A Stuffed Cheonma in my Head - Chapter 232



Only Noblemtl

Episode 232. Welcome to Tudra

Tudra was a large city with a huge wall behind it.

The huge wall rising behind them not only blocked the demons, but also the blizzard blowing in from the pure white land to the north, so it seemed like people naturally gathered there to avoid the wind and formed a city using it as a breakwater.

From a distance, it looked like an old ruin growing in a crevice between rugged snow-capped mountains.

Maybe it was because the white, fluffy snow was falling, but it had a strange charm and looked quite warm.

[It’s quite old-fashioned.]

This was Cheonma’s impression after seeing Tudra, and I agreed with him.

“That’s right.”

The city walls were formed not only at the back of the city, but also at the front.

Of course, it wasn’t as big as the wall behind it, it was just a regular wall.

It may not be comparable to the North, but the South also has its share of demons. There are also thieves.

“We’re all here, you guys. Let’s just go that far.”

Purruk―

The horses gave short murmurs in response to my words.

Various various―

I drove the carriage slowly toward the castle gate.

There was no one entering the gate, only people coming out.

They appeared to be refugees.

As we approached the gate, the guards who had been watching the procession of refugees leaving the gate turned their gaze in this direction.

One of them walked over and started talking.

“What brings you here?”

He was a man wearing a fur hat, and his tone of voice was very blunt.

Could it be that the cold has frozen his voice and face?

The emotions were not clearly visible.

Even I, a security expert who has been questioned dozens of times, answered in the same blunt tone.

“Suppress the demons.”

At that answer, the guard’s face, which had been as hard as ice, slightly relaxed.

What should I say? It seemed as if the eternal snow had melted slightly in the warm spring breeze.

A hint of joy peeked through the cracks.

“Ah… …! Are you a mercenary?”

“That’s true.”

“Where are you from?”

“I come from Milgard.”

“You came from far away.”

The guard smiled and shook my hand.

“Thank you for coming during these difficult times. Tudra will not forget this.”

I noticed that the gruff guard was thanking me on behalf of Tudra.

The hand of the unknown guard I was holding was very hot. Like the passion hidden within it.

Also, from that greeting, I could tell that one of my allies was in a sorry state.

It seems that there are not as many reinforcements arriving here as expected.

I also shook the hand I was holding and responded.

“Don’t mention it. What’s so special about mercenaries? They just do whatever you ask for money.”

The guard looked at me with very clear eyes.

“How humble. I know it’s not as easy as it sounds.”

He was a strong man.

The strength may not be weak, but the mind in particular is weak.

Every time I spoke, steam came out of my breath.

To me it seemed like a vapor coming out of the heart.

“What’s your name?”

“Ted.”

“Ted. That’s a good name. It’s so easy to pronounce.”

“No problem. What about you?”

“Ashvan.”

As I said that, I took out a particularly shiny platinum ring from my bosom and handed it to him.

The guard, who at first thought it was a silver shield, soon opened his eyes wide when he saw it reflecting the sunlight and sparkling beautifully.

“… …Platinum?”

Have you ever noticed something that sparkles particularly beautifully in the sunlight?

The other guards guarding the gate came rushing in, their breaths puffing out, to look at my mercenary band.

“Ted. What’s that? It’s too shiny for a silver plate.”

“Isn’t it a platinum plate?”

“What? Platinum?”

“Isn’t that right? It seems similar to what I saw when the two-faced swordsman passed through last time.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“I don’t know. It was night time so there was no sunlight.”

“That’s true.”

“It looks like a silver plate to me. If it was well maintained or new, it would shine like that.”

“What? Jonathan, are you blind? Where is this silver medal from? It looks different!”

“SiX. Since when have you been a platinum expert?”

As the guards raised a commotion, a large man who appeared to be the captain of the guards approached with brisk strides.

Are all northern men originally this big?

It looked like a bear was walking on two legs.

“What’s going on?”

The guards reported to the captain’s heavy words.

“Captain. Is this really the platinum badge?”

“X-word. I don’t know. I have to have seen it in my lifetime.”

The captain of the guard took my mercenary badge, looked at it carefully, and then nodded.

“It’s the platinum plate.”

A variety of reactions erupted simultaneously.

“also……!”

“See? I was right. It was too shiny for a silver plate.”

“I thought it was shiny because it was new.”

Judging by their reactions, the rest of the Sherwood group hadn’t arrived yet.

The captain of the guard looked at my platinum badge and said.

“Ashvan Sherwood?”

“That’s my name.”

The captain of the guard looked at my behavior carefully and asked again.

“Are you the new leader of the Sherwood Mercenaries?”

He nodded.

“exactly.”

A gasp erupted from the watching guards.

“Sherwood Mercenaries… …!”

“indeed!”

“What? Wasn’t it disbanded?”

“News is slow. Haven’t you heard that Sherwood has been resurrected?”

“Is this your first time hearing about this?”

“Haven’t you heard that a certain Ashvan, the Half-Sword, has appeared like a morning star and is uniting the scattered members?”

“You’ve heard the story about someone single-handedly defeating a Class A demonic Hydra, right?”

… … These guys aren’t guarding the gates they’re supposed to guard, so why are they here making a fuss?

The captain of the guard continued to ask me questions in a nonchalant tone, as if he was casually throwing them at me, regardless of what his subordinates were saying.

“You’re carrying two swords.”

“One for the horse, one for people.”

“I see. Are other members planning to come too?”

“I think one of them is already in there.”

“Yes. The swordsman came in early.”

“I’ve gathered all the others here. They’ll be here soon.”

“Is all of Sherwood coming?”

“That’s not it. Those who are still missing and have been trapped somewhere have not been contacted.”

“Guston of the Greatsword and the Red Witch?”

“They are not the great men I can move. I heard that the mercenary guild went to ask for help. I don’t know if they will come or not.”

“I see. I checked.”

The captain of the guard finished asking questions and gave me back my mercenary badge.

“Welcome to Tudra.”

“No problem.”

He put the returned mercenary badge into his bosom.

The faces of the guards who listened to the conversation between me and the captain of the guard were filled with hope.

“If Sherwood comes, it’ll be different!”

“Isn’t this the strongest mercenary group in Maia!”

“Then who are the members that can come?”

“I heard that the golden warrior and the spirit summoner of disaster have already joined.”

“If either Guston the Greatsword or the Red Witch came, the situation would change.”

“I heard that Guston, in particular, is as strong as our Duke.”

“What are you talking about! Of course our Duke is stronger. How can you say that after seeing him swing his sword with your own eyes?”

“That’s what people say.”

The excited guards chattered.

One of them was already running towards the refugee column, shouting, “The Sherwood Corps is coming!”

The captain of the guard left them to do as they pleased without much resistance.

Surprisingly, the rules weren’t as strict as I thought.

I guess that means that he will carry out his assigned duties well without needing to be told otherwise.

The captain of the guard looked at the carriage I was riding in.

“I need to check inside too.”

I raised my hand and thumped the carriage.

“I told you all to prepare your identification cards because we have to search you.”

I could hear voices that were half-asleep, as if they had just woken up.

The captain of the guard gestured to the other guards to inspect the carriage, then took out something like a small notebook.

He asked me while scribbling down notes.

“How many people in total?”

“Six people in total, including me.”

“Are they all Sherwood Mercenaries?”

“Four are Sherwood, the rest are not.”

“So are all four of them the owners of the Platinum Badge?”

“No, one is a gold medal.”

“Wasn’t Sherwood all platinum?”

“A new person has come in. There was no such law in the first place.”

“I see. Then who are the other two?”

“That… I guess it would be better to ask him directly.”

Just then, a guard was knocking cautiously on the carriage.

dripping.

“There will be a brief inspection.”

Bam―

The carriage door opened, and the Sherwood boys got out first.

Dauphin yawned and licked his eyes, then greeted the guards cheerfully.

“Haam… … You’re here already? Oh my, you’ve all worked hard.”

Schmidt came out, thumping his back as if he had slept wrong, and Linda, still half-asleep, stumbled and almost fell over as she stepped out.

If Schmidt hadn’t caught him, he would have fallen over again and gotten a nosebleed.

“Please present your identification.”

Starting with Linda’s gold badge, the search ended with simple questions about Schmidt and Dauphin’s platinum badges.

Linda, who was half-asleep and nodding off while standing, was being held by Schmidt to keep her from falling.

I think we can argue well even though we can’t understand each other.

It was a sight I always saw, but it was different for the guards of Tudra, who were exclaiming among themselves.

“… … It really is Sherwood.”

“I never thought I’d see three platinum plaques at once… …!”

“Have you heard anything about that girl with blonde hair? She doesn’t look ordinary.”

“They say he’s a master of poison. He develops and uses poison to defeat demons.”

“A golden warrior and a talking dauphin. I can’t believe my eyes.”

“Oh, my friend. You’re the Dauphin the Talker. I’d rather you call me the Dauphin the Phantom Thief.”

Dauphin had meanwhile spoken to some of the guards.

The captain of the guard, who had been quietly watching the inspection process, spoke to me.

“I heard there were six people in total.”

“yes.”

“Why don’t the other two get off?”

“Because the main character always appears last.”

“… … ?”

“Be careful, you are a noble person, unlike our mercenary bastards.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a brown-haired knight got out through the half-open carriage door.

It was clear that what was inside was a very light-hearted flyer, but what was coming down now was a dignified knight.

Sir Monde slowly got out of the carriage with the noble bearing of a knight, and gently extended his hand toward the open carriage as if escorting the lady.

Then a girl inside grabbed the knight’s hand and got out of the carriage.

Her usual curious and mischievous appearance was gone, and she appeared as an elegant and noble princess dressed neatly.

The noble majesty of the royal family spread gently through the air.

Even to a stranger, she didn’t look like an ordinary girl.

The guards all kept their mouths shut and watched with wide-open eyes as the girl got out of the carriage.

Finally, the princess of the kingdom of Maia, Lilia, opened her mouth.

Graceful words slipped smoothly from her tongue.

“It is an honor to meet the brave soldiers who protect the northern part of the Kingdom of Maia. I am Lillia Adrian Maia, the third daughter of the Kingdom of Maia.”

The captain of the guard, who came to his senses first, knelt down on one knee faster than anyone else.

“Meet the princess!”

The other soldiers, who had been dazed for a moment, quickly followed suit and got down on one knee.

Princess Lilia, who received their greetings, simply covered her mouth with one hand and smiled like a court lady, saying, “Oh, my. There’s no need for you to do this. Oh, ho.”

“… … .”

The princess looked at my cold gaze and playfully winked at me.

Be disgusting.

Cheonma laughed quietly.

[Why. Isn’t it cute?]

I told you, our master is weak to the little ones.

* * *

Word quickly spread that a special guest had arrived.

“… … The princess has come?”

The adjutant nodded.

“Yes. I heard they have brought you to the reception room.”

The peacock stroked his thick, gray beard.

“I didn’t hear that you were coming.”

“That is… … .”

“Something.”

“It seems like you came without notice.”

The Duke’s eyebrows, which had not changed expression even after hearing the news of the princess’s visit to North Korea, twitched slightly.

“……stealthily?”

“yes.”

The Duke remained silent for a moment and then said:

“Third. Are you Princess Lilia?”

“Yes.”

“hmm…….”

The peacock let out a low growl.

Why on earth did that wild and mischievous princess come all the way to this far north?

Even if the royal family didn’t acknowledge it, it was clear that the worst monster wave ever would hit this place soon. Rumors were already rife.

No, Princess Lilia is smart to begin with. In fact, it would be more appropriate to say she’s clever rather than smart.

There is no way she wouldn’t know that fact.

If that’s the case, then that means you knew about it…

“Did you come alone?”

“It is said that he was with the guardian knight, Lord Monde.”

“So you didn’t bring the royal attendant with you?”

“yes.”

Currently, Milgard’s palace is in turmoil due to the disappearance of the three princesses.

The peacock had a clear view of the sight.

“Why is Lilia here all of a sudden… … .”

The peacock’s sighs scattered like a haze over the high, snow-blizzard-filled castle walls.

His gaze was fixed on the world beyond the barrier, dyed in pure white.

“Your Majesty, please go down first. The princess is waiting.”

“… … Okay.”

The Duke decided to go down the castle walls to greet the princess of a country who was currently traveling to the most dangerous place in the world.

The Duke asked as he walked ahead along the ramparts through the howling snowstorm.

“Did you really bring only the Guardians? Without any attendants?”

“They say he came in a carriage with mercenaries.”

“You hired mercenaries and came all the way here? How bold of you.”

Mercenaries are people who will do anything for money.

If you had been ordered to do so by someone, you could have been kidnapped.

“Who are they?”

“It wasn’t written that far.”

Because the walls were so high, they were communicating through messengers, but the notes tied to the messengers’ legs were small, so details were often omitted.

“I see. I guess I’ll have to see for myself. Let’s go.”

“yes.”

Wheeeeew-

A strong wind blew through the peacock’s lion-like mane of gray hair.

The peacock, who naturally looked in the direction the wind was blowing, saw a dot walking beyond the barrier.

It was like ink on pure white paper.

Looking closely, it wasn’t a dot, but a man walking through the snowstorm with only a sword in his hand.

“… … .”

“You’re out again.”

The peacock stared at the moving dot for a moment before continuing on his walk.