Three days later, we continued our pilgrimage with the same personnel, but adding Lucy, the wet nurse. About that garbage… He was never registered to begin with. So, in that case, he was about to be treated as a camp follower instead of my squire. However, someone interfered. He was recruited into the Guardian Knight order as a new recruit. He reaped what she sowed. I could predict what kind of baptism he would receive since that man showed interest in him in a bad way.

  He also needed to stay in the capital to control his group, since he was treated as their leader. We could not allow that group to run amok. Because they had never known what ‘home’ meant, they would find the orphanage’s environment to be too suffocating.

  “Don’t worry, I will try my best to save him.” The high priest came to me. “At least, he would not be killed.” He looked a bit troubled when he said that.

  “You don’t have to put yourself in danger for him.” I could understand his stand. And I could not bring him into the mud with us. I was his master, so I needed to do it myself.

  Thus, before we left the main church, I went to Cardinal Peter with a piece of paper. It would, at the very least, guarantee that garbage’s life. About the rest, let’s consider it as his trial that he needed to overcome.

  Before we left, I also gave that garbage a parting lesson while everyone from the new recruit watched. It would establish his position as the bottom feeder; however, they would not go too far with him… If they were afraid of my name, no, of his name.

  “You are too weak.” I looked at him as he lay flat on the ground.

  “You are the weakest here.” I looked at everyone around him. I would remember the faces of those new recruits.

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  “As you are now, you can only serve as a punching bag for everyone here.” I established his position for him. I could not allow him to retaliate against the baptism that would be ensured. It would cost him his life. “Starting today, you are to be their punching bag.”

  “Crawl on the floor as much as you want.” That was how I survived so far.

  “You have no pride as a human being.” We, Sellsword, didn’t value pride. We only value gold.

  “There is only one purpose for you.” That was what we agreed on. That was what he wanted. “Become a meat shield. This is the only way you can protect others.”

  “Thus, you need to learn to take the hit first.” That was similar to how I started. “So, from now on, you are their punching bag.” I gave one long, last look at everyone who was present before walking away.

  On my way, I met some people from our group.

  “Don’t you think it was a bit too much?” Sir Noval, a guardian knight from our group, asked me.

  “That is the only way.” I gave him my honest thought.

  “Should I envy him, or should I pity him?” Sir Dile looked at that garbage as he let out a bit of a sigh.

  “You should never have kids. They will kill you when they grow up. Your father's love is too heavy.” Sir Ray, another guardian knight, shook his head at me.

  “Just hid it from Lady Aria.” We could not allow her to learn about it. She would do something reckless if she knew about it. This matter should be settled among men.

  “… We asked our friends to check on him from time to time. The High Priest also bribed some people for him.” Sir Seth offered me his assistant.

  “I will repay him later.” I found myself owning the High Priest a lot lately.

  I could reasonably talk with Cardinal Peter; however, about the Holy Knight, he was a bit unstable to speak with. Even Duke Ellon could not control him. It left us with no choice but to go down this road.

  After that, we walked to our group, who were waiting for us. I found Lady Aria holding Lucy in her arms, looking at us with concern.

  “Forgive me, milady, I made you wait.”

  “I did not wait long. How was your business?”

  “It is finished. We can depart with peace in mind.”

  “Thank you.” She lowered her head at me again.

  Thus, we began our second phase of our pilgrimage.

  Many people came to say goodbye to us at the main gate, save for that garbage.

  Although he was a fool, he was not that foolish.