Chapter 42 : Second Clash (1)

Chapter 42: Second Clash (1)

“Ah! And the Elder told me to give you this.”

As she spoke, the Marhen branch manager handed over an item. It was a very small ring carved from wood. 

At a glance it looked quite plain… 

‘Something feels off?’

A strange energy was writhing inside the ring. 

“I heard the Great Sage of the Forest gave it as a gift.” 

“The Great Sage of the Forest?” 

Shatien was a little taken aback by that sudden name. 

The Great Sage of the Forest. 

Was that not Lord Agphiel, who had awakened magic in the great woods of the central continent? People said the Sage held all the world’s wisdom and knew nothing he did not know, and with a gesture could heal any illness. 

And this was a gift from such a mighty magician?

‘Then this uncanny aura I’m feeling must be the magical power from it, right?’ 

Since it came from the Great Sage of the Forest, it certainly sounded impressive. Seeing his face, the Marhen branch manager twitched the corner of her mouth and spoke. 

“Nya hah hah. If it were that precious, he would not have sent it through me. The Elder would have given it to you himself.” 

“Ah…?” 

“As far as I know, it is a Ring of the Mark. If you carry it, you can have a single conversation with the Sage.” 

“Huh? Is that not still remarkable?” 

“Hnhnng. Oh no.” 

At Shatien’s words, the branch manager swished her tail and wagged a finger side to side. 

“People who have never met a magician always say that. A magician’s counsel is always hard for ordinary folk to understand. Sometimes you are better off not listening. Heh heh.” 

“Is that so?” 

If she said so, then so be it. Shatien scratched his head. 

“Then why give this to me?” 

“Who knows? Maybe the Elder hopes you will meet the Sage and receive wise counsel? Nyaha. I never knew our Elder was so thoughtful like that. Hnng.” 

“Ah…!” 

Only then did Shatien understand why it had been given to him. 

The power that had been granted to him by blood. 

The mysterious gift was a blessing, but in another sense it was a curse that gnawed at life. 

His master likely wanted him to speak with the Sage about it. 

‘Oh… master.’

He wondered if it was right to keep receiving so much. Shatien decided he would work harder and raise his renown. 

“Hm? Is there truly something you want to ask?” 

“N-No. I am simply grateful that my master is looking out for me. Hahaha.” 

“Hnnng. You sound like you are lying, but I will let it pass. My father said a man should have at least one secret.” 

“?” 

“What? Why?” 

“Nothing.” 

Yikes. A bit scary. 

Shatien answered quickly. 

“It is time for you to go, yes? I will pray that the blessing follows your road, Shatien.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Go safely, and keep well, partner.” 

With that, Shatien left the merchant association.

* * * 

Shatien bought a longsword and another chain mail at the smithy and returned to the barracks. 

Miles showed interest at once. 

“How many longswords do you carry? I heard you learned knightly swordplay, but do you really need to lug that many around?” 

“Squeak, keek keek!” 

“Oh, you think it’s weird too? Ahahaha. Smart little guy.” 

Beside him, their new companion, the monkey, chattered along. 

“Haha. I break them so often you know. You know my nickname.” 

“Well… that is true. You even broke one on the last yeti hunt, right? Keep that up and you will spend all your pay on swords. Rookie. Huh? Maybe you should use an axe like me.” 

Miles thumped the axe at his belt with pride. It was not only sturdy, it was handy in daily life. 

In a pinch he even used it for felling trees. 

“That aside, what’s that? Everything else looks new, but that grip is worn isn’t it?” 

“Ah. I was short on silver, so I picked up one used.” 

“Heh. Thrifty as ever. That is our rookie. No, our Centurion! Seeing you save like that makes me sure we will not starve.” 

Miles clapped Shatien on the back and whooped, which let Shatien relax inside. 

‘At least there will be no trouble until I actually draw this sword.’

He had confirmed that the sword inherited from his master did not catch other eyes for no reason. 

“Anyway, where did everyone go?” 

“They were training, then went for a break. We have been grinding them hard lately. They looked sore about it, so I told them to have a drink.” 

“Hmm… If they drink like last time, I will not overlook it, okay?” 

“Heh heh heh. As if they would, right? If anyone shows up drunk, I will pulp him myself. Do not worry.” 

“Keek Keek keek!” 

“See? Even Hudson agrees.” 

“Hudson? What, do not tell me you named the monkey Hudson?” 

“Yeah. It stuck in my mouth, so the name just came out.” 

“...” 

How could he stick a living man’s name on a monkey when he was not even dead? Shatien felt his mind go floaty for a moment. 

“Good grief... You really are hard to read, Miles.” 

“H haha. That is mercenaries for you. But ain’t that a bit mean, Centurion? Anyway, tell me how the training has gone lately.” 

“Well… about that…” 

At Shatien’s prompt, Miles calmly reported the results. The monkey, Hudson, added little interjections, and Miles looked very pleased. 

While they discussed running the hundred, a murmur rose outside. The sudden noise made Miles scowl before he knew it, and he shouted toward the door. 

“Why is it so noisy out there!” 

“Keek!” 

If they were drunk already, that would be truly shameful. 

A mercenary passing by recognized Miles and called back. 

“Senior squad leader. It is snowing. It’s a blizzard at that!” 

“Huh? Spring is almost here. What blasted blizzard?” 

-Creaaak!

Miles threw open the wooden shutter. Cold wind whooshed in with big flakes swirling into the room. 

“What the? It’s actually real?” 

Mercenaries crowded to the open window. 

“Nice! Keep dumping like this and they will cancel all drills. Ehehehe.” 

“Yeah. Might as well push the war back too. Ugh. It just got warm. It is too soon to fight. I need some honey days.” 

Everyone sounded giddy. In winter, war was usually avoided. You needed far more supplies, and with heavy snow blocking the roads, you could not wage a campaign even if you wanted to. 

“You brats think this is a joke?” 

Hearing it, Miles barked. 

He drove the mercenaries off and glanced at Shatien. 

Those idiots should know time and place, and yet they had said that with the Centurion standing right here. 

Unexpectedly, Shatien did not get angry. 

“Hmm… Since it became like this, why don’t we throw a little party of our own, Miles?” 

“Uh, huh? Really? Is that fine?” 

“Yes. Let us get a good rest for once.” 

At that, a cheer erupted. 

“Wow!” 

“Centurion, you are the best!” 

“Eeeek, keek!” 

They had never had a Centurion who looked after them like this. Watching them, Shatien felt a pang of guilt. 

‘This blizzard will be brief.’

Both sides had finished preparations long ago. This snow would be the signal for swift moves toward each other. 

Each side would think the other relaxed, and try to strike where guards were down. He had lived through it in his last life. 

‘Make sure to get all the rest you can now, friends.’

From here on, it would be an unending war. 

No time to rest. 

This party was a kind of last supper. It was what Shatien could give his Centuria at the very least.  

* * *

Contrary to the hope that everyone might rest for a while, Captain Mordo immediately mustered the hundreds. 

The mercenaries gathered numbered seven hundred. 

It was near a record high. Captain Mordo received the training reports on the spot, split the force into two, and ran live combat style drills. 

There were even some serious injuries, broken arms and legs, but he did not stop. 

The army of Count Bellua trained no less. Inside Loren Free City, prices shot toward the sky, and the forges flashed without a break. 

A rumor spread underground that an ox cart capable of cutting through deep snow had been developed. 

The whisper that it was by order of Count Bellua followed close behind. 

From the city’s rulers to the lowest poor, none said it aloud, but everyone felt it in their skin that war was close. 

Then came mid February. 

On the day the snow stopped and the sudden warmth melted it in a rush. 

“I, Count Bellua, under the acclaim of the western nobles of the Empire, declare that I can no longer follow the Holy Empire’s Emperor!” 

Count Bellua issued a proclamation condemning the Emperor and declared the justice of his rising. 

The next day, pro imperial figures were expelled from the city. 

At last, war had begun. 

* * *

-Crackle, tap. 

The campfire’s warmth heated the air. 

Shatien sat across from his mercenaries in the barracks. On straw cots, Miles swept his eyes over the men gathered around him. 

“As you all know, we march tomorrow. It is time to earn the bread and drink our Centurion bought for us, yes?” 

The mercenaries, especially the new ones, were more serious than ever. A few gulped dryly. Seeing that, Miles smirked. 

“Keheheh. You don’t have to be so scared. The Emperor’s troops are nothing.” 

“Indeed. I hear they are mostly peasants and serfs, country bumpkins.” 

“R-Really?” 

“Yes. Would I lie? With you bastards, we will sweep them clean easily, you know?” 

A veteran followed Miles with exaggerated motions. 

“Keek keek keek!” 

“Look at that. Even our officer monkey, Hudson, is laughing.” 

“Ahahaha.” 

The mood lightened thanks to that. Once the tension eased properly, Shatien stood and spoke. 

“We will move as the vanguard. Our destination is Carcassonne.” 

Fortunately, not much changed compared to his memories this time either. 

The target was Carcassonne, a key Imperial city. 

It was a fortress nearly two months from Loren Free City. The march would differ greatly from the last one out of Loren. 

“If we move first, the other units will follow.” 

Even without the Black Raven Mercenary Company, Count Bellua’s hosts numbered well over four thousand. Add in other mercenary bands and the great traders who supplied the army, and the host was truly enormous. 

It was near impossible to move such a mass down narrow roads all at once. 

Someone had to take the van and probe the danger. 

That task had fallen to them. 

“Ugh… come on. Why us?” 

“We are not just bait, are we?” 

The good mood dipped again. Going first was poor in every way. You did all the hard labor and got all the risk. 

“Hey. You get paid to kill people, and you complain this much? If you don’t want to go, quit here and now, you cowards!” 

“Keek Keek!” 

“Yeah. You are worse than our monkey Hudson, you punks.” 

Miles bellowed at them. He had been gentle up to now, but it was time to set discipline. You had to nail this down early. 

“Enough!” 

Lest it turn into a pointless ruckus, Shatien raised his voice. Miles did not undercut the Centurion’s authority and quietly sat. 

“I know your unease.” 

Shatien looked around and spoke slowly. 

“Until not long ago, I was a rookie who feared his first battle.” 

He paused, then met their eyes one by one. He showed them, with his gaze, the firmness of his resolve. 

“But I will make you a promise.” 

His words were this.

“I will not let you die like fools. I will do everything I can to protect you, and I will abandon no one. I will always show you clear reward and fair treatment. We are comrades!” 

It was an old vow he had held in his regressions, and even before. 

“We are brothers! Believe it! I will always be at your side. Believe! I will always lead from your front!” 

“Waaaah!” 

“Shatien!!” 

“We are brothers!” 

“Long live the Black Raven Mercenary Company!” 

He would never let them die in vain. It was Shatien’s battle cry on the eve of war.