Chapter 31

Chapter 31 - The First Subjugation War (2)

Following the trial by combat, the subjugation of the bandit pack settled in the northern forest drew near. Despite the successive crises, the faces of the city leadership were calm. Unlike the trial by combat, this was a matter that could be resolved by pouring money into it.

"Once we deal with those rascals, everything shall return to as it was."

"As it was? No, it's more than that. For at least the next ten years, no insignificant rascals shall be able to look down on this city."

"They are not to be taken lightly. They have continued to swell in number, already exceeding several hundred. I heard deserters and mercenaries who were heading to Roman have joined them, enticed by the opportunity."

Being a prime spot for trade where many nations intersect, Bonyard was always crawling with robbers. Occasionally forming a large group under a charismatic leader is an event that occurs whenever one might forget about them, much like an earthquake or a typhoon.

"It's even said that a robber knight has been seen."

Though the numbers are unusually large and a robber knight has joined, no one is in a state of tension.

"Are there no knights here?"

"Rather, it has turned out well. It shall serve as the best sedative for those knights who have been grumbling."

For even excluding the knights who departed for various reasons, five still remained.

"The knights have all expressed their intention to participate in the subjugation."

"Naturally, they would. Is it not the perfect situation to earn money and build honor?"

The remaining knights are those who desperately wish to catch the eye of influential nobles. Naturally, they would not miss such an opportunity.

"While it is good to gather as much martial power as possible, we must not let our losses grow any further."

As the Chief Magistrate spoke to organize the atmosphere, everyone introduced the mercenary groups they had prepared.

"I have prepared five decuries of the Hammer Brotherhood."

"The Hawk Claw Mercenaries shall also arrive by tomorrow."

While there were differences in scale and quality, it was a force sufficient to overcome an equal number of bandits.

"What manner of men has the Chief Magistrate prepared?"

At the Magistrate's question, everyone looked at Panis.

'If he achieves another feat, it shall be troublesome in the next election.'

To those aiming for high positions, he had gradually become an opponent to be wary of.

"It is the Blackhand Mercenaries."

"The Blackhand? You mean Dark Elves are in the city?"

"To call upon those sinister fellows."

Unlike dwarven mercenaries who are welcomed everywhere, Dark Elves are a source of mixed reviews due to their characteristic venomousness and cruelty. Moreover, the Blackhand Mercenaries were a group formed by a tribe that had formerly made their living as assassins and had since washed their hands of it. One could not help but be uneasy.

"Yet, is their skill not the best? Their number is a mere twenty. I intend to assign them to scouting or auxiliary duties."

"Indeed, for such a thing, it would be a fitting role."

"As long as they do not stand in the vanguard."

Even those wary of Panis were reassured. With a mere twenty men, they would not be able to achieve a meaningful feat. The leadership returned to the talk of organizing the mercenary groups.

"Chief Magistrate."

At that moment, Sorin approached and whispered in his ear. Panis, whose expression changed abruptly, departed the conference room after his farewell. Since his role was already complete, there was no need to stay further.

"I am sorry for the interruption."

"No. Serving Sir Eugene is more important than a predictable meeting."

"You stayed longer than I thought. It seems the Mistress of the Forest hosted you with hospitality."

"I got along well with Sir Karas; would it be any different with a magician? Report every business concerning her from now on, regardless of time or place."

"I understand."

* * *

The two who went out to meet him were thus left with their mouths agape. Because having departed as two and returned as three, the third person was so utterly unexpected.

The figure of the woman atop the ivory horse was overflowing with dignity. Beneath the hood she had removed, every passerby had their gaze stolen by the fluttering waves of gold.

"M-Mistress of the Forest!"

The knight who had departed after being invited had brought back an unexpected person of nobility.

"You may call me Valda. Since I have left the forest and have so many nicknames that it is confusing."

"We shall do so, Lady Valda!"

Panis bowed as if he were overwhelmed.

"Would you prepare a place for Lady Valda to stay?"

"Of course! It is our honor."

Click, click!

When Panis snapped his fingers toward the back, the maids who were waiting came running.

"If there is anything you require, please, speak at any time."

"I thank you for the consideration."

While she was one who did many things well on her own, true to being a magician, she was also adept at being served. Once Valda vanished, Panis came running frantically.

"Just how did this come to pass?"

"Upon visiting after being invited, it seemed she intended to end her life of seclusion. Considering it a tie of destiny, I brought her here."

"You speak of difficult things so easily, sir."

Panis laughed in hollow amusement. For he himself, his predecessor, and the city elders had tried to invite her countless times, yet had always failed.

"It's embarrassing to say this after asking for hospitality, but I cannot guarantee that she shall take to the battlefield or be of help to the city."

Valda was Eugene's companion in name, but she was an independent existence. One could not give her commands as one would to Homi.

"Naturally. It is enough that she stays in the city. If luck follows, we might be able to hear a small magic, or at least a word of advice."

"It makes me feel at ease to hear you say so."

"This is originally the way a city treats a magician."

Just as knights stay as guests and receive hospitality, magicians also used to reside in cities or noble houses in this manner. Unlike knights whose only way to repay is to swing a blade, magicians were even more welcomed because they could earn their keep in various ways.

"Soon, a subjugation force shall depart for the north. Centering around the City Guard, the mercenaries hired by each member of the Grand Meeting and the invited knights shall also depart."

Panis also introduced the Blackhand Mercenary group he had hired.

"Do you have the intention to participate in the subjugation as well, Sir Eugene?"

"Naturally, I intend to do so."

Though he had the reward received for the Great Warrior duel, the more money one has, the better. Since the difference in strength between the two sides was severe in this subjugation, just following along would bring in a daily wage.

"That is excellent! Pray, take command of my mercenary group."

"Is that acceptable? I am a guest, not one belonging to the city."

It was rare to entrust command to one staying as a guest, unless they were a knight who had signed a formal contract with the city.

"We cannot place a great knight under a mercenary group. That is why I recruited a small elite force."

Panis was honestly concerned about the ill repute of the Blackhand Mercenaries. However, they were of a small scale that the Magistrate would overlook even if command were handed to Eugene, were of good skill, and were those who could be obtained right away. There were only the Blackhand Mercenaries.

"I understand. I shall lead them well so as to be of help to the subjugation force."

Eugene was one who had received faithful training as a commander from Godfrey, separate from his individual martial power. He could lead a small unit of about twenty men without issue.

"It is truly reassuring. With you together, victory already belongs to us."

"But the Blackhand... they are a group composed of Dark Elves, are they not?"

Godfrey did not care for the mercenary groups that formed and vanished incessantly, but he had educated Eugene in detail regarding assassins.

- No matter how strong you are, you shall not wear armor throughout the entire day. I shall not permit a fellow who is my disciple to die from his groin being torn while doing his business in the latrine rather than on a battlefield.

The Blackhand tribe was a group famous for both martial power and assassin techniques. Since Godfrey had mentioned them several times, Eugene knew them well.

"Are you perhaps uncomfortable with leading them?" Panis asked carefully.

Noble knights treated mercenaries as lowly consumables. Let alone coming from assassins, whom knights despise the most... even the generous Eugene might find it distasteful.

"I am saddened, Chief Magistrate. Do you not know enough about me by now?"

"Of course! I know well, naturally!"

Panis bowed toward Eugene, who said he would not care.

'A terrifying knight.'

For one who wore shining honor, it was time he gradually chose those he associated with, yet Eugene always judged interests coldly.

"The fellows of Gord pride themselves on being flexible warriors. They say they possess the blood of both a merchant and a warrior."

"Seeing Count Andar pull out the drawing of lots, he did seem to have the scent of a merchant."

"But compared to your moderation, Sir Eugene, those fellows are naught. He is truly a knight who possesses both the valor of a knight and the coldness of a merchant."

"Pray, stop at that, for it's embarrassing. Rather, there is something I am curious about. Did the Blackhand Mercenaries truly stab their noble employer?"

It was another reason why their ill repute had grown high.

"Well, there were reasons for that." Panis, who had to entrust those mercenaries right away, broke into a cold sweat.

"Just how great were the reasons that they would stab a noble lord?"

"The employer did not give them their pay."

In this world, withholding of wages is a common occurrence. There are no exceptions, whether on the winning or losing side. The cycle leading from withheld wages to plunder has become naturally settled like the tipping culture of Earth. Since a boss gives small wages, one makes up for it by receiving tips from guests. But the Blackhand Mercenaries simply planted a blade into their employer if they were not paid, and among the targets was even a noble lord. Though they did not face retaliation as the family in question was annihilated in a territorial war, they took on significant ill repute.

- Even if wages were delayed, how could a lowly mercenary dare to turn a blade against the noble who hired them?

Since it was a wickedness that could never be permitted in the eyes of nobles, every noble criticized them with one voice. The only reason they can still work as mercenaries is entirely due to their great skill. And free cities do not care for such things.

"Though their skill is recognized, they are truly savage fellows. If the situation is poor, payment might be delayed; how could they turn a blade against a noble? Tsk tsk! I am sorry for attaching such fellows to you. The situation did not allow for otherwise."

Panis cursed the mercenaries he had hired, wary of Eugene, who was a noble.

"If money was taken from those who fight with their lives on the line, it's only natural they receive a blade. They are truly hearty friends. I look forward to the day I meet them quickly."

"???"

And then, he was bewildered by Eugene's reaction of his eyes sparkling as if interested. This knight always surprised him in a good way.

* * *

"Are there any discomforts in your stay?"

"I feel as if I am surrounded by many energetic Graces. The maids try to take care of even the most trivial things."

Valda let out a sigh and pointed to her own head. Instead of the neat straight hair characteristic of Elves, there was a flamboyant braid. It was the result of four maids sticking to her and working diligently.

"It is only natural they would be excited to serve a famous magician of the forest."

"They did not seem particularly interested in the fact that I am a magician, however."

Valda's elegant fingers moved a knight and took Eugene's bishop. The two were playing chess. Eugene held a pawn and debated back and forth before placing it back where it was. Though it was a foul, Valda looked upon it with generosity. Unlike Eugene, who had only learned the rules of chess from Godfrey as part of his culture, Valda had played since she was young with Grace. Combined with her brilliant brain, Eugene was being utterly destroyed. Though he was confident in fighting with a sword and shield, he was quite clumsy at moving pieces.

"You are a man who learns quickly. You shall soon become mature in chess as well. Since you are good at all else, having but this shall leave you with no lack."

Valda seemed to wish to complete Eugene from a 99% knight to a 100% one.

"I have lost."

Finding himself in checkmate, Eugene conceded defeat by toppling his King. After looking down at the chessboard for a moment, Valda spoke.

"I shall also follow the subjugation."

"A magician accompanying the army is most welcome. But for what reason..."

"Do they not say one who does not work shall not eat either? I have no intention of becoming a burden. I shall surely be of help."

While it was joyful news, a small source of concern also arose.

'Do Elves and Dark Elves not have ả poor relationship?'

He seemed to have heard such a story. Though surely a hired mercenary would not dare to do anything foolish.

"And one more thing."

"Yes?"

Valda set Eugene's fallen King upright again.

"From now on, when you play chess with me, do not topple your King even if you lose. It is enough to simply say you have lost."

"It's the etiquette in a checkmate situation, however."

"I do not wish to see it. Your King must always stand tall."

"...I understand."

Godfrey's training was strict, but Valda's training had a certain tickling taste to it.

The first war to be faced with cold steel! It's a battlefield of a different dimension than a duel or a small-scale battle. However, with an excellent magician and elite mercenaries supporting him, as long as he has decided to live as a knight, he would simply advance while believing in his own martial power.