Chapter 18: Refusal

“Kami Village is also besieged by monsters. I guess it might be a matter of dispatching troops to break the siege.” There was no trace of fear on Darren's face; instead, he looked eager, as if he wanted to join the expedition himself.

The great victory at Noteburg, combined with the ease of fighting monsters along the way, had injected a powerful sense of confidence into the people and soldiers of Noteburg. Without the Noteburg militia, without Zaranda, there were no difficulties they couldn't overcome. They were fully confident in arriving safely at Daloma.

This was a good thing. High morale makes many tasks twice as effective; even while traveling through the night, everyone remained spirited.

Gavin nodded to acknowledge him, then said, “I have a small task for you.”

“What task?” Darren perked up immediately.

“Help me guard this carriage. Don't let anyone approach. If anyone gets close, shout.”

“Mission guaranteed!” Darren gave a standard military salute.

“Remember, don't let anyone in, including Lord Roan. Do you dare to intercept him?” Gavin cautioned.

“I dare! What is there not to dare? This is a task assigned by Young Master Gavin. Even if the Captain comes, he must get permission from the Young Master first!” Darren said, puffing out his thin chest.

“Very good.” Gavin nodded with satisfaction and called out to the inside, “You come with me.”

The goblin sorcerer quickly hopped down from the carriage.

Even though the creature had behaved like an obedient slave for the past two days, Gavin still didn't dare let a mere boy watch over his things. It was safer to keep it by his side; one should never underestimate any professional.

By the time Gavin arrived, Zaranda had already summoned most of the militia captains and was conducting a military meeting, which was nearing its end.

Darren's information was quite accurate; there indeed was trouble in Kami Village, as it had been surrounded by a goblin army.

Judging from the relatively relaxed atmosphere of the meeting, the problem shouldn't be too severe.

It made sense; Kami was a village, not a town or a fortress. If the besieging army were too powerful, it likely would have fallen long ago, without waiting for them to arrive.

The tactics Zaranda and the others were discussing were not centered around merely defeating the enemy, but how to completely crush them—especially the dozen or so large goblins mixed in with the ranks, who would be their primary targets for the cavalry.

“You're here,” Zaranda nodded to Gavin. “Interested in charging with me one more time?”

“Not interested,” Gavin refused without a second thought.

“Oh? Why?” Gavin's answer was somewhat unexpected to Zaranda. Not just her, but all the militia captains turned to look at him, their expressions varying.

“You all are enough. I'll stay here just in case,” Gavin gave a non-reason as a reason. As for the real reason, he intended to take it to his grave; he wouldn't tell Zaranda now, nor would he ever.

Zaranda cast a meaningful glance at the goblin sorcerer behind Gavin and nodded. “Very well. Then everyone, proceed according to plan!”

“If there's nothing else, I'll head back.” Gavin hurried back with the goblin sorcerer; this would be the perfect opportunity to carry out his next step of the plan.

“This is Young Master Gavin's carriage! No one is allowed in!”

“Lord Roan sent me. You dare to stop me?”

“Even if Lord Roan comes personally, he cannot enter. Young Master Gavin specifically instructed so.”

“You little brat, get out of the way! Believe it or not, I'll chop you up!”

Gavin heard a commotion from afar. The voices were all too familiar: one was Darren, guarding his carriage, and the other was the persistent Aust.

Without asking, Gavin could guess what was happening. His seclusion in the carriage over the last two days must have piqued the curiosity of that master and servant pair. They likely tried to sneak into the carriage to spy on his secrets while he was out.

Unexpectedly, Gavin had arranged a small guard, and a rather capable one at that. Even with Aust using Roan's name, the guard wouldn't let him through.

The surrounding area was crowded with onlookers from Noteburg. Although they looked indignant, few dared to speak up for Darren. As Roan's captain of guards, Aust possessed significant intimidation; after all, Roan held the power of life and death over them.

Seeing Gavin return, they made way while whispering, “Young Master Gavin, the Captain of Guards is being too much. He actually tried to enter your carriage, and when he was denied, he started hitting people.”

“Darren was merely performing his duty; he did nothing wrong. You should uphold justice.”

“This matter is not Darren's fault.”

Seeing the situation clearly, Gavin's face turned ashen.

Darren's cheeks were swollen like steamed buns. He was currently sprawled on the ground, death-gripping one of Aust's legs, refusing to let go, his body covered in footprints.

Aust's other large foot was still kicking at Darren.

“Aust, try kicking him one more time and see what happens!” Cold fury seeped through Gavin's teeth.

What truly made Aust back down was the dwarf fire-tube pressed against his forehead.

Though he had never witnessed its power firsthand, he had heard of it.

The story of Gavin using a fire-tube to blast a large goblin warlord's face into a sieve had long been a legend among the people of Noteburg.

Regardless of whether it was exaggerated, Aust had no desire to use his own face to verify the story.

Aust slowly raised his hands, a fake smile plastered on his face. “Young Master, Young Master Gavin, this is a misunderstanding. We only heard that you had a goblin here capable of casting fireball spells, and we were worried something might go wrong. But this brat is ungrateful! Kid, can you let go now?”

Aust cautiously tried to shuffle his feet, attempting to move as far away from the dark tube as possible.

“You think you can just walk away?” Gavin said coldly.

“What? Young Master Gavin, are you going to kill me in front of all these people?” Aust retorted, stiffening his neck. He seemed certain that Gavin wouldn't dare kill him in public, just as he wouldn't do anything rash, since they all had to consider Zaranda's reaction. He retreated even faster, even dragging the unyielding Darren along with him.

“Want to take a gamble?” A sudden smile bloomed on Gavin's tense face—a sign of extreme rage. His finger twitched slightly, making a pulling motion.

“Wait! Wait!” Aust folded first, striking a surrendering pose. “You win, you win! What do you want?”

Gavin snorted, seemingly dissatisfied with Aust's sudden cowardice. “Leave your combat belt behind.”

“Don't go too far... Ah!”

*BOOM!*

A massive explosion erupted beside Aust's ear, causing him to clutch his head and scream in agony. Blood flowed freely; the eardrum of his right ear had been shattered.

Gavin, unwilling to listen to any more nonsense, had pulled the trigger directly. However, just before that, he had shifted the muzzle a dozen centimeters to the side, firing a blank into the empty air.

(End of Chapter)