Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: An Escort Request
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“An escort request?”
At Eugene’s words, Delduan clasped his hands together and bowed deeply.
“Yes. There are three wagons and my group, making five in total. If you’d guide us over this mountain, we’ll pay twenty silver coins. Please, I beg you.”
“Hmm.”
Money wasn’t an issue anymore.
But since he had to cross Marcus Mountain anyway, picking up some pocket change along the way didn’t sound bad.
“If it’s just crossing the mountain together, sure, I’ll do it.”
“Yes! Sir Knight. You have our deepest gratitude. Thank you sincerely.”
Delduan beamed with joy and quickly pulled out the silver coins.
“Partek.”
“Yes.”
While Delduan settled up with Partek, the people who’d been watching sidled over and began fawning.
“Sir, Sir Knight! Could we join you too?”
“Sir Knight, we’d love to travel with you.”
“Sir Knight!”
Eugene found their desperate eyes—a bit odd. They were mostly porters with packs on their backs.
“Why didn’t you hire mercenaries?”
Whether porters carrying goods on their backs or merchants with horses and carts, traders always hired mercenaries.
Even settled merchants like the Feilin Merchant Group, with shops in multiple places, hired mercenaries for travel.
Yet none of the merchants gathered in this village had done so.
It’d be insane for them not to, unless they’d all lost their minds.
“Well... Baron Bomel’s family and Viscount Fairchilden’s family have scooped up every mercenary operating around here.”
“We small-timers usually come to villages like this to hire help, but the lords took them all. Not a single one left.”
“Hmm?”
Partek leaned in close as Eugene tilted his head inside his helmet.
“Baron Bomel is the local lord. I heard he’s on bad terms with Viscount Fairchilden’s family over a border dispute. Looks like they’re gearing up for a territorial skirmish.”
“I see.”
Unless it was one of the great noble houses everyone knew, lords with proper standing armies of hundreds were rare.
The reason was simple: finances.
It was far cheaper to hire mercenaries as needed than to organize and maintain a large permanent force.
Baron Bomel and Viscount Fairchilden were no different.
They had titles, so their situation was better than House Tiwin’s, but they couldn’t wage a territorial war with just dozens of soldiers. Hence, sweeping up all the mercenaries.
The merchants had been stuck in this village as a result.
“Hmm. What now?”
He’d planned to escort Delduan’s group for some extra coin since he was crossing anyway, but things seemed to be getting complicated. Eugene pondered.
Partek sidled up and whispered.
“How about one silver per head, two per horse, and take them all? It’d be tough to take everyone, so first come, first served—maybe five groups. That way, with those merchant porters, we can handle the escort easily.”
“Do that.”
At Eugene’s approval, Partek shouted to the tense crowd watching them.
“Listen up, everyone! This is Sir Eugene Yan, who recently cleared the dungeon in Tiwin territory! The very knight who took down goblin packs and orcs in Maren City!”
“Ooh! That’s the knight!”
“Sir Eugene!? The one who skewered two orcs with a single spear thrust?”
“I heard he tore a troll apart with his bare hands!”
The rumors were exaggerated, but their reactions showed they’d clearly heard of Eugene. Partek swelled with pride and raised his voice.
“That’s right! Sir Eugene Yan, Troll Slayer of Tiwin territory and Orc Slayer of Maren City—this is the man! He pities your plight and will take the first come, first served...”
“Me!”
“We asked first!”
“Two! Two silvers per head!”
“Sir! Sir Eugene!”
Pandemonium erupted before Partek could finish.
* * *
In the end, Eugene’s group agreed to escort Delduan’s party plus thirteen merchants total.
Normally, you’d need at least seven or eight mercenaries for that size, but with a knight like Eugene, headcount hardly mattered.
Bandits, brigands, even monsters—they rarely touched a group with a fully armored knight.
After all, no one risked dozens of lives to take down one knight.
“How much did we make?”
“Forty-four silvers.”
“Whoa...”
Raban stuck out his tongue.
Just recently, he couldn’t have dreamed of earning this much for crossing a single mountain.
“Stick with Sir Eugene, and we’ll never worry about money again.”
“I told you—he’s one of a kind among knights. But don’t rely on him too much. You’ve been training hard, right?”
“Yeah, of course. You saw me sparring with Glad last night.”
“This punk’s finally shaping up. Must be that dungeon run that straightened him out.”
“Heh heh.”
“Yeah? Keep at it.”
Partek clapped the sheepish Raban on the shoulder.
“Partek!”
“Yes! Sir Eugene!”
Partek hurried forward at Eugene’s sudden call.
“Those guys.”
“Hm?”
Partek flinched at the group Eugene pointed to.
Over a dozen figures sat on a wide plateau midway up the mountain, watching them.
“Mercenaries?”
“Yeah. Judging by the numbers, probably hired by the lord.”
Meanwhile, the merchants—who’d encountered over ten armed soldiers in the mountains—froze and whispered anxiously.
“Th-this isn’t trouble, is it?”
“They’re hired for the territorial spat. No way they’d rob us.”
“Right. And Sir Eugene’s protecting us.”
Knowing uncontracted mercenaries could turn brigand at any moment, the merchants’ eyes naturally turned to Eugene.
“You lot, wait here.”
“Yes, Sir Eugene.”
Clack, clack.
Partek’s group followed behind Eugene, mounted on Silion.
The mercenaries rose as one.
“Who are you?”
“We’re with the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps, guarding this road on orders from Lord Bomel, the local lord. If I may be so bold, which house are you from, sir knight?”
A sharp-eyed mercenary in thigh-length plate coat, with two shortswords crossed on his back, asked. Partek stepped forward.
“This is Sir Yan Eugene of House Eugene.”
“...!”
The mercenary flinched, then bowed deeply.
“Sir Eugene. We’ve heard of your exploits in Maren City. I’m Mashibun of the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps.”
“Good. Hard work guarding the road, Mashibun. We can pass, then?”
“Of course. But what’s your connection to those behind you?”
Partek replied as Mashibun pointed to the merchants.
“They’re merchants we and Sir Eugene are escorting. They were stuck in the village below with no mercenaries, so Sir Eugene agreed to help.”
“Hm. No offense to you or your group, Sir Eugene, but those merchants can’t pass.”
“What?”
Partek narrowed his eyes.
But Mashibun eyed Eugene, continuing.
“Marcus Mountain leads straight to Fairchilden territory. Some of them might head to Viscount Fairchilden’s castle to sell war supplies. That wouldn’t sit well with Lord Bomel.”
“Ha! Hilarious. You’re calling those pack-carrying porters sutlers?”
“I didn’t say sutlers.”
“Even if they are heading to Fairchilden lands to trade—merchants aren’t touched during territorial wars. It’s custom.”
Merchants chased profit. They could sell to one lord today and his rival tomorrow.
Nobles despised that, but for pragmatism and face, they let it slide.
“I never said we’d touch them. They just can’t cross Marcus Mountain.”
Mashibun’s stance was firm.
“Ha!”
Partek was dumbfounded.
Mashibun—a mere mercenary—was way overstepping with a knight present.
And he clearly knew who Eugene was.
‘Backing from House Bomel, is he?’
Seeing the other mercenaries lounging behind, it seemed certain.
Hired by Baron Bomel on Bomel lands to carry out orders—who’d challenge them?
That was their thinking, no doubt.
Then Eugene spoke.
“I’ve taken their commission, and I intend to see it through. So if you want to stop us, try it. I won’t be responsible for what follows.”
“A-are you saying you’ll defy Lord Bomel?”
To the tense Mashibun, Eugene said.
“I’m just saying I’ll cross this mountain with the merchants. How’s that defying Lord Bomel?”
“But we’re under his orders...”
“Kill you all here, explain to Lord Bomel, and he’d understand. The merchants can testify.”
“...!”
The seasoned mercenaries’ eyes widened at the casual death threat.
Eugene flung back his robe to show it wasn’t bluffing.
His plate armor gleamed, shortsword hanging by the saddle. The mercenaries tensed further, stepping back.
‘Th-that’s...!?’
Mashibun flinched, spotting Maren City’s crest just below Eugene’s helmet.
‘Tied to Maren City? Not just some hired fighter?’
Mashibun’s mind raced.
Even a titled noble like Lord Bomel wouldn’t antagonize a major city like Maren.
If this knight really slaughtered them and explained to Bomel, the lord would likely settle for minor compensation to preserve Maren ties.
It could end in disaster. Mashibun hurriedly spoke.
“Sir—”
“Knight this, knight that—business is by numbers, right? Fuck...”
Mashibun whipped around at the voice.
‘You mad bastard!’
A decent fighter from the sticks—he’d recruited the newbie.
But true to his rural roots, he didn’t grasp knights’ status and spouted nonsense often.
“Sir Eugene! That guy’s—”
Creak.
Eugene raised a hand to silence Mashibun and slowly turned.
The newbie froze at the red eyes flickering in the helmet.
But glancing at his comrades, he bellowed again.
“Am I wrong? Let’s just kill him! We’ve got more heads, and our skills can handle one knight...”
Thunk!
A thrown dagger buried in the ranting newbie’s forehead.
“Russo!”
“Damn it!”
As the newbie toppled stiff as a log, eyes rolled back, the Red Scorpion mercenaries jolted and drew weapons as one.
(To be continued next time)