The banquet was lavish, but it was not large.
That was because it was a banquet only for the merchants who had returned from this trading expedition, the head merchant, and Solacius.
Ahead of them, clowns and bards had come out to liven the mood. Sola was enjoying the satisfying banquet while conversing with the merchants.
Meanwhile, some merchants sensed that there was something behind the excessively lavish banquet. Their eyes shone as they focused on the conversation between the Mayor and the head merchant.
‘A subjugation force? A necromancer? Ah! There was that.’
Solacius was among those listening closely to their conversation. While eating and chatting with the merchants, he focused his hearing and eavesdropped on the head merchant and the Mayor.
“So, the Kalt Merchant Company will likely need to prepare as well.”
“For the Second Subjugation Force?”
Though the Mayor and the head merchant each had different thoughts in mind (How can we treat Roan Shalut even better?), they naturally continued their conversation.
“It has not been long since you returned from a difficult trading expedition, but the situation is urgent.”
“We would rather be the ones making the request. It is dangerous, but no business yields greater profits than being a war merchant.”
“I would be grateful if the head merchant accepts so readily.”
“Then when is the Second Subjugation Force expected to begin?”
“Other territories and cities will be sending subjugation forces as well, so…… it will take around fifteen days.”
“That is more pressing than I expected. Considering the time it will take to gather at the assembly point, we must finish preparing for the trading expedition within a week.”
“It cannot be helped. The territory of the necromancer Isabel is gradually expanding.”
“What do the Royal Witch Council and Mage Tower say? They must have participated in the First Subjugation Force as well.”
“This is still confidential, but since Head Merchant Kalt said he would participate as a war merchant, I will tell you.”
At Kalt’s question, the Mayor lowered his voice with a serious expression.
“The First Subjugation Force did not merely fail. It was annihilated. The witches and mages died as well. The only survivors were five knights who barely escaped.”
“A-Are you saying everyone but five knights died? I heard high-ranking mages and witches were included in the First Subjugation Force…….”
Kalt’s face hardened. He had learned upon reaching the city that the First Subjugation Force had failed. But he had not known it had been annihilated.
“It is more dangerous than I thought.”
“It is very dangerous.”
“Now I understand why the banquet seemed excessively lavish, ha ha ha ha…….”
“Well, it is fortunate that you interpret it that way.”
In truth, it was a banquet intended to entertain Roan Shalut, but it was not bad for others to interpret it this way.
“Then how will the Second Subjugation Force be organized? This is a necromancer who killed high-ranking mages and witches. She may have become even stronger in the meantime.”
“This time, the Church has decided to step forward. The reason for departing in fifteen days is to match the arrival of the priests and Paladins.”
“If it is the Church, that is reassuring. If nothing else, the Church is well suited to countering black magic such as necromancy.”
Only then did Kalt’s expression relax.
“Tomorrow will be busy.”
“The same goes for me. I need to gather the Second Subjugation Force, but there are not many skilled wandering knights, mercenaries, or adventurers around. A considerable number have gone to the border to face the Imperial Army.”
“Will the Second Subjugation Force proceed as a small elite unit?”
“Other cities and territories are also planning to organize small elite units. Sending a large force like last time would only strengthen the enemy.”
“Then we must prepare food, clothing, and weapons of at least medium quality.”
As the two conversed, someone approached them.
“That subjugation.”
The man who had approached opened his mouth. A pleasant voice rang out.
“May I participate as well?”
Common Tongue laden with High Imperial cut between the Mayor and the head merchant.
“Sir Roan?”
“Sir Roan?”
Solacius, who had approached before they realized it, showed interest in their conversation with shining eyes.
“But Sir Knight, the necromancer Isabel is extremely dangerous. I hear that even high-ranking witches and mages from the royal capital died.”
Kalt hurriedly tried to dissuade Solacius.
“I hear that you have chosen to join the campaign despite the danger. You are a merchant, yet you will join it. As a knight, I should participate as well.”
Solacius—Tae Gwang-hwi of Earth—decided to properly play the part of a knight for once.
“We will participate in this campaign because we can make a great profit from it, Sir.”
“Is that so? Mayor, if I join the Second Subjugation Force, will there be a reward?”
Sola’s gaze moved to the Mayor of Oski.
“O-Of course! But Sir Roan, should you not seek an audience with Her Majesty as soon as possible?”
“The place where the necromancer Isabel is located happens to be in the direction of the royal capital. I will deal with her on the way there.”
“We would be grateful if you did. Grateful, but…….”
At Solacius’s intention to participate, the Mayor trailed off.
‘What should I do? It is certainly welcome news for someone as skilled as Sir Roan to join the subjugation force, but…….’
The Mayor sank into thought.
‘There is no justification for refusing! Though he is a wandering knight, his status is that of an imperial royal! Above all, he is a man in whom Her Majesty has taken an interest. If I refuse his participation, I would damage his honor.’
He desperately racked his brain. Then he remembered the order sent by the Queen.
― Cooperate with and spare no support for everything he requests.
His eyes widened.
‘The order did not say I had to send him to the Royal Palace quickly.’
His face soon relaxed.
“Of course! However, your reward will be granted by the royal capital, not Oski. Depending on the merit you establish, you may receive anything from gold, silver, and treasures to land and a title!”
‘Follow the manual, follow the manual. I merely granted Sir Roan’s request according to the manual.’
The Mayor welcomed Solacius’s participation with both arms spread wide.
“To think there is a wandering knight with such unwavering chivalry! I am truly moved. Head Merchant Kalt! I will bear the cost, so obtain everything Sir Roan needs.”
“Understood, Mayor.”
Sola’s participation in the subjugation force was decided swiftly.
Once it was decided, Solacius smiled inwardly.
‘Right, the branching event. This happened in Oski.’
He recalled his playthrough of Luhan’s Royal Consort.
‘The necromancer Isabel. The person most deeply connected to the Grand Witch of Death, one of the Four Heavenly Kings.’
It was an event near the beginning of the game, perhaps one that determined the entire direction of the game.
‘At that branching point, I refused to join the subjugation force.’
Though it had been such an important choice, Tae Gwang-hwi had refused this event at the time.
‘While pressing Skip, I accidentally pressed Refuse…….’
Even he found the reason absurd.
***
The week in Oski was frantic for some, but luxurious for others.
Solacius belonged to the latter. From the beginning, he had received treatment beyond the point of feeling burdensome.
‘As I heard, the impact of wiping out those bandit groups was greater than I thought. Thanks to Head Merchant Kalt being alive, the supply issue for the Second Subjugation Force was easily resolved. And I joined the Second Subjugation Force as well…….’
Lavish meals every day and a status that granted him more freedom than anyone in the city besides the Mayor. Sola had now half accepted the reason for all this goodwill.
‘What does it matter? I am bored…….’
But on the other hand, Sola was gradually growing tired of the boredom of a medieval fantasy world where there was nothing to do.
Walking around the city was entertaining for a day or two, but it did not suit someone who had been a homebody by nature.
It seemed the noble daughters of the city were interested in him. But though they showed interest, none approached Sola to speak to him.
They merely watched him from afar with sparkling eyes.
Sola knew about the women’s gazes, but he ignored them. He had no intention of settling down here, so he did not want irresponsible playing with fire.
Thus, he spent his days in the lodging, passing his tedious time.
“Sir Knight! The horses have arrived.”
As he was alleviating his boredom, the merchant Dominic brought welcome news.
For the first time in a while, Sola went out. Merchant Dominic took the lead and guided him.
“Is that Sir Roan?”
“The one who slaughtered all the bandit groups nearby by himself?”
“Hmph, it must be an exaggerated rumor. How could that be possible, even if he is an exiled imperial royal?”
“But he really is handsome. Royals truly are different. Even his aura is different.”
“Get ahold of yourself. Fallen or exiled, the Empire is still Luhan’s enemy.”
“Still, I heard that knight is a good person…….”
As he walked, he heard people whispering while looking at him. Their gazes gathered on him as well. Rumors about him had already spread not only throughout the city, but to the surrounding area.
“…….”
That was one reason he had not been going out and had remained at the lodging. He was a homebody to begin with, but the unnecessary attention was tiresome.
Ignoring the bothersome stares and whispers, he reached his destination.
It was a horse market on the outskirts of Oski. More people than usual had gathered at the horse market that day. They were merchants, mercenaries, knights, and adventurers.
“Here, Sir!”
When he arrived at the horse market, merchants of the Kalt Merchant Company who had arrived ahead of him welcomed Sola.
“We have not opened the horse market yet, so that we may offer you the finest horse, Sir.”
The excessive consideration from Head Merchant Kalt and the Mayor of Oski made his stomach feel uneasy.
Feeling as though he had become a top-tier VIP at a department store, he looked at the horses that had entered the city only a few hours earlier.
‘Their air is certainly different from the horses that were already in the city.’
Sola showed his admiration with his eyes. Though he knew little about horses, every horse tied there was clearly extraordinary.
‘Maybe it is more so because this is a fantasy world.’
Honestly, it seemed as though he could choose any of the horses here. They all looked so good that he felt decision paralysis coming on.
“Sir Knight, is there one that pleases you?”
The merchant bowed as he asked Sola. Having heard of the knight before him, he had no choice but to be cautious.
“They all seem like good horses. Which one here is the most expensive?”
When decision paralysis struck, the answer was to choose based on price. Besides, he was not paying with his own money. The Mayor had said he would pay, so it seemed best to choose the most expensive horse.
“Yes, of course there is!”
The merchant immediately led Sola away.
The horse the merchant showed him was white. Its coat shone like silk, and it was well-muscled. It also appeared gentle by nature.
“Hmm…….”
But when Sola saw the horse, something about it did not appeal to him.
‘It is too pretty and refined.’
It was the sort of horse a prince or princess from a fairy tale would ride. It suited Sola’s status, but such a horse felt burdensome for a wandering knight who needed to travel and fight everywhere.
It was like having to drive a Bugatti off-road.
“Does it not please you?”
The merchant asked carefully after seeing Sola’s reaction.
Just as Sola was about to ask whether there were other horses.
“What is that horse?”
A horse caught Sola’s eye.
It was a black horse tightly bound in a corner. It was one and a half times larger than an ordinary horse, and its mane was as lush as a lion’s.
Above all, it looked rough and vicious at a glance.
“That horse…… was caught by chance in the Eastern Great Plains. But it is practically half monster.”
As Sola showed interest, the merchant answered with an uncomfortable expression.
“Sir Knight, I recommend looking at another horse. Three people died and five were seriously injured while trying to tame that creature. We intend to euthanize it soon and sell it as magical material.”
The more the merchant spoke, the more Sola’s eyes shone instead.
“A cliché.”
“Pardon?”
After uttering words the merchant could not understand, Sola approached the bound horse.