The village chief asked in a trembling voice. If a knight visited with soldiers, the responsibility of hosting them lay solely on the village. If the number of soldiers was small, they could manage, but if it was a large group, it would be an enormous burden.
How long they stayed in the village was also a concern.
'If it's only for a short time, it's fine, but if they intend to stay for a long time, the village will be ruined.'
The village chief's mouth felt dry. Just thinking about the behavior of the soldiers and the costs involved made his legs tremble.
"There were no soldiers."
"What? No soldiers? The knight came alone?"
"Yes !"
"Huh…"
The village chief's mind raced after hearing the young man's response. If the knight had come alone, it was unlikely that he was a vassal knight serving a specific noble family. He was probably a wandering knight searching for a lord or a mercenary knight earning his keep by intervening in other people's wars.
"Then, did you see a family crest? Like a picture of an animal?"
"No, there was nothing like that."
"Hmm!"
Not using a family crest meant there was a dishonorable reason behind it. In that case, it was highly likely he was a mercenary knight. Someone without backing, without connections, merely surviving day by day through mercenary work.
'That changes things.'
A mercenary knight without backing or connections was no different from a mere traveler.
There might be a difference in status and strength, but if they handled it quietly, no one would come looking for him.
Watching the village chief's eyes dart around, Sylas clicked his tongue internally.
'So he plans to kill him secretly and steal his belongings.'
In truth, it was not uncommon for mercenary knights or travelers without connections to disappear like that. In fact, Brick Village itself had done this to travelers a few times. The problem was that the village chief was making a huge mistake right now.
The person in question was not a mere mercenary knight but a vassal knight of the Corleone family.
"Ahem, Sylas, you should head home for now."
The village chief waved Sylas away as if shooing him off. It was a gesture indicating he had no intention of sharing the spoils after dealing with the knight.
"Yes, then take care."
"Right, come by again later if you have anything you've hunted."
After saying that, the village chief turned away and began to whisper. He seemed to lower his voice, but Sylas's keen ears caught everything.
"Prepare some good food for the knight. And don't forget to put plenty of that stuff."
"Don't worry. One sip and he'll be out cold."
"Good. I happen to know a fence who can…"
Sylas almost let out a snicker. It was pathetic how greed had blinded them to the danger they were walking into.
'I'd better prepare to cover the traces.'
Recalling events before his regression, Sylasrushed back to his hut. Tonight was the night the knight would escape and come to his hut.
* * *
In the dark dawn, Sylas lit a fire around the hut and organized his tools. He prepared items to erase footprints and bloodstains and cleared out the underground hideout.
'He should be here soon.'
"Catch him!"
"Don't let him escape!"
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he heard the raucous shouts from the village. Torches lit up the entire village as shadows moved frantically.
Amidst the commotion, a figure on horseback headed toward him. The horse collapsed as if it had been hit by something, and the rider tumbled to the ground.
"Ugh, cough!"
'He's here.'
The one who arrived at the hut was a young knight. Dressed in plain clothes as if his armor and sword had been taken, his shoulder bore a wound from a pitchfork.
"Hey, you commoner! Hide me!"
'Seriously.'
Even when he was near death, he spoke in such a manner. Sylas already knew about the nobles' sense of superiority, but he couldn't help but shake his head.
"If you hide me, I will reward you later! If you want... !"
"That's not necessary."
"What!? No...!"
The knight's face turned pale as if he took it as a refusal. Sylas opened the door to the hut and gestured for the knight to come in.
"I don't need a reward, so please come in. There's a place to hide."
"Th-thank you!"
The knight hurriedly stumbled into the hut. Sylas opened the cleverly hidden door to the basement.
"Go in."
"I won't forget this favor. I swear on my name..."
"This isn't the time for that."
There was no time to listen to thanks. Sylas pushed the knight in and urged him.
"Whatever happens outside, you must not come out. No matter what happens, stay put."
"I understand. I swear."
Sylas felt a slight sense of relief at the knight's resolute eyes. The worst-case scenario would be if the knight decided, 'I'd rather die fighting!' and ran out in the middle. If that happened, Sylas wouldn't be able to escape suspicion either. Fortunately, it seemed this knight had enough sense.
'Let's hurry.'
Sylas quickly cleaned up the area with the tools he had prepared. He erased the bloodstains, wiped away footprints, and left a few fake traces. As soon as he finished the final task, the villagers gathered outside his hut.
"Sylas! Come out here!"
The village chief's angry voice came from outside. Sylas poked his head out with a bewildered expression.
"What's going on at this hour?"
"Did anyone come here just now?"
"Oh, now that you mention it, someone did come."
"Is that so?"
The village chief's eyes gleamed with hostility. His nerves were on edge from losing track of the knight. Sylas began to give the response he had prepared.
"He knocked on my door, demanding I come out."
"And then?"