Volume 2, Chapter 12: Feudal Lord, Earl Mondo④
The next day, Lambert visited Earl Mondo’s mansion along with the seven main members of 『Dancing Sword』.
Those seven people were composed of the guild master, Eunos; four members from the unicorn’s subjugation team; and two others whose faces were unfamiliar to Lambert.
Earl Mondo’s mansion was a large and beautiful mansion made of red brick.
The mansion was surrounded by a beautiful garden, from which one could see the hobby of the earl.
Even though it was smaller than Earl Aubock’s mansion, it was big enough.
The biggest difference compared to Aubock’s mansion was the fact that Aubock’s was made in preparation for an invasion from a foreign enemy.
The walls of Aubock’s mansion were tall and thick.
There were also numerous soldiers patrolling around the wall, which made it even more difficult to invade.
In retrospect, that caution seemed to be necessary knowing that Earl Aubock was colluding with 『Devil’s Piper』, an anti-government organization.
Eunos took the lead. He bowed politely at the two gatekeepers who were stationed at the gate.
「I’m Eunos, the guild master of 『Dancing Sword』. I’ve come in accordance to the invitation from Earl Mondo a few days ago.」
The gatekeeper squinted his eyes, glaring at Eunos in suspicion.
A small question rose in Lambert’s mind once he noticed that gatekeeper’s expression.
‘The gatekeeper on duty should’ve already noticed. He should’ve known the faces of 『Dancing Sword』 in advance, since they are supposed to visit the mansion today, but…’
The gatekeeper moved his gaze away from Eunos and spoke to the other gatekeeper.
「… Hey, call the one in charge to guide them today.」
The other gatekeeper nodded in silence. Then, he ran toward the mansion without even greeting Eunos and Co.
The way they acted was strange, no matter how one looked at it.
The other party was a soldier who served under a noble. Even though 『Dancing Sword』 was one of the top guilds, they were, in the end, just adventurers.
Nevertheless, the way the soldiers treated the earl’s guests was way too impolite.
「Hey, we’re the one who received an invitation. What’s the meaning of th—」
Fando stepped forward to ask the remaining gatekeeper.
But Eunos stopped him.
「My apologies for his rudeness. He’s a bit too hot-blooded.」
Although Fando had no idea why Eunos was apologizing, he abided the guild master’s order and stepped back.
The gatekeeper sneered upon seeing that.
「Indeed. They look like a bunch of ruffians who’re trying to get ahead in society.」
Eunos couldn’t talk back to the gatekeeper.
He just smiled enigmaticly like before.
It was as if he didn’t feel the need to make the gatekeeper to eat his words.
At that moment, the gatekeeper who ran into the mansion a while ago returned along with a big man.
The big man’s arms were as thick as a log. His nose, cheeks, and face swelled up, which made him look like a pig.
He was obviously an unsuitable person for a guide.
「…」
Upon being exposed to such a dangerous atmosphere, all members of 『Dancing Sword』except Eunos raised their guard.
‘Never neglecting the training of his servants, even in this peaceful era… Splendid.’
Lambert was the only one whose train of thought was different from the others.
After all, in the era where Lambert lived, power was justice.
A noble’s mansion being raided was not a rare occurrence. That was why he didn’t mind, even if the guide was someone who looked like a veteran warrior.
「I see now. You guys are the 『Dancing Sword』people who brought back the Unicorn’s horn. It seems the rumor about you guys was true. Different from us, you’re too cowardly to even fight the monster from the front! HAH! You really use everything and anything!」
The big man spoke as he laughed at them.
Hearing that, Lambert finally understood the situation.
‘… No one could get the unicorn’s horn because of their fear of the headless great horse. In short, the adventurers made the private army lose face.’
Lambert’s high expectations of the pig-like man shriveled at once.
「I’m Glasco-sama! I’m the captain of the soldiers who serve under Earl Mondo-sama. But what a disappointment. Even though I took my time to see the face of the adventurers who subdued the unicorn, all I see right now are the faces of weaklings! What a letdown!」
‘This is the top power of the soldiers under Earl Mondo, huh. It seems the real power is in the hands of the adventurers, huh. Although in the eyes of the earl, the adventurers are a convenient power that he can use when he needs, but they lack a sense of responsibility. In fact, both sides will fight back to back in battle to defend Barreira City…’
Lambert glared at Glasco, the leader of the Earl’s private soldiers, while feeling dumbfounded upon his finding.
Although he knew that the fame of Barreira City as the capital of adventurers was not just for show, he wished that the earl would at least rein in his direct subordinates properly.
「Hah! You don’t seem to be that strong in my eyes! Well, how about a little game with me before you meet the earl, hm? Why you ask, it’s because you made us lose face by snatching the job from us. Do you understand? It’s really troublesome since Earl-sama trusted your petty adventurers’ guild more than us, his subordinates!」
When Glasco signaled with his eyes, the gatekeeper who had brought him approached Glasco with two mock battle swords in his hands.
「I will never approve of you bastards’ achievement, no matter how big it is. One of you, come forward and fight me with this mock battle sword. I’ll let you pass if you can land a hit faster than me.」
「… How troublesome. Don’t you think that Earl Mondo will be angered if he learns about this matter?」
「Haah?」
As expected, even Eunos couldn’t help but lose his patience.
After all, the subordinates of the earl himself were picking a meaningless fight with the benefactor and guest of their superior.
Although Eunos could easily beat Glasco, he wanted to avoid the situation in which they were forced to go back after he lost the challenge.
Even the other members of 『Dancing Sword』 found Glasco’s act of provoking them and spitting lies unpleasant.
Most of the members of Earl Mondo’s private army were relatives of the earl.
Such customs were still deep-rooted, even after more than two hundred years.
Even someone like Earl Mondo wasn’t exempt from such customs.
In short, it was authoritarianism, the exact opposite of the adventurers’ achievement-based society.
Although they received formal training, they had no sense of crisis like the adventurer guilds. Since they felt they were safe with the backing from Earl Mondo and his family, they almost never grew, and since they had the mentality of throwing dangerous jobs to the adventurers, the best of them were only on par with second-rate adventurers.
Even when Earl Mondo was scouting outstanding manpower every once in a while, they eventually left due to the unreasonable oppression from Glasco’s faction.
Naturally, Glasco didn’t really want to send the invited guests away.
He simply couldn’t stand the scene of the rowdy adventurers marching into the mansion with expressions that said 『We accomplished a commission that even the earl’s private army couldn’t accomplish,』 on their faces.
That was why he wanted to prevent that from happening.
「Let me try.」
Lambert went forward.
He knew that Eunos and Co. hesitated to accept the challenge to protect the name of their guild.
If that was the case, since he was unrelated to 『Dancing Sword』 and had no intention of staying in this land for too long, he went to accept the challenge.
The adventurers of 『Dancing Sword』also felt relieved. They thanked Lambert for his wit.
「It’ll be boring if no one dares to face me!」
Glasco grinned ear to ear as he took the mock sword from the gatekeeper.
‘Hmph, such a bloke! He doesn’t even realize that the mock sword in his hand has already been tampered to the point that it’ll break as soon as our swords make contact…’
Glasco took a stance after Lambert let go of his greatsword and received the mock sword.
「Are you ready? The winner is the one who lands the first hit on their opponent’s body!」
Glasco suddenly rushed toward Lambert as he said so.
But he was aiming for Lambert’s sword guard.
His plan was to hit his opponent’s hands as soon as he destroyed the other party’s weapon.
「Hmph.」
Suddenly, Lambert broke his own mock sword in two and threw it like a scrap.
He retreated to dodge Glasco’s attack. Then, he closed in as soon as Glasco’s sword missed its target, disarming him, and sent a light slap at Glasco’s face.
「BUH?!!」
That light slap was apparently powerful enough to send Glasco tumbling to the ground. He only stopped after his head crashed against the wall.
Lambert once again failed to realize that his “light” was by no means light for the people of this era.
Lambert’s slap broke seven of Glasco’s eight teeth, which fell on the ground along with his blood.
The broken tooth had already been smashed into small pieces as it fell on the ground.
But he was lucky that he only lost his teeth.
If Lambert slapped him for real, it was at least enough to separate Glasco’s head from his neck.
「H-HIIIIIII! AARGH, AAAAARGH! W-W-What happened to me…」
When Glasco raised his face, he saw Lambert raise the mock sword that was dropped by Glasco.
「The match won’t end until one party is hit by a mock sword, huh.」
Color drained from Glasco’s face at once. He retreated behind, clinging desperately on the wall behind him.
Maybe due to overwhelming fear, as soon as he saw Lambert’s body flinch, Glasco passed out immediately.
At the same time as he passed out, Glasco had also lost control of his own bladder, resulting in him peeing his own pants.
「… How miserable. Your disgraceful act as a soldier is like throwing mud on your lord’s face.」
Lambert lowered his stance and returned the mock sword to the gatekeeper.
「Y-Yes… Our deepest apologies…」
Even the rude gatekeeper from before received the mock sword from Lambert with his knees on the ground.
The gatekeeper stopped acting cocky in front of Lambert. He planned to regain his dominance by rebuking Lambert, but he was completely overwhelmed by Lambert’s charisma.
‘Although I still have my doubts over the matter of him repelling Robin Hood… To think that he’s this powerful.’
Eunos’ face crumbled as he stared at Lambert’s back.
Although Lambert noticed Eunos’ piercing gaze on his back, he just ignored it.
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