Chapter 30: Man of Steel (3)

--

[Intimidation]

Difficulty 20

--

And the difficulty went up.

“Should have made your decision sooner, you morons.”

But what did it matter?

If I failed here, we would naturally enter combat, so normally the risk would have also increased, but…

--

CHA Modifier +26

--

Not in my case.

It was a change that was barely noticeable in the face of my overwhelming charm and two dice.

The result was, of course, a success.

“Keuk…!”

The men, grudgingly, began to take out their money pouches one by one.

“W-What… what kind of magic did you cast on me…?”

The same went for the man who had barely escaped the 「Word Command」.

“From now on, watch your mouth, okay?”

Looking at the man who couldn't quite hide his fear, I smirked and pinched his cheek.

“Otherwise, you might not be able to open your mouth ever again.”

“…!”

Of course, I didn't have that kind of power right now, but he didn't know that.

Seeing his already poor complexion harden even more, he would probably be more careful with his words from now on.

At least until he realized my words were just a bluff.

Well, it's not like he'd ever figure it out on his own in his lifetime, right?

Anyway, the money pouch he handed over was the last one.

So now, if I just send them away──

“──Hey.”

“…Y-Yes?”

“Are you kidding me, you bastards?”

I thought that was it, but apparently not.

“Hand over the food too.”

“F-Food, you say…?”

“Ah, you must have something in your bags!”

The men, who probably thought it was over too, all flinched and trembled at Ibi's shout.

“Why? Got a problem?”

The sharp, blue edge of the 「Salt Dagger」… no, ‘Bokdol’, which Ibi had drawn at the same time as she pocketed the money pouch, glinted in the sunlight.

“Keuh…”

Unable to withstand the threat, the men eventually untied their bags, and Ibi thoroughly cleaned them out of about a day's worth of camping supplies.

“You could have done it from the start, so why the fuss?”

With that as the very last thing, we chased away the men who were now practically stripped of everything except the equipment they were wearing.

“Farewell.”

Ibi waved at the backs of the men who were trudging away, completely dejected.

“Even the food?”

“No need to thank me.”

“Didn't we get a decent amount already?”

“You've never starved, have you?”

Ibi, who was checking the confiscated(?) supplies, then turned to me with a look that seemed to say, ‘of course,’ and a smirk.

“Food is something you have to grab when you can, you bastard.”

Then she found something like beef jerky and took a large bite.

“A bard who's never starved. Ha. What, did you fall from the sky or something?”

I had nothing to rebut Ibi's words as she chewed on it, so I just quietly shrugged my shoulders.

Because I knew that even if I had had such an experience, it was very different from what Ibi had gone through.

And the part about falling from the sky, well, in a way, it wasn't wrong.

Anyway, since the men had left, only the halfling youth was left standing awkwardly before us.

He was still looking at us blankly with a bewildered expression, as if he hadn't fully grasped the situation yet.

“Uh…, um……”

It was as if he was confused whether we were vicious robbers who would even steal food, or benefactors who had genuinely tried to help him.

He looked as if he was overthinking whether to be wary or not and had just overloaded.

“Here.”

I approached the youth and handed him one of the heaviest money pouches, and, “Ah… th-thank you!”

He finally let go of his suspicion and bowed his head deeply, as if to apologize for having doubted us for even a moment, and expressed his gratitude.

“Look at the saint.”

Ibi, who had come up next to me, saw this and chuckled derisively.

“Are you going to butt in and give alms to every pitiful-looking person you see on the road?”

“What's it between us? No need to thank me.”

“Ha. You bastard.”

“U-Um…!”

As we were bantering, the youth, who had been hesitating, cautiously interjected.

“Are you all… adventurers…?”

“I suppose you could say that.”

“Th-Then!”

When I affirmed, the youth continued in a tone that seemed to have mustered up courage.

“Could you, perhaps, hire me…?”

He said he was a knight who had become an adventurer for his training, and if we would allow it, he would dedicate his body to protect us on the front lines.

“Ah, hiring, you say…”

At those words, Ibi scratched the side of her head.

Then she turned her head towards me, as if to avoid the youth's gaze which was filled with expectation and worry, and she was clearly in a difficult position.

‘Do something about it.’

That's what her expression was saying.

It was understandable.

Halflings, due to their racial characteristics, were generally not suited for combat, especially for standing on the front lines.

Their average height was smaller than other races, so they inevitably had penalties in terms of reach and such.

And it wasn't like they were born with superior strength like dwarves to overcome that, so there were practically no advantages.

However, that was for front-line warrior or knight classes; for other classes, it could be an advantage rather than a disadvantage.

It meant that they were relatively much nimbler and less conspicuous than taller races or dwarves, and could more sensitively pick up on things that other races might easily miss, and were better at detailed work.

That's why halflings often played the role of rogues.

Naturally, there was a high demand for them.

A halfling rogue was someone every party wanted to have.

But… having chosen the path of a knight, those advantages were practically in another world.

He was just an undesirable that no party wanted.

The person who knew that fact better than anyone else was undoubtedly the youth himself.

“…….”

That's why he had that expression, filled with a hopeful expectation, yet knowing in a corner of his heart that he would not be accepted.

“I-I…! I'm not good at wielding weapons, but I am confident in blocking the enemy's attacks!”

The youth, nevertheless wanting to seize this opportunity, began to PR himself again.

“I don't need a large reward! If you just provide me with meals, I will follow you anywhere! So…”

It was now almost a plea.

“So please, take me with you!”

“…He’s like an abandoned puppy.”

Ibi, as if she had let it slip unintentionally, said “Ah,” and covered her mouth in surprise, but in fact, I thought the same.

It was truly such an attitude.

Wasn't he saying he would fight for his life if we just fed him?

The youth's self-esteem was that low.

He thought that a halfling knight like himself would never be accepted unless he lowered his own value like this.

Besides, even if he were accepted, didn't we just see it?

The kind of treatment he received.

Was that a one-time thing?

No.

In such a situation, if he had any self-esteem left, it might be a situation to worry about more.

However, there was one exception.

The ‘Irons’ family.

They were the only case where a halfling knight could be welcomed.

Among halflings, the Irons family was an object of respect and envy.

That's because they were a traditional martial family.

The Irons family was a prestigious family that had produced numerous outstanding knights and heroes of this Zodiac continent, overcoming the racial limitations of halflings.

They were, so to speak, a symbol of human victory.

A symbol of hope that halflings could achieve anything.

And this youth was a member of that Irons family.

Michael Irons.

The third son of the current head of the Irons family.

He didn't just have the impression of a wealthy young master; he actually was a young master.

So, if he mentioned the family name Irons here, there was a high chance he would be treated well.

The Irons family wasn't just considered a prestigious family among halflings.

As I mentioned before, they had produced many outstanding heroes of the continent, so even other races, for the most part, knew the name of the Irons family.

It would be a different story for a member of the Irons family, unlike an ordinary halfling.

People would hire them out of trust, or even if they didn't hire them, they would treat them well hoping to gain something by getting on the good side of the Irons family.

“I-If you just let me, I will do anything….”

However, the youth never mentioned the name Irons until the very end.

Even in a desperate situation where he said he would be fine with just meals.

“As a half-pint like me… I might just be a burden to you all….”

Instead, the youth, who disparaged himself like this and hung his head low, looked just like a puppy with its tail tucked and dejected.

In short, it was a sight that couldn't help but evoke pity.

“Uwah…”

So much so that even Ibi, who had been trying hard to ignore him, reacted like this.

“I-Isn't he okay…?”

In the end, Ibi glanced at me and said.

“He'll work if we just feed him? We need someone on the front lines, and it's better than nothing, right?”

It was a tone that seemed not to be persuading me, but to be finding a reason to convince herself.

“You were talking about alms and such earlier.”

When I lightly poked at her for her commendable effort, Ibi immediately smacked my arm and beckoned me to bring my ear closer with her finger.

“F*ck, he's a kid…!”

So I leaned in, and she whispered.

He just looked like a kid because of the halfling's racial characteristics and his naturally youthful appearance even considering those characteristics, but in fact, even though there wasn't much of an age difference, he was probably older than her.

“You shouldn't have interfered from the start…! He's right in front of us like that, f*ck, are we just going to leave him here…?”

Well, I was planning on taking him with me even if Ibi had opposed it to the end.

In the first place, I had come this way to find him.

“I will follow whatever decision you make.”

When I looked at Rine, she showed the expected reaction.

“Let's start with introductions first.”

It was time to accept a new member into the party.

“My name is Yubin. Yubin. This is Rine, and this is Evie. You can call her Ibi.”

“Why do you get to decide that?”

Ibi was dumbfounded, but soon added, “Well, I don't care though.”

And Rine gave a quiet nod.

The youth, who had been staring blankly at us for a moment, seemed to have belatedly realized what this greeting meant, and, “M-My name is Michael…! Please feel free to call me Miki!”

His face immediately brightened up as he bowed politely.

--

The knight ‘Michael Irons’ has officially joined the party.

--

“Welcome to the party, Miki.”

“Th-Thank you!!”

Then he grabbed the hand I held out for a handshake with both of his and repeatedly bowed his head.

“I look forward to working with you! Sisters…?”

He suddenly trailed off, then stared at me before tilting his head.

“Sisters and… brothers…?”

At that reaction, a chuckle escaped me, and Miki tilted his head again with an even more confused expression.

“Brothers…?”

“Aren't you a little too unprejudiced?”

At that, Ibi crossed her arms and let out a dry laugh.

“I-I'm sorry!”

“Huh? No, you don't have to be sorry….”

“It doesn't matter. Just call us whatever you're comfortable with.”

“How about Master? You seem to like being called that.”

“Ah, sorry. It did matter.”

“M-Master…?”

“Ignore that nonsense.”

“Stop being coy.”

“If you really want to, you can call me that.”

“What? F*ck off.”

“Stop being coy.”

At that, Miki stroked his chin and thought for a moment, then asked again in a cautious tone.

“Then, umm…… T-Teacher?”

“If you're comfortable with that.”

“I’m fine with sister.”

“Yes! Sister Ibi!”

Though she was actually younger.

“And…”

This time, Miki's gaze turned to Rine.

Rine met his gaze without avoiding it, with her usual emotionless eyes.

It seemed she had no idea why Miki had started looking at her.

Miki, who was rather flustered by Rine's gaze that met his without a word or change in expression, seemed at a loss for words.

“What do you want to be called, Rine?”

“Pardon?”

“He's asking what you want Miki to call you.”

Thinking that it wouldn't progress any further if I left it alone, I stepped in and asked on his behalf, and Miki, as if snapping out of it, nodded his head vigorously in agreement.

“Me, you mean?”

Rine, seeing this, glanced up at me once, then answered calmly.

“I… am also fine with whatever you call me.”

“Understood! Sister… Rine!”

After shouting this, Miki suddenly dropped to one knee.

Just like knights do when they take an oath.

“──I, Michael.”

And the voice that began this, was quite different from the energetic voice from before, it was serious.

“I will serve you with my body and soul.”

We had already accepted him as a party member, but a knight has his own ways.

“I will be your living shield.”

So, I didn't do the uncool thing of interrupting it.

“Arise, Sir Knight.”

“…!”

Instead, I played along, and Miki, who shot up, raising his head, looked up at me with somewhat emotional eyes.

I gently placed my hand, not a sword, on Miki's shoulder and said.

“I'm counting on you, Miki.”

“──Yes!”

To the one who would one day become the greatest knight on the continent.