“You can leave, but I have a question for you.”
Rod spoke slowly.
He wasn't interested in stealing anyone's gold.
However, he was very interested in the source of these gold coins.
“Baron Harris lost a bag of gold coins, and I'm looking for the thief who stole them.”
“I think you should explain where these gold coins came from.”
Eric's expression turned flustered when he heard this.
Stealing a noble's wealth was a serious crime, punishable by hanging if the amount was large enough.
He didn't want to die.
“Sir Knight, my gold coins were not stolen from anyone.”
“I got them from a witch.”
A witch?
Rod's eyes widened in surprise. This was the second time he had encountered something related to a witch.
The first time was in Little Red Riding Hood's village.
Under the threat of death, Eric honestly explained the origin of his gold coins.
The story was simple. This young man named Eric was a serf on a knight's territory.
Because of the friction between the two lords, the knight was summoned.
And he, as the knight's squire, went to the battlefield together.
But this guy was a coward, and he deserted the battlefield soon after joining.
On his escape, he encountered a witch.
She lured him into a tree hole, where there were three treasure chambers below.
The first treasure chamber held a pile of copper coins.
The second treasure chamber held a pile of silver coins.
And the third treasure chamber held a lot of gold coins.
Each treasure chamber was guarded by a terrifying monster.
The witch tricked him into the tree hole, and these gold coins were his spoils from the tree hole.
Later, he had a dispute with the witch and killed her.
Then he came to this town.
That was roughly the origin of the gold coins, except he had embellished it a bit.
He had turned it into a story about losing the war, having to leave his hometown and wandering to this town.
Then he bravely fought the witch and finally, after many near-death experiences, took the gold coins from the monsters in the tree hole.
Listening to Eric finish, Rod's expression became slightly strange.
This story sounded familiar.
Thinking carefully, wasn't this just the fairy tale of the Tinderbox?
If he had any doubts before.
Now he was basically certain that he had really transmigrated to a fairy tale world.
Except, this fairy tale world wasn't as innocent and romantic as those in fairy tales.
Instead, it was very real.
“Do you think I'm an idiot?”
“Bravely fought a witch? Defeated a terrifying monster? If you really have that kind of strength, then let me see.”
Rod slowly drew the knight's sword at his waist.
This was a prop he had just bought at the market to disguise his identity.
It was just right to use now.
The sharp blade lay across Eric's neck, and he trembled all over.
Rod's eyes were cold. This cowardly guy didn't even dare to go to the battlefield.
How dare he brag to him?
Did he really think he was Hans Christian Andersen?
If such a loser could kill a witch and terrifying monsters.
He would be a dragon slayer.
Under Rod's pressure, the frightened Eric finally honestly confessed the truth.
“No, it wasn't me who defeated the monster, it was the witch, she used magic to defeat those monsters and got these gold coins.”
“I just happened to pass by, found the witch unconscious and seriously injured, killed her and took these gold coins.”
“As for the tree hole, it’s real, but there are terrifying monsters guarding the tree hole, and I dare not go in.”
Rod's expression was not unexpected.
After all, even according to the fairy tale plot, this guy wasn't a good person.
The witch used gold coins as payment and gave him a piece of clothing with mysterious magic, asking him to take a tinderbox out of the tree hole.
After leaving the tree hole.
He first broke his promise and killed the witch, then he became lazy and spent all the gold coins.
Finally, he accidentally discovered the secret of the tinderbox and summoned the monsters guarding the tree hole.
Because of his lust for the princess, he asked the monsters to kidnap the princess.
After being discovered, the king had him hanged.
Then he summoned the monsters to kill the king and all his ministers, finally taking over the princess and the kingdom.
In short, he was a greedy, selfish, and lustful villain.
“If I'm not mistaken, you should have a tinderbox on you, give it to me.”
Rod said calmly.
This guy was a villain, and he wasn't a good guy either.
“Wh, what tinderbox, I don't know.”
Eric's face changed when he heard this, his eyes darted around.
He did have a tinderbox on him, which he found on the witch he had ambushed and killed.
Although he didn't know what secret this tinderbox held.
But, it was definitely a good thing if it could make a knight so concerned.
Besides, he was the one who killed the witch, why should he give this thing to this guy?
Seeing the stubborn young man, Rod had no patience to talk nonsense with him.
“Why do you think I'm negotiating with you?”
With a cold expression, he waved his hand.
The knight's sword directly wiped his neck.
Bargaining?
Are you worthy?
There were panicked screams from the surroundings.
A group of civilians who had come to watch the commotion saw a man die, and they scattered in all directions.
Rod searched the corpse casually and found a tinderbox and a thick-looking book.
Looking at Eric, who was clutching his neck, his face full of disbelief.
Rod had no expression on his face.
He gave him a chance.
But he wasn't up to it.
He didn't even have any common sense, so who else would die but him?