Chapter 11: Request (2)
Harang didn't have many things he liked.
It was because he had never had good experiences.
The only things he had done inside the closed village were physical training, swordsmanship practice, learning assassination techniques, and building torture resistance; no matter how much he experienced such things, he couldn't grow fond of them.
Conversely, there were many things he disliked.
The most representative was being forced to do something.
Each and every command from the village managers had planted anger deep within his heart, so the stronger others came at him, the stronger he resisted... This so-called ‘rebellious nature’ was practically Harang’s defining identity.
Moreover.
‘Ah, I hate having my meal interrupted.’
I realized one more thing.
I intensely disliked having my meal interrupted.
Otherwise, there was no way I would be this angry.
I hadn’t even drawn my sword, yet just from throwing a punch, I felt a murderous impulse.
‘Still, killing him wouldn’t be right.’
Harang stared blankly at the thug, Jjakgwi.
What would some of my peers have done in this situation?
They probably would have killed without hesitation.
Because they were ones who had struggled for over 10 years in a place where the weight of life was infinitely low.
Because the village was a place where those who couldn't do so had long since died and fallen.
Therefore…….
‘I shouldn’t kill.’
Unless there was a special reason.
Meaning, unless they tried to kill me first, let’s keep it moderate.
I felt that this was precisely the way to escape the village I ‘hated the most’.
“Ugh, ugh……!”
Of course, that didn't mean I intended to act completely soft.
Why on earth would someone interrupt another person's meal?
I couldn't understand it, nor did I want to.
Nerves on edge, Harang tightened his grip.
Crack, an unpleasant sound echoed from the clasped fist, and a scream escaped Jjakgwi’s mouth as well.
“Ugh, uuuuuugh! Uuuuuaaaaaaaargh!”
“You crazy……!”
“You crazy bastard! Let go of that hand!”
Only then grasping the situation, the two thugs charged forward with curses.
Carter and the other Blue Pig employees watched with anxious expressions.
Even if the other guy was manageable, the big leader was a ruthless brute that even tough Mercenaries avoided confronting.
However, their worries were unfounded.
Whoosh
“Ugh, uuuugh?”
The black-haired young man, calmly watching the two approach, pulled Jjakgwi towards him.
In the instant a groan filled with pain and confusion escaped the thug’s mouth, Harang swiftly lifted him and threw him at the large man.
Kudangtangtang-!
“Ugh, that son of a bitch……!”
The large leader couldn't handle Jjakgwi’s weight and fell backward.
Getting up amidst the debris of broken tables and chairs, he continuously spat curses.
It was quite a threatening display.
However, separate from his tough act, the large man was extremely flustered by the young man’s monstrous strength.
He threw Jjakgwi, who weighs over 90kg, that easily?
Just what kind of…….
Thwack!
“Kkuek!”
“Hut!”
His thought didn't reach its conclusion.
In that brief moment, one of his subordinates collapsed.
The guy who took the kick rolled over and over before stopping against the wall, foaming at the mouth, clearly not getting up anytime soon.
Only then did he realize.
This dark fellow was an opponent he absolutely could not handle.
“Take them and go.”
“……What?”
“You don't want to fight me, I'm hungry and don't want to move anymore, and you need one person conscious to carry the fainted ones…… Need more explanation?”
“……You’ll regret messing with us.”
“The one called Jjakgwi messed with me first, though.”
“……Damn it.”
That was the end of it.
The large man didn't retort further; he slapped Jjakgwi’s cheek to wake him up, then supported his most seriously injured subordinate and left the restaurant.
Watching them leave, Harang wore a pleased smile.
‘Now I can finally try this thing called steak.’
It was the food Jack and Matthew had praised endlessly.
It would probably taste incomparably better than anything he ate in the village.
Feeling saliva pool in his mouth, he was about to sit back down when he sensed gazes and looked around.
The employees stared at him with blank expressions.
And scattered everywhere were the remains of tables and chairs, and a broken wooden wall.
After a moment of silence, Harang, after deep thought, opened his mouth.
“I think I might be a little short on money…… Can I pay with my body?”
* * *
To get straight to the point, Harang didn't pay for the shop repairs.
Not only that.
He was also provided with a ribeye steak, smoked duck meat, chicken breast salad, and potato stew for free.
It was an incredible taste, an incredible luxury.
It was the most pleasant moment he’d had since the day he felt liberated from the village.
“Hoo, I’m full.”
Having devoured a meal meant for seven people, he looked at the owner of the Blue Pig, Carter.
Rising from his seat, he bowed politely.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
“What, for something like this……”
“Something like this? This counts among the top favors I've received in my life.”
“You must have been born in a bleak place.”
“I don’t remember well where I was born.”
“Ah…… Grew up in an orphanage? My apologies.”
“Not an orphanage, I was sort of kidnapped.”
“……?”
“……?”
“This is awkward. I feel extremely sorry every time I ask a question……”
“What are you sorry about?”
“No, forget it…… Anyway, you don't need to be so grateful for this much. Paying those thug bastards back was payment enough.”
“But, I didn’t do it to help you, Mr. Carter, I just did it because I wanted to?”
“Whatever the cause, isn't the result the same?”
“Hmm. Still, gratitude is gratitude.”
Harang was sincere.
Although better than the village filled only with coercion and exploitation, he was recently coming to realize that the outside world wasn't entirely a good place either.
What if the owner here had been like the bandits he met on the road?
They probably would have demanded repair costs separately from him dealing with the thugs. Perhaps they might have even overcharged him in the process.
Above all, he had experienced the best taste today. The steak, the duck, the salad, and the stew were all fantastic.
The price for eating such excellent food was just roughing up a few thugs?
‘That’s an unfair trade.’
Harang shook his head.
If you ate food, you should pay the price, and if you caused damage, you should compensate. It was one of the common sense things he learned from Jack and Matthew.
Normally, he would have paid with money, but being short on funds now, he needed to repay in some other way. That was the rule of the world as Harang understood it.
He slowly explained these thoughts of his with his limited vocabulary, and Carter listened with a serious expression.
“…….”
A brief silence followed.
But it wasn't a boring time. Harang watched Carter’s expression change moment by moment, reading his emotions.
Contemplating.
Hesitating.
Seeming to decide something, then hesitating again.
But the outcome was set.
A moment later, Carter let out a deep sigh, and a lament escaped his lips.
“You really grew up well.”
“Me?”
“Yes. I don't know the details, but it seems you grew up in unfortunate circumstances…… To think you have such admirable thoughts. I wish my son was half like you……”
“Ah, you have a son.”
“Yes. He’s in Marzen. At this rate, he’ll probably drop dead soon, though. Rotten guy.”
“……?”
Harang wore a puzzled expression.
Even while spewing harsh curses with his mouth, and expressing intense anger with his face…….
He strangely felt something contradictory.
A warm and cozy, inexplicable, strange sensation.
As he stared into Carter’s eyes trying to figure out what it was, Carter took something out from his bosom and handed it over.
“This is?”
“A letter. To send to my son. As you can see, I’m too busy with the shop to deliver it myself.”
“Busy?”
“It’s a joke, don’t look so serious…… Anyway, it’s a bit awkward for me to go deliver it myself. I’d prefer if you could deliver it…… since you said you were heading to Marzen anyway.”
“Yes. I was planning to go to Marzen, but…… Will just this be enough?”
Harang asked with a puzzled look.
At best, it was letter delivery. Of course, it was troublesome as it required a few days of legwork, but he wondered if there was really a reason to ask him specifically for such a task. It was something that could be assigned to any of the employees idling around due to the lack of customers.
The reason was soon revealed.
Carter sighed deeply again and said.
“He’s a thug.”
“Pardon?”
“A thug, my son. Like those guys from earlier…… A rough fellow that most people would hesitate even to encounter……”
“Aah.”
Now it made sense.
He knew what thugs were from Jack, and also from Mr. Carter during the meal. They were bad people. Just seeing what they did to him proved it.
‘But Mr. Carter’s expression is very different from when he looked at those guys earlier.’
Is it because he’s his son?
For Harang, who had no memories of family, it was a difficult part to understand.
Of course, it wasn't something to dwell on.
The important thing was whether Harang would take this job, and whether he had the ability to do so…….
“I’ll do it.”
“Will you be alright?”
“Yes, I think I’ll be fine?”
Harang nodded seriously.
Although he still lacked common sense about the outside world, he roughly knew. The extent of the power he possessed.
Indeed, after enduring all that hardship and training, it would be strange if there were many stronger than him.
‘And well, it’s not like I’m picking a fight, just delivering a letter……’
It didn’t seem difficult.
However, Carter’s thoughts seemed different. Hearing the answer, he expressed his thanks repeatedly, saying thank you, truly thank you, and grasped Harang’s hand tightly. Despite his age nearing old years, considerable strength could be felt, and Harang vaguely sensed that deep emotion was contained within it.
It was then.
An employee who had gone out for some fresh air urgently opened the door and came in.
Carter, finding the panting state pitiful yet puzzling, offered water, but the employee refused even that and quickly said.
“They, they’re coming!”
“What? Who?”
“Thugs…… The Travion Gang! There seem to be about ten of them this time!”
“Damn it! You, come here quickly! We need to hide for a moment!”
Carter grabbed Harang’s hand to pull him.
Three and ten were entirely different numbers. No matter how skilled a young man Harang was, there was no reason to get caught up in such a quarrel.
He blamed himself. Knowing that the thugs would naturally come for revenge but failing to mention it, he had essentially repaid kindness with enmity.
However, Harang didn't think so.
Easily slipping his hand out of Carter’s grasp as if by magic, he said.
“It’s alright.”
“What did you say?”
“I said it’s alright. I’ll be back in about two hours, so could I possibly request another steak?”
Leaving the request behind, the black-haired young man walked out of the shop.
Strangely, Carter couldn't bring himself to stop him.