Chapter 25
Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Red Scorpion Mercenaries
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"No, wait! Hold on a......"
Mashibun's body froze solid as he cried out desperately to hold back his comrades.
Eugene's short sword was resting on his left shoulder—he hadn't even seen when it had been drawn.
"That guy just now said he wanted to kill me, so I killed him first. What's your choice?"
"Urk!"
The Red Scorpion mercenaries alternated glances between the silver blade poised to sever Mashibun's neck at any moment and Eugene, at a loss for what to do.
No, more than that, the dagger embedded in the new recruit's forehead was the real issue.
There were a few among the mercenaries who could throw daggers well, but none as fast and precise as that.
No one had properly seen when or how he'd thrown it.
"P-Please forgive us! We'll let all the merchants through. J-Just go."
"What makes you think I'll just go?"
"Y-Yes?"
Mashibun shuddered, the chill from his throat prompting him to ask again.
"Hand over all your weapons. You have to pay a price for trying to attack a knight, don't you?"
'I didn't mean to do that!'
Swallowing words he could never voice aloud, Mashibun signaled his comrades with his eyes.
"H-Hey! Everyone, drop your weapons! Sir Eugene is showing mercy! Q-Quickly!"
As the Red Scorpion mercenaries hesitated, Partek and his group stepped forward with shields and short swords.
'Damn......'
They formed a perfect shield wall in three directions, and the Red Scorpion mercenaries gulped dryly.
It was common knowledge among mercenaries that you could gauge an opponent's skill by their gear.
Sure, some knights had average skill but came from wealthy families and decked themselves out in top-grade equipment.
But mercenaries, mostly commoners or serfs, had to acquire their own gear through their abilities.
In other words, a mercenary with good equipment meant they'd succeeded in many contracts or looted plenty from battlefields.
From that perspective, Partek's group looked like veterans with both experience and skill to the Red Scorpion mercenaries.
Toss.
Starting with one, the Red Scorpion mercenaries had no choice but to drop their weapons to the ground.
"Hey!"
At Eugene's call, Delduan and the merchants came running in a fluster.
"Gather up all the weapons. Partek, if any of them try anything funny, kill them."
"Yes, Sir Eugene."
Partek glared, and the mercenaries bowed their heads.
A short while later.
"W-We’ve collected them all, Sir Eugene."
"Good. You lot go on ahead first. We'll follow soon."
"Yes!"
The merchants hurried off without even meeting the mercenaries' eyes.
Once the merchants were a good distance away, Eugene lifted the short sword from Mashibun's shoulder.
"Hoo......"
Just as Mashibun exhaled the breath he'd been holding.
Thwack!
The pommel smashed into the back of his head, and Mashibun collapsed face-first.
Eugene raised his visor and scanned the twitching mercenaries.
"Remember this well. My name is Yan Eugene. If you meet me again, you die. In a dungeon, a labyrinth, or on the battlefield—you die. And I'm heading straight to Lord Bomel's to lodge a formal complaint about today, so keep that in mind. Take this one with you."
"......!"
The mercenaries shuddered as they hurriedly supported the unconscious Mashibun.
If what Eugene said was true, they couldn't go to Lord Bomel's castle.
It was obvious how a noble would deal with mercenaries who'd shamed him and had their weapons stripped.
In the end, the Red Scorpion mercenaries slunk away toward the direction Eugene's group had come from, shoulders slumped.
At least they'd survived picking a fight with a knight.
"Go check."
While pretending to stroke Silion, Eugene murmured lowly to Mirian, who was lounging on the horse's mane.
"Aha! Got it!"
Mirian instantly grasped what Eugene wanted and flew swiftly in the direction the mercenaries had gone.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
Partek and his two mercenaries followed proudly behind Silion.
After a short while, Partek cautiously spoke up.
"But Sir Eugene, are you really going to Lord Bomel's castle? If I may be so bold, it's doubtful you'd even get an apology, and if Lord Bomel denies it......"
"No intention of going."
"Yes?"
Eugene shrugged at Partek's blinking eyes.
"That was a lie. Why bother going there? But I had to threaten them like that so they wouldn't run to Lord Bomel and snitch. Besides, isn't he on the verge of clashing with another lord? No need to annoy him over something trivial."
"Ah......!"
Realizing Eugene's intention quietly, Partek was impressed.
Lord Bomel would be disheartened by the sudden loss of over ten hired mercenaries, but in the end, it paved a good path for everyone except the Red Scorpions.
"Anyway, let's hurry. We need to cross the mountains before sunset—that'll put those guys at ease too."
"Yep!"
Partek's group answered energetically while eyeing the merchants waiting ahead.
They rejoined the merchants and walked a few minutes before Mirian returned, flapping hard.
"Whew, I'm beat! Being too far from my contractor really drains my energy, you know."
Mirian landed on Silion's mane and massaged his limbs while chattering away.
"Those jerks from earlier seem to be skipping town. They badmouthed you plenty, but no dreams of revenge. No plans to go back to the lord either—they said they'd rob some passersby and head to Carlsbagen or wherever. Anyway, I'm tired, so I'm crashing!"
With that, Mirian slipped into the water-filled leather pouch.
'Good thing.'
Eugene had expected the threat to work, but he'd been a bit worried they might go to Baron Bomel anyway. Now it was fine.
Even if they did snitch, it wouldn't be a big deal.
* * *
Eugene's group and the merchants crossed the Marcus Mountains in half a day.
They encountered a kobold pack midway, but Eugene charged their center on Silion and sliced five in one go, sending the rest fleeing with shrieks.
"Thank you so much! Sir Eugene!"
"Thanks to you, milord, we crossed safely. You'll be truly blessed. May the gods' grace stay with you forever."
Having witnessed Eugene's overwhelming prowess, the merchants bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
"Just doing my job. Anyway, this is where we part. Oh, dispose of the looted weapons as you see fit. Price them fairly."
The merchants conferred briefly among themselves, then pooled 50 silver coins—more than the escort fee—and offered them politely.
"Here you are."
"That's way above market price. Sir, they sure know how to show sincerity."
Eugene nodded in satisfaction at Partek's words.
"Good. Take care, everyone."
"Yes! Safe travels, Sir Knight."
And so Eugene parted from the merchant group, which had earned him a tidy profit for minimal effort, and headed for Tiwin territory.
The merchants, meanwhile, went their separate ways.
At this point, Eugene had no inkling that today's events would blow up bigger than expected.
Because some of those merchants were truly heading to the Fairchilden viscount's family.
* * *
"It's all thanks to you, Sir. You worked hard. Haha!"
"No need."
Eugene showed modesty to the heartily laughing Kamara.
Seeing Kamara after nearly a month, he seemed a bit different.
The sly impression had gained some composure, and his demeanor was more assertive than as heir.
Like a real lord, perhaps?
'Not that it matters. Still just a minor lord without a title.'
The past month hadn't changed only Kamara.
After seeing and experiencing various people in the big city of Maren, Eugene clearly realized how small and insignificant Tiwin territory was.
During his fugitive life in his previous existence, he hadn't grasped such things, but with more leisure and a broader view, he was learning plenty.
"Pellid will stay with the Feilin Merchant Group for a while then. About a year? Think that'll suffice? What's your take, Master?"
Eugene didn't know why Kamara was asking him, but he answered anyway.
"Depends on how he does."
"Hmm. True, he's still young—might need more time. He needs to start earning his keep soon."
"Lord Tiwin. Are you planning to bring Pellid back to Rose Castle?"
"He's pretty smart, right? Already knows his letters. If the Feilin Merchant Group trains him properly, he could fill a spot in our territory. Castle treasurer or Brams steward would suit him fine."
Eugene found Kamara's chin-stroking words a bit odd.
The treasurer handling accounts and the steward managing a region in the lord's stead were posts usually given to trusted kin.
So it wasn't strange for Pellid, still young and inexperienced, to return after gaining experience and take one.
But Eugene couldn't see why Kamara would trust and favor Pellid that much.
"Heh. Wondering why I'm concerned about Pellid? Shall I tell you?"
Assuming Eugene's thoughts without asking, Kamara leaned closer and spoke lowly.
"After this dungeon subjugation, I'm kicking out Bertel. I'll give him some money for his past service and send him off. Once the eldest inherits the lordship, the second son sticking around as a territory knight doesn't make sense, right? We're not some rich house."
"Hmm."
"But a bastard's fine. Pellid's not cut out to replace me anyway. Plus, unlike Bertel, he earns money instead of spending it. Haha!"
"Not that curious, but good luck with it."
"If you really want me to succeed, shine like before in this subjugation. Bertel's brought another knight, and it's bothering me."
"A knight?"
"Sir Maverick. Heard the name but don't know him well. Decent gear, but the mercenaries he brought are the problem. Remember those guys Bertel sent to fetch Pellid? Feels similar somehow."
Eugene recalled the Timothy gang he'd dealt with personally.
At first he'd thought Kamara and Bertel hired them together, but it turned out Bertel handled it almost solo.
Meaning Bertel knowingly sent third-rate hacks to retrieve the late Lord Tiwin's bastard son—his own half-brother.
"Did this Sir Maverick hire the mercenaries?"
"Yeah. Says he'll build fame, expand, and form an official mercenary corps. Not rare for a knight without connections to become a merc captain. But choosing our territory as his debut rubs me wrong."
"And since he's your brother's pick, it bothers you even more."
"You know me well."
Kamara grinned and continued.
"Anyway, if you outshine the knight Bertel brought this time, he won't have grounds to meddle in subjugations anymore. The first couple dungeon subs are tricky, but once you succeed a few times, free knights and mercs flock in. Picking from them is something I can do too."
It made sense, so Eugene nodded.
"You even signed a formal contract with the Feilin Merchant Group. To get that loan, they won't sit idle if our territory's in danger, right? Worst case, they could hire Maren mercs themselves. Haha!"
No knightly talent, but Kamara was sharp-minded as ever.
If his plan worked, Bertel would have no place in Tiwin territory. The territory wouldn't suffer much without him.
Of course, Eugene held the key, and Kamara knew it best.
"So I'm counting on you for this subjugation too, Sir Eugene."
"I'll always do my best."
"Hahaha! That's my man. Perfect answer."
Kamara had no doubt Eugene would deliver even better results than before.
With far superior gear than the gate subjugation and over twice the commanded mercenaries, it was certain.
"By the way, Sir Eugene. Shouldn't you meet Sir Maverick? You're subjugation captain, but he's still a knight entering the dungeon."
"I'm the subjugation captain? Wait... ah."
Kamara grinned at Eugene, who realized midway.
"I'm lord now—my call. Sir Yan Eugene, you're the dungeon subjugation captain."
(To be continued in the next installment)