Chapter 100: Trian?

“Heeya…….”

An amount that exceeded a whopping ten thousand gold.

That enormous sum of gold coins was equivalent to Drasen's budget for two years.

On top of that, even without the ability to appraise them, I could guess that the separately stored jewels were worth no less than the gold coins.

If I took all of this to Drasen.

It would be an immense help to my family's situation, where despite being nobles, we could rarely afford meat due to preparing for the annual Monster Wave and taking care of the territory's people.

Ah, of course, my father always ate meat out of necessity.

“……Is this what it feels like to be full without eating.”

Just thinking about it made me feel secure for no reason.

Kung.

Kung.

Every time he took a step while carrying the heavy safe, he couldn't help but flinch.

Because of the gazes pouring onto him from all directions.

If they were just the greedy gazes of vagrants or thugs, he could have just beaten them up or scared them away.

“Aish, shi…….”

The fact that most of them were children, looking grimy and as if they had starved for days, was incredibly bothersome.

Moreover, his sensitive senses made him hear every word they were trying to whisper.

“That knight, he gave money…….”

“Big brother, I’m hungry.”

“But he looks scary.”

Extremely.

It was extremely bothersome.

‘If I hadn't met Father, I too…….’

Every time he had that thought, and every time he remembered the hunger from his past life, a sense of pity welled up inside him.

Even though I knew I couldn't save all those children……. Ah?

“Ah, damn it…….”

Then, it suddenly occurred to him how he could help the children with the money in this safe.

Even so, it would only be a portion of the children.

……Damn it.

He resented his own clever mind for remembering something so needlessly troublesome.

‘Aish, fine.’

In any case, it was a good deed, so his parents would praise him if they found out.

“Only those of you without a mom and dad, follow me! I'll feed you and give you a place to sleep!”

The moment he shouted that to the children watching him.

He could feel their gazes change completely.

Of course, that didn't mean everyone started to follow him meekly.

“Orphans without parents can live at the Temple if you give them money! So only kids without a home, follow me!”

At those words, the children, though half-doubting, began to approach one by one.

“Is it……true, Sir Knight?”

The brave child who approached first asked with courage.

“Of course!”

From the moment Muno nodded his head vigorously.

A long procession formed behind him.

‘I guess I’ll have to visit the information organization a little later.’

It wasn't a place he could visit while carrying this safe anyway.

Rationalizing his self-inflicted trouble, Muno headed south, toward the capital's Temple.

* * *

“The consignment fee is 30 gold per child, correct?”

“Yes. That is correct, Brother. You have done a good thing.”

The old priest counted the gold coins in the safe, a broad smile on his face.

It felt like my hard-earned fortune was being taken away, making my stomach churn, but I had to endure it.

‘One, two, three……. Still, there aren’t 300 kids. It’s fine. It’s enough.’

It wasn't that the priest was greedy for money.

Ultimately, no organization could function without a budget.

Knowing that was the unavoidable logic of society.

He could only force a smile while clutching his churning stomach.

“Thank you, Sir Knight!”

“Thank you, Sir Knight!”

“Thank you! I will forget your kindness!”

“He said he won't forget, you dummy!”

“I, I won’t forget?”

Heejuk.

‘Heu…….’

Still, seeing the children continuously bowing their heads and waving their hands brought a proud smile to his face.

Of course, even with a donation, the Temple does not accept children who have parents.

That was the case not just at this Temple of ‘Ra,’ the God of Sun and Light, but at any of the temples of the other 7 great gods.

Even in a polytheistic system, the basic doctrines were part of a single, shared religion.

“Big brother, can’t we go?”

“I thought he would give us food.”

“My mom is sick…….”

Not all the children who had followed him were orphans.

“Excuse me, Priest.”

“Yes, Brother.”

“There will be money left over after consigning these children, right?”

“Ah, yes. A little…….”

“Then please give the other children something to eat, and if any have sick family members at home, please provide some treatment.”

“Ah, I am once again simply amazed by your benevolence, Brother. However, we also lack the manpower and funds to care for the entire slum area…….”

He knew that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't take care of all the poor children in the capital, let alone the entire world.

That was the duty of statesmen, not a knight.

So for now, just as far as his hand could reach.

“I am not asking you to take care of the entire slum. I am just asking for the children who followed me here. It's not gold coins, but here are a few jewels…….”

“Oh. In that case……. This should be enough.”

When he held out the pouch of jewels, the priest ignored the other large, shining gems inside and took only the smallest ruby.

That act alone made the Temple seem trustworthy.

“Ra will surely be moved by your compassion, Brother.”

“You're too kind.”

“If only there were more people like you, Brother, and that Sister, the world would be a much better place to live.”

“That Sister?”

“Ah, there is a kind-hearted Sister who donates regularly. The world needs to know that true beauty lies in the heart, not the skin or appearance……. Ah, I seem to have spoken out of turn. As I get older, I just ramble on…….”

“Ah, not at all. So there is such a person.”

“Yes? Ah, yes. She regularly brings children from the slums.”

“Ah…….”

Right, people who donate regularly like that are the true saints.

Not someone like him, who was just splurging after a one-time windfall.

So.

‘I should at least leave this much for myself. Enough to send home.’

He had made a donation that made him feel quite proud, and he had also left a fair amount of fortune to send to his family.

Yes, this was enough.

‘This is…….’

Torn between the sting of loss and a sense of pride, Muno failed to notice.

Far from the Temple, a masked person who had been following him all the way from the slums was watching the scene.

A slender figure that seemed to blend naturally into the shadows.

The masked person watched the children receiving food in front of the Temple for a long while before disappearing somewhere.

* * *

After that, a tedious process had to be followed.

He had to find someone to guide him again.

“Ah. S-Sir Knight……. I-I didn't run away, the situation was…….”

“Enough, just guide me.”

He had to retrace his steps more or less.

And thankfully, there were no troublesome obstacles on the way back.

“There, it’s there.”

“Ha…….”

If you want to do business, shouldn't your shop be in an easy-to-find location?

But the place he was looking at now, a building with only a simple flag bearing the letter ‘L’ fluttering, was in a remote corner that was hard to find unless you knew where to look.

“Then, may I go…….”

“Yeah, go. Ah. Wait.”

“Ye, yes!?”

“Don’t you ever touch the kids again. I’ll be checking on them periodically.”

“O-Of course!”

The punk who was the leader, who had been sweating bullets the entire time he was guiding him as if he had hyperhidrosis, vanished into the alley like lightning.

And.

The moment he approached the door of that building.

Kkiiieeeek.

“Hm?”

“We have been waiting for you, Sir Black Knight.”

The door, which he hadn't even knocked on, opened, and a muscular giant with an indifferent expression bowed his head to him.

“I hear you caused a big incident before coming here. Quite a clamor.”

“Ah. I saw something I didn't like and cleaned it up, is there a problem?”

“No, not at all.”

Drip.

The middle-aged man, who introduced himself as ‘El’, smiled as he poured tea into a teacup.

“On the contrary, we are grateful.”

“Grateful?”

“As it happens, the Ted Family was demanding excessive protection fees, and we were looking for someone to take care of them.”

“Hoh…….”

“I just didn't expect it to be the much-rumored ‘Black Knight,’ the ‘Street Destroyer.’ Haha.”

Muno nodded as he looked at the ordinary-looking, brown-haired middle-aged man.

‘El must be an alias.’

It had to be a name representing this information organization called ‘L’.

But there was something strange.

“I didn't expect to find a Corporeal Arts user in a place like this. And that giant outside, too.”

Though it could have been taken as a disparaging remark, El received it with a relaxed smile.

“Even so, we are no match for the Black Knight's renowned reputation.”

He was probably here because he could earn more than a common knight in a provincial knightly order or a high-ranking mercenary, but judging by the building's location and appearance, it didn't seem to have that kind of financial power.

Of course, this room alone was decorated quite nicely, like a cafe, or rather, an aristocratic salon.

“Well, it's none of my business.”

“Pardon?”

“No, it's nothing. But if you were waiting for me, do you also happen to know why I'm here?”

To that question, El responded with a smirk.

“How could we possibly know? You haven't told us.”

Sip.

“However, we can make a guess.”

“Hm?”

“I imagine you have many concerns due to the party tomorrow. I understand you distinguished yourself in the recent magician hunt, so all the princes must have invited you, Sir Knight.”

“Hoh…….”

He had his doubts, but it seemed this wasn't just some phony organization with a convincing atmosphere.

“Do you want related information?”

“Of course. Ah, first, a list of the nobles attending the 3rd Prince's party and what to watch out for.”

“What is your purpose?”

“Purpose?”

“If you simply want information on the nobles, you could just ask the 3rd Prince. I am aware that Sir Muno is acquainted with Grand Princess Roanna.”

Oho. Look at this?

His brows couldn't help but furrow at those words.

“Don't tell me I'm known to have joined the 3rd Prince's faction?”

When he asked the question with a slightly frustrated heart, El’s eyes widened slightly.

“You mean you are not planning to join?

Drasen is also under Trian's domain, is it not?”

“Tsk…….”

Damn it.

He had roughly expected it, but hearing it from a complete stranger made a flicker of irritation rise within him.

‘If I have to choose a faction, it would be right to side with the 3rd Prince, but…….’

He had made an effort to refuse the leash, but it seemed others already thought he was leashed.

“……I have no intention of getting involved in the war of succession.”

Since he was dealing with an information organization, he wanted to make at least that fact clear, but.

A completely unexpected reply came back.

“Hmm, but what will you do if Count Trian decides to participate?”

“What!?”

At that, Muno couldn't help but shoot up from his seat.

“……Why are you so surprised?”

“No, Count Enoch Trian, that old man is stepping in? Really?”

“Ah……! No, no. It is not confirmed news yet.”

“Ha, and here I thought…….”

“……But they say the Margrave dotes on Grand Princess Roanna so much, do you think he wouldn't send a few knights?”

“You're not trying to sell me speculation as information, are you?”

“Of course not. I am saying this because there are already a few knights who have left Trian and are heading for the royal castle. They are probably people you know, Sir Muno……”

At a place he came to prepare for an unwelcome party, he heard some unexpected news.

“……How about it, shall I tell you this as well?”