From Mercenary to King

Chapter 106: The Mercenary Bureau’s First Request (20)

The food wagons that started from Osulheim hadn't arrived even though they were several days past their due date.

Believing this to be the work of bandits, Ragnarsson ordered Shatien to go on patrol. He told him to wipe out the bandits' base if necessary to recover the food.

There was no reason to refuse such a mission since it was good for building up achievements, but Shatien couldn't help but fall into thought due to a certain lingering unease. The lost food was a problem, but there was another issue as well.

It was the mercenary company that was supposed to come as reinforcements.

‘The time they were supposed to arrive is getting close, so why is there still no word from the messenger? Did they get ambushed by bandits too?’

He heard they were moving with the merchant group led by Marhen, but there was still no news. If it was a merchant group carrying vast wealth, it was certainly enough for bandits to swarm them.

It was a merchant group with a huge volume of cargo moving to the North after a long time.

However, there wasn't enough evidence to make a judgment.

In fact, this was a problem that had been occurring constantly since advancing into the North. Connections between cities were cut off due to endless peasant rebellions, and merchant groups couldn't move properly.

Since everyone started shutting themselves up in their castles and becoming isolated, information naturally didn't circulate.

In this kind of situation, even the special recommendation letter written by Branch Manager Marhen had a hard time exerting much effect.

Furthermore, the worst part was that Shatien’s past memories of the North were practically a wasteland. Thanks to that, Shatien felt frustrated for the first time in a while.

‘I wish Branch Manager Marhen would get here quickly.’

If it were Branch Manager Marhen, she would have easy access to the central information of the guild rooted in the key areas of the North.

They say you realize the value of someone more when they're gone than when they're there, and that was exactly the case.

While he was lost in thought alone, the elf knights beside him started blabbering nonsense.

“Sir Shatien! Aren't the mercenaries' footsteps too slow?”

“That's right. For a knight like you who loves battle more than anyone and is loved by the gods, this unit is far too slow.”

‘Wait... who does?’

“Surely you must also find the current situation disappointing. Isn't that right?”

‘No...?’

Shatien was flustered by the words of the trouble-making elf knights who looked like they were clearly about to plot something absurd.

But they continued talking before he had a chance to answer.

“Why don't the three of us just settle this and head back to Holsten?”

“No, that's not a problem that can be solved so easily….”

“Ah! That's right. Of course it can be solved easily. Considering your martial power and our will to face death, isn't that natural?”

“That's right! Sir. A glorious battle awaits us. Sir Shatien!! How about a bet on who can send more bandit heads flying?”

“Hahaha!! I'm very good at crushing skulls. You'll be surprised too, Sir!”

“…….”

Why on earth had he brought these savage elf knights along?

Shatien’s head throbbed. The mercenaries listening from behind were looking at him as if wondering what kind of beasts these were, and Shatien’s face burned with embarrassment. He had no choice but to bring the two because Viscount Ragnarsson insisted, but he didn't know it would be such a total disgrace.

‘Sigh. These guys, seriously. I wish they'd just vanish somewhere.’

Since they lacked judgment like this, even ten elf knights didn't seem as valuable as a single Branch Manager Marhen.

Anyway, they were truly useless unless it was a battle. No, even in battle, they moved as they pleased, so were they even useful then?

Just as he was thinking that.

He saw about a dozen cavalrymen galloping from far away. Judging by their appearance, they looked like bandit cavalry.

Shatien scowled and scanned the group. Looking closely, the man galloping at the very front felt somehow familiar.

‘Hmm? That man looks like a merchant who worked under Branch Manager Marhen?’

He was sure of it.

No matter how he looked at it, he was someone he recognized. That meant the bandits following behind were chasing a messenger sent by Branch Manager Marhen. Once his thoughts reached that point, Shatien shouted immediately.

“Knight Ainser!! Knight Bollard!!”

“Oh, Sir! Could it be!!?”

“Yes. Show them the power of the elf knights!! That bravery! That man is someone we absolutely need. You must rescue him.”

“Bwahahaha! As expected of you, Sir! To personally use us for such an important mission!”

“Just trust us, Sir!”

The elf knights immediately responded brightly to Shatien’s words and urged their squires.

The squires hurriedly handed over lances from behind and stood behind the elf knights, then they all began to gallop together.

“Kyoooooooot!!”

“For an honorable death!!”

“Impudent bandits. I shall offer your necks before the gods!”

The excited elf knights immediately raised their lances and began to gallop at full speed.

Truly... they were just like elf knights who couldn't resist a bloody fight.

“Um... Centurion. Don't we need to help them?”

“Help?”

“Yes. Still, there's a bit of a difference in numbers, so we should help them….”

While he was saying that, rendering the mercenary's words pointless, the elf knights showed truly immense power.

Cr-cr-crunch!

Thud! Bang!

“Aaaack!”

“Die!! Die! Die!!!”

“Kh-ack! Where did these lunatics suddenly come from?!”

“Stop talking! Give me your neck right now! Kyaaaaap!!”

“It's an achievement! A glorious death is right here!”

The two elf knights who had charged at the very front immediately smashed the skulls of five bandit cavalrymen in succession. And the squires following behind were turning the remaining bandit cavalry into a pulp.

Bang!

Cr-cr-cr-crunch!

Even though they lacked technical finesse compared to their masters, the elf knights, they still showed off their trained skills to their heart's content. They were pushing their lances forward doggedly and literally crushing the bandit cavalry.

“Even so?”

“…….”

Thanks to that, the mercenaries who watched the scene were all left speechless.

They had heard many stories about elf knights, but it was their first time seeing such a scene where they truly fought with abandon. Until now, they had only seen them floundering against pike formations, but their skill was truly monstrous when the conditions were right.

Of course, it was a bit…

-Squash!

-Boom!

“Ugh-ugh-ugh! Save me…!”

“Die, you filthy bandits! Don't turn away from a glorious death!”

It was a sight one truly wanted to turn away from, though.

“Hmm, I should start moving myself. You guys, come while forming a line just in case.”

“Yes! Understood, Centurion.”

Shatien immediately got on his horse and galloped forward. It was because he was worried those elf knights might even kill the merchant by mistake.

He wondered if they were really that incapable of telling apart friend and foe, but they were, after all, ‘elf knights’.

“Aaaaack! Save me. I'm not the enemy. I'm not the enemy!”

The merchant was out of his mind trying to avoid the sudden disaster while wailing.

As expected, those crazy elf knights and their subordinate lieutenants were dealing out punishment without discrimination.

At least the merchant didn't resist with a weapon, so it felt like they were just bumping him along, but even that was a total catastrophe from the merchant's perspective.

“Stop! He's a merchant from the Free City of Loren!”

“Ah? Is that so? Sir.”

“No, then he should've dressed properly, why is he looking like a beggar in those rags!”

“…….”

Naturally, he had been chased by bandits, so how could his clothes be anything else? But Shatien didn't bother saying that.

Well, since they had fought well and excitedly, it was hard to scold them.

“Excellent work, Knights.”

“Bwahahaha. I'm embarrassed. It's nothing compared to you, Sir Shatien.”

“That's right. During the duel last time, I saw it clearly with my own eyes. That amazing swordsmanship of yours! It's truly great, Sir.”

The elf knights, who laughed boisterously, lost interest in the merchant and were already looking at Shatien with sparkling eyes. Even though they had almost sent an innocent man to the side of the gods just a moment ago, they didn't seem to have a shred of guilt.

Still, Shatien made an effort to praise and comfort them. No matter how much he disliked them, they were on his side for now.

In the meantime, the merchant who had narrowly escaped death looked at Shatien and expressed his gratitude.

“Truly... truly…. Thank you for saving me, Sir Shatien.”

“…I'm sure they wouldn't have tried to kill you.”

“If that were true, it would be a huge relief!!”

He looked like he had a lot bottled up, but Shatien quietly turned away. Wasn't that not the important thing right now?

“Where are the others? Why are you being chased by bandits all by yourself?”

“Ah! That's right. Now's not the time for this.”

The merchant shouted with an urgent voice.

“Please help, Sir Shatien. Right now, the guild's merchant group and the mercenaries are being attacked by bandits. The difference in numbers is too great, so I don't know what will happen.”

* * *

“Aghhh, reinforcements!? Where are the damned reinforcements?”

Things aren't supposed to be like this.

But Centurion Jenga couldn't help but let such sounds out of his mouth. It was because the bandits' attack was more organized and meticulous than expected.

“Widen the distance!”

“There's no need to fight within their advantage. We aren't knights!”

“Whittle them down as much as possible!”

As expected of bandits, they were very despicable. They kept accumulating damage by throwing stones or spears from a distance, and they charged in whenever they saw a gap where the line was disorganized.

Truly, they were disgusting and persistent bastards.

But it was effective.

-Whizz!

-Thud-thud-thud.

-Clang!

-Thwack!

As if it were now a waste to even use weapons, the bastards had brought along infantry and were diligently throwing the stones rolling around on the ground.

Since they had no slings or professional slingers, the damage was minimal, but it was still true that it hurt to be hit.

Furthermore, when a stray stone occasionally flew in hard and hit a place without protection, it was enough to bring tears to one's eyes.

“Centurion! Let's just attack!”

“Won't we just get hit if we stay still!”

“Shut up! Where do you dare offer your opinion so carelessly! Endure! It's fine if you endure. If you break the line, do you think those bastards will just stay still?”

Centurion Jenga got angry at the complaints of the mercenaries under him. Right now, the bandit cavalry in front was just waiting for them to break the line so they could lunge, and they wanted to do that? These guys truly have no brains.

However, Centurion Jenga couldn't help but gnash his teeth at the veteran command of the opposing bandit leader. Just where had a guy like that come from?

And of all times, against him!

It was truly lamentable for Centurion Jenga.

Of course, unlike Centurion Jenga’s situation….

“Hehehe! It's almost over! We just need to pound them a little more! Have patience!”

“Yes! Boss.”

The bandit leader, Bartrok, was very relaxed and in a good mood. Indeed, the strategy of his new commander was turning out perfectly.

He said they would win if they surrounded them quietly and fought over time instead of lunging….

‘Hehe. It truly was a relief to join hands with him. He's certainly an amazing person!’

How much had he wavered when he saw Balud, who suddenly appeared and united the rebel forces? Should he join, or not.

But based on today's battle, Bartrok was convinced his choice was right.

‘He's a Prophet! He will lead us to victory!’

How severe had the persecution and contempt been until now. Finally, the time had come to return their resentment to the filthy nobles of the North.

And the first start was that looting of the merchant group.

Anyone could see it was a merchant group meant to support Osulheim in the North with massive war supplies.

If they just blocked that, Osulheim would become isolated and collapse on its own.

“Those bastards have reached their limit! Harass them a little more! Don't face them recklessly. Step by step. Harass them despicably!”

“Yes!! Understood. Bwahahaha!”

That's why bandit leader Bartrok was very satisfied as he watched the square formation of the merchant group's escort mercenaries, which was gradually breaking down.

If no other variables occurred, they would soon collapse.

And the subjugation forces of the northern nobles in Osulheim, who were anxiously waiting for those reinforcements, would also collapse together.

‘They're at their limit now!! It'll be the end once we charge!’

The bandit leader Bartrok thought so as he watched the mercenaries' line gradually breaking.

“Assemble!!”

“Now we shall go strike those bastards immediately!”

“Wooooooh!”

Now those bastards will all be crushed once we deliver the final fatal blow. Bartrok summoned and reorganized the cavalry under him.

“Ah... goddammit!”

“What about reinforcements?! Dammit, what's happening!!”

The mercenaries' faces turned pale in an instant at the sight of the bandit cavalry moving busily.

As the saying goes, one's clothes get soaked in a drizzle, and holes had been punched in various places of the line due to continuous ranged attacks.

If those bastards charged in like this, they would absolutely be unable to defend.

“Blast it! For now, everyone gather at the front!! Keep the intervals tight!”

Centurion Jenga gnashed his teeth and adjusted the pike formation. Protecting the entire merchant group was already meaningless. It was important to make the depth as thick as possible to block their charge.

He boldly gave up all other defenses and gathered everyone in the center.

Of course, whether that would block them was uncertain, but didn't he have to at least try?

‘Dammit! Blast it!’

Centurion Jenga cursed inwardly and gnashed his teeth.

The situation was far too desperate.

“Bwahahaha! Charge!”

“Kill those bastards!”

The confidence to block the bandit cavalry galloping toward them was gradually disappearing.

But right at that moment.

-Bwoooooooo!

The sound of a horn was heard from behind them. A familiar horn sound from somewhere.

Centurion Jenga smiled brightly and shouted unknowingly.

“Reinforcements!!! It's reinforcements! They're on our side!! Our mercenary company!”

Indeed.

“Wooooooh!”

Shatien’s mercenary company, which had arrived on the hill on the opposite side before anyone knew it, was standing there densely.