Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Oath of the Red Wolves
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The mercenaries, who had gathered around their fallen captain before they knew it, stared at So Gun-ak with eyes full of fear.
He was the man who had turned an entire mercenary band to ruins with his bare hands.
By mercenary standards, he was A-rank—no, perhaps even the legendary S-rank. Why would someone like that target them?
Every one of the mercenaries wore an expression of utter incomprehension.
"You'll hear the details from Jake."
The mercenaries blinked in confusion, not knowing who Jake was, but then Jake stepped forward with an awkward smile.
As So Gun-ak headed straight up to the second floor, the staff who had been watching silently from the sidelines emerged to clean up the wreckage of the restaurant.
It was obvious the story of today's events would spread from their lips.
"Ugh. Fuck. Damn it. Arghhh!"
Finally coming to his senses, Capone shot to his feet, unleashing a torrent of curses that bordered on screams.
Jake began persuading the distraught Capone.
In truth, convincing them was no great task for Jake. So Gun-ak's overwhelming prowess had already swept through, so all Jake needed to do was soothe them into acceptance.
And so, So Gun-ak's mercenary tag and Jake's joined the Red Wolf Mercenary Corps. Nominally under Capone's command as captain, the 22 members of the Red Wolf Mercenary Corps—now effectively under So Gun-ak's control—canceled their original commission. They paid triple the advance as a penalty fee and departed Hollissi.
Leading the way on his black steed Mu-yeong, the 22 riders galloped down the highway toward Lights City.
Even at full speed on horseback, it would take two days.
Capone, demoted from captain to deputy in an instant, still wore a dissatisfied scowl but didn't dare voice it, simply following behind So Gun-ak.
With no more villages until the border, they made camp as dusk fell.
After pitching their tents and gathering around the campfire, So Gun-ak felt the need to ease the Red Wolves somewhat.
He walked over to where Capone sat and plopped down beside him.
"Capone."
"Yes, Captain?"
So Gun-ak glanced at Capone and chuckled.
"What was your dream?"
"Huh?"
Why bring up dreams out of nowhere?
Capone looked baffled, but Jake perked up, paying close attention to the conversation. Capone started to snap back gruffly, but So Gun-ak's earnest expression made him recall the dream he'd harbored all this time.
"Eh, what dream? Just makin' a pile of money so I don't starve."
"I see. Why become a mercenary, then?"
"Ah, what other reason? I was a farmer's son, but the lord seized our land, and my old man got dragged off to build his castle. That alone I could've stomached, but he died on the job. How were me and my ma supposed to survive alone?"
The Red Wolf mercenaries, hearing Capone's backstory for the first time, leaned in attentively.
"All I had was this body, and luckily I was born big and strong. Hauled loads here and there for pennies just to eat, but then I saw what a mercenary buddy was pulling in—way more than me, and the skinny bastard just had a sword at his hip."
The mercenaries nodded.
Their own stories weren't much different. They'd all picked up swords to survive, banding together for longevity.
"Went straight to the guild, signed up, and that was that. Stuck around the area till Ma passed, then roamed the whole kingdom. Picked up all these brothers along the way."
At "brothers," the mercenaries chuckled and nodded. Hot-tempered and rough, sure, but Capone was a good captain. A far cry from So Gun-ak, who'd crushed them with sheer force.
Still, they kept their glances wary, playing it safe.
So Gun-ak nodded calmly.
"I see."
"S-so, Captain, why'd you become a mercenary? With skills like yours, any lord'd knight you on the spot."
Capone stammered, reluctant to call him "Captain" so easily.
The mercenaries perked up again, curious about that very question.
"I've got brothers like you. Trapped by a spell."
"Oof. That's rough."
Capone offered sincere sympathy.
So Gun-ak let out a soft laugh at his simplicity, sensing the man's pure heart. Someone who'd never betray once made his own.
"Heading to the Lights Magic Tower to break that spell. But soldiers blocked the road. No passage for B-rank or below."
"Ugh. Why didn't ya say so? We were headed to Lights City ourselves, but a juicy job came up, so we figured we'd handle it first. Would've helped ya out."
Capone meant it.
For mere passage, he'd have happily let them join undercover.
So Gun-ak had acted boldly out of urgency, leaving little to say now.
"I hear the Lights Magic Tower's in dire straits this time."
Jake chimed in. He explained how both kingdoms had rigged the game, cornering Lights City and the tower, restricting mercenaries while luring B-ranks and above with coin elsewhere. Capone slammed his fist into the ground upon hearing it all.
"Damn it! No wonder they offered 30 gold for that crap job."
Capone groaned, genuinely duped.
"All's well that ends well. We're Lights-bound now, after all."
Jake blinked at Capone's words.
"Lights City could be trouble. Why's that fine by you?"
Capone grinned.
"Merc work's life on the line. Trouble's par for the course. Plus, Maxim's little bro's a mage at the Lights Tower. Gotta help our own, right?"
So Gun-ak laughed at Capone's words.
Truly a simple, brutish soul. Put kindly, bold and loyal.
"So, Captain, what'll you do once you break that spell?"
Jake focused intently. Glad someone asked for him. Capone's straightforwardness cut right to it.
"I..."
So Gun-ak pondered after saving the Black Dragon Corps. He had vague plans, but they'd depend on their wishes first.
He could seek a way back to the Central Plains, but he'd rather claim freedom here—and power. Returning meant no place for the Black Dragons, just false accusations.
Suddenly, the Fire Worship Cult's doctrine surfaced—the creed he'd lived by.
They awaited the Wise King to save a world in torment, enduring amid hypocrite righteous sects' tyranny and the corrupt palace's rot. Hell on earth, yet no Wise King came.
Only mobs scorned them as demonic cults, from Fire Worship to Eternal Divine.
'What's different here?'
This world was harsh too. Good lords existed, but rotten ones treated serfs worse than ants outnumbered them.
Through Jamie's war-orphan memories from the orphanage, it was just another Central Plains.
But one difference: here, they could carve a firmer foothold more easily.
'I'll become the Wise King and save this world.'
Even if the Black Dragons didn't follow.
Blood brothers nonetheless. If they wanted home, he'd find the way.
No need for shared purpose. He'd save it as this world's Wise King.
"I'll become the Wise King."
Capone and Jake's eyes went wide.
"Wise King? What's that?"
"The king who saves the world."
"Whoa..."
Silence fell, stunned by So Gun-ak's grand declaration.
Thump, thump.
Even amid shock, Jake's heart raced.
'This man's destined for greatness!'
His personal vendetta against the Ramos Merchant Group felt trivial now. Family ruin? Who cared.
"I'll help you."
So Gun-ak chuckled at Jake's earnest vow.
Just a distant goal, yet Jake pledged without hesitation, stirring something in his chest.
"B-but which kingdom ya savin'?"
Jake laughed lightly.
"Deputy, it's not about saving one kingdom. It's founding a new order where no one weeps under lords' or kings' tyranny."
Jake's insight pierced the simple words perfectly. Too talented for slavery.
"What're you on about?"
Gruff to So Gun-ak, deferential to Jake—that was Capone.
Jake smiled.
"A world where everyone can live happily."
Capone's face grew serious. He glanced at So Gun-ak. Thought he was just some thug who dropped in and took over—never dreamed of this.
"C-can I join in?"
So Gun-ak burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, of course. You'll be a huge help."
Capone grinned through his bewilderment.
The mercenaries, silent till now, pledged loyalty one after another.
10. Lights Magic Tower
"Halt!"
After another day's hard ride, the border gate swarmed with soldiers.
The wall snaked along the mountain ridge, dividing the Plains of Silence from the Rosco Kingdom.
Only five gates allowed passage from Rosco to the plains.
The gates were shut tight, heavily guarded.
Patrols scanned the walltops for orc raids.
Nearby lay a military camp.
They had the force to wipe out orcs, yet only chased close intruders, clinging to wall defense.
Capone approached the soldiers halting their 22 riders, flashing his tag.
"Capone of the Red Wolf Mercenaries. Headed to Lights City."
The soldier looked troubled, glancing at his superior.
'General's orders: no one to Lights City.'
The superior shook his head. The soldier returned the tag.
"Turn back. No passage."
"Why not? We're B-rank."
As Capone dug in, a veteran soldier approached.
"No can do. Orcs are camped outside. Even B-ranks can't go."
"I'm fine with that!"
"Just throwing your life away."
So Gun-ak spurred Mu-yeong's saddle, leaping skyward to land atop the wall.
A nearby guard startled back, spear raised.
So Gun-ak ignored him, peering beyond.
From the wall, the Plains of Silence lay bare.
Despite threats, nothing stirred outside.
Straining his eyes, he spotted a distant speck—likely Lights City.
The wall encircled the plains to the Lamie Kingdom.
Sealed between kingdoms, with Lights City as bait.
No wonder orcs targeted it. No army would assault the fortified wall.
'Absurd.'
The setup was laughable, Lights' plight moreso—but no orcs in sight.
"Nothing there."
At So Gun-ak's confirmation, Capone pressed the soldier.
"Why lie to block us?!"
"W-well..."
The faltering soldier trailed off as a knight in uniform appeared.
"What's the commotion?"
The soldier whispered the situation. The knight nodded at the gate.
"Let 'em through."
The soldier gaped.
"But the general forbade all entry..."
Knight Malcolm, third gate commander, glared.
"What difference do a few mercs make? Better to feed 'em to the orcs before trouble brews."
The soldier obeyed.
General's orders or not, Malcolm was top dog here.
Malcolm eyed So Gun-ak, who had lightly vaulted the wall fully armored atop Mu-yeong.
'No mere B-rank.'
Their gazes met as So Gun-ak turned.
Malcolm involuntarily looked away.
'Cowed by a merc's presence?'
By the time he looked again, the Red Wolves, led by So Gun-ak, passed through.
"Hmph."
As Malcolm grunted, a soldier sidled up cautiously.
"You sure it's okay?"
"Who knows."
The shift from before puzzled the soldier.
Malcolm's eyes fixed on So Gun-ak's receding back.
'Negotiations might drag on.'
He knew the gist.
Furious at the kingdoms' petty ploy using orcs to squeeze Lights City, but rash aid wouldn't help.
Lights' salvation lay in swift negotiation for kingdom support.
As hope faded, talks would hasten; rescuers like him would then crush the orcs.
That was Lights' only path.
This year's orc assaults were fiercer than usual.
Great chieftain Kurka had united the tribal orcs into a horde.
Honorable knight Malcolm cared little for politics.
He yearned for deployment orders to slaughter orcs and save Lights' people.