How to Live as a Wandering Knight

“Hey, you b*stard. Where’s your friend? Where did your friend go?”

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“I. . . I don’t know! I really don’t know! Sob sob. . .”

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“If you don’t know, who does!”

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“Do you realize how much trouble you and your friend have caused us? And now your friend isn’t here? So, who should we take our anger out on? Tell me. Hey, speak up.”

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“Please. . . I was wrong! Please spare me!”

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“I know you were wrong! But stop talking nonsense that even a goblin could say and say something useful. Something that can calm our anger!”

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“I. . . I really don’t know. . .”

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“You mean to tell me you planned this heist without discussing what to do next? Damn it, this guy is unbelievable. Hey, make this guy think clearer.”

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“You’re going to use that? On this guy? The other one is more annoying, use it on him.”

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“Fine.”

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Even among scum, there’s always someone more detestable. The focus shifted to Pra. Having mentioned the people of the town earlier, Pra was now trembling uncontrollably, too frightened to even mutter.

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“You heard everything, right? Don’t say you didn’t. If you say you didn’t hear, we’ll beat you until you say you did.”

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“I heard! I heard it!”

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“Good. You probably don’t remember, so let us help jog your memory.”

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“What do you mean. . .”

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As the mercenaries grabbed his arms, Pra shivered in fear. Could it be, could it. . .

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Crack!

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“Aaaaaaagh!”

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“Feeling smarter now? Huh? Are you feeling smarter?”

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“Stop. . . Stop it, you motherf*ckers! Stop it!”

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“Oh. Did your guts grow instead of your brains?”

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“Sob sob. . . Please! Please!!”

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“Let’s try one more time. Let’s see if it makes you smarter.”

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“The city! We were going to the city!”

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“Which city?”

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“I don’t f*cking know! I’ve never been there! It was that son of a b*tch’s idea, why are you messing with me! Sob sob!”

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As Pra pointed at Burren, everyone’s heads turned sharply. A cruel smile lingered on the mercenaries’ lips.

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“Oh dear. . . It was your idea?”

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“N-No! It really wasn’t!”

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“So one of you is lying?”

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As the mercenaries turned their gaze back to Pra, he desperately shouted again.

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“Ask the people of the town! That b*stard is the leader!”

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“Oh really?”

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The mercenaries had already figured it out. Burren clearly looked older. Who else but him could play the role of a leader in such a rural town?

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“Wow, this guy. As cunning as an orc. We almost fell for it? He’s the one who did it and stayed quiet?”

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“Impressive, huh?”

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“No, no, no, no. . .”

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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

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As the mercenaries washed their hands in a wooden tub, they said,

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“Looks like Gamson and this guy hit it off. Planning to make a score and run off to the city, huh?”

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The mercenaries had all been like Burren or Pra at some point. That’s why they could immediately understand what these guys were up to.

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Living as serfs in a rural town was too harsh for fiery young men. It was no surprise that seeing a band of mercenaries visit their town tempted them to flee to the city.

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The only difference was whether to run away empty-handed or with something in hand.

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“All this trouble over a half-witted asshole. . .”

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They called the newbies who just got into a mercenary job or the country bumpkins who wanted to become mercenaries “halfpennies.” It was a sneer, meaning they couldn’t even earn a proper coin.

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Of course, just because they lacked the ability didn’t mean they couldn’t cause as much damage.

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“I hoped there would be a hiding place near the town or maybe connections in another nearby town, but it seems not, Captain.”

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If that were the case, they could have been caught. But if they planned to run far away from the beginning, finding them was impossible.

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How can they be found in this vast continent?

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“No. Perhaps they can be found after all.”

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“Mr. Khan. Is that really so?”

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“How do you mean?”

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“Well, it’s a long shot but think about it. Where would Gamson run? To an unfamiliar town?”

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“No, he would likely head to the city, wouldn’t he?”

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It was difficult for a wanderer to settle in a small town, especially a suspicious, talentless mercenary.

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In contrast, cities were a gathering place for all sorts.

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“Right. He would go to the city. But which one?”

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“We can’t know for sure, can we? Just any city. . . Wait. He had no connections, right? Could it be?”

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“I think there’s a high chance he’ll return to Marcel city.”