Chapter 141: Changing of the Khalodian Land (1)

“UGH!”

Jackson suddenly woke up on his bed and realized he was sleeping. He found his breath while he glanced around.

“Dammit!”

He had lived a good life until now. The land was in a remote area, but he was happy with his position as a lieutenant captain of the village guard. The village was also famous for the trade where all kinds of merchants would gather annually. These merchants gave him various presents and bribes that were also good. Jackson shared two-thirds of the gifts to the guards so they did not have any problems with Jackson receiving bribes. It was good for all of them.

“Dammit… Dammit!”

Jackson frowned. He now had saved up enough money so he could live peacefully after he retired. But it all disappeared at once.

-Oh? So you made quite a fortune, eh? But to retire… someone will not be happy if he discovers what you did.-

It was what Joonbum said when Jackson did not accept or refuse to become his subordinate. Joonbum was now an heir to the lord. If he started pointing out that Jackson had been receiving bribes, there was no way that he would be safe. Joonbum was giving him no choice.

“Lieutenant! You should wake up! It’s morning! You need to meet up with the merchants today!”

Jackson looked out the window where it was still dark. It looked like sun was not going to rise for the next one to two hours.

‘Where’s the sun? It’s not morning yet! Damn that monster!’

Joonbum had barely slept. He seemed to sleep not longer than three hours. He did not even need to take a nap afterward. He also seemed to not grow tired even with his lack of sleep. Jackson shook his head and rose from his bed, giving up any resistance he had left. As he stood up, he stretched in wrong direction, and pain seared through his back.

“UGH! My back…!”

Jackson moaned and a young freckled boy about twelve years old poked his head in through the door.

“Huh? Father!” The boy shouted in shock and ran to Jackson.

“Ugh…”

“Did you hurt your back again?”

The boy began helping Jackson sit up and checked his back.

“Hmm, it looks bad.”

“Nngh.”

His son, Torres, looked concerned. Jackson moaned and spoke.

“I can’t move right now. We should call the merchants here.”

“Okay. I will have someone go fetch them.”

Torres ran out of the house and Jackson shook his pale face.

“Ha…”

‘I wonder what he will say.’

He sighed at the thought of Joonbum.

“Tsk, tsk.”

At that moment, a sound came from the doorway and Jackson turned around.

‘Oh God.’

It was Joonbum who had entered the room without knocking.

“I heard you hurt your back. Take your shirt off and lie down.”

“What? Ugh, sir. Why-”

“You don’t want to get treated? Do as I say.”

Joonbum frowned at Jackson’s unconvinced expression.

“Come on. Do it now. I’m a busy man.”

Jackson took off his shirt, still unconvinced. He laid face down on his bed.

“But, sir…”

“This will help your sore muscles. Here.”

Jackson moaned as Joonbum put a muscle reliever patch on his back.

“You feel it working?”

“Is it really working? I usually need three weeks in bed to heal.”

“Hmm, I guess two or three days should do. Use this if it still hurts tomorrow.”

Joonbum handed him some pain relieving cream.

“This is for sore muscles. Clean yourself before you use it.”

“Understood, sir.”

“Don’t move too much today. Work on your wheelchair. It will be okay tomorrow.”

Jackson looked confused after hearing something he did not recognize.

“Wheelchair? What is that?”

“Father! Look!”

That’s when his son Torres walked in, pushing something in. It was a chair with wheels on it.

‘Wheel… chair…!’

The chair had wheels at the bottom. The chair with small wheels at the bottom of its legs were available in this part of the world, but it was not like the one Joonbum had brought.

‘Everything is fascinating.’

Jackson now gave up being surprised by everything. That was when he gasped in shock. Joonbum lifted him up effortlessly and sat him down in the wheelchair.

“Wow.”

His son Torres seemed to be surprised also. Jackson was not a light-weighted man. He had a big belly and was quite heavy himself. What was more surprising was that Jackson did not feel the excruciating pain on his back as he expected when he was being picked up. It did hurt a bit, but it wasn’t anything like before when he woke up a moment ago.

“It works fast, right?” Joonbum asked while grinning. Jackson nodded.

“Good. Keep up the work then. Torres, help your father and make sure you memorize the multiplication chart by dinner today.”

“Yes, sir!”

Torres answered energetically as he watched Joonbum in admiration. Joonbum Christos was the most famous figure in all of Khalodian Land. The people loved the appearance of a young and powerful knight and him becoming the heir to the land.

The fact that the count had no heir was a concern for people of the land also. If the count passed away, there would be turmoil revolving around the seat and the people were the ones who would have to suffer. That’s when Joonbum appeared and since he was admirable person, everyone welcomed him.

‘So he refused to become an heir because he’s not satisfied with living as a petty lord in the remote countryside. He said he can live at the capital lavishly if he wanted.’

Jackson thought about the news he heard.

‘Dumb nobles not thinking straight. He’s only here because of the countess. They should beg him to become a lord.’

Jackson thought about the capital he once visited when he was young. The lavish city and its beautiful women captivated him.

‘If you are young, it’s the capital…’

“Father, shall we go?”

“Huh?”

Jackson woke up from his thoughts abruptly.

“Is your back okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

Jackson turned his attention to his back. It seemed okay.

“It’s amazing.”

“Yes, I think Sir Joonbum is more amazing though.”

“Do you like him that much?”

“Of course! He said he can teach me how to use a sword too!”

‘Sword?’ Jackson thought. A knight was a every boy’s fantasy. His son was no exception.

‘I should work to the bones.’

He sighed at the fact that he had to work for Joonbum for his son’s sake. But he was also proud of his son.

“If you want to be a knight, I will support you.”

“Huh? A-are you really? But…”

Torres looked concerned. Becoming a knight was not simple. It required fortune. It required expensive armor, weapons, and a warhorse. All of those cost more than what any commoner could afford. Torres, who knew this, wasn’t sure if it was possible. Jackson frowned.

“Don’t worry. Trust your father and do your best. I will not accept failure,” Jackson told him firmly. After some hesitation, Torres finally closed his mouth and nodded.

“Yes, sir!” he answered. Jackson looked at him proudly and spoke up.

“Let’s go then.”

Torres pushed Jackson’s wheelchair and they moved out.