## Chapter 1036 – The Curious One

I pushed hard until just before sunset, finally reaching what seemed like an advance base. It was a simple setup with wooden palisades and tents. As the supply wagons entered, a young teenager ran over to check them.

Strangely, he was only wearing the kingdom knight’s regulation breastplate, with no other armor. He even had a beret on.

Was he some kind of secretary or administrative clerk?

He radiated a non-combat vibe. Seeing that kind of aura in the middle of a battlefield made him seem like a company commander’s signalman.

“Let’s see…”

Anyway, he seemed to be checking the supplies while making notes on a document he was holding.

ㅡThud.

The guy stopped right in front of me as he made his notes.

“Uh… uh…? Are you an adventurer?”

He looked up at me for a moment, speaking with a hint of embarrassment.

“Brass Saint Society Paladin Kim Kat.”
“Wh, what?! A, a Paladin?!”

He was startled, his eyes widening and his mouth dropping open. After a moment of being stunned, he seemed to regain his senses, quickly straightening his clothes and looking behind me as he spoke.

“Huh? Where’s War Knight Jeren?”
“War Knight Jeren?”
“Yes, he’s the one who went out as the leader of this supply unit…”
“Ah. That guy.”

So that bastard’s name was Jeren.

I immediately brought Jeren, whom I had hidden inside the wagon, and placed him in front of the guy.

“Ugh… Mother… Sa, save me…”

The guy was still wandering on the edge of death, moaning and pretending to suckle at his mother’s breast.

“Here. He’s right here. I’ve kept him safe.”
“…?”

The guy looked down at the ruined Jeren, wearing a puzzled expression as if he had seen something strange.

“Shit… What? Huh? Oh, oh, oh! Oooooh!!! Sir Jeren!!! What the hell!! What the hell happened to you!!! Sir Jeren!! Sir Jeren!!!”

He screamed and was horrified.
Isn’t it obvious?

“As you can see, I completely ruined him. I beat the shit out of that son of a bitch. I didn’t beat him to death, but he’d better get treatment quickly.”
“Wh, whwhwhwhat!!! Whwhat!!! Whwhwhwhat!! Uaaaaa!!!”

ㅡFlippity-flap!

Startled, he ran away, momentarily losing his balance and running on all fours before sprinting into a tent that seemed to be where the commander was.

“Hehehe.”

Such a fresh little sprout.

“You really are a barbarian, aren’t you? I thought I was looking at a murderous robber. To just use the word ‘ruined’ in front of people, you really are a barbarian robber.”
“Hmph, robber my ass. They call us heroes these days.”
“Don’t talk crazy. Ah, but I heard somewhere that if mana penetrates the brain, it can mess with a person’s mind… Could that be what happened to the barbarian?”
“No way.”
“But how do you get mana anyway?”
“Why? Interested?”
“Well, I’m not asking for your secrets, I’m just curious. Wouldn’t the barbarian be curious if I suddenly got mana?”

That’s true.

If Copson suddenly did that, I’d be damn curious.

“I guess so. But don’t be disappointed when you hear it. I just fought a lot, and at some point, it appeared, and I trained after I realized it. Apparently, some people develop mana while fighting. I guess I’m one of those cases.”
“Hmm… Just like the stories going around.”

Well, everyone wants to get mana. It was natural that such abstract information was circulating among the people. And there were quite a few mana training dojos popping up. Of course, most of them were cults.

“What the hell!! Who ruined Jeren!!”

Just then, a desperate shout came from the front.

“Th, that’s!! Apparently, it was a Paladin!! He said he ruined him…!”
“Why would a Paladin ruin Jeren!!”
“I’m sorry! I don’t know! I just came to report!”
“Aha! That must be him!!”

It was probably the commander of this advance base and Jeren’s direct superior. The senior knight’s face was almost pale, literally the face of death. He had the expression of someone who could easily chop up a person, slice them into thin pieces, crack an egg into it, and make a stew.

“Je, Jeren!!! What the hell!! Who are you!!! Identify yourself!!”

He drew his sword and growled.

“Brass Saint Society, Paladin directly under the Saintess, and Kingdom Baron Kim Kat.”
“Paladin and… Baron?”
“Calm down. There was a good reason.”
“…Reason? What reason could there be to ruin Jeren like this? He’s completely fucked up! Jeren!! Can you hear me!! Can you hear me!!”

He called out urgently.

“Mom… There are… two moms… Why… Why do I have two moms…? Three? What the… Kraagh!! Ugh… Uaaaaaack!!!”

Now he was really standing at the gates of death, his ramblings reaching a transcendental state of content and density that no ordinary person could ever understand.

“Jeren!!!! Get a grip!! Emil! Get him to the infirmary, quick!”
“Yes, yes! Understood!!”

The guy who received the order immediately had the soldiers bring a stretcher and began the transportation.

“Damn it!!!”
“Calm down. That guy assaulted my friend, so I gave him a little lesson.”
“Assaulted your friend?”

I tried to explain the situation to the excited senior knight in as much detail as possible. I had ruined him, but I still had to explain. After all, these guys had come to save the city, so I had to explain everything.

“This adventurer is my close friend…”
“Oh.”

I immediately pulled Copson to my side.

“Look. His eye is all swollen. If he had been hit just a little wrong, his eyeball would have been completely ruined, and he would have been blind for the rest of his life. And you can’t see it because it’s covered by his clothes, but he’s been hit all over the place. By that knight, Jeren.”
“…”

Copson seemed quite nervous, standing in front of the knight.

“He didn’t beat him up for any good reason, but because he was trying to protest his breach of contract. It was a very evil reason.”

The knight listened to my words, stared at Copson’s face, and then said to me.

“So… you ruined Jeren just because he assaulted this adventurer?”
“Hold it.”

This bastard.

“Adventurer?”
“Uh…”

I immediately took a step towards the knight.

Judging by this guy’s tone, he still didn’t understand the situation. In times like this, you just have to give him a good scolding. There was no reason to be polite to a guy like this.

“Picking a fight with me isn’t a good idea, Knight? What do you think? My friend just got beat up, and he’s being treated like some adventurer? Huh? You son of a bitch?”
“Ah, th, that is…”

I reached out and grabbed his right shoulder tightly, and he took a step back.

“…!”

He naturally tried to reach for his waist, but I put a little force into my grip and crushed his shoulder armor like clay, causing him to stop and widen his eyes. It would take less than a second to crush the shoulder of a guy like this.

“Say something, you son of a bitch. I came to resolve this well, but you’re looking down on me. That’s why you can’t talk to these kids. Not a single one of them understands.”
“Ah, ah… I, I’m sorry. I, I misspoke.”
“Right? You misspoke? You could tell I was pissed off, but you still spouted bullshit?”
“…Y, yes.”
“From now on, think for about a second before you speak. Think about how the other person will react if you say something like that. You’re an old knight, you should be able to make rational judgments, right?”
“…Yes.”

The knight lowered his head and answered with difficulty.
This is the difference in absolute power.

You have to have power to get an apology.

“You understand what this Paladin is saying, right?”
“Ah, I understand.”
“Good, our knight friend. What’s your name and rank?”
“E, Ace Knight… Murgan Jabel, sir.”

Okay, that’s enough.

“Good. Let’s stop here. Anyway, did you understand what I said?”
“Yes… Th, that is… your friend was assaulted by Jeren, is that right?”
“Yes. That’s right.”

Let me add some more details.

“It wasn’t just any assault, it was a very unfair assault. You make a contract for cheap supply escort, and then when they get there, you change the deal and try to make them do a high-paying attack operation?”

It was like going to do simple work for minimum wage and suddenly being sent to the Middle East as a mercenary.

“Okay. Let’s say that’s okay. They can just not do it. But when he protested, he beat him up, that son of a bitch.”

That’s the absurd part.

“It’s a good thing I was passing by, or my friend would have died.”
“…That’s right.”

The knight answered in a small voice. That’s why you have to be strong in everything you do. If I had done this from the beginning, he wouldn’t have said anything about adventurers.

“Right? A knight shouldn’t act like that, right? A kingdom knight shouldn’t break contracts and assault innocent people.”
“Ah, no, they shouldn’t…”
“So I educated him. Sometimes, there are people who just won’t listen unless you use violence.”
“…”

After I finished talking, the knight was completely subdued.

“Anyway, that’s the situation. If you understand, take care of it.”
“Yes… I understand. It’s all my fault. I hope you’ll calm down… I’ll make sure to educate Jeren.”
“Good. Now go.”
“Yes…”

The knight lowered his head and trudged towards his tent.

“Kat. You’re so cool when you’re angry.”
“If I was any cooler, someone would get killed.”
“That would be good too.”
“Hehehe, well. That would be good too.”

Claudie seemed really happy.

“Barbarian.”
“What, what’s up?”

Copson was sitting on the ground.

“Look. My legs have given out.”
“Why?”
“I don’t think I could ever make murderous robber bastards kneel and scold them like that…!!! How did you become such a barbaric warrior! I can’t hide my surprise!!”
“If you lived like me, you’d be like this too.”

It’s all about power.

“Anyway, if there’s any shitty bastard in the future, tell me. I’ll go and steal all their wallets.”
“Yes!!! The barbarian is my true friend!!!”

ㅡJump!

Copson stood up and jumped high, raising his arms in the air.

“Anyway, what are you going to do now?”
“Hmm… I was originally going to spend the night here and take another job or go back in the morning, but honestly, I can’t trust the knights anymore. I’m just going to get my money and leave tomorrow morning.”
“That’s not a bad idea. But you’re going to spend the night here?”
“What about you, Barbarian?”
“I’m going home.”
“What! Are you going to abandon us!! Please don’t abandon this kitten-like Copson!!”
“Oh, you son of a bitch. Okay, go and get your money. You need to get your contract money, right?”
“That’s right. Then I’ll go get it.”
“No. Let’s go together. You need to get medical treatment too.”
“I seem to have a very good friend…!”

I immediately went into the commander’s tent with Copson, and after confirming that the adventurers were getting their contract money, I politely asked them to treat Copson.

“Of course, we have to treat you… Of course… After what our Jeren did…”
“Good thinking, friend. So, do I just go to the infirmary?”
“Yes… They’ll treat you. But to get proper treatment, you should go back to the Relief Monastery…”
“Okay.”

I guess that’s enough said.

“Hey, I’m a little busy right now. I’ll treat you next time, so let’s call it a day here.”
“Next time? Did you just say next time, Barbarian?”
“Oh, you son of a bitch. Okay. I’ll treat you three times at a really good place, three times.”
“Hehehe, I understand. Well, I’ll see you next time. I’ll probably be resting after I go back tomorrow, but there will be another chance to meet.”
“Drink some alcohol at the Adventurer’s Guild. I’ll come pick you up when I have time.”
“I understand.”
“Then I’ll stop by the Relief Monastery. I’m going.”

I waved my hand and parted ways with Copson.

“Shitty Barbarian! It was great seeing you after so long!”
“Yeah! You Anglo-Shit-Used bastard!”

I was really happy to see that bastard.
Let’s go home now.

“Then, Kat. Shall we go?”

I immediately carried the gravestone on my shoulder and grabbed the Rakshasa corpse’s wrist.

“Claudie. Do you want to sit on this gravestone?”
“Oh my, is that okay?”
“Of course. Hold on tight, I’m going to run.”
“Kat, you’re so cool.”

Claudie climbed onto the gravestone and sat down, and I ran back the way we came.