"Yes. But you know my situation. Sir Zebeck, you need a place to earn merit, don't you? If you repel the ruffians who attacked the baroness's mansion, you can receive a pardon without becoming a penitent knight."
"Then what about the friends you hired with money?"
"Young master suggested hiring the Cell Sword Guild or other adventurers, but who in their right mind would agree to attack the baroness's house? So I picked out some strong lads from among the refugees and hired them. They were all eager to join."
"...."
"Well, I did have to provide them with weapons, so it cost a bit more. But there are plenty of such refugee youths everywhere. Even if some of them disappear, no one will notice."
The young master's aide, Beldon, spoke quietly so that no one else could hear.
"Are you telling me to kill refugee youths?"
Beldon was urging Zebeck to earn merit, suggesting that he hire the ruffians and then stab them in the back.
However, Zebeck was reluctant. He was already on the verge of becoming a penitent knight, but wasn't this too despicable?
'Even the heralds of the Herald Clan understand honor. I cannot do this.'
But the executive knight, Meiya, who was listening beside him, was delighted.
"This is a great opportunity, Sir Zebeck. You must accept it."
"Right?"
"You're talking nonsense. Beldon, pay them what was promised and disband them immediately. I will speak to the young master myself."
"What? Oh no, this is a disaster. If you do that, I'll be punished. You know the young master's condition, Sir Zebeck…."
"Sir Zebeck, really… this is…"
Even Meiya was flustered by Zebeck's stubbornness.
"Huh? Wait, you people are…?"
Meiya spotted a man, a boy, and a girl among the passersby.
"You've come to Salasma as well?"
"Ah, Executive Knight?"
It was Azadin, Midiam, and Ishmael.
"Hmm? Meiya, do you know them?"
"Ah, yes. They are pilgrims I met during the black magic catastrophe. I heard they are quite skilled."
"Well, of course."
Zebeck gave a bitter smile. It seemed Meiya was unaware that Azadin belonged to the Herald Clan.
"It's been a while."
"Ah, Sir Zebeck. You've come here as well."
"You know Sir Zebeck too?"
Meiya was simply amazed.
"Yes, somehow. Executive Knight, have you found your father?"
Azadin, despite having killed her father, asked nonchalantly.
"No. I couldn't find him at all, so I returned to my post. There's too much work to be done. My father, Sir Gazrek, is the model of the knight order. He must surely be carrying out his duty. He must be safe."
"...."
Even favoritism has its limits. Gazrek, who did not hesitate to massacre civilians to cover up their mistakes, was the model knight? Azadin struggled to maintain a neutral expression.
"My, my. But what's going on?"
"Well, you see,"
Zebeck spoke frankly.
"Young Master Kozel has hired poor refugee youths to attack Baroness Nord's mansion. Succeeding means execution, failing means death. The fact that so many volunteered shows just how dire their situation is."
"Ah…."
Beldon was flustered.
"H-how could you tell others about that?"
"He is someone I can trust. He knows how to keep his mouth shut."
Zebeck was surprised at himself after saying that. As a holy knight of the King's Church, he had just vouched for Azadin, an emperor's herald. Hearing this, Azadin gave a wry smile.
"Is this the man in charge of hiring?"
"Yes."
"Ah, well, hmm."
Beldon was overwhelmed by how quickly the conversation was progressing. Then, Azadin spoke.
"Sorry to say, but hiring people who have never held a sword will be utterly useless. Instead of making innocent people bleed, why not hire some capable professionals?"
"Capable professionals?"
"Yes, like me."
"...."
Midiam and Ishmael, who were listening, stuck out their tongues.
'B-bold…'
'Is he insane?'
"...."
Zebeck, listening, let out a sigh.
"Dame Meiya, we should take our leave."
"Huh?"
"There is a reason for it."
Zebeck stepped aside to let Azadin and Beldon speak privately. Or perhaps, he was deliberately leaving to avoid hearing the filthy conversation that would follow.
***
In the evening, Azadin left Baroness Nord's mansion and scouted the count's castle. However, it was not a place one could casually observe. Any spot that provided a view inside was guarded by sentries and watchposts.
"Looks like the count is quite paranoid."
The entire city of Salasma was in turmoil due to an influx of refugees. Starving and impoverished, some managed to get by through begging, which was the least of the problems. Others turned to theft, robbery, prostitution, and even murder, rapidly deteriorating public order. A significant military force was needed to keep these refugees under control.
To maintain stability in the city, most of the standing army had to be reassigned to security duties. However, the count, surprisingly, showed no concern for the state of public order and focused solely on defending his own castle.
With things like this, there was no way to get in.
"Couldn't we enter through the underground passage? The wererats infiltrated the baroness's mansion that way, didn't they?"
Midiam, following along, suggested.
"I investigated the underground passage, but a massive iron gate blocked the way. No matter how skilled I am, I don't think I can break through it."
It was a one-way passage—useful only for escaping from the count's castle, but impossible to use for infiltration. That was only natural for a properly constructed secret underground route.
"If there's some kind of mechanism, maybe we could open it from the outside? If we search the area carefully?"
"I don't think that's likely. Hmm, should I just climb over the wall at night? But then…"
Azadin clicked his tongue as he considered the option of scaling the wall at night. He had no knowledge of the interior layout, the number of guards, or their patrol routes. Attempting to sneak in under such circumstances would inevitably lead to mistakes.
If he subdued the patrolling guards or the servants working inside, things would be different, but that would mean harming innocent people. While knocking them unconscious might be an option, there was always the risk of accidentally killing someone.
As someone who followed the faith of the Knights of Salvation, Azadin had no desire to take innocent lives. If he was going to infiltrate at night, thorough prior investigation was necessary.
"I'll have to ask the baroness for detailed information about the people coming and going from the count's castle. If possible, I should obtain a map. The count's legal wife and children must have access to the place, right?"
"How? Are you planning to disguise yourself as a servant? I doubt any noble would hire someone as a servant if they wear a helmet or an eye-covering."
Midiam pointed out the flaw. If Azadin disguised himself as a blind man, he would gain the sympathy of those around him. However, blindness was also a strikingly memorable trait, making it difficult for him to blend in. Disguising himself was not an easy option.
"There's no choice, then. Should I take my time breaking through the iron gate?"
He couldn't break it all at once, but with enough time and tools, it would be possible to destroy it. With that decision in mind, Azadin was on his way back when he encountered Zebeck and his group.
***
Just then, the refugee youths gathered around.
"What are you talking about, employer?"
"Well, this helmeted man is asking to be hired instead of you guys."
"What?"
They surrounded Azadin. However, he remained completely unfazed and spoke.
"Sorry, but you guys just aren't up to the task. I'll give you some money, so take that and be satisfied. This kind of work isn't for you."
"Hey, is this guy looking down on us?"
The refugee ruffians flared up in anger. At that moment, Azadin took out a gold coin. It wasn't an imperial gold coin but a standard hard currency from the Clan of the Eight Divine Kings.
"Huh?"
"What? Are you showing off because you have money?"
"No, how about a bet?"
"A bet?"
"If you win the bet against me, this coin is yours."
"...."
The ruffians' eyes gleamed with greed at the sight of the gold coin.
"W-what's the bet?"
"It's simple."
Azadin gestured to Midiam.
"Draw a circle on the ground around my feet, twice the width of my shoulders."
Midiam took out a piece of chalk and drew a circle beneath Azadin's feet.
"Like this?"
"Yes, that's good."
Holding up the gold coin, Azadin spoke to them.
"If you can push me out of this circle, the gold coin is yours."
"…What?"
"However, if you lose, you will quietly return to your families and rely on the Knights of Salvation for aid."
"T-this bastard!"
"He's seriously looking down on us!"
Azadin's provocation enraged the refugee youths.
"Ah, wait. Why are you guys deciding this on your own…?"
Kozel's aide, Beldon, was flustered. Originally, he had planned to sacrifice these youths to satisfy Kozel's thirst for revenge and bury the matter.
Of course, such decisions were beyond a mere aide's authority. However, the situation was unfolding in an unexpected way.
"The time limit is…"
Azadin flicked the gold coin into the air.
The coin shot high into the sky and then fell back into Azadin's hand.
"I'll flip the coin ten times. If I fail to catch it even once, you win. And if you win, I'll even throw in this gold coin as a bonus."
"...!"
"How about it? Want to try?"
"Of course!"
"Yeah!"
Azadin flicked the gold coin again. At that moment, the ruffians rushed at him all at once.
"Get him!"
"Kill him!"
However, the first youth who lunged at him was struck squarely in the philtrum by Azadin's index finger. A numbing shock surged through his body, causing him to flinch. In that brief moment, Azadin seized the youth's head, locked his arm, and spun within the circle.
"Uwaaah!"
Like a bull caught in a harness, the ruffian was dragged across the ground. The others, who had charged in to push Azadin out, got caught up in the chaos, colliding with one another and falling over.
Azadin spun his captive around once and then hurled him away. The ruffians collapsed like bowling pins, and as the gold coin fell from the sky, Azadin caught it.
"One."
"...."
"Uh."
The onlookers stuck out their tongues in astonishment.
Even Midiam and Ishmael, who knew Azadin's skills, were awed by his display of prowess.
"What's wrong? Not going to try again?"
"N-no."
"We give up."
Azadin had generously offered to flip the coin ten times, but with just one round, their spirits were completely broken.
"Hmm. Ishmael."
"Yes?"
"Give this to them."
Azadin picked up a few silver coins and handed them to Ishmael. Ishmael took the coins and distributed them to the ruffians, who then removed their leather armor and weapons and returned them to Beldon.
"Uh, uh… Wait! Hold on…."
Beldon panicked, but the refugee youths, having tasted Azadin's overwhelming strength, were too busy dividing up the money to care.