Chapter 39
“What on earth is going on?”
“Yeah! I’m curious too!”
Ilene and Harun had no clue what I was thinking.
After all, the Dungeon Devourer incident was, at most, an event in which mercenaries had been wiped out.
And it wasn’t even in the Impera Count’s lands — it happened in Count Vener’s territory.
I felt bad for the dead, but it wasn’t something to make a fuss about just because mercenaries from the next county had died.
“So….”
I hesitated when I started to speak about the chain of events that would follow.
I knew them because I’d seen them in a novel, but to these people the story might sound like a huge leap.
They might ask what mercenary deaths had to do with a war.
And more importantly, should I even tell characters in the story about it?
‘…Well, what else can I do. It’s going to happen anyway.’
I hoped it wouldn’t, but the chance of that was slim.
“What I’m about to tell you is only a hypothesis. A hypothesis with a very low probability.”
“Ooh….”
There’s nothing to lose, so I explained what might happen next as smoothly as I could.
Of course, I kept adding caveats like “maybe” and “that could be the case.”
Perhaps the mercenaries had been deliberately murdered by someone.
Perhaps those killers were being sponsored by someone.
Maybe that someone was Count Vener.
And, unsurprisingly, every line of speculation ended with Count Vener invading our domain.
“My lord! What are we going to do now!”
Islin’s eyes were brimming with tears.
Maybe because he’d lost his parents in the Great War, he understood the horrors of war better than anyone.
He looked even more terrified — believing my half-baked theory so wholeheartedly.
“Hmm… this is serious.”
To my surprise, not only Ilene but Harun also seemed convinced.
“Hmm… that’s entirely possible.”
‘Even you, Islin?’
“Why are you taking that so absolutely? It’s only a hypothesis.”
“But… somehow when I look at you lately, it feels like it might be true….”
Ilene slumped, shoulders drooping and looking thoroughly dejected.
“Hmm…”
The situation looked serious enough that Priana stopped paying attention to her parfait and fell silent.
What Count Vener had done was clearly far from chivalry.
To have mercenaries kill their comrades, then use the gained ranks to massacre innocents?
Priana was still young, but it was a despicable atrocity that made her shudder.
“To have fought for someone like that….”
Priana trembled as if she’d found half a cockroach in her bread. Even if it had been an order from the king, she had swung her sword for someone like that.
A wave of disgust welled up inside her at the thought.
“Don’t worry. It’s not your fault.”
“Hmm…”
“If it really bothers you, then fight hard enough to wash the guilt away.”
“…I’ll remember that.”
Priana nodded with a resolute face. I shrugged my shoulders instead of answering.
She’ll fight well on her own — she’s going to be the next captain of the knight order after all.
Right now, she was also the strongest combatant among those gathered.
‘None of them will be above Rank 6.’
It was too early for Count Vener’s true personal guard — the White Brigade — to appear in full.
Only after years, when men who betrayed and killed comrades to pile up ranks appeared, would that be possible.
‘Other usurpers had a rough time because of that.’
It was natural that soldiers who popped up out of nowhere would include a few Rank 5 or even Rank 6 fighters.
Back then, Count Vener was described as a significant force because of such appearances.
But not now.
There probably weren’t even many Rank 5s — maybe none.
“Hmm.”
Rank 5.
The same rank as Priana.
Someone who’s crossed the second wall.
Even without seeing monsters like Clod, Rank 5s were formidable.
Nobles would be eager to have Priana employed.
“Islin.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“The people I mentioned who may be receiving Count Vener’s backing — how strong do you think the strongest of them would be?”
“They can’t be said to be overwhelmingly powerful based on the lost mercenaries, but many Rank 4 mercenaries died. It’s possible that someone has already reached Rank 5.”
“Really?”
If there were several Rank 5s, it’d be troublesome.
No matter how much Priana and I caused trouble, facing multiple Rank 5s would be tough.
If the rest of the White Brigade were also mobilized…
‘Wait. Rank 5? Then this might be useful.’
Know the enemy, know yourself; a thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Count Vener likely thinks himself clever, and so he probably didn’t realize he was being used by the king’s hand. If that’s the case—
“Islin. How many of our clan can fight?”
“Ian… you mean the clan?”
“Do we have any other clans hidden away?”
“No. The injuries from the last training are all healed. Everyone is fit for battle. But they aren’t specialized fighters…”
“If they’re not fighters, they can at least provide support, right? Like last time, throwing smoke bombs and that sort of thing.”
“Well… they are specialized in those areas.”
“Good.”
I quickly spread the map of the Impera Count’s nearby region on the table and pointed to two spots.
“This here…”
“This is the point where we can seize the advantage.”
Under Count Vener’s mansion lay facilities as sinister as the owner himself.
The underground prison that hid the dark mage Romulus was the first.
The second was a meeting place for the secret mercenaries who were occasionally gathered.
A few people started to gather in the communal hall where the mana stones gave off a faint glow.
The number swelled until it reached about a hundred, and then stopped.
Count Vener’s secret mercenaries. The White Brigade.
Originally, it was supposed to be a last resort to be used far in the future.
But desperate circumstances left no time to weigh pros and cons.
…Gnash!
Count Vener clenched his teeth as he looked at the assembled White Brigade.
The plan had been perfect.
He had selected men mad for killing, disguised them as mercenaries, and scattered them across his domain.
Though they devoured a good portion of the domain’s income each month, it had been necessary to create soldiers strong enough to be feared.
The seeds he had sown over years would soon grow into a massive beast capable of swallowing Isother whole.
But now it was all over.
He had considered himself clever, but in the end his every move had been toyed with like a puppet.
King Erengold II of Isother — he’d wanted Count Vener to raise his mercenaries and start a war.
Realizing that now, the count felt his temples throb.
“Was my attempt to eliminate the family’s enemies… all just playing into his hands?”
The count let his arms fall limply.
If the inquisitors discovered his deeds, he would fall — or at least be ruined after wiping out his family’s foes.
Those were the only two choices left.
“…….”
“L-Lord Count….”
Alberto beside him started sweating cold.
But the count closed his eyes in silence and thought of one man: Ian Impera. That damned executioner! If only he hadn’t existed!
Gnash!
The sound of teeth grinding came again, and one of the paths before him disappeared.
“Alberto.”
“Yes, y-yes! My lord Count!”
“All members of the White Brigade gathered today — what are their ranks?”
“Umm… since they haven’t been living as mercenaries for long… none of them have experienced a significant rank increase…”
“Hey, my lord Count.”
An insolent voice interrupted, and Alberto frowned. How dare someone under the count’s patronage speak that way?
Count Vener, however, did not get angry. He lacked the strength for that. Instead, he watched the insolent intruder with interest. One who behaved like that here must be competent.
“How dare you speak to my lord Count like that!”
“Enough.”
“W-what? My lord Count!”
“Does etiquette gain you anything? He must have some backing — leave him be.”
“…Yes, my lord Count.”
When the count unexpectedly defended the intruder, Alberto fell silent. The intruder grinned smugly.
“I heard no one here had much rank increase. So I can’t just sit and listen.”
“Hmph… what an amazing level have you reached?”
“You won’t need many words. See for yourself.”
The man proudly showed his left palm. When the glowing palm was revealed, the sunk-faced Count Vener’s expression changed dramatically.
“A — a sword rank 5? Has he crossed the second wall?”
“Well, that’s what it is!”
He had betrayed comrades of one year to gain that power, yet the man spoke proudly as if he’d earned it honestly.
Count Vener spun the situation in his head.
‘If someone has crossed the second wall, everything changes!’
Having a Rank 5 knight changes the picture he could draw. It’s not just a last despairing attack — there may be a way out of the corner.
‘Yes. If this fellow fights properly…! It’s certainly possible!’
After calculating, the count spoke sternly to the man.
“What’s your name?”
“Originally I had another name… but I’ve gotten used to it, so I might keep using ‘Marsian.’”
“Marsian. What do you want?”
Marsian laughed heartily at the count’s directness.
“Hah! As expected of you, my lord Count — bold! Nothing much. Double the sponsorship money I’ve been receiving so far….”
“Triple. I’ll give you three times the usual sponsorship, and I’ll entrust command of the White Brigade to you.”
“T-Three times?”
Salary negotiations start with bluffing. You ask for unrealistic amounts, and even if the proposal is accepted, you don’t show joy. But the count’s offer was unexpectedly large.
“T-three times…!”
The White Brigade members nearby reacted similarly. They were already receiving sponsorship beyond what mercenary pay could provide, so three times that amount was staggering.
But Count Vener knew the value.
A knight who had barely turned thirty and reached Rank 5. Buying such a man with money alone was an enormous advantage.
“Hahaha! I do have an eye for the right man! Fine! Three times! And command of the White Brigade is mine from now on!”
“Th-that’s….”
Alberto, listening beside them, stepped forward but that was all he could do. A few other White Brigade members looked slightly displeased, but none resisted. Challenging a Rank 5 would be to invite certain crippling defeat.
“Now then! Why did you call us out in such a hurry?”
“Right.”
Count Vener calmly organized his plan again in his head. It was a desperate, almost forced plan, but if it succeeded it could be a turning point out of ruin.
He explained his plan, and the entire White Brigade widened their eyes when they heard it. But true to their bloodthirsty nature, smiles crept to their lips.
“By tomorrow morning, those two must not survive.”
