The Barbarian of the Count’s Family Is Too Strong

Chapter 24: Journey with the Trading Company (3)

The city they arrived at was called Kachiola.

It was part of Saltidis Territory and served as one of the major trade hubs connecting the southern and central regions of the Astrarea Kingdom.

Agron looked around at the lively, expansive city.

The capital of Veilain Territory, where he ruled as count, was somewhat bustling in its own right, but his domain was ultimately a backwater.

It had no thriving commerce, no renowned specialties, and no real foundation for development—a neglected land with little promise.

The group first headed to the Adventurers’ Guild.

The guild had a magical network that allowed for seamless mission reporting across the entire kingdom.

Unlike banks, this system had been implemented in cooperation with the Magic Tower since the guild’s founding.

Along with confirming the mission’s completion, they reported notable events.

Fortunately, the bandits had failed to steal any goods, so they only had to report their efforts in repelling the attack.

***

That evening, Agron’s group followed the guide sent by the caravan master and arrived at the banquet hall.

“Welcome!”

The atmosphere was far more casual than expected.

Since the event wasn’t hosted by nobles, there were no strict dress codes or formalities.

Baekun stole a glance at Agron.

Just a few days ago, hadn’t this man been grumbling endlessly about the noble banquet he hosted?

Baekun couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Jacob felt the same.

He might have had personal grudges against Agron, but he had no choice but to submit.

Agron was, after all, the master of his master.

Tonight, Jacob resolved to take every metaphorical arrow fired their way.

As soon as Agron’s group entered, all eyes turned toward them.

Their unusual party composition played a part, but the main reason was Agron and Elena’s striking appearances.

The men’s gazes were drawn to Elena in her crimson dress, while the women’s eyes lingered on Agron’s imposing physique.

“It seems our masters are quite the lookers.”

Jacob spoke with a mix of concern and resignation.

“That does seem to be the case. You handle Elena. I’ll keep an eye on Agron.”

“Understood.”

Both decided to be as vigilant as possible to prevent any potential trouble.

At that moment, Yamong, the caravan master from Rose Trading Company, waddled toward them.

“Oh—our heroes from the journey have arrived! I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Thank you for the invitation, Caravan Master.”

“No, no! I should be the one thanking you. And please, Master Baekun, no need for titles. Just call me Yamong.”

“I shall, Yamong.”

Outside, he was the leader of a major trade caravan.

But here, he was just one of many caravan masters.

In attendance were city officials, including Kachiola’s Magistrate, as well as prominent merchants, the captain of the city guard, and various guild leaders.

In short, it was a gathering of all the city’s influential figures.

As Agron sampled the banquet’s food, a man who had been waiting for the right moment approached Yamong.

“Yamong! It’s been a while.”

“Magistrate of Kachiola, an honor to see you.”

“And who are these people? Introduce me.”

“Ah… These are adventurers who played a crucial role in protecting our caravan.”

Yamong, sensing the magistrate’s true intentions, quickly pulled Jacob forward.

Jacob, equally perceptive, stepped up first.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Magistrate. My name is Jacob.”

“Hmm, likewise. But tell me, is this lovely lady also an adventurer? Judging by her appearance, she must be a cleric or white mage.”

The magistrate completely ignored Jacob and instead approached Elena directly.

“Greetings, fair lady. I am Felipe, the esteemed magistrate of this great city, Kachiola. May I ask for your name?”

“……”

The moment Elena’s cold, emotionless gaze landed on Felipe, Jacob stepped between them.

“My apologies, Lord Magistrate. Lady Elena does not speak the kingdom’s language.”

“Oh dear, an outsider? But… Lady?”

“Ah… The lady is of noble lineage. Due to certain circumstances, she is currently working as an adventurer.”

“Is that so?”

Yamong’s eyes widened in surprise.

It wasn’t uncommon for foreign nobles to conceal their identities.

Some fled from ruined families, while others hid after brutal succession struggles.

Felipe glanced at Jacob.

He wasn’t just a mere servant—he had the refined demeanor of a properly educated attendant.

His attire, fluent command of the kingdom’s language, and the aristocratic grace in his movements suggested that Elena truly was of noble blood.

But that didn’t deter Felipe’s ambitions.

“Well, then! It is an honor to meet a noble from another land. In that case, why not become my personal secretary instead of toiling as an adventurer? I can teach you the kingdom’s language and ensure your protection under my authority.”

“I don’t think she would be interested….”

“Oh, come now. At least pass on the offer. She might be quite eager for such an opportunity.”

Jacob’s eyes flashed with fury.

This insignificant worm of a man dared to throw such a degrading proposition at his master?

His fingers clenched into fists as he relayed the message to Elena in the Vampir tongue.

【Master, this pig is offering you a position as his secretary.】

Elena, who had already understood Felipe’s words, didn’t bother changing her expression.

【Tell him to disappear before I slice his filthy throat and feed it to the dogs.】

【I can’t say it quite like that, Master….】

【Figure it out yourself. I have no interest in weaklings besides my master.】

Jacob nodded and turned back to the magistrate, who was watching expectantly.

“My lady appreciates the offer, but she is already engaged and has pledged to follow her betrothed.”

“Engaged? To whom?”

“That young man over there.”

Yamong, who had been looking displeased throughout the conversation, answered instead.

Felipe’s gaze shifted to Agron.

“…Hmm. He looks strong.”

He tilted his head slightly as if contemplating something before speaking again.

“You seem quite capable. Would you be interested in a personal commission?”

“I do not accept private requests. Please submit your request through the guild.”

Agron’s response was firm and immediate.

Having been rejected twice in a row, Felipe’s face reddened in frustration.

“The task is not suited for guild involvement. I would be most grateful if you accepted.”

His voice trembled with suppressed anger, teeth grinding audibly.

As Agron prepared to reject him again, Baekun suddenly intervened.

“Haha, if the magistrate himself is making a request, how could we refuse? Please, tell us what it is.”

“Thank you, old man. You seem to be the only one here capable of proper conversation.”

The magistrate shot Agron a glare as if he wanted to kill him but quickly softened his expression upon glancing at Elena.

“I own a dungeon, and recently, strange noises have been coming from it.”

“M-Magistrate!”

At that moment, Yamong, who had been listening, abruptly cut in with a shocked expression.

“T-That place—”

“Hey! How rude, Yamong! Can’t you see I’m speaking?”

“B-But the plan—”

The moment Yamong met the magistrate’s gaze, however, he clamped his mouth shut.

The madness in Felipe’s eyes was already evident, glistening with unrestrained greed.

“Apologies for the interruption, old man. My friend here worries about me too much.”

“Haha, no harm done. So, you want us to investigate this dungeon?”

The magistrate nodded with a satisfied smile at Baekun’s response.

“Understood. What’s the reward?”

“I’ll pay you handsomely in gold. Since the dungeon is my private property, I can’t request this through the guild. But rest assured, I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Agreed.”

“And keep this quiet, old man. A magistrate isn’t supposed to make such requests.”

“Haha, no need to worry.”

“Good. I’ll have my men send you the location. We’ll meet again in a few days.”

After saying that, Felipe cast another lingering, slimy glance at Elena before moving on to another group.

“What exactly is in that dungeon?”

As soon as Felipe left, Agron asked without hesitation.

Yamong flinched.

“Ah, nothing at all. It’s actually just an empty dungeon—not dangerous in the slightest.”

“Then why spend gold hiring us for it?”

“…Think of it as a gold mine. The magistrate has money to spare. I’ve heard there are occasional goblins, so all you need to do is clear out a few monsters and earn an easy payday.”

Yamong spoke carelessly, then smacked his lips and walked away.

Agron’s group exchanged knowing looks.

***

“I need to know who hired those damned bandits to steal from the caravan.”

“So why didn’t you find out?”

“Damn it, my hired knights and mercenaries were too scared to fight properly! And then those so-called adventurers came in and slaughtered all the bandits.”

“Heh, well, you can’t really blame them. It was probably another branch of the ‘organization’ acting without coordination.”

Yamong gulped down wine like water, then turned to the man seated across from him.

“But Magistrate Felipe, why did you suddenly request an investigation of that dungeon? Even if you’re obsessed with that woman—”

“Watch your mouth if you don’t want to die.”

Felipe’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“In the city, you might have more power than me. But within the organization, we are equals!”

Unlike at the banquet, Yamong didn’t back down under Felipe’s intimidation.

Felipe narrowed his eyes but then exhaled and changed his tone.

“Come on, Yamong. Don’t you want that woman as well?”

“…And?”

“You don’t think I’d keep her all to myself, do you?”

“……”

“I’ll strengthen the dungeon’s security and have her captured. The men will be used as sacrifices, and she’ll be drugged so we can enjoy her together. Got it?”

Yamong chuckled darkly.

That woman was certainly worth it.

“She doesn’t even seem to have a clear status. If she disappears, no one will notice.”

“Exactly. I wonder what kind of nonsense she’ll babble once the drugs kick in.”

Felipe raised his wine glass, filling it to the brim.

“For the shadows of the world, for Ananta.”

“For Ananta.”

***

Following the map provided by Felipe’s subordinate, Agron’s group arrived near the dungeon.

They had been specifically instructed to visit at dawn, as the strange noises supposedly weren’t audible during the day.

“So, what do you think?”

Baekun asked.

“About what?”

“What do you think is inside this dungeon?”

“Well, I don’t know, but I’d bet it has something to do with the people wearing the Ouroboros symbol.”

It made sense that the Ananta cultists from the abandoned house had hired the bandits to attack the caravan.

But connecting that with the Ouroboros bracelet Yamong had worn, and Magistrate Felipe’s odd behavior at the banquet, was trickier.

If the bracelet Yamong wore was the very item Ananta had been looking for, was he just an unlucky merchant who happened to possess it?

Or was he actually a member of Ananta?

If he was a member, why had the cultists attacked him?

Nothing lined up neatly.

“Felipe might have just sent us here to get rid of us and take Elena for himself.”

“That’s possible. This dungeon could be some sort of ‘Room of Vice.’”

A Room of Vice was a hidden chamber where corrupt officials conducted their worst deeds.

Using magic, alchemy, or sorcery, they shielded the area from prying eyes, turning it into a secretive place where enemies were executed or clandestine meetings were held.

“Elena, sense anything unusual?”

“No, Master. There’s no magical energy on the surface.”

“I see. Then let’s head inside.”

Agron pulled the mace from his back and gripped it tightly.

Whatever lay inside would reveal the true connection between Ananta, Yamong, and Felipe.

“And if we find nothing?”

Agron grinned, his piercing blue eyes gleaming as he bared his fangs.

“Then we’ll just ask them directly.”