Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Heroes' Welcome
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Eugene, Galpredic, and the gate-opening subjugation team had ascended to hero status.
Everyone at Rose Castle gathered to welcome the two knights and the mercenaries, and Kamara, thoroughly pumped up, threw a grand feast.
Though about thirty percent had died or been gravely wounded, the survivors ate and drank their fill. That was the life of mercenaries who sold their swords for coin.
"By the way, Sir Eugene, are you sure you don't need any mana stones?"
"Not at all. Half the monster byproducts as per our original contract is fine."
"Well, if that's the case..."
Kamara smacked his lips.
It wasn't because he regretted giving up more low-tier monster byproducts than expected. He genuinely wanted to give Eugene more.
"They say your exploits were incredible. Is it true you took down thirty percent of the low-tier monsters?"
"I didn't count them one by one, so I'm not sure."
"Ha ha ha! He really did it, I tell you. He killed nearly half the kobolds himself. And he personally slew a troll youngling and an adult one to boot. Like this—he just ripped the head right off!"
"Oh my goodness!"
Kamara's wife and the women of Rose Castle shrieked at Galpredic's demonstration of yanking the head off a roasted suckling pig with a crunch.
Women didn't usually join gatherings with knights present, but this was a special feast, so they had participated.
"But that cave giant spider we met at the end? That's a shame."
"Tsk tsk! Let go of your regrets, firstborn Tiwin. If we'd gone deeper to hunt that thing, we really might've been screwed. You don't think a dungeon like that only has mid-tier monsters like those, do you?"
"N-No, of course not. I just mean... it wounded Sir Eugene, didn't it? We should avenge that."
"That's for the next subjugation team to handle. Anyway, Sir Eugene, is your arm really okay?"
"It wasn't broken, just a slight crack, so it should heal fine after about ten days of rest."
Eugene lifted his left arm, splinted and wrapped tightly in cloth.
"Oh my!"
"It's a glorious wound, Sir Eugene."
The women's eyes grew misty.
But their gazes weren't on Eugene's injured left arm—they were fixed entirely on his face.
With his helmet off, Eugene's face was so mysteriously beautiful that it was hard to believe he was the knight who had brutally ripped off a troll's head whole.
Whenever their eyes met his red pupils by chance, the women felt drawn in, regardless of their status.
Of course, Eugene himself paid no attention.
'I'll have to keep it wrapped for about ten days whether I like it or not.'
Eugene placed his left arm on the table.
It was a hassle pretending his perfectly fine arm was injured, but he had no choice if he wanted to fool everyone.
He couldn't let slip that he'd slain the upper-tier Cave Giant Spider Lord, then devoured its blood and mana stone.
Of course, he had taken some actual injuries here and there fighting the Cave Giant Spider Lord.
But the moment he killed it and consumed its blood and mana stone, all his wounds healed cleanly, and his stamina fully recovered.
Moreover, the lord Eugene slew was a special monster even among upper-tier ones, according to Mirian.
The mana stone it dropped was red.
'I got lucky.'
Mirian said it was because it was the first subjugation of a newly opened dungeon.
In any case, Eugene had killed the Cave Giant Spider Lord and claimed its red mana stone.
This time, the tattoo on his nape vanished, and just like when he'd gained the Black Scale Mail from the Swamp Monster, he acquired one of its abilities.
Camouflage.
'But... what the hell was that?'
When he consumed the red mana stone from the Cave Giant Spider Lord, something flashed in his mind and vanished.
A scene of someone holding his hand, with a few others around.
It happened so fast he couldn't make out their appearances or the situation, but he clearly remembered the hand he'd held was incredibly soft.
'Who the hell was that? Were they vampires too...?'
"Your face feels a bit off after only seeing you in that helmet every day. Why hide such a fine face all the time?"
Galpredic's words snapped Eugene out of his thoughts, and he answered quickly.
"I hate sunlight."
"Ha ha ha! I've never seen a knight with such a pale face who's properly trained, but you're the exception."
It was a cloudy day, but not without any sun. Before, his whole face would already be bubbling and melting.
Yet now, sitting near the window bare-faced, Eugene showed no issues.
Because his face was currently protected by the Black Scale Mail.
Thanks to the camouflage ability from the Cave Giant Spider Lord, he'd changed the scales to his original skin tone, making it look like bare skin to others.
'I can't change the texture, but no one's going to touch it.'
Wearing a mask or helmet all day in daylight would've drawn suspicion, but now he didn't have to worry.
From now on, he could live among humans during the day, showing his true appearance.
"Everyone! A toast to Sir Eugene, Sir Galpredic, and the warriors who achieved the greatest results!"
Ooooh!
At Kamara's shout, all raised their glasses high.
"For the victory of House Tiwin!"
"Victory!"
Kamara, Galpredic, Eugene—all who had gained what they sought—downed their wine.
But one person was the exception.
Bertel sipped his drink halfheartedly, stealing glances at Eugene.
'That guy shone in the dungeon? More than Galpredic?'
It was unbelievable.
He'd even asked the mercenary leaders who'd joined the subjugation, but their answers were all the same.
Even Brin, the bald-headed Black Sheep leader who'd resented Eugene, shook his head and said:
"You should recruit Sir Eugene, not Sir Galpredic. I've cleared a dungeon and a ruin once each with the Black Sheep Mercenary Corps, but I've never seen a knight as strong as Sir Eugene. You could scour the entire Karsbargin Peninsula and not find many who could match him."
Absurd.
Unlike this place, the Karsbargin Peninsula was a region where countless cities and domains fought bloody battles daily.
With many cities declaring independence, even the king had half-abandoned it, and its knights and mercenaries were said to be top-tier.
Yet only a few could match Eugene?
Brin had served two years with the Black Sheep Mercenary Corps before leaving, so his testimony couldn't be entirely dismissed.
'If I'd gone... I could've done at least that much!'
Strength entered the eyes Bertel fixed on Eugene.
* * *
"Ice prick number two keeps glaring at you. Told you he's a weirdo. Burp!"
Mirian, stuffed with food and drink and draped over Eugene's shoulder, whispered with a belch.
'He has reason to.'
In the dungeon, Eugene had grown fairly close to Galpredic.
But that was just Eugene's view—Galpredic treated him like a long-lost brother.
So he'd spilled everything, from his relationship with Bertel to his future plans.
"What do you think? Have you considered my proposal?"
"Thanks, but I'll have to pass."
Galpredic looked at Eugene regretfully, then nodded.
"I get it. A knight like you could serve a greater lord. And even if you went to the Evergrow Count, you'd just be bossed around by the knights there."
Galpredic had proposed they both get commissioned under the Evergrow Count together, but Eugene refused.
"Then you'll stay here a while?"
"For now. I'm planning to join one more subjugation."
"Hmm. With you participating, hiring mercenaries shouldn't be hard. Those guys will spread the word."
Galpredic nodded toward the mercenaries from the dungeon, gorging themselves.
The mercenaries, who'd made a killing this subjugation, were behaving themselves overall.
House Tiwin nobles were present, but more importantly, it was because Eugene and Galpredic were there together.
"If you're staying, here's my advice..."
Galpredic's whisper took on a sly tone.
"Hire those guys yourself. About ten solid ones."
"Me, personally?"
"Yeah."
Nodding, Galpredic leaned in lower.
"If House Tiwin wants to keep subjugating the dungeon, they'll need to hire mercenaries again. But instead of gathering separate teams like this time, it's better to hire a unit with a reliable leader. From House Tiwin's perspective, having you command those guys would be ideal."
"Hmm. Judging by the second son's attitude, they'll call on a knight like you again?"
"Heh! I ended up here because I ran my mouth after a sword tournament drinking bout, but other knights? No chance. Begging other nobles? If they were going to, they would've from the start. The second son might, but the firstborn absolutely won't—especially now that the gate-opening succeeded."
"I see. So what do I get out of it?"
At Eugene's question, Galpredic wagged a finger side to side.
"First, you've synced with them in the gate-opening, so next time, they'll react instantly to your orders. With about ten under you, you'll dominate the subjugation team easily. Newcomers won't ignore the vibe. It'll make things smoother all around."
"Hm."
"Plus, more headcount means bigger contract advances and success fees. Not as much as the gate-opening, but follow my advice, and you'll profit handsomely."
"Hmm. Really?"
Galpredic smirked at Eugene's lingering doubt.
"For dungeon subjugations or battlefields, mercenaries love a tough boss. That's how they survive longer. And the smart ones might figure it out."
"……?"
"That if you play your cards right, you might end up a real titled lord."
Eugene, not grasping the implication, just nodded.
His mind was on the money—and maybe making Bertel's downfall a bit easier.
'Hiring mercenaries...'
Eugene made up his mind.
Subordinates would definitely be useful in many ways, regardless.
"Lord Kamara Tiwin. Could we talk for a moment?"
"Ha ha ha! Of course."
Kamara hadn't heard their whole conversation, but he'd eavesdropped like a ghost on the parts about the next subjugation and participation. A smile spread across his face.
* * *
"Brother! Are you serious? You're letting him meet Father?"
"What's wrong with that? He's the knight who succeeded in the gate-opening. Everyone testifies he contributed the most, and he's joining the next one too. Keeping him from Father would be the weird thing. It fits the customs and laws you love so much."
"But...!"
Kamara cut off his brother's words with a frown.
"No buts. You're acting strange. It's not like he's meeting alone—Sir Galpredic and that Pellid kid are coming too. What's got you so upset?"
"……."
As Bertel shut his mouth, Kamara smiled as if he'd expected it.
"Ah, could it be because Sir Galpredic, whom you personally invited, underperformed compared to Sir Eugene? Still, he took down a troll and commanded the mercenaries brilliantly. Isn't that enough?"
"Kuh...!"
Seeing the usually cool-headed Bertel show emotion like this made Kamara feel like ten-year-old heartburn had vanished.
If he could fully win Eugene over, he might finally boot out Bertel, who picked fights constantly and acted like the knight commander of House Tiwin.
"Anyway, start prepping for the next subjugation. Oh, the mercenaries Sir Eugene hired will stay here for now. Nine in total, so recruit about ten more to match one knight and ten mercs. And it'd be great if Sir Galpredic joined once more. You boasted of your connections, so that should be possible, right?"
Kamara left without waiting for Bertel's reply. He didn't need to.
At the feast earlier, Galpredic had said he'd meet Lord Tiwin tomorrow and leave right after.
'Wonder who he'll beg next? Go on, flex those famous connections.'
Kamara's shoulders shook as he barely suppressed his laughter.
And Bertel glared at Kamara's back like he wanted to devour it.
(To be continued next time)