My Villains Episode 367
61. The Art of War (9)
The ‘Rose Flower Field’ inn that our party was using as a lodging had an overall luxurious atmosphere, but the structure was not much different from other inns. This means that it is a typical structure with rooms on the 2nd floor and a kitchen, dining room and bathroom on the 1st floor.
Thanks to Goleman’s prompting, I came down to the first floor in time and had time to enjoy a great breakfast.
“Good night, sir?”
“Oh yes. Good morning”
Sitting at the table, yawning and looking around, the restaurant was empty except for a couple of servants and a few new mercenaries. It’s a natural thing since it’s not open yet.
In fact, originally, it would have been noisy with subordinates preparing for morning training. However, right after arriving at High Castle, each of his subordinates was assigned a mission, so they could not do group training separately.
“Smells good. What is this morning?”
“A stew and white bread and… that and that.” “What stew?” “Just stew. I made it simply with pork and chicken.”
Contrary to Rowen’s light reply, the table was very generous.
Bread first. The well-done bread with a dark brown crust was puffed up in the shape of an apple, and when it was torn in half, hot steam rose from the white and fine inside. Seeing the mouth-watering smell, he must have rushed to the public oven early in the morning to bake.
The stew was a broth made with onions, carrots and celery, and stewed with sliced chicken tenderloin and pork hind leg. The broth was thick and oily, and the meat was full, making it a hearty dish.
Bread and stew seemed to be enough, but Rowen’s hands got bigger from living with the mercenaries who ate them like cows.
Cheese made from sheep’s milk, flour and egg yolk, then boiled like sujebi. Coarsely ground oats and flour, mixed with honey and kneaded, then fried in oil, like round lentils. It was a delicacy that would not be enough for ten people, including figs.
I tried to invite the young mercenaries who were helping to set the table, but in the end it was only me and Goal who sat at the table.
“The stew is really crazy.”
“Does it suit your taste?”
“It’s just not to my liking. If it wasn’t for Hicks, I might have proposed to you
.”
“Ah Nari! Don’t say such a thing, so you’ll be scolded by that lady!”
Seeing Rowen shudder, I giggled and ate the egg.
I’m pretty sure the hiring of Hicks and Rowen is one of the most brilliant decisions I’ve made in recent years.
This young couple was not only basically sincere, but also good at entertaining people of high status. He had worked for a wealthy family before, so perhaps he was educated separately, and his words and actions were not harsh or rude. At the same time, like most commoners in this world, he was simple and religious.
His wife, Rowen, was a short, stout woman. One side of her cheek was entangled due to a disease in childhood, but her expression was always bright enough to keep it out of sight.
She had a meticulous personality and was good at cleaning and tidying up, to the point where Heila, who grew up in the duke’s palace in Tow’s Den, didn’t show any complaints.
Rowen was also good at kitchen work, so there was nothing he couldn’t cook. I’m so used to her cooking that I can’t imagine traveling without Rowen now
.
Hicks, the husband’s side, was a good-looking young man with a short, thick beard and round eyes that didn’t suit him. He was familiar with general chores, but he was particularly good at stable work, so he took care of the party’s horses.
Of course, he couldn’t manage more than 10 horses by himself, so he borrowed the help of fledgling mercenaries such as Gollman. But even in the midst of that, taking care of Nana and Heila’s horses was not usually stubborn.
It was clear that he had a special talent for managing horses, seeing as he managed even the demonic beast, Bicorn, apart from the tame and trained war horse Altonise.
Unlike normal horses, bicorns did not require horseshoeing or hoof maintenance. However, since he was born as a beast, it was extremely difficult to keep and manage in the stable.
It gave off a body odor like that of a carnivorous tree, scaring other horses just by standing still. With a fair amount of courage, it was difficult to even get close to him.
Nonetheless, Hicks managed to become friends with such a bicorn. Or should I say that Bicorn accepted Hicks?
The first time Higgs was washing or grooming the bicorn, I had to hold the reins or wait close by. But these days, even without me, he calmly accepts Hicks’ touch.
Bicorn is a horse-like monster with high intelligence, so he must recognize Hicks, who feeds him every time. Or maybe they noticed you working for me.
Anyway, if it wasn’t for Hicks, I’d be flying half a day maintaining the Bicon.
Considering the work the Hicks and Rowen were doing, he wanted to raise his weekly wages – a silver coin for the two of them – three or four times, but Heila strongly objected, so he couldn’t.
It was Heila’s opinion that, no matter what the couple actually contributed, they were only servants, so giving them more money than a warrior risking their lives would cause trouble among their men.
After hearing something, it seemed to be true, so I decided not to give this grateful couple more money. Instead, he intended to help secretly if he said that he would leave the company later or settle down somewhere.
“…Come to think of it, Heila?”
“well. I asked Miss Shea to wake me up…
Rowen glanced up the stairs as she refilled my water glass.
“No news yet.”
“okay? It seems to have failed today.” Unknowingly, Rowen, the foodie, also laughed and said, ‘I will. I’ll have to appease her later,’ he mumbled.
After I started being overworked as the head of the central garrison, the vanguard of the heavy cavalry, and the swordsmanship instructor, Heila went to great lengths to have breakfast with me.
Most of the time, they barely made it and saw me off with their sleepy eyes wide open. But, like today, there were times when I couldn’t wake up in the end.
On days when I oversleep like this, I hear the news that I have already left for my hometown and spend the whole morning with a gloomy expression…
Imagining Heila’s gloomy expression makes me smile for no reason. It was because the beautiful face she showed me a while ago reminded me of a stinging figure like a clam.
“Hmm.”
Laughing alone like an idiot, and clearing his throat at Golman’s questionable gaze, a pair of men and women appeared on the stairs.
“Phoenix.”
“How are you?”
“Uh
ha-he.
Behind Utequai, who was coming down scratching his chin, a small figure poked his head out.
“Hello, Iope. did you sleep well?”
He smiled and waved his hand. However, Utequai’s sister-in-law and spirit sorceress Iophya smiled faintly as if shy and only nodded slightly.
“It’s Opi.”
WO”
Utequai spoke in a soft but stern voice, and the girl reluctantly appeared and opened her mouth.
“…Good morning. I slept well thanks to your consideration. Did you sleep well, Uncle?”
I burst into laughter at the awkward attitude that didn’t go well with the fluent pronunciation.
“Puff. Did your brother-in-law make it?”
“…yes.”
“Even if it’s awkward, isn’t it too awkward? Just do what you feel comfortable with.”
“Can not be done.”
Utequai sat across from me and shook his head firmly.
“Hey Iof, a young sorcerer. You must learn to humble yourself. Very important.”
“What does that have to do with lengthening the greeting and lowering oneself?”
“Speech is half of attitude, and when attitude is correct, it is easy to correct mind. Words matter.”
“what the. Then you talk badly to anyone.”
“I am a warrior. The revealed warrior. It is only natural that she speak lowly to everyone who is not her mother.”
Right after the two appeared, Rowen was busily going back and forth in the kitchen. It was to prepare a meal for U Te Quai, the greatest glutton in the party.
However, the table already set was not lacking, so Utequai and Iofya started eating as soon as they sat down.
I asked the two of them as I poured half a fig into my mouth.
“But where are you going early in the morning?”
“I will go to the cathedral.”
“Cathedral? Andal-Viren?”
“Unlike me, who was blessed with labor after falling under the eyes of Ulkar, the owner of the 99th M3
farm, Utequai had no specific assignments.
Not surprisingly, Utequai is both an outsider and a pagan.
Of course, whether he is a pagan or not, there is no problem in training or commanding the mercenaries under my command. However, the current army of High Castle is composed of soldiers brought by lords from all over the kingdom, that is, members of the Gwangmyeong Church. In this situation, it would be difficult to put an end to Utequai.
Of course, Utequai is a renowned warrior called ‘Thunder Giant’ or ‘Red Bear’, so he could be forced to take on the mission if he wanted to. But I mean, this person doesn’t want that at all.
Utequai is only fighting for the Sueatan tribe, who are enslaved by the enemy, and for me. It is said that he will fight as a single warrior, and he will not assume the title of garrison commander because he is your training commander.
Due to these circumstances, Utequai is actually living as Iophya’s babysitter these days. She serves as an escort and guide while Opiya, a curious girl, wanders from place to place.
Therefore, after hearing Utequai’s answer, I turned my puzzled gaze to Iophya.
“Why do you want to go there?”
“Well, among the places I haven’t been to, that’s the only thing I’m curious about.”
“ah. Haven’t you been to the cathedral?”
“yes.”
Iofiya arrived at High Castle about a month before our party arrived. It was because he accompanied the Grania gang.
“Grania and Arnal guided me, so I looked around most of them, but I couldn’t go to the cathedral.”
During her stay in Port Oduene, Iofya helped many people using witchcraft, which earned her the nickname ‘Half Elf’. In the process, it was the Grania gang that benefited the most.
Grania and Arnal, who exchanged help with Iofya and knew Utequai, protected her all along. Not only in Auduenne, but also until he met Utequai after arriving at High Castle.
“Grania was a powerful person, but the church seemed a bit burdensome.”
“I guess so. It’s not just an ordinary pagan, but there’s no priest of the Gwangmyeong Church who will welcome a pagan shaman.”
I nodded and scratched my eyebrows.
“Are you okay now? Lord Kabar and Lord Okan are gone, but still…
Knight Sir Kavar, his two assistants, and Priest Okan are already in Andal-Biren. For the first few days, they stayed and went back and forth at the inn in the rose garden, and from a certain point on, they said that the cathedral was comfortable and made their bed there.
“It will be fine. I told Gospatrick.”
“To Father Gospatrick? you?”
“Uh 99
Utequai nodded and continued.
“I spoke through Gidon. He told me to come.”
“Yeah, if that’s the case.”
“Theodora will go with you.”
“The princess too?”
“hmm. I kept putting it off, so I thought I should stop by now.”
Contrary to how she insisted on staying at the cathedral a week ago, Theodora had quietly stayed in the rose garden. The accommodation itself was nice and no one noticed, so there must have been no reason to leave.
Now it seems to be a way to reflect the face of the cathedral. Indeed, as a cleric of the Church of Light before being a Holy Knight of Calandari, she would have to be imprisoned in Andal-Biren once the full-scale siege began.
I wanted to leave the lodging after talking with Theodora, but it was too late to eat a leisurely meal. In the end, I went straight to the castle with Goleman.
