Episode 77

“Are these the men?”

“Yes, my lord count.”

The weather was so cold that it felt like the snow would start falling with just a breath from the heavens. Count Mereloff scanned the group gathered in front of the mansion. Aside from the conscripted soldiers, a hesitant cluster of local tenants had volunteered to accompany them to Sheiron.

The steward closed the roster and gave a brief explanation.

“They’re all well-behaved and come from large families.”

The route to Sheiron was isolated—like a vast ocean. Any trouble along the way would be disastrous. Since their survival depended on it, the group was selected based on their morality and sense of responsibility.

As compensation for their hardships, they would receive a modest wage and be allowed to trade food individually. Just as Count Mereloff was finishing his inspection—

“Count! Count!”

With a sudden rush, someone broke through the guards at the front gate. The man dropped to his knees before the count, begging earnestly. The count furrowed his brow at the unexpected intrusion.

“What’s going on? Since when did the mansion’s gates become so easy to breach?”

“I’m Colin from the district below Highpentown! Please, please include me in the temporary trade caravan! I beg you!”

Seeing him bow his head to the ground in desperation, Count Mereloff glanced at the steward, puzzled.

“I’m sorry, my lord. Guards! Drag him away at once!”

“Count, I’m really capable. You saw me—I’m fast, and stronger than I look. If you add just one more young man like me, we could carry five or six more sacks of grain. No, maybe even seven. Please, I beg you…”

The count folded his arms, looking down at Colin’s bowed head. The man was eager and young; it was unclear why he had been excluded.

The steward flipped through the list anxiously.

“He has a large family, but he’s been drifting between illegal gambling dens and has no credibility. He’s a petty criminal with a record.”

“That was when I was reckless. I have four siblings, and my parents work chopping wood every day. Honestly, I’m the only one not pulling my weight at home. If you give me a chance, I’ll work hard!”

Count Mereloff considered for a moment, then asked,

“Born in the Mereloff domain?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Very well. Include him.”

“Count! That’s a bit—”

“He’s trembling and begging for work. How could he cause trouble? The soldiers will be with them, so there’s no risk. But I’ll cut his wage in half. Any objections?”

“N-no, none at all. Thank you!”

At a time when every person counted, adding one more meant more grain could be brought back. There was no reason to refuse. And with his pay halved, it was a win-win.

“Thank you! Thank you!”

“That’s enough. Steward, finish the preparations and come inside.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Colin bowed his head again as if his life depended on it. Count Mereloff mistook his desperation for mere hunger.

‘He’s alive. Damn it, alive. If he hadn’t gotten in, those bastards would’ve—’

Seeing him so grateful made the count feel a bit sorry. What kind of household was this, that a man was so overjoyed just to get a job?

“Judging by his state, he’ll do well. Isn’t that right?”

“…I’ll make sure he’s properly trained.”

The steward answered reluctantly. No matter how much of a master he was, the way things were handled was baffling. It was foolishness born of greed.

The count was frustrated that the steward couldn’t weigh the benefits of including Colin against the safety of excluding him.

“You said your name is Colin?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Stand over here.”

“Yes, sir!”

The steward sighed deeply as he led the cheering Colin away. Colin followed, genuinely happy to have been accepted and to have his life extended.

“I’ll call you one by one to sign the contracts. You’ll receive part of your wages upfront.”

The steward opened the list again and gestured to the temporary trade group. Colin carefully signed the contract, smiled awkwardly, accepted his pay, and hurried out of the mansion.

Even from behind, he looked far from reliable. The steward lamented as he tucked the contract, stamped with Colin’s palm print, away.

Thud-thud-thud!

Colin passed two men smoking by the roadside. They exchanged silent glances, then smirked and exhaled smoke.

“He’s bought himself some more time.”

“Looks like it.”

Their faces showed relief—Colin had made it into the trade caravan. Had he failed, tonight would have been his last.

“But the atmosphere here is so different from last time, isn’t it?”

The men stubbed out their cigarettes and muttered. They were Romandro’s men, assigned to watch over Colin. In just two or three months, the once lively domain had grown subdued.

“Rumors say the trade guild won’t come.”

“That’s no rumor.”

“Ah, right.”

Their hopes had turned to disappointment and anxiety beyond control.

The men followed Colin into the shadows of a back alley, and the man who had been watching them turned away. It was Clark, a servant at the Mereloff mansion.

Knock, knock.

Back at the mansion, Clark knocked on the door to Lady Mereloff’s study. No answer came. He glanced down the hallway, then slipped inside quickly.

“Madam, there’s a suspicious person among the trade group.”

“Is that so? That’s fortunate.”

Lady Mereloff didn’t appear, only responding in her usual clear voice.

“Clark, be careful out there.”

“…Yes.”

“I trust you’ll handle it well.”

“Don’t worry.”

Clark wanted to see her face one last time, but she never came out.

---

Several patches of torn cloth were layered over the soles of their shoes, with wooden splinters hammered underneath. It had already been four days since they left Mereloff. Facing the biting wind, the trade group dragged their empty carts, noses red from the cold.

“How much farther?”

“Hard to say. The distance is similar to the Hawan Kingdom, but the roads are rough. Judging by the weather, snow will fall soon.”

“Still, I’m sweating, so I’m not cold inside.”

“Sniff. Ugh, my nose won’t stop running. It’s going to fall off.”

Despite everything, the mood was decent.

Though soldiers, they were still Mereloff’s tenants and neighbors. They all knew each other, from the house next door to the one behind. Occasionally, laughter broke the silence.

“Colin, where have you been?”

“Just handling some things here and there.”

“Nothing to do with that, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I heard those green-roofed gambling den thugs tried to kill someone in Bratz. Rumor has it that was Ian.”

“The illegitimate son of the Bratz count?”

Colin flinched and avoided their gaze. He felt as if Ian was watching and listening through some unknown power inside him.

“No, it’s nothing to do with me.”

“Right? Otherwise, you’d be dead or wouldn’t have made it here.”

“Exactly. Now he’s the new head of the family. What a fate—born in a brothel and now a noble.”

“A brothel?”

“Yeah, his mother was a courtesan. Shows you, you need talent.”

“A courtesan? I don’t think so. I heard she just lived there because of debts.”

“Whatever. No matter what, it’s all luck. Luck. Starting with the count losing his head after crossing the great desert. He came back alive, so he’s used up all his luck!”

“Sounds like wishful thinking. Ha ha.”

Their chatter faded into the background. Colin had only just learned these things. He had joined simply because they offered money, without thinking it through.

“Let’s rest here for today. This cave looks suitable.”

“Yeah. If we go any further, the sun will set.”

“Tch. Winter days are short. We can’t move much.”

They spread sleeping bags inside the small cave and parked the carts at the entrance. Though the blocked entrance was inconvenient, it kept out the biting wind. A pile of firewood was lit, and everyone soon lay down, exhausted.

“What if it snows overnight?”

“What can we do… we’ll just have to deal with it…”

“Hey, scoot over a bit.”

“There’s no room here! You want me to burn by the fire?”

“I’ll move back a little.”

Colin moved away from the crowded group toward the entrance. The wind was cold, but this spot was best for their mission.

Several hours later—

“Grrrkk…”

“Ugh, chhhk…”

The sound of snoring filled the night.

Colin quietly got up, grabbed a torch, and stepped outside. The darkness was pitch black.

‘Sorry, everyone. But if I don’t do this, I’m dead.’

He pulled an oil pouch from his pocket and tossed it onto the empty cart. Hesitating, he debated whether to light the oil.

“Hey, what are you doing there?”

“Ah!”

Suddenly, a presence approached from behind.

Startled, Colin didn’t drop the torch. A man with an expressionless face came closer, glancing between the cart, the flame, and Colin.

“I wasn’t doing anything.”

“No kidding. Colin, you! Did you set the fire just to grab the gold coins? Damn you! Unbelievable!”

“…Huh?”

It was like watching a play. He shouted at the top of his lungs alone, then snatched the torch from Colin and threw it without hesitation. Flames erupted around the stunned Colin.

“W-what… what the hell…?”

Whoosh!

In an instant, a blade slashed across his neck. Colin’s vision slowly drifted upward until all he could see was the dark night sky. One by one, people stirred from the commotion and rushed out of the cave.

“What’s going on, Clark? Ah! Fire! There’s a fire!”

“No water? Damn it! Throw dirt on it, anything!”

“Fire! Fire! Everyone, get up!”

“Ahhh! Crazy!”

“That bastard set the fire!”

Amid the chaos, Colin blinked his eyes but couldn’t speak. Snowflakes fell alongside the stars, like white dots scattered across the sky.

‘Who is that? A stranger, but he knows my name.’

Blood welled from Colin’s neck, soaking the dirt beneath him. A mysterious man loomed over him as he trembled. Colin died with his eyes wide open.

Meanwhile, Romandro’s men hid in the nearby bushes, watching the entire scene unfold.

‘…No way. What the hell is going on? What kind of bastard is that?’

He wasn’t seeing things from the cold, right? A stranger suddenly appeared, killed Colin, and set the cart on fire. There was nothing more to see. Romandro’s men quietly turned and retraced their steps.

Clark glanced at the rustling bushes, then calmly began shoveling dirt.

“Save the cart!”

“Damn it, you crazy bastard!”

“Oh no, it’s all burning! It’s burning!”

In the dead of night, people’s screams pierced the air, louder than the wind.