Chapter 8
"Thank you. Truly, thank you..."
Swoosh.
Light powder scatters in the wind and slowly disappears.
Before Callius, the corpse of a child, torn by the claws of a demon beast that had settled in the nearby forest, vanished.
[Corpse of Artemo - Completed]
[Technique + 1]
[Callius von Zervan]
[Class] – Pilgrim.
[Holy Rank] – 4th Grade
[Divine Power] – 2371/3251.
[Talent] – [Bard's Blessing - Highest]
[Characteristics] - [Corpse Grace (屍恩)] [Noble's Duty] [Count Family's Rakehell] [Realizing Past Wrongs (死時昨非)] [Order's Prodigal Son] [Glutton]
[Stats]
Strength – 22+(10)
Agility – 15+(10)
Technique – 7 > 8
Constitution – 15+(10)
Faith – 21
Forest near the metropolis Trista.
I ran all the way here, completing quests by turning grudge-filled corpses into proper remains whenever I saw them.
Fortunately, there were no difficult requests, so I completed the quests feeling like I was just killing time, and my stats increased significantly.
Strength, Faith, and this time, Technique, which rarely went up, increased.
Even though it only went up by 1, it feels like the technical aspects have improved.
Of course, I'll know more accurately once I go into actual combat. Nevertheless, Callius nodded with satisfaction and asked Artemo's parents.
"There are many demon beasts around here. Why do you live so dangerously in this place?"
"You don't know well, Pilgrim. There are many peasants like us. Since we've taken up herb gathering as our calling since ancient times, we can't leave this place... If we leave here, what would we do to make a living?"
"……But you might die. If you move to the city, you wouldn't die from demon beasts, right?"
However, Artemo's father shook his head, saying that wasn't the case at all.
Compared to the North, there are fewer, but there are still demon beasts here.
Since there are quite a few cases of ordinary beasts eating humans and turning into demon beasts, this place wouldn't be much different.
"No. If we become residents of Trista, because of the heavy taxes, herb gatherers like us wouldn't be able to survive..."
"……"
Indeed, becoming a resident of Trista would cost money, and the taxes collected there would be enormous.
They would rather live comfortably outside the city, in the forest.
Being oppressed by nobles inside the city or attacked by demon beasts outside, it's all the same to them.
"Well, then."
"Ah, yes. We will not forget this grace."
It was time to part ways.
However, Callius didn't budge, as if he had something more to say.
"Ah! Pilgrim! Are you perhaps heading to Trista?"
"Yes. I am."
"Then please tell Cedric of Trishi that you came to collect the debt of Armo the herb gatherer on his behalf!"
"……Cedric of Trishi. So it has come."
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. Tell me in detail."
"Yes! There was a time when he became indebted to me. At that time, he told me to come visit him once so he could definitely repay me! Since I'm a poor herb gatherer and have nothing to give you, Pilgrim, at least like this……"
"There is no need for that."
He answered firmly, but it was just for show.
A gleam of interest flickered in Callius's eyes. Cedric of Trishi.
This was the reason he had gone out of his way to cross the damned forest path, searching for a child's corpse and completing the quest.
"Pilgrim! If you send my benefactor away like this, Artemo won't be able to rest in peace either! Please accept my sincerity!"
"Since you insist that much, it can't be helped. I will go see Cedric of Trishi."
"Thank you! Thank you!"
After parting with the herb gatherer and leaving the forest, a plain and a city beyond it came into view. The city of pleasure. It was Trista.
"Cedric of Trishi. Good."
Cedric of Trishi.
He is a big shot in the underworld organization called Kracion, which stretches not only throughout Carpe but also into other countries.
"If it's Cedric, he might be able to help purchase the subsidiary ingredients for holy water."
Cedric is a belligerent opponent, not easy to form a bond with.
But once he forms a bond with someone, he maintains a good relationship with them for a long time.
There are many advantages to getting close to him.
'He will provide various information.'
Since he deals in all sorts of underworld affairs, as well as very trivial information, I might learn the news I need.
For my survival and my goal.
Getting close to him is the right thing to do.
"The line is too long."
As soon as he finished his thoughts, what caught his eye was a long procession heading to Trista.
Various people were lined up, waiting to enter. From simple travelers to merchant groups leading mercenaries.
'Are there nobles too?'
Moreover, even an unnamed noble.
Because this is an era with few forms of entertainment, Trista, which has many various amusements and sights, is always crowded with people.
Callius had no choice but to join the long line.
* * *
The sun, which had been high in the sky, had tilted slightly.
Has it been about two hours now?
Right before the people lined up ahead disappeared and it became Callius's turn.
Thump.
"……What are you."
Someone struck Callius's shoulder.
"……What are you?"
"Oh my, my shoulders are just too broad, you see. My apologies. But why are you glaring like that, mister?"
He bumped shoulders outright and was picking a fight.
His hair was short, and his body was muscular.
His impression was as vicious as a foul mouth, and tattoos were rampant all over his body.
He looked like a neighborhood thug.
Callius was so dumbfounded that he stared at him for a while, but then sudden jeers came from around them.
"Hey, what's this? If you're not going in, move aside."
"Hey, if you're going to fight, do it somewhere else. If you fight in Trista, it'll just get annoying for no reason."
The guards in charge of Trista's entrance looked at them with annoyed expressions.
The thug suddenly raised his fist at Callius, who was staying still out of sheer absurdity.
"Ah! So frustrating!"
It was then.
"You rascal!"
Clang!
Suddenly, men who looked like knights of a noble family rushed in and thrust their swords directly at the thug and Callius.
'What is this?'
The thug who started the fight was smirking, and through the gap between the knights, a young nobleman walked confidently.
"Ha ha, does Trista even let in people with such problems?"
"……Who might you be?"
Even at a glance, his clothes and attitude showed he was a noble, so the guards rolled their eyes and acted carefully.
"I am the eldest son of Viscount Lutens, Baldwin de Lutens."
"Ah, Sir Baldwin. We are sorry for not recognizing you."
He nods as if it's a matter of course and begins to speak.
"My father told me to go to Trista to broaden my horizons, and though I hesitated to make the long journey, I came. I didn't expect to see such a sight right upon arriving. Do I have to take care of even these kinds of problems myself?"
"We apologize. Hey, why aren't you dragging them out quickly!"
Callius, who had been targeted by the knights' swords, was now being dragged far away by the guards.
It was an absolutely absurd situation.
Only then did Callius realize that the thug and the noble in front of him were in cahoots.
'Even nobles must wait in line to enter Trista.'
But that guy acted as if he solved the guards' problem for them, forcing them into his debt.
"You must know that my father has been sending victory reports in many battles. The day he rises to Count won't be far off either."
"Yes, yes. Of course."
"But, are you going to keep me standing here? The sunlight is hot."
"How could we! Please come inside quickly."
His assumption was correct.
Callius, who had waited for two hours, was dragged away, and the noble bastard who had just arrived confidently entered Trista.
Veins popped on Callius's forehead.
"Unbelievable."
Why does the saying "nose cut off while eyes are open" come to mind? It's absurd.
It's so absurd that he wasn't even angry.
"I am a Pilgrim. Do you think you'll be safe treating a son of Valterus like this?"
"Valterus?"
He thought it might work, but no such luck.
"Why, are you going to draw that sword? Let me tell you in advance, Mr. Pilgrim. I don't know about other places, but drawing a sword here in Trista won't solve anything."
"Keuk, if you draw your sword, you'll never be able to enter Trista even if you die and wake up, so draw it if you want. No matter how much the master of this city is Lord Gerald of the Valterus Order, the laws of Trista are strict."
It's unfair, but that's true.
The Valterus Order lost the people's trust a long time ago. Even if the master of Trista is Gerald, who has risen to the rank of Master in the Order, he wouldn't give any conveniences to Pilgrims. Rather, he detests Pilgrims.
Trista is that kind of place.
The city of pleasure. But precisely because of that, the application of the law is stricter and more demanding. If you cause trouble once, you'll be imprisoned, or worse, banned from entering.
Once entry is banned, you are never let in again, so unless it's unavoidable, no one causes trouble here.
That's also because the entity that can be called the master of Trista is a figure who exerts great influence in both the Kingdom and the Order, and one of the five Paladins called Masters.
Because he is Gerald Gustav.
'Gerald of Judgment.'
No matter how high-ranking a noble is, they don't cause a commotion in the city cherished by Gerald, a powerful Paladin of the Order, and a Paladin who has risen to the rank of Master.
Moreover, he is recognized in the Kingdom and even received the title of Honorary Marquis, so there is no need to say more.
"Hey, let go of this! I'll go on my own now!"
The thug shook off the guard's hand, and Callius also moved far away from the gate along with him.
"Mister, just think of it as stepping in dog poop. If you don't have strength, you should at least be smart. If you have neither, it's right to just keep your mouth shut."
Jingle, clink.
The thug, with words that might be mocking or comforting, shook a coin pouch from his bosom.
"If you're like me and have neither, you should at least listen well and get money. Hahaha!"
"How much?"
"Wh-what? Ah, that noble lord must have a lot of money, he gave five gold coins for just this much work? I hit the jackpot. Keuk."
The thug laughed heartily at Callius, who was staring quietly at the coin pouch, then flicked a silver coin from his bosom.
Callius's mouth twisted as he caught the silver coin.
"I earned this thanks to you, mister, so this is my sincerity. Then let's meet again if we have ties!"
The moment the thug turned his back to leave.
Grab. Callius caught the thug's shoulder.
"Don't you think I'm a bit short on money?"
"What? I gave you a silver coin out of pity because you're a pitiful bastard, and it's not enough? Do I look like a pushover?!"
I gave a silver coin out of generosity, and he doesn't even know gratitude!
The thug immediately clenched his fist.
But he was a step too late.
Thump!
Callius's fist was faster.
"Agh! Wh-what!! Did you just hit me?!"
In front of the shouting thug, Callius raised his fist again with cold eyes.
"If you earned gold coins because of me, isn't it only natural to hand over gold coins instead of silver?"
At Callius's words, spoken as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, the unnamed thug took out a dagger from his bosom.
"This bastard, fuck, I was almost convinced for a second. Do you really want to die?!"
"No, I want your money."
"Crazy bastard!!"
Grab, crack! Swish! Thud!
"Agh! Fucck!!"
He swung the dagger, but Callius grabbed the guy's wrist and twisted it.
The dagger he dropped fell helplessly to the ground, and he got slapped in the face by Callius's palm and bled from both nostrils.
The struggle was entirely one-sided, like a child facing an adult.
"Are you going to bring it, or are you going to get hit more? I think the latter is fine too."
Shring!
Callius drew Arsando.
Seeing Arsando, which emanated a chilling killing intent, the thug's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
The thug was quick to assess the situation.
"I-I will give it to you!"
The effect was tremendous.
Callius obtained five gold coins.
He now had fifteen gold coins and one silver coin in his possession.
"T-Then I'll be going..."
"Who said you could go?"
"I have no more money! Please let me go!"
Callius shook his head.
"I have no money, and m-my neck is of no use, Pilgrim! Even if you turn me into a corpse, it'll obviously become a worthless sword!?"
"That's something we won't know."
"Please spare me! I will do anything!"
Anything, huh. Well said.
"Today, I suffered the utmost humiliation. Lutens, who dared to screw me over."
Until I find him.
"You have no freedom."
The thug Burans thought to himself.
Judging by his eyes and actions, this guy was a lunatic, and he had gotten himself completely caught by an insane madman.