Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Prisoners
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All the soldiers were fixated on the knights' duel, so the war naturally ground to a halt. The enemy's main force had already been shattered, and with their knights defeated too, any more fighting wouldn't be a battle—it'd just be a one-sided slaughter.
"...I thought I was gonna die there."
There are opponents you can't beat with superior physical ability alone. This war drove that home for me in a way I'd never felt before. Up until now, I'd only tangled with beasts and magic beasts, so it never hit me—but clashing with man against man made it crystal clear.
"Hey! Bro! Look! That!"
I was lost in thought about human combat when Cutter's voice snapped me out of it.
"Over there! Bro! Those bastards are coming this way!"
In the direction Cutter was pointing, a man dressed in eye-catching finery was racing toward us at full speed.
More precisely, he looked like he was trying to blow past us. But at the sight of him, I instinctively knew this was Sarisa Count.
I had no idea where he'd ditched his armor... but the flashy clothes and the way the men around him were guarding him like escorts left no doubt—he was Sarisa Count.
"That's... Sarisa Count...!"
"Huh?"
"We gotta catch him! Grab that guy, and the war's over!"
The battle was already half-won anyway, but nabbing him meant no siege warfare. Plus, the massive reward that came with capturing a count. In my haste, I snatched up a single sword and leaped into their path.
Thud-thud-
From a distance, it hadn't looked so bad, but facing down charging horses head-on took real guts. It felt like a mid-sized truck barreling straight at you. But... I didn't back down.
"Bro! That's dangerous!"
I heard Cutter's shout, but I ignored it, sword lightly slung over my shoulder as I glared at the count and his entourage charging my way. One swing to take them down. That was all I could think.
"Out of the way!"
The lead rider saw me blocking the path and bellowed furiously, drawing his sword—but I held my ground. 100 meters... 50 meters... The distance closed in a flash, and the man in front of the count raised his sword higher, urging his horse even faster toward me.
He probably figured he'd cut me down in one go for daring to block his lord. Sorry to disappoint, but you're the one who's dying.
Kwack!
When they were close enough I could hear the horse's snorting breaths, I took one big step forward and swung the sword from my shoulder with full acceleration and power. And...
Kwaduk!
A bizarre sensation hit—soft and firm at the same time—as my blade tore roughly from the horse's neck, through to its opposite front leg, and out.
"Gaaah!"
The horse split in half instantly, tumbling forward, and the rider screamed as he was flung to the ground. No need to check—he was either dead or crippled. At that speed, no horse could soften the fall.
"Sarisa Count!"
But my real target was still coming, mounted and all. He saw me cleave the horse in one stroke and yanked his reins to turn.
"Sarisa Count! Where do you think you're going?!"
Hiiing-!
In my urgency, I roared—and at that moment, the count's horse reared up in fright, front legs kicking high before it collapsed.
Who knows if it was spooked by my shout or tripped on something, but as the horse went down, the count atop it was thrown off, tumbling across the dirt. He staggered to his feet, glaring at me.
"Who... are you...?"
Sarisa Count was a snake of a man, with black eyes, black hair, a sharp nose, sunken eye sockets, glossy curved thin mustache, and gaunt cheeks that made his cheekbones stand out. The perfect villainous look.
"I asked... who you are..."
"Just a lowly mercenary. Sorry for the rudeness earlier, but I'd appreciate it if you'd come quietly as my prisoner, Your Lordship."
He spoke in a calm, almost resigned tone, like he'd half-given up already.
"How did you know I'm the count?"
"You're the one in the flashiest getup, aren't you? And right in the center of the group... If you'd been up front, I might've suspected a disguise."
He let out a hollow laugh at my words. The man who'd led thousands was felled by a single mercenary.
"Let me go, you scum!"
While we had the count's ankle gripped, the rest of his fleeing entourage were yanked from their horses by the mercenaries who'd followed me. They screamed curses at the rough-handed mercenaries tying them up, but no one here feared noble prisoners.
"Whew... good work out there. Honestly, we only won this war thanks to you, right? Bet you'll snag a noble title at least."
With Cligrove's victory sealed and the prisoners handed off to the soldiers, the mercenaries—including Cutter—gathered around me for a breather.
"Nonsense..."
I chuckled at Cutter's words and set my freshly cleaned sword on the ground. It was too big for a sheath anyway, so even cleaned, it had to lean against the dirt or a wall.
"Not nonsense at all, bro. You turned the tide of the war—might be a stretch for a full noble title, but quasi-noble status? Totally possible."
"Forget it. Money's king. Become a noble, and you'll break your back keeping up appearances."
"Fair point."
Cutter cackled at that.
"Prisoners all sorted?"
War was over—it was time to claim the victor's spoils. I needed my share of the prisoners I'd captured. They should've finished sorting by now.
"Oh yeah, prisoner rights! You're gonna cash in big this time, huh? Those elves are pretty, fight well, and super popular as slave bodyguards. And the count on top... heh."
"Once we get our cut, first thing: proper armor. A real set."
Fighting this battle drove it home again—good armor wasn't just about defense. Being able to tank hits let you swing more aggressively. Shoddy swordplay aside.
"Hey? Speak of the devil—ain't this the hero of the war?"
As I headed to the prisoner camp, a soldier I'd run into grinned and waved. I'd gone berserk in this fight, so plenty of soldiers recognized me now. The war's hero—that's what they called me.
"What brings you here... oh! Registering your prisoner claims early, huh? Smart—victory party's soon, and everyone's gonna be wasted. No sane folks left! Haha!"
"Well, if it isn't him! Our hero Kyle!"
As the soldier stood to guide me inside, a knight emerged from deeper in. It was the one I'd met when reporting the elf. What was his name again?
"Compared to your accomplishments, mine are nothing."
"Haha! No need for humility! Loosen up."
The knight ordered the soldier to show me around and record my prisoners.
Normally, a mere mercenary like me couldn't dream of special treatment or openly claiming shares—but my feats in this war were undeniable. No one could argue that.
"Lucky you. We nabbed a ton of prisoners this time. And those elves? You'll fetch at least 500 pounds. Count's reward is separate, of course."
"500 pounds?"
Why 500? Elves were pricey, sure, but not that much.
"Didn't know? One of the elves you caught's a woman. Capturing a female elf? Even in those barbarian lands, they're rare as hell."
"A female elf?"
"You'll see soon. Thought it was a pretty boy at first, but stripping 'em for processing set it off—kicking up a storm. Girl's got some strength on her..."
Kiiik-
The makeshift wooden jail was packed with prisoners. Dozens crammed into tiny rooms, stripped to their underwear, weapons long gone.
"They took everything. Gonna be cold tonight."
"With that many, they can huddle for warmth. Anyway, over here—the elves are separate."
The soldier led us to a sturdier wooden cage where the elves sat huddled. Unlike the others, they were bound in iron chains, swords at their necks—looked miserable.
"sj! dl ejfjdns eofbrsha! dnflfmf djWJf tpadlsi!"
The elf who spotted me bulged his eyes and started yelling his head off. In the chaos before, I hadn't noticed, but stripped and examined up close? Stunning beauty. They'd given her a thin cloth unlike the others—probably 'cause she'd fetch more as a slave soon.
"spsha!"
"No clue what they're saying, but they lose it every time they see us. Wanna keep looking? I got work. Just log that elf and a few prisoners, yeah?"
I wanted to claim a hundred, but greed could piss off the brass and make life hell.
"Just twenty or so."
"That little? Figured you'd go for a hundred."
Should've aimed higher? But backing out now would've been shameless, so I settled. Hurt a bit inside.
"That feels right."
"Alright then. Take your time. Victory party's not to be missed—the commander's cracking open all the booze."
With the soldier gone, it was just me and the prisoners in the camp.
"Hey! You, big guy! Untie me!"
"If it weren't for you!"
The prisoners hurled abuse my way, but I brushed it off. Losers who couldn't pay ransom were slave-bound anyway.
"dnflfmf vnfdjekdh.."
Alone now, one male elf in the corner muttered weakly.
"dlqnsdms durldp rPtlf qnsdl dkslek. dnflsms rhoscksgdmsl dlqnsdlfkeh.."