Trust (part 1)

Ch. VIII - Trust (Rake)

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"My name is Tyland. Tyland Sylphon, son of… or used to be, son of Duke Sylphon."

The ethelen leader in front of me introduced himself as he shook my hand for the handshake.

Hearing his name, I cannot look more surprised.

Sylphon…?

Son of… Duke Sylphon?

The Sylphon Dukedom? The Dukedom where the Masqueren town is at?

How… funny.

"Oh? You really were a noble. Son of a Duke, huh?"

"Yes. I… was."

"Family fallout?"

"Yeah. Not fun."

Looks like I can get along with this guy just fine. I guess, after years of being glued with Jack, simply allows me to borrow some of his 'chattiness' a little bit. 

There were perks being close to that red haired guy, after all.

"Hmm… how interesting. The guy who paid us did give quite a lot of gold coins for your head. All of your heads."

I lied, while turning my gaze to all the other ethelens still being tied. 

Tyland's attention quickly turned to them after noticing my glare.

"Do you mind… releasing them?"

"I don't know. I feel like I can trust you, but what about them?"

Tyland noticed what I truly meant, and so he let out a sigh. 

He then turned away from me, and kneeled right in front of his friends, especially where the boys are at.

"Guys… I--"

"Tyland, please think for a second. You can't trust… humans!"

The guy in front of Tyland was quite hesitant whether or not he wanted to say it, since me alongside the other knights were watching. But, it's clear that those guys did not trust us fully.

But after hearing those words, Tyland snapped.

"Then who can I trust, huh!? You think the ethelens are trustworthy?? Why do you think we are here in the first place, huh!?"

He suddenly shouted angrily at his friend, which fully startled him.

Seeing this, everyone who was watching was also taken aback.

Woah… their situation is so much more fun than what I initially expected.

"We can't trust ethelens, and we also can't trust humans. Then who can we trust, exactly!?"

"Trust… one another?"

"Then, trust me… because this might be the best way for us… or rather, it is the only way that we have left."

The guy Tyland was talking to immediately bit his lips as he came to accept the situation.

From their conversation, it seemed like these guys got totally betrayed by their comrades. And from their expressions, it doesn't look like they were acting, like what I am doing.

If it was all an act, then they are definitely a much better actor than I am. And I don't think that was the case.

After all that talk, Tyland stood back up and turned to me.

"James… is it? Can I ask you to guarantee our safety?"

"Well, as long as you are willing to comply, then yeah. Definitely. You guys still aren't dead now, right?"

I said with a calm smile, and Tyland took the bait once again. He is falling deeper and deeper into the hole that I dug, and it is happening just nicely.

"Then… take us wherever. We will… comply."

Hearing this, I grinned.

"Hmm. All right. Let's start walking, then."

I nodded at Gilbert, and he turned to the other knights.

He commanded the knights to cut the ropes on the prisoner's legs, so that they could stand and walk with us. Their hands will still be tied, so they still can't move freely.

However, only Tyland is completely free.

As we walked in the valley, the air seemed to be quite tense. The knights from the humans side are tensed up while guarding the ethelens, being very careful not to let them do anything rash.

After all, who knows what the ethelens will do while we walk. So, the knights are keeping their minds clear of the situation and keeping their guards up all the time.

Noticing this tense air, I decided that the right call is to break the silence.

"Tell me, Tyland. How is Velborn, these days?"

I asked friendlily to Tyland, who is walking right next to me. The two of us were quite behind the others, so everyone can hear us talk.

"Velborn… have you… been there?"

Tyland asked carefully, as if he had other thoughts.

Oh? Seems like despite all of that, Tyland is still quite wary of me.

Well, how should I go with this…

"Not exactly. I've never been to any of the ethelen cities. It's impossible for me."

"O-Oh… Of course, of course."

"What, you think I have been sneaking into Velborn like some loser wanting to die?"

"No, definitely not! I know that Velborn is quite tight with their checks too, so…"

Oh. A wonderful information.

I grinned at him, and continued with the question.

"Hey, Tyland. You haven't answered my question."

"Ah, Velborn is great. It was quite cold since it was quite high on the mountains, but it was still great, nevertheless."

Oh, right. Mountains.

Velborn is located higher compared to Ardjestyn, because they are at the foot of a really tall mountain that is behind their kingdom. As a result, that city of theirs is usually cold, even in summers.

"The cold air is wonderful. It's so much better than any of the other towns, because it was right on the foot of a mountain on the south east. Always wear a jacket, I guess."

Tyland explained with a smile, and I quickly noticed something from the way he spoke.

"You seemed to like that place a lot. Do you live there?"

"N-No, I… I'm the son of a duke, obviously I live in my family's territory."

"Oh? I guess that's true. Where is your territory?"

"Dukedom Sylphon. Masqueren city."

So I was right.

He is, not only a Masqueren civilian in the flesh, but also the son of the city leader too.

To have such an important key like him, is so priceless.

"Oh? Then, aren't you like, crazy rich? Being the son of the Duke and all. Why did you have a fallout with your family?"

"It's… personal. I hope you can skip that question…"

"Oh, absolutely, pal. I want none of that drama."

"Yeah… you totally don't."

Look at that. The two of us do get along, after all!

Tyland and I just casually talked like two new besties learning one another. Well, technically it's just me learning about him, but he is also learning about my personality as we talk. He now knows that humans can be quite friendly, and he knows that not all humans wanted to kill him, since we did let him and the others live.

He is falling even deeper to the wormhole the more we talk.

"Then, I'll ask something else. Are you a knight?"

I asked him, while staring at his attire. He is wearing such fancy armor, even owning a rather shiny sword. The sword is being held by one of the human knights that came with me, so I had to look that way to see it.

His scabbard sure is nice. It was red, and made out of metal. Definitely not a cheapsies.

"Yes. Yes I am. Are you also?"

"Oh, well… I'm barely a knight. You see, I'm quite famous back in my place. They know me more for my handsome face rather than my knighthood."

"Are you an idol…?"

Hearing that question, I turned my gaze to the other humans who were around us. Everyone else was listening in, including the knights who came with me.

"Can you guys tell him who I am? Just a little bit."

Hearing me suddenly saying that, the knights in front of me panicked. They didn't want to say anything wrong, because if they mention my real identity, then they are simply ruining my plan.

But… this is also part of my plan. Because as I expected, none of them dared to answer. Everyone looked panicking, and they were trying their best to think of an answer.

But just seeing their reaction, confirmed Tyland's question.

"So you really were…"

"Indeed. I am pretty famous. What about you, Tyland? I see you are popular with the girls."

"Gehk!"

I don't know why he suddenly made that voice, but seeing how his friends started to look backwards one by one made me become very suspicious of his love life.

"C-Can we also skip that question, as well…?"

"… very well. I mean if you need help with girls counseling, I have to say. I've slept with over ten befor--"

"Change the topic, please!!"

Oh, that works very well.

Jack actually said that specific line once, to a group of guys who walked up to us for our autograph. He then mentioned to me that he said it only because he wanted to look impressive and cool, but in reality he sucked with girls' stuff.

Just like me, he is also maidenless for his whole life.

Copied. Pasted. Those words worked very well with Tyland.

Suddenly we were met with five other knights on our path. They are the team that were guarding the entrance, and it seems like we have arrived at the entrance.

"How should we deal with the carriage?"

A knight asked Gilbert about it, and Gilbert immediately knocked his head with his fingers.

"I forgot about that…"