Chapter 25: A Letter That Should Never Have Been Delivered

Crushing these bandits would be child’s play.

All I had to do was double the number of bones in their bodies.

But I didn’t rush forward.

‘First, let’s find out why they’ve gone mad.’

Wasn’t it strange?

This was the procession of a member of the imperial family—someone rumored to be on excellent terms with the Emperor.

Even most nobles would bow the moment they saw me.

I couldn’t understand what gave them the confidence to act like this.

“The most rational explanation is that they all took the same drug together, right?”

As I muttered to myself and scanned the surroundings, a certain sight caught my eye.

The Carius family crest wrapped around the flagpole.

No wonder these pathetic bandits had latched on.

They had come out thinking we were just ordinary merchants.

Without that majestic crest, we really did look like a trading company.

After all, we were hauling massive amounts of supplies for the Governor-General’s office.

‘Funny. Running into something like this right from the start.’

Anyone could tell these weren’t desperate runaway serfs.

Their equipment, numbers, and encirclement formation were far too professional.

“You are—”

I started to ask his name, but suddenly the character information window popped up.

It seemed now the system activated just by looking at someone.

‘Not needing introductions is extremely convenient. One less annoying step.’

<Character Information>

Name: Arzahil

Status: Professional Bandit

Position: Grunt

Relationship: No prior contact

Condition: Overconfident due to strong backing, authority exceeding actual ability

Overall Ability: D

As expected.

He was no different from the bandits I had seen in the Lelbrant territory.

Just clean these guys up and move on?

The remnants would regroup and do the same thing again.

They would rob caravans, small merchants, travelers—no one would be spared.

Since I could unlock rewards in the process, rooting them out completely didn’t seem like a bad idea.

‘Another way to look after the people’s livelihood.’

How much suffering had these rotten bastards caused?

I glanced to my right and casually tossed out a single sentence.

“Sir McNeill. Take care of it.”

“…”

No response.

Only awkward silence lingered.

Then the bandits burst into loud laughter.

“Kekeke! Hilarious.”

“He’s acting like some kind of noble. Nothing’s more fun to toy with than a fool blinded by vanity.”

“Cut the bullshit and hand over everything you have.”

It felt incredibly embarrassing—like I had struck a pose for no reason.

Frowning, I tapped the shadow beside the carriage.

“Hey, aren’t you supposed to protect me from things like this?”

Tap tap. Slide.

Only then did Cordel McNeill reveal himself.

He shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“I am not a sword for Your Highness to swing freely. I am a bodyguard who acts only in truly dangerous moments.”

“Isn’t this pretty dangerous right now? There are bandits everywhere in front of us.”

“They don’t look like much.”

Cordel was technically correct.

There were just a lot of them—no actual experts in sight.

I could finish them with a few swings of the gavel without even testing my new skill.

‘Still, I want to get some use out of this freeloader.’

Honestly, wasn’t he just that?

How many dangerous situations could there be for someone who only traveled between the mansion and the courtroom?

Of course, there had been that Peltor guy who manipulated northern nomads to attempt an assassination.

But after failing once, there had been no sign of him since.

So in reality, Cordel was little more than a rice parasite.

“Even now?”

I slowly walked forward and deliberately surrounded myself.

The bandits immediately threw lassos and bound me.

“You could wipe them all out bare-handed—why are you doing this?”

Cordel sighed briefly, his eyes asking if I really had to keep acting so strangely.

Of course, I was perfectly serious.

I am a man who defies common sense.

“Don’t move! If you try anything funny, your master won’t live to see tomorrow!”

Before I knew it, a broad blade hovered at my throat.

One slight nick and my life would be in danger—an absolutely critical situation.

Any bodyguard worth his salt would have no choice but to act.

‘Let’s see what you can do, Black Agent or whatever you are.’

Yet Cordel merely vanished behind the carriage again.

He did nothing.

Meanwhile, the mercenaries I had hired last time were already preparing for battle.

‘How are the hired guys more reliable?’

Normally, mercenaries would run the moment things looked bad.

But the ones who had fought with me all the way to the Lelbrant territory were different.

“To throw himself into danger for the safety of his companions… Truly a righteous lord, just as the rumors say.”

“Duke Carius! Even if my body is torn to pieces, I will save you!”

“To think they would oppress such a noble person—truly scum beyond words.”

Why is their train of thought going that way?

I had only created this situation to tease Cordel a little.

To the mercenaries, it apparently looked like noble self-sacrifice.

Because the mood had turned that way, even the porters’ eyes changed.

“Sniff! His Highness is risking his life for us…”

“We will repay this grace without fail!”

“CHAAARGE!”

Thirty porters and six mercenaries had been mobilized for the western dispatch.

In sheer numbers, we weren’t much different from the bandits.

Yet our side’s mental fortification was unbelievably strong.

The bandits could only panic before the horde charging forward like zombies, heedless of fire or water.

“H-Hey! Your master will die if you keep this up!”

“You bastards! Listen to us!”

“Let’s talk this out!”

They were so terrified that the bandits were the ones begging for calm.

Meanwhile, my body was being dragged somewhere.

From the bandits’ perspective, this was their best move.

Only by holding me hostage could they stop the porters’ madness.

But their plan wasn’t very effective.

No—it had become a completely useless card.

Because someone suddenly appeared and cut down the ones dragging me.

Slash! Shlick!

“Gah!”

“Urgh!”

The bandits collapsed powerlessly, blood spraying from their throats.

Their eyes were full of disbelief.

They hadn’t even seen their attacker’s shadow.

Of course, I had tracked every movement.

“Will this do?”

The one who had mysteriously cut down four bandits at once was Cordel McNeill.

I had thought he was all flash and no substance, but he actually had considerable skill.

The ones who act the toughest usually have glass jaws.

I gave a meaningful smile and said,

“Not enough.”

“I just saved you.”

“There are still remnants, and our men are in danger.”

“You wiped out entire bandit gangs before—why are you like this now?”

“Because back then I didn’t have a bodyguard.”

“Wow!”

Deciding he couldn’t win with words, Cordel clutched his head.

His face screamed absurdity.

But he was only extremely annoyed—he still showed no sign of moving.

He had no obligation to protect the porters or mercenaries.

Fortunately, I had a card to make this slippery bastard move.

“The cost of the gifts you broke for His Majesty.”

“Why bring that up now?”

“Be obedient and I’ll write it off completely.”

“That matter was already settled!”

“I just never mentioned it. I could still file a civil suit right now.”

“Urgh!”

Cordel drooped his shoulders and groaned.

Black Agent or whatever—he was still human.

Even he had to tuck his tail before astronomical compensation.

“How long is the deadline?”

“The day my governorship ends should be sufficient.”

“…Fine.”

I snapped my fingers and pointed somewhere.

Cordel tilted his head, not understanding.

Ah, this guy has terrible instincts.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and clean them up.”

In the end, Cordel had no choice but to grip his sword and join the fray.

Now he finally looked like a proper bodyguard.

‘I’m going to work him to the bone from now on.’

***

Cleaning up the bandits wasn’t difficult.

He was a Black Agent of the Imperial Guard, after all.

Once a warrior of that caliber stepped in, trash bandits were finished in moments.

Because he had intervened at the perfect time, the porters who had charged blindly suffered almost no losses.

Yet the praise did not go to Cordel.

“The bandits collapsed on their own before Duke Carius’s majesty!”

“Ahh, until when will Your Highness keep being so amazing!”

Thanks to his ghostly movements, everyone thought I had done it all.

Cordel turned to me with a hollow laugh.

“Hah! I’m starting to suspect the whole group is insane. Did you only bring fanatics?”

“Do I look like someone involved with religion?”

“I’ve heard people calling you a saint or something.”

“It’s just because I govern with benevolence. What can I do about being born merciful?”

When I shrugged, Cordel’s face crumpled.

Teasing him was genuinely fun.

Every word got a reaction.

While we chatted briefly, the bandits were all bound.

Moreover, they had already confessed everything.

Terrified by the porters’ madness, they had spilled everything on their own.

But as I listened quietly, something irritating came up.

“What did you say they said?”

“They asked us to let them contact the Sierre ducal house. Just one letter, they said.”

A mercenary named Derek reported with a hesitant expression.

He obeyed my every word and was wrapped in passionate fandom.

If converted to loyalty, he would easily hit 90.

Anyway, this couldn’t be brushed off lightly.

‘Bandits connected to the Sierre ducal house? This is huge.’

It was big enough to shake Duke Sierre’s political standing.

Of course, I wasn’t particularly hoping for that.

I had only clashed with them because I rendered just verdicts.

There was no personal grudge.

But if it directly affected the people’s livelihood, that was a different story.

“Let me see that guy’s face.”

“Yes, right away.”

Derek soon dragged over a fierce-looking bandit.

Thud!

Even with his knees forced to the ground, the man’s eyes remained defiant.

He still looked relaxed.

‘He still doesn’t know exactly who I am?’

That didn’t really matter.

The key was how the Sierre ducal house was connected to these bandits.

“Say it again. Where did you say the letter was going?”

“If you heard the name of the person behind us, you wouldn’t act like this.”

“Oh? Who is it? Tell me and I’ll deliver it personally.”

“How can I trust you? Hand this letter to the Daeral Company. Then everything will be over.”

We had moved quickly, but less than a day had passed since leaving the capital.

The letter would reach its destination soon.

“Fine.”

I gladly granted the bandit’s request.

I was curious how they would react.

Of course, I had no intention of sitting here waiting.

If they were in a hurry, they would come find me.

“Let’s go.”

“To show mercy even to bandits… truly remarkable.”

I ignored Cordel’s sarcastic jab.

“Of course. That’s what the strong do. Do you give your all even against ants, Sir McNeill?”

“…”

Ah, beautiful silence.

Having shut Cordel’s mouth with just a few words, I climbed back into the carriage.

The procession set off smoothly again, as if there had never been a battle.

A few days later—

The result of the letter returned.

“Stop!”

This time it wasn’t ragged bandits blocking the road.

It was elite soldiers.

They had properly raised their flags, so there was no way they didn’t recognize me.

That meant they were deliberately blocking the path.

Unless they were insane, the Sierre ducal house shouldn’t act like this.

‘Wait—are they seriously picking a fight?’