The owner of the orphanage, Nines, greeted the visitor with a twist of his head. His purple eyes flickered as if to pose a question.

"What is it, Lugis? I didn't think you'd come here without Alueno.

　I was just enjoying some leisure time until the next orphan or vagrant child arrives. I was enjoying my leisure time until the next orphan or vagrant child arrived.

　But Lugis, the visitor, saw through that as well.

I think it's quite a shocking incident to be warned by the parents who raised you. You don't have to be so rude, Mr. Nines.

"What, kid. If you've come to take advantage of me, I'll listen to you all you want. It's just that you don't look like one.

　With a teasing smile and an exhale, Nines invites the visitor inside. Sweat and scars glisten on his forehead. You can easily tell by the color of his eyes that Lugis did not come here to do such a thing. After all, I've seen him since I was a child.

I don't mean to make small talk, but... There's been a lot of trouble lately, you know, with the bandits, and some rumors that the Old Ones are building a power around the local priests. The northwest is going to be noisy again.

"Hmm, I've heard that too. Well, if you've come to preach to me about God's teachings, that's fine. I'm a holy man.

No, no, no. So, I'd like to ask you a favor: ...... Mr. Nines, do you have any contacts in the autonomous cities in the east?

　I'm sorry.

　That day, the tavern was filled with a noisy and cheerful noise.

　Everyone had a glass of wine and an unpasteurized ale in their hands and opened a new barrel. It didn't taste like it always did, it wasn't just for getting drunk. He was intoxicated by the taste of real alcohol.

　In the center of the tavern, Lugis, dressed in new clothes instead of his usual rags, holds up a small cask.

"Hey, you can do whatever you want today. It's on me!

"You're doing great, Lugis!　Hey, did you find a good contact or a job?

...... Yeah, we're pretty much the same.

　The one who laughs wildly and squares his shoulders. One who smells money and wants to take advantage of it. Those who came here just to drink. But all were laughing and welcoming the merriment that blew away the stagnant air of the lower classes.

　The kind of people who gather in this tavern are not necessarily good people. It's a tavern for adventurers and misfits. Thieves, swindlers, and adventurers, sometimes all in the same group.

　Of course, Lugis must be one of them. They always come with the smell of money. In a way, it was the best message Rougis could use.

"Hey, Rougis. Don't you have something good to tell me?　A party like this?

Yeah, man. Let us join you, so we don't have all the goodies to ourselves, right?

　The poor man comes up to me with a vulgar smile, saying nice things. A greedy person who would never divulge the good news to others if it were him. These people always come to you with this kind of scent.

"I have a good job for you. Wait for me, I'll call you around the next full moon.

　So drink to your heart's content today, and I'll open a new barrel for you. New wine. It smells of gold, a symbol.

　On this day, Lugis did not refuse to let his visitors drink again and again. To show he was booming. To make it look like it was.

　To make it look good.

　The House of Bardnick was once the ruler of the entire Northwest, the overlord of the nation, the senior aristocracy, with vast holdings.

　But their downfall came after the war. The majority of their lands were sold or stripped due to the payment of debts caused by the war. Even as a knightly class, his current domain is not very large. It consists of only a few small towns and villages in the northwestern countryside, centered on the city of Sifr Trixa.

"My Master. If you need anything else, please call me at once.

Oh, okay. You can leave.

　Saying this to one of the few servants of the Bardnick family, Kalia Bardnick was alone in her private room.

　Even though it was a private room, there were hardly any personal belongings. Her sword, armor, and history books have been taken away, and the room is lined with poetry books and sculptures that she has little interest in. Remnants of the time when he was a high class nobleman. Only those antiques are still in the house.

It's boring. ......

　It's no wonder he was mumbling to himself.

　It had been some months since he had been under house arrest here, but nothing had happened in that time. Nothing much has happened, just a few days of well-prepared meals, living and sleeping. As in the days of the Knights, there was danger, toil, and a refreshing sense of joy and accomplishment. I never experienced any of those things.



　It's only natural. This is what the life of a true knight or nobleman is all about.

　--If I dare to recall what happened here, it would be a medium-sized field.

　If you dare to recall what happened here, there was only a medium-sized burglary in the territory. When the economy goes down, such people sprout up quickly.

　Since the Acting Lord's brother left with his private army the other day to take them out, there was even less to do. Kalia Vadnick offered to accompany him at least, but was rejected as a matter of course. She could not disobey her father's orders.

　The thought of escaping crossed Kalia's mind, but it also quickly dissipated. What's in it for me if I run away? He had resigned from the Order, his sword had been taken from him, and he had nothing else to do. In King's Landing, where I know the land, I'm bound to be taken back immediately.

　So I have to stay here. Sooner or later my father will ask me to marry him. You'll marry the right man and have children. And end my life.

　Sighing at the thought of the rest of her life, Kalia Vadnick wondered, in her spare time, what had become of that man.

　He was a ridiculous man. He suddenly charged at a large magical beast, he talked to people from above, and he knew things strangely.

　But he was a brave man. Kalia Vadnick's mouth dropped involuntarily. Had there ever been a man who had spoken so directly to his father? At least, I don't remember ever seeing such a person. I still think he's a fool, an idiot. But I don't hate him. It's not bad. Well, maybe it's better than me being tied up like this, helpless. That miserable man.

　I don't know if it's a smile of self-mockery or respect for him. Kalia Vardnick didn't know if this feeling in her heart was a fondness or something else entirely.

　But whatever it was, well, she didn't feel bad about it.

"If I had to give you two names, I'd go with ...... Well, Lugis the Barbarian or Lugis the Adventurist ...... Oh, no, would you prefer Fool?

"...... You could use something a little better looking anyway, missy.

　From the window comes a voice that shouldn't be there. With her eyes wide open, Kalia Vardnick's gaze was drawn to the window.

I've been called a pretty good Romeo in some of the bars I've been to.

　Someone who shouldn't be there. Someone who shouldn't even know about this place. There were barbarians, adventurists, and fools - a scene of Lugis camped by the window.