So I'll also check it out around tomorrow. Please read lots.^^
***************************************************************
The boys who had been deceived by people's sweet talk eventually had no choice but
to part from their companions one by one. The old man, having finished his recollection, let out a long sigh.
"Many children were sold off. As border guards, as northern mercenaries, and there were even those sold as slave
sailors on whaling ships. For the docile Truvenian people in Arcadia, the places they can
go are predetermined. Women become prostitutes, men become mercenaries, that sort of thing. Come to think of it, I
am quite lucky."
"Pathetic. If you think about it, the ancestors of the Arcadian people are clearly Truvenians."
"Who knows? The people here try to exploit Truvenians first thing when they see them,
after all."
As if proving he had lived a hard life, the old man's face bore the ravages of time, plainly
revealed. Daemon, who had been watching him, could not help but feel shaken.
Of course, it was not where he was born, but Truvenia was where he had spent most of his life. The Central Plains where he had lived for roughly fifty years since birth. But it was Daemon, who had lived the remaining nearly five hundred years
in Truvenia. Therefore, he could confidently say he was from Truvenia
in front of anyone. To think that his fellow countrymen were living so painfully
like this…….
"Then what have you done to survive until now?"
The old man looked at Daemon and raised a slight smile. It was a smile that could not hide a
desolate feeling.
"It's really nice to meet a fellow countryman and talk after so long. If you think about it, it's truly
a life that could be called hard-lived. Though it'll end soon."
The old man said he had a talent for commerce since childhood. Therefore, his first start was as an inn
clerk. There were times when he did not receive proper wages, and times when he lost all his carefully saved money to
fraud, but the old man did not succumb and lived diligently in the world.
Driven by the single-minded determination to open his own store by all means. After much hard work, the fruits of that labor seemed visible. But…….
"I've experienced much, but I could never understand the hearts of Arcadians. The person I had agreed to partner with
took all of my money and ran away. Because of that, I was chased out of the workplace
I was at as well."
After that, the old man began a wandering peddler's life. It would not be an exaggeration to say he spent most of his subsequent life as a wandering
peddler. Buying goods in abundant places and selling them in regions where they were scarce. Of course, it was dangerous work, but the profits were equally great. Until he saved enough money to open his own
store, the old man lived very diligently. Right up until he entered Lorvein to open a store having saved his target amount.
"You lived very busily. But why didn't you open a store in Lorvein?"
"It's a long story. Do you know this? That until just a month ago, I was a steward of this Romein Merchant House……."
Of course, Daemon had no way of knowing that fact. Looking at him, the old man explained the circumstances
to him. Of the approximately five years he had served as a steward of the Romein household.
Clutching the fifty gold he had saved from his long peddling life, the old man finally set foot in Lorvein. His goal was to open a jewelry shop in the city of Lorvein.
But it was not easy. The commercial rights of Lorvein were already entirely in the grip of the Romein Merchant House, and they obstructed his opening by any means necessary. However, the old man bustled about, trying somehow to establish himself in Lorvein.
It was because there was no city with consumer purchasing power as great as Lorvein, which was both a trading city and a consumer city. After many twists and turns, the old man obtained a store in the city center. He thoroughly kept his credit and never forgot a customer who had once passed by. All were experiences gained during his long peddling days. Because of that, regulars continued to appear, and his store prospered day by day. To the point that the previously established Romein Merchant Houses were all left deserted,
that is.
But before even a year had passed, a terrible nightmare befell him. A fire of unknown origin broke out in the store, and the foundation was completely burned down. It was precisely then that a tempting hand was extended to the old man, who was staring at the ashes with a devastated expression. The head of the Romein Merchant House had come to find him
personally. Looking at Daemon, the old man made an expression filled with lament.
"I should have firmly refused the bastard's proposal then. If I had, I wouldn't have
ended up in this situation."
What Count Romein proposed at the time was, for the old man who had lost his foundation entirely, literally an irresistible temptation.
"First, I express my sincere condolences regarding your store burning down. But I cannot let your astounding managerial abilities rot away, can I? So if it is alright, please take charge of my store.
I shall pay sufficient compensation."
The old man in his desperate situation ultimately had no choice but to snap at the bait. When the Count said he would even pay back the money borrowed with the store as collateral, there was no reason to refuse. From then on, the old man became an employee of the Romein Merchant House. Daemon, who had been listening, nodded as if he understood something.
"Come to think of it, the fire was……."
"It wasn't something that happened by accident. Four years after taking over the Romein Merchant House, I was able to know
all the facts."
The old man literally worked devoting his life. In just one year, he expanded the jewelry store he took charge of to twice its size. Thereby gaining Count Romein's deep trust, and eventually rising to the position of steward managing all his business establishments.
"If you think about it, my ending up like this can be seen as karma. Because I had covered up all manner of evil deeds Count Romein had committed until now, that is."
To his knowledge, Count Romein was literally a villain with a human face and a beast's heart. Outwardly, he put on a pleasant smile as a successful businessman, but behind the scenes he was a bloodless, tearless money-grubber frantic about making money, who hesitated at nothing that violated heavenly principles. If he had not suffered pangs of conscience while working under such a Count Romein, that would have been a lie. A deep light of regret rose in the old man's eyes.
"It was truly difficult. Not only did I mercilessly sell off women begging for their lives, but I also exploited the money they earned like a vampire, embezzled taxes to line the Count's
pockets……"
The incident that caused him to be unable to endure any longer originated from his chance discovery of a document in the Count's secret safe. Having realized through the document the circumstances of his own store's fire, the old man finally became disillusioned with
Count Romein.
"I cannot work for him any longer."
He went straight to the Count. Count Romein's influence was deeply entrenched in Lorvein's power structure, so quietly leaving was the only way. Reporting it would only bring
harm upon himself. Meeting the Count, the old man requested to be sent away, saying he could no longer work.
"Is that so? If our intentions do not align, it cannot be helped."
The Count surprisingly agreed readily. And he handed over a considerable amount as severance pay. The old man considered it a great relief and hurriedly packed his bags. But to get straight to the point, he could never leave the Romein household. Right after packing, he was bound
by soldiers. From then on, the old man was confined in an underground prison. Waiting only for the day he would die,
that was all.
"The bastard simply couldn't let me go. When you think about it, there is no one who knows his corruption as well as I do. He will surely kill me and bury me without a trace. Perhaps that fact will not change."
Daemon, having heard the old man's long tale of his life, let out a long sigh.
"That bastard Count Romein is almost as bad as me."
"You call yourself a bad man?"
"Indeed. After deceiving the master I served and escaping, I killed my master's friend, pillaged treasures, and fled here,
that is why. There is also the sin of having beaten the servant leader near to death in the process."
Of course, Daemon's words were the complete truth from beginning to end. At his words, the old man opened his eyes wide, as if somewhat surprised.
"You have done bad things. But compared to Count Romein's actions, you are merely trifling. To my knowledge, there is no one who has made tears spring from people's eyes as much as him……. Behind his charming smile lurks a human-faced, beast-hearted nature like that of a devil,
I tell you."
"Is that so?"
Daemon smiled faintly. Of course, it did not matter what Count Romein was up to. The problem was that he had touched Daemon. By nature, Daemon always remembered grace, while certainly repaying grudges.
"Then what do you intend to do from now on, Elder?"
"Me? Well, I'll have no choice but to wait for the day I die."
"No, that's not what I mean. If an opportunity arises, what would you do? Would you try to live diligently once more?"
"Thank you for saying so, at least."
The old man put on a smiling face after a long time. Having met a fellow countryman after so long and poured out his life's tale, his heart had become lighter.
"You should worry about yourself. That bastard Romein has quite the twisted tastes. Every single person who has gone through him until now has gone mad or committed suicide. You cannot be
an exception."
"That is a problem I shall handle myself. I'm merely
curious how he will treat me."
The old man seemed somewhat bewildered by Daemon's attitude, which held no worry whatsoever. Daemon silently turned his head. Inside the bars all around, many women were sitting huddled
with haggard appearances.
"Are they all slaves too?"
"They are children to be sold to Pailut. They'll have to live as receptacles for sailors' seed until they die, so those children's plight is truly tragic beyond words."
A strange glint arose in Daemon's eyes.
"If you had the authority, old man, what would you do?"
"Authority?"
"The authority to control their fates as you please."
The old man, who had been thinking something over for a moment, spoke softly.
"It won't happen, but if I had the authority, I would set them free. Since they're children sold because of
money, if freed they would return straight to their hometowns, wouldn't they? And if they were given some travel money from Romein's overflowing
warehouse coffers, it would be the icing on the cake……"
"Do not forget that heart."
After leaving those meaningful words, Daemon turned his head. It was because he heard signs
of someone approaching.
Clomp, clomp.
Shortly after, several figures revealed themselves in front of the prison door. Four heavily armed soldiers and a man in his fifties with a rather cunning appearance. An old man with a goat beard who looked quite sly,
his eyes rolling smoothly. Supplementary explanation from the old man reached Daemon's ears.
"That one is the chief steward of the Romein household, Danglas. He was once my superior, the Count Romein's confidant to the bone. That bastard is just as bad,
as well."
"Speaking of which, what is your name?"
At Daemon's counter-question, the old man made a bewildered expression.
"Didn't I tell you yet? Look at my mind. My name is……"
Unexpectedly, the answer came from outside the prison.
"That fellow's name is Zengart, I believe. But there is no need to remember it. Because it is a name that will soon die and be buried in the
ground. Now then, you will have to come with us."
As soon as those words finished, a clanking sound was heard. It was likely the sound of the prison door opening. The old man Zengart urgently looked at Daemon.
"There is only one piece of advice I can give you. No matter what happens, humor
Count Romein. You must survive first to have a chance to escape, no?"
"Don't worry about me and look after yourself."
Daemon, who had spat out bluntly, thrust his body toward the half-open door. Rather, the ones surprised
were Chief Steward Danglas and the soldiers. They had already resolved to forcibly drag out a prisoner
who would refuse to come out. But for the prisoner to come out willingly.
A smug smile rose on Danglas's sly face.
"Good that you listen well. As a reward, I shall treat you comfortably."
"I'll look forward to seeing just how comfortably you treat me. Then please lead the way."
Bewildered expressions appeared on the soldiers' faces. During their service here, they had never seen a prisoner with such audacity as Daemon. Feeling that the host and guest had reversed, they frowned and escorted Daemon away. Especially Danglas, who glared at Daemon repeatedly,
looking very displeased.
"Farewell. Come to think of it, I haven't asked your name either."
Left alone in the prison, Zengart could only send an affectionate gaze out the window. Next it would be his
turn, and his destination would clearly be different.
"Hoo, it's done now."
Looking at the prisoner tied spread-eagled in the center of the large bed, Danglas let out a long
sigh. Having completed Count Romein's order, it was now time for him to leave.
He looked again at the prisoner tied up without moving. A repulsive smile rose on Danglas's face.
"Bastard, let's see if you can still act so composed after tonight passes."
The prisoner was literally tied up perfectly. Thick iron shackles were fitted on both wrists and ankles, and these were firmly
fixed to iron posts at the bed's edge by chains as thick as a child's finger. No doubt the prisoner could not leave the bed until someone released him. He turned his gaze fleetingly to the side.