078. Preparation
In a mansion at Plentel Castle, the long dining table was flanked on the left by the captains of the 4th and 5th Divisions, and on the right by those of the 6th and 7th.
Among them, when Bin, the captain of the 7th—the newest of the bunch—raised his hand, the other captains' eyes widened in shock.
They'd never dreamed the rookie would volunteer.
All eyes locked on Bin's raised hand.
Then someone followed suit. Smoothly, it was Odekus, captain of the 5th Division.
"I'll volunteer as well."
Thick eyebrows framed his face, along with an 'O'-shaped black beard around his mouth. His massive frame and protruding belly were his trademarks.
Odekus had good reason to step up so eagerly. He'd failed mission after mission lately, and one more flop would cost him his captaincy.
This mission... I'll succeed no matter what it takes.
Herion of the 4th eyed Odekus. His gaze burned with desperate resolve to complete the task.
Herion hesitated at the sight.
"Hmm... So the captain of the 5th Division is volunteering."
His passion and attitude were impressive, no doubt. But Herion worried it might just invite disaster.
As Herion, who oversaw the 4th through 7th captains, pondered, Odekus spoke up.
"Even if the 7th Division's captain is exceptional, they haven't gelled as a unit for long. It'll be a ragtag mob, plain as day."
"......"
Bin's brow furrowed at the words. They'd struck a nerve.
Ignoring Bin's sharp glare, Odekus pressed on.
"So I believe I'm the right choice—the one with the most missions under his belt."
Bin scowled deeper. Odekus was insulting his knights, after all. No way that sat well.
Odekus was subtly checking Bin, too. Pure-blooded Bascon or Super Nova or not, he wasn't about to let some fresh captain outshine his own standing.
Bin fixed Odekus with a steady gaze and spoke.
"Who was it that failed the wild boar extermination again?"
"Uh, ahem..."
Odekus cleared his throat awkwardly, at a loss for words.
The recent mission: wipe out 180 wild boars. He'd tried brute force and bombed. And then the 7th Division had cleaned it up—leaving him stinging inside.
Finally latching onto a counter, Odekus shot back at Bin.
"I heard that was just dumb luck from the heavens."
Word was, the boars had been swept away by a sudden river swell. He figured nature had bailed them out.
No clue it was Bin's deliberate ploy.
Bin let out a scoff at the absurdity, and Herion cut in.
"Now, now, let's all calm down. How about the three of you team up and take down the chimeras in Pirenchi Castle?"
Seeing the friction, Herion had looped in the 6th Division too.
Odekus and Bin paused before answering.
Alenda of the 6th, serene as ever, smiled faintly.
"Yes, understood."
Guess there's no choice.
Bin and Odekus exchanged glances instead. No words, but the tension crackled.
Odekus spoke first.
"You sure about your 7th Division knights?"
Bin fired back coolly.
"Worry about your 5th."
"......"
Odekus muttered under his breath, frowning.
Pure Bascon blood or not, show some respect around seasoned captains...
As their subtle battle raged, Herion spoke up.
"Then it's settled—the three of you on extermination duty. Before you go, a quick rundown on Pirenchi Castle."
All eyes on Herion, he continued.
"Don't let the name spook you. We're only targeting the first floor, where the chimeras lurk."
As Herion said, Pirenchi Castle had one odd trait: monsters segregated by floor.
Floors 1-2: 4th-5th grade monsters.
Floors 3-4: 3rd-grade assassins.
Alenda's face brightened at that.
In that case... should be manageable.
He'd been dreading it—3rd-grade swarms from floor 3 up meant heavy losses.
Herion eyed the resolute trio.
"Good luck, all of you."
The three captains replied in unison.
"Yes, sir."
In Itos's smithy near Plentel Castle's inner walls, weapons lined the racks. Black-patterned armor, bows, spears, swords, maces—you name it. From lowest-grade to high, every type imaginable.
The forge buzzed with more customers than usual.
At the center: Bin and Hite, surrounded by the 7th Division in black armor.
Pirenchi Castle—castle of monsters. They were stocking up before heading in.
The cramped space strained under the crowd.
Unable to stand the chaos, Hite bellowed.
"Pick your gear one by one!"
The 7th replied as one.
"Yes, Fiftieth Captain!"
The knights beamed. Ditching old gear for shiny new stuff had them thrilled.
As they browsed armor and weapons, one hesitant knight asked Hite timidly.
"Captain, just one question... You said pick what we need, right? But... only one item each?"
Hite's eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
"Is that even a question? Of course—"
Bin cut in before he finished.
"Grab everything you need."
Hite blinked, stunned.
"Pardon...? Everything?"
"......"
Bin nodded silently amid stares from Hite and the 7th.
"...?!"
The knights froze. No mercenary outfit—or house—ever treated them like this.
One excited knight shouted.
"Loyalty to Captain Bin!"
The rest roared.
"Loyalty!!"
Their unified cry filled the smithy.
Even owner Itos gawked, glancing around.
All their gear in one go...!
Rare jackpot. His heart raced at the windfall.
He might not have enough stock ready.
Bin scanned the forge, grabbed an iron bar, and smirked. A clever idea hit him.
His eyes sharpened next. Memories of Odekus dismissing his 7th Division.
Let's see whose knights are green.
Thud. Thud.
As knights loaded up, something on Bin's belt grumbled in fury.
Codic.
The skull's eye sockets welled with tears as it wailed inwardly.
Stop, stop... That's my money!
Yep—the fortune came from crystals in Codic's skull. Loyal to a fault, but losing coin hurt all the same.
Spotting a knight snag two shields, Codic gnashed.
"Clack! Clack!"
Put 'em down—now.
The 6th and 7th Divisions gathered. Before them loomed a castle, heavily corroded, thick vines overgrown for years.
No human dwelling, so no upkeep—the vines ran wild.
The knights murmured at Pirenchi Castle's grim sight.
"Eerie..."
"Gives me the creeps."
They hesitated at the gate. Harsher vibe than expected.
Glances flew between 6th and 7th.
7th: Bin and Hite, plus one 3rd-class, one 4th, rest 5th or below.
6th: Alenda and the 'Ten Mages'—one 3rd-class, ten 4th-class mages (their core strength and pride), rest 5th or below.
The 6th's eyes drifted to the 7th's gleaming gear.
What the...? Top-shelf stuff across the board.
Leading with pure-blooded Bascon Bin... must be loaded.
A few 6th grumbled.
"Gear like that, they could take a dragon."
Spot on. Compared to the 6th's grayish kit, the 7th shone silver.
Bin valued every soldier, minimizing losses. Codic's coin, sure—but worth it.
As the divisions traded barbs, captains Bin and Alenda approached the entrance.
Alenda of the 6th: kind-faced with long blonde hair, robed, staff in hand. From the Mormon house—summoning specialist.
His eyes widened.
"This place is massive. Makes sense, packed with monsters."
Not like Plentel with inner mansions. But huge for a monolithic fortress.
Bin frowned.
"Size aside... something's off."
"Off how?"
"Magi's faint. Way too faint."
True enough. Teeming with monsters, magi should pulse. Yet it trickled weakly.
Alenda stroked his chin.
"Meaning... they know scouts are coming."
Bin nodded.
Alenda eyed the castle.
Smart monsters.
The captains clocked it: smarter than average beasts here.
Grimmer now, they neared the gate.
It creaked open.
Squeak.
Voices from the 5th Division scouts inside.
"You're clear to enter."
Relaying Odekus's word.
Bin and Alenda stepped through.
The knights followed in two columns.
Thud. Thud...