Chapter 73
Two men were deep in conversation at a tavern.
“So, have you heard the latest from Roktana?”
“What story?”
The topic had shifted from war exploits to the lively gossip surrounding Roktana.
“Before we dive in, let’s see what you actually know about Roktana. I need to gauge your knowledge to keep it interesting.”
The shorter guy, Matt, scratched his chin and replied, “Roktana… well, that’s Rondore’s territory, right? Ah, yes, Rondore… the place where everyone is dead except for a little girl.”
“Exactly. Vivian Rondore. She was like… 13 when she was left all alone.”
“Vivian, huh? That’s a pretty name. So, did she die or something?”
Matt asked while clinking his cup. His stressful life left little room for following the affairs of distant nobles.
Still, it was easy to conclude that a 13-year-old noble girl would struggle to survive without her parents.
At 13, she’s still a baby. Just like my daughter.
And my daughter already feels too young for me.
But then Baal chimed in.
“Nope. It’s the opposite.”
“…?”
“Word has it she’s been purging vassals and grabbing power for herself. That little girl not only survived but is actually rebuilding Rondore!”
“…Hmm.”
Matt felt unexpectedly intrigued, but he couldn’t shake off the disinterest. Sure, it was impressive.
Could my daughter survive if she was alone right now?
…Probably not. No offense, but Vivian was probably doing much better.
So, this 13-year-old girl is pulling the strings in Rondore?
Oh, right, it’s been four years since the war ended, so she’d be 16 or 17 now.
Baal continued.
“Just think, Matt. How extraordinary must she be to survive that? You know Roktana, right? That vast territory with its influence? Surely, greedy nobles have their eyes set on it?”
“Yeah, that much is true. But what’s your point?”
“Man, you just have to be so…”
“My life is too tough already. Sure, it’s impressive, but it’s just that — an interesting story. I don’t care about what’s happening in Roktana.”
Baal didn’t get annoyed by Matt’s remarks. Instead, he smiled slyly.
It was a grin that hinted things were about to get fun.
“Listen up, Matt. How she’s managing to gain control is the real kicker.”
“…I’m listening.”
“Well, she’s not just purging the vassals, but apparently, she’s also bringing commoners into her inner circle. I’m not talking about maids or soldiers… knights, treasurers, spies, you name it… she’s supposedly entrusting significant roles to commoners. Even accepting lowborns!”
Matt was baffled by this tale.
“…What the heck does that mean?”
“Roktana has become a land of opportunity for capable folks! All you have to do is prove your worth and swear loyalty to Lady Vivian, and you could snag a high-ranking position — it’s a chance for social mobility!”
Matt sipped from his cup, trying to roll his eyes at Baal’s excitement.
The moment “social mobility” was mentioned, he desperately wanted to hide how swept up he was. He didn’t want to act like a plebeian obsessed with status.
“Must be just a rumor?”
“People have been flocking to Roktana lately. They’re all determined to stay by Lady Vivian’s side. And out of that bunch, some have found success. This is definitely not just rumors.”
“…Hmm.”
“And she’s not just looking for vassals. Word has it she’s gathering soldiers too. Rumor has it she doesn’t trust her knightly order anymore. So, she’s recruiting an army that will only be loyal to her.”
“Is she planning a civil war or something?”
“I wouldn’t rule it out. But when you think about it, isn’t it amazing? An adolescent girl orchestrating all these plans. 16? 17? What was I even doing at that age?”
“…Must have had some help.”
Baal shook his head in disbelief.
“Someone with a inner circle gathering an army and purging vassals? That’s something only someone with a few allies would do. I’ve heard there have been multiple assassination attempts! From what I see, Vivian is handling everything on her own.”
Baal had a point.
“…That could be.”
As he believed Baal’s words, the respect for Vivian Rondore grew in his mind.
He found himself wondering what great achievements one could make if one pledged loyalty to her and walked beside her on her path.
He was almost tempted to go to Roktana.
Maybe others felt the same way and headed towards Roktana.
“Hey, Matt. Life’s tough for you lately, right? How about heading to Roktana? If you pulled off just half the claims you made in the war, you could snag a top spot at her side.”
Matt chuckled at the suggestion.
Part of that laughter was to mask his true feelings.
“But if I go, you better watch out, Matt.”
“I’m not going, man. How could I leave here?”
“What I said was ‘if you go’, so just chill. But if you do go, there’s one person you absolutely need to be careful of.”
“Who?”
“Kyle Allen.”
“…Allen?”
The name of the Allen family was etched deep into the minds of the Delum Kingdom’s soldiers that went to war.
The undefeated knight, Jade Allen.
If you didn’t know him, you probably weren’t in the Eastern Delum War.
Whenever Jade Allen’s army appeared, chaos erupted, and all soldiers felt overwhelming despair and fear.
When battles raged near the Allen family’s territory, the prevailing thought among all Delum soldiers was to pray that Jade Allen wouldn’t be involved.
Matt had had his own terrifying encounter.
The memory of seeing the white bear emblem representing the Allen family on the battlefield was still vivid in his mind.
When that flag fluttered from a distance and the sound of their horn echoed, he could still remember the overwhelming fear it invoked.
“Yeah, the Allens. Their eldest son was supposedly captured by Rondore. And yet, that family… I wonder what kind of monster runs in their blood. Even there, he’s already being called a monster.”
“…Monsters don’t stick to just anyone. I won’t recognize anyone but Jade Allen—”
“—They say he captured a dragon at 15. This isn’t just the Allen family boasting; it’s coming from their enemy, the Rondore family! Everyone saw it, so it’s hard to deny.”
“…15?”
“…Or was it 16? Anyway, he’s supposed to be as big as Jade Allen, and apparently, he can’t be killed by fire. Allegedly, he can take on dozens of soldiers alone… a total madman who lops off heads like nobody’s business. No mercy, no tears.”
“Sounds exaggerated, but hey, brutal is just how Northmen are.”
“Yet, it seems to be serious. Plus, word has it he’s earned Vivian Rondore’s fierce hatred. To become one of Vivian’s vassals, you apparently need to express your hatred for the Allen family. I heard some crazy guy once suggested peace with the Allen family and got booted out right away.”
“What kind of idiot would suggest peace with the Allen family?”
“An idiot, sure, but apparently, the dude said it out of fear standing right next to Kyle Allen. I mean, c’mon, it’s not easy to insult that monster to their face, right?”
“Still, he should have said it. The one you owe loyalty to is Vivian Rondore, not Kyle Allen, right? I can totally see those two hating each other endlessly.”
“True. I’d probably hate ’em too.”
…
By now, Matt’s cup was empty.
He found himself drinking like the alcohol was water while munching on snacks.
Thinking all his daily dose of happiness had slipped away down his throat prompted a bitterness, and he asked bluntly:
“Where the hell do you hear all these rumors?”
Baal smiled sheepishly as he replied.
“Well, I thought about heading to Roktana myself and listened carefully. I even sought out information. You’re lucky, you know. I gathered all this just for you.”
As Baal’s smile lingered, Matt fell into contemplation.
It did seem tempting.
…Maybe I should check out Roktana.
He harbored a desire to offer his daughter a better life.
But then there was Kyle Allen…
Slaying dragons at a young age, beheading people, and being the archrival of Vivian Rondore rebuilding her family on her own?…
Yeah, it was clear he had to be careful if he wanted to get close to Vivian.
Shaking off pointless thoughts, Matt waved his hand and said,
“I’m done. I’ve finished my drink, so I should be heading back.”
“Just stick around a little longer. We’ve still got stories to share.”
“If I wait too long, my wife will get mad. I really don’t want to deal with that fight tonight.”
After paying his tab, Matt left the tavern, leaving his friend behind.
He walked down the narrow alley heading back to that dreary home.
While he loved his family, the thought of having to support them often pushed him to want to escape.
In the end, it all boiled down to finances.
…If he pledged loyalty to Vivian Rondore, could this all be resolved?
“Hey.”
“Gah!”
At that moment, someone called out to Matt.
In a shabby alleyway where he thought no one would be around.
As he turned around, he saw a small figure standing there.
Instinctive fear surged within him.
Puffing up his chest with bravado, he asked,
“…W-Who are you?”
The figure, draped in a cloak, lowered their hood.
In the pale moonlight, he could faintly see the person’s face.
Nondescript appearance. Slightly shorter for a girl.
A face he could easily forget by the day after tomorrow.
Realizing it wasn’t a man, Matt felt a tiny bit of relief.
The woman spoke.
“I enjoyed the conversation you had in the tavern. The tales of bravery in war and the stories about Roktana…”
Gaining a sense that she wasn’t here to rob him, Matt relaxed even further.
He let out a sigh and replied,
“Hah… if you found that interesting, you should ask my friend more about it. Why follow grown-ups around like this?”
“I have a proposal.”
The woman paid no mind to Matt’s remarks. With that, a strange pressure began to build up, causing Matt to shrink back again.
“…Are you interested in working for Rondore?”
“What?”
The woman pressed on.
“My master is dedicated to Rondore. She’s looking for spies to gather information wherever she can.”
-Clink!
A gold coin dropped at Matt’s feet.
The moment he saw that gleaming gold coin in the dark, he instinctively recognized that things had gotten serious.
As he gulped, he picked up the coin.
“…This is Roktana gold…”
“That’s right.”
Matt puffed out his chest arrogantly.
“Who doesn’t know how worthless Roktana gold is?”
“Do you think it’ll stay like that? Besides, no matter how you slice it, this is still gold!”
…
The woman said,
“I won’t say any more. So, are you interested?”
