∗ ∗ ∗
“In this vast world, fated spirits can be far out of reach. It’s nothing short of a miracle, when two finally meet.”
...sang a minstrel with his naturally beautiful voice.
Kuzan silently approved and gave a bitter smile. “True enough,” he murmured to himself.
As dusk approached, more people filed into the tavern from outside. They were brawny, hardworking men, drawn by liquor in the same way that a swarm of bugs might be drawn to the aroma of sap. And unlike what might be seen in Oraculum, they weren’t the only ones. In addition to the men coming into the tavern, there were young women as well. They entered cheerily in all-female groups, both eye-catching and full of optimism.
This “Midrogue” place really did seem like a good city. If this were a city in Oraculum, some less savory types would have made off with them in no time. They’d be enslaved and...well, it was better left unsaid.
Kuzan recalled having to save women who’d fallen into such circumstances many times back when he’d been a knight. The Duke of Olipiage’s territory was one of the better-policed areas of Oraculum. The Duke himself had seen to it that maintaining public order was made a priority. As a result, there was a large influx of people from other lands, and his territory exhibited regular growth.
He had wanted for Noah to govern it one day...but that dream was now unattainable. In all likelihood, his younger brother would inherit the land. His brother was quite talented, especially in comparison to the average young nobleman, so there would be no problem there. But Kuzan had wanted to bear witness to this at Noah’s side.
However, he didn’t necessarily have to be in Duke Olipiage’s territory in order to be by Noah’s side. On the contrary, Noah’s exile may have made things easier for Kuzan. If Noah had become duke, Kuzan would have had to aspire to become the captain of the duke’s knights in order to be treated as his right-hand man. He’d have had to surpass his father, the vice-captain, and become even better than the current captain of knights. Considering that, it seemed completely out of reach.
This current situation could actually be a lucky break for me, he told himself as he listened to the growing crowd of customers around him.
“When you’re in an unfamiliar place and want to get broad information, head to the tavern first.” His father had told him that. He’d been quite young back then, before he thought much about Noah or becoming a knight. But everything he’d been taught at that age had eventually come in use. This knowledge was worth its weight in gold, especially now that he’d left the formal organization that was the order of the knights. It almost made him think that his father had predicted that this might happen to him one day. The realization that he’d had the potential for such uncertainty since childhood made Kuzan feel guilty for stressing out his father.
“But seriously, it’s a huge boon that Midrogue’s economy has been flourishing lately,” came a voice from the next seat over. Kuzan glanced to the side.
He looks like he does some kind of physical labor for a job. Could be a stonemason, a carpenter, or maybe even an adventurer. Actually, he’s dressed too lightly for that. Even off the battlefield, adventurers don’t shed their equipment. Especially not their weapons. But these guys are just wearing linen. He kept listening in.
“Must be thanks to all those new policies. The highways have been fixed, which brings in more customers for the merchants and helps out the relay stations too.”
Apparently, a lot of reforms had been recently implemented in Midrogue. They didn’t seem to know the exact details, but from the fragments Kuzan picked up, he could tell that the reforms were meant to improve circulation and stimulate the economy.
“I didn’t put any stock in that council lass when she first got here, but she’s more ingenious than I expected.”
“I heard! Not even the new mage’s guild leader can match up to her these days.”
Kuzan had heard that this city was governed by a council. Apparently one of their number was a young woman, and a very capable one at that. Maybe that was why there were so many women in this tavern.
They continued.
“’Course not. Word is that she made the last mage’s guild leader quit.”
This gave Kuzan the impression that governing territory wasn’t this lady’s only forte. Mage’s guilds had a lot of pull no matter what city you went to. They weren’t an organization you could casually pick a fight with. If you went about it the wrong way, they’d retaliate in ways you couldn’t even imagine. But that lady had gotten its leader to quit. That was quite a feat.
“Yeah, they were political opponents. But does she really have that much sway?”
“Her dad’s Marquis Trahn. It’d be as easy as pie for him.”
So her father’s an influential noble. Does that put her on even footing with the mage’s guild? Sounds like a complex situation...
He had wanted to hear more, but the men seemed to be tired of this subject.
“Shoulda gotten around to it earlier, then. Not like it has much to do with us, though. I’m satisfied just to have work.”
“You bet. I’ll drink to that.”
They then started on a completely different topic, so Kuzan shifted his attention to the conversation at the next table over.
“That reminds me, are you gonna apply to that latest advertisement? The one from what’s-his-name, the new mayor of that frontier town.”
“You mean Noah?”
Kuzan was startled to hear this.
“Yeah, Noah. That was his name.”
The name filled Kuzan with wistfulness. It could have just been a different person with the same name, but for him to be spoken of in this manner meant that he had to have done something to rock the boat. And Noah Olipiage was the exact kind of person who would do that.
Believing there was no small chance that the Noah these men were talking about was the same individual, Kuzan listened keenly.
“Isn’t he pretty young? I hear he’s practically a kid.”
“He’s fourteen, but he’s got a lot of demihumans with him. They’re pretty competent. I hear they’re doing some big jobs in the adventurer’s guild. They registered as iron rank not too long ago, but they’ve already hit copper. They’re well on their way to silver rank, but that’s a long way to go.”
Fourteen. That’s Noah’s exact age. But...demihumans? I’ve never heard of him having any such friends, at least not while he was in House Olipiage. I don’t think His Excellency knows any either. And yet...
Maybe he’s made some secret connections. The scary thing about Noah is, I can’t rule out that possibility.
“Why do you say that? If he’s got the skills and the manpower, he may as well keep moving up. The more seasoned adventurers we have around, the less damage from monsters there’ll be, and there’ll be more materials to go around. It’s convenient for us too. You think the adventurer’s guild leader would turn him down just because of his age?”
“Hardly. You know what Fresco’s like. He doesn’t care about age or species at all, as long as you’ve got the skills.”
Apparently the Midrogue adventurer’s guild leader only looked at one’s results.
Adventurer’s guild bosses could largely be split into two categories: those who catered to authority and those who valued individual merit. Neither philosophy was unconditionally correct. In Oraculum, the former sort was necessary to ensure success. But in this country, the latter seemed to be more popular. Kuzan personally preferred it that way as well.
“Then why?”
“’Cause he became mayor of that frontier town, duh.”
The mayor of a “frontier town.” He’d heard the phrase before, but what did it mean? He wanted to hear the specifics, but the men didn’t seem to know and didn’t discuss the details. Instead, they talked about their hypotheses surrounding Noah.
“Oh right. You mean he’s too busy and doesn’t have time for the adventurer grind anymore? I can believe that.”
“That’s what I’m getting at. Anyway, he’s recruiting people for work there now. I wanted to know if you were gonna apply.”
Apparently this Noah was recruiting tradesmen for his frontier town. The specifics were unclear, but these frontier towns were always in want of labor, no matter what country they were in. Few people proactively enlisted, because the work would be undoubtedly arduous. It would be better to live peacefully in a town that was already developed. Despite that, these men were seriously discussing applying. What could this mean?
The second man was skeptical. “What, you’re interested? Then you can apply.”
“Well, I would, but the requirements are pretty steep. But if we both apply and one of us gets in, the other one could come along as his associate.”
“Are you seriously trying to string me along just to boost your own chances?”
“Why not? It’d be a pretty good deal for you too. The council’s endorsing this job. Best-case scenario, we could get an official warrant of approval from the council.”
Evidently, that was this man’s motive. Provided that the Midrogue city council didn’t play favorites, they’d gain job security as tradesmen. And if they failed, it wouldn’t be a big deal. That was his attitude toward this job, which sounded convincing enough. But why was the council backing Noah to this degree?
The second man seemed curious about this as well. “Does Noah have ties to the council?”
This was exactly the question that was weighing on Kuzan’s mind.
“Yeah. I dunno the specifics, but it sounds like he’s cozy with Lady Katarina. Well, he may be mayor now, but he started out as an adventurer. They probably met through some job.”
That makes sense. That can happen in an adventurer’s line of work. And knowing Noah, he’d do that kind of thing without a second thought, Kuzan sincerely thought.
But the second man didn’t share his impressions. “So you’re saying he did such a good job that he earned the position of mayor? Sounds a little too impressive for a fourteen-year-old...”
“You think it’s suspicious?”
He hastily shook his head in response. “Nah, I’m just envious. But anyway, it doesn’t sound like a bad offer if it’ll put us in the council’s good graces. We’ve got nothing to lose if we fail. You wanna take the plunge together, then?”
“Now that’s the spirit. Okay, let’s celebrate in advance! Barkeep, get us some drinks!”
The men proceeded to order more alcohol.
I’ve heard enough, thought Kuzan. He got out of his seat, paid exact change, and left the tavern.