Chapter 92 : The Mercenary Bureau's First Request (6)
Chapter 92: The Mercenary Bureau's First Request (6)
“How large is their scale, by any chance?”
“Hmm? I don't know exactly. They pop out from everywhere like bugs. I’m estimating it at around 10,000 people. Well, they're just serfs anyway. Except for a few nobles looking for an opportunity.”
10,000 people. It was an unfathomable number. He was practically fed up with Baron Knut's boldness in talking about it so nonchalantly. For a number like that, it would have been truly overwhelming.
‘Isn't Balud still yet to appear?’
Shatien’s worries kept getting ahead of him. He felt that if they let their guard down and suffered a crushing defeat, the peasant rebellion in the northern region would grow even larger than in the original history.
‘This won't be easy, hmm.’
Shatien continued to ask questions. He needed to gain more information. He was getting a hunch that his work in the North would take longer than expected.
“That would mean they swarm in quite large numbers?”
“Serfs have nothing else to boast about, right? I heard they usually swarm in units of 500 to 1,000.”
“Huh. Without a commander or a supply system?”
“Isn't that why they're called a peasant rebel army? They're no different from locusts. Moving here and there while stripping all the wheat grains. Tsk…. And occasionally, it’s said that nobles belonging to the rebels send knights… it’s a truly funny thing. Knights commanding peasants! Haha.”
Still, if the numbers were at that level, it was right not to ignore them. However, judging by the Baron's tone and the reactions of the nobles listening around them, they were not in a worried mood at all.
‘I should avoid damage as much as possible until I join Sir Ragnarsson.’
If other nobles’ thoughts were the same as Baron Knut's, joining them would lead to big trouble. Wouldn't they be the types to charge in on their own, claiming to seek the honor of the battlefield?
Anyway, as the talk roughly ended, the banquet atmosphere gradually reached its peak. Baron Knut raised his glass and shouted a toast once more.
“Come, come. Let’s forget the troublesome talk and just drink. Uhahahahaha!!”
Shatien also drank quietly according to the atmosphere without any unnecessary words. But suddenly, he felt someone’s gaze.
‘A cute child.’
It was a cute elf boy about ten years old. The elf child with blue eyes was looking at Shatien with sparkling eyes. Those eyes were filled with an expectation, for some unknown reason.
“S-Sir. Are you Sir Shatien the Noble Slayer!?”
“Pffft!”
A cute face and words that weren't. How unbalanced was this.
“Cough, cough. I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked if you're the Noble Slayer!”
“Haha….”
Shatien laughed awkwardly.
Didn't the term Noble Slayer have a very bad ring to it?
“Well, that… it’s correct, but haha.”
“Ahem. Knutson. What rudeness is this to your father’s guest? He isn't the Noble Slayer, but Sir Shatien the Knight Killer. His other alias is the one who breaks swords. You shouldn't carelessly change a title that shines with a knight’s achievements.”
“Tch! But Noble Slayer sounds cooler! Father.”
“Hey, are you not going to listen to your father?”
Shatien chuckled.
It was because the elf child’s behavior was so cute. Besides, well… weren't Knight Killer and Noble Slayer pretty much the same?
“Yes. I’m Shatien the Noble Slayer. Knutson.”
“Wooooah!”
Then Knutson clapped as if he was in a good mood.
“I heard that even though the people you face are wearing armor and shields, you cut them all down. Is it true???”
Knutson was just happy that he was paying attention to him. Knutson asked with the deep curiosity typical of a child. Cutting everything down!
Wasn't it a wonderful story that only appeared in mythical hero tales?
Perhaps because of that, Baron Knut gently stopped the child.
“Ahem. Things like that only appear in stories. It’s an exaggeration. Our Sir Shatien is the owner of incredible swordsmanship, and it’s because of that that he appears that way. Knutson.”
“Aw. You said reputation is the truth!”
“Ahem, not in front of everyone.”
Shatien chuckled seeing this father and son bickering.
“It’s possible.”
“Right?”
“What?”
At those words, the father was surprised and the child was delighted.
Shatien smiled at them, stood up slowly, and told a servant to bring a shield hanging on the wall right away.
-Shring.
Then he drew his sword.
“I’ll show you… why I’m the Knight Killer, no, the Noble Slayer. Well, Knutson? This might become the path of the sword you’ll have to take in the future. Watch closely.”
Then he slowly gripped his sword and stood right in front of the shield. Baron Knut spoke in a worried voice, trying to defend him.
“Don't… overdo it, by any chance. Sir Shatien.”
He was truly grateful that he was willing to step forward for the child’s joy, but he was worried this might harm Sir Shatien’s honor.
However,
-Flash!
-Split!
“?????”
“???????????????????”
Rendering those worries useless, the shield was cut like a piece of paper.
“?!?!?!?!”
“H-How….”
The elf nobles who were present were horrified.
* * *
Baron Knut took a deep breath.
‘Cutting that shield like that??????’
The shield hanging in the banquet hall wasn't a fake shield for decoration. For elves, the concept of decoration didn't exist. A life where one always prepared usable weapons nearby. That was the life of elves.
But that monstrous knight cut that solid shield as if it were paper.
-Thump, thump
While everyone, and Baron Knut, was in shock, Shatien walked over to Knutson. Then, showing the cut shield, he said.
“How is it? Is this enough?”
“Wooooaaaah-!!
Knutson couldn't hide his excitement. Forgetting his status, he shouted with excitement like a commoner kid from the neighborhood.
“You’re really like Harkal! Oh!!”
“Harkal? Who is that?”
Knutson explained with excitement.
“The great warrior Harkal from northern mythology! He’s very famous for cutting off a dragon’s neck with ancient elf warriors. It’s said he cut the dragon’s neck by cutting through space from afar! It’s really cool. Sir Shatien.”
“…Is that why you asked me to do it.”
“Yes!! I felt like you could do it for some reason.”
Shatien almost patted Knutson’s head. He was that cute.
‘I ended up protecting this child’s childhood innocence.’
This felt somehow more rewarding than protecting his honor. Just then, loud applause rang out.
-Clap, clap, clap!
It was Baron Knut.
The Baron's face was filled with emotion and joy.
“Truly amazing! Truly… you're a knight who has reached the peak! I never imagined it. To think you’d be able to cut that.”
The elf nobles also praised Shatien.
“Sir Shatien. Amazing. To think you're a person of such skill. It’s an honor just to be with you.”
“It’s truly at a level where you can be called a Great Warrior.”
“As it turns out, aren't you the reincarnation of the Great Warrior Harkal? Haha.”
Unexpectedly, he was suddenly becoming a Great Warrior. The actions of these elves were quite exaggerated, but still, this pure desire for strength wasn't bad.
Was it a sense of familiarity he’d seen often?
‘Ah! Miles is exactly like this.’
No wonder.
The feeling was so comfortable.
Anyway, in this atmosphere that had become much closer, Shatien shared drinks and talked with the elf nobles. Since even the knights approached him and offered drinks, it was at a level where it was hard to stay sober.
‘Hm, I’ll collapse at this rate.’
No matter how good his stamina was, this was too much. Shatien slipped outside.
Breathing in the cold air mixed with night dew, his intoxication seemed to fade a bit. But there was a guest who sought him out.
‘Baron Knut?’
And alone, without even a guard.
“Sir Shatien, you were here.”
“Ah! I was cooling my head a bit.”
“Right, not getting drunk is a warrior's most important virtue. Haha.”
Baron Knut approached Shatien with a friendly smile.
“There’s a place with a pretty good night view besides this one. Would you like to go there for once?”
“Oh, that sounds good. I’ll gladly.”
“Right. Then follow me.”
Baron Knut led Shatien toward the family’s secret garden near the Lord’s residence. It was a secluded and quiet place without people.
Baron Knut scanned the surroundings for a moment and then slowly opened his mouth.
“I was grateful earlier. It was an unreasonable request, but you readily granted my child’s request.”
“It wasn't a difficult request. Your child was very cute.”
“Hahahaha.”
Baron Knut laughed loudly at the humble words, as if he liked them.
“No. You did really well. Thanks to you, you saved both my kid’s face and my face. You even brightened the banquet atmosphere.”
“I’m glad you're happy. But why did you bring me here?”
“Heh… Sir, you're sharp as expected.”
Baron Knut nodded.
“Right, I brought you all the way here because there’s a story I need to tell you privately.”
A family’s secret garden.
A private place where not just anyone could enter.
It was a perfect place for anyone to see as a good spot for a secret conversation.
“Be careful of Sir Ragnarsson. Right now, things aren't so good for that family.”
“……?”
Suddenly? Shatien became curious.
‘Doesn't that mean there’s a problem in Ragnarsson’s family.’
Especially since it was about what happened in Ragnarsson’s family, he couldn't help but be interested. Because it might affect future plans.
“What kind of problem do you mean?”
“It’s a common thing. A very common thing for noble families to experience.”
Shatien nodded at those words. Just because it was common didn't mean it was light. What was common in noble families was….
“As you know, it’s a matter of succession rights.”
That was it.
The matter of succession rights.
“The Margrave of Rostingia is already turning 300 years old. Even among elves who live over 200 years, he’s on the side of having lived quite long. I hear he’s been spending more and more time lying in bed. Having lived that long even after being exposed to the cold wind of the battlefield, it’s actually a peaceful death. Haha.”
Baron Knut smiled and continued speaking.
“Anyway, once the current Margrave dies, a bloodbath will blow in the family. Keep this in mind.”
“……?”
Shatien tilted his head.
“Isn't Sir Ragnarsson the legitimate son of the Margrave of Rostingia. Isn't it natural that he will inherit it?”
“The situation is complicated. Because there was another claimant to the rights when the Margrave of Rostingia inherited it. Since they couldn't properly resolve that problem back then, things have turned out like this now.”
“Hmmmm.”
Shatien swallowed a groan at the unexpected information.
“Then are you telling me to pick a side well?”
“It means there’s no need to be immersed in only one side. The struggle for succession rights within the family is more balanced than you think. Aren't you a mercenary from the outside? It means you shouldn't intervene and should maintain neutrality while taking both sides. There’s no need to earn resentment from both sides, is there?”
It was good advice.
And it was very necessary information.
“Thank you. Baron Knut.”
“It’s nothing. I might become even more thankful to you in the future. Hahahaha.”