The Necromancer Who Was Despised

“Kind? “Well.”

I don’t think I treated him particularly kindly. However, I can understand Mutr’s words.

At least I didn’t openly despise him for being a Dwarf or discriminate against him for being of a different race.

In fact, I was the one who ordered his bonds to be released, and I have never insulted him since then, let alone treated him with consideration.

He seemed to think I was kind because of that.

Perhaps because he had been treated so badly by humans, he seemed to feel good just because I didn’t do anything bad to him.

‘Well, I can’t speak up because of my status as a slave, so I’ll keep it short.’

Barnis is watching. Even if he is young, it would be poisonous to act in a way that ignores his status in front of a noble.

“Usually, humans ignore or despise other races, but Lord Jimnis, you don’t seem to hate me that much.”

“There’s no reason to hate you.”

Perhaps because I wasn’t born and raised in this world, I don’t have any particular feelings towards other races.

“Is that so.”

Since Mutr didn’t say anything after that, I asked him.

“How did you become a slave?”

“… The place where I lived was discovered by humans. They called themselves other race hunters.”

He said he regretted it only after he was caught.

“Perhaps it would have been better to join the Federation.”

“I didn’t think I’d be caught. And… There’s also a hierarchy in the Federation. Well, even a Dwarf can aim for a high rank, but it’s not easy.”

He said he would rather live peacefully on his own.

“Do you have any family?”

“I did. But we’ve all been scattered.”

“Heh heh heh. I’d like to… see them again someday.”

Mooter said it would be impossible for the rest of his life.

His face was distorted with pain.

I gave him time to collect his emotions, and when he became expressionless again, I told him it was time to go and helped him up.

Just before we rejoined the group, he quietly thanked me.

‘That’s it.’

Nothing more.

It’s pointless to try to recruit him here.

He’s still a slave, and even if I did recruit him, I wouldn’t be able to get him out.

It’s enough to have made a good impression.

‘Later, during the monster wave in a few months… ‘

I planned to get my hands on him after wiping out Cuman and the Lord’s family in the secret passage.

Well, I’ll have to give up if the Sigrun Merchant Federation fails and the Dwarves return to Sigrun before that.

‘This is just a bonus anyway.’

There’s no great loss if it fails, but it’s a jackpot if it succeeds.

It’s a pity, but that’s it.

I told Barnis that I hadn’t found anything unusual about Vanis, and Barnis told me he appreciated it.

“I heard there’s a place to rest halfway there, so let’s go there for now.”

Unfortunately, there were no horses now, so everyone had to walk.

Although the pace slowed down because of Kayla and Mooter, Vanis didn’t complain much.

It was only natural. He was slow and clumsy, and he was so weak that Doop had to carry him from time to time, so I don’t think he minded going slowly.

When we got to the halfway point, Kayla and I had to take turns keeping watch as usual.

“Don’t we need to keep watch here?”

“There could be a problem, no matter how small.”

“… I will remember your dedication. I will be sure to tell your father.”

Barnis seemed touched by my attitude.

‘I’m not doing this because I want that kind of thing.’

I was doing it because I thought Kayla would get suspicious of me if I had time to think about other things, but it was interpreted well.

‘I don’t mind misunderstandings like that.’

It’s to my advantage.

The last day passed without incident, and we finally reached the fork in the road.

“This is… .”

“This way leads to the Lord’s mansion, and this way leads to the other mansions. However… the condition here is not good. It looks like it could collapse at any moment.”

The way Mooter pointed was the way to the Lord’s mansion.

“Then it would be better to go this way, just in case.”

I advised Barnis in this way, and Barnis nodded at my advice.

“Let’s do that. As long as it’s inside the territory, the mansion is not that far from here.”

So, we headed towards the safe path and finally arrived at Kuman’s mansion.

Albert and Kuman rushed out as soon as they heard the news that we came out of the secret passage, and they couldn’t hide their surprised expressions when they saw me, Barnis, and the dwarf.

“I greet the young master.”

“Long time no see, Kuman.”

Barnis was not in good shape because of the hardship of the past few days, but he treated Kuman with a dignified attitude.

“What happened… The territory has been in chaos since the young master and Lord Rainbank disappeared.”

“Hmm… I guess there’s no news of Lord Rainbank.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Ha… First, I want to see my father. Let’s talk about it after I report to him.”

Kuman glanced at me, and Barnis, who noticed it, said to Kuman.

“He will see my father with me.”

“I understand. I will send someone to the lord for now. In the meantime….”

“Well, it would be embarrassing to see my father like this.”

‘It would have been better to just go straight there.’

“I will have the maids accompany you.”

After the two of them finished talking, I asked Barnis if he could send Cayla home first, and Barnis accepted.

“There are people at home.”

“Ah. You said there were new recruits… They must be worried since the schedule has been extended. I will do as you say.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

After sending Cayla home, I tidied myself up and got on the carriage that Kuman had prepared, and headed to the lord’s mansion with Barnis.

Thanks to the fact that he had sent someone in advance, the mansion’s butler, Summer, guided us right away, and we were able to meet the lord who was waiting for us there.

“Barnis…!”

“Father.”

The lord, who saw Barnis safe and sound, sighed in relief and said to Barnis.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. Thanks to your concern, I’m safe. However, Lord Rainbank….”

“…He died in battle.”

“No. I heard that he lost a seed and ran away.”

“How do you know that?”

“Jimnis found out.”

“Jimnis?”

“Yes. And thanks to Jimnis, I was able to stay alive. I would have died if he hadn’t been there.”

Barnis glanced at Kuman and said.

“It was you, Kuman, who recommended him. Thank you. Thanks to him, I was able to come back alive.”

“You flatter me. I recommended him, but it was you who went to see him and persuaded him.”

“What on earth happened?”

“I will tell you everything, everything.”

Barnis slowly began to unravel what had happened so far.

Growth

“…You have a talent for storytelling.”

As I listened to Barnis’ story, I felt a strange sense of emotion.

Barnis had vividly recounted the events of the past few days, but in the process, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my actions were being subtly exaggerated.

The problem was that he didn’t seem to be aware of this fact.

In his eyes, my actions had apparently appeared that way.

According to his story, I was the first to notice our pursuers, perfectly assisted Rainbank, and read his mind before he could give an order, successfully rescuing Barnis and the dwarf from a situation where they were about to be captured by our enemies.

In a desperate situation where we had no choice but to abandon the carriage, I had read the minds of our pursuers and managed to evade their pursuit, ambushed and eliminated some of the pursuers in the dead of night, replenished our dwindling supplies, and even learned of Rainbank’s whereabouts, establishing the safest possible escape route.

Despite all this, Barnis found himself in a situation where the pursuers were closing in on him, so he had no choice but to reveal the existence of a secret passage to me (he added that he had told me because he trusted me enough after all my efforts). It was a story straight out of a novel, with me actively using it to escape.

‘There’s nothing particularly wrong with what he said…’

I would have to say that the process was strangely embellished and exaggerated.

The way I was depicted as volunteering to keep watch even after entering the secret passage made it seem like I had become a loyal knight.

Was that why?

The lord’s voice was full of goodwill as he asked me to elaborate on what information I had obtained when I told him that I had ambushed the pursuers and obtained information.

“I didn’t know the details. The situation was urgent, and although they were a small group, I was the only one who could ambush them, so the one I captured was seriously injured.”

“Even a little information is good. If you have learned anything, please let me know.”

Of course, it was a lie. I had no intention of revealing everything I knew.

‘The longer it takes and the longer we fight, the better.’

The weaker the territory becomes, the more it benefits me.

However, I did need to give up some information.

With Rainbank missing, the Ovalan Barony was in a disadvantageous position.

The Merchant Alliance, with no title or legitimacy, could not wage a territorial war, but if they were determined, they could still resort to banditry.

Therefore, I needed to give up some information so that we could prepare.

‘It’s in my best interests for it to weaken, but it would be a loss if the territory itself were to collapse because of the Merchant Alliance. The Merchant Alliance must not win.’

If I made a mistake, I might have to leave the territory before the monster wave hit.

That would be an unpleasant prospect for me, who intended to turn the Ovalan Territory into a dungeon.

“Um… It seems that they were hired by merchants.”

“…Merchants?”

“Yes. It didn’t seem like just one…”

I also informed him that the mercenary group that had been hired was not just one or two.

Kuman let out a small cough.

“Why, though?”

“That’s…”

Kuman informed me that he and the Merchant Alliance of the Siglen County were at odds.

“Is that what you were talking about?”

It seemed that he had already reported it.

“In that case, the Merchant Alliance…”

“It seems that they are using force to bring us down after hearing about the dwarf rental.”

Even though I didn’t know the specific plan, now that I knew who the enemy was, I would be able to prepare to some extent.

“It’s a problem that Sir Rainbank is missing. He was our greatest asset…”

Surely his absence would be regrettable, as he fought at the forefront to ensure Vanis’s escape and was trusted by the seeds. According to the seeds, he was such a capable knight that even the mercenaries hired by Baron Ovalan trusted and followed him.

“Ah, Jimnis. You’ve suffered.”

“No. I only did what I had to do.”

“Even so, I can’t just let you go. You saved my son, the heir to my territory, and on top of that, you found out information about the enemy. If I let you go just like this, countless nobles will “Laugh at our family.”

“Do you want anything?”

“Nothing in particular.”

It’s meaningless to receive money now, and a family without a magician is unlikely to have potions.

As for status, being an honorary soldier was enough, and as I’m not a noble, I don’t particularly need honor.

In other words, there was nothing for me to take from the Baron’s family.

“This is difficult. It’s not something that can be solved with just one or two gold coins. Hmm.”

After thinking for a moment, the Baron nodded and said.

“Yes. I have it. Sammer.”

“Go and get me a ruby.”

‘A ruby… a jewel?’

I couldn’t hide my surprise.

Seeing my expression, the Lord smiled as if satisfied.

“Hahaha. Even if you’re not greedy, it seems jewels are surprising.”

“…Yes.”

‘Do you have a jewel?’

This was unexpected. A jewel in a Baron’s family in such a remote area…

‘This is unexpected.’

Well, this is lucky.

If I have a jewel, it would be useful in many ways in my current situation.