Chapter 149

Chapter 149 - A Monster Among Hungry Wolves (6)

Although seeing Eugene off was a send-off repeated several times since he became the Lord, there is one peculiarity this time.

The point being that spectators from all over the peninsula sought it out to see the Moving Castle depart.

"That's the final legacy of the ancient kingdom!"

"It really looks exactly like the fountains in the Bonyard. Although its size is incomparably massive."

"To think all of that is stone. At that rate, would it even get a scratch if struck by a catapult?"

"Before even being thick, it's something the ancients built, so why would it?"

Mercenaries not participating in the Sicilyn expedition, adventurers taking phenomenons as their calling, and nobles idly chasing entertainment.

"I told you my nose could be trusted, didn't I?"

A dog beastman hired as a guide puffed out his chest with a proud face. With the joy of completing his mission, his short and thin tail wagged restlessly.

They play an exceptionally active role in search operations with their unique sense of smell. This request was easy as it was just tracking the scent of massive stones in the forest.

"Set up the meal. I shall eat here while viewing the castle."

"Understood, sir."

Servants moved diligently around the noble sitting arrogantly on a chair. Tables and foods were set up, and parasols to block the sunlight were unfolded.

Everyone wore a disgusted expression at the sight of someone throwing around a sense of privilege even in a place like this.

"Look at the sky over there! Something is about to begin!"

The sky in broad daylight, clear as it welcomed autumn. There, something that wasn't rainclouds nor fog formed like bubbles.

As if responding to it, the massive castle's surface shined white. It began to waver as if engulfed in heat haze.

Crack!

Crackle!

A noise sounding like tens of thousands of static electricity sparks popping simultaneously rang out, and the castle resonated. The spectators too had goosebumps rise on the napes of their necks, and the hairs on their limbs stood on end.

Flash!

At a certain moment, a single colossal lightning bolt surged toward the sky. The relic of the ancient kingdom, undeniably majestic, had vanished in a single instant.

The traces of teleportation remained as completely red-black fog and sparks floating radiantly in the air.

Subsequently, a powerful stormy aftershock swept ruthlessly. The spectators prostrated themselves flat, struggling to hold on against the sudden disaster.

"Uwaaaah!"

"Masteeeer!"

The noble, who was putting on airs sitting in the chair with crossed legs, got dragged away by the wind just like that. At the sight of him rolling around merrily over and over and becoming covered in dirt, everyone laughed as if delighted.

Several birds that were flying nearby were sucked in spinning in circles, and the trees shaking madly produced loud noises.

Squirrels and mice roaming the ground simultaneously hid inside their burrows like fish in a pond where a stone was dropped.

"Phew!"

"My goodness! The castle really disappeared! That massive chunk of rock, I mean!"

As the storm subsided, the spectators embraced each other, marveling at the spectacle of a lifetime.

"Come on, come on, hand over the money. My words were right, weren't they? Legs my ass. Trying to move something like that rocky mountain with legs would just break them all."

Those who won the bet on how the Moving Castle moved smilingly collected the money.

"Damn it."

"No, having it shaped like a ship and then leaving with lightning!"

Those who bet on it walking on legs, those who bet on it sailing gliding over sand and water, and those who bet on spirits appearing and dragging it away lost their money.

Meanwhile, the herb gatherers dashed out as if they had been waiting.

"Please, just one ogre lotus root! If not that, a mandrake or golden mushroom is fine too! O God!"

Since it was a place where a magical castle stood, they were those who came with expectations that magical herbs might grow.

Isn't it a world where the superstition that dipping bread in the blood of a publicly executed death row inmate brings luck has spread? It wasn't strange for such rumors to circulate either.

Of course, the Moving Castle possesses no such function. Rather, since the Dark Elf women had completely swept up the surrounding herbs, only an empty trip would be waiting. Not knowing that, the herb gatherers smiled brightly and ran.

* * *

"Tell them we unconditionally surrender!"

The acting Lord of Messina dispatched by the Count of Sicily immediately raised the white flag.

Messina Port is an excellent trade hub, but it is not a good place for defense.

At the sight of the army landing in high spirits, the sailors and laborers all fled.

"Is everyone in?"

"Yes! Honey, depart quickly!"

Those who seemingly had a bit of money loaded their valuables into carriages and set out on an evacuation journey with their families.

The only thing greeting the invaders at the empty docks was a single large monument.

A remnant of the old era, erected when countless people were sent to the East under the name of reclaiming the holy land. The phrase engraved into the monument is as follows:

'A new world awaits you. Seek out the holy land and wash away your sins. Rest in the embrace of God and ascend to heaven.'

It's a past that most religious orders are ashamed of now, excluding zealots like the Main God Religion. Labeling it 'a meaningless march of death'.

After polytheism settled in, the religious orders officially abandoned the reclamation of the eastern holy land.

They proclaimed a new Canaan on the Appen Peninsula and established the Apostle State. Thereafter, endless marches of death and flowing blood between religious people disappeared.

"O God, protect us."

"Hmph!"

Military priests and holy warriors either made the sign of the cross or ignored it according to their respective beliefs, passing by the monument.

The former belongs to the category that at least the faith of the pilgrims should be commemorated.

The latter belongs to the category that considers the past, where countless people were instigated and meaninglessly sacrificed, to be shameful.

"That's all lumps of money..."

"We must endure... fuck."

The mercenaries entering the city of Messina looked around like starving puppies.

"Plundering the port is strictly prohibited!"

"Everyone keep your eyes down! Find your shares on the battlefield!"

Because the mercenary captains, having been strictly cautioned in advance, were shouting at the top of their lungs.

Plundering the Port of Messina, renowned for its wealth, is an act peninsula mercenaries fantasize about at least once. Just when they thought it was finally possible, it turned out to be a vain dream.

"Captain. Can't you pretend not to know and turn a blind eye for just 1 minute?"

"If you don't wanna die, shut up and march forward."

A mercenary's plunder is an important right, so even a captain finds it hard to restrict it recklessly.

If handled poorly, accumulated dissatisfaction could eventually lead to the form of rebellion and expulsion of the captain later.

However, in a situation where even the Temple Knights were chipping in with warnings, customary law or whatever had to be endured.

"This is a holy war, and this city is protected in the names of the gods!"

"Those caught doing unsavory things will not be dealt with by military law! You will be taken by the inquisitors and face a religious trial!"

No matter how much they were mercenaries living for today, hearing such bluffs forced their greed to subside.

There was a reason the religious orders' side blocked the city's plunder to this extent like this.

"The landing is complete. Since not a single door of a civilian house was touched, Sir Eugene will also be satisfied."

"You have worked hard, Brother. It must not have been easy controlling those greedy folks."

Because they couldn't hand over a product to its recipient completely ruined.

"Sir Cain. Our fleet shall stand by here."

"You've suffered hardships. May God's blessing be with you."

"That blessing would be more needed for you who will fight going forward. I pray for your fortune in war."

The captains belonging to the merchant guild and the republic bowed to Cain. He is the supreme commander of this expedition and the Grand Master of the Temple Knights.

"What about Sir Eugene's army?"

At Cain's question, the military priest shook his head.

"The scouts checked outside the city, but it seems they have not arrived yet."

"Are they truly coming? The newly formulated expedition plan premises on him handling a crucial role..."

"The agitation among several mercenary captains is severe. Asking where all the military forces from the tents on the New Canaan plains went."

At the priests' reports, the wrinkles on Cain's forehead deepened.

"Sir Eugene will surely come. Because the promised compensation is that unprecedented. If he backs out here, that name will be cursed eternally."

The stakes had indeed grown too large. If he didn't participate here, Eugene's name and honor would plummet to the ground.

However, among the priests, many harbored doubts about the Moving Castle they hadn't seen firsthand. They were merely believing obediently because it was the decision of the highest command.

"Sir Cain. The nobles are clamoring asking when we depart."

"Tell them to wait. Does it make sense for us to go by ourselves leaving the main force behind?"

Cain found it dumbfounding at the knights blinded by merits and overconfidence.

Those unaware of the circumstances believed the Temple Knights were the main force, but the reality is different. The army led by Eugene was the true core of this expedition.

Right around the time Cain's patience was slowly running out from the continuously coaxing knights, the air began to waver like ripples from across the earth.

At that sight, Cain nodded.

"They've arrived."

It was the advance of an army. Flawless shields and armors reflecting the sunlight simultaneously distorted the air like a mirage.

The Dwarf warriors forming a wide formation in the center were clad entirely in iron armor.

"Crazy Dwarf bastards. Do they not collapse doing that?"

"Hey, those guys can run around all day long even wrapped up in that bullshit. They have fat-looking bodies, but if you strip them, they're entirely lumps of muscle."

The landed mercenaries were also wearing armors in their own right, but the difference in thickness and durability was embarrassing to compare.

The mercenaries' swords and spears would bounce off the dwarven armors, whereas conversely, the hammers they swung would easily smash them to pieces.

With such Dwarf heavy infantry forming a formation, it gave off the imposing pressure of a steel fortress walking over.

Behind them, the Dark Elf archer unit and slingers followed. Unlike common archers who dress flimsily, they all wore sturdy leather lamellar archer armor, revealing at a glance they were elites.

At both wings, the notorious horse archer unit drove their horses, their black cloaks fluttering.

If a battle commenced, enemies blocked by the Dwarves' iron wall formation would fall to the rain of arrows pouring from all directions.

"Guess we don't have to worry about dying."

At that tremendous might, the mercenaries let out voices of admiration. Even veterans whose experience piled up rolling through various battlefields had never seen a military force overflowing with such majesty to this degree.

"Acting all high and mighty."

"Does that rural bumpkin not think about the aftermath?"

Ambitious mercenary captains and nobles clicked their tongues. Because at a glance, it looked certain that Eugene would take the biggest share in this war.

Cursing him to go bankrupt from the expenses to operate that enormous military force was all they could do. From a third party's perspective, it's also quite a plausible scenario.

If one doesn't consider that Eugene is employing the Blackhand Mercenary Corps at a bargain price, earning big money through the Moving Castle, and was promised three great cities, that is.

"Welcome, Brother in faith. It is truly reassuring that you have joined us, Sir."

Supreme Commander Cain welcomed Eugene with open arms.

"It seems we are a bit late."

"It's fine. We heard about the constraints of where the Moving Castle can lay down roots from the Bishops."

Cain pointed at the port city in the back.

"Your city is safe, Sir."

"Is it already my city?"

"Wouldn't you fight a bit harder in the upcoming battle if so? You gain more strength when protecting your own compared to stealing someone else's, after all."

At Cain's joke, Eugene also bowed slightly and laughed.

"..."

"..."

Homi and Hind attending behind him bit their lips managing their expressions. Their Lord was standing at the starting line of taking hold of a noble title in earnest.

There is a massive difference between leading a rural village and ruling a great city.

Not to mention, isn't it the city of Messina that has incredible significance in the religious world? In Roman's aristocratic society, where faith tends to be strong, the title of Messina's Lord becomes a tremendous premium.

"The Count of Sicily has sent an ultimatum. He says he will give one last chance to turn the army back. If not, he stated that none of you will have a single bone fragment leave this island even in death."

There was not a single person intimidated by the messenger's report.

"And saying that since the Caliph's elite corps is with them, if you attack, you will see hell..."

"What an insolent fellow!"

"We shall invariably make that man stand trial!"

At the final part, the Temple Knights raged with agitated voices.

The Count surely wanted to threaten them by borrowing the Caliph's name, but it had the opposite effect. Drawing in foreign power only amplified the religious warriors' wrath.

Given history is history, hostility towards the heterogeneous civilizations and religions of the East remained profoundly large.

Though they no longer clamor for expeditions to the eastern holy land, the opponent invading their territory was a separate matter.

"The numbers are similar. The Count gathered more troops than anticipated."

The defending force Eugene figured out was slightly under 6,000. On the other hand, the expeditionary force numbered about 4,500.

As the army became refined with elites due to Eugene joining, the Apostle State reduced personnel compared to what they originally envisioned.

They decided to lean toward providing more abundant supplies to increase individual combat power.

Conversely, the Count of Sicily, fighting in his own territory, had a massive advantage in supplies.

He hired regardless of mercenary corps' quality and reputation, and scraped together everything from conscripts, escaped pirates, even up to the eastern empire's reinforcements.

"They only have numbers but are nothing more than a disorderly rabble. They cannot compare to us gathered beneath the banner of faith."

'I'm not exactly devout, you know.'

Eugene wore a sour face at the eyes of Cain and the priests filled with trust.

Among them, Eugene was distorted into a purifier who traveled the world striking down monsters to stop the machinations of evil gods.

Since giving a good impression wasn't bad, he wasn't going out of his way to correct it.

"Sir Eugene. I would like to make a difficult request of you."

"?"

As Cain spoke carefully with a hardened expression, Eugene also tensed up.

'Don't tell me he's going to make me charge from the front?'

A highly possible demand given the compensation to be received is large.

"Could you take charge of the left wing?"

"...Understood."

Perhaps misunderstanding Eugene's deflated attitude, Cain quickly added.

"I apologize. While I understand your desire to crush the enemies from the right wing, Sir... since we also need to save face for those we have known for a long time..."

The right wing is both an honorable position where elites are deployed, and as fits the main attack route, a place where one can seize the greatest glory.

If Eugene ran wild claiming he was insulted after being robbed of this position, Cain would break into a cold sweat.

"Do not mind it. This is a holy war, and the grand cause takes priority."

However, he expressed deep gratitude to Eugene for accepting it calmly.

On the opposite side, mercenary captains and nobles were engaging in combat preparations with blood-boiling expressions. The desire to obtain even a sliver of land in this holy war and reign as a noble lord dripped profusely.

It was greatly welcomed for Eugene. Because the most dangerous place among the three formations is the right wing.

Though they attack the relatively weak enemy left wing, since they are the vanguard of the attack, casualties inevitably grow large. Furthermore, as they fight, they easily protrude forward and thus receive pincer attacks from the central army as well.

"This is good. Let them bleed; we'll shed some sweat and collect the rewards."

"Sir Knight. They will hear everything."

Rex whispered to Eugene while checking the surroundings.

* * *

Finally, triple digits of flags faced off against each other.

Though the numbers favored the Sicilyn army, anyone could see the expeditionary force was overwhelmingly superior in momentum.

The Sicilyn army's armament and armor were a mess, and it had a large number of conscripts mixed in looking around with terrified eyes.

Aimed at sneering at that, a single noble knight from among the expeditionary force drove his horse forward. He held high a spear bearing his family's flag.

"Rats of the island nation! If you bastards are knights too, confidently confront me! Here is Carlo of the Visio Family!"

Other knights waiting behind stared at that sight enviously.

Making one's name and family known and battling one-on-one before a major battle. That was an honor every knight idealized, and a path to success as well.

Correspondingly, the competition to step forward was fierce. A knight selected luckily believed he received God's protection and displayed even more courage.

"Why does that bastard keep glancing at me?"

Eugene wondered, seeing Carlo stealing glances at him instead of the Sicilyn army.

"Isn't it obvious? The target he wishes to appeal to the most on this battlefield must be you, Sir Knight."

Rex chuckled and said.

"Don't tell me he hasn't discarded his lingering desire to fight me?"

Creatures called knights are lumps of competitive spirit. Even when enjoying banquets in full swing in New Canaan, some knights used to stare at Eugene with blazing eyes.

Though they ultimately didn't challenge him since the decisive hour was approaching, forming an atmosphere restraining infighting.

"What are you saying? You are a person who will soon attain a Viscounty title and a large city, so you must think accordingly. That bastard wants to catch your eye and become your vassal."

"Ah, there was that possibility too."

Looking back, there actually were several knights staring at Eugene with an aspiration differing somewhat from competitive spirit.

"Is there not a single knight entirely among you who knows honor?!"

When no knight stepped forward from Sicily, Carlo shouted anxiously.

A duel of knights before battle was also an event to divine whose side the gods took.

In some aspects, it could be considered a part of faith on the battlefield. Thus, it was performed customarily even when not strictly necessary.

"Ignore him and order the advance."

As the Count of Sicily's order fell, his army commenced their advance.

"Th-these trash-like bastards!"

Carlo bellowed loudly and returned with an aggrieved face.

"Not a bad judgment."

"The only things the Count's army excels us in are supplies and troop numbers. A fight between knights would likely not yield good results anyway."

Eugene and Rex slightly raised their evaluation of the Count of Sicily.

Rather than being bound by customs, carrying a practical attitude to endure humiliation and utilize his advantages to the maximum.

Even if that is seen as a dishonor by the nobles of this era, it was sufficient to receive a passing grade from Eugene or Rex.

* * *

"Charge! Once I become a lord, I'll let you all swim in silver coins!"

Deployed on the right wing, the captain of the Black Hound Mercenary Corps shouted and led his subordinates.

"Uoo! We'll believe you! Captain!"

'Bullshit. You aren't going to keep it anyway.'

The subordinates outwardly responded well but cursed inwardly.

Because there was no such thing as trust toward the captain bastard famously known to be stingy ordinarily.

"Gah!"

However, his skill of splitting conscripts at the vanguard was tremendous as always. The subordinates followed behind him and charged, merely hoping for extra pay.

"Follow me!"

The participating nobles and knights scrambled forward as if refusing to lose.

"Don't fall back!"

"Those who retreat will be executed summarily!"

The Sicilyn knights and the mercenary corps the Count hired also harbored venom and fought back. Several terrified conscripts and rookie mercenaries had their heads dropping as an example.

The left wing, center, and right wing of the expeditionary force all engaged in combat, and the crashing sounds of weapons and screams echoed thunderously.

Among them, the one that stood out was inevitably the left wing led by Eugene.

"Thanks to you, flag signals won't be necessary."

Thanks to Might's massive physique, Eugene stood out distinctly on the battlefield.

As he raised his right hand, the Dark Elves in the rear line of the Dwarven shield formation raised their bows in unison.

With it being an expeditionary battle and due to the island's characteristics making horse feed procurement difficult, half had to leave their horses and come as infantry.

Instead, they were able to bring longbows rather than composite bows for horseback.

600 elite archers uniquely swiveled their large bows securely in their grips, then nocked their arrows with zero margin of error.

Ahead of them, Dwarves forming a steel barrier stood firm holding terrifying hammers.

"Oof."

"C-Captain. I think we should run..."

"Why are bastards like those on the left wing?"

At that bloodcurdling sight, the Sicilyn right-wing forces shrank back.

"Loose!"

Thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip!

At Eugene's command, the sounds of 600 arrow strings twanging rang out, and a pitch-black rain of arrows poured down.

Orders to raise shields immediately burst out from all directions.

Piiii-.

The harmony of a reaper cultivated by countless arrows cutting across the sky.

"Hiiik!"

"What are you all doing? Keep walking while holding your shields! Stopping here will only get you struck by arrows!"

Mercenary captains roared, but their subordinates halted their advance and completely cowered.

Piiiiiiii-.

Because the frightening wind-cleaving sound growing more terrifying as the arrows approached was too terrifying.

"Aaaah!"

"Kyaaaac!"

Sounds of flesh tearing erupted, and soldiers bleeding from everywhere collapsed. Though they tried to block the sky with shields, it was relatively meaningless.

Because arrows fired from Dark Elf-made strong bows easily pierced through flimsy wooden shields like that.

Only those reinforced with iron or thickly made of oak managed to block them fully. However, not many were wealthy enough to invest that much into a consumable item like a shield.

"Ready archers loose continuously without waiting!"

Thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip!

With Eugene's command, the second wave flew in.

"No fuck, already?"

Entering rapid-fire mode, the Blackhand archer unit could pour out arrows incomparably faster than human archers.

"A-ah no."

"Kugggh."

Those whose backs of hands or wrists were skewered together with their shields trembled, lifting their arms with difficulty.

With 600 arrows raining down on them, corpses collapsed thud-thud everywhere.

The situation being bad applied to the cavalry as well. Arrows shot accurately calculating the riders' paths pierced the horses' foreheads and ransacked their thighs.

Hiiii-hiiiiing!

Warhorses tumbling from all directions and knights being thrown off rolled about.

"We did it. Now they won't be able to shoot arrows!"

"We're finally here..."

Smack!

Thump!

Those who barely reached the Dwarven shield formation collapsed after getting struck in the face by stones.

Mobile small combat towers the Dwarf artisans crafted. Cassandra and female warriors standing stop them were slinging stones.

"Wait, we didn't make it for you to do that."

"Captain Rampage. Those bastards aren't even able to approach us at all?"

"... It is only the beginning of the battle still."

The Dwarf warriors were standing firm like mountains, but Eugene could see it. Their feet, hidden behind their shields, were continuously stamping.

"No, why did it have to be the left wing!"

"Even clapping hands need to meet to make a sound!"

Had they been deployed to the right wing, they probably would have been excitedly amidst human construction right amongst the enemies by now.

However, since they were deployed to the left wing, they couldn't initiate. They ultimately had to assist the center while striking back at the enemy attacks.

However, the battle did not flow favorably only for the expeditionary force.

The expeditionary mercenaries and knights who were fiercely pushing back the Sicilyn army's left wing with soaring momentum encountered a sudden disaster.

Warriors of the East, displaying a visibly different skin color, all charged together wielding greatswords while wearing full-body scale armor.

"Immortals!"

"It's the Immortals!"

By the time a mercenary recognizing the flag shouted, the eastern infantry knight order began to rip the expeditionary force's right wing to shreds.

Squelch!

As a certain Immortal easily measuring over 190cm swung a greatsword, an expeditionary force warrior was split diagonally from shoulder to ribs.

The captain of the Black Hound Mercenary Corps, who had been running rampant fearlessly. He became a corpse unable to endure even 4 exchanges.

"The Caliph is watching us!"

As one raised a massive blood-soaked sword with one hand, giants of greatsword wielders rushed in swarming behind him.

At that ferocious momentum, the atmosphere of the right battlefield reversed in a single stroke.

As a portion of the central Temple Knights broke off to support them, the Count of Sicily smiled triumphantly.

"Now! Knights, charge!"

The suddenly surrounded expeditionary force's right wing began shattering after getting pounded from all sides, and the disorganized center also rapidly was placed in danger.

"I will bestow a Barony to the one who takes down the flag of the Temple Knights!"

At the Count's words, the knights summoned from all over lunged in wildly.

The Holy Knights fought back bravely, but they began to be pushed back by the tenacity of the Count of Sicily, who even gathered wanted bandit knights.

"I can't just leave it be."

Eugene clicked his tongue and grabbed his flail. Though he couldn't see the situation of the right wing, he could confirm the center was being pushed back.

"Hind. I entrust the command here to you."

"Ye, yes sah! Hic!"

Hind, suddenly placed to command a great-lord level military force, bit his tongue as he answered. Eugene gave him a thumbs up signifying his trust, then led the cavalry and sortied.

* * *

"Win this battle alone, and the peninsula becomes no man's land for decades! I shall let you tear into it to your heart's content!"

As the battle situation moved more favorably than expected, the Count of Sicily shouted filled with ecstasy.

Somewhere along the line, his speech had changed closer to a pirate boss rather than a noble. It seemed what he restrained and endured all this time bursted out all at once.

"Hahaha! Is that a promise?!"

"Charge! Charge! Trample them all..."

Crunch!

A Sicilyn noble crying out dyed in greed suddenly floated and flew into the sky.

A spear that pierced through his right arm, chest, and out his left arm tumbled with his biting corpse about 5 meters away.