Chapter 105: Hero Hunt (4)
Chapter 105: Hero Hunt (4)
The New Year Subjugation was an annual event, but in an era starved for entertainment it always drew attention.
Moreover, this year's subjugation was special. A gnoll hero had appeared and built a great tribe numbering in the thousands.
The calamity in the Demon Forest had canceled the army mobilization and full-scale war, but people remained uneasy.
Numerous mercenary companies and merchant companies had been coming and going under the shadow of war, and even the vassal armies had been on the verge of mobilization. The public's unease would not fade quickly.
"Shouldn't we evacuate right now?"
"They say the great chieftain is dead and the army has collapsed. Only a remnant led by the second-in-command remains."
"How are we supposed to trust that? The nobles would tell us to stay put even if a massive earthquake hit, as long as they were safe!"
The commoners were uneducated, but they were not fools. They knew well that the nobles regarded them as little more than cogs or spare parts.
"Has Count Andar ever once lied about something like that?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
Even so, the trust Count Andar had built over the years kept prices and public order stable for the time being.
For that reason, even greater attention than usual was focused on the warriors returning after the New Year subjugation.
Everyone wanted to see the carcasses of the slain monsters and reassure themselves that they were safe.
Naturally, Eugene drew the most attention by bringing back the taxidermied body of a colossal gnoll no one had ever seen before.
However, there was a small incident at first.
"W-What is that?! Call the guards!"
"A monster! Monsters have invaded!"
Because the taxidermied gnoll chieftain had been transported standing upright, the townspeople panicked and thought the great chieftain's army was invading.
But the confusion was quickly resolved. The tournament champion and dozens of cavalrymen rode proudly around the mounted specimen.
Even the most timid or oblivious person could soon tell it was taxidermy, not a living monster.
With the other carts piled high with the severed heads of gnolls, the city grew boisterous in the best possible way.
"They swept away every last remnant!"
"That thing is a gnoll?"
"As expected, once a monster reaches the level of a great chieftain, it becomes a completely different creature."
The south of Gord, bordering the Demon Forest and the Shield Mountains, possessed a wide variety of records and legends concerning monster calamities.
Among them were tales of orc or gnoll heroes who appeared once in a great while.
It was said that whenever one appeared, cities burned and even nobles were dragged from their castles and beheaded by armies of thousands of monsters.
Seeing in the flesh a legend they had only heard about drew endless exclamations from all around.
The nobles watching from places with good views nodded in satisfaction as well.
"It is a case of one champion hunting another."
"I heard about it from Sir Salvatore, who recovered the fallen warriors' belongings, but this is beyond what I imagined."
"At that size, is its frame not nearly comparable to an ogre?"
More game continued to appear even after that.
"A cockatrice? Has a cockatrice ever been discovered here?"
"Not to my knowledge. But as you know, this year is special."
Monsters fundamentally lived within fixed territories.
Occasionally, an exceptionally powerful monster went on a rampage or a natural disaster such as an earthquake struck, throwing territories into disarray.
In such times, creatures not normally seen would often burst forth from deep within the forest.
"A harpy! This is my first time seeing one in the flesh."
"This year's New Year Subjugation has offered an unusually wide range of sights."
Just as more diverse monsters than usual had burst forth from deep within the forest, the number of warriors killed or wounded also increased.
But this was an age that fed human lives into the fire like kindling to light the world.
That was true across the continent, but in Gord especially, a warrior's life was treated like a candle.
How many could it illuminate, and how much safety and enjoyment could it provide? That alone was all that mattered.
Count Andar had to react in a more political manner.
"I had imagined something merely a bit larger and fiercer than other gnolls, but this..."
Standing before the mounted gnoll chieftain, the count could not hide his admiration. He walked all the way around it again and again, examining it from every angle.
It was somewhat undignified behavior, but the scribes and escort knights standing nearby seemed used to it and merely looked on.
"Good heavens. My face barely reaches its navel."
The count's daughter, Aisha, who was covering her lips with both hands, was delighted.
She hurried up to the mount in small steps, then moved her open palm back and forth between her forehead and its body, laughing brightly.
She was of noble blood, but she took after her father in courage and had rougher tastes than the average noblewoman.
"It looks like it could fight a troll or minotaur without losing."
Count Andar looked at Eugene.
"So I hear you wiped out every last gnoll that followed this beast?"
"Yes, my lord. Just to be safe, I went on a scouting run into the Demon Forest, but I saw no other gnolls."
"You went inside the forest itself?"
The count had expected any additional scouting to amount to circling the Shield Mountains. He had never imagined Eugene would actually enter the Demon Forest and return.
"I didn't go deep. I only wanted to make absolutely certain no gnoll remnants remained."
"Once you've set foot in hell, it hardly matters whether you went deep or stayed near the edge. The act itself is extraordinary."
At that moment, Aisha approached and spoke in a gentle, smooth tone.
"Generally, the monster carcasses taken in the New Year subjugation are purchased by our family."
To motivate the hunters, the family paid bounties even for monsters with no commercial value.
"There was an unusual variety of monsters this year, so Father was quite pleased."
"I heard there was great turmoil deep within the forest."
The very person who had caused that incident was speaking as if it were someone else's affair.
"Normally, I would discuss buying your quarry from you, but this time that would be difficult."
Aisha reached out toward the jet-black fur as if entranced, but not daring to actually touch it, she withdrew her hand.
"Trying to take such splendid game from a knight would be an insult in itself."
"I am merely grateful for your consideration."
Unlike his daughter, who had already given up, Count Andar still looked longingly at the mount. What man would not covet something like this?
But no matter how great the difference in status, he could not dare demand that Eugene hand it over.
"Would you leave the mount in the city at least while we celebrate the New Year Subjugation?"
"It seems there are still many who fear the rumors of the great chieftain's army."
"Indeed. One look is worth a hundred words. Anyone who sees this will know there is nothing left to fear."
But this much, at least, he could ask.
And so, a banquet celebrating the subjugation's success followed.
What set this banquet apart was the display of prepared monster trophies arranged around the hall.
Given the many distinguished guests attending, mere goblins or orcs were not even acknowledged. Only creatures of at least dire wolf caliber could even be considered for display.
It was an old tradition of southern Gord, but viewed another way, they were eating and drinking beneath the severed heads of monsters.
-Savages, the lot of them.
-They say there are peoples beyond the sea who drink with the severed heads of their enemies mounted on spears. How are these people any different?
-And we have to tolerate people like this strutting around as fellow nobles. If not for the trade agreement...
Nobles visiting from Roman or friendly Barsian territory would quietly curse them when among themselves.
But this time, no one could utter a word of complaint.
With a colossal gnoll nearly twice the height of an ordinary noblewoman standing there in an imposing pose, no one could help staring.
Beneath the stuffed figure, more than a hundred gnoll skulls were stacked neatly, stripped clean of everything but bone.
If the skulls had been displayed alone, it really would have looked like a barbarian festival. But with the mounted gnoll chieftain standing above them, the whole display became almost a work of art.
It was like a single monument compressing the entire defeat of a monster army that had threatened the human world.
"Indeed! Only a creature of this magnitude could lead monsters by the thousands."
"So much blood and so many tears might have been shed. God watched over us."
Everyone who entered the banquet hall stopped and stared with their mouths agape.
At last, the long festival came to an end as vassalage contracts were concluded between the free knights who had distinguished themselves and the various lords.
"It feels strange."
Rex spoke on the way back to the Wandering Castle after collecting the reward money bestowed by Count Andar.
"What does?"
"As you know, Sir, we've always lived a life of wandering without a fixed destination."
Eugene looked around and saw that not only Rex but the other tribal warriors wore similar expressions.
"Even after finishing a major job in a city like this, we couldn't relax. We had to set out on another long journey back to the tribe."
"But this time, you don't have a long march ahead of you."
Eugene jerked his chin toward the Wandering Castle.
"Exactly. I suppose it feels like going home after finishing work."
"We thought that was a feeling we'd never know."
The other tribal warriors, who felt the same way, added their own comments.
"Well? Do you like the feeling?"
"More than I ever imagined."
Rex grinned.
He had plenty of experience staying in cities or nobles' castles while serving as a mercenary, but those places were only ever stopovers.
They did not suit dark elf aesthetics at all, and the heavy human smell that permeated them was difficult to bear.
Even wherever the tribe stopped was ultimately nothing more than a temporary camp of tents.
But the Wandering Castle they were heading toward now was different: a comfortable home that carried their own scent and that they could shape with the distant future in mind.
"Getting attached to a place feels much better than I imagined."
"I've been realizing that lately."
"It's good to see each of you making your quarters your own in the dark elf way."
Traditional clan decorations on the walls, laundry drying, flowerpots bright with blossoms.
Those were sights one would never see if they thought of the castle as nothing more than a temporary stop, an inn along the road. Even Eugene, its lord, often felt warmed by the scenes he passed.
"All I ask is that you keep looking after us, Sir."
"I should be the one saying that. I like your clan more than you realize. You're capable, impressive, and we understand each other."
"Why are you suddenly saying something so embarrassing?"
Despite waving off his words, Rex and the tribal warriors looked visibly moved.
The fading red light of dusk washed over them, making their flushed faces hard to notice.
But Eugene meant it. Respecting them as their employer and as a friend was a separate matter.
The desire to possess entirely the destiny of this powerful, dignified clan.
What had begun as goodwill had at some point become possessiveness, and the desire grew stronger every day.
[Guide them into the castle.]
Perhaps sensing those feelings, the Wandering Castle whispered into his soul.
One soul and two bodies. Just as Eugene felt the Wandering Castle, the Wandering Castle felt Eugene.
The subtle chemical reactions running through his endocrine system—it was an existence that could understand the emotions Eugene hid better than anyone.
[The longer they stay, the more their fate shall be bound to us.]
-...
No matter how close they were, Eugene never revealed the deepest part of his heart to Rex.
"A little more to the right."
"Like this?"
"Hmm... just a touch more. And can you draw the left arm back further?"
"No problem."
After returning to the Wandering Castle, Varda took the dwarf warriors into the central hall and devoted herself to one task.
They were arranging the gnoll chieftain mount, the second trophy that would display House Meyer's glory from now on.
Rampage and other dexterous veteran dwarves shifted the mount this way and that, fixing its pose with ladders, platforms, and very thin iron wire.
"No, that's not right. Put it back where it was."
"S-sorry."
"Hm? You have nothing to apologize for."
Varda, arms crossed, was extremely fastidious — her usual gentleness nowhere to be found.
They had already readjusted it dozens of times, but no one dared complain.
Unable to watch his subordinates struggle any longer, Eugene finally stepped in.
"The Wendigo trophy is only a head, while this is a full-body mount. Trying to balance them side by side is difficult. Why not display them separately?"
Varda's long ears stiffened into two perfectly parallel lines, her expression saying the suggestion was absurd.
'Those are the ears she makes when she's being stubborn.'
Having spent more time together, Eugene had learned to read the emotions revealed by an elf's ears.
"What are you talking about? Look at that magnificent black fur. It's rare for both trophies to share the same color; not placing them side by side would be a waste. It would be an insult to art and show no respect for your house."
"But it's already been more than two hou—"
"Shh."
Varda raised her index finger and pressed it against Eugene's lips.
Some of the watching mercenaries, servants, and slaves looked surprised, but most took it in stride.
That one finger seemed trivial, yet in another sense carried tremendous meaning.
They knew it was an unspoken privilege allowed only to Varda.
Quite apart from her fame or skill as a magic user, that was why she was considered untouchable in this castle.
"Leave this to me. Since ancient times, the head of a house has not personally involved himself in decorating its interior. That is work for women, stewards, and servants."
Varda's expression was warm, yet she showed no sign of being willing to compromise.
She was, after all, a conservative elven lady who valued tradition in such matters.
"Go a little easier on them. Can't you see their shirts are soaked with sweat?"
"I will be lenient. But one cannot compromise on a family's dignity, can one?"
The intensity emanating from her beautiful face made even Eugene, who had cut down countless monsters, step back.
All Eugene could do was look at the dwarves sympathetically.
In the end, Varda did not finally give her approval until after sunset.
While the New Year Subjugation and banquet were underway, the tribal merchants had also kept busy.
They bought food and supplies in the city and sold trade goods purchased in Bonyard, profiting from the difference.
Just as they were beginning to consider what came next, word arrived from Chieftain Alessa.
"A request for help? Is the situation serious?"
"It is not. Please rest assured."
Rex smiled at the startled Eugene as if to reassure him.
"Some of our people ran into trouble while carrying out a commission in another region. As it happens, they're City Faction members—the ones reluctant to join us here."
"So she's suggesting we use the opportunity to show them the castle's power and earn some goodwill at the same time."
"You're very easy to brief, Sir. Tell you one thing and you understand two. That's exactly what the chief said."
Far too much of the castle still stood empty. Eugene wanted more people to fill those spaces too.