Chapter 39

Chapter 39 - Becoming a Commander (2)

As they entered the territory of Roman, the aura of war wafted profusely.

The confrontation between the Emperor's faction, aiming for interests beneath the Emperor, and the noble faction, seeking to protect their vested rights. Those who smelled money from it flocked from all directions.

Groups of mercenaries, as small as dozens or as large as hundreds, were marching. The merchants following them, the travelers accompanying them for safety, and the odd-jobbers were a bonus.

Eugene, watching the sight, was somewhat doubtful.

"Is it not moving too early when a full-scale war has not yet even begun? If they bring hundreds of subordinates and there is no work to be had, it would feel as if their hearts were shrinking."

At the uncouth expression that was unbefitting a noble, the mercenary captain laughed.

"Going early and failing to receive a request is indeed burdensome. However, there are also advantages."

"What manner of advantage is it? That one can take the requests of strong nobles first?"

In a gamble risking one's life, one must naturally side with the one with a high probability of winning. If a viscount and a baron were fighting, everyone would wish to join the viscount's army.

"There is that as well, but in the early stages of a war, wages are not delayed."

"...I keep forgetting the common sense of this place."

It was a simple yet despondent reason.

"If you jump in during the middle of a war, there are many places calling, so you can immediately catch a job. Places urgently needing troops also offer high pay. However, the risk of being bilked out of money is just as great. Among the fellows who have eaten their fair share of rations, there probably isn't one who hasn't been bilked at least once."

At the mercenary captain's words, complaints cursing former employers poured out from all sides.

"I shall never do such a thing, so worry not. For I am a person who even shares embraces with the Blackhand Mercenaries."

Listening to the laughter of his subordinates, Eugene scanned those marching in the distance.

'They certainly differ from Bonyard in their level of armament.'

They were indeed like those trying to jump into a real war and make a fortune. Many mercenaries riding horses were seen, and there were also those draped in chainmail like knights.

Those moving busily were not only the humans on the ground.

Coo-coo-!

Caw-!

Pigeons and crows moved in all directions with notes tied to their respective feet. There would be letters containing the unity of allied families to secret letters that would decide the lives of hundreds.

For a while, it was lively with the manpower flocked from all directions, but as they went further in, the smell of death wafted.

"Was there a battle?"

Nine corpses lay fallen ahead.

"It seems a newcomer mercenary group that looked like an easy mark was attacked as they passed by. About half fought back, and the rest took blades to their necks or backs while kneeling and begging." A mercenary who examined the corpses reported.

"Tsk! This is what happens when rookies come up amongst themselves."

"To lose one's appetite right from the start, damn it."

The mercenaries who were attacked were mostly in their late teens to mid-twenties. Only one, who appeared to be the captain, was a middle-aged man.

"From now on, we shall be thorough with the night watch. Do not forget that this is a place swarming with fellows who could turn into robbers at any time."

"Pray, do not worry, Sir Knight. Everyone here has survived through that process."

There was no mercenary under Eugene's command who would be tense to this extent. Yet, at the continuously appearing dangerous circumstances, they let out curses.

"Again?"

"Ugh, the smell."

The mercenaries pinched their noses at a broken cart and trampled salted fish.

"It seems the situation is worse than I thought." Valda nodded, covering her nose with a handkerchief. "At this level, it's difficult to see it as the chance tyranny of robbers."

"Are those hired by hostile lords roaming about?"

"Perhaps. It's a vanguard battle of sorts."

There was no mention of war in the inviting letter. Considering the distance, it seemed the situation had rapidly worsened after it was dispatched.

"From here on it is the territory of the House of Morad." A mercenary who had gone as a scout and returned reported. Like it or not, from now on it was only forward.

* * *

The pillaging they encountered next was in progress. Mercenaries who had turned into robbers had barged into a small village and were causing a commotion.

"Argh!" The feet of a farmer being dragged by the hair drew lines on the dirt ground. The sounds of women and children crying were heard from all directions.

Since everyone was busy ransacking the houses, only a few were visible outside. Perhaps because they too were overly excited, they failed to spot Eugene's party approaching stealthily.

"Shall we strike? Judging from the size of the village, those fellows pillaging are probably roughly similar in number to us."

The mercenaries seemed to be hoping for the command to attack to be given quickly. It was not because they were righteous, but because they coveted the spoils. If they attacked the pillagers together with a knight, victory was as good as won.

"It shall be a small gift for the House of Morad."

The mercenaries cheered inwardly and drew their weapons.

Clink. Eugene also drew his flail.

Gulp.

"He is finally using it."

"They said he shattered a Warg's head in one blow with that, right?" The eyes of the mercenaries looking at the viciously shaped mutated polearm harbored a certain expectation.

"Charge."

At Eugene's command, the mercenaries rushed in in unison. No one shouted. Because the later the fellows pillaging from house to house came out, the easier it was to defeat them individually. They were veterans who did such things perfectly without being told.

"What?" A fellow who was coming out holding a basket full of fruit froze before the knight charging with terrifying momentum.

"W-We are acting under the command of His Majesty the Emperor..."

"You must have received a subcontract of a subcontract."

Eugene swung the flail as if there was no need to hear more.

Crack! The head of the robber who mentioned the Emperor turned 180 degrees.

Thud! Thanks to that, even though he fell face down, his unfocused face looked at the sky.

"Whew!" At that gruesome sight, the mercenaries felt goosebumps but also felt relieved. Because being under a strong knight meant that the probability of survival and the opportunities to earn money also rose.

"What is go... Argh!"

The robbers who were coming out of the houses at the commotion outside were hit by bolts or weapons and fell. Everyone was holding a piece of pillaged goods in their hands, so their response was slow.

"It's an ambush!"

"Everyone come out! This is no time to be dallying!"

By the time they belatedly ran out and tried to fight, their numbers had already decreased by nearly half.

The flail struck the chest of a mercenary running out of a house.

Crunch! The fellow, whose ribs were all broken, was propelled back into the house.

"I shall finish him off!" One of Eugene's subordinates entered the house and then came right back out. For there was no need to do so.

"S-Save me..." The passing subordinates saw the married couple holding kitchen knives approach the fallen robber. Immediately after, a loud scream was heard.

"Open the door! I said open the door!" The robbers shouted, pounding on the tightly closed doors. They had come out to fight, but seeing no chance of winning, they tried to hide back inside the houses. However, the residents held the doors and held out desperately.

"God damn it! I told you to open it quickly! If you do not open it, I shall kill you... Ugh!"

Spears and axes were planted into the backs of those who were pounding on the doors spasmodically.

"We shall surrender!"

"Mercy, I beg of you!"

The massacred enemies, reduced to three at this point, threw away their weapons and raised both hands.

"By whom are you hired?"

"Duran! It's Baron Duran."

Eugene looked at Valda. Since Roman was the place she primarily operated in, she knew the political situation of the nobles well.

"It's a noble family wielding great power. They own two silver mines and have several trading hubs."

"It's truly an enviable family." To think that money springs forth even if they sit still, regardless of disasters like floods or droughts. Is it not something anyone would dream of?

"If we only look at power, they do not fall behind an average Count's family."

"A Baron's family, you say?"

"The power of a family is not necessarily strong in the order of their noble title." Though Eugene had received thorough education from Godfrey as a knight and commander, he lacked knowledge concerning the political dynamics of noble society.

"Moreover, Duran was originally a Viscount family. As they are greedy beings completely opposite to the banner of Roman, they had a bad relationship with the royal family. They say their title was demoted in the past because of that."

"Even hearing it briefly, it seems they would get along well with the Emperor."

"Neither the House of Duran nor the Emperor would particularly trust each other. They merely form a transactional relationship according to their interests." The reason the Emperor was able to inexplicably proclaim himself Emperor was thanks to there being quite a few nobles worthy of joining hands with like this.

Eugene looked down at the prisoners who were earnestly begging for mercy.

"If you forgive us but once, we shall change our minds and live decently..."

Clink. Eugene thrust the flail and blocked the robbers' mouths.

"They are enemies of the family that invited me, and parasite-like fellows who gnaw on the decent. There is no need to keep them alive."

"P-Please, at least spare our live... Argh!" The two prisoners rubbing their hands fervently met their deaths at the blades of the mercenaries.

"I am Knight Eugene Meyer!" Eugene shouted to the farmers who cautiously poked their faces out the windows. "While coming at the invitation of your master, the House of Morad, I discovered ruthless pillagers and subjugated them!"

At the confident knight's declaration, the villagers shed tears and expressed their gratitude.

The mercenaries, having collected the spoils, felt a strange sense of elation as they left the village. It was distinct from the satisfaction that victory and money bring. The grateful gazes sent by the rescued residents... because that provided a different kind of satisfaction. It was a sensation they were feeling for the first time in their long lives as mercenaries.

* * *

The mercenaries under Eugene had experienced various employers, but this knight was uniquely bizarre among them.

"Hoffman. Show me your wound."

"Yes, Sir Knight." The only wounded mercenary rolled up his sleeve.

"Sir Knight, there is no need for you to personally..."

"Is it not a wound of glory received while rescuing a child taken hostage? Since it's only one person, I shall do it." The mercenary captain, who was about to stop him, also quietly stepped back. Hoffman was a large and fierce-looking man like a bear, but contrary to his appearance, his heart was righteous.

"You won't live long as a mercenary. To pointlessly court injuries. If you get properly stabbed somewhere doing that, your life ends right there."

"Stop it. Anyway, is it not somewhat cool? Only if there are fellows like him does the perception of mercenaries improve even a little. It's honestly beggarly to be stared at like a prospective robber wherever we go."

"That is true." His comrades threw insults and praises alternately.

Other than Hoffman, everyone was fine. It was natural, seeing as a heavily armored knight and sturdy mercenaries struck enemies who were scattered and distracted.

Eugene washed the wound the size of three finger joints with water and applied the salve Valda had made.

"Does it hurt?"

"No, it does not."

"Then why the expression?"

Hoffman's face was distorted. It was not a wound an experienced mercenary could not endure.

"Because this is the first time I have received such consideration from a captain... nay, a knight."

"Ah, so that was it." It was an expression that came out not because it hurt, but because his heart felt heavy.

An injury unnecessarily incurred out of sympathy. By the standards of mercenaries, he might be disqualified.

- The Reaper likes good mercenaries the most.

Because it was a maxim passed down like common sense among mercenaries. But it resonated differently with Eugene.

'Such a person is perfect to be raised as a trusted confidant.'

He cannot employ only mercenaries bound by money forever. He needed trustworthy vassals equipped with both skill and character. Eugene planned to use the mercenaries and invite those he deemed decent to become his direct subordinates. The man before his eyes certainly passed the mark.

As Eugene wrapped the bandage and finished the treatment, Valda was also giving instructions to the mercenaries.

"Do you mean butterfly nettle, wanderer's grass, and muffler mushroom? I know the first two."

"I know the muffler mushroom."

A mercenary from a hunter background and a mercenary from a woodcutter background raised their hands.

"They will be growing in plenty around there." Valda pointed to several spots with her finger. True to an Elf wielding the magic of the forest, she grasped what herbs grew naturally in an instant even in a region she had visited for the first time.

Like that, she collected medicinal herbs and herbs in her spare time. Not only was there no need to buy them with money at a shop, but freshly picked ones were also more effective.

"I will attach two more mercenaries, so go and collect them. They are continuously needed for salves and bug repellents."

"We shall return in two hours. We will also educate those fellows on how to distinguish medicinal herbs while we are at it."

"Splendid."

Valda nodded in satisfaction. They were not veterans for naught, understanding two when ordered one. Although it was menial work usually not ordered, the mercenaries followed without complaint. Because they had seen Hoffman being treated with that medicine. They had seen countless mercenaries die from small wounds festering or suffering from fever after being bitten by poisonous insects while camping.

Wheeeet! At Homi's whistle and gesture, the donkeys lined up in front of the shallow stream and quenched their thirst.

"Do you recall what I said about feeling the spirits of the beasts following her from Homi?"

"Of course. I do not forget even a single minor thing of what you say, Lady Valda."

"Heh." While Valda smiled softly, Homi was also aligning the three warhorses neatly in a row. It was a talent she suddenly acquired after getting the desert warhorse Sandy and communing by riding it all day.

"That is an ability beyond the realm of technique."

"Is it a sort of magic?"

"It seems slightly different. Magic consumes physical and mental strength, whether big or small. However, that child is handling the beasts with the feeling of merely conversing."

Thanks to Homi, managing the donkeys was easy. For they did not flee even during battle and kept their places at a moderate distance. Moreover, since her ability to handle beasts was just beginning to bloom, he looked forward to how much it would grow in the future.

"It seems heaven bestowed another thing upon her in exchange for taking away her voice. Anyway, both the knight and the squire are just fascinating." Valda alternately looked at Eugene and Homi with an interesting face.

"Including you, Lady Valda, we are three. Pray, do not forget that you are sharing your destiny with us."

"Yes. That I did." She was certain that there would be no other group in the world as full of personality and competence as this small party.