Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The One Who Sold What Couldn't Be Sold (8)
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Mountains of corpses, seas of blood.
Pile my corpses into mountains and forge seas from their blood. How many more must I kill?
I abandoned thought. Any glimpse back would shatter me completely.
Only a beast-like instinct remained: kill just one more, somehow.
'If I let even a little distance open, the mages on the walls will unleash their spells.'
So I stuck close to the imperial forces on purpose. They couldn't cast.
The empire's knights tried to block me however they could. But each time, I widened the gap.
Ironically, the empire's soldiers were shielding me.
"Lord! Let us help too!!"
"Huh? Uh... sure, go ahead?"
"Soldiers of Earl Sandwy's territory! Take up your swords and fight again!!!"
I figured I'd fight alone to the end again. But someone intervened.
A familiar face. It was Captain Thomas from the gate.
Thomas and his hundred guards from the earl's territory suddenly switched to our side.
"Whoa, reinforcements! The enemy's reinforcements are here!!"
"They're on the walls too!!"
"Damn it all...!!"
Thanks to them, the already faltering imperial momentum broke completely.
Not just below the walls, but even atop them, the guards launched a surprise attack.
"Retreat!! Fall back!!!"
In the end, the empire abandoned their supplies in the territory and withdrew.
As the imperial army fled, dumping their gear, cheers of victory soon echoed.
But the fight wasn't over. One more beast to hunt.
"Lord! It's our victory!!"
"Seal the gates tight and stand by once the empire fully retreats."
"Pardon?"
"I'm off to hunt a beast."
Fortune or misfortune, Viscount Dermus hadn't retreated with the imperials and remained.
The viscount, who failed to flee in time, finally bolted. I pursued.
Incredibly, his final hideout was that familiar warehouse.
"H-how did you know about this place...?!"
"......"
"Listen, Viscount. Calm down. I'm a noble too. By kingdom law, nobles have the right to a trial..."
My blood boiled. After committing unspeakable atrocities, now he pleads for trial?
I wanted to kill him right then. But would it end so simply?
After such deeds? No, that'd be far too merciful.
The thought hit, and without hesitation, I smashed my fist into the viscount's face.
Thwack!!
A crisp sound rang out as the viscount crumpled to the floor. But I didn't kill him.
"Looks like you've got prior engagements. Shame, but what can you do? I'll yield."
Slinging the unconscious viscount over my shoulder like luggage, I returned to find a familiar face.
I glanced around. Soldiers and even territory folk cheered wildly.
Seeing that, it hit me anew. The earl had been a far better lord than I'd thought.
"Lord, if I may... who's that on your shoulder?"
Thomas spotted the viscount instantly. I nodded and replied.
"Viscount Dermus. Word is he betrayed Earl Sandwy's territory and opened the gates?"
"......Yes. But he's a noble, so we should prepare a swift trial..."
"What're you talking about?"
"Pardon?"
I dropped the viscount from my shoulder like trash and answered.
"The battle with the imperials was too fierce, and in the chaos, we had no choice but to execute the traitor Viscount Dermus."
"......!!"
"Get what I'm saying?"
"......Thank you. Truly... thank you."
Thomas and his men's eyes turned murderous. Even I flinched for a moment.
The guards secured the viscount with shocking speed and dragged him off somewhere.
Thomas bowed to me until they were out of sight.
'Better they settle their grudges among themselves. They've got more piled up than I do.'
I'd been unsure at first, but their eyes convinced me I'd made the right call.
The battle ended. The imperials fully retreated, and we reclaimed the earl's territory completely.
But work remained. Bringing back the refugees, of course.
And recovering Earl Sandwy's body for burial. Tasks overflowed.
"......Come to think of it, there's a noble who stuck with Earl Sandwy to the end, locked in the dungeon."
I should meet him once.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Splash!
"Gaaah?!"
The moment cold water hit, Viscount Dermus screamed awake.
Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw were his bound hands and feet.
"Wh-where is this...?!"
"You slept quite a while, Viscount."
"You're... Thomas?"
"Yes. My apologies for the rudeness first off. Duties piled up inescapably."
Thomas bowed with exaggerated flourish. But anyone not a fool would see it was mockery, not sincerity.
Naturally, Viscount Dermus wasn't fool enough to miss it.
"You dare insult a noble? Release me before I punish you?!"
"Seems you're not ready to talk yet, Viscount."
Thud!
"Urk... gah?!"
A brazen shout from Viscount Dermus turned to agonized groan.
A guard's trained fist sank perfectly into his gut. Excruciating pain.
His face twisted in agony. Thomas, meanwhile, looked pleased.
"Y-you think you'll get away with this, you scum? A mere commoner... daring to touch a noble?!"
"The battle to retake the castle was too fierce. In the chaos, we had no choice but to execute the traitor Viscount Dermus..."
"......?!?!"
"Lord Blackguard told me that story himself. Not bad, right?"
Viscount Dermus paled in terror, grasping the implication.
The speechless viscount got no reply. The guards answered instead.
"Best story ever, Captain."
"Never heard one so moving and satisfying."
"L-listen. Calm down and hear me out. I've got hidden money stashed away."
"Hahaha, money. That damn money."
Thomas let out hollow laughter. Once, he'd believed money was everything.
Money bought anything. Bullying, even violence.
His bullying got so bad the earl came personally.
[Your life as a thug's too wasteful. Want to serve under me?]
[You sane? Me, with all my crimes, under you?]
[No need to worry. It won't be easy like you think. And...]
[And?]
[You made your mess. Clean it yourself.]
The earl's words weren't empty. His lessons were brutally harsh.
Act like a wastrel, get thrashed by the earl under "correction."
Once he fled after a beating. Got caught again, of course.
[You're an earl. Got time for trash like me?]
[Yeah, you're a pathetic gangster. But also my territory's folk.]
[......]
[If I can't change one territory folk, how can I handle the kingdom?]
Born and raised here, never left once.
Still, he easily saw the earl was an unusual lord.
He shelved his lazy mindset and showed true sincerity for the first time.
A life even his parents—and he himself—had abandoned. He saw it anew.
Gangster Thomas became the respected Guard Captain Thomas.
Without the earl, he'd still be living that same life.
[Surrender quietly. You owe no duty or responsibility to die.]
[No. We'll fight to the end with you, my lord.]
[Still won't listen, huh.]
Even amid that enraging betrayal, Thomas had fought to the end.
At least die with the lord who saved his life. That's what he'd thought.
If the earl hadn't taken his weapon and knocked him out, he surely would have.
[Heart hot, head cool. Didn't I teach you that?]
[Earl... why...?]
[Live, and chance comes eventually. I believe in this kingdom and its people.]
When he came to, it was all over. The earl had fallen.
The territory was in imperial hands. Surprisingly, no disarmament.
The empire had seen him fight the earl to the end.
[We've witnessed your loyalty. So you and your men keep arms and duties.]
[What if we betray you?]
[The tide's turned. East falls soon, capital won't hold long.]
[......]
[Empire needs talents like you. This is your chance. Don't waste the life the earl saved.]
Arrogant yet considerate warning. It pierced Thomas's core.
Territory fell in a flash. East completely lost.
Yet no relief from the capital. What did that mean?
Clear: abandoned. Or they had no spare forces.
Rebel with just over a hundred men here? Crushed easily. Meaningless dog death.
'Earl. Time to wake from the dream we shared, even briefly.'
A dream of safeguarding this territory, making it happy.
Overreaching for ex-gangster trash. Now awake.
Harsh reality sapped his will to live.
"C-Captain! Look! Over there!"
"What's the commotion?"
"At the gates! Someone's coming alone!!"
"......What?"
But then, on the brink of surrender, he saw it.
A man wielding his lost lord's greatsword, standing tall alone against them.
Why did that figure evoke the dearly missed Earl Sandwy?
"I am Cain Blackguard. Who'll face my sword?"
That snapped Thomas from reverie. From the territory's fall to now.
His archenemy, ground teeth daily plotting revenge, stood before him.
Thomas drew a dagger. And slowly sliced off Viscount Dermus's ear.
"Gaaaaah!!!"
"Such a fuss. Don't worry. Herbalists and the executioner are outside."
"Just kill me! Kill me, I said!"
"How could we kill you so easily? You killed one beloved by all, so take equal hate with you."
At that dry reply, a familiar voice echoed in the viscount's ear.
[My old friend.]
I pity you.