After entering the lodgings that Barnes had guided them to,

Erich felt as though the cold was melting away a little.

"It's damned cold."

"Isn't it just. Go and bring us something to eat."

Upon hearing Frederick's words, Barnes stepped out without any sense of resistance.

"In over ten years here, that's the first time I've seen a guy like him."

"... He seemed all right to me?"

"That guy? I'd suffocate to death if I had to spend time with him."

Frederick grumbled as he warmed his hands. Well, it was understandable. In fact, those like him were harder to handle than the rebellious types.

But Erich softly closed his eyes, as if replaying the scenery he had observed when entering Morris Village.

"On our way into the village, I saw hay laid at the entrance. Hay gleaming as if oiled."

"Re-really?"

"And the weapons placed on the palisade were well-maintained. Here and there, there were defensive traps, the kind you see in the manuals, set up as well. On a palisade of this size, how many Watch members could manage all that alone?"

Frederick curled his lips as if annoyed.

"Tsk, that's a matter of social skills. There's nothing one can do alone at the Watch. Social competence counts as a skill, too."

"That's true. But Frederick, a commander's capabilities include being able to handle even those kinds of people."

"... You've not even been a commander a month, what would you know."

But Frederick raised his lips into a smile. It wasn't contempt for Erich. If anything, it looked like a positive smile.

"Anyway, there must be a reason he's like that. Everyone walks a different path."

"Well, look at you, barely twenty and already acting like an old man. Hehe."

Erich smiled at Frederick's words.

'... Though I really am an old man.'

Erich's age just before his regression had been in his forties. After his regression, he had returned to an age in his teens, but in reality, his experience made him, in a way, fifty.

Strictly speaking, the years and experience Erich possessed were on par with the current Commander August or the senior Watch member, Mikhail.

"Anyway, he's a decent guy so try to learn anything useful from him while you can. That way, one day you might lead a Centuria, or become a deputy leader, right?"

"A Centuria, my ass. I gave up on that ages ago. Not even hoping for it."

"Really? Why? Why do you dislike your superiors so much?"

Frederick turned his gaze to the burning torch. The smile on his lips faded away.

"There's just something about it."

Erich fell silent, lost in thought. Frederick was no exception, but everyone at the Watch had their own stories.

There was nowhere in the Empire without people with a past, but those who came here—being second to none in misfortune—had especially troubled tales.

'A family's outcast bastard? Around here, that's almost a luxury.'

Everyone had their circumstances. That was one of the biggest lessons Erich had learned at the Watch.

–Creak.

Barnes returned, carrying a small box. He set it on the table.

"I brought provisions."

"... This is..."

It was hard bread—the kind issued by the Watch, so dry that even biting it was a challenge.

Frederick picked it up and raised his eyebrows.

"Why are we eating this garbage?"

"I'm not sure what you mean..."

Barnes snapped a piece of the hard bread. It was so tough that his forearm swelled from the strain.

"You're a resident Watch member, aren't you? Not this, but stuff from the village... never mind. No use talking to you."

But Erich quickly intuited the reason Frederick stopped speaking. Unlike the grueling life at the Great Wall, being a resident Watch member assigned to a village was a highly coveted post.

The reason the resident Watch member role was so popular was not just the safety, but the food provided by the village. Not the stone-like bread and shriveled jerky issued by the Watch.

However—

'If the villagers hate him, he probably can't get any of that.'

Erich recalled the earlier commotion. Someone living like that could hardly have good relations with the village residents.

Moreover, the Barnes before him didn't seem like the type to forcibly requisition things from the villagers.

"As a resident Watch member, I receive as much food as I need each month from the supply unit. That's enough for me."

"... I suppose so."

"By the way, what business brings you to this village?"

For the first time, Barnes asked Erich a question. And for the first question to be about work—Erich gave a faint chuckle.

"We have intel that a deserter took refuge in this village. The man's name is Max, rather similar to yours. Do you know him?"

At the mention of Max's name, Barnes's brow twitched. It was the first time Erich had seen a human reaction from him. After hesitating for a moment—

"I do."

"Where is he now?"

"I cannot tell you that."

Frederick's eyes, who had been silently chewing bread, turned fierce. He looked ready to draw his sword at any moment.

"Hiding a deserter is a serious offense. The man has done things that must not be done."

"I'm not protecting him. However, I have not received any written confirmation that he is a deserter, or that you are performing your duties legitimately."

–Bang!

Frederick sprang to his feet and reached for his sword. Barnes also prepared to draw at any moment.

"Damn it! Why do you need a piece of paper for everything?!"

"Frederick, enough."

"Why bother? Just beat him half to death, and he'll talk!"

"You know that won't work on a guy like that. I get that you're angry, but just let it go."

Frederick sat back down, gritting his teeth so hard it made an audible sound. Barnes too eased his stance.

"If you get written notification, will you reveal the man's whereabouts?"

"Yes—Aagh!"

As Barnes replied while tending the embers in the fireplace, a spark flew onto the back of his hand.

"Are you all right?"

"It's nothing. Is there anything else you need?"

"We're done for now. But tomorrow, I'd like to speak with the villagers. Can you gather everyone?"

"Yes, I'll have them at the hall tomorrow at noon sharp."

"Understood. You may go now."

"Then, if you'll excuse me."

With those words, Barnes left the lodgings. Frederick, chewing on a piece of bread, muttered,

"Can't we just knock him down and look for Max ourselves?"

"How long do you think that would take? Anyway, the reply from the Black Citadel will come in two days. That's not long."

"I still think there's a strong chance that guy and Max are in cahoots."

"Is that so?"

But Erich thought differently from Frederick. If Barnes wanted to completely hide Max or had some scheme, he could have just played ignorant from the start.

'Still, I'll have to watch his reaction once he sees the Citadel's response.'

Before his regression, Erich had lived a life as a commander, experiencing countless plots and schemes.

And those who schemed always left traces—residual evidence that revealed itself inevitably. Erich had an innate talent for sensing such dissonance.

It was that talent which enabled him to become Mikhail's disciple, to stand as the Commander's successor, and to be appointed as the next commander despite opposition. Thus, Erich had no reason to doubt his instincts.

However, even Erich could not sense any such discordance from Barnes. In fact, what he felt from Barnes was that of a thorough perfectionist. Or rather, a strict adherent to principles.

'A type furthest from scheming and cunning.'

Still, Erich couldn't entirely dismiss his doubts. There was definitely something he was missing.

"... It's dangerous to take the words of guys like that at face value."

"What do you mean?"

"Most people who end up here are notorious liars. Some of them even conspire with barbarians for smuggling and assassinations. This isn't the kind of place where such things are shocking."

"I don't completely trust the man. I simply trust my analysis and instincts."

"Plenty of people who trusted their instincts died just like that. So, according to that oh-so-great instinct, is he trustworthy?"

"... Not quite. There's something odd about all this."

"What?"

At Frederick's question, Erich recalled the previous scene. If his assumption was right, Barnes shouldn't have any connections to either Max or Nicholas.

However, when a spark touched the back of Barnes's hand just moments ago, Erich had seen something strange.

For the briefest moment, the burned skin on Barnes's hand healed at an extraordinary speed.

But Erich simply held a quiet smile. About Nicholas, Max, and Barnes—he was now sure there was a hidden secret connecting the three.

Much like the one linking the Orca-roid and Nicholas.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=I'm calling it now...Barnes is Max's younger sibling...【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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