"May I add more, sir? " Agnes immediately nudged the boy's arm, Agnes' face looked worried.
Perhaps, they have experienced rejection many times.
"Please! Add all you want." I called the waiter to add to the order.
To be honest, the food at this place is not very good. The bread they serve is hard, tasteless, and the soup they serve tastes more like water mixed with salt.
Considering a poor place like this, this is already quite a sumptuous meal. As a territory lord, I realized how pathetic it was.
"Why did your hand hurt?" I tried to ask as calmly as possible.
The face of this predator can scare them. She hid his right hand under the table, her mouth locked. Fear kept her close.
"Sister was beaten for not paying the money." Her little sister explained with the spoon still in her mouth.
Agnes glared at her. I rubbed her head and glanced warmly into her eyes.
"Adel. My name is Adel, sir." she seems quite sensitive and smart. I smile.
"Okay, Adele. You can tell me." Adel glanced at Agnes who was angry, doubt emerged from her small body.
"Agnes,"
"...."
"I'm a pretty powerful person. I can protect you." I put my faith in them. They are just children who are now victims, doubts and fears controlling them.
Agnes watched me from top to bottom, she did it in as much detail as possible. Understand whether my words are true or not.
Agnes saw the sword hiding under my robe.
"Is the Master a knight?" "Right."
He took a deep breath. "Perhaps the Master can beat them."
This is what I'm waiting for. They open their mouths without feeling pressured.
"We are here to pay tribute." She scratched her head while looking down. My body trembled. These emotions invaded my body. I tried my best to control my facial expression so that it wouldn't turn scary and scare them.
"We are orphans… if we don't want to be sold, then we have to give them money every month per head." Agnes glanced at her sisters.
This sadness and anger assailed me. There are impudent humans living in my land.
My father, Baron Sanktessy, even waived taxes because he saw his people suffer. However, they stabbed my family by pulling tribute. I can't forgive.
"Last week, we didn't have enough money... and they wanted to take my sister."
"They hurt Agnes' hand when we were trying to escape." Adel's eyes filled with tears, even though she tried to be as calm as possible—fear haunted her.
"Why not report it to the headman security here?"
"They don't care, it's even the security here that draws tribute, sir."
I took a deep breath. I will punish them. "Agnes, things will get better soon. Now you guys continue eating."
I know that the smile I'm showing looks stiff. However, I can't relax my face any more than this. Levian was waiting for me outside the diner.
The task I gave him seemed to have been completed.
"Master Knight, thank you for the meal." Adel pulled my cloak. Her sincere gratitude was evident on her face.
"Thank you sir." Agnes thanked me while patting her twin sister's back. "Th-thank you sir..." they said in unison.
I smiled. The food I give is only a little. I gave each of them what seemed like enough for a month. I understand, my actions like this won't be able to save them forever.
Of course I have to finish at the root. Levian walked with them. I've ordered him to find temporary hiding places and other secret tasks.
**
It was noon, the time promised by the Aurus Village Head to hand over the village books. There's a feeling of disdain they're doing to me.
Perhaps the title of youngest swordmaster wasn't that scary for him.
So he purposely came late to meet me. The person behind him is truly a powerful person.
Even when he came, the look on his face was innocent. What must be understood, I am the ruler here. I am the successor. He should know that.
I slammed the book he gave me on the table. His voice took him by surprise. He seemed to have regained consciousness, that what was in front of him was a predator.
"Do you know your mistake?" I speak as coldly as possible.
"Too many mistakes that you don't know yours." His sweat started to appear, this calm would be too good for him.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" I emit a murderous aura.
"Maybe you think I don't understand bookkeeping."
"Talk!"
"N-no, Young Master… Akion. I've written as much detail as possible and didn't cheat...." His voice stuttered. I chuckled softly. This is funny.
The clown in front of me will be a rolling pig.
"Levian." That one word caused a commotion afterward. Levian appeared as fast as the wind and cast a spell.
There was one foolishness of the clown in front of me. Underestimating myself and my subordinates. Not many know, Levian is a simple spellcaster who is quite powerful.
Levian changed all the contents of the book I read before. He gave the book. This is actual bookkeeping. The magic that Levian casts is the reversal of the illusion magic of the author who wrote this book. It's all a hoax.
"You dare stab your ruler in the back." I hurt his hand as fast as the wind, he screamed in pain.
"My apologies, Young Master Akion!!" "Sorry? Even if I take your tongue, it's too cheap too," I insisted.
"That's really not me.... I did a good job...." He was still trying to save himself by throwing sins on others. I hurt him again many times. My heart is throbbing.
"One more word out of your mouth, I'll cut your head off." This is a real threat. I'm tired of humans like him.
"Levian, take that." Levian disappeared and then returned with a group of security forces.
"Do you want to attack me?" My eyes stared cynically and laughed antagonistically. "You're pulling a tribute. I didn't even ask you for taxes. You are also corrupt, you intend to attack me." My sword is already at his neck.
"You betrayed, cooperated with other nobles to live well."
"Your sins are so many." I drew my sword, a streak of blood dripping from his neck.
"What is the punishment for a traitor, Levian?" I asked it on purpose, to make this person feel more depressed.
"Young Master Akion, the punishment is of course the death penalty." It worked.
His body is limp. The thugs with the false title of security force also trembled. From one perspective, the security forces were too much for them.
Poor physical fitness, lacking skills, and an attitude like trash. They are exactly like the uniformed thugs in Indonesia.
"Do you want to talk now?" He still kept his mouth shut. Either because of fear or the energy is really gone.
However, in my brain, there is no pity for him. I had Levian toss the oranges on the table. I glimpsed Levian's confused face, but he did what I said anyway.
I learned it when I was Leon, the pain made people open their mouths. I slashed my black sword again at his feet. Then, I cut the orange I was holding. I smiled a little.
"Talk!" Orange juice fell on his wound. I let him scream out loud. I did it on purpose, so that the whole house would be aware of the behavior of those who tried to betray. I spread terror among them. Then, they would point out to each other who was more guilty than him.
"Young Master… Akion… please… s-stop…."
"What?" I pretended not to hear while still dripping with orange juice. "I'll talk!" he shouted followed by a cry of agony.
I stopped squeezing oranges over the wound. I lifted his chin with a smile, and I saw his face suffering.
Good, that's the face I want.
**
I guessed it. He dared to act like that because there were people taller than us. Yes, it seems my guess was right from the start. There's no way that self-respecting person would want to be friends with us.
He must be intent on finding our weaknesses, crushing and dragging us under him. If you can get a strong dog, anyone will be afraid.
About that damn clown. Perhaps, this bad-tempered original Akion has already fused with me.
I accidentally slashed his head. As for the other traitors, I'm saving for later. Something unexpected happened. Levian felt that I was being too cruel this time. Didn't he say be firm?
"Young Master Akion… where did you learn such torture?" His face felt a little uncomfortable. Not that in this war-ridden world torturing was common.
"You prefer to play your strength, your sword." He was silent for a moment. "Using torture like that is not like you."
I smiled, yes, because I wasn't the real Akion. "Improvisation is necessary, Levian."
"I've been firm." I walked away proudly. Levian just followed behind me, accepting all my explanations without question.
That is the attitude of a knight who is loyal to his ruler. Aurus, this territory is without a caretaker. Quite a large area.
I have also distributed some of the food that they have stockpiled to the hungry people
However, it could only last a moment. Someone has to arrange the distribution of food and it takes manpower to build this village. Food distribution is traversed from the center of the Sanktessy region.
However, this is lacking. The land in this region is barren. The territory of Sanktessy is really under siege with a lot of bad stuff. The sea is too dense, so more monsters are there compared to fish. Then, a forest of darkness that mostly surrounded the territory of Sanktessy.
Fortunately the water from the forest of darkness can still be used. There is one way to farm now. Technology on Earth can be used here. They rely too much on magic.
That's good. However, because they relied too much, they did not develop the technology.
Knock! knock!
Looks like Levian is back.
"Come in!" Levian opened the door, there was a middle-aged man beside him. A face full of wisdom, even though his body is old, his honor is not lost.
Hayd Zerdy, former Sanktessy survivor squad. I don't even know if Levian didn't tell me. While dropping off Agnes, she meets Hayd who runs the orphanage.
"Salute to the young ruler of Sanktessy." His demeanor was just like that of an honorable knight.
"My best regards, Knight Hayd." His old eyes looked at me shyly.
"I no longer deserve to be called a knight, sir." Even with that old body, he still looked as sturdy as a knight. Then, it was his devoting attitude that made me reckon with it.
"Don't put yourself down, Hayd." I walked towards him.
"Sit down! We will have a long conversation." Hayd sat across from me. Levian was beside him. This conversation will take a long time. I don't know how much time had passed, not for a second Hayd lost his focus on my explanation. Looks like I picked the right person for this.
"Very well, Young Master Akion. I may not be perfect for the task you give me, but I will try my best." I smiled back. Not until a day, I know that he will be able to meet my expectations.
Continue....