Chapter 69

Chapter 69 - Northern Debut (1)

"It is the first time we have formed such a deep covenant rather than a one-time mercenary contract."

"I am taking quite a lot of firsts from your family."

Rex laughed at Eugene's joke.

"A relay base was needed for us as well. Northfork is an excellent location. It is also convenient for exchanging communications or resources."

"Why haven't you secured a suitable base until now? Even if you didn't necessarily settle down, there must have been many nobles who would treat you favorably."

It is said that it's not rare for them to receive marriage alliance proposals from lords even though they refuse every time.

Considering they are merely a group of wandering mercenaries no matter how large their scale, it's an unprecedented thing. It is a part where the tribe's latent power can be known.

"Because they are insignificant. Wolves cannot rub shoulders in a pig or sheep pen, can they?"

Rex's eyes as he talks with his arms crossed are filled with contempt as if looking at a rat wet from rain.

"Moreover, why do they have so much hair, and why is the stench so severe."

He also bathed together with the tribe warriors during the festival, and certainly everyone was smooth. Eugene was the only one shaving his beard.

"I couldn't stand it when imagining hugging our tribe member with such a body."

"L-Lord Rex!"

As the accompanying warrior read Eugene's face with a frightened look, Rex waved his hand.

"Ah! Of course the Knight is an exception. The sweat a great warrior sheds is the lingering scent of bravery."

"And the hair?"

"It would be troublesome to treat the whiskers of a sewer rat and the mane of a lion equally."

"Pfft!"

Fitting the nephew of Tribal Chief Alessa, Rex was also a prospective politician whose tongue turned smoothly.

"You can comfortably curse humans from now on. Since it will also be tiring to attach words like 'Except for the Knight.' every time."

"I was waiting for you to say that. See? There's no need to be so frozen."

Whenever he gets used to the polite and affectionate attitude towards Eugene, a cold aspect is shown once in a while like this.

Because of that, Eugene realizes that Rex is a lofty Dark Elf. And he didn't dislike his dual attitude.

'It seems I've also fallen hard for these guys.'

Rather, when facing such favoritism, he felt joy and pride welling up from somewhere in his heart.

"Setting that aside, how is the new weapon? Our blacksmith showed off his skills a little, though."

"I like it very much."

Clank.

Eugene lifted up the new flail he received as a gift. The striking part that looked like 3 maces connected was incredibly brutal.

The existing iron club was severely damaged from smashing the Golem. It just so happened that the tribe provided precious rare metal.

"I am truly looking forward to the sight of you swinging that on the battlefield, Sir Knight."

Rattle.

The 3 maces are not stuck together but are in a structure sectioned by chains again.

"It will also be more convenient to strike over a shield, or sweep the ankles by surprise."

"The blacksmith read my mind well. Unpredictable attacks are indeed the greatest advantage of this weapon."

Lethality is lethality, but the effect of making the enemy army afraid will also be superb.

The fact that death can fall at any time even if there is distance or they raise their shields.

That fact ruins the enemies' shields, gazes, and formations just by Eugene being nearby. It is the greatest advantage for Eugene not as a mere knight, but as a field commander.

"We have finished preparations for boarding."

2 tribe knights approached and reported.

They are the ones who challenged Eugene during the festival period and got smashed. One is a master of spearmanship, and the other is carrying a two-handed sword on his back.

"A two-handed sword. It's a cool weapon."

It is a weapon Eugene personally has a lot of interest in. With his monstrous strength, he could handle a two-handed sword with one hand.

He has even considered combining it with a shield or an unpredictable armament of holding 2 two-handed swords from the start.

- The most dangerous enemy on the battlefield is the bastard who uses tricks you've never seen before. The second most dangerous enemy is the bastard who uses a weapon with a long range.

Because it would be a combat method exactly fitting the teaching his master Godfrey used to say like a habit.

Currently, he has a more effective armament of a flail when the distance is far, and the etherium sword and shield when close, so he's not considering it, though.

"It falls short of the large flail you use, Sir Knight. It's the first time I've seen a weapon modified so freakishly."

"Among us, a freakish weapon means a compliment. Please do not misunderstand."

Rex hurriedly added, worried that Eugene might be offended by the tribe knight's words.

"It's fine. Even if you completely called it a wicked weapon, I would take it as a compliment."

Freakish weapons passing as compliments seemed to be a culture formed during their assassination group days.

"If it were up to me, I wanted to bring all the guys who attacked you, Sir Knight, and have them serve in the army, but we are so busy."

The Blackhand Tribe, separate from their existing mercenary business, was busy investigating the identity of the Cradle the prophecy mentioned.

They are collecting information from all over the continent, hiring adventurers to send expeditions to unpioneered lands, and even spying on the Emperor's Moving Castle search plan.

- Sir Eugene obtained a key from the Guardian of an ancient kingdom ruin. It must surely be related to the Moving Castle. The dream he had on the day of the lunar eclipse must also be the guidance of destiny.

Because Alessa and the elders, having heard Marbas's story, couldn't shake off the thought, 'Perhaps that castle really is our Cradle.'

"We depart!"

With the sailor's shout, the ship pushed forward cutting through the water currents towards Northfork.

'Is this what the feeling of returning home is like?'

This feeling of returning to the place he belongs. Leaving the cabin and living the monastery life, he had forgotten it for too long.

It was by no means an unpleasant sensation.

* * *

That winter. The sound of hammering never ceased in Northfork Village.

Due to the construction of the wooden palisade fortress where the tribe would stay and train, workers and supplies endlessly crossed the territory.

Near the port, a workshop manufacturing arrows was installed, and by the river, multiple racks for making combat rations out of dried fish were installed.

The tense territory atmosphere from the tribe warriors famous for being aggressive pouring in quickly relaxed.

The appearance of building a fortress in a place good for observing the surroundings and patrolling without causing harm. From that, the people felt a sense of stability that they were protected.

However, even if the territory was peaceful, the outside world was troubled times. Around the end of winter, northern Roman was swept up in a new disturbance.

"The pirates of the inland sea started plundering?"

"The power of the northern nobles drained due to the short but fierce civil war. Since the weather this year is also on the warmer side, the pirates must be aiming for the gap early on."

Rex, who receives various information from the family, advised.

"Not a single bastard came down towards our side."

"Sir Knight. Although it's also because the territory is strong, rumors spread that our mercenary group is stationed here. What bastards with big livers would attack?"

"That is truly reliable. Thanks to that, I can empty my seat with peace of mind."

"Even if you didn't say that, I wanted to eventually ask about your next destination. I narrowed down a few covetable candidate sites here, how is it?"

As if waiting for it, Rex unfolded a map and pointed to a few places. The Blackhand Mercenaries were exactly the same when it came to changing jobs to plunderers if push came to shove.

Especially under the current civil war situations, they can rob the opposing faction even without any particular justification, so how convenient is it?

However, as neighboring lords sent envoys, he realized that the pirates were not a simple problem.

* * *

"They weren't just pirates, but bastards instigated by the Emperor."

"Noble Lord governing the same North! I beg you for salvation!"

The envoy is the one sent by Baron Est of the neighboring territory.

"Due to the nature of the inland sea, privateer pirates could also operate in this way."

Eugene freshly admired the Emperor's capability and tendency to go to extremes.

Privateer pirates are a strategy of hiring pirates with the King's approval to attack enemy merchant ships. It can be seen as a kind of maritime mercenary contract.

Like the name, it's basic to operate on the sea, but this continent is special. Riding the river streams stretching from the inland sea, they could come down to inland territories.

"The Emperor even bestowed peerages on the pirate bosses! It is said he promised to appoint them as lords as is if they occupy territories!"

Perhaps anger welled up at that despicable trickery, the envoy spoke while grinding his teeth.

"Did you request support from Duke Ismar?"

"Yes. However, honestly, it seems it will be difficult. He is also in a situation with no leisure, so..."

Duke Ismar is the great lord representing the Nobles' Faction in the North and the liege lord of Baron Est.

Normally, he should have taken the lead in defeating the pirates' plundering, but his situation is also not favorable.

Because he suffered great troop damage in the battle against the Emperor's Faction. Even just taking care of his vassals close to his territory was enough to keep him out of his mind.

"I will give you an answer soon, so step back."

"The trial by combat in Gord, subjugation of the bandit group, and even the execution of the Royal Guard Knight! My Lord also praised the Lord's reputation countless times! Please bestow upon us too the righteousness with which you saved those suffering from unjust persecution!"

Eugene sent back the envoy who was practically prostrating and begging.

"He investigated a lot about me. It seems he is anxious to receive help no matter what."

Eugene laughed looking at Valda who was by his side. Since becoming a lord, she always participated as an advisor in reception situations like this.

"Will you participate in the war?"

"I intend to. Because if neighboring territories collapse one by one, the aftermath will reach here too."

If he had to fight someday anyway, it was better to fight in another's territory.

"The subordinates are also in a situation where their bodies are itching, and there will be nothing bad about indebting neighboring lords."

"If you help Baron Est, you will also be able to buy the goodwill of his liege lord, Duke Ismar."

Forming amicable relationships between lords is something recommended in any territory, but that tendency is particularly severe in the North.

Because it is easy to give and receive influence to each other through waterways. If you solidify fellowship when given the opportunity, it comes back in whatever form.

Moreover, under Roman's customary law, the concept of possessions did not exist on the battlefield.

If you subjugate bastards who make plundering a daily routine, you can swallow the wealth they scraped together from everywhere as is. If you have confidence in your strength, participating in the war was profitable leaving righteousness aside.

Thus, Eugene engaged in preparations for deployment. It is the first expedition he sets out on as a lord.

* * *

Preparing supplies was much more comfortable than before. Unlike the past when he had to go around the market and take care of everything one by one, now that he's a lord, it's over if he gives instructions to the people in charge.

What Eugene does is final inspection, and the part he paid the most attention to is food as expected.

"Dates are now over."

"I could somehow acquire them, but it was too expensive. The price is over 4 times what we bought them for in Bonyard."

"Oh my goodness."

In front of the mercenary captain and Eugene, who were smacking their lips with regret, raisins are piled up abundantly.

Since the stage of activities moved to northern Roman, raisins are scheduled to take charge of the unit's sweetness from now on.

Dried fish coming from Northfork's abundant fish catch were also loaded onto wagons in large quantities.

Fish jerky is flat, making transportation easy, and has high nutritional value. When in a hurry, you can just chew it, and when you have leisure, you can put it in soup to make stew. It is a far more excellent combat ration than imagined.

"Although slightly crude quality ones are also mixed in, with our skills, we can use them without problems."

Rex, who inspected the arrows fully loaded on the wagons this way and that, nodded his head.

Fitting a trading village, external information also comes in a lot even more than goods. The residents also knew that pirates were wandering not far away and plundering was prevalent.

Even up to the lord setting out on a preventive expedition so that the flames of war wouldn't reach the village. Eugene's army left the village receiving a grand farewell.

The number of troops is about 120 in total.

A Summoner and a Magician, plus knights on top of that. It was an excessively luxurious army for a lord possessing just one village to command.

However, the thing that makes this army the most special is the Blackhand Mercenaries as expected.

"I finally understand why your mercenary group was so infamous."

"Because most Dark Elves combine it with a nomadic life."

Rex, grinning, was riding a horse unlike in Bonyard. That was the same for his subordinate warriors carrying bows on their backs.

Horse Archers!

Dozens of existences forming the nightmare of the battlefield in the era of cold weapons were following behind Eugene.

"I understand being excited about combat and spoils, but do not forget that we can withdraw the troops at any time."

"Of course."

Just as he receives the tribe's help when Northfork gets invaded, Eugene also had to cooperate if a clue to the Cradle in the prophecy was caught.

This was an issue far more important than political interests or wealth to each other.