Chapter 37

Chapter 37 - The First Subjugation War (8)

Within the mind of Eugene, who had struck down the Wendigo, a calculator was already at work. Honor? Glory? He set such things aside for a moment.

"Rex. Arc the blood and hide of this fellow useful? I have heard that for medium-sized monsters, there is naught to be discarded."

A magic stone would surely be present as the main prize. But there would also be other ways to earn money. Catching a single dangerous monster such as a Yeti, Minotaur, or Ogre brings an income equivalent to several years for a famous knight.

"It's a fellow we, too, are experiencing for the first time. The tribal elders would know, however." Even Rex, who always answered various questions, scratched his head this time. Unlike naturally occurring monsters, the Wendigo is a demonic beast born through high-level sacrificial magic. Since it is difficult to see and even more difficult to catch, information was lacking.

"The blood of a demonic beast refined through sacrifice magic is not much different from the original beast. Even if you placed it on the alchemy market, you would not receive much of a price."

"Mmm, that is indeed a pity."

"What is important now is not money. The fact that you have slaughtered a demonic beast as strong as a Wendigo in an instant... where would there be anything more valuable than this glory for a knight?" Valda looked at Eugene with eyes of wonder. She had thought him a great knight, but this surpassed her imagination by a long way.

"The mistress magician is correct. Such an achievement would only appear if one searched through ancient documents recording myths, let alone history books." Rex also advocated for Valda.

"If there is no need to bottle the blood, there is no hurry."

"The antlers alone shall be worth whatever one calls for. The hide shall also be useful. We shall recover the corpse and investigate it." The Dark Elf warriors volunteered. Since the entire tribe is a group of wandering warriors, their processing techniques for monster corpses are second to none.

"If need be, it could even be used as a stag trophy."

"A Wendigo trophy, you say. If displayed, it shall certainly raise the status of your family." Everyone, including Valda, laughed at the sight of Eugene shaking the Wendigo's head.

"Let us end the idle talk here and join the rest. Rex, pull one decury and send them back the way we came."

"You mean to collect the spoils at the large campsite we passed?"

"It's good that you are quick-witted. I have seen several mercenary groups in the city, but you are the only ones I would call an army."

"It's an honor." Rex grinned and gestured, and immediately ten Dark Elves ran toward the rear.

"I, as well, shall go with them. I wish to search the altar where the ritual was held. I shall look for an artifact that might be useful for you." Valda also accompanied the group.

The battle was now over. A hunt divided into the pursuer and the pursued was in progress.

"Captain! We must pull back immediately!"

"Even if we flee, should we not at least form a line? First, align the boys..." The mercenary captain for the bandit side, who was trying to manage things somehow, froze.

"Captain?" As Eugene atop Might charged forward, the captain also threw away his weapon and fled. The tide of the battlefield, which had been changed by a single terrifying demonic beast, was overturned once again by a single great knight.

* * *

Eugene and the subordinates following him, though small in number, were the finest specialists of this battlefield in matters of slaughter.

The Dark Elves, who drew their curved swords as arrow costs were a waste, made bandits fall while clutching their backs and limbs every time they struck. The squires and subordinates who served Galia also swung their weapons gruesomely as a way to vent their anger over having lost their master.

"Kill the evil magician!" A subjugation force mercenary captain pointed to a figure wearing a black robe among the bandits.

"How dare you lowly things!" The magician, realizing that everything was over, bit his index finger and made a blood sign. It's a forbidden magic that pours out a curse at the cost of one's own life.

Thud! However, as his heart was pierced by Eugene's javelin, the magic dissipated. The javelin was planted in the ground as it was, fixing the magician's corpse in the air.

"Sir Knight, do you intend to end the war all by yourself?" The Guard Captain, who was leading from the front, laughed and joked.

"Is there not a war I have already ended alone?"

"Eh? What manner of... ah!" Recalling the Palace War, the Guard Captain laughed heartily. "I know not if we should erect a statue for you in Bonyard."

The lieutenants praised him half-jokingly and half-seriously. It was thanks to the accumulated fear and stress being reversed into pleasure in an instant, as they had turned the tide in a dramatic situation.

'I thought it would be pesky if the magician escaped, but it was unnecessary concern.' Since the Pagan Magician was at the front to control the Wendigo, there was no room for him to pull back. Wearing a black robe alone, he was easily noticed regardless of whether one knew the magical energy or not.

Homi searched the magician's person and pocketed a money pouch containing three silver coins and dozens of copper coins, as well as several magical reagents. Her sense of smell allowed her to know another's person as clearly as her own pocket.

"Let us pull back at this point. There shall be naught more to do here." Since the allies had pushed forward that far, even if they advanced, they would only become entangled with each other.

Eugene looked down at Galia's squire and servants. "You have performed your roles faithfully. I shall return the temporary command I held. I wish for the repose of Sir Galia's soul."

"It was an honor to serve you, even for a short time. We thank you once again for avenging our master." The squire and servants bowed their heads and ran toward the enemy lines. It seemed they intended to return to the small camp to recover their master's body and the wounded.

Eugene led the Dark Elves back the way they came. It's the shortcut leading to the altar where the sacrifice magic was used.

"Forest magic is indeed amazing." Rex could not contain his admiration. Valda's magic created a shortcut even in places where there appeared to be no path. Though not as flamboyant as a pyromancer, it harbored massive tactical potential.

"Have you come? There are no anomalies." The Dark Elves who had scattered about the campsite and stood watch gave a military salute.

Eugene brought his horse to a stop before the altar. Valda was sitting upon a rock, reading a book covered in beast hide.

"The Pagan Magician has been dealt with."

"You have worked hard."

"Is that his research book?"

Valda nodded. "He was one who served Kalash, the God of Hungry Stigmas. He was both a magician and a priest, in a sense."

"The monks shall surely love such a man." Even the denominations that acknowledged various gods and got along well together had no mercy for pagans. And he practiced evil magic besides? They would have fire in their eyes as they sought to kill him.

"But the God of Hungry Stigmas? It seems a somewhat poor title for a god."

"That may be so, but it's a good thing for the people of the world. For Kalash does not receive humans as sacrifices."

"Why is that? Usually, for a pagan god, human sacrifice is the base."

"Because even if he eats, his belly does not fill. It is for that reason he only receives large livestock."

"...Hearing it again, it seems a not-so-bad title."

"It's but an evil god regardless, however." Valda closed the book.

Gradually, a noisy sound was drawing closer. It seemed the subjugation force had pushed forward to the vicinity.

"Sir Knight. Serving the mistress magician is important, but you must take what you are to take." Rex set down the wealth his subordinates had plundered from the campsite before Eugene.

"You fellows... have already taken everything."

"Is it not only natural?" All the Dark Elves had taken things that appeared to be worth money. There was even one fellow who wore five swords at his waist. True to being a tribe of wandering, hunting, and plundering, they were fast in such matters.

"Nonetheless, we have set aside the most valuable-looking items for you, Sir Knight."

"There is no need to go this far, but I thank you." Gold ritual tools were contained within the bundle.

"Silver and gold have high magic conductivity. But one cannot use silver for an evil ritual. It is one of the reasons why pagan magicians are always squeezed for money."

"So they cause such trouble by going to excess for research funds? Since they cannot receive support from cities or nobles."

"Thus, most are discovered and exterminated before reaching a high level. Priests claim such laws of the world are divine providence." Indeed, as a magician joined the party, various interesting pieces of knowledge were increased.

"Benzin! Cray! You no longer need to block the entrance. If a bandit rascal comes, shoot him; if it is a subjugation force mercenary, let him pass."

"I understand!" At Rex's command, two Dark Elves stepped aside. They had already resupplied their arrows from the dead in the camp.

"What are you doing?"

"I am dispelling a curse." Valda was wrapping a bizarre-looking dagger with large green leaves. It was a shape similar to grilling fish in a survival situation. "It's the dagger used in the sacrificial ritual, and it harbors a curse."

"As it's a heinous thing used by a pagan magician, that would naturally be so."

"If left as such for three days, the curse shall vanish. Since it's imbued with quite useful magic, I shall give it to you once the dispelling is complete."

"What manner of magic is it?"

"If one is cut with this, the blood does not easily stop. Beyond simply not being able to stop the bleeding, it is a weapon that even draws some blood from other parts and forces a hemorrhage."

"Oh! It shall be useful when facing a fellow with good stamina or regeneration." Eugene swallowed the words 'if need be, even in a surprise attack' inwardly.

"It's a somewhat sinister weapon to hand to a knight, yet it seems you would not feel any hesitation." Valda spoke, recalling Eugene striking down the robber knight.

"You have seen correctly."

"Do not smile so proudly. You are an honorable knight, are you not?" Valda let out a bitter smile at Eugene, who gave a thumbs-up.

"There is the camp!" Just then, a group of mercenaries full of expectation came up. They had disappointed faces upon seeing the Dark Elves who were scattered about and smirking.

"Damn it."

"We are one step late." Nonetheless, they went about collecting helmets, usable shields, dried food, daggers, and the like. For everything would become money. There were also many who stripped shoes or coats.

As Eugene came down having taken everything he was to take, the Guard Captain came out to meet him. "Had you not been here, Sir Knight, we would have lost this battle. I, too, would probably have been rolling about somewhere as a corpse."

"It's also thanks to you, who led the rear with the determination to die. Since the line of the troops was maintained, I was able to settle the Wendigo with ease. I, too, am grateful." Eugene patted the Guard Captain's shoulder.

"Uh..." At the unexpected praise, the Guard Captain was overwhelmed by emotion and could not reply.

"Let us return to the original camp at once. The smell of blood is too thick here." 'And the smell of dung, too.' Eugene wiped represented his nose and frowned. 'Did such a foul smell accompany a large-scale bloody battle with cold steel?' He had naturally expected that the smell of blood from the corpses scattered everywhere would vibrate. But the smell of excrement was beyond his expectations. It's a grimy side that is omitted in movies and epics.

"So this is that fellow."

"Look at those antlers. The antlers of a minotaur would be naught." The mercenaries were in awe of the Wendigo's head swaying as it hung from Eugene's saddle. Behind them, the Guard was bringing the remaining corpse on a cart.

"Sir Knight. Once we return to the camp, I shall butcher that fellow immediately." Rex spoke with eyes sparkling.

"Should you not do so after resting a bit?"

"It's because our hands are itching. If not now, when would we ever touch such a demonic beast?" Other monsters can be found with difficulty if one visits their habitats, but a Wendigo is a demonic beast that is finished only after an evil high-level magician puts in effort over a long period. "Even our tribal elders have only heard of it through oral tradition and would not have experienced it. Everyone shall be envious of us having watched the fight from right nearby and for having handled the corpse." Rex's face was half full of respect and half full of expectation for a lifelong source of gossip.

"I have never seen such a monster."

"It's not a monster, but a demonic beast. He caught a demonic beast summoned from hell by an evil magician." The murmuring of passing mercenaries spread in all directions like a contagion.

* * *

The subjugation force that returned to Bonyard moved quietly to their respective lodgings and infirmaries.

"It seems they are not holding a triumphal procession this time?" Everything was the same as usual. Though he was not particularly craving praise and cheers, it was indeed curious. A battle involving a pagan magician and a demonic beast. They had achieved a grand victory in a fight where the subjugation force almost met its end. Depending on how one looks at it, it is a greater glory than the Palace War, yet the city is quiet.

"It's according to tradition. If a single hero achieves great feats in succession in a single region, they do not hold a triumphal procession twice."

"It's a curious tradition. It seems there may be some adult circumstances at play."

"There is a belief that if one holds triumphal processions in succession, the gods grow jealous of that hero and take him away early."

"What is that? It's but a superstition, is it not?"

"It's but a superstition,as you say. But is it not a superstition that saves money?"

"Ah!" The face of Eugene, as if he had realized something.

"Though such cases are not common in a long history, they are not nonexistent. The citizens would be joyful, but for those who prepare the triumphal procession and provide the funds, it's burdensome."

"So they made an excuse with the gods just to pass it by to save money. It's clever."

"Originally, the one who makes and leads such a culture is the ruling class. Furthermore, since the knights who participated have all died, there is no one to raise an objection."

Eugene, Homi, and Valda were hosted at the VIP mansion and took their rest amidst lavish hospitality.

Victorious Knight.

Demonic Beast Slayer.

In but a single month since setting out into the world, he had been bestowed with two shining titles. The noble ladies would speak of the Victorious Knight's honor with envy, and the knights with competitiveness and jealousy. The bards and mercenaries would chatter in the taverns about the valor of striking down the demonic beast.

The name of Eugene, who had appeared as an nameless knight, was now larger than the city called Bonyard.

In a word.

It's time to go out into the wider world.