Chapter 13 - 013＿Baron Menisas
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013＿Baron Menisas
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Heading to the Deldo Territory to repay his debt, Rodney was relaxing as he basked in the warm sunlight on the driver's seat of the box carriage. Yulin, advancing alongside the box carriage on horseback, brought his horse closer while fixing Rodney with a sharp gaze.
"Rodney-sama, there are people following us from behind."
Hearing Yulin's words, Rodney looked back. Yulin pointed out that one shouldn't look back at such times.
"Sorry... Are they bandits?"
"The possibility is there, but they might just be heading in the same direction."
He only caught a glimpse, but there were three people on a wagon, all armed. It was natural to be armed since bandits sometimes appeared, but they didn't look particularly respectable.
"I see. Either way, let's tighten up and not let our guard down."
"Yes."
He was the one who had been most relaxed, but he wouldn't say that. Rodney poised himself to be ready to grab the iron rod placed on the roof of the box carriage at any time.
This time, not only were they going to repay the debt, but they also planned to head to the city of Bassam in the Zabalujeen Territory, so Emilia and his mother Sharume were accompanying them. He wanted to make sure nothing dangerous happened to the two of them.
There was one box carriage and two wagons. Emilia and Sharume were inside the box carriage, Rodney sat on the driver's seat with a soldier, Yulin rode a horse, and two soldiers rode on each wagon.
Since the wagons also carried Galim syrup to be presented to Count Banyusas, the group's pace was slow.
It happened just after entering the Deldo Territory from the Aburan Territory. A group of about ten people was blocking the highway.
Their appearance was clearly that of bandits. As they stopped the carriage to assess the situation, an arrow came flying. Yulin drew his sword and cut down the arrow.
"Draw swords! Everyone, draw swords!"
As Yulin's clear voice rang out, the soldiers responded by drawing their swords. It was clear from their movements that they were well-trained.
"Zados and Geraldo, watch the rear!"
"Right!"
The soldiers he had brought this time were the five who explored the sixth floor of the Abandoned House Labyrinth. They were territorial troops experienced not only in fighting Selvanui but also in combat against humans. Furthermore, they were elites who had acquired at least one intermediate Origin Power. Rodney had prepared elites to protect his family.
"Keldo, protect the carriage."
"Right!"
"Sage and Zodofus, follow me!"
"Right!"
Yulin kicked his horse's flanks and charged toward those blocking the road ahead.
An arrow flew toward Yulin. Rodney almost shouted out in alarm, but Yulin lightly swung his greatsword and cut down the arrow.
"I will not permit anyone to obstruct the party of Knight Forbus, Lord of Dedel Territory!"
Without slowing his horse, Yulin charged. Rodney also fired a High-Heat Bullet to support him. The high-speed High-Heat Bullet overtook Yulin, hit one of the bandits, and tore a large hole in his chest.
Seeing their comrade collapse without a sound, the bandits fell into chaos instantly. As Yulin charged in and decapitated two at once, another arrow came flying. Yulin tilted his head to dodge it, then skillfully maneuvered his horse and kicked one of the bandits flying.
"That bastard in the forest is annoying."
Rodney activated Keenness and searched for the presence in the forest. He quickly found the archer's presence and fired a High-Heat Bullet. The High-Heat Bullet pierced through a tree about 25 cerums in diameter, hit the archer, and a scream came from the forest.
Sage and Zodofus caught up to Yulin and attacked the bandits. Sage, Zodofus, and Yulin were clearly superior in training, so he could watch with relief.
"Yulin, you're pretty good, aren't you?"
Emilia poked her face out of the box carriage window and watched Yulin's brave figure.
"Hey, don't stick your face out."
"What's wrong with that? Oh, Big Brother, fighting has started in the back too."
"What?"
When Rodney looked to the rear, Zados and Geraldo, who had been on guard, were already crossing swords with bandits.
With only three bandits in the rear, they didn't seem to be struggling too much. Zados held two of them at bay, while Geraldo took down one. That made it two-on-two, so it wouldn't take long to finish.
When he turned his gaze back to the front, the bandits were already fleeing. So Rodney fired a High-Heat Bullet. If they let the bandits escape, they would attack other travelers and merchants again. If things went badly, they might be attacked again on the way back. Therefore, he was forced to choose between capturing them or killing them all. And Rodney chose to kill.
The High-Heat Bullet hit him in the back and pierced through, and the bandit breathed his last. For Rodney, who occupied a lowly seat among the nobility, it was a natural choice. Even if this wasn't his own territory.
Rodney, accompanied by Keldo, the oldest of the soldiers he had brought this time, visited Baron Menisas's mansion. Keldo had worked as a territorial soldier for over thirty years and had even trained with Rodney. However, knowing that Rodney had no talent for the sword, Keldo had found him unreliable, but upon seeing him provide support with the High-Heat Bullet in the battle against bandits, he had revised his opinion.
"I apologize. The master has not yet returned."
Rodney had made an appointment to meet with Baron Menisas a month ago and visited as planned. Despite that, the servant told him that Baron Menisas was out on business.
"Why is Baron Menisas absent?"
"He was supposed to return yesterday, but it seems he is delayed."
"Will he not be returning today?"
Delays happen often. There are various reasons like weather or bandits.
"I am terribly sorry. I cannot answer that."
"...I see. Normally I would wait, but I also have an appointment to meet with Count Banyusas, so I will stop by on my way back."
"I apologize. I will convey that to my master."
"Please do. Also, I want to make sure that he does not claim that the repayment was delayed because of this. I will also inform Count Banyusas of this matter, so please tell Baron Menisas that."
Count Banyusas was the patron of Rodney's Knight Forbus household, but also the patron of Baron Menisas. It was customary for the patron to intervene and mediate in matters that could cause conflict between such vassals.
It was obvious that the result would be that Rodney, who had made an appointment a month in advance and arrived on schedule, was not at fault. Furthermore, since he had made Rodney, who said he would repay the entire debt, waste a trip, the public might say that Baron Menisas had intended to collect interest without letting the debt be repaid. That was contrary to the noble ideal of being indifferent to money, so it would become the worst kind of rumor.
Just as Rodney was about to stand up and leave, the door opened and a short, stout man entered the room.
"Well, well, my apologies. I am late."
This short, stout man was Baron Menisas. He was a person with an unnatural patch of hair on his head, trying to hide his thinning hair. This Baron Menisas did not feel guilty at all.
Keldo frowned at his attitude, but Rodney responded cheerfully.
"It has been a while, Baron Menisas."
"You are Rodney-dono, I see. It has been a while."
As Baron Menisas sat heavily on the sofa, Rodney broached the subject. It was to repay all of the debt this time.
He placed a leather bag stuffed with large gold coins on the table and had Baron Menisas's servant count them.
"We have to do this properly, don't we? Don't take it personally."
"This is only natural, so I have no problem with it."
When the servant finished counting the large gold coins and reported that the number was correct, Baron Menisas handed the deed to Rodney. Rodney confirmed the deed and tore it up on the spot.
"I have caused you trouble until now. However, with this, everything is fully repaid, and I am relieved of a burden. I look forward to a long relationship with your house from now on."
"Hmm. If you ever have trouble again, feel free to rely on me."
Since Baron Menisas was superior in rank, age, and years of experience as a lord, Rodney took his leave politely after greeting him.
"Why was the Baron late?"
As they left the mansion gate, Keldo asked that. In response, Rodney smiled wryly and looked back at the mansion.
"He didn't come late. He was pretending not to be home."
"What?! Is that true?"
"Yeah, he was eavesdropping from outside the room. If I hadn't mentioned Count Banyusas's name, he might have just let me leave like that."
Rodney had thought he might be attacked and robbed of the money, so he activated Keenness and searched for presences around him. He had clearly sensed the presence of Baron Menisas, who was listening to their conversation from the next room. However, he hadn't been able to tell that it was Baron Menisas specifically.
But regardless of who was listening, Rodney had to lay the groundwork so he wouldn't have to pay any more useless interest. That was to bring up Count Banyusas's name.
"What a cowardly act..."
Keldo was utterly disgusted and glared at Baron Menisas's mansion.
Around that time, inside Baron Menisas's mansion, the Baron was beating a servant. That servant was the one who had dealt with Rodney, and he had done nothing wrong.
Rodney's expectations had been correct; Baron Menisas hated the idea of the debt being fully repaid and losing the chance to collect interest. After all, with an annual interest rate of 120%, it had been a business that made him laugh uncontrollably. If it were fully repaid, he wouldn't make even a single small copper coin, so for Baron Menisas, full repayment was simply unacceptable.
"That brat, talking so arrogantly. What the hell are Baras and his men doing?"
Baras and his men were the ones who had disguised themselves as bandits and attacked Rodney's party. They were actually soldiers of the Deldo Territory who had tried to steal the money on Baron Menisas's orders.
"It has been confirmed that Baras and his men are all dead. Knight Forbus has reported that he eliminated the bandits."
"What did you say?!"
Having sent men accustomed to rough work among his territorial soldiers, Baron Menisas's face turned red and then pale as he heard they had been defeated, and he vented his anger.
"That brat! I will never forget this grudge!"
It was completely misplaced resentment, but Baron Menisas snorted heavily and spewed a stream of abuse at Rodney.
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