Chapter 49: The People of the Baron's Family
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 49: The People of the Baron's Family
Ninety percent of all mercenaries were incompetent hacks who had thrown concepts like faith and sincerity to the dogs. They were ridiculously greedy, fled at the slightest hint of danger, and played dead if escape wasn't an option. Betrayal wasn't uncommon either.
To put it bluntly, finding a trustworthy mercenary was harder than plucking a star from the sky. The few renowned mercenary companies would risk their lives to honor a contract, but they were absurdly expensive and, to make matters worse, chose their clients. I couldn't even dream of hiring them.
‘That’s what makes Piole so valuable.’
The swordsmanship guild’s tuition was expensive, so most of its members were nobles interested in dueling or wealthy commoners. But I was focused on the small number of mercenaries among them.
While the other ninety percent of mercenaries squandered their earnings, these few thought of the future, training to increase their own value. This type usually had both skill and integrity.
Piole, a fixture at the swordsmanship guild, was quite close with them. In fact, it was their recommendation that had once made her consider becoming a mercenary herself.
“There are more of you than I expected.”
I greeted Piole at the gates of Polton and we walked through the city together. Thirty elite mercenaries followed behind us, and the main road was crowded with people who had gathered to see them.
“I got lucky. Quaran has been flooded with mercenaries who caught the scent of money from the conflict with Dresden. I asked around among the older guys and brought as many decent people as I could find. Did I do well?”
“Your voice… is a little creepy.”
It was strangely androgynous. Her voice was naturally husky, but she was also deliberately speaking in a low tone.
“Wanna die? Straighten your face. Who was the one who suggested I act this way?”
I’d wondered why she kept wearing the face guard. It seemed Piole had taken the childish dream I’d dangled as bait completely to heart.
“I’ll have to create a stage for you to shine on as quickly as possible. I prefer your real voice.”
“Y-You do?”
Piole subtly turned her head away. I bet if she lifted that face guard, I’d see a flushed face.
“In any case, you did well. This is a huge load off my mind.”
“It’s not all good news, you know. I was very selective, just as you asked, so the cost has gone up quite a bit.”
“How much?”
“Barely enough to last thirty days.”
Contrary to popular belief, the herring catch in Quaran was increasing endlessly, while the opposite was true for Dresden, the original fishing ground. There was a reason the conflict between the two domains had escalated.
The fishing rights I had leased were therefore bringing me enormous profits. The problem was that even that much money couldn't sustain thirty elite mercenaries for long.
Of course, that might change once the herring grounds shifted completely over time. But for now, funds were tight.
Piole continued.
“But don’t worry too much. My father said to let him know if we’re short. He said he’d help anytime.”
I shook my head. Was there such a thing as a free lunch in this world? Sir Andrei was a knight and a seasoned politician. If I carelessly incurred a debt, there was no telling how I’d have to repay it.
As I spoke with Piole, we reached the lord’s castle. The moment we passed through the main gate, Segerik approached us.
“Sir Allen! What in the world is all this?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, where did you find so many mercenaries! Was the Tobalts family’s manor that wealthy?”
A flicker of greed shone in Segerik’s eyes. His coveting of a vassal’s possessions was just like his father’s.
“Of course not. I was able to hire them cheaply thanks to an introduction from my swordsmanship teacher.”
“Your swordsmanship teacher? You mean Sir Roland?”
“He was too distracted by other things to fulfill his role.”
“Other… Ah, ahem. Then who are you talking about?”
When I alluded to the scandal of Roland and Sophia sleeping together, Segerik gave an awkward laugh and asked again.
“Sir Andrei of Quaran.”
“Sir Andrei? You mean the one they say is the strongest in the region? I didn’t realize you had a connection with him.”
Segerik’s expression soured. After all, Dresden, which was in a severe conflict with Quaran, was his maternal family’s home.
I feigned ignorance and continued.
“It takes someone of his caliber to teach me.”
“Lord Segerik.”
Just then, a group of men approached from behind Segerik. They were armed soldiers on horseback, equipped with high-quality gear.
It was the group Segerik had introduced me to at the banquet. While Ailgar’s followers were sons without inheritance rights or wealthy commoners, Segerik’s followers were composed of heirs to influential families and their squires.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, when Segerik became the baron, these men would inherit the positions of the current baron’s vassals.
They were also the soldiers who would go to the battlefield with me. After welcoming them, Segerik turned his gaze back to me.
“By the way, who is this?”
“My squire, Piole.”
The word ‘squire’ sent daggers into my back. I imagined death stares piercing through the holes of her helmet.
Piole gave a slight nod. For all her confidence earlier, she was now unwilling to let them hear her voice.
“A quiet friend.”
Segerik took it in stride and turned to address us all.
“Actually, after I agreed to join Sir Allen, my father summoned me. He scolded me for needlessly expending the family’s strength. But I think differently. We have Sir Allen, who can be called the strongest without exaggeration, thirty elite mercenaries, and all of you, who would lay down your lives for me. Are we not together in this?”
At that moment, a man representing Segerik’s group stepped forward, glaring at me with a strange smile on his lips.
“However, there is one point of concern.”
“Bolton, what is it?”
“I acknowledge Sir Allen’s skill, but isn’t this his first time commanding an army? Lord Segerik’s future is at stake. Making an inexperienced man our commander is a dangerous choice.”
The atmosphere had been tense even when Segerik first declared his support for me. The prevailing thought among them was, ‘How could a mere knight defeat an enemy the baron couldn’t?’
“Bolton, isn’t that matter already settled?”
Was that why? No one had objected to me being the commander back then. So why the sudden change of heart, questioning my right to command?
I stared intently at Bolton, the de facto leader of Segerik’s faction. Bolton, too, turned slightly away from Segerik to face me directly.
“Back then, I judged it as mere bravado and let it slide. Hot-blooded young knights are often like that, are they not?”
Bolton was using my age and inexperience to belittle me. No one likes an outsider who just rolled in. The fact that I had killed knights with whom they had deep ties must have also played a part.
Having listened quietly until then, I stepped forward with a smirk.
“Or is it that you’ve suddenly decided there’s a chance of success?”
My age and inexperience were just excuses. The arrival of thirty elite mercenaries had changed their minds. If they could truly achieve glory in this war, they would win Segerik’s favor. They must have also wanted to keep me, the outsider, in check.
In other words, they were after the same thing I was. They were comrades and competitors, sharing the same goal.
A slight furrow appeared on Bolton’s previously relaxed brow.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Caught between our confrontation, Segerik couldn’t hide his troubled expression. He couldn’t easily decide between me, his sharp sword and strategist, and the vassals who had served him for so long.
I decided to ease his burden.
“Bolton. In case you’ve forgotten, this is my war. My war, funded entirely by my family’s fortune to retrieve my father’s body. By custom, the right to command should naturally be mine.”
The justification was on my side.
Furthermore, the vassals, who had been uncertain about the war, had conscripted few soldiers. Ten vassals had gathered seventy soldiers, meaning each had brought fewer than ten men.
“But…”
“Bolton. I believe Sir Allen is right on this matter.”
Segerik settled the situation before Bolton could retort. Bolton scowled and glared at me. From the looks of it, I’d have to watch out for a stab in the back during this war.
A wave of exhaustion washed over me.
Perhaps thinking he couldn’t refuse to offer any support at all, the baron held a departure banquet for us.
Segerik and his followers ate and drank as if it were their last day on earth, while the soldiers they led and my elite mercenaries feasted outside the castle walls.
It was when the banquet was in full swing that a servant carrying food secretly slipped a letter into my hand.
It was a letter with only the word ‘Garden’ written on it. Even so, I knew who had sent it. A scent I had smelled once before wafted from the palm-sized piece of parchment.
After a moment of glancing around, I quietly slipped away. The others, already quite drunk, didn't even notice the guest of honor disappearing.
The night garden was truly a maze. Small trees landscaped by the gardener formed walls, and massive trees acted as blackout curtains, blocking even the faint light leaking from the castle.
If not for the few open spaces along the path and the torches installed there, I would have surely gotten lost.
The letter’s owner was gazing at a small fountain. The flickering torch beside her highlighted her smooth skin.
“My lady.”
It was Eusebia. When she turned at my call, her face lit up for a moment. Then, just as quickly, she avoided my gaze, her hands fidgeting restlessly over her stomach.
“Sir Knight…”
“I never expected you to send a letter, my lady.”
I meant it. For her to pull off such a bold stunt under her parents’ watchful eyes?
“W-Well… it could be the last time, you know…”
She was so embarrassed she didn’t know what to do, yet she bravely revealed her true feelings.
I had a duty to reward her courage. I walked toward her.
She didn’t step back, and we grew close enough to feel each other’s breath.
Up close, I saw how thin her dress was. She must not have had time to grab an overcoat while sneaking out. I took off my own and draped it over her shoulders, causing her already large eyes to widen even more.
“I worry you’ll fall ill. If you were to get sick, I would writhe in even greater pain.”
“But you’ll be cold too, Sir Knight…”
“From the moment I saw you, my lady, my heart has been blazing like a furnace. This is nothing.”
“Sir Knight…”
Eusebia, looking up at me with a dazed expression, pulled a handkerchief from her bosom and handed it to me.
“This is…?”
It was slightly different from the one I had received before the duel. In the center was an embroidered golden eagle, the symbol of my family. The faint floral scent on it was also much stronger than before.
“So that… you’ll be victorious and return safely, just like last time…”
“A token of good luck, I see.”
“Y-Yes…”
Her voice trailed off as she bowed her head deeply. The sight of her made it impossible for me to hold back any longer. If this shy woman was bold enough to request a secret meeting, was there any need to hesitate?
I took her constantly fidgeting hand and pulled her gently. She fell into my arms without any resistance and looked up at me, her eyes trembling slightly.
“U-Um…”
I took her chin and lifted it slightly. Gulp. Her throat bobbed noticeably.
“A duel and a war are on completely different levels of danger. A mere handkerchief is hardly enough to guarantee my safe return.”
“Th-Then what else do you need…?”
“I need a much stronger good luck charm.”
She acted as if she would get me anything I asked for, and luckily, she already had what I wanted.
I stole a kiss from her lips. She was so surprised that she remained frozen like ice even after I licked her lips lightly and pulled away.
“This should be enough to ensure my safe return.”
I suppressed the desire welling up inside me. It was obvious Eusebia had no experience with men, but she wouldn't be sexually ignorant. The baroness would not have neglected that part of her education.
This meant I couldn't dye her in my color right away like Aenya. For now, this was enough.
“Ah…”
Eusebia, finally coming to her senses, turned as red as a beet. Her hand touched her own lips with a sense of longing. She was about to open her mouth when…
“Haaah…!”
A moan came from somewhere nearby before she could speak. It seemed a young man and woman who had hit it off at the banquet were having some fun. Even the innocent Eusebia had found her courage. The timing, however, was terrible.
Startled, Eusebia looked around, but she couldn't find the source of the sound. No more sounds followed.
“I-I should get going now.”
Nevertheless, Eusebia hastily said her goodbyes and left. I had no time to stop her. I licked my lips and looked in the direction the sound had come from.
“Your prank goes too far.”
There was no answer. I didn’t stop glaring. Only then did the owner of the moan emerge from the bushes. It was Josephine, covered in leaves.
“Oh my, what am I to do? I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Josephine brushed the leaves off herself and smiled sweetly.
“I know you interfered on purpose.”
Josephine looked into my eyes and snorted.
“Hmph, how did you know?”
“For such a loud moan, it lacked much feeling.”
“You must have a lot of experience.”
“A virgin would give the same answer to the same question.”
“True. You have to give it to men for their bravado.”
Josephine crossed her arms and smiled with her eyes, making her breasts even more prominent. It was clearly intentional.
I blatantly stared down at her cleavage.
“When are you going to apologize?”
“Shouldn’t I be the one receiving thanks? I helped you avoid a pointless effort.”
Josephine sat on a bench next to the fountain and crossed her legs. Her dress naturally rode up, revealing her firm thighs. Her bare foot, shoe removed, wiggled adorably.
“Do you really think you can bed Eusebia? With the baron and his wife watching her like hawks? If the baron finds out about today’s meeting, he’ll lock her in a tower. Or he’ll send you on a mission to the countryside. Besides, she’s not the type to defy her parents. It’s a relationship that will only end up tormenting you.”
I stood before her. Her face was a hand’s breadth away from my crotch.
“Are you any different?”
“Care to find out?”
Smiling with her eyes, Josephine opened her mouth wide. Her white, even teeth and glistening red flesh were revealed, and her tongue, longer than most, slipped out and moved with a wicked grace.