

“Alright. Then you go to Erundel first.”

“Pardon?”

“The place I have to go to tomorrow is the southern city of Erundel. Go there in advance and investigate what’s going on.”

“……In just one day?”

Looking at the flustered Rauel, Muno took out the plaque with the ‘L’ crest from his pocket and threw it.

Along with a heavy money pouch.

“Find the information organization with the same crest as that. You can just give them my name and request information. Even starting the investigation one day earlier will save time.”

Even if it was the same organization, he thought that El of Erundel would know the situation there better than El of Ironheart.

“Then……”

“In the meantime, I’ll try to ask my companions to let you join.”

“Ah.”

“A 4-Star Corporeal Arts user. And a perfect sniper like you, I think they’ll accept it.”

In the case of having to face a magician, an archer could be more helpful.

And.

“May I ask what is going on there?”

“That’s what we’re going to find out. They say Erundel has been noisy lately. You can investigate it yourself and let me know.”

“Pardon? Hmm, yes. I understand.”

He didn’t tell Rauel the real purpose.

Because he wanted to hear an opinion that was not mixed with prejudice.

“El……. I understand. Reid, is that the name of the owner of this identification plaque?”

“Reid Merchant Guild. It’s Drasen’s main trading partner and the merchant guild that operates that organization. I made a big deal with them yesterday, so if you mention my name, they’ll treat you better. They might even give you a better price.”

The jewels, excluding the gold coins he had obtained from robbing the Ted Family.

He had paid most of those jewels to have daily necessities sent to Drasen just yesterday.

The money in the pouch he had given to Rauel was what was left after that.

“Ah, the leftover from the donation……”

“Hm? You know about that?”

“Have you forgotten? I was the one who dealt with Ted. I watched you for a little longer after that, Sir Muno.”

“Ah…….”

Muno looked at Rauel again with wide eyes.

“……I wondered why the back of my head was itching, tsk. I was worried the Temple might have embezzled the money.”

“Priest Elan is a good person. He even uses his own salary for the children.”

“……You know him?”

“Ah, I’m from there……”

Looking at the mumbling Rauel, Muno suddenly recalled what the old priest Elan had said.

– There is a kind-hearted sister who donates regularly. The world needs to know that true beauty lies in the heart, not the skin or appearance…….

‘Ah…….’

Come to think of it, it was strange that she didn’t have a single penny even though she had been working as a high-ranking assassin until now.

‘There’s no way Aslan would have employed someone and not paid them.’

And her appearance, by his standards, was a striking beauty, but by the standards of this world, she would be seen as below average.

And if he had mentioned her skin, it seemed almost certain.

Perhaps what the priest had said was…….

“Did you donate all the money you received from Aslan? To consign children who were in a similar situation as you?”

“Pardon!? Ah, yes. Th-That is……”

“……It’s true.”

“……I didn’t want those children to live like me.”

He couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Rauel with her head bowed deeply, as she looked particularly pretty.

Of course, the fact that she had been donating had no direct relationship with her reliability, but for some reason, he felt he could trust her even more than before.

“Well then, I’ll ask you to go first.”

“Yes, I will see you in Erundel.”

After sending Rauel off, he sighed again.

“Tsk……”

Something he really didn’t want to do, but couldn’t avoid.

“Well, at least I don’t have to wear that ugly formal wear.”

The time to attend that stuffy party was fast approaching.

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