Chapter 87

It hаd аlrеаdy beеn thrее dауs since Bуutеk and Sharin wеre given frее timе bу Кhаn.

“Sharin, wherе are уоu thinking of gоing tоdау?”

“Нmm… Bуutek оppа, dоn’t уоu have аnywhеre you wаnt tо go? We’ve onlу gоne to placеs I wаnted for three daуs strаight, aren’t уou bоrеd?”

“Nоt рarticularly. Sо just tell me quiсklу.”

Fоr the pаst thrее days, thе two had bеen sticking togethеr еvery dау.

Truthfullу, Byutеk originally wаnted tо stаy by Khan’s side, but sinсe Кhаn didn’t wаnt that, hе had no сhоiсe but to gо arоund with Shаrin.

‘Аnd I саn’t let this littlе kid wаndеr arоund аlone either.’

Byutek also knew that Sharin was a Mage with exceptional skill and talent.

However, she still knew nothing of the harsh bitterness of this cruel society, so who knows what might happen to her.

“Hmm… Then today, let’s go to a scroll shop! I heard rumors here that Erindel’s scroll shops are quite famous, right?! They said the competition is fierce so the prices are really cheap… I want to buy what I need and get something for Master too!”

“Oh! That’s a good idea. Sir Khan would like that too. Then let’s go right away.”

The two immediately headed for Erindel’s capital region.

Erindel was a fairly large city with districts 1 through 12, with districts 1 and 12 being the outermost and the middle numbers being more central to the city.

The place Byutek and Sharin arrived at was Erindel’s District 6.

As soon as they arrived, Sharin exclaimed with a genuinely amazed expression.

“Wow…! District 6 really does seem to be the most central. There are several times more people here than in other districts, right?”

Countless crowds.

And among those crowds, numerous shops were situated.

“Fresh oranges that came in today for just 1 Copper Coin!”

“Hey, you there, sir! You look strong, why don’t you come to our shop and take a look?”

“This opportunity doesn’t come every day! Freshly slaughtered beef for just 30 Copper Coins per pound!”

There were all kinds of shops, from grocery stores to weapon shops selling equipment suitable for adventurers or Knights.

Just as Byutek was passing nearby, the owner standing in front of a weapon shop cautiously approached and spoke.

“You look like a strong Knight. How about coming to our shop to take a look? Even you would find the quality high.”

“Ah, I’m a bit busy right now.”

“Haha. Then please visit when you have time!”

“I will.”

Byutek and Sharin pushed through the massive crowds and soon arrived at the entrance of ‘Eddy’s Scroll Shop,’ said to be the most famous in Erindel.

Sharin exclaimed excitedly.

“They say they make and sell even scrolls that are hard to make elsewhere here!”

“Hmm… But that’s a bit strange.”

“Huh? What is?”

“If it’s such a famous scroll shop, why does it seem like there’s no one around? Look at the people nearby, Sharin.”

At Byutek’s words, Sharin looked at the people passing by nearby.

But.

Swish. Swish. Swish.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The people tried their best not to make eye contact with Sharin and quickened their pace.

They were moving away from Eddy’s Scroll Shop in an instant.

“What the…? Why does it seem like everyone is avoiding this place?”

“It seems there’s something we don’t know about.”

That’s when it happened.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Three people approaching Byutek and Sharin’s direction—no, more precisely, towards Eddy’s Scroll Shop.

All three were wearing black robes and had the hoods of their robes pulled down low.

“Who are you? This place has been designated as Sir Lexar’s private property for now, so we’re not operating for the time being. Get lost.”

“Quite rude for a first meeting. Is that the only way you can speak?”

Byutek glared at the man wearing the black robe.

“Last warning. Get out of here right now.”

“And if I refuse?”

Tap.

Byutek was originally a bit hot-tempered and detested such rude people, so he had no intention of leaving.

He reached for the greatsword on his back.

Whoosh…!!

Simultaneously, the man in the robe also drew up his Mana.

A considerable level of Mana!

That’s why Byutek also widened his eyes and was slightly taken aback.

But then.

Creak.

The large door behind Byutek and Sharin opened, revealing a man.

“What kind of trouble are you causing in front of my shop?! We’re not open right now, so please come back another time!”

“Ahem…”

“I’m sorry. I’m Eddy, the shop owner. The shop’s situation isn’t good right now, so please come back another time.”

“Understood. Sorry for causing unnecessary trouble.”

As Byutek removed his hand from the greatsword’s hilt, the man in the black robe also withdrew his Mana.

“You, consider yourself lucky.”

“……”

As Byutek glared at the black robe and muttered, Sharin grabbed his arm and exclaimed.

“Haha… Sorry~ I’m sorry! We’ll come back another time! Oppa, let’s go quickly! Master must be waiting!”

And so, Sharin took Byutek and disappeared in an instant.

Eddy let out a deep sigh and looked at those wearing black robes.

“……My sister, is she really okay?”

“Yeah, if you hand over this shop and the scroll formula, she’ll be safe. How long until you can hand them over?”

“I told you. I need to confirm my sister’s condition too.”

“The deadline is three days from now. If you don’t hand them over by then, your sister dies.”

“No, wait…!”

Whoosh.

Eddy reached out to grab the men in black robes, but he couldn’t.

Their figures had disappeared in an instant.

Eddy clenched his fists tightly and whispered in a small voice.

“Ha. This is driving me crazy, really. Why did I have to get involved with Lexar’s gang…? Seira, are you really safe…?”

Lexar was a gang that suddenly came to Erindel about two months ago and rapidly expanded their influence.

Because of that, all the minor gangs that had been infesting the Erindel area disappeared.

To be precise, Lexar’s gang had swallowed them all and inflated their size.

Rumors said that Lexar was originally a Mage affiliated with the Magic Tower but was expelled for dabbling in Dark Magic.

Perhaps because of that, most of Lexar’s gang were Mages, and all of them seemed incredibly skilled.

“Ha, asking me to teach them the scroll formula… This is really driving me crazy.”

Truthfully, even if Eddy wanted to teach the scroll formula, he couldn’t.

It was impossible to make scrolls without the unique trait he possessed.

“Seira… Please, be alive and safe.”

Thud.

Eddy slumped down on the spot and ruffled his hair with both hands.

Truthfully, there was no way to save his sister.

The condition from Lexar’s gang was to hand over his scroll shop and the scroll formula.

“Ha…”

Eddy hung his head low, only sighing as he stared at the floor.

But then.

Thud. Thud.

The sound of footsteps approaching him could be heard.

* * *

No matter how much he thought about it, Byutek couldn’t let go of his anger.

‘Not being able to smash those bastards’ heads is a real regret…’

If he could, he wanted to draw his greatsword and immediately behead them.

It wasn’t just because of their rude behavior; for some reason, he felt something suspicious about them.

‘The smell of blood. A very faint smell of blood was coming from their bodies.’

That suspicious feeling was precisely the smell of blood coming from them.

Being dragged along by Sharin while holding his arm, Byutek fell into thought.

“Phew… Byutek oppa. I don’t know who those people are… but it seems we shouldn’t get involved. All three of them had incredible Mana emanating from them, you know? If we had fought, you might have lost. Me too, of course…”

“No, Sharin. I don’t think we should leave like this.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Let’s go back to the scroll shop. I need to meet that guy and hear the detailed circumstances.”

“Huh? No, oppa. What are you talking about! Let’s go back first, okay? I feel like it’s dangerous somehow. Kyah!”

Byutek lifted Sharin, who was holding his arm and dragging him, with one hand and slung her over his shoulder.

“Ha… No, oppa. Are you really going?”

“Yeah.”

Byutek had his own principles as a Knight.

As a Knight, he couldn’t just ignore evil people.

Thud. Thud.

He walked quickly towards Eddy’s Scroll Shop.

Byutek soon arrived at the scroll shop, and when he arrived, he could roughly overhear Eddy talking to himself.

Having roughly grasped the situation, Byutek walked towards Eddy without hesitation.

* * *

“Y-you…? Why didn’t you run away! Please go back quickly!”

Eddy, who had been in a daze, jumped in surprise and exclaimed.

“From what I overheard, it seems you’re being mistreated by those guys from earlier. I’ll help you.”

“Huh? Suddenly…?”

“Yeah, I’m Byutek, a Knight of the Kilpheon Knight Order. I can’t just overlook such guys.”

“No, wait a moment… Why is a Knight of the Kilpheon Knight Order here…? No, more than that… Are you really going to help? It could be very dangerous.”

“I’ll help with anything. From what I heard, it seems those guys have taken someone.”

Eddy caught his breath, looked at Byutek, and opened his mouth.

“Phew… Actually, those guys kidnapped my sister.”

“Didn’t you tell the Mayor or the Viscount separately?”

“That’s… I told the Mayor, but he only said he’d look into it and then there’s been no news. No, it seems he’s already taken a large sum from Lexar’s guys and is keeping quiet. Erindel is practically managed by the Mayor right now. The Viscount is busy expanding his territory…”

After hearing the full explanation of the situation from Eddy, Byutek thought for a moment and then looked at Sharin.

Then she whispered in a small voice.

“What are we going to tell Master…! This is driving me crazy, really.”

“Ahem… We’ll have to go and tell him first. I’ll handle it, so don’t worry. I’ll resolve it so Sir Khan isn’t harmed either.”

Since this was something Byutek had decided on his own, it was impossible to get help from Khan for this matter.

‘Probably Sir Khan would have let this matter pass like Sharin did.’

So Byutek planned to help Eddy alone.

“Haha… Hearing that, it seems a bit difficult for you…? I’m really okay. Just you listening to my story like this has given me strength. Really!”

“No, I’ll help with this matter, staking my honor as a Knight. So rest assured. I’ll come back a little later… no, I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Ah, you really don’t have to…”

“Sharin, let’s go back.”

Without listening to Eddy’s words any further, Byutek left the place with Sharin.

To proceed with the matter, he at least needed to report to Khan.

* * *

Ding.

Along with the notification sound ringing in his head, a Quest message finally appeared.

Just as Khan was about to check the message that appeared before his eyes.

Knock. Knock.

“Sir Khan, may I come in?”

Byutek’s voice came from beyond the door of Khan’s lodging room.