Chapter 15
“Mr. Sorin told me, 'Please leave your horse with us during your stay.'”
Thanks to the invitation, Maiteu was able to rest in the comfortable shelter of the Horse Market. If he had simply arrived in the city, he would have been tied up in a small, dirty stable attached to an inn.
Whinny-!
Instead of hay, Maiteu was delighted to be given a generous meal mixed with oats and carrot pieces.
There was no murky water in a wooden trough. Instead, clear water flowed continuously through the aqueduct.
“If it weren’t for Master and Maria, I wouldn’t even be able to pretend to be a Knight.”
Stroking Maiteu’s mane, he keenly felt the power of his background and connections.
Excellent armor and a Barcia Warhorse—this was wealth that a country man and woman couldn’t even dream of, even if they pooled all their money.
“You’re getting hungry, aren’t you?”
Flap!
Homi wagged her tail as if she’d been waiting. They wandered through the market for the rest of the time, enjoying street food.
As a Gatherer, Homi showed great interest in fruits and vegetables she’d never seen before, such as olives cultivated nearby and dates from the southeast.
“You’re still growing, and you’re a carnivore.”
Since she was only looking at plants, Eugene handed her Skewered Meats in each hand.
Nom nom!
While Homi was engrossed in curiosity and taste, Eugene pondered his future.
To live as a Knight, he couldn’t be as frugal as before. If not outright luxury, he needed to invest in equipment and maintaining his dignity.
They couldn’t travel just the two of them forever, and there would be times when he’d need to hire Mercenaries or Adventurers. The more money, the better.
*Should I hunt and gather herbs as I’ve always done?*
Exploring places where rare herbs grow was also an option. If he found a goldmine area, he’d earn a decent sum.
Such places were full of dangerous beasts and monsters, making them inaccessible to Herbalists, but that didn’t apply to him.
*Or should I sell my strength?*
A well-equipped Knight with a horse could command a high wage.
However, this was both an advantage and a hindrance. It was impossible for him to join a Mercenary Group like an ordinary Mercenary.
It would tarnish a Knight’s dignity, and the Mercenary Group would likely find it burdensome and refuse him anyway.
He would have to catch the eye of a Feudal Lord who could offer a sufficient stipend or fiefdom. As the salary was high, the job market was as narrow as a needle’s eye.
In such times, Master’s teachings always helped.
-When I was wandering, I stayed as an Honored Guest in various cities. The hospitality might be less than at a Noble House, but it’s much freer and more comfortable.
Godfrey often told him how he managed to secure funds while living as a wandering Knight.
-When I needed a large sum of money, I was sometimes invited by a Noble House or a Free City to work as a Champion.-So you fought duels for money, then.-That’s not wrong, but once you become a Champion, it won’t feel that way. The city will package your honor wholeheartedly for you.
Noble Houses and Free Cities fought constantly. It was a chaotic era, so reasons abounded.
However, they couldn’t always mobilize an Army, so various Trials by Combat were held. This was when a Champion would shine.
-Was the pay good?
-Of course. The pride of the higher-ups! Honor! Vanity! Countless vested interests! Isn’t it a dish cooked by boiling all of those in one pot? The chef is bound to get a hefty sum.
-Ohh.
-Look at this rascal. His eyes change when I talk about money. It’s not good to get a taste for earning money as a Champion from a young age.
Godfrey’s face, as he clicked his tongue, was surprisingly bright. For a Disciple like a son to follow in his youthful footsteps was a secretly pleasant thing.
Eugene, having finished his recollection, clenched his fists.
“Champion... that sounds good.”
He had accepted the invitation from the threatened city because, with luck, he could earn a large sum through a few duels.
He might also be asked to stand on a battlefield for tedious monster subjugation or where stray arrows flew. But that was something he could decide based on the risk and the amount offered.
As Eugene walked through the square, an interesting fountain caught his eye.
It wasn’t a common fountain, like a barefoot woman holding a water bottle, a boy with an unusual stream of urine, or a circular dish fountain. It was a massive work of art, about 10 meters wide.
“An ark?”
That was Eugene’s first impression.
A crude, bulky Stone Giant Ship! It looked as if it would become a crude, bulky Stone Giant Ship if city walls, mansions, and cathedrals were built upon it.
Whoosh!
Dozens of water jets pouring out from various parts of the majestic fortress’s walls and watchtowers were a magnificent sight.
“Amazing, isn’t it? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Homi nodded vigorously. Having lived only in the countryside with nothing to see, she seemed thrilled by such a spectacular sight.
Eugene took out a copper coin and approached a man sitting on a nearby bench.
He had a travel backpack, a lute, a short sword for self-defense, and a stylish hat. He was a Bard, wandering the world, selling songs and stories.
“May applause and safety follow your journey.”
Eugene placed the copper coin into a container next to him.
“May infinite glory accompany your path, Warrior.”
The Bard smiled, remaining seated. It seemed a single copper coin wasn’t enough to make him stand.
“May I ask you something?”
“Of course. I was just about to warm up my voice before singing.”
Eugene pointed at the fountain.
“If you know the story behind that fountain, I’d be glad to listen.” “You mean the Wandering Castle.” “The Wandering Castle?” “Yep! It’s one of the Greatest Contributors that sustain Boneyard. Many Adventurers and Nobles come to see it, you see.”
The Bard clasped his hands together towards the fountain, as if in prayer.
“Thank you for sending money today for my daily bread.”
His attitude was quite reverent, suggesting that the money he earned from explaining this wasn’t just a trifle.
“Are you aware that with the fall of the Ancient Kingdom, their Stonemasonry was lost?” “Of course.”
As if the story were going to be long, the Bard patted the spot next to him.
As a Squire, Homi stood nearby. She maintained a disciplined posture, scanning her surroundings, but her ears perked up, directed towards the Bard’s lips.
“The Ancient Kingdom’s Stonemasonry is close to a miracle. There’s even a joke that while earthquakes can topple castles, their buildings *hold onto* the earthquake.”
“Is that actually possible?”
“Ah, it’s just a saying, you know. But it’s true that if a building falls in an earthquake, it falls, but it doesn’t break apart.”
“That’s impressive in its own way.”
It’s not like a puppy just tumbles over, is it? For a massive stone building to fall without breaking apart...
“In fact, there’s a case where only one Library left by the Ancient Kingdom remained intact in a city destroyed by an earthquake. The ground lifted, and it toppled forward, but it didn’t break, they say.”
“Couldn’t they just somehow lift it back into place and use it again?”
Homi chuckled, as if it were an absurd idea.
“Yes, that’s right. They mobilized a thousand cattle and horses, and even more ropes, to put it back in place. That was 100 years ago. It’s still being used as a library today.”
A surprised Homi simply gaped.
“This Boneyard is the place that contributed most significantly to such great Stonemasonry.” “Because the source of resources is important.” “That’s right. So, when the Ancient Kingdom began its greatest construction project, it received a gift, in the spirit of encouraging its efforts.” “That’s that fountain, then?” “That’s right.” “And the greatest construction project looked exactly like that?” “You understand so quickly. It makes my job easier.”
The Bard, perhaps parched from talking, drank from his waterskin.
“The Wandering Castle! It was a grand undertaking, combining the Ancient Kingdom’s Stonemasonry, the Elves’ Magic, and the Dwarves’ Engineering into a single castle.”
“Can it really move, as its name suggests? From its appearance, it looks suitable for floating on the sea.”
Though being made of stone, it would probably just sink.
“From there, it enters the realm of legend and folklore. The stories differ from person to person, region to region. And no one has actually witnessed it, anyway.” “Even if it’s old, it must have been a national project. Are there no records left?” “Unfortunately, no. They say there was strong opposition even within the Ancient Kingdom at the time. That led to a major civil war. That’s why the related records were lost.”
Eugene gazed at the fountain. It was highly possible the story was a fabrication, perhaps a lure to attract outside visitors.
Based on only the travelers the fountain had attracted so far, Boneyard City would have certainly recouped its investment.
“No matter how I look at it, its size seems far from “wandering”.” “Right? Some say it flies through the sky; others say it’s adrift on a distant sea. There are even rumors that it travels across the sands of the Great Desert.”
The Bard shrugged.
“That’s all I know.”
“Alright, you’ve done well. That was a truly interesting story.”
As Eugene stood up, the Bard tipped his hat halfway in a gesture of respect.
“Do you think the story of the Wandering Castle is real?”
Homi shook her head. She signed that it was obviously a fabricated legend.
“You’re a realist.”
This time, Homi asked him a question in return. Eugene nodded in response to the question of whether he wanted to be a castle lord.
“As a knight, no, as a man, it’s only natural to want to have your own fiefdom.”
When he was young, living in the Monastery, he had imagined it many times. What if this Monastery were a Lord’s Manor and he were the Feudal Lord?
The dream of owning vast lands and buildings was sweet in itself.
Hearing Eugene’s dream, Homi clenched both fists and nodded.
Her gaze wasn’t like, “You can do it!” It held the conviction that it *had* to come true.
“If that happens, you won’t be a Squire anymore.” *Even if that happens, you’ll still let me serve you, won’t you? I’ll help you with your armor, and I’ll cook stew for you to eat during your travels. I don’t need to be a Squire.*
Eugene burst out laughing at her most fervent signing yet.
It wasn’t the kind of conversation a two-person party of rookies, who had just stepped out into the world, should be having.
But to repay his Squire’s devotion, he felt he should at least aim for a small fiefdom.
Though he wasn’t sure if it was a position a country-born Knight could rise to from the bottom.
* * *
Boneyard was governed under the command of an Executor, with various Officials and Representatives of Commerce and Industry ruling in harmony.
Panis is Sorin’s Superior and the Magistrate in charge of City Defense.
Lately, he has been living with dark circles under his eyes, due to lack of sleep and stress.
“I apologize. I failed to secure the invitation.”
“That’s enough. You can leave.”
He waved his hand dismissively at his subordinate, who was bowing 90 degrees in apology.
Hearing the door close, Panis rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Damn it. Jimmy failed too, and what Hobbs brought back was a worthless knight full of bluster: Sir Godfrey. If only Sir Godfrey had worked out somehow...”
The neighboring Gord Nobles had traditionally received tribute from Boneyard.
But recently, their greed seemed to have grown, and they drew their swords, demanding various city interests as well.
Fortunately, they weren’t proposing war with an Army. Instead, they suggested each side choose three Champions to represent it and negotiate with Iron and Blood.
“Those thugs in Noble’s clothing!”
The weak had no choice, so Boneyard put all its efforts into gathering capable Knights from the vicinity.
But no matter how hard the City tried, this was a remote corner of the Continent. Free Knights whom they could summon were few, and those who were also excellent were even rarer.
As he paced anxiously, a knock was heard.
“Come in.”
“Greetings, Magistrate.”
The one who opened the door and entered was Sorin, the Subordinate who had left to escort Sir Godfrey. This was where Panis had placed his greatest hopes.
“You’re back already?”
Panis’s already weary face contorted.
“Surely the Mercenaries didn’t just take the money and run, did they? They’re reputable fellows, so that shouldn’t be the case.”
Sorin looked with pity at his Superior, who immediately poured out suspicions. He wasn’t usually such a negative person.
“Not at all. The Beard Mercenary Band did well and completed their mission. The Knight is resting at the inn.”
Thump!
Panis sprang from his chair and pointed at Sorin with his index finger. It was his habit when he heard good news.
“You succeeded in escorting Sir Godfrey?! That’s right! That’s it! But how did you get back so quickly? It should have taken at least two more weeks.” “Well, Sir Godfrey was no longer there. He had embarked on a Pilgrimage Path, they said. Instead, I was able to bring back his Direct Disciple, who was on a Knightly Practice journey. We met him halfway, which is why we returned so quickly.” “Ah...”
Thud!
Panis, still holding up his index finger, fell backward and sank into his chair.
His index finger tilted diagonally, pointing towards the ceiling.
“Then it’s a bust! It has to be the Knight of Prophecy!” “Not at all. Sir Eugene is a Knight as strong as Sir Godfrey.” “It seems you don’t grasp the current situation. The city could be plundered by those bastards from Gord at any moment! And what makes you so sure that Knight wasn’t lying? Did you even witness his investiture?” “Please, just hear me out first.”
Sorin reported the impressive experiences he had witnessed.
Panis sat indifferently, with a face that said, *Alright, let’s hear your excuse.*
When Eugene swung his large flail and instantly dispatched ten wolves, then smashed the head of a fleeing warg, even he couldn’t help but do a complete 180.
“A warg in three moves?” “Yes. But each feat was incredible. What Knight would lift a warg like a skewer with a sword in one hand? And how about sending it flying with a single Kick? Even Sir Godfrey couldn’t do that.”
Thump!
Panis sprang from his chair as if recoiling.
Snap!
And he pointed his index finger. A smile, for the first time in a long while, appeared on his face.