For the Motherland (2)
We arrived in the Empire Northwest for reconnaissance. As we smashed through everything blocking our path, we learned several key facts along the way.
"The Empire North is definitely gearing up for the war ahead."
"Just like you said, Sergeant Ulfrik—there's a ton of imperial patrols out there."
"But Dreng, isn't it a bit weird?"
"These patrolling soldiers are way too weak."
Tsk tsk tsk… Vikings really lack imagination. Why would they put elite troops or knights on patrol duty?
"The imperial nobles probably dragged them all off for their own protection."
"Gah!! That's so damn imperial!!"
"S-So these patrols are just cannon fodder!?"
"No wonder they suck at fighting…."
The current patrols looked like little more than lightly armed peasant militias. As long as we avoided the imperial nobles, we'd have smooth sailing.
Then, with Fire Scale Tribe warriors guiding us, we started carving a path toward Bellos—
"Sergeant Ulfrik!! We've spotted soldiers with some decent gear nearby!"
"But they don't look like imperials!"
"What? Bellos troops then?"
"Doesn't seem like regulars, though."
A mysterious armed group blocked our way. Their gear looked kinda shabby… or maybe not? What the hell were these guys?
"Ulfrik, those are mercenaries."
"Ah… those lowlife thugs who can't even make it into the regular army?"
Hakon dropped the underwhelming truth. Yeah, the world was the same everywhere. Bound to be some NEETs hanging around here too. But these NEETs had just won a one-way ticket to paradise by crossing our path!!
I was about to grant the mercenaries their salvation when a bold red-haired woman burst out from their ranks.
"Hold it!! We're the Black Iron Mercenary Band!! Ulfrik!! I challenge you to a duel!!"
"Oh."
"Oh."
"Oh."
How the hell did she know my name?! And what was with this kiheup-charged woman?!
As we stood there stunned, Hakon seemed to piece it together.
"Looks like your wanted poster has spread across the Empire North, Ulfrik."
"Huh? Corporal Hakon, is that even possible?"
"We killed everyone we met, though…."
"Not everyone. Or maybe they made a sketch from that small town we hit using magic."
So my sketch was plastered everywhere in the empire. Magic was wild. No doubt there was a fat bounty on my head now. This red-haired merc must've been gunning for it with her duel challenge!
"Fine!! I accept your duel!!"
"Then step forward now!!"
And so the fun duel time arrived.
"Captain Seira, kick her ass!!"
"A bright future for the Black Iron Mercenary Band awaits!!"
"We're finally gonna be rich!!!"
Obviously, the redhead was their captain. And despite her pretty face, she looked pretty tough.
"But a pup should know to fear the wolf!!"
"Hup?!"
I poured max kiheup into Mjolnir and charged. Turning into a blue flash, I reached her in an instant and swung for her skull—!
BOOOOMMMM!!!
Clap clap clap clap!!!
"As expected of the Dreng!!"
"Smashing your duel opponent's head without a second thought…."
"Heh… Sergeant Ulfrik honorably sent another imperial to the gods' side this time too."
Alright!! Your big sis lost the duel! Now the mercenaries would go berserk for bloody revenge, and we'd have ourselves an honorable fight—!!
"R-Run awaaaay!!"
"It's a monsteeer!!"
"Damn it!! No wonder the bounty is so high!!"
Mercenaries were NEETs who couldn't even join the army. Naturally, they had rock-bottom morale. The second their captain dropped, they bolted.
I got it, but still!!
"You super cowards!"
"Daring to run now?!"
"Get back here!! Come at us!!"
"Kiyaaaaak!!"
"Huaaaak!"
In the end, my pissed-off Vikings and I granted the cowards their salvation.
*****************
Not long after saving the cowards.
I realized the Empire North was dead serious about war prep.
"They even called in mercenary bands."
"Seems like it, Dreng!"
"Probably filling the troop gaps from the last war."
"Like Corporal Hakon said, a pretty smart move."
Hakon explained that those Black Hand or Black Ghost groups were trash, but real top-tier merc bands were knight-order level.
Anticipating the summer war, we loaded all the loot onto the longships.
"Tch… If only we had sub-space bags or something."
"That'd be dream tech."
"But if it existed, sea trade would've tanked ages ago, right?"
"Still, guys, isn't it kinda disappointing?"
It felt like a scrap-collecting game where your inventory was full and you had to leave valuables behind. Salmir and the Fire Scale warriors nodded in total agreement during our chit-chat, and soon the expedition prep was done.
"Hakon, how's the concealment spell?"
"You gave me plenty of time—it's perfect."
This time, heading into the Bellos kingdom, we'd take every guard. Instead, Hakon veiled all entrances with his spell.
Shhh….
"Whoa… it's seamless."
"And it blends with grass and trees— even mages won't spot it."
"As expected of Corporal Hakon!"
"Flatter all you want; nothing comes free."
Everything was ready! We'd mounted up on the horses from our raids so far. Charging fast into the northwest—
Whiiiish!!
"Ahh~ Now we're living!"
"Feels like returning to holy ground."
"Looking at it now, we've been gone from the tribe a while."
The northwest had a climate like our homeland. Being in familiar territory boosted our combat power, firing us up even more. But the moment we entered Bellos lands, all we saw were burned-out villages.
"Dreng!! The bodies and fire marks say it was recent!"
"Huh? For real?"
"Did another tribe beat us to it?"
"Doesn't add up, though…."
The corpses weren't pierced by our usual weapons. Looked more like they'd been trampled and impaled by something massive. Just in case, we thoroughly checked the Bellos village—similar to Nordic culture.
Then my comrades searching the place found something shocking.
"Th-This is?!"
"Dreng!! Come here!!"
"Salmir, what'd you find?"
"I figured out what wrecked this village!"
The other Vikings rushed over at Salmir's shout. Hakon sighed the moment he saw the tracks.
"Chaos cultists attacked."
"Those spineless bastards did this?!"
"No way…."
No, last time the Franks pulled an NTR, now Chaos was stealing our thunder?!
"They dared hit our target first?!"
"Sergeant Ulfrik!! This is a challenge to us!!"
"Time for bloody revenge…!!"
"Dreng!! Time to clean up these useless scum!!"
As pure-love warriors, we Vikings couldn't tolerate this!! The second I gave the order, we chased the Chaos cultists.
Clop clop!! Clop clop!! Clop clop!!!
"Dreng! The tracks are fresh—they couldn't have gone far!"
"Chaos cultists leave obvious traces; easy to track!!"
"There!! Signs up ahead!"
"Good!! Everyone, faster!!"
"""Yaaah!"""
Thanks to the horses? Or because the Chaos cultists moved like slugs? Less than a day in, we heard battle nearby.
Waaaahhh!! Boom boom!! Clang!!
"N-No way?!"
"Bellos troops clashing with Chaos cultists!!"
"Sergeant Ulfrik!! Your orders!!"
Obviously!!
"We join the fray!!"
"""Yaaah!"""
*********
The mighty empire couldn't conquer the Ice Kingdom. Lately, Bellos had a headache.
"Chaos forces have surged…."
"We've spotted tons of them."
"Even our tough soldiers are complaining of fatigue."
Chaos cultists were rampaging through Bellos territory. With villages already falling, the northern duke deployed troops fast.
One Bellos unit spotted a large Chaos group.
"For the motherland!!"
"""For the motherland!!"""
"Kreeeeek!"
"Grrrk!?"
The two forces clashed instantly. Bellos formed a solid phalanx with massive shields, while strong longbowmen behind rained arrows, mowing down the Chaos horde.
As the grotesquely twisted Chaos cultists battered the phalanx—
BOOOOMMMM!!!
"This is our bloody revenge!!!"
"WRYYYYYYYYYYY!"
"Yeeeeeeah!!"
"G-Gurk?"
"What the hell are they?!"
Suddenly, an unexpected force crashed in. Ignoring the confusion, Ulfrik's Vikings tore into the Chaos cultists.
The battlefield became utter chaos. A huge but disorganized Chaos horde. A solid formation from Bellos. And a small but brutally strong Viking force.
Three factions tangled in the melee.