Chapter 14
Vlad felt terrible pain when he woke up the next morning.
Getting up is painful, and opening my eyes is tormenting, especially if the air outside is cold.
"Gott. What's for breakfast today?"
"Some strange meat stew."
"...I feel sick."
Vlad, who had a rough night's sleep, realized that even the morning meal wasn't going to help him, so he got up from his spot.
"I won't eat breakfast today."
“Are you going to the priest again?”
Gott, who was about to go to the food distribution area with this empty bowl, looked at Vlad with envious eyes.
"Should I pray too?"
"You're already in trouble from the word 'prayer.'"
As Vlad opened the tent, the early morning sunlight began to shine through.
"It's cold."
It was a wonderful sight, but it also seemed to be getting boring after camping in the winter field for about a month.
"I got here first!"
"No, why isn't our pot even boiling yet!"
The meal had a strange and salty taste, but the fact that the employer provided meals itself meant that this place had an excellent working environment.
"Hmm."
Vlad passed the mercenaries who were yelling for a bowl of stew and stood in the front of a tent.
The tent was smaller than the one where Josef Bayezid, the commander of the subjugation force, was located, but it had a neat and tidy feeling instead.
"Priest, I'm here."
A warm atmosphere emanated from inside the tent when Vlad lifted the tent flap.
"Oh, Riemann! Come on in. I was just about to have breakfast."
Priest Andrea, the owner of the tent, welcomed Vlad with a bright smile.
"Priest, I hope you spent your last night peacefully."
“I am always at peace.”
Priest Andrea graciously led the man, who had come in with the cold winter wind, to a seat at the table.
"Please, have a seat."
Priest Andrea instructed one of his young deacons to prepare an extra portion of breakfast for their guest.
“I heard you went to pray last night too?”
"I couldn't sleep."
"It must have been cold."
"When you're in the embrace of the Lord, what does the cold matter?"
"Haha! You seem more like a priest than I do."
Vlad exchanged greetings with Priest Andrea, but his gaze remained fixed on the young boy who was bringing something.
‘Wheat bread!’
It was also soft white wheat bread, not hard black bread.
Josef, the commander of the punitive force, was said to be a faithful believer, so the devotion he gave to the priest was indeed admirable.
"Let us pray."
"I haven't come here for a meal. I've just come to greet you, priest….."
"Today, let us thank the Lord for providing us with daily bread..."
Vlad was only saying no on the outside, and Priest Andrea, who was in his fifties, could already see through Vlad's true intentions. He simply overlooked it and protected Vlad's pride.
“Let us eat this food and gain strength so that we can exert even more effort in doing good work...”
Andrea discreetly glanced at the blond man who was praying in front of him.
‘He is truly an exceptional young man.’
Priest Andrew was so renowned that Joseph bowed his head to bring him here. His reputation didn't come from preaching or connections; it came from his own deeds.
Even though he was over 50 years old, he was widely known not only to nobles but also to commoners as he followed the monster hunting expeditions spread throughout the land, defeating evil beings and blessing the soldiers.
‘He hasn't lost his faith even in the most wretched places. What a beautiful sight it is.’
To Father Andrea, the existence of a man named Riemann came as a small shock.
A young man who sought the will of God even as a mercenary leading a tough life.
For Andrea, the existence of Riemann, who takes care of himself and always bows to God even among those rough individuals, was like a revelation.
'This too must be a fate given by God.'
While there were those who feigned prayer out of necessity, Riemann was a young man who always sought God even in places where he was not present.
"Please, have some food."
"Yes, Priest."
He prayed while eating, prayed while sleeping, and even prayed while fighting monsters.
To anyone who looked, he was truly genuine. What such a person desired was simply a warm breakfast.
‘It is such a waste for this young man to be here.’
So Priest Andrea resolved to lead this young man, who would wander bloody battlefields until his death, to find the will of God.
"White bread... it's quite precious."
"You may have as much as you want."
"Thank you."
Priest Andrea smiled as he saw the humble young man with tears in his eyes, grateful for even a piece of bread.
"By the way."
"Yes, Priest?"
Vlad, who was pouring soup over bread and smirking at the mercenaries outside eating the strange stew, spoke.
"I knew you had good sword skills, and it seems that this also reached Lord Josef’s ears.”
"Really?"
Priest Andrea, who had been looking at Vlad with a contented smile, said in a cheerful tone, "Last night, Sir Zayar came to me and asked various questions about you. I told him that you are a truly faithful young man and that I look forward to your future."
“.....”
Vlad, who had been shoving the bread into his mouth until it was about to burst, stopped for a moment in response to Priest Andrea's words.
"So, I recommended you."
"Oh, um..."
It was indeed an unusual response, but Priest Andrea mistakenly thought that Vlad was pleased.
There were noble families contacting him even now, asking for recommendations, but Priest Andrea didn't easily write recommendation letters.
He was a strict priest who sought only the will of God, refusing even the position of a bishop in a city.
“The Bayezid family that Lord Josef belongs to is a prestigious noble family in the north. Just the opportunity to work there would be a much better environment than now."
"Thank you, Priest."
Priest Andrea gave Vlad a wink and said. But Vlad only responded with an awkward smile.
Gulp-
The sound of the bread lump fully stuffed in his cheeks seemed strangely loud.
※※※※
It had been some time since Vlad's morning meal with Priest Andrea ended, and he was praying once again.
“I guess I was doing something too conspicuous.”
[There was no other way. My swordsmanship can only be learned through practical experience.]
The reason why Vlad volunteered for the monster subjugation unit in the city of Varna was because he had no immediate place to rely on, but it was also the result of a voice recommending that there was no better place to practice swordsmanship.
[Wasn't being close to the priest the problem?]
"I had to check."
Vlad hadn't intended it, but his connection with Priest Andrea made him want to experiment with something.
[So, are you now sure that I'm not an evil being?]
A being that had settled in Vlad's soul after being hit by the black lightning.
If the voice that even couldn't identify itself really came from evil, then he needed to be very careful about his future actions.
“I heard that Priest Andrea was so renowned and strong in divine power that he was recommended for the position of bishop.”
The fact that such a person could not recognize the identity of the voice in his soul at least means that the voice within Vlad did not originate from evil.
“I think we are good since I didn’t get caught.”
Even a priest at the bishop level could not recognize the evil inside him.
In any case, meeting Priest Andrea here had been fortunate in many ways.
"Should I have just given them the slip? Is it too late to run away now?"
[Well... with your skills, they might turn a blind eye to a small forgery like a mercenary badge, don't you think?]
"If they don't turn a blind eye, they might hang me, you know?"
A connection with a renowned priest.
And a meeting with a son of the Count family.
All of these were incredible opportunities that a run-of-the-mill mercenary could only dream of. But the problem was that all of these opportunities were built upon a false identity.
"If they start asking too many questions, it might eventually lead to revealing that I've killed people. Then it's not just identity fraud but murder charges too."
[Now that I think about it, you're quite ruthless.]
"But you're an accomplice too."
[Hmm. It would be better to run away.]
It was too conspicuous.
Vlad had always lived in the shadows, hiding in back alleys, unnoticed by others. But now, he had become a much more visible figure than he had intended.
"In that case, I'll make a run for it around dinner time."
This particular monster subjugation mission was supposed to be paid once a month.
Fortunately, he had received his monthly pay a few days ago, so he wouldn't be missing out on much.
And if he ran away with Gott, who was eager to help with the counterfeit identity, they could create a convincing fake identity badge.
If he left, this wouldn't happen again.
It's a shame because the working conditions are good, but now it's time to leave.
[However, it won't be easy to run away.]
"Why?"
The voice spoke to Vlad, who was pretending to pray for a while and planning his escape, as if expressing the difficulty.
[Someone is approaching from behind. Judging by their aura, they are at least a high-level knight.]
"What?"
Vlad urgently turned to look behind him at the voice's warning.
There was a middle-aged man approaching Vlad.
"Did he sense my presence? He is more useful than I thought."
A one-eyed knight with a shining breastplate and a small shield on his back.
"Lord Josef wishes to see you."
"..."
Looking at the stern gaze of the man named Zayar, Vlad could tell that he had no control over the situation that was about to unfold.
‘I should have just run away yesterday.’
Vlad sighed internally, but he stood up with a composed expression and said, "It is an honor that Lord Josef wishes to meet me."
"Did you know I was coming?"
Even when backed into a corner, he had to put up a front of some sort. Jorge had once said that maintaining an unwavering expression during card games was a most important skill in itself.
"I heard from Priest Andrea that he recommended me. To be honest, I've been looking forward to this for a while."
"Hmm."
Zayar narrowed his only one eye as he watched the pale young mercenary treat him with a resolute attitude.
“Follow me.”
And he wondered how long that confident appearance would remain.
As Vlad walked behind Zayar, he couldn't help but think about his options.
‘Should I make a run for it now?’
But the voice in his mind eventually convinced him to follow along.
[Don't even think about escaping. A knight of his level would make your struggle futile.]
‘..... damn it.’
The fact that the voice was reading his thoughts meant that his actions were predictable to some extent.
And the man named Zayar ahead was likely anticipating his actions as well.
No, he had already anticipated them.
Because his left hand naturally rested on the sword handle.
‘Well, I have no other choice.’
Externally confident but inwardly apprehensive, Vlad stood in front of the largest tent among those set up at the encampment.
"Bow your head as soon as you see Lord Josef."
"How long should I keep bowing?"
"Until you receive permission."
Having received some brief instructions before meeting Josef, Vlad took a deep breath and followed Zayar into the tent.
'That's unexpected.'
He had expected the tent's interior to be grand and flashy based on its exterior appearance, but it was quite the opposite.
It was equipped with everything one would expect, and the arrangement of items was not overly extravagant. It was a setting that allowed him to catch a glimpse of what kind of person Josef might be.
"Lord Josef."
"Yes. Have you come, Sir Zayar?"
When Josef's voice was heard from inside the tent, Vlad lowered his head as he had been taught.
He thought it would be better to just lower his head.
To be honest, he was quite nervous.
‘He's quite a figure.’
If he had been in a back alley, he might have never seen such a person in his entire life.
Josef Bayezid, the second son of Count Bayezid.
Although he had no title, he had the same status as a prince of a country in the County of Bayezid.
“I finally got to see it. Nice to meet you.”
"It's an honor to meet you too, Lord Josef."
Vlad heard Josef's voice from up ahead. The voice was not imposing, but it had an eerie sense of presence.
“So, are there any inconveniences during the mission?” Josef asked.
"Everyone here is grateful for your consideration, Lord Josef."
Josef smiled as he saw the mercenary answering without hesitation even though he was very nervous.
‘He looks bold,’ Josef thought.
However, whether he was truly bold remained to be seen. He would be tested in the upcoming interaction.
"Your name is Riemann, right?"
"Yes."
"You don't have a surname?"
"No."
"You have blond hair and blue eyes, so I thought you might be the son of a fallen noble."
Vlad was used to living under such misunderstandings, so he could answer this question without hesitation.
"Let's see. How old are you now?"
But the next question that Josef posed left Vlad in a deep silence.
Vlad's silence hung heavily in the atmosphere inside the tent. It was as though the weight of the world had descended upon them.
"Um... I'm 31 years old."
Reluctantly, Vlad answered. He felt like he was swallowing poison, but he had no choice but to answer truthfully because his age was written on his mercenary badge.
The mercenary named Riemann, whom he poisoned, was 31 years old.
He was the youngest man among the three mercenaries.
“Ohh?”
Vlad raised his head in surprise upon hearing Josef's peculiar exclamation.
A black-haired man with dark eyeshadow.
“You have such a baby face!”
He may have appeared frail, but he had a mysterious glow hidden behind his dark eye shadows.
And those eyes were directed precisely at Vlad, accompanied by a chilling smirk.
Chapter 14
Vlad felt terrible pain when he woke up the next morning.
Getting up is painful, and opening my eyes is tormenting, especially if the air outside is cold.
"Gott. What's for breakfast today?"
"Some strange meat stew."
"...I feel sick."
Vlad, who had a rough night's sleep, realized that even the morning meal wasn't going to help him, so he got up from his spot.
"I won't eat breakfast today."
“Are you going to the priest again?”
Gott, who was about to go to the food distribution area with this empty bowl, looked at Vlad with envious eyes.
"Should I pray too?"
"You're already in trouble from the word 'prayer.'"
As Vlad opened the tent, the early morning sunlight began to shine through.
"It's cold."
It was a wonderful sight, but it also seemed to be getting boring after camping in the winter field for about a month.
"I got here first!"
"No, why isn't our pot even boiling yet!"
The meal had a strange and salty taste, but the fact that the employer provided meals itself meant that this place had an excellent working environment.
"Hmm."
Vlad passed the mercenaries who were yelling for a bowl of stew and stood in the front of a tent.
The tent was smaller than the one where Josef Bayezid, the commander of the subjugation force, was located, but it had a neat and tidy feeling instead.
"Priest, I'm here."
A warm atmosphere emanated from inside the tent when Vlad lifted the tent flap.
"Oh, Riemann! Come on in. I was just about to have breakfast."
Priest Andrea, the owner of the tent, welcomed Vlad with a bright smile.
"Priest, I hope you spent your last night peacefully."
“I am always at peace.”
Priest Andrea graciously led the man, who had come in with the cold winter wind, to a seat at the table.
"Please, have a seat."
Priest Andrea instructed one of his young deacons to prepare an extra portion of breakfast for their guest.
“I heard you went to pray last night too?”
"I couldn't sleep."
"It must have been cold."
"When you're in the embrace of the Lord, what does the cold matter?"
"Haha! You seem more like a priest than I do."
Vlad exchanged greetings with Priest Andrea, but his gaze remained fixed on the young boy who was bringing something.
‘Wheat bread!’
It was also soft white wheat bread, not hard black bread.
Josef, the commander of the punitive force, was said to be a faithful believer, so the devotion he gave to the priest was indeed admirable.
"Let us pray."
"I haven't come here for a meal. I've just come to greet you, priest….."
"Today, let us thank the Lord for providing us with daily bread..."
Vlad was only saying no on the outside, and Priest Andrea, who was in his fifties, could already see through Vlad's true intentions. He simply overlooked it and protected Vlad's pride.
“Let us eat this food and gain strength so that we can exert even more effort in doing good work...”
Andrea discreetly glanced at the blond man who was praying in front of him.
‘He is truly an exceptional young man.’
Priest Andrew was so renowned that Joseph bowed his head to bring him here. His reputation didn't come from preaching or connections; it came from his own deeds.
Even though he was over 50 years old, he was widely known not only to nobles but also to commoners as he followed the monster hunting expeditions spread throughout the land, defeating evil beings and blessing the soldiers.
‘He hasn't lost his faith even in the most wretched places. What a beautiful sight it is.’
To Father Andrea, the existence of a man named Riemann came as a small shock.
A young man who sought the will of God even as a mercenary leading a tough life.
For Andrea, the existence of Riemann, who takes care of himself and always bows to God even among those rough individuals, was like a revelation.
'This too must be a fate given by God.'
While there were those who feigned prayer out of necessity, Riemann was a young man who always sought God even in places where he was not present.
"Please, have some food."
"Yes, Priest."
He prayed while eating, prayed while sleeping, and even prayed while fighting monsters.
To anyone who looked, he was truly genuine. What such a person desired was simply a warm breakfast.
‘It is such a waste for this young man to be here.’
So Priest Andrea resolved to lead this young man, who would wander bloody battlefields until his death, to find the will of God.
"White bread... it's quite precious."
"You may have as much as you want."
"Thank you."
Priest Andrea smiled as he saw the humble young man with tears in his eyes, grateful for even a piece of bread.
"By the way."
"Yes, Priest?"
Vlad, who was pouring soup over bread and smirking at the mercenaries outside eating the strange stew, spoke.
"I knew you had good sword skills, and it seems that this also reached Lord Josef’s ears.”
"Really?"
Priest Andrea, who had been looking at Vlad with a contented smile, said in a cheerful tone, "Last night, Sir Zayar came to me and asked various questions about you. I told him that you are a truly faithful young man and that I look forward to your future."
“.....”
Vlad, who had been shoving the bread into his mouth until it was about to burst, stopped for a moment in response to Priest Andrea's words.
"So, I recommended you."
"Oh, um..."
It was indeed an unusual response, but Priest Andrea mistakenly thought that Vlad was pleased.
There were noble families contacting him even now, asking for recommendations, but Priest Andrea didn't easily write recommendation letters.
He was a strict priest who sought only the will of God, refusing even the position of a bishop in a city.
“The Bayezid family that Lord Josef belongs to is a prestigious noble family in the north. Just the opportunity to work there would be a much better environment than now."
"Thank you, Priest."
Priest Andrea gave Vlad a wink and said. But Vlad only responded with an awkward smile.
Gulp-
The sound of the bread lump fully stuffed in his cheeks seemed strangely loud.
※※※※
It had been some time since Vlad's morning meal with Priest Andrea ended, and he was praying once again.
“I guess I was doing something too conspicuous.”
[There was no other way. My swordsmanship can only be learned through practical experience.]
The reason why Vlad volunteered for the monster subjugation unit in the city of Varna was because he had no immediate place to rely on, but it was also the result of a voice recommending that there was no better place to practice swordsmanship.
[Wasn't being close to the priest the problem?]
"I had to check."
Vlad hadn't intended it, but his connection with Priest Andrea made him want to experiment with something.
[So, are you now sure that I'm not an evil being?]
A being that had settled in Vlad's soul after being hit by the black lightning.
If the voice that even couldn't identify itself really came from evil, then he needed to be very careful about his future actions.
“I heard that Priest Andrea was so renowned and strong in divine power that he was recommended for the position of bishop.”
The fact that such a person could not recognize the identity of the voice in his soul at least means that the voice within Vlad did not originate from evil.
“I think we are good since I didn’t get caught.”
Even a priest at the bishop level could not recognize the evil inside him.
In any case, meeting Priest Andrea here had been fortunate in many ways.
"Should I have just given them the slip? Is it too late to run away now?"
[Well... with your skills, they might turn a blind eye to a small forgery like a mercenary badge, don't you think?]
"If they don't turn a blind eye, they might hang me, you know?"
A connection with a renowned priest.
And a meeting with a son of the Count family.
All of these were incredible opportunities that a run-of-the-mill mercenary could only dream of. But the problem was that all of these opportunities were built upon a false identity.
"If they start asking too many questions, it might eventually lead to revealing that I've killed people. Then it's not just identity fraud but murder charges too."
[Now that I think about it, you're quite ruthless.]
"But you're an accomplice too."
[Hmm. It would be better to run away.]
It was too conspicuous.
Vlad had always lived in the shadows, hiding in back alleys, unnoticed by others. But now, he had become a much more visible figure than he had intended.
"In that case, I'll make a run for it around dinner time."
This particular monster subjugation mission was supposed to be paid once a month.
Fortunately, he had received his monthly pay a few days ago, so he wouldn't be missing out on much.
And if he ran away with Gott, who was eager to help with the counterfeit identity, they could create a convincing fake identity badge.
If he left, this wouldn't happen again.
It's a shame because the working conditions are good, but now it's time to leave.
[However, it won't be easy to run away.]
"Why?"
The voice spoke to Vlad, who was pretending to pray for a while and planning his escape, as if expressing the difficulty.
[Someone is approaching from behind. Judging by their aura, they are at least a high-level knight.]
"What?"
Vlad urgently turned to look behind him at the voice's warning.
There was a middle-aged man approaching Vlad.
"Did he sense my presence? He is more useful than I thought."
A one-eyed knight with a shining breastplate and a small shield on his back.
"Lord Josef wishes to see you."
"..."
Looking at the stern gaze of the man named Zayar, Vlad could tell that he had no control over the situation that was about to unfold.
‘I should have just run away yesterday.’
Vlad sighed internally, but he stood up with a composed expression and said, "It is an honor that Lord Josef wishes to meet me."
"Did you know I was coming?"
Even when backed into a corner, he had to put up a front of some sort. Jorge had once said that maintaining an unwavering expression during card games was a most important skill in itself.
"I heard from Priest Andrea that he recommended me. To be honest, I've been looking forward to this for a while."
"Hmm."
Zayar narrowed his only one eye as he watched the pale young mercenary treat him with a resolute attitude.
“Follow me.”
And he wondered how long that confident appearance would remain.
As Vlad walked behind Zayar, he couldn't help but think about his options.
‘Should I make a run for it now?’
But the voice in his mind eventually convinced him to follow along.
[Don't even think about escaping. A knight of his level would make your struggle futile.]
‘..... damn it.’
The fact that the voice was reading his thoughts meant that his actions were predictable to some extent.
And the man named Zayar ahead was likely anticipating his actions as well.
No, he had already anticipated them.
Because his left hand naturally rested on the sword handle.
‘Well, I have no other choice.’
Externally confident but inwardly apprehensive, Vlad stood in front of the largest tent among those set up at the encampment.
"Bow your head as soon as you see Lord Josef."
"How long should I keep bowing?"
"Until you receive permission."
Having received some brief instructions before meeting Josef, Vlad took a deep breath and followed Zayar into the tent.
'That's unexpected.'
He had expected the tent's interior to be grand and flashy based on its exterior appearance, but it was quite the opposite.
It was equipped with everything one would expect, and the arrangement of items was not overly extravagant. It was a setting that allowed him to catch a glimpse of what kind of person Josef might be.
"Lord Josef."
"Yes. Have you come, Sir Zayar?"
When Josef's voice was heard from inside the tent, Vlad lowered his head as he had been taught.
He thought it would be better to just lower his head.
To be honest, he was quite nervous.
‘He's quite a figure.’
If he had been in a back alley, he might have never seen such a person in his entire life.
Josef Bayezid, the second son of Count Bayezid.
Although he had no title, he had the same status as a prince of a country in the County of Bayezid.
“I finally got to see it. Nice to meet you.”
"It's an honor to meet you too, Lord Josef."
Vlad heard Josef's voice from up ahead. The voice was not imposing, but it had an eerie sense of presence.
“So, are there any inconveniences during the mission?” Josef asked.
"Everyone here is grateful for your consideration, Lord Josef."
Josef smiled as he saw the mercenary answering without hesitation even though he was very nervous.
‘He looks bold,’ Josef thought.
However, whether he was truly bold remained to be seen. He would be tested in the upcoming interaction.
"Your name is Riemann, right?"
"Yes."
"You don't have a surname?"
"No."
"You have blond hair and blue eyes, so I thought you might be the son of a fallen noble."
Vlad was used to living under such misunderstandings, so he could answer this question without hesitation.
"Let's see. How old are you now?"
But the next question that Josef posed left Vlad in a deep silence.
Vlad's silence hung heavily in the atmosphere inside the tent. It was as though the weight of the world had descended upon them.
"Um... I'm 31 years old."
Reluctantly, Vlad answered. He felt like he was swallowing poison, but he had no choice but to answer truthfully because his age was written on his mercenary badge.
The mercenary named Riemann, whom he poisoned, was 31 years old.
He was the youngest man among the three mercenaries.
“Ohh?”
Vlad raised his head in surprise upon hearing Josef's peculiar exclamation.
A black-haired man with dark eyeshadow.
“You have such a baby face!”
He may have appeared frail, but he had a mysterious glow hidden behind his dark eye shadows.
And those eyes were directed precisely at Vlad, accompanied by a chilling smirk.
