Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Not Even Knowing Such Basic Common Sense
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A noble sat there with an irritated expression on his face.
Flanked by numerous soldiers on either side and guarded by knights in black uniforms, he spoke in an arrogant tone from his ornate chair.
"Truly disappointing. Even if it's the deadline today, arriving this late? Don't you even know the courtesy of coming early to wait on a noble guest?"
"My apologies, Your Grace. How could these lowly scum possibly understand etiquette? Please forgive them with your boundless mercy."
"Tch... Fine. This merciful soul of mine shall overlook it."
The servant flattering him from the side was the same one Mazelan had seen before, still with a bandage wrapped around one shoulder.
In response, the duke clicked his tongue like a pig squashing itself into its seat and jerked his chin toward Mazelan and his group.
At that signal...
"It's Duke Ocleang! Kneel and show your respects!"
The servant raised his voice.
Mazelan and the rest of the Demanes crew dropped to their knees on the spot.
It grated on him, but the man was a noble.
Though their authority had waned, it still held weight. At the very least, showing proper respect right in front of him was the expected protocol.
Especially in their current position, having failed the mission.
From a short distance away, with them kneeling, Duke Ocleang spoke in his haughty voice.
"What's this? That wench isn't here? Where is she? Bring her out at once!"
"...My deepest apologies. First, allow me to beg forgiveness on that front."
"What did you say?"
At Mazelan's words, the duke's already sour face twisted even further.
"We're sorry. We did our utmost to secure the girl... but the one protecting her was none other than the Pirate King himself. Taking down the lord of the seas with our own hands was impossible. In the end, we had no choice but to retreat with these wounds."
"..."
"Since we failed the commission, we'll refund the fee. We're truly sorry for not fulfilling the task you entrusted to us in good faith. If it pleases you, I'll offer separate compensation to appease your anger."
Honestly, there was plenty Mazelan wanted to say.
They'd issued the commission knowing full well the opponent was the Pirate King. It was tantamount to sending them to their deaths.
No matter that it was a paid job, ordering them to shoulder a noose and leap into a pit of fire crossed every line.
But arguing that with a high noble would get him nowhere, so Mazelan chose to apologize meekly, offer suitable reparations, and withdraw.
However...
"...You failed? You dare fail my, Duke Ocleang's commission?"
"Yes, I say it again: our opponent was the Pirate King. There was no way we could—"
-Bang!
"...!?"
A sudden chill of pain shot through him.
Red blood began trickling from Mazelan's shoulder.
"Wha... What...?"
In the incomprehensible scene unfolding before him,
there stood a knight in black uniform, pistol still smoking, aimed right at him from beside the duke.
"Kuh!"
"C-Captain!"
"Mazelan!"
His subordinates froze in shock at the sudden turn, while Elkana hurriedly shielded him.
The Mazelan of old could have deflected a single bullet with a mana barrier.
As an upper-grade warrior, slicing through hails of gunfire to take enemy heads was routine.
But now,
his body wasn't in any shape for it—not with his unhealed injuries, exhaustion, and that surprise shot to top it off.
Though he'd sensed something ominous, who could have imagined a mere client in a contract relationship would attack out of the blue like this?
"Useless trash. Die."
"D-Duke? Wh-What's the meaning of...?"
The servant, equally blindsided, stammered in confusion.
Then.
-Bang!
-Thud!
Before he could finish, a bullet pierced the servant's head.
He collapsed dead on the spot.
Gazing at the corpse, the duke spoke in a voice laced with icy rage.
"You're just as useless. Daring to disappoint me twice? Trash like you deserves death. Rot away with those mongrels."
No sooner had he spoken than the duke's soldiers readied for attack.
As muzzles and staves trained on them, Elkana cried out desperately.
"Wh-What is this madness? Why are you doing this to us...?"
"You have to ask? You failed my mission and wasted my time. You rootless scum spoiled the mood of a noble from the Franz Kingdom!"
"N-No... You're killing people over that? I told you we'd compensate for our mistake! So why slaughter us?!"
Mazelan bellowed in fury.
But the duke just fiddled with his ear, annoyed.
"When a commoner spoils a noble's mood, death is only natural. Not even grasping such basic common sense... Dealing with uneducated rabble is exhausting."
"Th-That's absurd..."
Mazelan had dealt with plenty of clients and nobles before—real pieces of work among them.
Whining about not paying up,
or canceling jobs over trivial gripes with the results.
Things had mostly stopped after his reputation spread, but he still ran into tiresome types now and then.
Even so...
This was a whole new level of insanity.
Killing them—not even direct subordinates or slaves—simply because they soured his mood with a failed job?
In an age where noble authority had crumbled from centuries past, such tyranny was unthinkable.
Especially now, with public sentiment turning ugly, even nobles and the king treaded carefully.
Considering Mazelan's fame, this could ripple through the kingdom's mercenaries and bounty hunters in these parts.
And yet.
Duke Ocleang issued the order without a care.
Did he not think of the fallout,
or did he not even see them as people?
Either way, Mazelan regretted his foolish choice to take this job from such a vile scum once more.
"I'd love to make an example with a public execution, but I'm a magnanimous noble. As a special mercy, I'll handle you quietly here. So die obediently."
"We can't accept that! Noble or not, this is outrageous! If word gets out, even you..."
"What are you waiting for? Sweep away these vermin now."
Ignoring Elkana's protests as if swatting flies, the duke gave the order.
Immediately after, flames erupted from the soldiers' gun barrels and staves as they took aim.
"Damn it! Everyone, run!"
A barrage of bullets and spells hurtled toward them.
Mazelan hastily conjured a mana barrier.
With his unhealed wounds, fatigue, and that fresh gunshot,
it was barely half his usual strength, but he gave it everything he had.
At least for this moment, for the others...
He hoped to protect Elkana and the men behind him.
Then...
"Gah!!"
"Ngh!"
"!!"
Sharp cries pierced the air—not from the impacts he'd braced for.
Confusion flooded Mazelan's eyes at the sounds of pain instead of bullets and blasts.
"Y-You... What the hell are you doing?!"
Mazelan roared in rage.
Blocking his path were his own men...
The Demanes bounty hunters smiled faintly as they spoke.
"Haha... That actually stung a bit."
"Cough! Heh heh... Looks like I still can't match the captain. Even after this job, I'll need more training."
Blood trickled from their mouths as they talked.
Seeing his men step up to shield him, Mazelan shouted urgently.
"Get back now! Don't worry about me—run!"
"Can't do that, Captain. Who's buying the drinks if you die here?"
"We had a deal. Big celebration after this one's done. Go grab a spot at the tavern with the vice captain."
"Y-You guys... Don't tell me..."
Realization dawned, and Mazelan's face drained of color.
This couldn't be happening.
He couldn't accept it.
Better he die than...
Let his men sacrifice themselves like this.
His comrades.
His precious family.
"Cut the crap! I'm the captain! Why the hell should I get protected by the likes of you?! I'll hold them off—retreat now! That's an order... Guh!"
As he forced himself up, a sharp blow struck the back of his head.
Mazelan couldn't finish, his vision blurring as consciousness faded.
"E... Elk... ana... Wh-What's...?"
"Sorry, Mazelan... But we have to save you."
With that, Elkana hoisted his fading form onto her back.
His wounded men, battered from blocking the shots and spells, flashed her warm smiles.
"Take care of the captain."
"Sorry we owe you to the end, sis."
"Sorry... Everyone... You've all worked so hard."
Elkana's parting words carried deep guilt.
The hunters averted their eyes from her face, turning toward the noble's minions ahead.
"Skip the sappy stuff. If we meet in the afterlife, buy me a drink."
"Thanks for everything! Catch you soon, Vice Captain!"
"...Kuh..."
A brief, agonizing farewell.
Leaving it behind, Elkana dragged her reluctant feet into a desperate sprint for escape.
"Charge!"
"Filthy noble dogs! Let's see what you've got!"
Familiar voices rang out.
Gunshots and explosions followed.
Then the brief clash of steel on steel.
Carrying those horrific sounds as her last memory,
Elkana fled with all her might toward the harbor.
"Catch her!"
"Duke's orders! Don't let a single one escape!"
Soldiers pursued Elkana.
Yet, as the swiftest in the group,
she barely shook them off and reached the port.
She leaped onto the moored ship in a frenzy,
severed the anchor line, and shoved off.
'Good, if I can just break away like this...'
-Bang!