The Margrave's Token
The greenskin army, transformed by the half-orcs into a force too large to ignore, was shattered in a single battle.
Mercenaries had already been dispatched to deny the remnants any chance of regrouping, and they began a one-sided hunt.
No matter how ferocious the greenskins were, no matter how much stronger than humans, with their morale broken they were no different from any other routed soldiers.
"Handle the bone ornaments carefully! Collectors pay surprisingly well for those!"
"Ignore the goblins! Take the heads of anything hobgoblin or higher!"
And like vultures and crows, the battlefield strewn with countless greenskin corpses became a free-for-all as mercenaries scrambled for every scrap of valuable loot they could grab.
"You fucking bastards! From here on this is our territory!"
"Says who? First come, first served!"
The atmosphere among the mercenaries turned so hostile they looked ready to draw steel at any moment.
Fortunately the captains on both sides were relatively rational; after a few exchanges the situation settled, and they focused on collecting their spoils. They knew full well that if they fought among themselves, other companies would be the ones to profit.
Having poured more time into recovering loot than into the battle itself, the mercenaries, once night fell, brought out the liquor and meat they had stockpiled, and the mood turned festive.
"Hahahaha! Kaisent's eyes went round as saucers right then!"
"He was stammering so hard his jaw practically hit the ground!"
"Pwahahaha!"
"Ah, come on! Stop teasing me!"
While others celebrated their rich haul, the conversation among the Wolf Mercenary Corps centered entirely on Kaisent. Having been stunned by the composition of the Margrave's army, he was now being mercilessly ribbed about the face he had made.
"But is the Margrave's army the regular army of this world?"
"That's right."
"We've moved through plenty of cities, though, and I've never seen an army like that."
"Of course not—there's a civil war on. The nobles who lined up behind the First or Second Prince send support troops desperately, because if their prince loses, they're finished."
After hearing various explanations from the nearby mercenaries, Kaisent tilted his head.
"Then why aren't we armed with weapons like those? You'd think we'd at least want a few."
"Whoa. Don't even say that."
"You know how the otherworlders from twenty-first-century Earth caused chaos over ideologies—democracy, communism, all that?"
"Yes."
"After that, every nation in our world made a pact. Commoners like us can't use military weapons without permission."
"Even if you manage to steal one, if you use it where others can see, not only you but everyone with you gets executed without question."
There had been many peasant rebellions, but revolutionary armies armed with the ideology that everyone was equal had been a massive shock to kings and nobles. They possessed noble blood different from commoners—being treated as equals was intolerable. Yet stripping all commoners of force would throw the world into too much chaos, so a certain degree was permitted. In the early days of the revolution, they had forbidden commoners from even holding any bladed weapon except kitchen knives for butchering and cooking.
That was close. I was planning to reverse-engineer a few of them.
Some of the weapons the Margrave's army used had simple operating principles, and Kaisent had intended to make them later to share with his comrades. He broke out in a cold sweat at the thought.
"There's something else I don't understand."
"What?"
"How do I put it… the weapons lack uniformity—they're a mess…? Era, technology, style—everything's jumbled together."
"Oh. Being from another world, you spotted that right away?"
"Exactly. It's the result of accepting weapons used by technicians and soldiers who crossed over from various dimensions."
"In the Haint Empire that occupies half the Eastern Continent, they even use mechanical giants called Titans."
"Mechanical giants…"
In the world Kaisent came from, there existed doll-like war machines called mecha. He hated fighting, but technical jobs related to mecha were valued everywhere, so once he became an adult and gained independence he had considered going into that field. With his big sister's help he had handled military mecha directly and accumulated knowledge and experience practically at expert level—his interest was piqued by these Titans.
Even if I go to the Eastern Continent, I'd be lucky just to catch a glimpse from afar.
Thinking that for now all he could do was look from a distance, he noticed another strangeness about this world.
There are tanks and airships, yet I've never once seen them used for civilian purposes.
The Wolf Mercenary Corps had been traveling the outer regions, but never seeing such machines meant those weapons were used exclusively for military purposes.
"Pwah! Thinking about it again is hilarious! You should've seen your own face then!"
"Uuuugh…!"
Having once again learned the rules of this world, Kaisent tussled with the mercenaries who were using him as entertainment, sharing in the joy of victory.
—Kaisent.—
"!?"
Just then, a voice seemed to whisper right beside Kaisent's ear. He hurriedly checked behind him, then tilted his head at finding no one there.
—Come this way.—
This voice…
"I'm going to step away for a bit."
"What, running away?"
"Tsk. Still green. Running off over something this small."
"I'm not!"
Shouting back at the mercenaries who kept teasing him to the end, Kaisent followed the voice in his ear.
Kaisent? Where's he going?
Meanwhile, Lillian, who had been sharing drinks with Fredrick, spotted Kaisent's back as he left the campsite and headed into the darkness.
"Fredrick, wait a moment. I need to take care of something."
She headed into the darkness where Kaisent had vanished before Fredrick could even answer.
…Lately the way Lillian treats me doesn't feel like it used to.
Fredrick worried over Lillian's strange behavior of late. When the two of them had first shared intimacy, Lillian—acting as Wolf—had given him the sense she wanted to tear off her helmet then and there and whisper love to him. But now, far from such behavior, she responded halfheartedly, as if her heart were elsewhere.
She must have some private worry of her own.
Believing firmly that just as he loved her, she loved him too, Fredrick watched Lillian disappear into the darkness.
Meanwhile, Kaisent strode boldly into darkness so deep a human could not see an inch ahead. Having inherited a dragon's bloodline, he walked casually through the pitch-black space beyond. Before long, he came face to face with the one who had called him.
"Heh heh. I believed you would be able to find me."
"Ah, um, well… Countess Akina… hello…"
He had heard there were special greetings for nobles in this world, but never learned how they actually worked, so Kaisent hesitated before offering an ordinary greeting.
"There's no need to force such formalities. You're young and from another world—it's only natural you wouldn't know our etiquette."
Having reached the Origin realm and able to see in darkness as if it were broad daylight, Akina answered the cute boy's flustered uncertainty about how to treat her with a smile.
"Thank you. But why did you call for me?"
"You've learned that I am Countess Akina. Not as some nameless knight, but as Countess Akina Karayden, I wish to make the offer once more. Follow me, and I will cultivate your talent."
"I'm sorry. Even as Countess Akina, my answer remains the same."
Kaisent shook his head again. But Akina smiled as if she rather liked that resolute refusal.
Good. Even knowing I'm Countess Akina, his eyes still hold firm to his own will.
If learning she was Countess Akina had changed his mind, she would have been disappointed inside. Even knowing how dangerous this world was, even knowing how powerful she was, a child so young still trying to repay a debt of gratitude was thoroughly admirable.
She's… not angry. Thank goodness…
Having learned how wary this world's royalty and nobility were of commoners, Kaisent was watching carefully for any change in Akina's expression.
"I expected that answer. Take this."
"This is?"
Akina drew something like a medal from her armor's waist and handed it to Kaisent.
"Imprint."
"Wha!?"
Once she confirmed Kaisent had received the medal-like object, Akina spoke, and the medal flashed as a pattern rose upon it.
"When the day comes that you've finished repaying your debt of gratitude, bring that and come to my domain."
"What… is this…?"
"It's a mark that only activates when I personally hand it over and speak the command word. If anyone other than you holds it, the pattern vanishes."
"So with this pattern, I can show that I'm an invited guest."
From the fact that Akina had given this to him personally, he could tell how highly she regarded him.
"Thank you. I'll definitely visit."
"Whenever you feel you've repaid the debt you owe your mercenary captain, come find me anytime."
"Yes!"
But Akina's gift was not finished.
"Take this as well."
"This is… a book…?"
It looked hastily made—unlike a normal book, it was just a makeshift cover and a few sheets of paper. When he looked up with eyes that asked if he could look, she nodded permission. Checking the contents, Kaisent found several spells written inside.
Invisibility, elemental enchantment, wound healing, stone skin.
All of them were magic that would greatly aid survival.
"I'd like to call it a gift, but in truth it's bait."
"Ah…!"
Bait to show him that if he came to her, he could learn as much magic like this as he wanted. The ulterior motive was plain to see, but Kaisent—starving for every scrap of knowledge—clutched the book tightly and expressed his thanks.
"Thank you!"
Gratitude that rose from the heart, different from before.
"Then I'll be going. I came without telling my subordinates."
"Yes. Safe travels!"
Her face was pretty and cute, every little action doll-like in its cuteness. Smiling contentedly at that charm, Akina waved and leapt away with agile grace.
Now then. Shall I check who was hiding earlier.
Akina expanded her senses to confirm the presence she had felt during their conversation. They were crouched low in the darkness, suppressing their presence, but a human could not fool the senses of an Origin-realm Akina.
That helmet, that build. The mercenary captain called Wolf. Did she follow Kaisent?
Only a few days had passed since she had ordered her subordinates to bring information on the Wolf Mercenary Corps. So among the information she had received, the only somewhat useful content was about the captain and vice-captain of the Wolf Mercenary Corps.
This aura—she's holding it back, but she's reached the Expert realm. Why is an Expert-level fighter working as a mere mercenary captain?
With that skill, joining some noble house would be far easier and faster money. Having discerned through Wolf's aura that she was Expert-level, Akina strengthened her senses further and probed deeper.
Hmm? Not a man, but a woman? An Expert-realm woman posing as a man…
Learning even that the leather armor was specially made to make her build look larger only deepened Akina's curiosity toward Wolf.
I only meant to find out roughly what her character was like and why she became a mercenary, but I've changed my mind.
No mercenary would look down on a warrior who had reached Expert realm just because she was a woman. That she still posed as a man meant there was some reason beyond simply avoiding being underestimated. Akina returned to her army to issue orders to dig intensively into Wolf rather than the Wolf Mercenary Corps as a whole.
Meanwhile, unaware that Lillian had followed, Kaisent carefully read through all the magic he could newly learn.
Since I'm already outside, I should try using all the spells before I head back.
"Popular, aren't you, Kaisent."
"Hyaak!?"
Just as he was grinning over his new magic and knowledge, a presence behind him and a cold voice made Kaisent jump and whirl around. There stood Lillian, helmet tucked under her arm, looking down at him with distinctly displeased eyes. Being in the darkness, her overall atmosphere carried a strong, chilling edge.
"L-Lillian? Why are you here…!?"
"I'd appreciate it if you'd settle on whether to call me Lillian or big sister."
"…"
I'm screwed.
No matter what he said, it felt like the wrong answer. Not understanding why Lillian was angry, Kaisent broke out in a cold sweat.
She looks really upset. Why? Over what?
Why am I this angry? He even refused Countess Akina's offer so he could repay the debt he owes me?
But Lillian herself could not understand why she was angry either. From the flow of the conversation, it seemed Countess Akina had previously met Kaisent somehow and tried to recruit him under her, yet he had refused for the sake of the debt he owed Lillian. Yet a strange mix of joy and anger had arisen in her, creating this cold atmosphere.
"Um… Lil… no, big sister. May I ask why you're so angry…?"
Unable to find any reason for her fury, Kaisent instinctively used the form of address most likely to soothe her anger even a little, and carefully asked.
"When did you get to know Countess Akina?"
Answering a question with a question was not polite, but Kaisent had no capacity to point that out.
"Well… we met in the forest near the encampment. She didn't give her name then, so I didn't know."
"Hmph. For that, you two looked rather close."
"Isn't that because she rates my talent highly?"
"You don't know Countess Akina well. She has any number of talented subordinates. But she doesn't treat just anyone with such fairness—"
Only after saying that much did Lillian realize why she was angry.
Countess Akina, who treated everyone fairly, was gentle and kind specifically toward Kaisent. That another woman besides herself was taking an interest in Kaisent—and that he had not rebuffed that interest—was what made her angry.
Good heavens. I'm having the same feelings as some little girl…
Having rolled through the mercenary world as thoroughly as she had, Lillian had never imagined such sentiments remained in her—and her face flushed with belated embarrassment.
"Big sister?"
"…Never mind. I'm going back first, so do as you like."
Good heavens. Getting jealous because a woman showed interest in another man? Even watching women cling to Fredrick, she had felt no jealousy—no emotion at all. She quickly covered her reddened face and tried to return to the campsite. If she did not suppress this feeling quickly, even she could not imagine what might happen.
"Wait. Big sister. Lillian!"
But a premonition that he would regret it madly if he let her go like this made Kaisent chase after Lillian and snatch her hand.
"Let go! I want to be alone!"
"No! If you just leave without even telling me why you're angry, what am I supposed to do!"
Ugh? What—he's gotten stronger than before!?
Every time Kaisent learned a new technique, every time his skill proficiency rose, his other abilities rose alongside it. It was less like growth and more like sleeping abilities awakening. No longer able to overpower Kaisent one-sidedly with strength, Lillian found them tumbling back and forth.
"Argh!"
Trying somehow to understand, yet receiving only a notice with no explanation or even a clue to grasp—Kaisent, unable to contain a flash of emotion, shoved Lillian away.
"Kyaa!?"
"Ah! I'm sorry…!"
When Lillian cried out, Kaisent realized a beat late what he had done and hurriedly tried to apologize. But looking down at Lillian, who had fallen and sat from his force, he unconsciously swallowed dryly.
Her eyes looking up at him with a flushed face felt far too alluring. Until now she had acted like a man and unconsciously worn mannish expressions, but through sexual acts with Kaisent, her feminine charm was belatedly emerging. As evidence, the force that had hardened her eyes and face like a rough man drained away, revealing the natural beauty she possessed.