Chapter 83
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 083
Chapter Title: Mercenaries and Employer (1)
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After the raid by the Silence Compliance Society, we steadily pressed northward.
As we drew closer to the north, we began encountering refugees fleeing eastward with increasing frequency.
It was a sign that things in the north were far from normal.
Just moments ago, a group that looked like they were coming down from the north had spotted us and bowed their heads low.
They must have been terrified by the burly trio's imposing attire.
I felt a pang of pity for their trembling forms, so I quickened our march briefly to pass them swiftly.
"People ahead."
How many minutes had passed since we'd met those refugees?
Suddenly, Bear spoke up.
He was staring straight ahead.
More refugees, maybe?
I thought so as I looked forward, but the people's attire was nothing like refugees'.
Weapons gripped in their hands, padded armor draped over their bodies.
Even helmets on their heads.
No mistaking it—they were mercenaries.
"Mercenaries, by the looks of it."
Four mercenaries.
They seemed to have been hauling a cart, which now sat with them smack in the middle of the road, staring blankly up at empty air.
As if something was up there.
Curious, I followed their gaze skyward, but there was only endless blue sky stretching out.
"Why are they just standing there like that?"
I voiced my confusion.
Connel rode up on his horse and said to me,
"I'll go check it out."
"Let's go together. We're passing through anyway."
With that, I approached the mercenaries alongside the group.
One of them spotted us and nudged his comrade's side with his elbow.
"Forgive us for blocking the knights' path!"
The mercenary, now aware of our identities thanks to his buddy, startled and shouted vigorously.
He yanked the cart aside, and the other three split to the road's edges.
Even as they did, heads bowed deeply—it was clear they feared us.
'Refugees, mercenaries... everyone seems to fear knights way too much.'
The reason people feared knights?
Their prowess rarely matched their character.
'Can't blame them, really.'
This world was crawling with savage knights.
Lunatics who killed over the slightest bad mood were a dime a dozen.
So why hadn't I run into any yet?
Simple—I was a mage.
Not the sort knights could casually mess with.
Even they knew who they could bully and who they couldn't.
And to them, I was firmly in the latter category.
"What were you doing, standing there dumbfounded in the middle of the road?"
My faithful steed, Victory.
Leading him to the front, I asked.
The mercenary who'd apologized to us fixed his gaze on my face.
He quickly scanned the burly trio and the rest of the group before looking back at me.
He'd realized I was the leader.
"Ah, we... we were looking for our employer."
"Your employer? Why stare at the sky to find him?"
"A griffin snatched him away."
A griffin had taken their employer?
This was an unexpected turn.
'A griffin...'
A monster blending an eagle's upper body with a lion's lower half.
Hunting one was notoriously tough.
It could fly, and it wasn't dumb—fled at the first sign of trouble.
Catching it was a nightmare.
"A real griffin?"
"Yes! A beast the size of a house. A shadow suddenly blanketed us, so we looked up, and there it was, snatching the horse our employer was riding in its massive talons."
Maybe he liked my interest— the mercenary lit up and launched into the tale.
And what a storyteller he was; the details were vivid.
"What happened next?"
"The griffin clutched the horse and soared into the sky."
"Did the employer get dragged up with it?"
"Yes."
A total disaster for the mercenaries.
Probably for the employer too.
"That said... if it wouldn't be too rude, might I have the young lord's name?"
The mercenary eyed me cautiously as he asked.
Connel answered for me.
"This is Mage Heros, hero of Chester and lord of Evergreen."
The titles before my name were a mouthful, but every word rang true.
All facts.
"Oh my! A lord!"
The mercenaries hit the dirt the moment they heard "lord."
They'd mistaken me for nobility.
I waved it off.
"Lord, yes—but not a noble. No need for all that formality."
"No, we couldn't possibly..."
"Never mind that. Tell me more about your employer. Noble? Merchant?"
The mercenary rose gingerly at my question.
"He was a mage, like you, Lord Heros."
Their employer's a mage.
Couldn't handle a griffin, so not top-tier.
But probably owned at least one grimoire.
If I saved his life, I could claim it as reward.
And if he was dead, looting his belongings would do.
Naturally, my mind turned to hunting down their employer.
"You know where the griffin flew off to?"
I asked the mercenary.
He nodded vigorously.
"Yes! Not far from here."
"Lead the way."
"Right away!"
The eager mercenary pointed to the forest on the road's left.
"This way."
Too dense for riding.
We'd have to go on foot.
In that case...
"Soldiers, stay here and guard the horses and gear while we're gone. Pull off the road so you don't block travelers."
One of the sturdy men who'd followed me from Rabbit Farm spoke up hesitantly.
"Lord Heros, if a strong foe shows up, we won't be able to hold the gear alone. Perhaps one of the three knights should stay to lead us..."
The mercenary's eyes widened.
He shot the soldier a pitying glance.
Figured he'd get reamed for questioning a lord's orders.
But I didn't mind.
Sound advice.
"Don't worry. I've warded you with magic to keep you safe. Rest easy."
By "ward," I meant the undead knights from the Silence Compliance Society.
They lurked in the brush even now.
Any threat to the soldiers, and they'd throw themselves at it.
"Ah, my thinking was shortsighted. Thank you!"
The soldier bowed and retreated.
Smiles rippled across the faces of the others who'd been listening breathlessly.
But...
'Why are you grinning?'
I eyed the mercenary.
His eyes sparkled with delight.
"This the right way?"
"Yes, sir. I know paths well, and the griffin definitely headed this way."
The mercenary guiding us.
Not boasting—he soon spotted traces: feathers, bloodstains.
Legit guide.
"Come to think of it, haven't asked your name. What is it?"
"My name, sir?"
Felt wrong bossing him around nameless.
He turned, startled, face lighting up with emotion.
"Yeah, yours."
"Cedric."
Conversation died there.
A massive form loomed through the distant brush.
No doubt—a griffin.
'Big one.'
First time I'd seen one in the flesh.
A myth-made-real monster.
Seeing it hit hard.
"It seems to have noticed us."
Bear spoke as I observed.
Spot on.
Its head swiveled our way.
Round eyes watched us while it pecked at prey clutched in its left talon.
A horse.
Probably the one the employer rode.
'So where's the employer?'
Horse meant employer nearby.
Scanning around, I soon spotted a middle-aged man—likely him—sprawled close by.
Guts ripped open. Dead, no doubt.
Griffin had sampled him.
'Time to fight.'
I glanced at Bear and Connel.
Griffin outclassed trolls.
Beating it would boost our tiers nicely.
And gains weren't just that.
'Combat experience. Valuable too.'
Rare monster fight XP.
Priceless.
'For me, Bear, Connel—we all need to grow stronger. Let's take it down.'
Decision made.
Slay the griffin.
Couldn't pass up the chance.
"Mercenaries and squires, fall back. Sir Bear, Sir Connel—ready for battle. I'll take the opener."
I eyed the employer's corpse.
Sensed mana there.
Familiar vibe.
This chill gloom.
Necromancy grimoire, for sure.
'Necromancy...'
Other mages might scoff.
Unpopular stuff.
Not me.
I'd learn it myself.
'Fight first, think later.'
Steeling myself, I glared at the griffin.
Did it sense trouble?
Stopped pecking, stared us down.
Our eyes met—shivers.
Predator's aura.
But I shrugged it off.
Walked through hells aplenty.
Not some civilian's grit.
'Wings first, to kill mobility.'
Cripple flight, ease the hunt.
Wings it was.
Wooong.
Mana drained from me.
The ground beneath the griffin softened like mud, sucking at its feet.
Panicked, it spread wings to flee—but too late.
Follow-up already airborne.
Thud!
A block of invisible force slammed down on its head.
It crashed back to earth.
Tough monster—body intact.
Key was feet stuck.
Perfect for the burly trio.
'We couldn't lose this fight from the start.'
So I thought, watching.
The burly trio charged the griffin.