Chapter 113

Chapter 113 - Coastal Bay (3)

The slave traders shouldn't have just been surprised by the sudden ambush. The hurriedly dispatched warriors of Samur were flustered upon seeing the composition of the intruders.

"Why are Dwarves popping out from here?"

"Yeah, let's see if the word 'Dwarves' still comes out even after tasting this elder's axe!"

Immediately, a Dwarven axe chopped down on an instep.

In a situation where they ran out wearing sandals due to a sudden battle. The warrior, whose foot shape was surgically altered like an artiodactyl, screamed.

Coming to their senses, the others counterattacked with curved swords and spears, but to no avail. The Dwarves, presenting sturdy shields as large as their own bodies, were essentially moving walls.

In indoor combat, which flows mainly around defensive power and contests of strength rather than finesse, they are the strongest race.

-We cannot act as mere guards forever. We must build up achievements this time to prepare for a third contract renewal!

-Uwooo!!!

The centurion Rampage and the decurions were eager, their bodies roused at being deployed in actual combat after a long time.

Unlike the human mercenaries who were founding members and heavy cavalry, and the Dark Elves who became a community sharing the same destiny, they needed to constantly prove their usefulness.

"Dwarves!"

"Why are these bastards here?"

Every additional warrior arriving as reinforcement panicked and blurted out the same words.

"Well, is our appearance that surprising?"

"Honestly, even I would be surprised."

The Dwarf warriors chuckled and laughed.

The very first ones rich nobles look for when embroiled in a dispute are Dwarf mercenaries. Their loyalty, tenacity, patience, and versatility.

It is truly a loss not to use them. Nobles who cannot hire them simply cannot afford them because they are expensive. However, Dwarf mercenaries could not be found anywhere in Samur.

Because their strong point, heavy iron armor, rapidly evaporates stamina in hot climates.

The deserts scattered here and there were virtually traps for Dwarves. Their combat weight was heavy, yet their legs were short, so the deeply sinking sand acted like a mudflat.

"More reinforcements will come! Hold out no matter what!"

"No, the reinforcements aren't the problem! Even if they come, they can't pierce... Aaargh!"

Even as the captain of the guard encouraged them, the subordinates fighting at the front were driven crazy. With iron shields completely covering their bodies, where were they supposed to attack?

The warriors' skills were not bad, but that was a story assuming a duel between equally lightly armed Samur warriors.

Bang! Bang!

Crunch!

The small shields became tatters in an instant under ruthless axe swings. They were losing in martial prowess and equipment, and it wasn't a one-on-one situation either.

"Stab them!"

From behind the firm battle line of Dwarves, heavy infantry fiercely thrust with spears held in both hands. The guards, continually pushed back, tumbled while spouting blood from their thighs or arms.

"Sons of bitches!"

Furious at the sight of their comrades falling helplessly, the warriors threw hidden weapons or shot light crossbows.

"Get down!"

However, all those were blocked by the Dwarves' shields. Afterwards, spear blades poured out once again.

"They are doing much better than I thought."

"Since they repeatedly practiced that simple training countless times, even fools could manage it."

From behind, Rampage smiled amiably at his employer, who was watching with satisfaction.

Small but solid Dwarves block at the front line, and human spearmen thrust from the rear line!

It was a tactic that utilized the height difference between the two to increase attack power per identical area by more than twofold.

It was an extremely simple tactic anyone could think of, but unexpectedly difficult to see.

"We occasionally thought about it too, but this is the first time we've tried using it in actual combat like this."

"Because Dwarf mercenaries stick together among blood relatives."

Battles of this era begin with formations and end with formations. If humans with different weapons and body types suddenly jumped into the Dwarven square formation honed over a long time, it would easily backfire in emergencies.

Even for a two-man team tactic, simple movements required considerable training to back them up. Because no noble would train those who would part ways after their employment ended at their own expense.

"Khuk!"

After a person whose knee was pierced by a spear collapsed, their forehead was split by an axe.

The spearmen were gripping the spears with both hands and striking downwards overhand. It was the result of customized training to attack freely from behind the Dwarven front line.

Since it was a gripping method boasting the most powerful destructive force among spearmanship, the Samur warriors accustomed to one-handed swordsmanship found it difficult to defend or deflect.

Moreover, it was a non-mainstream technique rarely used by mercenaries moving as individuals, as it left the abdomen wide open. From the opponents' side, it was even harder to deal with since they didn't know how to respond.

* * *

Grrr-!

"Bite them! Bite them all!"

Those infiltrating through another route faced a brief commotion from a man dragging three massive wolves.

"Direwolves?!"

"Just what did these crazy bastards raise underground? Bring crossbows right away!"

However, contrary to their imposing appearance, the wolves were quickly suppressed. Because Homi was there.

"Grrrrr-!"

Meeting a roar with a roar.

Yelp!

Whimper!

In front of Homi, who glared with her fangs bared, the wolves immediately lost their will to fight. Because the fear as if a Warg was glaring had cooled down their wildness.

As Homi went through battles, what improved wasn't just horsemanship and archery skills. A power to command beasts to submit inherently dwelled in her voice containing the mystery of wildness.

One rolled onto its back, exposing its belly, and the other two flattened themselves completely, burying their heads.

"Wh-what the? Why are these guys suddenly acting like this?"

The man, who had shared joys and sorrows with them and trained them since they were pups, panicked at an overly submissive posture they hadn't shown even to him.

The wolves didn't raise their heads even while their master was dying from a spear thrust. A situation where the bond built over five years evaporated in mere seconds.

The man breathed his last while staring at the wolves, who were like his own children, with eyes full of disbelief.

"Phew. That shaved ten years off my life."

"At this point, isn't the squire also a magician?"

The astonished mercenaries aimed their weapons at their necks, but the wolves didn't budge.

"Do we kill these guys too?"

At the mercenaries' question, who had become even more polite, Homi shook her head.

And then she grabbed one wolf by the scruff of its neck and growled as if whispering. The wolf's entire body hair stood on end like a chestnut burr.

Despite Homi being much weaker in terms of size, nobody thought it was awkward. The wolf lunging to bite her neck was regarded as an imagination going against the laws of the world.

The wolves, abruptly standing up, moved as if guiding the group in a certain direction.

"...!"

Human language was completely unexchanged, but everyone was quick on the uptake, befitting veterans. They could smell the sweet scent of money. Homi and the mercenaries ran in the direction the wolves led.

* * *

"Here is also clear."

The female warrior leading and checking the corridor sent a signal. Various tools hung in bunches from her tight brown leather clothes.

"Thanks to you, we were able to proceed safely."

"Don't mention it."

As Cassandra's unit had given up on horsemanship, many possessed unique talents. Among them included rogues skilled at discovering and dismantling traps.

Eugene was curious about a rogue's sleight of hand, but feeling simultaneously refreshed and disappointed, there was not a single trap here.

"I feel apologetic that I only needlessly delayed our time with my advice. Usually, the bases of bastards like this are packed full of all sorts of dirty traps."

"Isn't everything outcome-based? There is no harm in being careful."

"Thank you for saying so."

At Eugene's praise, Cassandra smiled radiantly. Although Rex hardly even showed his teeth during operations, it seemed her attitude toward combat was different.

"Since they don't exclusively trade slaves but accept other VIP guests as well, it is natural for there to be no traps."

The two people looked at the terrified men tied up tightly.

It was a diverse composition, including high-ranking city officials, nobles low in the line of succession, executives of powerful mercenary groups, etc. They were people being served pleasures while forming a mutually beneficial relationship with the slave traders.

"They wouldn't be able to fortify the interior while guys like these wander around drunk."

"Because it would be troublesome if VIP guests suffered a mishap."

'This woman's facial expression truly is something.'

Cassandra staring at the portly men in their underwear. Eugene couldn't help but marvel at that expression.

If the limit of coldness was absolute zero, the limit of contempt could be said to be Cassandra's face right now.

Putting beautiful appearances aside, it felt like seeing one of the extremes of the world in some sense. To the point where he momentarily thought he wanted to preserve it as a painting.

"Is there something on my face?"

"No. Nothing."

When Eugene smiled awkwardly, a report came up from the front.

"We found a secret passage!"

Finding traps wasn't the only thing rogues could do. Searching for escape routes commonly existing in hideouts of this kind was their true specialty.

Because the most expensive treasures and the most important figures were bound to flee to such places.

"The passage is open?"

"It must have been such a rapid ambush that they didn't even have the luxury to cover their tracks properly. If we chase them now, we can catch them..."

Cassandra, whose corners of the mouth were rising at the long-awaited opportunity to achieve an accomplishment, froze stiffly.

"Please! Please just spare our lives!"

The battered slave traders everywhere were being dragged out by Homi and the mercenaries. With uniformly luxurious clothes and an air of experience felt from them, it was certain they were the leadership here.

Kharrk-!

Grrr-!

The wolves who switched sides had made significant contributions. Not just informing them of the secret passage, but catching up to the slave traders while leading the vanguard of the pursuit.

"For these things worse than dogs to repay the grace of feeding and raising them like this!"

Smack!

The slave trader spitting out anger at the betrayal of the direwolves, who were specialties of the hideout, tumbled over. Behind him was Homi, throwing a nuclear-punch-like flick to his head.

"P-please patch me up... The bleeding won't stop..."

Those who tried to flee to the end were bitten here and there by the wolves and bleeding profusely.

"Any other passages?"

"We interrogated the captured bastards, but this is the only one. The squire caught them all!"

At the mercenaries' report, Eugene looked at Homi with a proud face. It was only a shame he couldn't pat her head because of the eyes of others.

"You are the greatest contributor to this operation. I am proud of you."

Bow.

Homi slightly bent her left knee, pulled her right foot back, and placed her palm on her chest.

Because she couldn't speak, it was an incredibly elegant movement naturally resulting from diligently practicing etiquette normally.

To the point of eliciting admiration even from Cassandra, who had experienced court life.

* * *

A situation where all the resisting warriors had fallen, the leadership was captured, and the secret passage had been uncovered.

The slave traders' base was practically secured, but there was one place remaining.

"Retreat! Fall back!"

The Dwarves, who had been charging in irresistibly, were being pushed back for the first time at the lowest floor.

"What is going on?"

Since the hideout was a structure that was wide at the top and narrowed as it went down, Eugene also confirmed the chaos immediately and ran over.

The spearmen holding spear shafts snapped in half were desperately dragging out injured Dwarves.

"These guys aren't ordinary slave traders! They are using pagan magic!"

"What?"

Right then, pagan friars with blasphemous tattoos engraved all over their skin appeared.

Perhaps having gone through fierce battles with the intruding mercenaries, their entire bodies were covered in wounds.

"Even if you pierce their bellies with a spear or hack their shoulders with an axe, they don't even flinch. On top of that, how strong they are..."

"This is the state after a single kick."

One Dwarf warrior showed a heavily swollen wrist. Even though he blocked it with a shield, his wrist was fractured by the impact.

"Understood, everyone fall back."

Eugene drew Final Autumn and stepped forward.

"My lord, it is dangerous! Leave it to us."

"Before being a lord, I am also a knight. I cannot simply hide in the back against strong enemies, can I?"

Above all else, otherworldly mysteries could be felt from these guys' whole bodies. Eugene intuited that making his subordinate forces fight them would result in heavy casualties.

'It is a similar feeling to that pagan knight I saw during the Bonyard subjugation battle.'

However, a wicked aura could not be felt. Surprisingly, it was an energy close to purity.

"What kind of outrage is this in a holy place?"

"Unbelievers! Receive divine punishment!"

The pagan friars lunged while swinging maces in attacks that half-disregarded defense.

Trusting in their immortality, they had the resolve to give up their bodies as long as they avoided having their heads cut off.

However, they chose the wrong opponent this time.

When the silver ether blade emitted a flash, blood splattered, and the divine blessing protecting them was completely stripped away.

Sizzle!

The blood staining the blade evaporated like water dropped onto a heated iron plate.

"Kuaargh..."

A guy who screamed in terrible agony had his head blown off by the second attack.

Panicked friars swung their maces, but Eugene lifted the corpse and blocked them. The sound of beating a drum echoed murderously as flesh burst apart.

The chunk of meat excellently absorbed the impacts. Through that gap, a thrust extended and pierced another friar's heart.

"High Priest!"

"You son of a bitch!"

Then, the remaining ones freaked out and screamed.

Nevertheless, Eugene threw the tattered corpses at the friars, lifted new human shields, and placed them in front.

"Wh-what a demon-like bastard! Can you still call yourself a knight like that?"

"How can you act so atrocities while wearing a human skin?"

The pagan friars were astonished and opened their eyes till they tore.

"I-It's being efficient!"

"What nonsense are you spewing for illegal slave traders?!"

Eugene's subordinates also quickly charged in, defending their employer.

Eugene, standing at the forefront, made excellent use of newly acquired human shields while dismembering the friars.

"High Priest..."

The pagan friars seemed to have been quite devout in their own way.

Even though their bodies were already dead, they couldn't dare think of attacking and merely flustered around before falling one after another.

Once the final friar died, a space resembling a chapel appeared behind him.

Inside, there was a single man kneeling before a goddess statue made of gold, fervently offering a prayer.

"Goddess! The last of your believers in this land are on the verge of disappearing! Please bestow your blessing on this pitiful servant! The power to ensure your footsteps will not be severed!"

Just as intense mystery erupted from the goddess statue as if responding to that fervent prayer and was about to inhabit the man.

The bloodletting dagger thrown by Eugene pierced the back of the man's head.

Thrown with such immense force, the blade flew in a straight line and pierced through his skull with the momentum to shatter it.

Splash!

As fresh blood sprayed onto the bare legs of the goddess statue, the man turned into a corpse and pitched forward.

Voom Voom Voom!

The vast mystery pouring out like a broken dam made the corpse heave, but its brain was already destroyed. Not even an undead can rise again if its head is crushed.

"It is useless."

Eugene spoke while pointing his sword toward the goddess statue.

"Since there is no longer anyone to receive your blessing, give up. Return to the oblivion where you now belong."

"Sir Knight?"

To the subordinates following behind, only a faint tremor and a corpse were visible.

However, Eugene could sense the mighty presence that had descended upon this chapel.

'It' could not leave the fallen corpse whilst containing emotions of sorrow, grief, lingering attachments, and obsession.