Chapter 57 : Second Clash (16)

Chapter 57: Second Clash (16)

The fierce battle over the supply depot ended in victory for the Black Raven Mercenary Company.

The central area, which had been the heart of the battlefield where they had nearly managed to encircle Captain Mordo, was pushed to the brink, but the news of defeat from the rear that followed became the final blow.

When news arrived that at the rear, Shatien and the Centurias led by Centurions Jenga had launched a surprise attack, and a messenger also reported that Baron Friedrand was in full retreat, Baron Lichten could no longer hold out.

If they failed to break through in a single stroke, they were now fated to be surrounded in turn.

If that happened, it would truly be the worst possible outcome.

That was why Baron Lichten sent a messenger to Captain Mordo and proposed a mutual ceasefire so that they could withdraw.

It sounded like an outrageous proposition, yet from Captain Mordo’s perspective, it was not a bad offer, since he also needed time to regroup the company.

“I congratulate you on this victory, Captain Mordo, a man who knows honor.”

“No, it is you, Baron Lichten, who is a true nobleman who understands honor. In that case, I wish you a safe return. I will not see you off.”

“Ahem. Let us meet again on some other battlefield.”

Things were somewhat awkward, but neither side wished to break the agreement. Baron Lichten quickly gathered the remaining supplies and pulled his forces all the way back.

Only after confirming that the imperial army was withdrawing did the tension finally leave the mercenary company.

They fully realized that they had defended the supply depot after a brutal back and forth.

Thanks to that, Captain Mordo had gained time that was worth its weight in gold.

“In recognition of your hard work, we will hold a feast. At the banquet that follows, we will distribute rewards according to merit. Those who rendered service will receive proper rewards. Those who betrayed us will receive certain punishment.”

“Uwoooooo!”

The condition of the Black Raven Mercenary Company was no better than that of the imperial forces.

Captain Mordo confiscated the assets of the mercenaries who had betrayed them and threw all of them into the underground cells.

Then, in order to dispel the grim mood, he announced a new reorganization plan for the company.

He promoted Centurions Jacri and Jenga to senior Centurions and raised their authority so that each of them was responsible for three Centurias.

They had yet to refill the ranks, so the formations were not at full strength, but counting Shatien as well, they had now become a large mercenary corps that commanded a total of nine Centurias.

In fact, Captain Mordo had wanted to raise Shatien to the position of Vice Captain, but Shatien had firmly refused, so things ended up like this.

Instead, Captain Mordo hosted a grand feast in Shatien’s honor and, by virtue of his authority as Captain, granted him half of all the spoils they had gained so far, so no one had any complaints.

“Ugh, the smell of liquor is something else.”

On the pretext of emptying his stomach, Shatien slipped out of the banquet hall. Thankfully, his head was clear.

He had managed to use his young age as an excuse and only drunk a single cup.

Miles had watched that and cackled as he teased him together with his pet monkey, but so what.

-Whoosh.

A sudden cold wind made his shoulders shiver. The newly appointed Centurion Miles had soaked him through with tears of gratitude as he got sloppy drunk.

‘He really is the same as ever.’

Well, that was exactly what was good about Miles. Shatien smiled in satisfaction as he climbed up onto the palisade.

To be honest, he was a little worried.

They had not even cleaned up properly, and yet they were already throwing a drinking party.

-Tap, tap.

On top of the palisade, sentries warmed their hands over a campfire. With the sudden chill in the air, that was their only source of heat.

‘I may have ordered this, but I still feel bad.’

While every other mercenary was laughing and shouting at the feast, only Shatien’s Centuria was on watch under his orders.

He wondered if resentment would boil over into anger at any moment.

“Huh?”

Then, a mercenary who turned his head noticed Shatien.

“Centurion, sir, you are here?”

“Yes. You are working hard. Stay sharp, just in case.”

“Ah, of course.”

The mercenary answered with an easy grin as he stood his watch. He was a soldier who had been moved by Shatien’s exploits.

Shatien, feeling a needless pang of guilt, took something out from inside his coat.

“Here, have this.”

“Huh? What is this?”

“Looks like bread?”

In the middle of the palm sized bread, a golden sheen glistened.

“It is something called a custard tart.”

“Cus… what now?”

“It’s something. I snuck it out for you all, so hurry up and eat.”

At those words, the mercenaries took a bite of the custard tart, and their eyes went wide.

“Wow, this is really good.”

“Be careful, it is hot.”

“Hehe. Thank you, Centurion.”

It was only natural. This dessert was a high class baked good that only nobles ever got to taste. The mercenaries, most of whom were commoners by birth, had never even laid eyes on such a thing.

Shatien had managed to recreate it roughly by digging into his memories of the past.

‘Anyway, did they really leave? Did those high nosed nobles actually keep their promise with us?’

After making sure the mercenaries along the wall were provided for, Shatien turned and looked in the direction where the imperial camp had disappeared from view and thought that.

It was too dark to make out anything in particular, but for some reason he had the illusion that the forest was alive and shifting.

* * *

“…”

The imperial forces were hiding in the darkened forest.

Baron Friedrand was shoring up the mood inside the ranks before a full assault.

He had expected it, but the expressions on the knights’ faces were far from bright. Baron Lichten in particular looked as if he could not believe they really had to go this far.

In the end, Baron Lichten could not bear it and opened his mouth.

“Baron Friedrand. How about we stop this plan? I pledged a truce on my honor. Our honor will be dragged through the mud.”

Baron Friedrand shook his head.

“Who cares about a promise made with mere mercenaries. Do not worry. They are the ones who break their word like it is nothing, so there is nothing strange about returning the favor.”

“…Even so, is this… not the same as becoming like them? My lord.”

“If that is the case, then we can simply kill them all, can we not? If all the mercenaries die, who is left to know?”

Baron Friedrand spoke with a crooked grin in response to Baron Lichten’s objection.

Ordinary soldiers had no opportunity to even speak with nobles. How many nobles would care about whatever stories passed between the ranks of common soldiers.

“E-Even so…”

“Hey. Listen carefully, Baron Lichten! If we lose the supply depot, we have already lost this war. Where do you think Count Bellua, who made peace with the imperial army, will strike?”

“Of course he will target our domains nearby.”

“Exactly. Then if we later lose all our lands, do you really think you will still be able to cling to that honor you speak of?”

There was no noble as wretched as one without a fief. You still had to keep up appearances as a noble, yet you had no wealth to back it up, so you might end up like Captain Mordo, roaming about as a mercenary.

“You are right, Baron Friedrand.”

“In any case, we can atone before the Lord in the hereafter.”

“He might even bless us. For ridding the world of those devilish mercenaries.”

The knights sided with Baron Friedrand. Most of them did not own estates, so they could relate all the more. With things like this, Baron Friedrand’s argument gained even more weight.

“Very well then, we simply wait for the gate of the supply depot to open. The bastards are probably drunk on victory and holding a feast. At most they will have a few lookouts posted.”

For this reason, he had drawn the imperial army far back. The enemy could not help but be fooled.

‘We must succeed. We absolutely must.’

Even as he spoke, Baron Friedrand was more anxious than Baron Lichten.

This ambush was something he had pushed through even at the cost of his own honor. He had agonized when his adjutant first suggested this plan. Yet the situation was urgent, so in the end he had no choice but to prioritize gain.

The knights and the honor he had lost in this battle were already far too great.

‘We must succeed... We must seize that supply depot if we want any hope. The future of the family lies there.’

Baron Friedrand thought this as he stared at the supply depot, where lights flickered in the distance.

* * *

In the dark of night, when the clouds were filled with moonlight, suspicious shadows rippled along the deserted base of the palisade. But no one noticed.

-Whirr!

-Tap.

A fired grappling hook caught taut on the palisade. Three or four intruders hauled on the rope and climbed the wall. When they finally hauled themselves up, they came face to face with a mercenary who had been pacing nearby on patrol.

“W-Who are… mmph!”

-Thunk!

Before the mercenary could even finish his words, another intruder who had already closed in drove a sword into his chest.

As the mercenary collapsed, the intruder who had struck from behind let out a breath of relief.

“Whew, that was close.”

“Their security is tighter than we thought.”

“Were they not supposed to be in the middle of a feast? Why are they on such a tight watch all of a sudden? I have no idea who gave this order.”

It made no sense by normal standards, but they had no time to worry about it. They did not even have enough time to focus solely on the mission.

If the change of the watch was delayed, the enemy would certainly notice something was wrong. The intruders threw the mercenary’s body down from the palisade. It dropped silently over the far side of the slope and vanished from sight. There was no real need to wipe away the bloodstains that remained.

“Hurry.”

“Yes, Sir Balder.”

The intruders’ objective was the rear gate, where the fiercest bloodshed had taken place the other day. All they had to do was open the rear gate and send a signal outside. After that, the troops lying in wait would pour in.

‘Wait for me, Hubert. I will get you out of there soon.’

The knight calmed his heavy heart as he pictured his squire, who would be held captive as a prisoner. He could not let himself get excited now. He had to move as calmly and quietly as possible.

-Tap, tap, tap.

He could see about five mercenaries in the distance guarding the rear gate.

-Slick.

He quietly raised the already loaded crossbow and took aim at his targets. With the dying campfire still casting light around them, it was very easy to pick his mark.

-Thwip, thwip, thwip!

“Gah!”

“Urk!”

The close range bolts punched straight through their bodies. All five of them crumpled to the ground at once. The knight smiled with a metallic tang in his expression.

‘The plan is a success!’

It was as good as over.

The tension that had gripped the intruders loosened at once. They could not help but smile, pleased at how thoroughly they had just humiliated those damned mercenaries.

At that moment, when everything was going perfectly,

“Sniff, sniff. This smells amazing, sir Centurion.”

“I made it especially for you all. So do not sneak any on the way and carry it carefully.”

“Hehe. As if I would. Oh, come on. What do you take me for!”

Footsteps sounded from somewhere.

“H-Hmm…?”

“Uhhh… what is that?”

Two men, each with an armful of food, happened to spot them and froze on the spot.

-Clatter.

The food they were carrying tumbled down onto the stone floor.

“Enemies! It’s an ambush! Everyone, wake up and grab your weapons! You! Run to headquarters and report the ambush.”

-Shing.

One of the men shouted at the top of his lungs.

Yes.

That was how, of all the rotten luck, they were discovered on the spot.