Chapter 180

Chapter 180 - Conqueror (3)

An appearance looking as if an evil god spat blood-mixed phlegm onto the dirt and sculpted it. Monsters of DNA converging into one thing: 'ugliness', without even having common skeletal structures. That exact creature is the Orc.

"Damn it. Things like this weren't in the contract!"

The garrison commander defending the wooden castle ground his teeth while looking at the Orcs surrounding them from all sides.

He is the mercenary commander newly dispatched after the western army was defeated. His mission is to defend this stronghold, requisition harvested crops from the vicinity, and hand them over to the transport unit.

- Wow! You're amazing, Captain! To land such a sweet request like this.

At first, he had received praises from his subordinate mercenaries.

The western army was defeated, and their leader, Earl Edward, was also in a captured situation. Recovering King's Field is impossible for the time being.

Being stationed at a castle with a low probability of battle and receiving money is excellent, and it was also possible to pilfer rations surreptitiously.

He never in his dreams imagined he would fall into trouble like this.

"Hold out no matter what! Although we are surrounded, we have a castle and our food is abundant!"

The garrison commander encouraged his subordinates. Not only that, he also encouraged the people who were not his subordinates.

"You there!"

"Y-yes?"

A maid who was shivering while grabbing her head in the corner was startled by the garrison commander's scolding roar.

"Everyone is fighting, what are you doing?"

"S-sir! I am just a lowly maid..."

"This fucker! Are you going to say the same thing after the castle falls? What those Orc bastards like the most is the meat of children and women!"

At that moment, a mercenary hit by a crude bolt fell from the watchtower. At that sight, the maid screamed along as well.

"I won't tell you to fight, so at least carry stones in your skirt!"

Even while crying profusely, the maid moved her feet. Fear was fear, but if this place falls, dying terribly would be the same for her too.

Unlike humans who possess emotions advantageous for their survival such as chivalry, compassion, lust for wealth, and sexual desire. Orcs only have appetite and slaughtering instincts.

"Keep shooting toward the entrance area. If we pile up a few more corpses, it will become an obstacle for passage. What are you doing not kicking down that ladder?!"

Because he was entrusted with King's Field's major stronghold by the Kruger family, the garrison commander was competent.

"Shields! We need bigger and sturdier shields! Go to the kitchen and bring whatever cauldron lids there are!"

For now, the garrison led the battle advantageously. Because they had the advantage of the castle, and the archers they possessed were several times more.

"Have hope. Even if the messenger couldn't go, with this number, even the Kruger family will notice the abnormality. Moreover, there's a lot of food piled up here, and those guys are monsters traveling without supplies! If we hold out, we can definitely win!"

At the garrison commander's shout, his subordinates answered with roars.

"How long will it take for rescue?"

"Will they even come? You idiot."

"Yes?"

The lieutenant made a dumbfounded face at the garrison commander who spoke as if whispering.

"There's no way nobles would pierce through this Orc field to save mercenary lives."

"How could that..."

"For now, shut your trap and fight. We have to hold out for days and look for a chance to escape taking advantage of the night."

Fortunately, the food piled up in the castle is abundant, so it's even possible to hold out until next year. Monsters are guys without logistics. Looking for an escape opportunity was well worth trying.

* * *

Eugene approached the battlefield bringing Baron Foster who is well-versed in Britannia's circumstances, Rex who is bright about monsters, and several elite soldiers.

'Something like this must be a real siege battle.'

He has a track record of conquering Codon Castle and Kitania City, but it wasn't a common method. Orcs dying countlessly while trying to breach a small castle was the true nature of siege battles in this era.

"They aren't Uruk-hai."

Rex spoke after quickly scanning the faces of the besieging Orcs.

"Uruk-hai?"

"You know, those desert Orcs we faced in Samur? Subspecies with larger builds and incredible unyielding guts compared to normal ones."

Just like ordinary beasts, various subspecies exist among monsters as well. Even those subspecies possessed slightly different traits depending on the region and climate.

"Ah, I remember. The guys who endured the torture of peeling off the skin of their soles up to 13 sheets."

The ordinary Orcs caught together blabbed everything smoothly, but the desert Orcs roared like bears and endured. They were warriors with outstanding physiques, strength, and guts, to the point it felt sorry to lump them together as the same Orcs.

"Monsters have never attacked in such a large scale before... This is all because of the damn war."

Baron Foster cursed King Kruger who would be in the central region. When Britannia's order was alive, it was difficult for monsters to form swarms like this.

As humans waged bloody battles against each other all over the country, a power vacuum was bound to occur. It was inevitable for monsters who had been wary in undeveloped areas to cunningly strike the weak points.

"Should I call it a fortune in misfortune? If we strike down those guys, we'll definitely secure one justification."

"It will be an awkward excuse for the Kruger family to argue anything."

At that time, an anomaly occurred on the battlefield. Parting through the Orcs, a medium-sized monster appeared.

Unlike the ugly Orc skin, clean pink skin. Fat jiggling all over its body. However, it didn't look dull; thick limbs that would convert its weight into power.

"It's a Bugbear. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"I heard Britannia is their origin point. As expected, the home region is somewhat different."

Surprisingly, it wore armor made by weaving iron and bear hide on its body. It's also unique that a guy who doesn't even travel well with its own kind except during mating season is rubbing shoulders with Orcs.

"The long years and the threat of humans gifted a bizarre alliance among those guys."

"Baron Foster. Could you speak slightly more in detail?"

"As Your Excellency also knows, Orcs are the guys with the best manual dexterity among monsters. Because they also possess independent smelting techniques and concoction manufacturing methods."

The Bugbear lifted a jar prepared by the Orcs and continuously gulped down its contents. At its hearty boldness, the Orcs cheered while clashing their weapons and shields.

"Since some point, they've been doing something similar to mercenary employment in exchange for processing weapons or armor, or the liqour brewed by those guys."

"Incredible. No, perhaps it's natural? Having formed a civilization, albeit a base one, experience and ideas are bound to accumulate."

The Bugbear let out a thunderous burp and put down the jar. After roaring with madness and surging vitality, it tucked a tree trunk under its arm.

"Destroy them!"

"We will give all the tender meat inside to you!"

Guuoooo-!

Being promised women and children as loot seemed to be a good motivation. The Bugbear charged at the castle gate.

Looking just at weight, a Bugbear easily surpasses Trolls and approaches Ogres. The garrison commander above the castle gate screamed.

"Shoot! All of you focus your arrows on that guy! Ignore the other guys!"

The archers fired arrows desperately, but it was useless. Vulnerable areas were covered by armor, and the rest were blocked by thick skin and fat layers.

Thud!

The blow combining the tree trunk and the Bugbear's body weight easily surpassed any decent battering ram. With a single hit, several hinges flew off, and the castle gate itself was also severely cracked.

"Bring wagons and carriages, whatever there is, and block it!"

The garrison commander quickly gave instructions, but it was an impossible order in the first place. Because the Bugbear stupidly pounding the castle gate was way faster than his subordinates bringing heavy things.

Thud! Thud! Smash!

Unable to withstand 4 hits, the castle gate broke down.

"We have to step up now."

"It is a wise judgment, Excellency. If the Orcs occupy the castle and hold a sit-in, it will be troublesome. If we set it on fire, the food inside will all burn away too."

Unlike other monsters moving only according to instincts, the concept of tactics exists for Orcs. They also utilized not only weapons or equipment dropped by humans but also strongholds perfectly.

When Eugene raised the signal flag from his saddle, the waiting army started moving.

* * *

Eugene's figure riding high on the giant Might and wielding Black-out while his Wendigo cloak fluttered. That showed the history of strife he had braved through as a knight at a glance.

All the knights felt their blood boiling and drew their weapons.

"Brave knights of the south!"

When Eugene at the forefront looked back and shouted, laughter came out from everyone.

- Like the weak southern bastards you are.

- Prowling about saying there's something to pick up and eat at the tournament? Don't go crying if you get cut off somewhere.

It wasn't just once or twice they had been angry at the contempt they received thus far. However, hearing those words from their lord, the anger until now melted softly away.

"Commence the battle! Let's make King's Field even more fertile!"

At Eugene's command, countless arrows flew up. Sounds of flesh being pierced rang loudly, and Orcs fell.

"Humans!"

The Orcs, who were suddenly struck from behind, turned around in panic. Knights approaching while kicking up dirt and dust were seen.

"Guys with spears, step up!"

"Kneel! I said kneel! Crossbowmen stand in the back!"

The executive-level Orcs with bone ornaments hung on their necks organized their subordinates. Although crude, spears sufficient to threaten horses were erected like a hedgehog towards the front.

Swish-swish-swish!

However, numerous arrows flew again over the heads of the knights.

"Keuak!"

"Ggueek!"

The Orcs aiming their spears to check the cavalry charge fell helplessly before the high-angle fire.

The Orcs holding crossbows were all positioned in front of the castle wall. It wasn't an easy task to inform them of the surprise attack and summon them to the rear.

Around the time the firing repeated and the Orc spearmen collapsed, the knights commenced their charge.

"In the name of the Emerald Garden!"

"For the south!"

Following Eugene, the knights became a tidal wave of steel and struck the Orcs.

Even the few remaining Orc spearmen were swept away by mounted javelin throws right before the clash. Afterward, dirty flesh and blood poured under the fierce attacks of the knights who drew swords and axes.

Every single knight mounted on a horse is a battering ram of several hundred kg. Ramming, trampling, even sword dances pouring down from horseback. That was violence where the concept of an engagement could not be established.

Behind the knights, the Hammer Brotherhood followed closely.

Crack!

A polehammer exploded on an Orc's forehead. The head sank in, and due to that impact, an eyeball with its optic nerve attached popped out.

"If you docilely offer your head, I'll send you off in one blow without pain!"

"I can't quit hammers because of this hand feel!"

The Dwarf warriors tore the fissures created by the knight unit even wider. Where the Hammer Brotherhood pushed in, there were no sounds of flesh tearing or piercing.

Crunch!

Smash!

Only the exhilarating sounds of bones breaking, like skulls, shins, knees, and wrists, rang out loudly.

"Shweeeeek-."

Among them, there was also an Orc making a painful wind sound as its smashed ribs pierced its lungs.

Where Eugene rampaged, the upper bodies and limbs of Orcs rolled around. Because he chopped them horizontally and vertically regardless of shields or whatever, everyone screamed, terrified out of their wits.

Kwang!

Occasionally, Might also rammed into bunched-up Orc phalanxes, sending several flying.

"Kuuooo-."

During the melee, there are also instances where Orcs whose breath hasn't been cut off crawl on the ground. With both legs cut off, or with only the upper half remaining while spilling intestines.

Eugene, riding a high-performance warhorse, had no need to pay attention to such guys one by one.

Splat!

Because they became quiet once stepped on by hooves larger than an Orc's head.

Around that time, the Bugbear that had been ravaging the inside of the castle dashed out.

"That guy! Kill that monster!"

When the Orc leader pointed at Eugene and shouted, the Bugbear came running instantly.

'Does it like the Orcs' alcohol that much?'

The rapid cooperation of two species that considered each other as prey. He was merely fascinated as to how on earth they negotiated.

"Excellency!"

"We will protect you!"

To the knights who hurriedly tried to come running, Eugene positioned Black-out horizontally and swung it widely.

Like a giant wielding a fan, a tremendous wind rose, returning calm to the approaching knights.

"It's fine so fall back. When fighting a guy like that, it's hard to watch my back."

It meant they shouldn't get cut pointlessly by a blind axe blade while being in-range.

While the Bugbear closed the distance in an instant, Might gradually lowered its posture. Massive strength was laden into its robust thighs.

"Diiieeee!"

As if responding to the Orcs' roars, the Bugbear's club caused a tremendous sound of splitting the air.

However, Eugene was already not there. The club only hit the clod of dirt that soared when Might kicked off the ground.

Eugene swung his axe horizontally at the exposed torso of the Bugbear.

Slice!

The jiggling belly fat burst open widely, and stark yellow fat flowed down in streams. The Bugbear let out a bizarre scream filled with pain.

'Was it shallow?'

The yellow fat that poured out for about 3 seconds mixed with red blood water, and from about 6 seconds on, there was more blood.

'Not it.'

Might cleverly began circling around the Bugbear by 360 degrees.

Kuuooooo-!

The Bugbear, holding its belly with one hand, spun round and round, not wanting to give up its back. But the more it did, the stab wound on its abdomen only opened wider.

"Guurrr!"

An Orc that approached intending to support the Bugbear was rammed by Might.

Bbang!

Whether it was hit properly, as it flew close to 20m, there were no Orcs daring to intervene after that.

"Huuuk! Huuk!"

The Bugbear, whose stamina was exhausted, got his feet tangled and ended up falling down. Even before the guy could get up, a giant axe blade blew its face away diagonally.

[Kiyaaaaa-!]

The Bugbear's soul screamed while being bitten and torn by the Hell Elemental dwelling in the axe blade. Eugene could clearly see that sight.

Unlike the giant physical body composed of lumps of meat, the soul inside it was skinny to the bone. Only the abdomen protruded bulgeingly like a tadpole, reminiscent of agwis of hell.

"The guys are retreating!"

The terrified Orcs started fleeing, scattering in all directions while wailing.

"Those guys are pissing their pants, aren't they?"

"Hahahaha!"

They are guys wearing shabby, short kilt-like things. Thanks to that, the disgusting yellow liquid pouring down forming straight lines was seen bare.

The knights and horse archers pursued behind them, turning them into corpses one by one. Because there were many numbers, they couldn't catch them all, but it was certain they inflicted massive damage.

"Surrender! We will surrender!"

The mercenaries defending the wooden castle threw away their weapons and raised both hands high. The rescue by an army appearing from a completely unexpected direction. Everyone had disbelieving expressions.

"Wow, those guys are really quick to read the room."

Rex also admired the sight of them lowering the Kruger family's flag on their own without even being ordered to.

The business capability that scored a good mission from the Kruger family was manifesting in this form.

* * *

In the surrendered wooden castle, there were about 200 mercenaries. Despite a tremendous numerical difference, they successfully minimized damage because it was a siege defense battle.

However, everyone's minds were in a ruined state. They blankly stared at the remnants of their fellow mercenaries who were turned into minced meat by the Bugbear that barged into the castle.

"Who is the commander?"

"M-Me! Sir Knight!"

At Eugene's question, the garrison commander snapped back to his senses.

"You are currently talking with the Guardian of the South. Show courtesy."

When Hind, covered in bloodstains, warned intending murder casually, a sane reason finally returned.

"I apologize, Excellency!"

"I don't seem to see any nobles inside the castle. Are the other strongholds also being managed entirely by mercenaries like yourselves?"

"Yes. In the last pitched battle, the western army crumbled properly. The noble lords had an air of concentrating on the eastern front, saying we would be enough."

The garrison commander desperately brought out the things he picked up and eavesdropped upon while being dispatched here.

"Even if they lost, a great lord is a great lord, but they are blocking entirely with mercenaries?"

"That is, as the western army retreated rapidly, they had to abandon their food storages and leave."

The western lords bribed by the Kruger family did not intend to go as far as attacking their allies. They only thought of preserving their own bodies while putting exactly one foot on both sides as much as possible.

- If we get pincered now, it's the end!

However, the western army, unaware of such shallow inner thoughts, left the battlefield without even looking back once Earl Edward was also captured.

"The west was always short on food. Even if they raise an army again now, I wonder if they can feed them for even a half-month."

"Even if they come to recover it anyway, if we lock up and hold out, they will crumble on their own."

At Baron Foster's words, Eugene nodded. The current western army did not have the surplus power to capture a castle guarded by hundreds of soldiers eating abundantly.

"Shall I execute them?"

Hind asked. For him, mercenary prisoners were only slightly better than surrendered bandits.

"This Bobby, though a lowly guy, absolutely never forgets a favor. Please spare my life alone. I will work passionately whatever you order me to do."

The mercenary captain, possessing an unsuitably cute name, begged with both hands together.

"It seems there's no need to necessarily kill them since we have plenty of food. We can give them as loot to the lords joining the campaign if need be."

"Then we will at least do cleanup of the Orcs outside."

"It's a decent idea."

Hind, who offered a military salute, dragged the disarmed mercenary prisoners out.

It would be different if it were human corpses, but rummaging through Orc corpses to strip off usable weapons or armor has many duds. Because there were many items too old or broken, it was difficult to find good quality goods. It was a job just right to make slaves do.

* * *

"There is another stronghold over that way."

Bobby cooperated with all passion.

- I think it would be good to hand them over as gifts to the Edward family too. King's Field is a deeply meaningful territory for them. Since they are guys who plundered such a place, they would be perfectly good targets to vent their anger on.

- Then they will die? It would be a fortune if they kill them 곱게 (gently).

- Isn't that what living as a mercenary is about?

Because he had heard the conversation shared by Eugene and his vassals.

"The remaining strongholds are places with not even half our size. There are guys who are acquainted with me, so I will take the lead and persuade them."

Even rolling in a dog shit field, the world of the living is good as a rule. Bobby and his subordinates hoped to be sold to the south even if they were sold as slaves.

Like that, Eugene's army swept through King's Field as if holding a concert tour. There are no monsters or mercenaries daring to pounce on an army of this size.

"Don't shoot! We will surrender!"

Several strongholds that had been completely fine also instantly raised white flags. If they had the courage to fight an army more than 100 times their size, they wouldn't act as mercenaries.

They even discovered a wooden palisade castle burnt down to ashes.

"There are scorch marks full on the bone fragments."

"It seems they suffered from Orcs here too."

In the space tens of meters outside the castle entrance, bone fragments cleanly scraped of meat were lined up.

It seemed the Orcs enthusiastically welcomed the people who fled escaping the hot heat and toxic gas.

"It seems like a separate group of monsters from the ones we faced."

Rex examined the Bugbear footprints engraved on the ground. It's an explicitly distinct large size from the individual Eugene defeated.

"My god."

"Uurp."

Where the footprints led, a wagon's worth of excrement was piled up. A hand grip sticking out as if hoping for salvation from hell could be seen. Scraped clean with only bones remaining.

"It's not just one."

In that place where flies were holding a feast, there were multiple piles of dung.

At that sight, the knights burned with fighting spirit instead. Starved for achievements, their eyes were all ablaze with wanting to subjugate monsters and get noticed by the Great Lord.

The western nobles also reacted to the sight of the large army circulating King's Field and conducting purification operations.

An army of about 1,000 approached from the outskirts. At the forefront was a young man with evident tension.

"Philip Edward. He is the eldest son of the captured Earl Edward."

Baron Foster whispered to Eugene.

"It seems the blow received in the last pitched battle was quite big after all."

"Yes, Excellency. Troop damage is troop damage, but mobilizing will be difficult due to the large antagonism among the lords caused by betrayal."

The western army, mixed with many conscripts, looked wretched with hunger and low morale.

Eugene also approached equivalently to Philip, who was approaching holding a white flag and accompanied by only a few escorts.

"I meet the highly renowned Master of the South."

Philip asked while painstakingly calming his trembling voice.

"This is land directly bestowed by the glorious Half-Fairy family of the 1st Era. Courage and honor in driving out evil invaders from the land ruled for generations. We sincerely thank you."

It was not purely an expression of gratitude. It was close to a plea saying, 'Please say you didn't come to eat this place!', using Valda's bloodline as a shield.

Philip desperately agonized over diplomatic rhetoric while continuously swallowing rising saliva.

"Relax, I have no intention of taking away the land."

Eugene pointed at the direction where they fought bloody battles with the Orcs.

"It's a difficult time, but cheer up. That area will yield bumper crops for decades to come."

"Yes? Cough! Cough!"

At Eugene's refreshing response, Philip choked while swallowing saliva.