Chapter 88

Chapter 88 - Time of Purification (2)

Valda and Homi went straight to the VIP bathroom. Maidservants who had warmed up the water were waiting there.

"Do you require assistance?"

"No, it is fine."

Bath assistance is an expensive service not offered to most visiting nobles. It is only provided when the Lord of the territory or a guest of Great Lord status visits.

However, Valda is highly popular for her beauty and kindness. Above all, superstitious beliefs spread regarding her identity as a forest fairy and magician.

-They say if you touch the Forest Magician, the spirits will bless you.

-I heard the fairy's aura drives away diseases hidden inside the body.

In Eugene's eyes, it is an absurd thought, but many people sincerely believed it.

It is a world where miracles exist where clergy at the level of saints heal diseases or wounds.

The healing power possessed by Valda's magic and medicine had similar aspects to that. The beautified parts about the existence of Elves in various stories also created synergy.

"I will gratefully accept the sentiment alone. You may withdraw."

"Yes."

The maidservants withdrew bowing with regretful faces. Like a chicken instead of a pheasant, they carefully embraced the clothes and socks Valda had taken off.

"I am grateful for the respectful sentiment, but it is embarrassing."

Valda's face, as well as her ears, turned red from embarrassment.

Even putting aside the clothes, because her socks smelled from long-term marching in the wasteland.

Chwaaak!

Valda splashed water with a gourd and carefully washed her ears while looking in the mirror. She didn't show it, but it was deeply shameful to show Eugene her dirty ears throughout the journey.

Squish squish.

Homi was doing laundry.

Kneeling down, she submerged her long and thick tail in the basin's water. She scooped out the tail, loosened like a duster, and lathered it generously with soap.

Jjoreureureuk.

As the brown water poured down and her tail fur returned to white, the corners of her mouth slowly rose.

"Why don't you stop around there and wash your body first?"

Even though quite some time had passed, Homi had not touched a drop of water to her body.

Her plump buttocks that served as foot cushions, her indented waist, her clear abdominal muscles were all mottled gray.

Unable to just watch, Valda splattered water on her back and applied soap instead.

Kneeling down and obediently entrusting her body, Homi's face looked very cozy.

"Kyak!"

In her excitement, her tail flopped a few times, splashing water droplets everywhere.

Kkuk!

"You should stay still, right?"

With a raised eyebrow, Valda stepped on her tail to secure it to the floor.

But the Elf's soft sole and pressure were closer to feeling like receiving a massage, which only pleased Homi.

"You are so dignified and disciplined outside..."

Homi is a girl before her coming-of-age ceremony. She is starving for the kind of affection and pampering that Eugene cannot fulfill.

Valda, who spent a happy childhood under the devotion of her nanny Grace in the Emerald Forest, understood that deficiency.

Finishing their bath, the two young ladies changed into the silk clothes the maidservants had prepared.

Valda carefully applied a fairy-style perfume she had mixed herself behind her ears, and Homi hummed while combing her tail.

"It took quite a while."

Eugene was preparing drinks and refreshments for three people on the balcony.

"Since we showed an unsightly appearance in the meantime, shouldn't we pay attention to it?"

"I thought you were strong and resilient young ladies, I never once thought you were unsightly."

"Such a well-rolling tongue, unexpectedly for a knight."

Valda chuckled. The man before her eyes would have lived well even if he became a bard.

"I missed this sensation and atmosphere."

The two young ladies lying on the chairs on either side of Eugene took off their slippers and stretched. The refreshment and languor from the bath embraced them warmly.

The river breeze burrowing between their still damp toes and down their napes. It was an incredibly pleasant feeling.

Gulp gulp.

Adding the refreshing sensation of the fruit drink passing down their throats, they didn't envy kings. They felt perfectly compensated for the battle of the Moving Castle and the arduous journey across the wasteland.

* * *

Purrreuk-!

The next morning, when Eugene went to the lord-exclusive stable, Might welcomed him.

When he hugged his neck, the fellow immediately collapsed onto the floor. Lifting his hind legs up and down was a gesture asking to scratch his belly.

"You were surprised because I suddenly disappeared, right? I'm sorry."

When he scratched his soft and warm belly skin like giving a massage, he let out a joyful cry.

In the past, Eugene thought dogs were the first animals to emotionally interact well with humans, but his thoughts changed as he lived as a knight.

Horses were creatures that communed with humans beyond imagination. As they fought on battlefields risking their lives and sharing joys and sorrows together, affection naturally attached more.

"This time you will be coming along too."

Pureuk-!

All this while he had been constantly strategizing on how to handle the residual monsters of the Moving Castle and how to set the infiltration route.

He felt his thoughts organizing better here while feeling Might's body heat rather than in the quiet office.

"Sir. May I excuse myself for a moment?"

Hind sought him out and offered a military salute at the entrance of the stable.

"Come on in."

"It's because I have something I want to say."

"Speak comfortably without pressure."

Hind swallowed nervously with a tense face. It was content requiring resolve to bring up for a mere trainee knight who wasn't an official vassal.

"It is regarding the Blackhand Tribe."

Eugene could roughly guess what Hind wanted to say.

A stiff face and trembling voice unlike a brave knight. Combined with the fact that he sought him out individually when Eugene was alone, the content was narrowed down.

"Do you feel I rely on them too much?"

"Yes."

When he preemptively spoke lest it be difficult to bring up first, Hind nodded.

"It might be different if it were an open territory like here, but an isolated castle could result in handing over the initiative."

"You seemed to get along closely with the tribal friends; you have unexpected wariness?"

Sharing actual combat, hunting, and sparring in swordplay, Hind had a close relationship with Rex and the tribal knights.

"Before being their friend, I am your trainee knight."

Hind, a stickler for rules, thoroughly separated public and private matters. Because apart from his personal relationships, it was a group they slowly needed to be cautious of.

"It is a fact that the Blackhand Tribe shows immense respect to you, sir. But their identity is mercenaries and a nomadic tribe. Your relationship is strictly that of outsiders."

"That is true. And they belong to a different race."

Historically, there are many powers that suffered trials after bringing strong external armies deeply inside. Hind, who was educated in the House of Knights, and Eugene, who read history books, knew that well.

"But considering the occupation of the castle as well as the turbulent times ahead, their strength is absolutely necessary. They won't be replaceable by others."

"I know. What I want to say is that since we are in an inseparable relationship anyway, wouldn't it be better to advance it entirely?"

"For example?"

"The Blackhand Tribe is a matriarchal society."

As Eugene conversed comfortably, Hind also seemed to gain courage. He hesitated momentarily before harder advice but continued speaking.

"It would be good to consider a marriage alliance with their future leader."

"A political marriage, you mean..."

Observing Eugene's non-negative reaction, Hind displayed even more enthusiasm.

"They are called a mercenary group in name, but they possess strength and influence that greatly surpass a considerable noble family."

"I know. The number of noble families who were rejected after proposing marriage is in the double digits."

The notoriety of the Blackhand Mercenaries didn't end with stabbing nobles over delayed wages or their pride that looks down on humans.

The pride of nobles harboring grudges after their marriage alliances were rejected was also intertwined.

"Isn't that a part that proves their value?"

Hind is a child of a merchant family but was thoroughly instilled with a noble's way of thinking at the House of Knights.

Marriage is merely a means, and love is unimportant. He prioritized only political benefits.

If a lord with many daughters declared he would give gold equivalent to his bride's weight, he is the type to pick the heaviest lady without hesitation.

"Thank you for the loyal advice. But regarding marriage, it is still too early. Since it is the card that can be sold at the highest price."

"Naturally. But unless it is a marriage alliance, I feel I will continue to be anxious."

Hind did not believe in the prophecy. What he believed in was honest sweat and steel. And because of that, he was even more wary of the Blackhand Tribe.

"Since a person's attitude changes before and after entering the restroom. Experiencing such an amazing castle from the outside, living inside it might spark who knows what desires."

If a situation arose internally, it would be almost impossible to suppress with only Eugene's human forces.

Eugene had not ignored the concerns Hind raised either.

"You don't need to worry about that. That castle is special. Normal living is impossible without the castellan's protection."

The Moving Castle is a living entity in itself and chooses its master by its own will.

Mysteries flow like water veins in all directions of the castle, which could act as medicine or poison.

"It is a place where a comfortable location could instantly turn into a dungeon. Even just spending a few weeks there, you will know what I mean."

"If you say so, sir."

"Thank you for the advice. Keep speaking frankly in the future as well."

Hind offered a polite military salute and withdrew.

* * *

Eugene rested while waiting for supply support via the waterway.

The silver weapons possessed by the Blackhand Tribe would be of great help in purifying the castle. Silver is the most efficient means in dealing with non-living creatures including the undead.

Not only that, he mobilized all the artisans in the village.

"Wouldn't these be too large?"

The mercenary captain looked at the large shields with a reluctant face.

"Didn't I mention it already?"

"Yes, but I didn't know it would be this much."

It covers the entire body and is thick, so the defense would be top-notch, but they had to be held with both hands.

"You seem burdened to fully entrust your lives to others."

"Because we are mercenaries."

Every man for himself is the basics, and discarding camaraderie to the dogs is the life of a mercenary.

The idea of giving up weapons just to hold a shield is hard to imagine and even harder to execute. In emergencies, the only thing that can protect one's life is the sword in one's own hand.

Even when disputes arise during the acquisition of spoils after a battle, the one holding a better weapon had a high probability of taking them.

"The enemies are not easy, so it needs to be at least this much. The attacks will definitely be handled by the comrades behind you."

The silver-plated spears that arrived first were modified into pikes.

Eugene had grasped the operational range of weapons inside the castle during the entry and escape process. He aimed to secure maximum attack distance within the line of not getting caught on the walls.

"Thrust!"

"Heuap!"

Under Hind's guidance, the mercenaries underwent rigorous training.

"You shouldn't pretend you are using normal spears. What you are using are pikes. From the soles of your feet gripping the earth, through your legs, waist, back, and shoulders, put the power of all muscles into shooting it at one point."

In the center where shield bearers formed a wall, pikemen fiercely thrusted spears forward from behind them.

"Lower!"

Puck!

"Ugh!"

The mercenary who was hit in the thigh by the scabbard Hind swung immediately corrected his posture.

It is accelerated education, but everyone is a veteran, and the quality of the equipment is also good. Just watching from the side, it felt like a moving fortress in terms of both offense and defense.

"Seeing it in person is certainly different. With this, it would be much better than fighting in conventional ways."

Swallowing his saliva, the mercenary captain nodded.

Lacking training now, applying that formation to a human army operating cavalry and archery is a crazy act.

However, against monsters inside a castle with spatial constraints, it looked extremely effective.

"Lord. I have completed it."

"No, what is this..."

When blacksmiths dragged out ultra-large shields rolled by wheels, the mercenary captain sported a weary face.

"It will be given to those who will break through at the very front. Offer triple the allowance and gather volunteers."

"Understood."

Working under him, he knew the employer liked words like 'high-efficiency' and 'specialization'. But this felt like it went too far.

'Still, it's reassuring.'

When the mercenary captain tried dragging the ultra-large shield, it looked incredibly sturdy. If they formed a rank with these, it seemed they could endure even a Troll swinging a club.

A few days later, transport ships loaded with silver arrows, silver spears, and additional reinforcements arrived.

Dwarf warriors holding banners depicting red hammers disembarked.

"We are honored to be called."

The Dwarf centurion sporting a red beard bowed respectfully.

"Among the enemies we will face in this battle, there are also bastards where slashing or thrusting doesn't work well. I look forward to your performance."

"Leave it to us. Smashing things is our specialty, after all."

The centurion lifted his hammer and smiled broadly.

Hammer Brotherhood.

As the name suggests, it is a mercenary group entirely unified with iron hammers as armament.

'It's about time I start increasing my subordinate forces, but I can't just use anyone.'

Eugene hadn't hired mercenaries besides the heavy infantry he brought from Bonyard, precisely waiting for these guys.

After resting a few more days, Eugene issued the order to march beyond the wasteland.

* * *

Fishing activities on the river were temporarily halted.

Gulp.

Even though Eugene hadn't particularly forbidden it, fishermen, intensely tense, watched from the riverbanks.

Chartering 3 large transport ships entirely, the army and supplies were crossing to the other side in succession.

"Thank you for cooperating. I will remember the name Harris Merchant Group."

"Thanks to the Lord's good governance, we are also operating comfortably, so it is a natural thing."

The merchants bowed politely. It was the merchant group that gifted a pair of camels as a present when Eugene was appointed in the past.

'Just what is across there?'

'It's driving me crazy with curiosity. I feel like I smell money.'

No lord of Northfork in history had ever undertaken the act of departing for an expedition to the wasteland across the river. Because there is nothing there.

Therefore, even with supplies piled up across the river before departing, not even proper investigation was conducted.

-What? The wasteland?

-No matter how much you pay, I won't go there.

Because any mercenary or adventurer rejected exploration requests to that place.

Merchants tried slipping premium alcohol and silver coins to Eugene's subordinate mercenaries to fish out information, but this was also useless.

-Oh my, what's all this for?

-I just have one thing I'm curious about.

The mercenaries took all there was to receive, but absolutely never leaked important information.

Planning to make working under Eugene their lifelong career, they kept their mouths thoroughly shut.

"There is no need for you to give us a fare. Please take this money back."

"It's fine. I hate being indebted to others. Transactions must be strictly calculated, even between parent and child."

"...It is truly an excellent attitude."

The merchants of the Harris Merchant Group had faces mixing joy and embarrassment in equal halves.

Even if they were sick of nobles who embezzled money, demanded tributary goods, and abused power out of boredom, what they slipped like that became a debt of gratitude.

It becomes an intangible power when a noble's cooperation is needed. But Eugene did not give a single gap the size of a needle for this kind of thing.

Eugene's army, having finished crossing, marched across the wasteland.

"It is a spectacle."

Everyone watching could not help but admire the rare sight.

When mercenaries carrying shields covering their entire bodies marched, it felt like moving walls, and silver-plated long spears soared high and gleamed against the sky.

Dark Elf rangers armed with composite bows and Dwarves carrying hammers ready to crush even boulders joined them.

Though small in scale, that powerful momentum intimidated all who watched. To the point where one felt pity for those who would face them.