Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: What Those Living Today Need
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"This place's supreme commander. Tell me what you know about him."
"Count Yaiks? He's a born field commander. Swordsmanship close to Master level, and bravery that doesn't back down from enemies. No one here has any complaints about Count Yaiks. It's because he's defending the foremost fortress that people here have managed to survive this long."
Raiker responded with a firm voice, full of trust toward Count Yaiks.
"He's famous even in the Empire. A knight who rose from humble origins to become a count with real skill and nobility."
"Then why would someone like that come all the way out here? A count's position is no small thing even in the Empire."
"You can think of Count Yaiks as having outstanding martial prowess but virtually no political acumen. He wasn't born a noble but a loyal knight from a minor house, and his stubborn personality has long made him an outcast among the nobility."
Derbal spoke of what he knew.
"That's not what I expected. I figured the guy who lets scum like Lukens stick around was some money-grubbing incompetent noble...."
"It's because of the Sky Knights. Count Yaiks has been here about five years. But the Sky Knights who came with him fought pirates and Temir tribesmen, and most were killed in combat. Now the only wyvern left is the one the count rides. That's why he's putting up with Viscount Lukens, who still has Sky Knights."
'Hoo, the guy's got a good grasp of the situation, too.'
Raiker seemed like he only had talent for chasing women, but he had a knack for reading the lay of the land.
In just one day, he'd sorted hundreds of mercenaries by skill and even appointed centurions who could lead them.
An unexpected gem of a talent.
"Where is he now?"
"Probably in the northern territories, where Temir tribesmen, magic beasts, and monsters appear frequently. That direction is open flatland, unprotected by mountains."
"Want to meet him?"
After hearing Raiker's explanation, Derbal asked.
Night meeting in the command office.
We explored the best options I could take.
"No, not yet.... Anyway, are the total commander's soldiers handling Denfos's public order and defense?"
"It's ambiguous. The total commander's soldiers defend the walls and key fortresses around, but city policing is arbitrarily handled by Viscount Lukens's private troops. Seems like they've reached some agreement."
"If we attack Viscount Lukens's private soldiers and drive them out of the city, how do you think the total commander would react?"
"Well...."
"Heh heh. Don't worry about that. The total command's soldiers won't help Viscount Lukens."
Raiker flashed a sinister smile and spoke with full confidence.
"Why?"
"The soldiers defending this place are mostly local natives. In Neruman, every adult male becomes a mercenary or enlists voluntarily. Otherwise, they can't even feed their families."
"What about Viscount Lukens's private soldiers?"
"Probably the same. Most of the mercenaries gathered here are locals, too. Out-of-towners don't want to clash with Viscount Lukens."
"Then why me?"
"It's an explosion of rage. They can endure resentment toward the Empire that put them in this mess, but Viscount Lukens is strangling them to the point they can't survive. The hatred for him fills everyone's hearts. To them, Sir Kaier, you are hope."
'Huh?'
Flames blazed in Raiker's eyes.
'Didn't expect such a burning sense of justice.'
I inwardly admired the hot anger in Raiker's tone.
Unlike his sparrow-like face, his head held some decent ideas.
"Argh! And decisively, that filthy coward Lukens has committed an unforgivable treason!"
"Treason?"
Raiker clenched his fist, his voice thick with pent-up indignation.
The word treason perked my ears.
"That bastard I want to beat two thousand times and then once more! He's selling off women who rightfully belong in my castle to other places—a heaven-cursed act! Human trafficking! Pure young women I haven't even touched.... I can never forgive it! I'll stake my soul until that bastard Lukens is driven out!"
"....."
After Raiker's words ended, Derbal and I had to gape.
The reason he hated Lukens so desperately was simply because the man was trafficking women who "rightfully" should receive his affections.
'Argh! I'll definitely sell him off later! Keeping him around is dangerous!'
And I resolved.
The day Lukens is chased out.
I'll sell that bastard Raiker into slavery or shove him on a raft and ship him far away. I vowed it firmly.
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'This much....'
"Hey, you there! Get in line!"
"The hangar is full now—pitch tents outside!"
After a long night of thinking and a brief sleep, morning arrived.
Refugees flooded in before dawn, throwing the Skywing Unit into chaos from the start.
"The mercenaries and refugees total over a thousand. We're already short on breakfast."
Even Derbal looked troubled.
Word had spread, and people clutching family hands streamed through the Skywing Unit's main gate, starved and ragged.
Mercenaries bustled to organize the refugees.
"Send someone to the Rubis Merchant Company for supplies. Provide rest areas and food."
"Understood."
Most were skin and bones from hardship.
These people, barely breathing under Denfos's impoverished shadow, had come to me seeking life.
I couldn't heartlessly turn them away.
'That bastard to kill....'
Viscount Lukens, the root of all this.
My chest chilled with rising fury.
"Knight sir! Please find our daughter!"
"Sob sob.... Merciful knight sir, please find my poor daughter...."
Among the refugee-like crowd, a middle-aged couple asked mercenaries and rushed to kneel before me, tears streaming.
"What happened?"
"Our only daughter, just turned sixteen.... Sob. Viscount Lukens's soldiers took her for protection money! Knight sir! We'll be slaves for life—just find our daughter. It's too unjust for her to be sold into slavery!"
The grown man sobbed, holding back tears.
"Please find my little sister!"
"Knight sir! Find my mom!"
As the couple knelt, dozens more rushed forward, weeping for brothers, sisters, even mothers.
'Filthy bastard....'
Viscount Lukens, the villain trafficking people out of sheer boredom.
My fists clenched tight.
Even if nobles love money, threatening lives and basic human dignity made him trash.
I could forgive no more.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
"S-Soldiers incoming!"
"Viscount Lukens's troops!"
Suddenly, the watchtower bell rang with mercenaries' alarmed shouts.
Kuuoooooo!
"A wyvern!"
And not just that.
Far off, a dot approached.
A gray wyvern in silver mithril armor flapped toward the Skywing Unit at speed.
"Lord...."
Derbal looked to me.
"Uwaaa! They came to catch us!"
"Uwaaaaan! No! I don't wanna be sold into slavery! Uwaaaaa!"
Refugees screamed or wept at the wyvern.
Their faces filled with deathly terror, like seeing hell's reaper.
"What are you doing! Earn your keep! Block the main gate—don't let a single one in!"
Viscount Lukens's soldiers in half-mail, spears, and swords pressed the gate methodically, but our mercenaries floundered without resistance.
Raiker, now knighted, bellowed at them.
Tadak.
He drew his sword and charged the gate.
Urrr.
With Raiker leading, dozens of mercenaries followed.
"Resist and die! You're illegally harboring Viscount Lukens's serfs and criminals! Release the serfs and criminals at once, or we'll kill you all!"
A mana-infused shout echoed from the gate.
"D-Don't abandon us!"
"Knight sir, save us! If we're taken, we're dead!"
"Uwaaaaa!"
Adults and children wailed in echoes.
Innocent, living like dogs just for being weak.
They'd pinned their last hope on me.
'I won't abandon you! Never!'
Neruman Plains, no better than lawless wastes.
No prophet like Jesus or Muhammad, but the conscience breathing in my heart blazed.
Shiiiiiik.
Puuuuk!
"Gah...."
"Aaack!"
Into the back of a man kneeling and begging me plunged a silver spear.
The Blessed Spear's immense force shattered his body like a bomb blast.
Flesh and blood chunks rained everywhere.
The sudden murder stunned my mind blank.
"Daddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"H-Hubby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Family wailed over the exploded corpse.
Something snapped in my head.
Shiiik.
I launched into the air toward Bebeto's hangar.
'I'll kill you.... You dog....!'
Spawn of evil wielding brute violence on powerless folk.
He'd thrown the Blessed Spear and wheeled through the sky.
Casual as if unrelated to the murder he'd just committed.
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"Fly, Bebeto!"
Kuuoooooo!
Rage shook my voice sharp; Bebeto sensed my heart and beat wings with full force.
'You scum!'
Chance to strike before Bebeto launched, but he circled far, waiting.
He'd regret it.
Once Bebeto took flight, no more luck for him.
'I'll sweep you away.'
Chajajang.
"Block them! Smash them all!"
"Kill them all!"
"Waaaa!"
Raiker's mercenaries, shields forward under his command, charged to meet the oncoming soldiers.
Hundreds of mercenaries, but only about a hundred up front.
Lukens's private troops numbered at least three, four hundred—outnumbered.
But I wasn't worried.
None of those guys could match Raiker's skill.
'Heh, you wanna go?'
Wyvern and Sky Knight oblivious to their place.
Bebeto climbed altitude swiftly; they positioned dead ahead.
Pat!
Then, firelight gleamed on his magic spear.
Arrogant move, underestimating me.
Swik.
I drew one spear.
Kuuooo!
Bebeto roared full-throated, charging straight at him.
Kraaaaa!
His wyvern dove straight at me.
Unavoidable head-on clash.
No fear.
Only his hot blood filled my mind.
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'Heh heh, foolish punk.'
The fearless rookie chose head-on.
Intel said he was a trainee barely handling his wyvern.
Lucky to snag a hybrid wyvern, but Sky Knight wasn't for just anyone.
Aerial duels demanded more than ground fights—cold skill.
Flight control, guts, wyvern bond.
Comparing a fresh punk to his decade with wyverns was laughable.
'I'll end him in one!'
Brazen fool rallying mercenaries, sheltering serfs.
Reported to Viscount Lukens? No need—drove troops here himself.
This was his to handle.
No need to gather other Sky Knights.
'Closer! Closer!'
Aiming through magic helm: about one klick.
The dumb brute wyvern had nowhere to run.
Like hunting wild wyverns, Viscount Lukens's Sky Knight Palmyr closed distance further.
'Now!'
At 500 meters, hurled mana-charged Blessed Spear.
Silver spear streaked with mana trail.
'You're dead, rookie! Kek.'
No evasion possible at that range.
Spear dove for the big gold-striped wyvern's heart.
"Huh?!!!!!!!!"
Palmyr pictured his spear piercing the wyvern's heart.
Then, blue flash before it—scream erupted.
Kwang!
Delayed boom in ears.
'M-Magic swordsman!'
Incredibly, his spear clashed with something and ricocheted groundward.
Word "magic swordsman" flashed in mind.
'Danger!'
Bone-chilling terror followed.
Then he saw.
Head-on, distance now 100 meters.
Rookie's silver Blessed Spear aimed right at him.
Tremble tremble.
Needed to draw another spear, but terror whitened his mind; arm shook like wind-tossed leaf.
Paat!
Spear flew from punk's hand, slicing air.
'No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
Under 100 meters.
Desperate mental scream at incoming spear.
Kwajik.
Heavy spear pierced Air Plate.
Prrrrr.
'M-Mir.... ac.... le....'
Mithril armor stopped penetration, but spear buried deep in heart, tip protruding back.
No pain.
Consciousness faded white.
Palmyr's last memory fragment.
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"Bebeto! Stomp that bastard!"
Kraaaaa!
Gray wyvern unaware its master pierced and dead.
Close now, it screamed, twisting down to ground.
I ordered to stomp it.
Kuuoooooo!
Bebeto thrilled, blood up for battle.
Sky-shaking roar, then dove claws-first at gray wyvern's back.
Shik shiiiiiik.
Gray fled like tail afire as Bebeto pursued.
Kwajik!
But Bebeto, near double speed, pinned wing-body joint with sharp talons.
Kreeeeeeeee!
Sudden agony—gray wyvern's piercing pain cry.
Crunch crunch cruuunch.
Bebeto, mighty hero, stomped and hauled it skyward with brute force.
"Huff...."
"N-No way!"
Ground battle halted before fierce start.
Their leading Sky Knight and wyvern dead, defeated.
"Uwaaaaa!"
"R-Retreat!"
Lukens's soldiers screamed, fleeing every direction.
"Waaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Sir Kaier wins!"
Mercenaries and folk thrust hands skyward, victory cheers.
"Bebeto! Down!"
First come, first served.
Standing dazed was for fools.
Kuuooo!
Bebeto, thrilled by own might, dragged writhing wyvern to land.
Kugung.
Multi-ton wyvern slammed down.
"Derbal! Raiker!"
"Yes!"
Derbal and Raiker ran up, faces flushed, to me after easy wyvern grab and landing.
"Rally the mercenaries! We take Denfos now!"
"....."
Two stunned by sudden bold order.
"Derbal, inform the city garrison it's a noble private dispute. Raiker, muster mercenaries and follow me!"
"Yes!"
"Wheee~! We'll obey!"
Raiker whistled glee at clear orders.
"Hey! Lads! Boss's command! We're raiding Viscount Lukens's mansion! Follow me!"
No need next order—Raiker incited mercenaries slickly.
'Lukens, strike where it hurts!'
Lukens never dreamed fresh appointee like me would kick off something this big.
I'd occupy Lukens, heart of Neruman Plains.
Since starting the game.
Bigger, the hotter, the richer the spoils.
"Bebeto, let's go!"
Kuuoooooo~!
Bebeto long-roared, flapping vast wings on command.
"Sweep 'em all!"
"Drive the bastards from the city!!!!!!!!"
Mercenaries roared, empowered by my showdown win.
"Umahaha! Victory party tonight! Charge!"
"Waaaaaaaa!"
Dududududu.
Mercenaries charged madly after Raiker like wild horses.
'Lukens, let's throw down!'
Sword once drawn.
Only all-out brawl left.
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"What? Occupied?"
"Yes. Latest report: Rookie sub-baron Kaier seized Denfos by force."
"What nonsense! How could he swallow Denfos? With Viscount Lukens's troops and Palmyr there?"
Jenis, back from patrol, got the gilded news.
"Palmyr killed in aerial combat. Of viscount's 500 troops: 50 dead or critically wounded, 400 surrendered, 100 fled."
"....."
Intel knight reported calmly.
"No way, this defies belief...."
"Kek. Knew he wasn't ordinary, but taking Denfos in days.... Insane."
Few Sky Knights, so Jenis's partners Berkes and Artishan gaped.
"Crazy.... Viscount Lukens won't sit idle."
Few Lukens troops garrisoned Denfos.
Jenis's private soldiers alone could take it.
But aftermath: Lukens's full assault.
Even Bazran elites in Neruman couldn't stop Lukens's current might.
"Could be good. Drifting like this, we'd be eaten by Lukens anyway. Better use this to challenge him head-on."
"Lord, like Berkes says, it'd happen in months anyway. I think declaring war on Viscount Lukens now is wise."
While Jenis pondered, his Sky Knights urged aggression.
"Lukens isn't the issue.... Those behind him. The ones who could smash this place in a blink...."
Fear flickered in tormented Jenis's eyes.
Lukens tough enough, but backers.
Recently confirmed: even Raviter Empire helpless against them, allied with Lukens.
'Kaier, last chance. Come to me.... Only way you survive.'
Kaier's face surfaced.
Rare black-haired man of odd thoughts.
Mystery guy who did in days what Jenis couldn't in years, storm-like.
No doubt.
Kaier, outmatched in Sky Knights and all forces, would beg his aid.
"Full alert from now. Knights and soldiers, constant ready status!"
"Yes!"
Gadin Castle, Viscount Lukens's base—horseback three-four hours from Denfos.
Jenis resolved: moment Kaier asks help, duel Lukens.
Wasting time meant death or flight anyway.
Instinct screamed: time to unsheathe long-honed sword.
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"372 prisoners, 57 dead, about 80 fled. Mercenary losses: 1 dead, 7 wounded. Rescued about 150 captives."
Brief clash with Viscount Lukens's troops.
Seized Denfos in a downpour while at it.
Derbal's following report.
I closed eyes, sorting situation.
'Things escalated faster than planned.'
By now, Denfos battle reached Lukens's ears.
I didn't start the feud, but now chicken game: someone dies to end it.
"Also seized 150,000 gold cash and hundreds of armor sets, weapons."
'150k? Nicer than expected.'
If here like this, unimaginable wealth in Lukens's main castle.
"What now, lord? Viscount Lukens won't stay quiet...."
Derbal's face grim even reporting.
Anyone with brain atop shoulders knew danger.
"What else! Smash 'em all!"
Raiker oozed confidence, victory-high.
"Derbal, your thoughts? What action should I take this instant?"
Unlike oozing-idiocy Raiker, I asked wise Derbal.
"Lord has three options now."
"Eh? Besides crushing them, three ways?"
"First: Stabilize public sentiment around Denfos, gather mercenaries and volunteers for full war. Second: Ally with Baron Jenis, battle Lukens army. Third: Clean exile."
Even Derbal had no magic bullet.
"Most feasible: team with Baron Jenis?"
Raiker nodded to Derbal, naming best.
'Jenis....'
Baron Jenis's stern face rose.
'He won't reach first.'
First to extend hand goes under other.
Heaven's Kang Hyuk wouldn't kneel to woman—not his beloved.
"Issue: must end quick. Empire's official withdrawal soon makes Neruman Lukens's—fact. Over 20,000 local volunteers left behind go to him. Then... no answer."
Absolute disadvantage.
What more needed?
"But lord...."
Listening Raiker quietly called me lord.
"What?"
"Nothing much...."
Raiker scratched head speaking.
"Why stick here? This cursed plain soon overrun by monsters, pirates, or Raviter Empire. Not that you're crazy enough to lord it, right?"
Raiker questioned my actions outright.
"....."
Derbal eyed curiously too.
I'd stirred Lukens's hornet nest on impulse, but they knew not my endgame.
"Just."
"J-Just...."
"Sir Raiker, facing charging orc on road—do you demand why before defending? Poison arrow, life hanging—insist who saw before treatment?"
"No, but...."
"Same here. I'm just posted here. Lukens endangers my survival here. I just do my best to live. No more reason. Survive self first, then look around. That's true reason ordinary humans live—not saintly sacrifice."
"....."
Room fell silent briefly.
"Derbal, where's captured wyvern?"
"Temporarily tied in Bebeto's hangar. Wing wounds severe—no escape."
Wyvern critically hurt by Bebeto's steel talons.
Couldn't just leave.
"Deploy fast mercenaries, scouts to watch Viscount Lukens's moves."
"Yes!"
Unlike pondering Raiker, Derbal shouted vigorous.
Derbal trusted, followed whatever—no many questions.
I liked that Derbal.
Lives blind to tomorrow.
What grand ambition, hope?
Just happy dream in mind, daily strides toward it.
That sufficed.
Beyond dream, all excess.
Mere ornaments needless for today's liver.
That was it.