Chapter 104
“Ah, so you’re saying—you came here because you had some business?”
The middle-aged man laughed heartily, his face covered in dark stubble and bluish bruises.
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry I didn’t recognize you!”
The thin man beside him — who had been the carriage driver just a few minutes ago — rubbed his hands together obsequiously.
Belia quietly observed them.
“Get down.”
At Rude’s sharp command, the five men, including the two, hastily dropped flat onto the ground.
“Sir! We didn’t recognize you! We’re so sorry!!”
“Please spare us! We’ll guide you to Revron! We just—just wanted to steal your valuables—!”
Smack!
“Karen! Shut up!”
The bearded man, giving him a look that said ‘Do you really want to die here saying that?’, then forced a friendly smile toward Belia.
“S–So, we’re really sorry. Could you please forgive us just this once? Please! I beg you!”
Following his plea, the other four men shouted in unison.
“Please forgive us just this once!!!”
While the men were sprawled flat, Rude and Belia exchanged a brief glance.
The moment the coachman had shouted earlier, Rude had immediately leapt out of the carriage with his sword, determined to protect Belia.
And about thirty minutes later—
When Belia finally stepped outside, escorted by Rude, this was the scene she faced.
She had already found it suspicious that a coachman would volunteer to drive to Revron—a place everyone avoided. Sure enough, he was in league with the bandits.
The bandits had underestimated Rude, thinking his clean, youthful face marked him as an inexperienced boy. But the moment they faced his sword, they learned otherwise.
Belia crouched down in front of the man who seemed to be their leader.
“I want to ask you something.”
“Gasp.”
Hearing her clear, refined voice above his head, the man instantly realized something was wrong.
He had lived through many hardships, but he cursed his own foolishness for choosing to attack here, of all places.
A delicate, noble voice like this—here in Revron—could only mean one thing.
A noble.
And nobles never came to Revron.
So if a young noblewoman had entered this dangerous district with only a single boy knight, it could only mean one of two things:
Either she was truly extraordinary… or utterly naïve.
The man had assumed the latter, but the instant he saw the boy’s skill with a sword, he knew.
Ah, I’m screwed.
“Y–Yes! Ask anything!!”
Following their leader’s panicked response, the others flattened themselves even further against the ground.
Belia spoke slowly.
“From what I know, Revron is lawless, but it should still have its own territories, right?”
No matter how urgent things were, she wouldn’t have come here without researching first.
Revron was known as a lawless zone, but it still had rules—its own structure, its own factions.
Based on that information, Rude and Belia had carefully chosen their route in.
So this sudden ambush, even with a traitorous coachman, felt suspicious.
“Well, about that…”
The man hesitated.
In truth, Revron had undergone many changes in recent years.
But since no one outside cared about this city—no affection, no attention—no one knew.
After all, who would care what happened in a place known as a garbage heap full of scum?
“Speak.”
“Eeek!”
Feeling the cold blade at his throat, the man shrieked and began to speak rapidly.
“T–The territories! They—they’re gone!!”
“…Explain in detail.”
“T–There were districts, but after all the rebellions and fighting within Revron, they eventually split into just two!”
“Two districts?”
“Yes! We call them the Right District and the Left District!”
“Then which one are we in right now?”
“The Right District!”
“Explain more.”
“Uh, uh… well…”
“I–I’ll explain!”
The man called Karen, who had been stuttering behind the leader, spoke up quickly.
“There used to be many fights and factions, as you’d expect from a lawless city! But about three years ago, a new group called Frey began taking control of Revron bit by bit.”
“Frey?”
Belia frowned slightly. She’d never seen that name in any of the reports.
“Yes! As the Frey faction grew in power, the other older gangs banded together in the Left District. So now Revron’s split in two — the Right District and the Left District!”
“So right now we’re in Frey’s territory?”
“Y–Yes!”
“And you’re members of Frey?”
The moment she asked that, the men’s shoulders flinched noticeably.
“Uh, that’s…”
“W–Well…”
“Answer.”
“Eeek—!”
At the glint of Rude’s cold blade and his youthful but sharp voice, the man stammered desperately.
“T–That! If we get caught doing something like this—we’ll be killed!! Please, spare us!!”
“Please spare us!”
“…Killed?”
Belia frowned slightly.
Since when did petty robbery in a lawless zone warrant death?
Before she could think further, Rude quickly stepped in front of her.
“Be careful.”
He raised his sword defensively, shielding her.
Following his gaze, Belia slowly stood.
Soon, the sound of many footsteps echoed from afar, and the bandits began trembling.
As the figures approached, Belia’s eyes narrowed in confusion.
“They look…”
Rude also tilted his head, realizing what she meant.
For men supposedly ruling a bandit city, their appearance was far too clean—almost elegant.
They didn’t look like they belonged in a city of vagabonds at all.
Their faces carried no hint of hostility or threat.
Their clothes were spotless, their demeanor calm—almost harmless.
But just as Rude tightened his grip on his sword in caution, the group arrived before Belia.
“Greetings.”
“Greetings.”
The man at the front spoke first, and five others behind him—clearly attendants—bowed in unison.
“Welcome to the Frey District. Take these men away.”
“Please! Forgive us! Don’t send us to forced labor!!”
“T–The leader made us do it!”
“Please, no—!!!”
The bandits were dragged off, screaming, until their voices faded into the distance.
The man who had given the order then bowed even deeper.
“I am Denny, representing the Frey faction.”
“Ah—”
Belia hesitated for a moment.
Should she introduce herself?
She had intended to enter Revron quietly, but their entrance had turned out rather… dramatic.
On top of that, Carlton and Karin—who were supposed to have joined them by now—were late.
Could something have happened?
She was worried, but she couldn’t show it.
Maintaining a neutral expression, Belia pondered what to say.
But Denny spoke first.
“First, I must apologize for the rudeness of those men.”
It was a deeply polite apology.
He bowed slowly and formally, and his attendants followed suit.
It was the kind of grace and discipline one would never expect to see in Revron.
Watching them, Belia’s eyes flickered slightly.
“Welcome to the Frey District,” Denny repeated, smiling gently.
His tone was calm and pleasant.
Belia leaned toward Rude’s ear and whispered something softly.
Then, as she stepped back, Rude silently reached into his coat and produced a small pouch.
He handed it discreetly to Denny.
Flick—
Smoothly, almost naturally, the pouch disappeared into Denny’s sleeve.
“Then, please, allow me to escort you to the Frey District.”
Turning gracefully, Denny led the way, while his attendants fell in behind Belia and Rude—keeping a respectful distance, yet surrounding them in a protective formation.
It was like watching a royal delegation escort honored guests from a foreign city.
Still, despite the formal courtesy, Rude’s brow furrowed slightly.
They were surrounded, after all.
“It’s fine.”
Sensing his tension, Belia gently raised a hand and tapped his back.
Then she began following Denny at a measured pace.
“Milady, isn’t this dangerous?” Rude murmured.
“It’s fine. We already made our donation.”
“Donation?”
Her voice calm, her demeanor serene—Belia’s eyes glimmered faintly as she spoke.
The man named Denny exuded an oddly familiar aura.
Polite tone, gentle gestures, a humble smile…
It was the kind of presence one saw often in priests.
Was he once a cleric, Belia wondered, before drifting into Revron?
