Chapter 270

Chapter 270 - King of Metals

An enemy consumed by fear works to an ally's advantage. That is a truth Eugene always recalls when leading an army. Therefore, when a battle began, he focused on tearing the enemies' bodies and souls apart like a beast.

'Has the wind changed?'

Eugene drove Might in accordance with the headwind. He tries to keep his back to the wind as much as possible on the battlefield, and the reason is simple.

"Add more shields!"

"Captain, we're short on shields..."

"Dismantle the grain transport carts too! Bring the wheels and planks and set them up as shields!"

Thump!

Eugene descended upon the spot where the Imperial faction mercenaries had built a solid shield wall.

"C-Count...!"

The mercenaries, who recognized Might, Blackout, and Eugene in that order, held their shields even tighter. The black axe blade stormed toward them.

The shield wall, which hadn't budged even when battered fiercely by the noble faction mercenaries, was ripped apart. Along with the flesh and bones of those holding it.

Chopped pieces of flesh and innards scattered, and a thick smell of blood rode the wind to engulf the mercenaries in the rear ranks.

"Uwaaah..."

"Y-You bastards! Hold your positions!"

Even the decurions trying to salvage the collapsing formation had trembling legs.

This is why Eugene wanted to keep his back to the wind. Even if he just ground up five or six people with his massive axe, the atmosphere of that battle area changed.

After swinging a few more times to widen the gap, Eugene moved on to another area.

"What are you doing? His Excellency has personally prepped the meat for you. Hurry up and eat."

"Charge! Charge!"

"Long live His Excellency the Count!"

The excited noble faction mercenaries dug into the crack of the destroyed shield wall.

"I am Alric of House Bremon! A knight knighted by His Majesty the Emperor after defeating a Troll!"

An Imperial faction knight wielding a double-bladed iron spear shouted boldly. He was a master of the spear who had won the jousting tournaments in Roman twice.

A young tribal knight who had just dispatched three mercenaries immediately rushed over. Experiencing his first field battle, he was thirsty for glory.

"Remember the name Sarion! The folly of challenging House Mayer! Repay it with your death!"

"Don't be cocky. You pointy-eared barbarian bastard!"

The tribal knight parried the spear Alric thrust with his sword. Alric used that recoil to launch a secondary attack with the opposite end of the spear.

"Keugh!"

The tribal knight, who intended to aim for an opening after parrying the spear, was hit in the shoulder by Alric's thrust, which was half a beat faster.

Alric spat at the opponent who fell from his horse and disappeared into the dust. And then he aimed his bloodied spear at Eugene, who appeared right behind.

"Enemy of His Majesty! I will punch a huge hole in your body today!"

"I'll accept that challenge."

Eugene and Alric charged at each other.

'I've heard countless rumors about his incredible strength. But with my counterattack!'

House Bremon's secret spearmanship freely utilized the recoil given by the opponent's attack. Alric had deflected a Troll's club with this and pierced its heart.

Recalling the virtual duels he had envisioned over and over in his head, Alric executed a sure-kill thrust. His only misstep was failing to consider one scenario.

Clang!

"What?"

Alric looked at the iron spear, which had snapped in two and spun away, with a dumbfounded face. With this, utilizing the recoil or whatever was meaningless.

Swoosh!

A pitch-black axe blade fell from the sky. Alric reflexively raised the remaining spear shaft to block.

'Ah... I can't block it with a spear.'

His body acted first and thoughts followed, but it was already too late.

Thud.

Riiip!

The spear was cut into a quarter once again. The corpse of Alric, bisected perfectly down the middle along with his warhorse, fell to the left and right.

"Crossbowmen! Focus fire on Count Mayer..."

A broken spear lodged into the face of the mercenary centurion pointing at Eugene.

"F-Fire!"

At the order of the decurion who inherited command, the crossbowmen aimed at Eugene in unison.

'I understand why the Southern noble army was pushed back. They are disciplined enough to deploy elite troops in the rear even in this situation.'

Eugene clicked his tongue. He had heard that mercenaries operating in central Roman were frequently dispatched to provinces and mobilized for subjugating heterogeneous races. They were strong soldiers practically akin to a standing army.

A volley of bolts poured down, but Blackout's wide axe blade defended him solidly like a rectangular shield.

"Rex."

"Wipe those bastards out!"

With Rex's roar, a hail of arrows poured down, and the crossbowmen aiming at Eugene fell, bleeding.

Thud thud thud thud!

"He's coming!"

"Hurry up and reload..."

The surviving crossbowmen were crushed to pieces, battered left and right by Might's charge while stepping on the heads of their crossbows.

"Sir. It's cool that you step forward personally, but seeing you engulfed by dozens of bolts makes me nervous."

"It's fine because I always make sure only one side is exposed to fire."

It wasn't that Eugene was fearless or crazy for merits. Only by him running wild at the front could he minimize his allies' casualties.

If elite archers and elite horse archers engaged in a shooting duel, naturally the horse archers would suffer more casualties. The range and power of mounted ranged weapons were inferior to those for infantry.

"What about Sir Sarion?"

"He barely saved his life. He almost got his axillary artery hit. That human knight bastard's spearmanship was incredible."

A knight personally knighted by Eugene had almost died in his very first battle. Even now, fierce battles of offense and defense were taking place where Eugene wasn't present.

"Lantzheim Mercenary Group, advance! You are the only warriors who can stop those crazy Dwarf bastards!"

Viscount Peyton sent out the most elite pikemen he had kept as reserves. They were warriors from a small northern kingdom whose national industry was the mercenary business.

The Emperor's chief of staff had divided the Lantzheim pikemen and deployed them as a rear guard insurance for various Imperial faction armies.

Pikes soaring high into the sky advanced densely from the center of the enemy camp. That sight exerted pressure even from a distance.

"Lower pikes!"

At the Lantzheim non-commissioned officer's shout, countless pikes aimed forward. Even the noble faction army, who had been gleefully striking the backs and backs of the heads of the retreating enemies, couldn't dare charge into that forest of spear shafts.

"How dare these bug-like bastards?"

A few noble faction knights, whose anger had built up after failing to capture Viscount Peyton and being chased instead, attempted a charge.

They dug in while deflecting the spearheads with their swordsmanship honed to the extreme, but they didn't last long. The Lantzheim pikemen were also tired of dealing with knights.

"Kill the horses!"

"Ignore the knights! It's hard to pierce their armor, so gut the horses' bellies first!"

Under the barrage of spear thrusts from all sides, two knights were unhorsed. One of them squeezed through with knightly valor and planted his sword into three pikemen in an instant.

"Die, knight bastard!"

However, one of the pikemen dropped his spear and tackled him, aiming for his lower body. Even as a knight, he couldn't hold out when a sturdy young man hugged both his knees and tried to topple him.

"Let go of me! You lowly bastard!"

"Keugh!"

Only after drawing a dagger and repeatedly stabbing the pikeman's side did the knight barely break free, but he was already covered in dirt. Furthermore, he almost died an untimely death as spears aimed at his fallen neck were thrust down.

"Sir Berrin, step back!"

"Th-Thank you! Lantzheim's reputation wasn't for nothing."

Knight Berrin, whose life was barely saved by his squire dragging him out at the risk of his own life, gritted his teeth.

"Damn it. We're going to lose Viscount Peyton at this rate."

"Do not worry. Sir Berrin."

At that moment, the baron who had hit it off with them since the banquet arrived leading reinfOrcements.

"Scorpion Mercenary Group! Attack!"

"Leave it to us. My Lord. We will show those northern hicks how sharp the stinger of the desert is."

Poison must be subdued with poison.

If the Lantzheim Mercenary Group was famous as the best spearmen in Roman, there was the Scorpion Mercenary Group in Samur.

-⬛⬛⬛⬛! ⬛⬛!

-Stop throwing those, you crazy bitches!

Having fought against the Rakshas, who would throw hundreds of bamboo spears in a battle, they had equally become experts in spear and shield. Since they also dealt with dangerous monsters like Lamias and Desert Orcs, they were famous for applying poison to their spearheads.

The northern pikemen and the southern shield spearmen glared at each other and closed the distance.

"Left foot! Left foot! Left foot! Aim! Left foot!"

At the NCO's command, the Lantzheim pikemen advanced while checking their formation and spear height at a 4-to-1 ratio.

Thud, thud, thud.

Revering cold military discipline to the point of being called the Silent Tercio. Only quiet footsteps echoed without a single speech to inspire morale.

On the other hand, the Scorpion Mercenary Group's Phalanx chatted and communicated endlessly.

"We are sharing the same destiny. There's nothing to fear. We'll crush them all and head home with bags of money. Is everyone listening?"

"Yes! Captain!"

"Is the venom rising?"

"Huaa!"

It was a habit formed to avoid being pushed back in momentum when facing screaming desert monsters.

Thus, the two sides clashed.

"Keuugh."

"Aargh!"

The first to bleed was the Scorpion Mercenary Group. Because they used one-handed spears to hold shields, they were at a disadvantage in range against the Lantzheim Mercenary Group using pikes.

"Everyone grit your teeth and advance! It's better than having hundreds of bamboo spears flying at you, isn't it?"

"Huaa!"

When they fOrced their approach while enduring casualties, the suicide squad waiting in the middle ranks of the Scorpion Mercenary Group mobilized.

"Now is the time. Get underneath."

"Kill them all!"

The suicide squad, armed with kukris, machetes, and daggers, crouched low and infiltrated under the pikes.

"Puta Madre!"

"La Puta!"

Shouting "your mother is a whore" in the Samur dialect, they clung to the Lantzheim pikemen.

Stab!

Stab!

Daggers were lodged into the sides and thighs of the pikemen, bypassing their breastplates and greaves that only covered the front.

"Kkeuaaak!"

Some of the suicide squad even stabbed between the groins. However, the Lantzheim Mercenary Group was accustomed to such situations as well.

"Front rank! Toad stance! Front rank! Toad stance!"

At the NCO's command, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rank pikemen crouched down simultaneously.

"Wh-What?"

"Why are they suddenly doing this?"

The suicide squad holding bloodied daggers hesitated in panic.

"Kill the rats!"

The mercenaries in the rear ranks aiming loaded crossbows fired. With desperate screams, the suicide squad fell.

Having finished firing, the Lantzheim archers abandoned their crossbows, drew daggers, and lunged at the remaining suicide squad.

The Scorpion Mercenary Group spearmen desperately wanted to help but had no way. Even in the crouched stance, the pike formation was so solid they couldn't approach at all.

"Kyaaak!"

"Keugh!"

Those who tried to approach anyway relying on their shields collapsed with deep stab wounds to their necks or thighs.

"Retreat! Slow down!"

Furthermore, the Lantzheim pikemen showed off the impressive feat of stepping backward while maintaining their formation with spears aimed. The distance the Scorpion Mercenary Group had closed at the cost of sacrifices widened again.

"D-Don't step back! Hold your ground!"

"Do you intend to smear mud on the name of the Scorpion?!"

The demoralized Scorpion Mercenary Group hesitated and retreated, while the expressionless Lantzheim pikemen began to advance.

'Are one-handed spears no match for pikes after all?'

The showdown between the Southern Phalanx and the Northern Tercio was a victory for the Tercio. If left alone any longer, the Scorpion Mercenary Group's casualties would become unconTrollable.

Clack clack.

"...?"

A question marked the faces of the Lantzheim mercenaries. The rear ranks of the retreating Scorpion Mercenary Group suddenly became noisy and began to part to the left and right.

Clack clack.

"Uwat!"

"M-Move! Clear the way for him."

The Scorpion Mercenary Group formation kept parting with continuous exclamations of surprise. Only when that crack passed the middle ranks and reached the front ranks could they know the reason.

A knight riding a massive warhorse and holding a pitch-black axe appeared and looked down at the Lantzheim Mercenary Group.

"Ooh."

"Euh."

For the first time, the spearheads of the pikemen began to tremble.

"Do not be afraid! Even if the opponent is Count Mayer, he is but a single rider! We are Lantzheim! The most vicious ones in the world at hunting knights!"

The NCO also gave a long speech for the first time, encouraging his subordinates.

Clack clack.

However, as the Might and Eugene duo moved forward, over 100 pikes slowly began to retreat backward. There was no retreat order from the NCO.

And Eugene's arm moved.

Vwooooong!

As a black flash gleamed, over 10 spear shafts were sliced off at once.

Crack!

Crunch!

When the gale raged two or three more times, only short sticks remained in the fan-shaped area in front of Eugene.

"Eeyit! Don't be discouraged! A knight from our side is going out too!"

"For His Majesty the Emperor!"

The Imperial faction knights advancing with the Lantzheim mercenaries charged at Eugene.

Slash!

A warhorse with nothing left above its chest fell to the side. The knight riding it had nothing from his belly button up.

Thwack!

Next, a warhorse split vertically from head to chest collapsed. The knight riding it flew forward due to the recoil, and the last thing he saw was Might's mouth.

"Heueueueup! Eueueup!"

The suppressed scream of the knight whose head and entire upper body were bitten leaked out.

Kyarururu-!

Like a hunting dog shaking a bitten field mouse, Might shook his head violently in the air.

Splatter!

Every time he did, drops of blood splattered loudly, falling sporadically onto the faces of the Lantzheim pikemen.

A moment later, the knight's torso with its neck pulled out flew away like a pinwheel and landed on top of the pikemen.

Perhaps disliking the metallic taste of the helmet, Might spat the head out with a ptui!, causing the pikemen to scatter in panic to avoid it. It wasn't even powerful enough to hurt them if they were hit.

"Follow behind His Excellency the Count!"

"Scorpions! We won't back down after suffering such humiliation, will we?"

Meanwhile, the morale of the Scorpion Mercenary Group, which had been dying out, pierced the sky.

Crack!

Crunch!

At their forefront, Eugene was indiscriminately breaking and destroying pikes.

Watching that sight, Viscount Peyton felt like he was going insane, beyond just being dumbfounded.

"Is that, is that really a person made of flesh and blood? This makes no sense. That makes absolutely no sense."

Viscount Peyton knew that the royal guards had died while dueling Eugene in Codon.

The report didn't use the word 'battle' but 'slaughter', which he had considered an exaggeration at the time. But seeing it now, there seemed to be no more accurate expression.

"We must abandon the soldiers!"

"Abandon? Abandon them? The elite troops His Majesty provided?"

"Viscount! Get down!"

"Heek!"

Viscount Peyton was terrified by the arrow that flew at him. Rex, who had penetrated the rear of the Imperial faction army at some point, had shot the arrow.

"There! The Viscount is over there!"

"Retreat! Retreat!"

If they were properly pursued by the notorious Blackhand Tribe cavalry, it would be the end. A small number of retainers and knights followed Viscount Peyton, who was fleeing frantically.

The Imperial faction army, its chain of command collapsed, abandoned their weapons and fled in all directions.

* * *

It was a great victory.

"Damn it. The employer even ran away, so why did they fight so tenaciously?"

Rex smacked his lips in regret. It was because they missed both Count Bram and Viscount Peyton.

The Lantzheim Mercenary Group maintained their formation to the end and guarded the retreat route even while the other Imperial faction soldiers were fleeing.

"Surrender. Your commander has already left far away. If you surrender, I will guarantee your lives."

"..."

Even at Eugene's recommendation, the surrounded pikemen remained silent.

Did they feel they had done enough to ensure the employment path for their hometown juniors remained safe? Even though they couldn't help their fear of death, everyone had relieved faces.

"His Excellency the Count. Let's just kill them. We lost the big catches because of those damn bastards."

"Be quiet. His Excellency will handle it appropriately."

An older knight dragged away the noble faction knight who was talking excitedly.

Eugene stepped forward alone in front of the Lantzheim pikemen and dismounted from Might. And he took off his helmet.

"Your Excellency!"

After raising his hand to silence the flustered knights, he continued speaking.

"I pay my respects to your skills and military spirit. If you surrender now, I will treat you as honorable prisoners of war. I will not take away your banner and will provide medical treatment."

"..."

Thud.

A moment later, one pike dropped to the ground.

Thud, thud.

When two or three more dropped, the pace accelerated.

"We will surrender. Honorable Count."

The only thing standing stiffly until the end was the banner of Lantzheim.

* * *

In the front yard of the Moving Castle where the battle had ended, the collection of loot and the recovery of corpses and the wounded took place.

"S-Spare m... Keugh!"

A sword was mercilessly driven into a mercenary playing dead among the corpses. The noble faction army, fully fueled by venom, was busy searching the surroundings and executing confirmed kills.

Watching the sight, Hind asked Eugene.

"Should I stop them if it displeases you?"

"Leave it. They must need to vent their accumulated resentment too. It might just redirect their grudge towards us. Just leave them be as long as they don't touch our Lantzheim friends."

"I will escort the prisoners and put them in the prison inside the castle."

"Send them to the bathhouse to wash up before putting them in."

"Leave it to me."

As Hind left after a military salute, Rampage approached.

"Your Excellency! Your Excellency! There's something you must see!"

"Did you find a rare mineral or something?"

"H-How did you know?"

"Looking at your face."

Dwarves have a unique expression they only show when they discover rare minerals, even if it's the same expensive loot. Having lived togAAether for a long time as a subordinate, friend, and neighbor, it was easy to tell.

"I found a guy much more precious than a gold bar."

"Something more expensive than gold?"

"It's better to see it yourself than for me to explain with words."

The excited Rampage grabbed Eugene's hand and led him.

The place they arrived at was a carriage with Count Bram's banner planted on it. It was much sturdier than normal ones and had a lock, looking like it was for transporting military funds.

Dwarves were already pulling out the contents and sorting them. Besides gold and silver, it was full of items that could be used as currency substitutes. Bond documents, captured jewelry, famous swords forged from precious metals, military scrips stamped with the Count's seal, etc.

However, many Dwarves were huddled in one place, not even glancing at the sparkling gold, silver, and jewels.

What they surrounded was a grayish-white lump that looked like solidified mercury. Being roughly the size of a Dwarf, it looked like it would be quite heavy.

"It looks a bit too yellowish to be platinum. What is this?"

"Count! You must not touch it carelessly!"

"Take off your gauntlet!"

For some reason, the Dwarves, who had taken off their armor and helmets, tried to stop him, but it was too late.

Clang!

Eugene's gauntleted hand stuck to the lump as if being sucked in.

"Oho?"

Even when he applied fOrce, an invisible attractive fOrce firmly held Eugene's hand. It was the first time he felt magnetism in this world. And a very strong one at that.

"Everyone bring your tools!"

"A crowbar won't work. We have to pry it with a wooden spear shaft."

"Can't you just take off the gauntlet?"

"Th-That's right! We should take off the helmet and boots first..."

The terrified Dwarves came running, making a fuss.

"Stop! Everyone calm down."

Eugene, who took off his steel boots, stepped on the magnet and applied fOrce, and the gauntlet came right off.

"...Ah right, it was the Count."

The Dwarves calmed down as fast as they had panicked.

"Rampage."

"Yes."

"Is this sturdy?"

All the Dwarves present nodded.

"It is the King of Metals. It rejects comparison with soft magnetite."

Rampage gave a thumbs up.

"You don't have to worry about it breaking during transport. It's more expensive than gold of the same weight, and the larger the size, the more precious it becomes. If you sell it in Khazad-dor, you can get a tremendous price..."

"I'm not selling it."

Eugene cut him off firmly and asked again.

"How sturdy is it?"

"Pardon?"

"Not just dropping it, will it not break even if it hits somewhere hard?"

"Yeees?"

Rampage made a puzzled face in front of Eugene, who was smiling while tapping the magnet with the back of his hand.