Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Lord's Proposal
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Under Kirat's guidance, the group safely entered Exekia Territory.
Thanks to the messenger sent ahead, the guards nearby didn't stop them—they just watched.
Though their gazes weren't exactly friendly.
"What the hell is that?"
"Mages."
"Filthy things like that entering our territory..."
"Is that even allowed?"
"There's a knight with them. Just ignore it."
"Mi-Kellin, save us from these sinful wretches."
Arsen grimaced slightly at the murmurs rising from all around and scanned his surroundings.
The whisperers flinched and backed away.
[It's been a while since I've seen this.]
[What?]
[The blatant gossip. Takes me back.]
Eloise's voice carried a hint of mockery.
The people of Belluan had shown at least minimal respect because of her status as the lord's daughter, but here, there was none of that.
If Exekia's own knights weren't with them, they might have been pelted with stones and chased out without a second thought.
Marun and the other mages looked somewhat uncomfortable, unaccustomed to such an atmosphere.
The group was led to a monastery-like building on the outskirts of the territory.
Belluan had inns for visitors from outside, but with mages in tow, Kirat suggested it might be tough to stay there.
'It would probably make things awkward for both our people and yours.'
Arsen agreed that unnecessary conflicts could arise, so they decided to lodge at the monastery.
The stone building wasn't particularly welcoming to its occupants, but it was far better than camping outdoors.
"Don't unpack completely. We haven't decided to stay here long-term yet."
Arsen called Marun over to discuss negotiations with the lord—what conditions would make fighting worthwhile, and what rewards to demand.
Soon after, several burly workers arrived carrying heaps of luggage.
It was the knight they'd met first, Kirat, leading them.
"Food sent by the lord."
Freshly baked bread, meat, vegetables, sheep's milk, and cheese.
A fresh meal hard for wanderers to come by.
Enough for over twenty people for a day or two, but even this was more than a passing courtesy.
"Sir Arsen, the lord wishes to meet you."
"Right now?"
"Indeed."
Arsen nodded and rose from his seat.
"Everyone, stand by. In my absence, follow the young lady's orders first and foremost."
"Understood!"
"Sir Marun, I leave you in charge."
"Of course!"
Arsen inwardly clicked his tongue at Marun's unreliable wave, as if to say go without worry.
At least he wasn't the type to start pointless trouble on his own, so that was some reassurance.
[Be careful. If anything happens, use what I gave you.]
[Got it. You too—if things feel off, head north immediately. I'll join you.]
After a quick private word with Eloise, Arsen had a soldier fetch the pelt of the owl bear they'd hunted.
"I wish to present this to the lord, but is such a gesture rude in Exekia?"
"Not at all. Owl bear pelts are treasures to us. The lord will be pleased. You there, soldier—carry this and follow."
* * *
On the way to the lord's manor, Arsen got a close look at life in Exekia Territory.
Lacking mages, it felt generally resource-poor and primitive. Still, with a solid governing structure, it was far better off than Narvik.
The standout feature was the abundance of metal—especially iron.
In Belluan, only veteran squires wore magic beast leather armor; here, most soldiers donned metal plate.
Even the village patrol guards.
"Everyone's wearing impressive armor."
"Ah, outsiders are often surprised. That's why they call this the Iron Territory."
Kirat boasted proudly that the territory had four mines alone. Iron ore, plus unheard-of mithril and silversteel, which the knights forged into alloys for their armor.
He mentioned neighboring territories to the west of the mountains were desperate to import metals.
"But we can't trade right now. That's why we can't get food from them either... and one reason we must crush that filthy raider lord."
Rich in metals, poor in food. Arsen filed away the new info.
That made the meal offered to their group a huge gesture of goodwill—and a burden.
'Not bad.'
It meant their value had risen, so Arsen quickened his pace, viewing it positively.
At the lord's manor, a few soldiers guarded the entrance.
Before Kirat could speak, they startled at the sight and opened the doors.
"No need to even tell them to open up."
"Indeed."
Kirat chuckled and led Arsen inside.
Like Belluan's—both relics of the ancient magic age—the interior layout was strikingly similar. Just bulkier bones and fewer decorations, giving it a rougher feel.
A passing knight glanced at Kirat and Arsen but walked on without a greeting, as if annoyed.
From knights to servants, all carried a gloomy air.
"The mood here is pretty grim."
"Can't be helped. The first attack cost us many knights... Still, we took down a few Ma-in, and with you and a few other knights joining, it'll be different this time."
At the lord's office door, a guard stopped them.
"I'll need your weapons."
Arsen unbuckled and handed over his sword as instructed.
Finally, they entered and met the lord.
"I'm Arsen, son of Lenoc from Belluan."
Arsen introduced himself with a polite bow in Belluan fashion.
The lord responded with a smile in his voice.
"It's been ages since I met such a courteous outlander. Feels awkward. I'm Mathias, lord of Exekia. I hope you liked my gift."
The lord was surprisingly young—around thirty, short and stocky, with a bushy beard evoking a dwarf.
A fitting look for a mountain lord.
A single knight stood behind him.
"We gratefully received the food. Thank you sincerely. As a token of appreciation, I offer this gift."
Arsen glanced back, and the soldier who'd carried the bear pelt stepped forward, presenting it.
Raw and untreated, but its value held.
The guard knight took it, unfurled it, and the lord exclaimed in admiration.
"Owl bears rarely come down from those heights. How'd you spot it? I'll take it gladly."
With gifts exchanged and the mood warmed, the lord cleared his throat and got to business.
"I'm assembling a subjugation force to take down the Raider Lord. Your group has three knights, over ten soldiers, and... more than ten mages, they say. I want to hire you all."
Arsen pondered briefly before asking,
"First, may I ask about the subjugation force's strength? Are victory odds good?"
The lord didn't seem one for beating around the bush, so Arsen asked directly.
The lord's face darkened momentarily.
"We had eleven knights originally. That bastard killed four. Now we've called in five more from nearby castles."
"Twelve in total, then."
"Plus three visiting knights from southern Elta Territory and one from western Manar Territory."
"Western? Through the pass?"
"Yes. Heard they came with a force matching yours in size, but got ambushed by the lord's men. All dead but that one knight."
Arsen inwardly tsked at the grim tale.
"Not all knights can go—some must defend the territory. So four stay behind. With twelve knights and your group, that's fifteen. We'll muster two hundred well-armed elite soldiers."
Arsen tried to stay composed but couldn't hide his admiration.
This was invasion-army level.
Against a weak, disunited place like Narvik, they'd overrun it without a scream.
"They have six or seven Ma-in. Maybe more, maybe less—roughly that. Raiders number four to five hundred. But there's a saying: a well-trained army can fight ten times the rabble."
"Advantageous, but... not overwhelming."
Ma-in usually matched knights, but some required several to fell.
Their target 'lord' was one such.
So, favorable but not dominant.
Victory would cost heavy losses.
"That's why I need your group. Will you accept? Name your terms. I'm prepared to pay generously."
Arsen thought it over, then made his offer.
"First, full plate armor for twelve soldiers and one knight, plus a knight's greatsword. All in the same alloy as your knights use."
The lord's expression didn't change.
A hefty amount, but for the force Arsen led, it was dirt cheap.
"And allow mages to stay in Exekia Territory going forward."
The lord's face shifted instantly.
"Mages in my territory?"
"Not permanent residence. Just let them rest on the outskirts for a month, like our monastery stay. Not total exclusion like now."
This was the reward settled with Marun and Elder Latis via the crystal orb.
Belluan's side was already well-armed; local gear wouldn't help much, but they couldn't fight for free.
The lord grimaced and groaned.
It might look offended, but Arsen sensed contemplation, not anger or irritation.
'It'll work.'
A zealot wouldn't entertain hiring mages in the first place.
As expected, the lord seemed pragmatic.
"That's a tough ask."
"It's the mages' demand. For reference, mages may not handle Ma-in well, but against raiders, they'll wield tremendous power. Whether they join could mean the difference between a hundred soldiers living or dying."
No exaggeration.
Even mage-knight Marun could outdo regular knights in ranged support, and the mages could loose dozens of lightning spells with their staves.
Hold the front, and they'd wipe hundreds of raiders.
The lord closed his eyes, weighing it.
He hesitated, shook his head, agonized—then nodded in agreement.
"Damn it, the priests will nag me sleepless for a while. Fine. I accept. I swear on my blood, ancestors, and honor."
* * *
Back at the monastery, Arsen wasn't alone.
Exekia soldiers followed, laden with armor and weapons—the lord paying upfront, figuring it benefited arming his new allies.
Arsen's soldiers rejoiced shedding ragged leather for sturdy, ornate metal plate. Bazkal nearly teared up.
Queen's blood had soaked his prized magic beast armor last time, the stench unremovable; he'd worn a shoddy spare since.
The alloy greatsword suited him perfectly.
Inferior to Arsen's blackstar iron, but leagues beyond his old bone sword—solid but nothing else.
"Thanks, bro. You got nothing, and I get all this—feels bad."
"Feel bad? Then fight twice as hard for it."
Arsen said it jokingly, but Bazkal bowed deeply, serious.
"I'll fight like hell! You guys too—say something!"
"Thanks, Captain!"
"Loyalty to the end!"
Arsen smiled faintly at the fired-up Bazkal, Rino, and soldiers.
Marun was pleased the stay was approved.
Not for any deep reason—just relief at avoiding Elder Latis's scolding.
Gathering key members, Arsen announced the schedule.
"The subjugation force marches in five days. Target: the western pass fortress."
"Why five days? They seemed urgent."
Eloise's question. Arsen gave a wry, incredulous smile.
"The priests say it's an auspicious day. Can't be helped. We're worn from the road anyway."
Adjust ill-fitting armor, train with new weapons—plenty to do, but rest was priority.
Even undefeated warriors lost to fatigue against scrubs.
"First, let's plan battle movements. Sir Marun shoots from here..."