Chapter 35
Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Departure from Fairchilden
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Receiving a passionate send-off from Viscount Fairchilden and the castle folk, Eugene departed Fairchilden territory.
He had acquired a chest full of silver coins, a letter of recommendation to the count, and even an unexpected named sword.
‘Wolfslayer, huh…’
Eugene glanced down at the shortsword hanging from his saddle.
When Viscount Fairchilden had first given it to him, he’d thought it was just some expensive blade.
But the moment he drew it from the sheath, the chilling aura it exuded left him quite startled.
The viscount’s explanation, brimming with pride and boastfulness, had been even more astonishing.
Wolfslayer was a sword forged from wrought iron in the dwarven city-state nestled in the Kranfos Mountains.
It was a truly rare masterwork blade that could pierce chain mail with ease.
‘The recommendation letter’s nice, but I like this too. And he even threw in a slave on top.’
Eugene looked at the slaves trudging diligently along.
Two from Viscount Bomel, plus one more bestowed by Viscount Fairchilden, making three slaves already.
Though not yet formally knighted, Eugene—with his plate armor, top-grade warhorse, and three slaves in tow—looked every bit the successful knight to anyone who saw him.
Moreover, the slave from Viscount Fairchilden wasn’t just some brute laborer.
‘From Brantia?’
‘Yes, Master. Sir Bosch of Krollmarin is my father.’
The 19-year-old slave, speaking in somewhat stiff common tongue, was astonishingly from a knightly house in the island nation of Brantia.
The slave named Mark was a knight’s bastard son who had joined a mercenary band, only to be captured after defeat in battle.
His modest knightly family had no ransom to spare for a bastard, so he ended up a slave, drifting all the way to Viscount Fairchilden’s castle.
‘Have you had knight training?’
‘Yes. From Sir Bosch.’
‘So you can handle a sword?’
‘It’s nothing impressive, but I can protect myself. If danger arises, I’ll guard your side with my life, Master.’
‘That situation probably won’t come up. If Sir Eugene’s in danger, we’re all dead already—you, me, everyone.’
‘Ah…’
Partek chuckled, and Mark fell silent.
Indeed, the gear of this young knight—now his new master—surpassed any he’d seen on other knights.
Plus, the man had single-handedly crushed the mercenaries hired by Viscount Bomel and even captured the territory’s knights and heir, proving his prowess and valor were no joke.
‘You two—any special skills?’
In response to Eugene’s question, the slaves from Viscount Bomel answered in turn.
‘I farmed and gathered herbs back home for years, Master.’
‘I was a hunter in Garanbow territory.’
‘I see.’
Having slaves with specialized skills was a boon in many ways.
Especially for a knight like Eugene, who’d be traveling far and wide, a slave with even one standout talent was far preferable.
‘One with knight training, a herbalist, and a hunter. They’ll do fine even in a dungeon.’
With that thought, Eugene surveyed the slaves and spoke.
‘Good. Mark, Riddel, Pen—you’ll each get half a silver coin as weekly pay. Two per month.’
‘How merciful, Master!’
‘Thank you, Master!’
‘We’ll serve you faithfully.’
Riddel and Pen, former commoners, along with even Mark, bowed their heads in grateful emotion.
The greatest fear for slaves was ending up owned by a knight.
Nobles mostly stayed in castles or manors, so their slaves were relatively safe.
Knights, however, roamed the wilds and lived rough lives, meaning their slaves often had to risk death half the time.
Knights, who were violent by nature nine times out of ten, treated slaves like disposable tools as a matter of course.
A knight master offering wages like Eugene was a rare find.
‘Mark, how many years as a squire?’
‘A bit over three, Master.’
‘You must be good at armor and tack maintenance, then.’
‘Yes. Entrust it to me, and I’ll keep it like new.’
‘Good.’
‘What!? No, Sir Eugene! What do you mean!?’
Whether because it stole his job or because he’d lose those blissful moments stroking the pricey plate armor, Mirian threw a fit.
‘Me too! I wanna do it too! Eek!’
Eugene snatched Mirian mid-tantrum like swatting a bug and stuffed him into a leather pouch.
‘You’ll be entering labyrinths often from now on. Some of you know, but in there, no one protects slaves or porters.’
‘…!’
Mark took it in stride, but Riddel and Pen’s faces darkened sharply.
They found some relief in Eugene’s following words.
‘Mark, inside the labyrinth, you’re in charge of protecting these two. Stay with them until I order otherwise.’
‘As you command, Master.’
‘Hm.’
Eugene eyed the resolute Mark up and down before turning to Partek.
‘By the way, it’s fine to arm slaves?’
‘Yes. It’s rare to outfit them with armor, but plenty of knights give them shortswords or daggers for self-defense.’
‘I see.’
Even so, that seemed barely enough for basic protection.
And no matter that they were freebies, losing slaves pointlessly would feel like a waste.
‘Spend what you earn, he said. Galpredic wasn’t wrong about a thing.’
Eugene inwardly smacked his lips, imagining Galpredic’s roaring laughter at the thought.
* * *
Arriving in Maren, Eugene skipped the inn and headed straight for a shop dealing in weapons and armor.
He equipped Riddel and Pen with sturdy leather armor and daggers for self-defense, and for Mark, a hauberk reaching the thighs, a shield, shortsword, rondel dagger, and more.
‘To give a mere slave like me such generous gear! I’ll serve you till my dying breath, Master!’
Mark—not as burly as Partek, but solidly built—teared up, his blue eyes glistening.
A master who readily bought him chain mail he’d never even gotten as a squire!
‘As valiant as he is merciful and magnanimous!’
As Mark wiped his tears, the other two slaves were deeply moved by their new master too.
They knew all too well how knights treated slaves gained for free.
They’d expected to be worked to death without a care, and had despaired accordingly.
They’d never dreamed of wages on top of such lavish consideration.
‘We’ll serve Master Eugene until our last breath!’
‘Do that.’
Eugene nodded inwardly at their greater-than-expected gratitude.
*Slaves will lick your toes if you pay them even pocket change and throw some cheap armor on them.*
Meeting a knight like Galpredic had been lucky in more ways than one.
‘Come to think of it, did he get knighted by Count Evergrow?’
No news was good news, but with no word since the goblin gate subjugation, it nagged a bit.
A knight like Galpredic was bound to succeed anywhere, though, so Eugene set aside his worries.
* * *
‘Welcome back safe, Sir Eugene!’
‘You seem well too, deputy manager.’
Prechella bowed politely to Eugene, then spoke in a slightly excited tone.
‘I heard! You were briefly hired by Viscount Fairchilden and ended the territory war single-handedly?’
‘Already? News travels fast.’
Their relationship was equal by contract, but the status gap was clear, so Eugene spoke casually to her.
‘The mercenaries Viscount Bomel hired have been talking of nothing else. You routed dozens on a warhorse and captured the territory knights and Bomel’s heir!’
‘Well… something like that.’
It was mostly true, but Eugene let the jumbled tale slide without correction.
‘Anyway, the moment word of your exploits spread…’
Prechella, eyes sparkling as she chattered excitedly, suddenly flinched.
‘Spread? Something happen?’
‘Oh! Our merchant group has slightly upped the contract terms with you, Sir Eugene.’
She’d nearly blurted out how Maren’s nobles and notables were clamoring for him, but deftly pivoted.
If this knight got cocky from his fame and got ideas, it’d be trouble.
‘Oh? How so?’
‘We’ve raised the success bonus by five coppers, and if you wish, we’ve arranged for you to join labyrinth subjugations anytime.’
‘Good. Nothing else changed?’
‘Yes. Base of three subjugations, plus two more by mutual agreement—ends at three otherwise. For renewal…’
‘We’ll talk then. Shall we sign?’
‘Yes, Sir Eugene.’
Suppressing an odd regret, Prechella offered the three pre-drafted contracts.
Two for Feilin Merchant Group and Eugene, one notarized for the guild.
Lacking his own seal, Eugene signed his name clearly and inked his thumbprint.
‘Um… you’re not checking it?’
Prechella cautiously asked as he signed without even reading properly.
Eugene looked up after the last one.
‘Why? Change your mind and tamper with it?’
‘No, no!’
Prechella frantically waved her hands, chilled by his cold smile.
‘Then we’re good. All done?’
‘Yes! Per the contract, I’ll take you straight to the Celestial Citadel. Same party as before?’
‘Mm. Got three slaves now.’
‘S-slaves, got it. I’ll arrange their lodging separately.’
Three more out of nowhere.
But it befitted this knight’s abilities, fresh off contract, so Prechella answered crisply.
‘Oh, right.’
Eugene turned as he exited the door she’d opened herself.
‘When’s the first subjugation?’
‘Ah! I forgot the most important part. Ten days from now, Morrison Mountain Labyrinth in Evergrow territory.’
‘Evergrow territory…’
Where Galpredic went for knighting, under the count.
‘Perfect.’
Eugene grinned, picturing the one friendly knight’s gruff face.
‘And one more thing. This subjugation…’
A stream of info poured from Prechella’s lips.
* * *
Five days passed.
Eugene attended banquets with Maren’s notables and nobles every evening.
On the sixth day, he left the city a bit early with his slaves and mercenaries.
He had no desire to play along with the nobles’ meaningless posturing and rivalries anymore, having already met the big shots.
‘You’ve endured much these past days, Sir Eugene.’
Partek, who’d tagged along to a few banquets as a sort of attendant—not all, but some—smiled.
‘Endured? No need to make enemies by snubbing invites.’
‘Wise words.’
‘Anyway, all rested up? Feeling good?’
‘Yes. Few days off, and we’re all raring to go—me and the lads.’
Eugene nodded in satisfaction, surveying the mercenaries and slaves.
His party of seven, himself included, had become a combat force no one could ignore.
‘By the way, Sir Eugene, know how big the subjugation force is?’
‘Around thirty with us? Anyway, an Evergrow territory knight’s leading it.’
‘I see. Territory knight should know the labyrinth well—no big worries there. Morrison’s been open over ten years, plenty mapped out.’
‘That’s what I heard. But deputy said they’re pushing deeper this time.’
‘Hm. Sticking to the same spots hurts their rep. They poke into uncharted bits for show now and then.’
The party relaxed at Partek’s explanation—the most veteran among them.
But…
‘Heard they might deploy a mage? Evergrow count’s house hired one recently.’
‘What!?’
(To be continued)