Chapter 39
A remote alley in the city of Lockfort.
“Huff, huff……!”
The petty thief Chloe ran with all his might.
Forcibly exhaling the breath that filled his chest, enduring the pain that felt like his lungs would burst, he kept moving his legs frantically.
‘Who the hell is that bastard!’
Chloe turned left and right along the familiar alley. He retraced the map in his head and headed towards his hideout.
All he could think about was escaping and hiding somehow.
The moment he was caught by mistake, he would surely be beaten until his bones broke, and end up a half-corpse thrown into a cold underground prison.
Swoosh.
As he ran frantically, Chloe put his hand in his pocket to confirm that his dagger was safe.
If he were to be caught, he intended to at least put up a minimal resistance.
“Stop right there. If you don’t want to get beaten to a pulp.”
“Hyaaaak!”
At the voice from behind, Chloe let out a shrill scream without realizing it.
The sound of heavy footsteps followed.
Chloe glanced back, got spooked, and turned his head back to the front.
‘When did he get this close!’
He had abandoned ten companions to run away.
Did that mean he had caught them all? In that short time, had he subdued all of them, handed them over to the guards, and then chased after Chloe himself?
Thinking that far, Chloe stopped in his tracks. Panting heavily, he whipped out a dagger from his pocket.
There was no way to escape anyway.
With venom-filled eyes, he glared at the man who had already approached.
If only he could land one blow with this dagger somehow…….
“Your gaze is very impure. I see no room for rehabilitation.”
“Shut up! Come any closer and you’ll taste my blade!”
“Oh, really?”
The yellow-haired man was relaxed from start to finish.
Gulp.
Chloe swallowed dryly while observing his reaction.
No matter how physically trained a human was, the moment a knife was stuck in them, all the strength in their body would drain away.
He had experienced it himself, and he had made others experience it too.
“If it’s a blade, I have a good one too. Though it’s a bit of a waste to use on the trash of Lockfort.”
Then a sword appeared in the man’s hand.
Chloe couldn’t believe his eyes.
There was clearly nothing there. There was nothing like a scabbard, and there was not even a hint of him drawing a sword.
It was as if he just moved his hand in the air, and suddenly, there was a sword in his hand.
“If you surrender now, I’ll drag you away with your limbs intact. Otherwise, I’ll take you after breaking your legs. What will it be?”
Clang.
The dagger fell to the ground. Chloe raised both his hands and made a crying face.
“……I surrender.”
“Wise.”
And the man approached. He thought a fist was flying at him, but with a thudding impact, his vision turned black.
Chloe, his consciousness cut off, collapsed and went limp.
The man, Knight Reinhardt, finally shook his head and sighed.
“Man, this brat. His running skill is something else. How can he be so fast?”
Reinhardt lifted the petty thief of Lockfort, Chloe, and slung him over his shoulder.
It was a form akin to a hunter carrying an animal, but thanks to his innate good looks, it didn’t look so unsightly.
“Good job, Bitdori. I caught him thanks to you.”
“Ppi! Ppi-bit!”
Bitdori saluted with its short arms.
It was surely imitating Reinhardt or another knight it had seen.
“Let’s go back now. I think we’ve caught enough for the morning session…… I caught more than I expected.”
“Ppi!”
“I’ll be out again in the afternoon. Will you be okay?”
“Ppi! Ppi-bit!”
Bitdori saluted again. At that, Reinhardt chuckled in disbelief.
‘Let’s see, the number of people I’ve caught in three days is about one hundred and fifty. Was there any space left in the prison? Well, they’ll make some if there isn’t. They can probably just tie them up with ropes or something.’
As he left the gloomy alley, Reinhardt made a rough calculation.
Recently, the basement of the Lockfort Guard was teeming with new faces.
Even big shots who had always cleverly evaded the guards’ pursuit were seen here and there.
[Justice]
*Reinhardt’s exclusive skill
*Effect per stack: All stats +59
Thanks to this, Reinhardt was able to increase the effect of [Justice] by 2.
Considering it had only increased by 7 even when he beat down a demon, it was certainly an encouraging achievement.
Next, Reinhardt headed to the Lockfort Guard.
“Captain of the Guard.”
As he naturally entered the headquarters, the hollow-faced captain of the guard shot up from his seat.
The surrounding soldiers were in a similar state.
They looked utterly exhausted from the heavy workload of the past three days.
“You’ve come, sir……”
“The charge is attempting to extort profit by intimidating innocent citizens. Figure out the details yourself.”
“……Thank you.”
“No need for thanks. I’m just doing my duty as a knight. Keep up the good work. I will be back in the afternoon.”
“You’re coming again, sir?”
“I’m coming again.”
“Understood……”
The captain of the guard nodded with a long face.
For him, these were days that were hard to adapt to.
It was his first time seeing a knight like Reinhardt, and his first time experiencing the prison being so crowded with prisoners.
“This is rewarding.”
Reinhardt returned to his lodging in a satisfied mood.
It was a special room in an inn prepared by the Lockfort City Hall.
As he entered the first floor, he saw Fermil, who had returned earlier, sitting at a table.
“Reinhardt. You’re back.”
“Fermil.”
“Any results? Unfortunately, I came up with nothing.”
“None at all.”
“That’s unfortunate. Will you have a meal?”
“I should have some coffee too.”
Reinhardt sat down and ordered a meal.
The menu was lightly toasted bread and coffee.
“Won’t you lack stamina just by eating that?”
“A light body is more advantageous for chasing down those who run. Eating a full meal can wait until all missions are completed.”
“If you say so, I have nothing more to say. Understood.”
This time too, Fermil somehow looked ashamed.
It wasn't the first or second time, so Reinhardt ignored it and stuffed the toast into his mouth.
The combination wasn’t bad with coffee.
Looking at the menu alone, it was no different from a weekend afternoon brunch.
“The captain of the guard looked absolutely miserable. He had a look on his face wondering how you could catch so many of those guys.”
“It’s not something you can learn by being taught.”
“They probably have no intention of learning either. Have you heard the rumors?”
“I have. That the righteous and valiant knight of Paganoa is cleaning up the criminals of Lockfort, they say?”
Rumors tend to spread in an instant.
In three days, ‘Fermil, the Knight of Paganoa’ had become a celebrity among the citizens of Lockfort.
Thanks to him, all the vicious criminals who threatened the daily lives of the citizens had been dragged to prison.
“Will you be alright? This is entirely your achievement. The number of guys I’ve caught is not even half of yours.”
“I’d appreciate it if you keep doing as you are now. Thanks to you, I’m moving around very comfortably.”
“You really are……”
For some reason, Fermil seemed even more embarrassed.
Soon, the short meal was over.
Having rested, it was time to move for the next task.
“I should go. Where are you planning to search, Fermil?”
“I’ll finish checking the north. And you?”
“Then I’ll take the south.”
Reinhardt searched a different place than Fermil.
In fact, rather than searching, he was hell-bent on catching petty criminals.
It would be nice if he found traces of black magic, but if not, so be it.
“I shall get going now. Good luck.”
There wasn't much time left before leaving Lockfort.
Reinhardt looked at the map.
The places he had already searched and those he hadn't were marked differently.
‘Since I’m here, I might as well make the most of it.’
There were not many ways to strengthen [Justice].
Of course, it rises steadily when fighting demons.
Catching just one or two was more effective than imprisoning dozens of these petty criminals, but one had to take on that much risk.
“I have to go safely. Safely.”
“Ppi?”
“It’s nothing. Shall we go again?”
“Ppi!”
The excited Bitdori disappeared deep into the alley and then returned. Each time, Reinhardt reaped a satisfying harvest.
As he progressed like that for a while.
“Hey, buddy. Your attire is quite impure. Shall we have a little chat? Huh?”
Someone called out to Reinhardt, who was in a robe.
Where he turned, there was a man with a menacing impression.
‘Pass.’
Reinhardt found himself making the face of a fisherman who had caught a big one.
The man looked like he was made to suck the lifeblood of good citizens.
“A chat sounds good. I like it too.”
“Well, it seems our desires align. Which side are you on?”
“Which side?”
“Are you with Burden’s crew? Or Louis’s crew?”
Burden’s crew.
Louis’s crew.
The man before him was revealing the existence of a gold mine.
Reinhardt deliberately kept his robe on and led him on a little more.
“What if I’m with neither?”
“Hmm, Moria? But that bastard declared he wouldn’t even set foot in this area, didn’t he?”
Another name came out.
Burden, Louis, Moria.
Putting all three in his head, Reinhardt asked.
“And you, which crew are you with?”
“Hee-ya, so you’re a stupid rookie. To not know this Dirk.”
“Dirk? Dirk’s crew?”
“No, I am Dirk. You must have heard my name, right?”
“Haven’t heard of it.”
“You don’t know? How can you not know? The man who fought ten men single-handedly and won, you really don’t know Dirk?”
“I don’t.”
“Even Burden and Louis pay a toll when they move through my territory. By now, you must have realized who you’re talking to.”
Of course, Reinhardt realized.
The fact that if he used this flamboyant petty criminal well, he could gain a considerable advantage.
“Ppi! Ppi!”
Bitdori also didn’t seem to like the man. The little one was as skilled at distinguishing villains as Reinhardt was.
‘If it’s to the extent of being called a crew, the number of members must be at least over thirty…….’
It was a real gold mine.
So much so that if he mined it properly, [Justice] might be strengthened by an additional 2 points.
“Heh heh, the shock must have been great. But don’t worry. If you just pay the set toll, I’ll let you go quietly.”
“How much is it?”
“5 silver. A very conscientious price. This Sir Dirk never rips off anyone, no matter who they are. For just 5 silver, you can pass through this place safely.”
“Ppi?”
Bitdori tilted its head, and Reinhardt, who was about to take off his hood, also paused.
Still, wasn’t 5 silver too cheap?
‘What is this? Why is he so conscientious?’
Of course, the fact that he was extorting money didn’t change.
But if it was 5 silver, honestly, couldn’t anyone pay it without feeling burdened?
“I don't have to give you everything I have, just 5 silver?”
“There’s also a special service for cowards like you. If you add 2 silver, this Sir Dirk will stay by your side until you completely exit this area.”
“No……”
He thought he had caught a big one, but the fish had just snatched the bait and run off somewhere.
“You should hurry up and decide…… huh?”
Fwoosh.
Reinhardt took off his robe, revealing his face and attire.
Dirk’s expression changed drastically.
“Sir Knight! Oh my! Please spare me just this once!”
Then he dropped to his knees and, before Reinhardt could say anything, poured out a long-winded story.
“I have three younger siblings to feed! I don’t care what happens to me, but the day I get dragged to prison, those little ones……”
Reinhardt let it in one ear and out the other, observing Bitdori’s reaction.
The little one was nodding its head.
It seemed to sympathize with Dirk’s words.
‘So he’s not that bad of a guy.’
Bitdori’s senses were keen.
Especially when it came to distinguishing between good and evil in humans, it boasted a higher accuracy rate than the Inquisitor of Paganoa.
“Hey, Dirk.”
“Yes! Righteous, valiant, and wise Sir Knight! I am listening!”
Dirk’s social skills were not bad.
His posture, with his body lowered, was very polite, contrary to his impression.
“I have many things I want to ask. Can I expect your active cooperation?”
“Yes! Whatever you ask, I will answer coolly!”
To Reinhardt’s question, Dirk responded with utmost passion.
Even showing sparkling, pure eyes like a child.