Grimm: Ch. 12

---Grimm's POV---

"Stop right there!!"

"Bastard…"

I ran through twists and turns with two well-built men chasing after me, until we ended up in a sparsely populated alley. Fortunately, no one bothered to interfere with what looked like just another chase in the slums.

The chase led us into a dead-end alley. Overhead, a red hawk circled and screeched.

"Ha…you little brat, no place left to run now, huh? Return my coin pouch, and I might spare your life!" William panted heavily as he confronted me.

I was fast—so much so that he had almost lost me several times through the warren of alleys.

"Ha, brat, let's see you run now!" His squire, having just caught up, took a moment to catch his breath before advancing toward me, his hand already reaching for the sword at his belt.

Whizz Whizz!

Thunk!

The sound of two sharp arrows slicing through the air was followed by the sickening thud of flesh being pierced.

The squire's eyes went wide as the arrow went through his throat, arterial spray painting the alley wall crimson. He didn't even have time to scream.

William managed to barely avoid a fatal shot by jerking his head and body to the side at the sound of the incoming arrows. The arrow carved a bloody furrow across his cheek, splitting skin and muscle to reveal white bone beneath.

Blood poured freely down his face.

"Damn it!" William drew his sword and spun around to face four masked men in black. Their eyes radiated murderous intent through the slits in their masks, making it clear they were no ordinary thugs.

"Who are you?! I'm the son of Count Glance! He won't let you get away with this!" Though he was far from favored by his father, invoking the family's name was the only lifeline he could grasp.

His sword trembled slightly as he faced the group.

"You're exactly who we're after!" At Kadi's command, the other three drew their swords and lunged toward William. He gritted his teeth and engaged them.

The trio's swordsmanship was varied but tightly coordinated, showing that they were used to fighting together on the battlefield. One would feint high while another struck low, forcing William to constantly adjust his guard.

I saw the fight drawing closer and quickly drew my large sword from my back, looking for an opening to escape.

Thunk!

Despite William's skillful blocking and swordsmanship, he couldn't fend off the relentless assault of three opponents.

Before long, his body was riddled with wounds of varying sizes. Blood flowed freely from cuts on his arms and legs, and his movements grew increasingly sluggish.

His retreat brought him within five meters of me, with the alley's exit completely blocked by the attackers. I could see the moment he realized his doom was inevitable and made a desperate choice.

Schlunk!

The greatsword entered just below his ribs, the angle perfect to pierce heart and lung in one thrust. The sound of my blade piercing through chainmail and flesh echoed in the alley.

[Knight William has been slain.]
[Gained 520 experience points.]
[Acquired: Knight's Essence x1]

"Ugh…"

William's eyes widened in shock as he turned to look at me one last time, disbelief filling his pale yellow irises. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, dead, his eyes staring blankly.

Squelch.

I stepped over his corpse, pulling my greatsword free. Fresh blood and intestinal fluids stained my hands, and some splattered onto my face.

Clap Clap Clap.

Kadi approached slowly, clapping his hands, clearly pleased with my performance.

"Well done, Grimm."

He smiled.

"How does it feel, killing a knight with your own hands? Makes you feel proud, doesn't it?"

It was the kind of cruel smile unique to this brutal era. But I felt no emotional ripple. Killing didn't feel like an accomplishment to me. If I hadn't experienced the moral teachings of my life in my old world, I might have been just like them.

"Sorry, but I don't see anything to be proud of here. I just want to survive."

I wiped the blood from my greatsword and sheathed it. The words were both a response to Kadi and, in a way, an apology to the corpse on the ground.

He blinked, momentarily taken aback. Such words were not what one would expect from a six-year-old. Then he smiled again.

"Most boys your age would be crying or bragging... That's why I find you so interesting."

"Go on now. Get rid of the rats peeking around here, and dump the bodies somewhere," Kadi ordered his subordinates nonchalantly. He raised his right arm, and a red hawk landed on it.

From his pocket, he took out a piece of meat to reward it.

Faint, terrified screams echoed briefly before fading into silence. In this filthy, stench-filled slum, no one cared to intervene. When Bernhardt arrived, he froze, his hands and feet cold as he witnessed the group's merciless carnage.

"You did well. That knight's and his squire's coin pouches are yours. Be sure to meet us tomorrow morning when we head to Weimar, and don't wander off."

He then left, playing with his hawk.

"..."

I looked at the bloodstained coin pouch in my hand. Obviously, I couldn't use it in its current state. I counted roughly 26 silver coins and 85 copper coins, wiped my hands with my worn, crumpled clothes, and cleaned my face with my hood.

My first earnings.

"Boss! Are you okay?" Bernhardt hurried over to check on me.

"If I'm still standing, what could be wrong?" I replied, slipping the coins into my pocket.

The screams in the slums had already ceased, and it wouldn't be long before someone came to deal with the bodies.

"Take the squire's pouch. You earned it by keeping watch." I pointed at the corpse with an arrow through its throat. 

"But you did the actual—"

"Just take it. Money's worthless if you're dead."

Bernhardt picked up the pouch, weighed it briefly, and then followed me as we left.

The smell of blood was too strong. I'd need to change my clothes soon. Fortunately, the night had fully descended, and the streets were almost deserted.

---

The next morning, the group departed the city early.

Kadi now wore William's armor and rode the knight's warhorse, accompanied by another man posing as William's squire. They slipped out of the city unnoticed.

It was as though the events in the slums the previous night had never happened. Even if the bodies were discovered, any investigation would be perfunctory, a mere humanitarian gesture. After all, those who had died were insignificant, and their corpses would simply be left to rot.

"Would you like to be my page?" Kadi, clad in heavy armor, suddenly asked me. Though this had clearly been his intention all along, he still asked as if giving a choice.

"Do I have a choice?" I countered.

"Haha, of course not."

"..."

"You and him both can come along. It's just basic tasks like feeding the horses and cleaning armor. It's better than wandering aimlessly outside. Don't you want to learn more about swordsmanship?"

My thoughts briefly wandered to the time I had spent with Gunther. Perhaps staying here for a while, having a place to rest, wouldn't be so bad.

"Fine. I'll be your page. There'll be time to go outside, right?"

Kadi chuckled. After all, I was still a child. Wanting to explore was natural.

"Of course."

---

After changing back into my blue belted tunic and carrying a large sword on my back, I mounted a relatively docile horse. Sitting astride it, I looked quite the part.

It seemed manageable, as if I instinctively knew how to ride. Once on the horse, I could control it with ease, feeling a subtle connection to the animal—I could sense its current state as though we shared a bond.

"How are you so good at this already?" Bernhardt asked, awkwardly climbing up behind me.

I shrugged, and patted the horse's neck.

By the time we returned to Weimar, it was already dusk.

Counting it all up, six days had been spent on this journey.

When entering the city, Kadi kept his helmet closed.

After briefly inquiring with the guards about where the Dragon Knights received new recruits, he leisurely rode through the city towards the castle, carrying the letter from Count Glance.

For me, it was my first time riding a horse through the city. Perhaps because of the dazzling knightly armor, many passersby cast curious glances our way.

Though I wasn't the focus of attention, the admiring looks still stirred a spark of longing within me, as if a scene from a fairy tale—knights and princesses—was unfolding before my eyes.

So this is what it feels like to be on this side of the crowd.

Indeed, there was nothing like experiencing it firsthand to truly grasp the feeling. A natural sense of honor welled up inside me.

By chance, I caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance, down a small alley. Though I couldn't see the person's outfit clearly, it seemed to be a white top. Evidently, that person had noticed me too.

---Third POV---

Why is he with a knight? Is he the knight's personal squire?

Feeling a mix of emotions, Gerald watched the familiar figure from afar, that smile on his face...

Damn it, why do I feel like punching him so much right now?

Unfortunately, the street was crowded, with many onlookers watching knights arrive in town. Today, many knights had come to the city, and the streets were lively with spectators.

Tomorrow, he'll probably go to the tailor shop to pick up his clothes. I just need to wait for him there to give him a good beating.

The thought of tomorrow's confrontation instantly brightened his mood.

Today, many knights would enter the castle to meet the king. Gerald couldn't miss the chance to witness so many knights in person.

Under the setting sun, the silver-haired boy embarked on another day of chasing his dreams.

---Grimm's POV---

The accommodations for noblemen in service were different from others. On the evening of our arrival, we were directly housed on the first floor of the royal castle, with dedicated attendants to care for our horses.

"The squires' quarters are outside the main keep, my lord," the steward began, eyeing Bernhardt and me.

"These boys stay with me," Kadi stated firmly.

The steward hesitated. "My lord, it's not customary..."

"Neither is my patience."

After Kadi handed the letter to the Dragon Knights' officer in charge and exchanged a few polite words, we were directed to our quarters. Tonight, we would stay on the castle's first floor and be treated to a royal banquet by the king.

Freshly baked bread, chicken, fruits, vegetables, and even beer—this was already an excellent meal for commoners. Knights from distant lands shared tales of monsters and battles around the tables, each story growing taller with each cup of wine.

In the evening, the king hosted a grand feast for the knights who had traveled from afar. As all the new recruits had arrived, many nobles brought their daughters to socialize with the knights and exchange news from distant lands.

In an era without mobile phones, the flow of information was incredibly slow, and external news was rarely available.

The gathering lasted until around 10 p.m., by which time most attendees had mingled enough to make future allies and partners for mutual benefit, thus forming their own initial networks.

---

At dawn, the roosters and livestock within the castle began to crow, heralding the morning and rousing me from my deep slumber.

"A new day begins," I murmured.

I stretched lazily as I got out of bed, yawning. It had been a long time since I'd slept so comfortably—staying in the castle really was a privilege.

I performed a simple wash using a wooden basin, scrubbing my slightly gapped teeth with some ash and my fingers—after all, toothbrushes weren't a thing in this era. Still, my gums at the back felt swollen lately, and a tooth tip was poking through.

It seemed like I was growing a new tooth.

Once dressed, I headed out to find a training ground and began practicing my swordsmanship. On the battlefield, honing one's skills was the best assurance of survival. Many knights and their squires were already there, practicing their techniques.

"Look over there, whose child is that?"

"Probably a page. Training swordsmanship at such a young age, huh?"

"He's doing pretty well."

"Indeed, he seems like a talented lad. If only my son were half as good…"

A child on the training ground was certainly a rare sight, drawing a mix of admiration and curiosity from those around me.

"…158... 159... 160."

"Huff… huff…"

No progress at all. This body… was this already its limit? Resting on the large sword, I felt a dull ache spread through my exhausted muscles.

"Boss!!"

Bernhardt came running, panting heavily. Physical exertion wasn't exactly his forte, and it seemed he'd been looking for me for a while.

"You're already out here training so early? Why didn't you wake me up?" he wheezed as he approached, clearly having skipped breakfast.

"You were sleeping so soundly. Here, give it a try." I gestured for him to lift the sword stuck in the ground.

I had rested enough by now.

This sword had been acquired during the battles under Gunther. It wasn't exceptional, but among two-handed swords, it was one of the best-maintained and incredibly sharp.

However, it was also heavier than most, weighing about 6 kilograms. The swing radius was just over a meter, and wielding it effectively required considerable strength.

Bernhardt examined the sword in the ground. He managed to lift it without too much trouble, but his untrained technique made it difficult to handle steadily.

"So heavy… How do you manage to swing this so easily?" he exclaimed in shock. Despite being younger than him, I could wield this massive sword effortlessly—a feat even adults would struggle with.

"Just to stay alive. Now, let's see how you handle swinging it."

I began coaching Bernhardt in swordsmanship.

"Your feet are too close. Spread them shoulder-width... no, wider. You need to be able to pivot," I instructed as Bernhardt struggled with the basic stance.

"Like this?" he adjusted his footing.

"Better. Now, imagine the sword is part of your arm..." I demonstrated the proper movement.

[Current Coach Bonus: +2.
Target: Bernhardt.
Estimated XP Gain: 10 points/hour.]

Bernhardt would need at least eight hours of daily training to match the experience I earned in the Trial Realm.

Perhaps the events he'd gone through had profoundly impacted Bernhardt. He spread his arms wide, putting every ounce of effort into each swing, working up a sweat as he pushed himself to the limit.