The Tin Knight-Chapter 7: The Tin Knight and The City of Pleasure (1)

The victims you rescued were divided into two main groups.

One group consisted of people who wished to return to their hometowns. They received a share of the bandits’ loot that was relatively small in size and convenient to use, then departed.

Ronnie advised them to stick together if possible, saying, “There might be other dangers,” but few heeded her advice.

Perhaps they were eager to return to their families as soon as possible, or perhaps they thought that traveling in a group without proper defenses would make them an easier target.

Either way, Ronnie’s words were ignored, leaving her visibly bitter.

The other group consisted of those who followed Ronnie, or more precisely, those who set out with you and Dorothea.

“Our children were taken by the bandits! Please help us!”

“Even if I return to the village alone now, all that’s left is ruins.”

“You’re going to after those bandit bastards, right? Let me help!”

Unlike those trying to reunite with family, this group included those with nowhere to go and those blinded by their thirst for revenge.

While Dorothea didn’t welcome them, she didn’t drive them away either.

Her attitude seemed to suggest that as long as they didn’t interfere, they could do as they pleased.

Thanks to the seized horses and wagons used by the bandits, the journey became much faster.

As you skillfully drove the wagon from the coachman’s seat, Dorothea glanced at you with a puzzled expression.

“Where did you learn to do that?”

[The 'Tin Knight' says his body remembers!]

It wasn’t just a metaphor, but a literal expression of the truth.

Whether it was rampaging against the bandits or handling the reins on a horse, the memories engraved in your body coincided with your intent, assisting every action you took.

You suspected that perhaps the predecessor who had passed on this body to you might have been remarkably versatile—with the exception of cooking, which was decidedly poor.

Dorothea gave you a peculiar look but didn’t inquire further.

And finally.

Your destination, Albert City, came into view.

Towering city walls and a sturdy-looking gate.

A long queue of people waited to enter the city.

[The 'Tin Knight' remarks that the walls here seem grander and more elaborate than those of the capital!]

“Well, there are no significant threats around the capital.”

The world was made up of supply and demand.

The capital, which was far from the borders and monster activity, had little need for high, sturdy walls.

Conversely, this implied that Albert City faced substantial threats that justified the construction and maintenance of such grand walls.

“Are there specific reasons why the walls are so high?”

“...It’s because of the bandits,” Ronnie answered Dorothea’s question with a grim expression.

You and Dorothea tilted your heads in unison.

“Didn’t you say those bandits are doing business inside those walls? Bandits don’t normally attack the place where they buy and sell goods.”

Of course, it wasn’t because of some honorary code of thieves that bandits did not touch their customers; it was purely a matter of convenience.

There was no point in raiding villages and capturing lots of slaves if there was nowhere to sell them.

Similarly, there was no use in plundering passing merchants for gold and treasures if there was nowhere to spend that money.

Even outlaws, or rather, especially because they were outlaws, tended to avoid targeting places that accommodate their trade.

“It’s the opposite. The walls aren’t to keep external attacks at bay, but to prevent people from escaping from the inside.”

“Escaping? Who?”

“Those who have broken the city’s rules. The lord of Albert City is the most powerful figure in this land, and at the same time, the most powerful bandit.”

A lord, a powerful figure, as well as a bandit.

Walls to enforce his rules and prevent escapees.

It was contradictory, but that made it fascinating.

“Sounds troublesome. A place where we can’t move freely.”

Unlike you, who was brightening up, Dorothea seemed quite annoyed.

You tried to ignite Dorothea’s enthusiasm.

[The 'Tin Knight' argues that such a prominent figure might have the item Dorothea is searching for!]

“Say something that makes sense. You think it would come out that easily?”

[The 'Tin Knight' insists that there is no harm in checking it out!]

“Good grief.”

Although Dorothea wore an exasperated expression, she couldn’t resist your pestering and took out the detector.

After one of the eight symbols lit up and the shadow snake popped out...

Shaaaaa!

The snake, standing upright, reared its head toward Albery City, letting out a roar(?) as it slithered forward at full speed.

It was truly lightning-fast.

“...”

Dorothea froze, stunned by the magic tool’s unprecedented intense reaction.

As if showing off to such a Dorothea, you gave a thumbs up.

Dorothea trembled with her head lowered, while you reveled in the sweet taste of victory.

Albeit unclear of the contest of wills you won, you won nonetheless.

***The shadow snake disappeared beyond the city walls, but you and your companions couldn’t simply rush after it.

The people in the queue, numbering well over a hundred at a glance, glared at you with fierce eyes.

Seeing bandits mixed in among them, Dorothea muttered incredulously, “I can’t believe these criminals are following the rules of a place like this.”

“...It just shows how terrifying the lord of Albert must be.”

Ronnie’s shoulders drooped as she said this.

She seemed to have failed in her attempt to search for the men who had taken the “young lady” among the queue.

“If we queue in line normally, we won’t be able to enter today, will we?”

Dorothea’s words stirred murmurs among the other women.

Their faces were all haggard from fatigue and hunger.

It was the fault of those ignorant bandits who couldn’t even manage their manpower or “goods” properly and had kept them locked up in cages for days without food.

Although they managed to get emergency rations after killing the bandits, there was little left over as food had also been shared with the group returning home.

There were no nearby forests to hunt or gather fruits, so if they couldn’t enter the city today, everyone would end up starving.

You surveyed the queue.

Among them, there were quite a few with faces that seemed to advertise “I’m a bandit”, but there was no certainty that all of them were criminals.

Above all, swinging a sword to cut in line didn’t seem “cool” by your standards. For you, this was a very serious issue.

Moreover, it didn’t seem likely that Dorothea, who was surprisingly sensitive about reputation despite her appearance, would allow such a massacre.

With the option of simply cutting down everything in your way blocked—an option that seemed to come from a brain made entirely of muscle—you started to use your head.

Ask, and you shall receive, as they say.

Your gaze fell upon a group that had left the queue.

They headed towards a small side door next to the large city gate and spoke to the gatekeeper guarding it.

The gatekeeper held out his hand, and the group handed him a leather pouch that looked quite heavy.

And lo and behold, the side door, which had seemed tightly shut and unlikely to ever be breached, swung wide open, and the group went through.

[The 'Tin Knight' asks how about over there!]

“Hmm?”

At your words, Dorothea and the others turned their gaze towards the side door.

As if you weren’t the only one who had seen the group enter just now, another group was seen approaching the side door and speaking to the gatekeeper.

“I wonder what they’re saying?”

“Who knows? It doesn’t seem to be any pleasant.”

As Dorothea said, unlike the previous group, the atmosphere between this group and the gatekeeper turned hostile.

The rising voices could be heard even from where you were.

“Hell no! Cut the bullshit! That’s an absurd amount just to pass through one damn door!”

“If you don’t like it, just get in line. No one’s forcing you to use this door?”

“You bastard, do you know who I am—“

THWACK!

The man’s self-introduction was cut short.

An arrow shot from one of the small holes in Albert City’s thick city walls pierced straight through his head.

Thud.

“B-Brother!?” the gang around the fallen man cried out in shock, staring at his bleeding body.

To them, the gatekeeper coldly declared, “Who cares who you are? That crap doesn’t fly here, so scram. Oh, I guess you can’t leave now. Hey, you lot. Quickly take your “brother” or whatever away. Or are you planning on joining him?”

The gang members looked furious for a moment, but realizing that arrows could fly from the small holes in the walls at any time, they soon bowed their heads, retrieved the corpse, and left.

Sensing the gazes of the people around, the gatekeeper shouted loudly, “Unless you’re loaded, don’t even think about coming near this door! Keep in mind that if you try any funny business, you’ll end up filled with holes in your body like that guy! Capiche!”

Some people in the queue flinched as they watched the corpse being dragged away.

Ronnie frowned.

“Judging by the caliber of his subordinates, I can imagine what kind of person the lord is.”

Dorothea shrugged.

“He’s already the most infamous bandit in the area, right? It’s not like he has any reputation to lose. Anyway, this works out well.”

“Pardon?”

“If there is a shortcut, we might as well use it. We have money, after all.”

Realizing that the “money” Dorothea was referring to was the loot reclaimed from the bandits, Ronnie hastily tried to dissuade her, “P-please wait a moment, sure, using that might get us through, but we don’t know how much money we’ll need inside the city. Isn’t this too hasty?”

“Didn’t you say we need to rescue your young lady? Are you saying it doesn’t matter if she’s left captive for another day since she’s already been kidnapped?”

Ronnie was at a loss for words.

Dorothea was right.

It had already been several days since Ronnie was separated from her “young lady”.

While they assumed that they wouldn’t carelessly harm such a valuable “product”, that was still a mere assumption.

For all they knew, the young lady might be suffering terribly even as they hesitated.

After confirming that resolve and determination had entered Ronnie’s eyes, Dorothea headed towards the side door.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

“Oho.”

The gatekeeper let out an exclamation upon seeing Dorothea’s rare beauty.

To this gatekeeper, Dorothea asked, “How much?”

“Shouldn’t the one in need make the first offer?”

“So there’s no fixed price, then.”

Dorothea handed over a leather pouch without hesitation.

From what you could tell, it was a heavier pouch than what the first group that passed through had offered.

The gatekeeper opened the pouch to check its contents, then said, “Not enough.”

As Ronnie, who was nearby, tried to interject angrily, Dorothea held out her hand to stop her.

“The amount doesn’t seem to be lacking.”

“One knight covered head to toe in armor. A bunch of women who look to be in poor condition at a glance. Any way you look at it, you’re a shady group. Any good gatekeeper has the duty to always thoroughly check the identity of those passing through.”

The gatekeeper’s hand landed on Dorothea’s shoulder.

In a suggestive tone, the gatekeeper added, “So how’s ‘bout a quick little body check? If I confirm there’s nothing suspicious, I’ll let you through safely, so don’t worry.”

You pondered for a moment—about one second, to be precise.

Concluding the man before you deserved to be felled by your blade, you gestured to your sword but...

“You know, among the curses of witches, there’s one that turns people into animals,” suddenly, Dorothea muttered such words.

“Huh?”

The gatekeeper wore a puzzled expression.

Regardless, Dorothea continued speaking, “There are many types of animals, but dogs are the most convenient to use. Their corpses are easy to obtain, after all. The rest depends on information about the target. Knowing the name makes it easier, but it’s possible without that too. It’s even simpler if there’s been skin-to-skin contact.”

“What are you talking about—“

“First the skin changes, then the skeleton, and finally the head turns into that of a dog. But this curse has one flaw. It doesn’t function properly unless the target is a child. What do you think the reason for that is?”

Bringing her face close to the gatekeeper’s, Dorothea whispered in his ear, “Dogs usually live about a decade. If it’s a child younger than that, the curse will succeed properly, and they’ll live the rest of their life as a dog. But what about adults older than that? There are no dogs that live for over 30 years. So, they die of old age before fully turning into a dog. Because they die midway, the curse doesn’t complete and stops halfway. What’s left is just the corpse of something that was once human, caught in the middle of becoming a dog.”

Dorothea’s blue eyes sparkled.

The witch’s eyes twisted into crescent moons.

“You touched my skin. Now, you’ve been cursed by me. But don’t worry—it takes about a day to fully change. By the end of half a day, your limbs will twist and you won’t be able to walk on two legs, but you might be able to still crawl. That’s enough time for you to say goodbye to your loved ones. Oh, and let me tell you in advance, killing me won’t break the curse. It would actually make it stronger. My grudge would only grow, and you’d miserably live on, unable to die as something that’s neither dog nor man. Well, I suppose that’s one form of immortality. Try it if you wish.”

The gatekeeper trembled as he looked at his right hand.

What was once a human hand was now covered in thick fur like that of a beast.

A sound that was either a scream or a plea escaped from the gatekeeper’s throat.

Dorothea asked the gatekeeper, “So, how much to let us in?”