SWY 124

“…….”

“We have quite a bit of food!”

“…….”

“This is one of the old tax storehouses from the Serman territory, and it still has a decent amount left. I can take you there. I don’t know how many people are in your group, but with the food left in the storehouse, you could probably last a few months.”

Before Sharhan could even say a word, the rat-faced man brought up the location of the most tempting resource in their current situation, a food storehouse. If they hadn’t known about its existence, it would’ve been very appealing.

‘He probably would spill everything without even needing to be tortured.’

Sharhan turned his head in disbelief. Lestel, Ardelle, and Samson looked just as dumbfounded.

“What a coward,” Ardelle muttered, stepping forward to ask,

“How many soldiers are there…”

Once again, the man answered before Ardelle even finished.

“Not exactly sure since people go in and out for hunting or scouting, but usually there are around twenty to thirty. They’re all armed.”

Sharhan glanced at Ardelle. Her guess that there’d be more than twenty hadn’t been completely off.

“Their leader is a bastard named Alfredo. He used to be a squire under the knight who originally guarded the tax storehouse, but when everything fell apart, he betrayed the knight, killed him, and took over the storehouse…”

“A squire? A squire killed a knight?”

Lestel asked, and the man frantically nodded.

“Yes, he was quite favored by the knight and had the skills of a semi-knight. They said he was about to be knighted soon. But he poisoned that man’s food. Isn’t he an absolute bastard? Then, when survivors came looking for food, he only spared those who proved their loyalty. Anyone who resisted was killed.”

“How do they prove loyalty?”

“They’re told to either kill a companion or offer up a family member. That guy, Gil, grew up in the same village as me. But that bastard killed the friends he went to the storehouse with, just to save himself… Hrk! He’s always been selfish, but I never thought he’d betray childhood friends…”

The rat-faced man broke down, pounding the ground and weeping. His filthy face was streaked with tears and full of grief.

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Goren.”

“And this leader… Alfredo, was it? Why did he spare you, Goren?”

The question implied what everyone was thinking, he must have proven his loyalty somehow too. Goren wiped his nose with the back of his hand.

“I used to make a living as a guide and tracker when I was younger. Gil told the captain about that, said I’d be useful, and asked him to spare me. They value guides a lot. A man who joined not long ago was also a guide, and because he could fight too, he quickly became the vice-captain. I’m like this, so I’ve survived by either hunting down traitors or handing over the locations of survivor groups.”

“So in the end, you followed Alfredo too?”

“He held my wife hostage. Everyone he spared because they seemed useful had family members taken as hostages. We had no choice but to obey.”

“…….”

“I-I’m ready to die right now if I have to. But… how many people are in your group?”

“Why are you asking that?”

Sharhan’s voice was full of suspicion. Goren shrank back slightly.

“Because Alfredo has a lot of men. You’ll need more people to face them. I know I’m not trustworthy, but I really mean it when I say I’m willing to die! M-my wife… she died recently. Turns out that bastard Gil tried to do something awful to her, and she fought back… but he never even told me she died!”

Goren broke down again, bawling like a child. Even without hearing the details, they could guess what had happened. Sharhan’s group all made the same twisted expression, as if it had been agreed upon. Their eyes, as they stared at Gil’s lifeless body lying face-down, brimmed with disgust.

“Hostages are only allowed out once a day for bathroom breaks. That was the only time I got to see my wife. When I hadn’t seen her for days, I asked, and that’s when they told me she’d died… Hrk! I was going to kill myself to follow her, but I held on, clinging to life, just to take revenge on Gil. Thank you. All that’s left is for Alfredo to die. I’ll take you to the storehouse. Just… please, there are some innocent captives too…”

“Why did they take the children?!”

Ardelle’s desperate question made Goren flinch.

“They… they weren’t just any survivor group…”

“We came here to find the kids. Answer me. Why did they take them? Are they okay?”

“I don’t know for sure. Everyone captured is locked in the storehouse… but every now and then, a child was taken to the captain’s quarters. After that, I… I didn’t see them again.”

“Is that really the truth?! You’re not hiding anything?”

Ardelle picked up one of the weapons lying nearby and pressed it to Goren’s neck. He swallowed hard.

“There’s a… a rumor. That the captain hides the corpse of his son in his quarters and… and takes kids of a similar age as sacrifices…”

The party’s faces turned red with rage. Goren, terrified by the violent energy around him, flattened himself against the ground.

“Is that… true?”

Sharhan’s voice was dry and strained as he forced the words out.

“I’m not sure. I only overheard some of the captain’s men talking.”

“That, that psycho! How could he do that to kids…”

Ardelle couldn’t even finish her sentence, her voice trembling with emotion. Samson’s fists were clenched, shaking. They hadn’t expected good intentions, but what they’d just heard was even worse than they’d imagined.
Samson, struggling to stay rational and avoid drawing attention with loud noise, grabbed Goren by the collar and yanked him up.

“Take us there. Right now!”

Goren’s face turned blue as he choked. Sharhan, eyes red-rimmed, reached out to stop him.

“Calm down.”

“How can I calm down right now… Hahh, I’m sorry.”

Samson released Goren and turned away to take deep breaths. Sharhan pretended not to notice the heavy rise and fall of his back as he turned to Goren.

“Where’s Alfredo’s quarters?”

“Next to the tax storehouse, there’s an old guard post that used to be used by the knight and his squires. He stays there now, and his men sleep in tents beside it. Those of us who were spared because we were useful… we weren’t even given tents. We sleep on the bare ground with just a blanket.”

“Are all the captives in the storehouse?”

“Yes. Both the food and hostages are in there. Only the captain and his vice-captain Hoffmann have the keys. Hoffmann’s a criminal who fled another territory after attacking a noble. He’s ruthless and follows every order Alfredo gives. You’ll recognize him by the brand on his forehead.”

“No guards inside the storehouse?”

“No, only outside. The door is tightly locked… There’s no one inside. How many of you are there? It’s not just the four of you, right?”

“You think the four of us couldn’t possibly win?”

At Sharhan’s question, Goren hesitated.
“Most of Alfredo’s men were ordinary folks like Gil who just joined him, but… Alfredo and Hoffmann are both cruel, and some of their fighters are very strong.”

“And?”

“Well, I mean, your skills did look impressive earlier, but…”

Sharhan ignored Goren’s trailing words and rubbed his chin in thought.

“To get into the storehouse, we’ll need to steal the keys… Is there no way to lure out this Hoffmann guy?”
Goren shook his head gloomily.

“He never acts alone. He only listens to the captain.”

So there was no way. Clicking his tongue, Sharhan gave a signal with his eyes, and the others gathered around.

“Looks like we’ll have to go with the smoke trick, just like we discussed. Cause confusion and attack.”

“We should head near the storehouse first and hide out until dawn, right?” Ardelle asked.

“Yeah.”

“Is there anything I can do to help? Anything at all, I’ll do it.”

Goren, who’d been desperately watching their low-voiced conversation, shouted. Sharhan looked sharply at him. Goren shrank back slightly but didn’t avoid his gaze. His face showed how earnestly he wanted to join.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes! Gil may have been my personal enemy, but I can’t forgive the captain or his men either! They gave Gil a weapon and egged him on. Then, with Gil leading the way, they raided the village and killed every resisting resident. I want revenge for my friends too. Please let me help!”

As if he wanted to prove he was completely sincere and not exaggerating in the slightest, Goren slammed his forehead against the ground. Sharhan silently stared at the bloodstain forming on his skin, then turned to his group.

“What do you think?”