61
Chapter 61
The sound of someone coming up the stairs could be heard from below.
Clank, clank.
The low, heavy thud of metal boots against the stone spread up the stairs.
At that moment, the chaotic atmosphere on the second floor quietly subsided.
People's gazes simultaneously turned toward the sound of the footsteps.
As soon as he climbed the stairs, he shouted in a booming voice.
"Attention!"
The one who revealed himself at the top of the stairs was a tall man clad in silver full-body armor.
His brown hair was greasy, and his face was strangely chubby.
Standing at the top of the stairs with his back straight, he confirmed that the surrounding gazes were focused on him and confidently continued speaking.
"This city is currently facing a crisis. However, if we defend this place, your families will also be safe. Who will fight alongside me!"
"......."
Silence flowed.
To the grandly thrown speech, the only return was a cold silence.
Only the enthusiasm floating in the empty air remained in that place.
Honestly speaking, isn't that kind of line only effective in front of regular soldiers?
Most of the people here are outside mercenaries who were dragged here by force.
To these people who prioritized meals and rewards over a grand cause, the words "let's protect our families" didn't exactly inspire them.
'Tsk tsk, he should have just clearly talked about the compensation instead...'
I chuckled to myself.
Beside me, Baldic muttered quietly.
"That idiot is here again."
"Who is that person?"
Eileen asked cautiously.
"I don't know. I heard a rumor... that he's the child of the lord here or something. But it's not like there's only one or two people like that."
"So he's a noble...."
I quietly turned my head and looked at the person.
He looked somewhat familiar.
It wasn't a face I had seen recently, but he gave the impression that I had seen him somewhere before.
Looking around, most of the mercenaries had apathetic expressions.
Some had already crossed their arms and frowned, or were looking elsewhere pretending not to hear.
Perhaps belatedly noticing the atmosphere, a hint of panic flashed across the noble's expression.
Soon, he turned his head toward the adjutant standing next to him and whispered something in a hushed voice.
'That guy... reminds me of the assistant manager from my corporate days who used to clean up the mess after the department head said something weird at a company dinner.'
The adjutant briefly raised his eyebrows and nodded.
Then, he naturally stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"What he just meant was that there will be appropriate prizes and rewards for those who fight bravely."
"Ahem! I promise a great reward to those who courageously stand against the enemy!"
"Woooaaah!"
Only then did applause and cheers erupt from here and there.
The once-quiet waiting room instantly began to stir.
'As expected, money speaks louder than words.'
I muttered softly and nodded.
At least the adjutant seemed to have a solid grasp of the mercenaries' tendencies.
Silon widened his eyes beside me and asked.
"Will they really give us a reward?"
"Well."
I replied with a shrug.
He took the adjutant and looked around the watchtower before going upstairs alone.
The remaining adjutant watched his back for a moment, let out a small sigh, and unfolded the roster in his hands.
"I will now assign the personnel."
For a moment, a strange silence flowed.
It was as if everyone knew their fate depended on where they were placed.
"A total of 48 people, divided and deployed into 4 squads."
Castle Gate Guard Squad, Castle Wall Defense Squad, inner city patrol, and castle tower defense squad.
They were all crucial roles.
Among them, the three of us were assigned to the Castle Wall Defense Squad.
"The castle wall... will we be okay?"
When Eileen asked cautiously, I nodded and murmured.
"Well, we have two people capable of long-range support."
I was a magician to begin with, and Silon had a bow slung across his back.
I hadn't seen his archery skills myself, but he should at least know how to shoot.
Don't tell me... it's just for fashion?
Soon, we followed the soldiers' guidance and headed up the castle wall.
The wind blowing atop the high Castle Wall was fiercer than expected.
The sunlight beating down from above was blinding, but the harsh wind offset the heat.
"Whoa...."
A vast field stretched out before my eyes.
Beyond it, I could faintly see the familiar, and somewhat tiresome, border of the forest.
The dark shadows of the forest flowed along the border.
"...It feels like something is going to happen again."
No one answered my words.
It was quiet right now.
However, a premonition that this silence would soon be broken drifted on the wind.
***
Well, as expected, most of our duties were literally just standing by, true to the name of the Standby Squad.
Standing atop the Castle Wall with the sun beating down all day was my entire routine.
Of course, considering that there are people who can't even do that and are running around outside the castle chasing Thieves.
I should be grateful that I can at least rest like this.
Thanks to that, I had plenty of time to catch up with Baldic.
"Have you seen Drek?"
That was what I was most curious about.
Since we were swept away in the river together, he might know something.
"I haven't seen him."
Baldic shook his head.
"By the time I came to my senses, I was already floating down the Riverside alone. I must have been swept quite far down, because the river became shallow and I barely managed to swim out."
"Still, you survived."
"I did. I thought to myself, if I knew this was going to happen, I should have just jumped off from the start. I only suffered for no reason trying to do a request...."
A chuckle unknowingly escaped me at his words.
I, too, had similar thoughts before.
Of course, I wasn't confident I would have survived jumping into that wide river either.
In the end, whether it was me who washed up on the riverbank or Baldic who escaped from the shallow river, we were both just lucky.
The fact that after almost dying and surviving, all that remains are these kinds of helpless jokes... made me feel a little bitter somehow.
"Still... I hope Drek is okay."
"Yeah. With that guy's skills, he won't die easily."
Saying that, Baldic cast his gaze far away.
Towards the border of the forest, which still lingered like a shadow beyond the vast Plains.
"What happened after you got out of the river?"
"Me? I entered the nearby forest first. I don't know how it was for you, but I must have floated away for quite a while, because I couldn't even see a shadow of a person, let alone a Village."
Baldic paused for a moment, as if recalling his memories from that time.
"I just endured it in the forest for a few days. I drank river water and picked up berries to eat. It was somewhat bearable at first, but my stomach got wrecked. It was because I kept eating unripe berries."
"I bet... Just imagining it makes my stomach hurt."
"Then a few days later, I ran into a group passing through the forest by chance. On the outside, they looked like Mercenary bastards, so I was relieved and followed them, but-"
His words trailed off.
"-It was the worst choice...."
"What? Why?"
"Those guys, they turned out to be Thieves."
"Thieves?"
At my surprised voice, Baldic smiled bitterly.
"Yeah, those Thief bastards. Since I was just a Dwarf with nothing on me, they let me join without much suspicion. It seems they planned to put me on the frontlines to use as a meat shield anyway."
"...Then how did you escape?"
"I got lucky. In the middle of it, they ended up clashing with a real Mercenary Group, and I saw a chance, stabbed them in the back, and ran away. Fortunately, they didn't really chase after me. That's how I barely made it to the City."
"...You really went through a lot of trouble."
"I know. I've fallen into the gutter a few times myself, but this time I truly survived by pure luck. Maybe God helped me."
...It's funny hearing a human who was kicked out for stealing Holy Water to make alcohol talk about God.
Anyway, there isn't a single person who hasn't suffered.
"What about you?"
"Me?"
I gave a short laugh and briefly recounted what had happened to me.
A Demonic Human. A Goblin King. Thieves. A bizarre Spider. And even a Ghoul.
Even as I said it, I let out a scoff at myself.
Listing them all out like this makes me wonder how I even survived.
"...Come to think of it, an awful lot of things have happened."
Baldic listened to my words blankly, then quietly threw out a single remark.
"...I guess I had it easy."
"Well...."
I didn't exactly have anything to say to refute that.
After talking about it, it did kind of seem that way.
"Well, as long as both of us are alive, I suppose that's enough."
"Hah, I guess so."
Baldic chuckled and glanced to the side.
At the end of his gaze were Silon and Eileen, who were standing quietly nearby.
"You little friends should speak up too. You there, the guy holding the bow."
"Huh? Me? Yes, hello. I'm Silon."
"Silon? Yeah, sounds like an idiot's name."
"...An idiot?"
When Silon asked back with a flustered expression, Baldic nonchalantly shot back without even a smile.
"Well, idiot or whatever. I'll remember your name eventually as we fight."
"That's a compliment, right?"
"No, I'm just saying."
Silon blinked and gave a vague nod.
Beside him, Eileen let out a chuckle as she watched Silon.
"I'm Eileen."
"Right, you've been to some pretty rough places for a Young Lady. Are you holding up okay?"
"...I've gotten a little used to it lately."
"That's all that matters then."
Baldic nodded without another word.
He was a Dwarf who only spoke bluntly, but his words strangely carried a heavy resonance.
A brief silence flowed, and the wind swept past the quiet Castle Wall once again.
The dark clouds hanging at the far end of the Plains were slowly drifting toward the City.
***
"You're saying we lost contact with the Reconnaissance Squad?"
"Yes. We've lost touch with the two squads that went ahead."
At the young soldier's report, the elderly man rubbed his forehead and let out a deep sigh.
His brown hair was mixed with gray in places, and long strands fell over his forehead.
He brushed his hair back and barely lifted his head.
"Sigh... What kind of grudge do those Monster bastards have to pull this kind of stunt."
He gritted his teeth.
"Could it be... those bastards sent by Aidan?"
A man sorting Documents nearby spoke cautiously.
"According to the Order... they say the Demon Worshippers are making a move again."
"Hah, the Order?"
He spoke as if letting out a scoff.
"Damn it. Of all times, why are they pulling this crap in my castle!"
Slam!
Unable to contain his anger, he slammed his fist on the desk.
But soon, as if realizing it wouldn't help, he pressed his lips tightly together in silence.
"...No. I can't lose my temper at a time like this...."
"...Lord."
"What we need to do right now is get a grip on this situation. Order or Demon, no matter what they say, I can't let my castle fall."
The one called the Lord let out a heavy sigh and looked around.
The large indoor space that might have been a Banquet Hall had now turned into a Command Post.
Instead of Noble-style decorations, there was a Wooden Desk with an old Map spread across it.
Beside it, the officials in charge of defending each sector sat quietly.
Fatigue and tension were clearly etched on their faces.
"What happened to the request for reinforcements sent to the Lord?"
"There is still no reply. It seems... communication has been cut off due to the aftermath of the war."
"...Sigh."
The Lord let out a long sigh and slowly looked around.
"What forces do we have left?"
"A Pursuit Squad has been dispatched to the forest, following behind the Reconnaissance Squad."
"Good. Focus the rear personnel on protecting the citizens, and have the remaining forces maintain the defense until dawn."
He stood up again.
He picked up a pen on the desk and muttered shortly.
"If there's no support, we have to protect it with our own strength...."
"......."
"Relay the situation to the North Gate Garrison, and send a Messenger to the other castles."
"Yes, understood!"
The Lord's eyes gleamed like the red sunset.
The castle hadn't fallen yet.
And he intended to protect it to the bitter end.
***
A small forest that appears after passing the North Gate of the Mondak Fortress and crossing the northern Hill.
In the heart of that forest, deep within the Brush, a few silhouettes were carefully hiding themselves.
"It's those bastards, right?"
"Looks like it. Who else would be prowling around there at a time like this."
"But there are only three of them. Fewer than expected?"
"Even if we just catch them, we should be able to find out something."
Their attire was closer to that of a Mercenary than a Soldier.
A Coif with dried Mud, stained Cloth Armor, and a sharp gaze.
The conversation was short, but no one took their eyes off the target.
"Rather than scattering, I think it would be better to ambush them on their way back...."
"No, let's just go."
"......You're going to ambush them right now?"
"We have to do it right now. It'll get annoying if they run away."
As he briefly turned his head, a man in the rear sent a hand signal.
"I'll circle above. Fall back and lure them."
"Got it."
One of them lowered his body and quietly slipped into the forest.
Slipping away through the blades of grass and shadows without a single rustle, his movements were those of a skilled veteran.
The remaining two lay flat on the ground and pulled out an Arrow from their Leather Quiver.
Dark Oil was smeared on the Arrowhead, and murmurs that could have been a short prayer or curses flowed from their mouths.
"Seeing as they blew up the Castle Wall, they aren't pushovers."
"Still, there are only three of them. We have four."
"Didn't you hear from the guys at the castle? They said a Monster was with them too. Don't let your guard down."
"Tsk, those are all just false rumors. If such a Monster really existed, there's no way the castle would be fine."
His words trailed off due to a sliver of anxiety.
Beyond the Brush, the three shadows they were watching began to move.
"They're moving. Let's go."
The Pursuit Squad took up an encirclement formation as previously agreed upon.
Scattering quickly to the left and right, they quietly narrowed the net.
"Stop. Surrender and we'll let you live."
"If you run, we'll blow your ankles off first."
"W-what the? You two bastards-"
Twang!
With a short whistling sound, an Arrow shot forward and accurately pierced the neck of the Thief who had stepped up to shout.
"Argh!"
The remaining two hurriedly dropped to the ground without even knowing where the Arrow had flown from.
The Mercenaries quickly subdued and bound them, letting out a scoff.
"Tsk, is it really these guys? This is too anti-climactic."
"I know, right. These guys attacked the castle? Hard to believe."
— Glug, glug.
It was then.
The body of the Thief who had collapsed from the Arrow began to convulse.
Bloody breaths leaked from the hole in his neck, and an unknown black aura spread over the pool of blood.
"...What is that?"
The Thief's skin dyed black, and his fingertips grew unnaturally long, curving like claws.
His tongue rolled inward, his teeth protruded, and his eyes glowed red.
"...A M-Monster?!"
"Fuck! Run—!!"
It was already too late.
The thing that stood up from the pool of blood was no longer human.
"Guaaaah!!"
With a monstrous screech, it leaped into the air.
One of the Pursuit Squad was flung into the air and slammed into a Tree in the blink of an eye, and another had his arm torn off entirely.
"Aaaaargh!!"
"Why is something like this here...!"
The personnel following behind fell into a panic and raised their swords, but the black claws were faster.
Before the blade could cleave the air, it was shattered to Pieces by a hand digging into his neck.
"Ugh...!"
Terrified by the sight, the bow-wielding Mercenary scrambled to turn around, only to trip on a Vine that entangled his foot and fall flat.
Crash!
"Gah, damn it... Daaamn it—!"
Slice!
The scream was cut short before it could finish.
And then, the forest became quiet once again.