Chapter 103 : The Mercenary Bureau’s First Request (17)
Chapter 103: The Mercenary Bureau’s First Request (17)
“Whoaaa!!”
“Long live Shatien!!!”
“The undefeated knight! The knight of victory! Centurion Shatien!!”
An unbelievable miracle had manifested, but the mercenaries rushed forward, letting out thunderous cheers as if it had always been that way.
Since their captain had opened the most difficult path, it was up to them to finish the job.
“M-Madness!!”
“Block them! Block them!! Hurry up and block them. We have got to stop them before they get inside.”
The bandits on top of the wooden fence were terrified and scurried down, but it was too late.
The speed at which the mercenaries entered through the gate was far faster than the bandits.
Fierce combat broke out everywhere.
‘Hmm. As expected.’
And among them, Shatien calmly thought about the sword strike from a moment ago.
Movement that felt as if he had become one with the sword. The sword was not just a simple tool; it was his other arm and another part of his body.
Perhaps this was what his master meant by putting one's will into it.
“I have definitely grown. Master will be quite pleased when he sees this later.”
His master had said he was sad because there was no one to share a blade and a conversation with, but at this level, would it not be worth exchanging a few bouts?
Shatien had a smile form on his lips without realizing it.
“Gather up! Gather!”
“Yes, their momentum has stalled! Push them back just like this!”
However, the structure inside the wooden fence was more clever than expected. The area entering from the main gate was hollowed out, forcing those entering to fight from a very disadvantageous position.
That leader bastard's petty trick felt quite exquisite.
Still, Shatien's mercenary group was indeed something special.
-Thud. Slash! Thud! Slash!
As soon as they realized they could not break through alone, they gathered together with their shields and began pushing the bandits back in unison to the rhythmic calls.
They were moving while shouting slogans with one heart and one voice, just as they had practiced during training.
“Push-!”
“Ha!”
“Push-!”
“Ha!”
“We just need to push like this! If we shove them all at once like this, they cannot hold out!”
Though it looked easy at a glance, this was actually a movement that required immense organizational power. If their breathing did not match, someone could be left exposed to an attack.
Moreover, the people in the rear were even providing support from behind so that the shield-bearers in the front would not be pushed back.
Thanks to that, every time they pushed, the bandits began to be shoved back like they were being bounced away.
“……?”
When did the mercenaries' organizational power become this good? Even Shatien's eyes went wide.
“Hehehe. Where do these bandits dare crawl toward us.”
“Drop dead! We are the undefeated mercenary corps and the undefeated centuria, the Shatien Centuria!!”
The mercenaries mocked them while ruthlessly breaking the bandits' formation.
“……!”
“What on earth is this!!”
The bandits were aghast.
It was a fight of 50 against 200. Yet they were being pushed back to the point of being miserably trampled. A fight only matches when levels are similar. This was a difference in level that made it embarrassing to even call it a fight.
“A-Ah, no! Don't back down!”
“If you are pushed back, you will be stabbed to death. It is the skewer execution for everyone!!!”
It was not bravado stemming from comradeship or loyalty. It was merely a discipline that came out reflexively due to the cruel ruling methods the bandit leader had employed.
Even more so, there were walls on all sides so there was nowhere to run, and was it not certain they would be judged in the name of the law if caught?
They would die this way, and they would die that way. If so, it was only right to make a desperate struggle.
But that desperation did not last long either.
“Oh for heaven's sake! You idiots. What are you doing, unable to break through mere bandits!”
-Swoosh.
Miles had lunged in from the rear, swinging his halberd.
With one heavy blow of the halberd, the clustered bandits collapsed, vomiting mouthfuls of blood.
It was truly formidable axe-work. In an instant, an empty space was created in front of Miles. It was because every single one who stood before him had their head split open.
“Khahaha. Yes, this is it, this is it! Follow me!”
Miles let out a hearty laugh. Just like the Ragnarsson of the past, he broke the bandits' formation with his halberd. The five halberdiers following him also matched their breathing perfectly, perhaps because they were elites hand-picked by Miles.
The bandits' shields blocking the way split apart like firewood, and every time they collided, blood and flesh scattered into the air.
“Aaaaah. They are madmen.”
“We cannot stop them!”
“Gather them up and kill them all!”
The mercenaries, having seized the advantage, drove the bandits into a corner and trapped them all. The bandits continued their desperate struggle until the end, thrusting their spears forward.
“Damn it, let us fight with our backs together!”
“Everyone is going to die anyway!”
“We have got to fight until we die!!!”
Right at that moment, as they vowed a fight to the death.
A low voice pierced into the ears of the trembling bandits.
“Are you going to keep fighting?”
“……?!”
A single sentence, thrown lightly, caused a ripple. There was no bandit who did not know what those words meant.
‘N-No way?’
‘Is he perhaps sparing us?’
The bandits' pupils filled with expectation. There was no law saying they had to die. If they could live, why would they hold out like this?
Then another bandit shouted out loud.
“You stupid rascals. Why would they spare us! It is certain they will massacre us!! We just need to hold out until the boss who went out returns. We can surround them from front and back.”
“The boss, you say….”
Shatien threw the boss's head, which he had received from a mercenary, among the bandits.
The head, which rolled to a stop, looked up at the bandits.
“Are you talking about this?”
“…….”
“Are you still going to fight?”
“Th-That is….”
As the talk grew long, Shatien immediately threw a spear.
-Swooooosh!
-Thunk!
“Kehuuuh!”
The talkative bandit's chest was pierced by the spear and he wobbled.
“Hiiiieek!”
“W-We were wrong!”
“Please spare us.”
“Just our lives, please… please.”
Eventually, the bandits began to surrender, lowering their swords and spears. Simultaneously, thunderous cheers erupted from the mercenaries.
It was another perfect victory.
* * *
After the battle ended, work to wrap up the situation followed. Most of the surrendered bandits were put into mercenary service on the condition of a pardon.
Their persistent discipline and courage had been highly valued. Of course, the future would be terrible if they had any stray thoughts, but since they were offered food, money, and even a chance to live like normal people, there were no madmen who would refuse.
In fact, in this damn world, most people became bandits because there were no jobs or food.
Anyone wanted to live a normal life if given the chance.
Whatever the case, Shatien wore a satisfied smile as he looked at the hand-picked recruits.
‘Now I have a force of 400 under me. A bit of money will go out, but it is still manageable.’
He was essentially leading a medium-sized mercenary group. If an additional centuria of 300 came, it would be close to a large mercenary group of almost 700. While this would not match his future, in the current situation, he was operating a force on the level of a fairly famous mercenary group.
He had now completed all preparations to face the upcoming 20-year war.
‘I will turn the absorbed bandits into infantry and check a few rascals to use as crossbowmen.’
Shatien organized his thoughts and headed for the warehouse, following the guidance of the surviving storekeeper.
There was a warehouse in a corner of the wooden fence.
“It is here, C-Centurion.”
The storekeeper said so as he opened the door.
-Creaaaaak.
And the inside of the warehouse that was revealed was better than expected.
The interior was organized very cleanly. At this level, they would be able to properly manage this enormous quantity of food.
“Did you do this yourself?”
“Ah, yes… I did.”
“Ho….”
Shatien looked at the storekeeper with curiosity. It was because it was difficult to manage things this well. What knowledge would bandits have to stack and manage food? Usually, if food was stacked this way, it just ended up rotting.
It was one of the main reasons why they looted their whole lives but were hungry every single day.
“You don't seem like the type to commit banditry? How did you end up here?”
Then the storekeeper let out a sigh.
“It is a common story. My village was raided and I was dragged here by force. In the past… I was taught about village management by my father, who was the village chief. Fortunately, the bandits seemed to see my usefulness, so they did not kill me and had me manage the warehouse and facilities, milord.”
At those words, Shatien's eyes sparkled. Was he not exactly the talent the mercenary group needed?
‘How strange. It seems the world is helping me. Indeed, a person has got to live a good life.’
Having organized his thoughts, Shatien made a proposal to the storekeeper.
“You. Would you happen to be interested in being a quartermaster? Once you are released from here, your path to earning a living will be bleak anyway, won't it?”
“What is a quartermaster?”
“It is the job of managing the unit's supplies. Actually, it is a very important position.”
As the size of the unit grew, managing food was very important. Not only that, from small consumables to equipment management, supply could be said to be the most core part of conducting war.
Even so, he could not keep operating in a slipshod way while being overcharged by sutlers as he had been until now.
It was expensive and inefficient, was it not?
Moreover, Shatien had something else he was newly thinking about.
‘Establish a workshop and merchant group directly under the Mercenary Office and supply equipment and food directly.’
If the Mercenary Office gives money to the mercenaries, that money is recovered back through the affiliated workshop and merchant group.
Because there is nothing as infuriating as seeing precious funds leak outside.
And for that to happen, the role of such a quartermaster was very important.
However, the storekeeper, who he had thought would be happy, hesitated. It seemed he was scared.
“Sir Knight. I… was among bandits. Where is there a person who entrusts supplies to a bandit?”
“Heh. Have you ever killed a person?”
“…No. I don't know how to handle weapons.”
“Then have you ever gone out to loot?”
“My legs are a bit uncomfortable from birth, so I cannot march. I mainly managed the warehouse inside the wooden fence.”
Was he not a man whose reason for being among bandits was a mystery?
No, actually, saying he had been captured and was being worked by the bandits would be more accurate.
‘That bandit leader bastard had an eye for people.’
Anyway, from this perspective, it was hard to see that storekeeper as a bandit.
“Since you have not done such things, why are you a bandit? Are you not just… an official captured as a slave?”
“Mm…..”
“So please take on the role of the unit's quartermaster. Of course, you can quit later if you don't like it.”
“I-Is this for real?”
The storekeeper was startled.
It was because it was an exceptional treatment.
“Yes. Once I decide to believe in a person, I give them my full trust. How about it? Do you not want to newly reorganize the mercenary group with me? I will obtain even more powerful strength on a bigger stage.”
“Hmmmm….”
“Don't hesitate. What is your name? I am Sir Shatien, knighted by Count Bellua. I will guarantee your work on my name.”
“Ah…!”
Only then did the storekeeper, as if possessed, tidy his appearance and recall the etiquette he had learned from his father, the village chief, in his childhood.
“I am Luft. A humble servant… meets his lord. Please accept my loyalty, My Lord.”
Although the beginning was humble, the end will be grand.
It was Shatien, who had received a family vassal for the first time.