Caleb and Marcus quickly rushed to the commotion site. As they approached, they could see a middle-aged woman kneeling and crying her heart out.
Caleb couldn't keep his emotions under control and had an outburst.
"HEY!!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU MUTTS DOING!!!"
The guards were startled by Caleb's outburst, but their pride didn't allow them to back off.
"HEY OLD TIMER, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE SHOUTING AT!!"
"Hey, old man, calm down. Don't start a fight."
Even though Marcus was unsure about what to do in this situation, he knew that if a fight broke out, Old Man Caleb might get injured.
Marcus, too, didn't have the mood to start a fight just after entering the village.
This situation really soured his mood; he just hoped for these three to go away. However, he, too, was not a pushover, and if a fight indeed broke out, he would have to try his best not to kill or gravely injure normal people.
He didn't want to become a wanted criminal just after entering society. However, society was not clean, and he didn't mind getting his hands dirty to teach some bastards a lesson.
Even though Marcus tried to ease the tension, it didn't help. The tension between the two sides continued to rise.
Even though the guards had weapons and outnumbered them, they did not dare to attack first.
The commotion had already grown quite large, and there were quite a number of people observing the situation. If they beat up an old man, and he dies in front of the crowd, then their future would be in trouble.
Without a doubt, they would be demoted. They were just pages or servants of Sir Cornwell, and if they did something like that, they might just become varlets or chore boys running errands.
But it would be different if they were attacked first. After all, an attack on them would be an attack on Sir Cornwell, and they would have the full right to defend their honor and punish wrongdoers.
One of the guards said provocatively, "Hey, old man, we didn't come here to fool around with this girl. We are here just to inform you that the guy who was cooperating with us is now dead, and you should not go looking for him."
Marcus was confused, but Caleb seemed worse for wear. These mere words hit the old man like a sledgehammer. His face was pale, and his eyes were shaking.
And as if he had lost all senses, Caleb went berserk. He sprinted towards the young men as if to beat the life out of them.
However, how could an old man keep up with combat-trained men? His punch was easily dodged.
Countering his punch, two guys threw their fists at the old man. They didn't suppress their strength and wanted to break this old man's skull.
However, their blows never hit the man. They were intercepted by Marcus midway. Holding their fists with a tight grip, Marcus warned them, "That's enough. Now get lost."
After saying this, they were pushed away by Marcus. The two fell down due to Marcus' push.
The third guy, who saw the entire confrontation, pulled out his sword to attack Marcus. But the situation was no longer in their favor.
Before he could attack Marcus with his sword, stones started to be thrown at him from all directions. The crowd, which was watching the show until now, had intervened in the fight.
It was too outrageous for someone to attack an unarmed villager with a sword. Even if they were a knight's subordinates, they were crossing the line this time.
Seeing the mob of villagers against them, they could not help but retreat.
"You will be punished for the charges of attacking a knight's subordinates, lowlives."
Before retreating, they still gave away a threat.
The ever-energetic old man kneeled down on the ground, his eyes empty. Marcus really didn't know what to do in this situation.
The cries of the woman had become softer and had now turned into light sobs. Marcus decided to help him get up first.
Supporting the woman with his hand, he took her into the house. The interior was very plain and simple.
It had three rooms: a kitchen, a bedroom, and a multi-utility room. There was a boy sitting in the bedroom; he was wearing simple clothes made of flax.
He was startled to see a stranger in the room, especially with his mother. Marcus saw a simple wooden bed in the room.
Supporting the woman, Marcus helped her sit on it. The woman had calmed down for now, but her eyes told that her mental condition was not good.
Caleb, too, followed them into the room with a gloomy expression.
"Mai, tell me what happened."
His voice was shaky but soft. Marcus didn't know if he should excuse himself so that they could discuss their family matters.
After all, no one likes an outsider eavesdropping on their personal matters.
"Should I leave?" Marcus asked in an uncertain tone.
"No need. You helped me and Mai fend off those bastards."
Marcus felt relieved after hearing Caleb's reassuring words.
He, too, wanted to hear about it. Even in his previous life, he liked to indulge himself in juicy gossip.
It didn't mean he liked doing it; he had never spread any rumors about anyone. But whenever he heard someone using phrases like:
"Do not say this to anyone" or "is that so? I can't believe it!!".
His curiosity would act up like an itch he couldn't remove.
This time, too, his curiosity was acting up again. Now that the old man had given him permission to hear about it, he was all ears.
Marcus and Caleb did not give her pressure. She took her time to gain her composure. Then, slowly, she tried to recount the entire situation.
"A few days ago, they took away Cavan with them.
He was forced, but they called it compliance. I did not hear about it since then.
Then rumors started that he was taken to the cursed woman.
My heart sank after I heard that, and now, to my dismay, the servants of Knight Cornwell carried the news that my husband was dead."
"WHAT??!?!!"
Marcus and Caleb both had shocked expressions, but because of different reasons.