Chapter 44

Chapter 44
## Chapter 44: Mesen’s Brothers (4)

Out of their original six mounts, two had sustained deep lacerations on their back legs, and the remaining four were missing entirely.

A brief search revealed two of the stolen creatures at the town’s boundary, while the others were discovered near the river. The pair at the village edge remained unharmed, but the scene by the water was gruesome.

“Dammit… they hogtied them so they were helpless and just carved them up. What kind of person does this to beasts that can’t even defend themselves? Look at this—the saddles, the stirrups, the entire rig is ruined…”

Gullak scowled, clicking his tongue in disgust. The two horses were dead, bound tightly by ropes and covered in countless puncture wounds. A cloud of flies swarmed the carcasses, landing on the exposed gore and entrails.

Duncan pinched his nose against the stench, looking puzzled.

“Why drag them all this way just to slaughter them? If they wanted the horses, they’d have kept them. If they just wanted them dead, they could have done it back at the stables.”

“They probably intended to just leave them tied up at first,” Gullak surmised. “But after riding around and sobered up, they started panicking about getting caught. The horses likely started making a racket, and they killed them to shut them up. Absolute bottom-feeders, the lot of them.”

“…”

The loss of their transportation was a major setback. This wasn’t an insult they could ignore. Enrico, accompanied by Kadim, marched toward the local vigilante headquarters.

The captain of the guard listened to the report, his small eyes widening in mock surprise as he made a theatrical display of shock.

“Good heavens, such a tragic event? As the protector of Mesen’s peace, I am appalled. We will begin a full inquiry immediately to find the perpetrators…”

“Save the act,” Enrico snapped. “Your own men are responsible. One of your ‘brothers’ had a run-in with my mercenary and my maid, and this was his pathetic attempt at payback.”

Despite the direct accusation, the captain didn’t blink.

“I beg your pardon? Our men are the pride of Mesen, dedicated to the safety of every traveler. Men, did any of you touch these people’s property last night?”

“No, Captain!” the guards shouted in unison.

“…”

“See? A simple misunderstanding. Unless you have actual witnesses to provide proof, I’d suggest you stop slandering the village guard.”

The dozen guardsmen nearby shifted their spears, closing ranks. The captain’s eyes grew thin and mocking—a silent dare, knowing he held all the power in his crooked little domain.

**CRACK!**

The sudden explosion of sound made the guards jump.

The noise had come from Kadim. His fist had collided with the stone wall, leaving a deep crater surrounded by a web of fractures and falling debris.

Kadim calmly wiped the stone dust from his knuckles.

“This place has a serious pest problem.”

“…”

“Flies that keep buzzing in your ear no matter how many times you swat them away.”

The guards swallowed hard, their bravado flickering. However, the captain held his ground, and a lethal silence stretched between him and Kadim.

Before the tension turned into a bloodbath, Enrico intervened. He threw a final glare at the captain and pulled Kadim out of the building.

Once they were alone, Enrico sighed deeply.

“I am truly sorry you had to see that side of things. Believe me, I’d love to watch you tear those scavengers apart. But as the Inspector, this is my territory. If we start a massacre here, the villagers will riot, and the political fallout will be disastrous.”

“…”

“…I’m not letting this go, though. Last night, I sent a messenger to Remtana. He’ll return with fresh horses and a team of official investigators to strip these vigilantes of their authority. Can you endure them until then?”

Enrico looked exhausted, the weight of his duties carving deep lines into his face. He hadn’t found a moment of peace since they arrived.

Kadim gave a dry, mirthless smile. Being asked to play nice with such filth made him regret taking this contract in the first place.

But he eventually nodded.

“I’m here to protect you, Inspector.”

“…I appreciate that.”

“So, if those thugs make a move against you, I have your permission to end them?”

“…”

Enrico remained silent.

—

The messenger from Remtana wouldn’t be back for a day at the earliest.

With nothing but time on his hands, Kadim decided to honor his word to Duncan. When he offered a combat lesson, the merchant followed him to the outskirts of the village with an eager, hopeful expression.

That hope died a very painful death.

“If you want to survive, a spear or a mace is better for a novice—but we only have a blade. What’s the most vital part of a sword fight?”

“Uh… maybe… having enough strength to cut through armor?” Duncan guessed.

“Wrong. It’s reach, speed, and the nerve to drive the point home. Most things, human or otherwise, die from a single well-placed thrust.”

“…But what about the demons or monsters that swords can’t hurt? What if I’m alone?”

“Then you run or you die. You think you’re going to overpower a demon with your muscles?”

“…”

Duncan looked crestfallen. Kadim snorted.

“Maybe if you train for a decade, you’ll land a lucky scratch. Now, take the sword and try to hit me. I’ll use this branch.”

The lesson moved from theory to practice. Duncan held the blade Mosquito; Kadim held a simple wooden stick.

It wasn’t a contest. Even while holding back, Kadim was a ghost. Duncan was struck a dozen times across his head, neck, ribs, and legs without ever coming close to his target.

“Ow! Dammit!”

“Right hand on the grip, left on the pommel. Keep your center so you can move after you miss.”

“Agh! Stop!”

“Stop curling up. You aren’t a turtle. Straighten your arms and commit to the strike.”

“Gahhh!”

“Too slow. Swing like you actually want to kill me. In a real fight, you’d be a corpse by now.”

The session continued with a rhythm of screams and critiques. By the time they finished, Duncan was covered in dark bruises. Kadim’s evaluation of his potential was grim:

Total lack of talent.

The merchant had some endurance, but his reflexes and killer instinct were non-existent. Even with months of training, he’d struggle against a common thug.

However… Kadim noticed one small spark of promise.

“Ugh… everything hurts… why…”

“…”

Kadim stroked his chin. Was it worth nurturing that tiny spark?

“Ha! You certainly don’t believe in gentle training, do you? A bystander might call that a beating!”

The interruption came from the vigilante captain, who had strolled up with a group of his men.

Kadim looked at the grinning man with icy eyes.

“Don’t you have a village to mismanage?”

“Now, now, don’t be hostile. I’m just doing my rounds. I saw a mercenary assaulting a defenseless traveler and thought I should intervene.”

“…”

A vein popped on Kadim’s temple. His self-control was fraying. The captain just laughed and waved a hand dismissively.

“I’m joking! Relax. So, you’re teaching him? Mind if I get a turn?”

“…”

“I’m not just a ‘buzzing fly.’ I know how to handle myself.”

The challenge was clear, hidden behind a thin veneer of civility. The captain’s smile didn’t reach his cold, calculating eyes. Kadim showed his teeth in a predatory grin.

“Only if you’re prepared to die.”

“…”

“If you’re okay with that, let’s play.”

The air turned heavy with killing intent. The guards stepped back, sensing the danger, whispering for their captain to let it go.

But the captain’s pride wouldn’t allow him to retreat in front of his men.

“Ha… I can’t do that. A captain shouldn’t be dueling a guest.”

“…”

“But… accidents happen during practice, don’t they? A bit of sparring, and no one is to blame for ‘unforeseen mishaps.’ How about it?”

Kadim didn’t need a second invitation.

The captain smirked and raised a heavy battle-axe. Kadim cracked his neck and leveled Mosquito. To an observer, it looked like a clash of titans—two massive men about to collide.

It was over in a heartbeat.

**CLANG!**

Kadim moved with blinding speed, slamming the pommel of his sword into the head of the axe.

“What—?”

The vibration traveled up the captain’s arms like an electric shock. His grip shattered; Kadim kicked the weapon away, grabbed the man’s wrist, and twisted with explosive force.

“Wait—stop—!”

**CRUNCH.**

The forearm was forced through a gruesome rotation. The shoulder and elbow joints were pulverized. The bones of the lower arm snapped and ground against one another, and the muscles were shredded into a bloody pulp. The captain stared at his ruined limb in shock.

Then the agony hit, and he screamed louder than Duncan ever had.

“AAAAGH! MY ARM! AAAAAAAAAAGH!!”

He collapsed, thrashing in the dirt. Duncan watched with a cold shiver; the guards were frozen in horror.

In the middle of the chaos, Kadim remained perfectly composed. He looked down at the screaming man and spoke softly.

“An ‘unforeseen mishap.’ My apologies.”

—

As evening fell, thick clouds blotted out the stars over Mesen. Inside the vigilante outpost, the atmosphere was grim.

“C-Captain, can you hear us?”

“The medicine should help soon…”

They had applied poultices and bound the shattered arm in a splint. The captain was currently draining a bottle of cheap liquor to numb the pain. His face was pale, his eyes bloodshot with pure hatred.

Captain Otram hissed through his teeth.

“Go… get him… now.”

“…Who? The barbarian?”

“Are you idiots?!” Otram roared. “I can’t take the monster, so neither can you. Fetch the one in the hat—the employer. Grab him, hold him hostage, and that savage will have to do whatever we say.”

“…!”

The guards hesitated. They didn’t want to face the barbarian’s wrath, but they were more afraid of Otram right now.

**BAM!**

Otram slammed his good hand on the table. The display of temper worked; the men scrambled out to fulfill the order. A visible axe was more frightening than an abstract threat.

“Damn it all… ugh…”

Left alone, Otram groaned as he tried to reach for more alcohol. He clumsily knocked a copper cup off the table.

*Clink… clatter…*

“Filthy mercenary… I’ll kill… wait…”

As he leaned down to retrieve the cup, someone else picked it up first. He assumed one of his men had stayed behind, but he was wrong.

No guard in this village was this big.

“How’s the arm feeling?”

“GYAAAAAAAAAGH!”

Otram recoiled as if he’d seen a demon. His heart hammered against his ribs. How had this giant entered without a sound? The man’s face was lost in the shadows of the room.

“That’s a nasty break. It won’t be healing anytime soon.”

“…”

“You should probably take a long leave of absence. Find somewhere quiet to rot.”

Otram’s throat went dry. He realized Kadim had heard everything. If his plan was exposed, he was a dead man.

As he scrambled for a way to survive, Kadim continued.

“I’ve been thinking—I feel terrible. You showed me such hospitality, and I responded with violence. Even if it was an accident, it weighs on me.”

“…”

“So I came to settle the debt. Don’t be shy; take it.”

“What are you talking about—?”

**TING!**

A sharp metallic sound rang out. A flash of silver cut through the dark. Suddenly, Otram felt a stinging pressure in his thigh.

“…Huh?”

**TING!**

Another flash, another sting. The strength left his legs, and he slumped to the floor, clutching his bleeding thighs.

He looked down to see silver coins embedded deep in his flesh. With a trembling hand, he pried one out.

It was a 100-ruden silver piece.

“You only took half the toll yesterday. I’m here to pay the balance.”

“You… you lunatic… what…?”

“The rate was 200 per person, and you gave us a discount, right? That leaves 600 more to go.”

**TING! TING!**

“AAAAAGH! STOP! AAAAAAAAAGH!!”

Kadim flicked the coins like lethal projectiles. Six more found their mark, tearing into his torso and arms.

Bleeding from a dozen holes, Otram tried to crawl away, leaving a red trail on the floor. Kadim watched him with clinical indifference.

“Don’t run. You wanted your money, didn’t you?”

“P-please! I’ll give it all back! Every coin we took—just let me live!”

“Why are you bringing that up? We aren’t finished yet.”

“…?”

Kadim reached into his pouch, then frowned.

“Ah, I’m out of silver.”

He pulled out a handful of 10-ruden copper coins instead.

“What was the price for the horses again?”

“…”

Otram’s face turned the color of ash.