Chapter 254

Chapter 254 - Temple of Sacrifice (2)

As Count Morad's army lost its mind over rescuing their comrades right now, their initial high-handed attitude at exploring first disappeared cleanly.

Count Morad, having no face left, quietly enjoyed lunch inside his tent.

"Isn't it fortunate that we were able to supply separately? I truly felt to my bones what the feeling of not getting water past my throat properly means this time around."

The Count praised the roasted veal sprinkled with white pepper and butter. The nearby attendant bowed politely.

The food environment during marching has fundamentally improved since joining fOrces with the Mayer family. Being basically a nomadic fOrce driving massive herds of livestock, if you give them money, you can comfortably receive supplies.

If there were no supplies, the knights of the Morad family would have had no choice but to rummage through the burnt granaries togAAether with the Emperor's army facing famine.

"It can't just be considered good fortune. It's the result of Lord Count reading the trend properly."

"Hahaha, what is there to read trends for us doing the right thing."

The Count laughed loudly at his vassal's flattery. His appearance of cutting soft veal was leisurely and elegant like at an everyday banquet.

"Come to think of it, I heard a strange rumor recently. Have you heard?"

"I am uncertain what rumor your Lordship means."

"It's about Rein River suddenly experiencing a food shortage. A severe drought hasn't occurred either, yet the price of flour skyrocketed rapidly. Moreover, the Orcs at the border are mobilizing in large numbers headed toward Goldford... truly there has never been such a gloomy era."

The Count clicked his tongue as if lamenting the state of the world. But he actually looked joyful upon hearing news of the difficulties of other families and powers.

"Lord Count is excessively compassionate. Are you not worrying on behalf of those who didn't properly investigate information regarding surrounding territories beforehand?"

If it's grain distribution in the current political situation, it's obviously Eugene's machinations. The vassal slightly pointed out how incompetent Rein River and Goldford were.

"Of course I shouldn't concern myself. Oh! That reminds me. It's about time Sir Paul should arrive holding the trophies by now... Is it too early because going back and forth on foot takes quite a while?"

He'd be quite exhausted from engaging in battle to boot, the Count expressed worry. Even though he had commanded to take no rest even returning laden with bags of heavy gold and silver coins.

"There won't really be anything physically demanding since all he had to do was kill those hiding in corners with spears. Do not worry excessively."

"Indeed that is so. Hahaha."

While the Count and his vassals were exchanging pleasantries like that. A knight rushed in.

"Lord Count!"

"Quietly! It's right in the middle of a meal."

The knight lowered his voice at the attendant's scolding but couldn't erase his flustered expression.

"T-The exploration team failed. Not to speak of obtaining wealth, they lost nearly 1/3 of the team members and managed to escape with their bare lives."

"What?!"

Count Morad's face crumpled hideously. The smiling expression until just a moment ago vanished like washing it away with cold water. Since their troops were completely intact, he naturally thought it was an exploration equal to taking things from a storehouse.

"Bring Sir Paul in front of me right now!"

Before long, a knight covered in dirty blood and dust everywhere knelt before the dining table Count Morad sat at.

"...Please punish me."

It's been less than two hours. For a knight who used to look decent in armor to turn into this miserable beggar-like state was truly impossible to comprehend.

"Was my decision to entrust you with the knight commander seat at a young age a mistake? Have the pagan remnants put up a resistance that intense?"

"The pagans weren't the issue. B-Booby traps we had never experienced and wicked monsters poured out. T-The basement... was literally hell itself."

Usually, booby traps are basically a level where arrows shoot from the wall or you fall into a pit. However, the explanation Sir Paul poured out mixed with tears and snot contained content truly unimaginable.

"Haaa."

Count Morad let out a deep sigh. He fully understood what had happened. Now considering, taking the first turn at exploration without a Ranger or Rogue accompanied to a place where pagans were holed up was suicide.

"Give me a drink."

At the Count's words, the attendant approached with a wine bottle, but a slightly tipsy subordinate noble extended his own glass. It was out of an intention trying to console his gloomy lord in his own way.

Smash.

"Crazy bastard! I said to abstain from drinking during operations!"

"I-I beg your pardon."

Instead of extending the glass to receive wine, the Count snatched it and struck the nobleman's forehead. The red wine flowing down his face like blood and the bloody face made it quite a miserable sight.

"Did you not see the Mayer army setting an example? Since you've gotten so completely loose and sloshed, Sir Paul's judgment might have become blurry!"

Eugene of course, the nomads and mercenaries observed an implicit order of absolutely no alcohol or entering brothels during a campaign. Their leader Eugene had resolved this as a knight belonging to a sect of ascetic behavior.

Unless it was on the way home after all business was cleanly finished, none could loosen their tensions. Thus, they showed an overwhelming capability gap even when facing pagans.

And if one goes deep, that was because they knew well the truth Eugene instilled in them.

- There are quite a few times where your luck or effort alone cannot decide your life on the battlefield. Can you bear it when your colleague next to you dies due to drinking and becoming slow-witted? Don't seek such shitty endings.

That harsh, yet warm and fiercely rational conviction permeated the nomadic warriors and mercenaries tightly.

"Roxanne."

"Yes. Speak."

Unlike the other nobles sitting uncomfortably at the Count's anger, Roxanne naturally brought parchment and a quill pen. Because the 1.5 years sent acting as Count Morad's agent had completely taken the shell off the greenhouse maiden's appearance.

"Record it. First, to Duke Pierce, who demonstrated the most advanced medical technology I have seen. Please convey my desire to interact more actively to further both families' prosperity."

Normally he would request exclusive usage through payment of gold coins, but the Pierce family wasn't on a level to move with gold coins. Since to a grand noble conTrolling the west, something like small wealth was relatively of little significance.

On top of the Count expressing respect acknowledging Duke Pierce thoroughly, Roxanne wrote the letter supplementing its flow cleanly like flowing water.

"Also... to Count Mayer... Haah, send thanks for the grace in taking care of our bloodied ones."

"Do you imply we should provide corresponding reward as well? Would calculating 10 gold coins per person suffice?"

It's a huge sum, considering an ordinary conscript's 1-year soldier pay is barely 30-40 silver coins. However, this is precisely 'life money' customary in knightly society when a life was saved from a desperate situation. Even among friendly fOrces, money calculation is thorough. Nothing builds favor better than money, and nothing makes enemies better than turning a blind eye to it.

Even if they are under a commander of an allied army with similar hierarchy, it's natural since they have independent power over their subordinates.

"Give it as silver coins. Don't we have plenty of what we brought from home?"

If 10 gold coins are exchanged into silver coins, it's 100-110 ones depending on the era. From the perspective of the ones receiving the large bag of small change it might be a bit uncomfortable, but those silver coins weren't things moving around in the market either.

They were high-purity, unsullied silver coins stored deep underground in the Count's treasury due to the war situation.

They were objects of sufficient quality to serve in ceremonies melting into silver. The intention was to replace thanking them with this showing proper sincerity.

* * *

Around the time Count Morad was suffering due to the failure.

The man causing that suffering was cooking while wearing a white apron.

Tak tak tak tak!

Pshaaa-!

"It smells good! Master, what really is this!"

Cassandra looked at him shining her eyes to Eugene busy moving his cooking knife. Since an appetizing savory smell and the sound of deep frying in oil intensely stimulated her appetite.

"Just wait a little. The soup only needs to boil a bit more."

"Uwaa~. I want to eat quickly!"

As the steam blowing out of the iron pot wafted around, Cassandra let out enthusiastic cheers but Homi retreated waving her hand.

"That soup smells horrible! Is it poison or something?"

In the two people's noses existed vastly different sensibilities. Homi couldn't withstand the smell of the savory Soybean paste soup (Doenjang Guk) and quickly flew away her seat to far off.

"I see, it seems felines don't fit well with soybean paste compared to canines."

Recalling how she preferred seafood mostly, Eugene nodded appropriately.

However, to Eugene who had met a properly fermented soybean paste in years, the smell alone made him so happy he could die. As time passed, the strong craving of his body for homeland flavor awakened powerfully enough that even the fatigue of battle flew away softly.

Normally, boiling soup with soybean paste in the barren Middle Ages would be impossible. However, this is a world where magic exists right. The power of a plant-specialized witch made it easy to grow and ferment beans quickly.

Moreover, Valda's alchemy was added, reducing the process that would take months to just two weeks.

"I cannot look without tears! Is this how Lord Count has been passing your daily life? Without even maids!"

"Oh! Young nobles are so lacking in survival power! Are you doing this so your wife won't even think of bringing in a concubine out of pity for his back bending?"

At Eugene cooking directly wrapped in an apron, knights belonging to the Morad family who visited the tent burst out in a fuss. Since it was an attitude of genuinely finding it pitiful, it wasn't particularly sarcastic either. Only, their perspective regarding Eugene's actions was far too different due to differences in class awareness.

But in Eugene's eyes, no matter how great the knights, they were nothing but uncivilized beings who only knew grilled meat sprinkled with salt and pepper.

'These chaps know not of the true taste.'

Ssaaak.

Eugene boldly placed the golden brown, well-fried pork cutlet (Tonkatsu) atop a large steel plate. And after scooping up plentiful white rice filling up one side of the space completely...

"Uwaaaa...!"

Pouring a steaming hot soybean paste soup in a fairly voluminous wooden bowl over it, an unbelievable dining set was completed on the battlefield. At Eugene finishing the long awaited dish, the knights gulped down their dry spit.

Eugene brought to his mouth soybean paste soup togAAether overflowing with spinach. The deeply savory and thick flavor wrapping his tongue made him automatically close his eyes.

Following that, dipping a piece of thick pork cutlet with overflowing meat juice in the special sauce Cassandra acquired and chewing it up. Finally, putting a large spoonful of plumply polished newly harvested rice. This combination of holy trinity, only known to Eugene out of this entire continent.

Eugene's expression, savoring all kinds of rich flavors simultaneously, became so peaceful that anyone who saw him would believe he had been liberated from the mundane world and achieved enlightenment in faith.

- Just what is that to do that?

Cassandra and the knights, captivated by that expression, stared blankly at Eugene's eating show holding their breath. Just watching made saliva pool in an instant.

"Are you curious of the taste?"

When Eugene opened his eyes and asked returning to reality, everyone nodded their heads vigorously at once.

"It can't be helped to lack a portion. Those who want to eat must help with setting the table."

Eugene, who resolved to quickly dispatch an exploration party to Count Cruz to acquire cooking knowledge soon, divided and handed over rice and side dishes he had continuously prepared. Even the arrogant Morad knights lined up obediently carrying dishes in their hands respectfully.

Then, there was someone walking toward there with a very awkward face. The Morad family scribe who had been sent carrying heavy silver coins in both hands. Because his timing coincided perfectly right as the meal allocation ended, he was a step late.

Count Morad's calculation that Eugene's side, fighting pagan creatures, would be extremely thirsty for quality silver objects with silver content, met precise synchronicity. If not for the exploration team throwing their dice foolishly and continuously failing as a result.

"So the Count's proposal is that he will hand over priority along with these silver coins?"

Eugene asked picking his teeth with a toothpick.

The exploration team formed centering on Sir Paul had made attempts challenging 4 times consecutively until their will broke fully. However, doing nothing but seeing casualties occur without going beyond halfway up the 1st basement level, Morad ended up putting down his pride in the end.

In any case, since giving it to Eugene couldn't cause losses anymore, leaving their hand with empty faces wouldn't change.

"You speak as if I was waiting for this."

Eugene giggled.

"The, Then..."

The scribe who came as the proxy gulped down dry spit. How great an amount of face-smashing humiliation would they have to experience to hand over exploration rights on this plate? He closed his eyes tight.

But Eugene smoothly accepted the leather pouches containing silver coins without words of scolding or sarcasm.

Changgeurang...

At the clear sound emitted touching the pouch, Homi, whose smell got covered by chewing some other jerky holding her nose far away, came running over as if flying.

"Me! Please give me one too!"

Beast-warrior Homi rubbing her cheeks eagerly on the pouch contained roughly 150 silver coins. Since they felt heavy, if used as they were they held value of 1.5 gold coins, but to topple evil, holding absolute value that cannot be substituted.

Because there is this item given precisely as expected, preparing for exploration was completed seamlessly.

Even Homi, very reluctant earlier, had her fighting spirit fully boiling upon discovering what was inside the pouch. So long as the necessary conditions were fulfilled, an unnecessary war of nerves wasn't one of Eugene's hobbies.

"Rampage, how is it going?"

"Of course we've perfectly mapped it out using reconnaissance bats earlier. I will explain now."

"We will commence the raid immediately."

Soon afterwards, Eugene assembled the main fOrce members. With no others mixing in, only the elite fOrces gathered togAAether.

Henri and Baran. The two squires armed precisely identical to knights. The Witch of Thorns Valda wearing chain armor over her robe. The Summoner Marbas holding a wand made of young World Tree branch. And Ranger Cassandra carrying tools necessary for unlocking, traps and survival gear in an organized backpack on her back, lastly Beast-warrior Homi. Including Eugene, only perfectly 7 people.

"M-Master Count. Sirs Marbas and Madam Valda are going as well? It's too dangerous!"

The Morad knights, waiting to watch the action, shouted in shock. Even if wizards possess considerable protection capabilities against anomalous curses, in small enclosed rooms they are weaker to monsters swinging swords blindly.

Entering a completely unknown and treacherous dungeon taking along the most crucial combat assets like a great summoner and an alchemist was a completely unpredictable command impossible to emerge from a generic common sense.

"It will be alright."

However, before Eugene could answer, a boisterous answer flew over. Walking heavily with kong kong footsteps, it was none other than Walker the Dwarf.

"We brought it! I made it thoroughly according to the Lord's instructions!"

"Wow. Truly a monstrous piece of steel."

The people murmured seeing an enormous rectangle steel chunk resembling a castle gate door rather than a shield. An item Walker brought out, who sweated heavily making it overnight with only an absurd design schematic given by Eugene.

The weight exceeded an amount a single adult male couldn't lift normally, the handle was thickly equipped for two-handed use instead of one. No matter how you look at it, this is a barrier for a siege, not an item to use blocking an enemy's knife stroke individually.

Kkooong!

When Eugene pulled it over with one hand holding it vertically and planted it down, a heavy thud sound rang out as if a giant struck the ground with an iron mace. Standing behind it, not a single bit of his whole body could be seen.

Along with that.

Sseuaeaeaeg...

A bizarre frictional sound the two people's wrists touched. Intricate magic formulas on the wide and thick silver bracelets created by melting the silver coins given by Morad were softly spreading a white glow. A talisman for absolute nullification resisting the corruption magic the pagans frequently use.

"Then let's go."

Eugene commanded opening the wide-open monastery door leading out towards a seemingly abyss of darkness. As the thick door that the Morad Army hadn't touched completely opened, dark and cold evil aura reminiscent of an ice cave wafted outside in an instant.

At the extremely dirty damp smell of moss and rusted iron vibrating, Homi, with her eyes widening in a circle, transformed completely into a snow-white figure drawing on her Beastkin nature. A Beast-warrior reminiscent of a wild snow leopard on the snow mountain proudly stretched its chest out behind Eugene's back.