Chapter 84
“…It’s impossible with just us.”
“But we can’t wait forever.
It will only get harder as time passes.
People's interest will fade, and the justification we hold will also lose its color.”
Although the decision was made, the mercenaries wore somewhat skeptical expressions.
Bartus, Verpin’s subordinate who was like his own hands and feet, also showed a grave expression.
“If only Sir Karl were here…”
At his words, Verpin’s expression hardened even more.
It had already been a month since he heard that Karl had lured the enemies away for him and fallen into the Abyss Cliff.
Since no one had ever survived coming out of there, it had to be assumed Karl had met the same fate.
“Even if we fail, we can’t keep running away like this.
There must be those within the guild who oppose Kavar.
Those who followed Second Brother will also help us if we make a move.”
Bartus nodded his head.
He thought that rather than wandering the world as fugitives forever, they had to confront them once.
Marquis Baltimo had also reportedly stationed some knights and soldiers in the Mercenary Guild and returned to his own castle.
So now, while Kavar couldn’t comfortably command the Mercenary Guild yet, was indeed the best time.
“Gather as many potential allies as possible.
The undertaking will be one month from now.”
Thus, Verpin and others dissatisfied with Kavar began making secret contact.
And so, one month passed in the blink of an eye.
“Boss, preparations are complete.”
Verpin, having checked his armament, nodded with a firm face.
He then left the hideout and rode towards the Mercenary Guild headquarters.
While moving, those they had contacted joined Verpin, leading their own groups.
Among them were Seonil’s subordinates, as well as those who originally followed Verpin.
By the time about 500 men had gathered, the castle housing the Mercenary Guild came into Verpin’s sight.
Two months after being driven out under false accusations, Verpin returned to the Mercenary Guild.
“I have come to punish Kavar, who killed our Master!
Killed Brother Seonil, who was like a blood brother!
Tried to frame me as a traitor and kill me!
And killed our comrades!”
Verpin shouted more confidently than anyone.
The townspeople watched him return and cheered him on inwardly.
The mercenaries, too, already knew who had murdered the Mercenary King.
Just then, Kavar appeared from afar, leading a large contingent.
He had lost quite a lot of weight in the past two months, his cheeks sunken hollowly.
The area under his eyes was dark, making it difficult to find any trace of his former appearance.
“Have you come seeking death?”
Kavar, having stopped, stared blankly at Verpin, his youngest fellow disciple.
“Have you recovered the Master’s body?”
“…Of course.
How dare you, who harmed the Master, speak of recovery?”
“Have you recovered Brother Seonil’s body?”
“…You scum!”
Kavar grew agitated, but Verpin remained calm.
“That day, the day those two died at your hands, Kavar.
The Master’s face had a bluish tint, and Brother Seonil was also vomiting black blood.
Are their bodies intact?”
“…That must be because you poisoned them both.”
“I couldn’t speak then due to the chaos, but everyone working in the Guild Master’s office where the Master stayed was also dead.
What’s stranger among them was the woman present where the Master and Brother Seonil lay dead.”
“What about her?
Are you trying to confess your sins?”
Kavar began to get annoyed.
“Her name is Poplar, the girl you picked and placed there a year ago, and besides her, three others died there.
What’s important is that they were all people you, Kavar, selected and placed there.”
“What does that matter?
Are you trying to say I ordered them to poison the Master and Seonil?”
“Yes.”
As Verpin snapped his fingers, his subordinates behind him dragged a man forward and forced him to his knees.
“This is the butler of the Master’s office, who survived because he was off duty on the day of the incident.
Will you say you don’t know this man either?
Your subordinate whom you kept by your side for over 10 years?”
“…”
This time, Kavar fell silent.
His face stiffened.
“Tony, speak.
What happened that day.
Confess everything before everyone.”
The butler called Tony initially remained silent, then closed his eyes and slowly began to recount the events of that day.
“Kavar gave me poison.
He instructed me to deliver the poison to the deceased to feed it to the Mercenary King.
He promised me wealth and glory for life if I did!
But that man abandoned me the day the Mercenary King died!
After serving him for the past 20 years, he discarded me like trash once the hunt was over!”
The butler shouted, veins bulging in his neck, vowing to die together with him, causing the murmuring among the mercenaries present to instantly grow louder.
“Kavar!
You might cut off my head here, cut down our brothers, and live as the Mercenary King!
But you will never!
Win the hearts of the mercenaries like the Master did!
I did not stand here seeking to become the Mercenary King!
I am here only to right what is wrong!
So come down and face me in a duel!”
As Verpin shouted, Kavar’s face turned red, looking like it would burst, and he began to charge towards Verpin, leading his subordinates.
Behind him were the troops supported by Marquis Baltimo and a group of 1,000 mercenaries following him.
Even watching them surge forward like a wave, Verpin and his followers raised their swords without fear.
“Keuk!”
“Die…!”
Verpin’s followers took one or two enemies with them to hell even as they died.
A fierce battle ensued for some time.
Verpin’s forces, which had initially pushed Kavar back with high morale, gradually turned disadvantageous as time went on.
After a little more time passed, Verpin’s force, left with only about 200 men, found themselves surrounded by Kavar’s group.
‘Why go that far…?’
The mercenaries who had stayed one step removed from the power struggle within the Mercenary Guild turned their eyes away watching Verpin and his followers.
They knew who the traitor was but couldn't bring themselves to help Verpin.
It was because they knew that when this fight ended, the one surviving would ultimately be the traitor, Kavar.
The continuous fierce battle made them feel guilty for cowardly turning away from the truth.
“Stop… Isn’t that enough now?”
Someone spoke.
Other mercenaries also didn’t wish for Verpin to die.
But they lacked the courage to step forward.
Even if a few of them clumsily joined in, the result would ultimately be the same.
They turned away from what was right, rationalizing their actions and granting themselves absolution.
Just as the number of fallen increased, and Verpin and his subordinates neared their end.
‘Ah… If Lord Essus is watching, please help them…’
Just when everyone thought it was the end, mixed with resignation.
A single horseman was galloping towards the fierce battlefield.
A bushy beard, clothes like rags; the man drew people's attention even more due to his disheveled appearance.
The knight on horseback, though clearly alone, charged without hesitation towards the bloody battlefield where hundreds were entangled in combat.
“It’s Sir Karl!”
“It’s the Knight of the Lighthouse!”
“The Knight of Salvation has revived!
He has returned from the Canyon of Death!”
The mercenaries shouted as they saw the golden aura blooming from his sword.
“How could he…!?”
Kavar was aghast seeing Karl emitting golden aura.
Marquis Baltimo had definitely said he saw him fall into the Abyss Cliff himself.
No one had ever survived from there.
This was impossible.
“Do not fear!
He is alone!”
Kavar shouted.
His subordinates also knew that Karl alone couldn't change the current situation.
Yet, they hesitated and retreated before Karl.
The blue, flame-like will-o'-wisps occasionally blooming in Karl’s eyes and the golden aura surrounding his sword prevented the soldiers from daring to approach him.
The clear conviction emanating from him shook those who held swords without justification.
“In the name of the Mercenary King!
I promise wealth enough to last a lifetime to everyone who contributes to cutting down that man!”
The retreating enemies screamed desperately and charged towards Karl.
Despite being surrounded by countless troops alone, Karl didn't retreat a single step and continued to cut down the enemies' throats.
Mercenaries were those who undertook requests for money.
They were far removed from the pleasantries knights spoke of, even if only in words.
At best, thanks to the establishment of the Mercenary King and the Guild, they shared the principle of 'fulfilling contracts to the best of their ability,' but that was all.
However, watching that desperate battle, something hot began to rise even in the hearts of the mercenaries who had stood back.
“Shit… Shit…!”
Curses flowed from the mouth of a mercenary who had been watching without joining the fight.
The mercenaries found themselves clenching their fists tightly.
“Let’s go too!”
“…What?”
“I said let’s go!”
“Yeah!
You only die once, not twice!
Let’s do it!”
The mercenaries who had been watching cautiously gripped their weapons and started jumping in.
Beginning with one or two, their numbers instantly grew too large to count.
“You… You bastards!
I am the Mercenary King!
I said I am the Mercenary King!”
Kavar shouted, but the atmosphere had already changed.
Even among Kavar’s subordinates, many threw down their weapons and surrendered.
Marquis Baltimo’s subordinates chose to flee as the situation turned strange.
There was no reason for them to lay down their lives for a fight with no chance of victory anyway.
“Where do you think you’re going!
You scoundrels!”
Kavar repeatedly shouted, but no one followed him.
At some point, he realized there was no one left around him.
‘Turk… Where is Turk?’
He looked for the subordinate he trusted the most.
“Tur…k?
Why are you…?”
Seeing Turk beside Verpin, he collapsed to his knees on the ground.
“Have you slept since murdering the Master?”
“…”
Kavar remained silent.
“Why?
I had no greed, and Brother Seonil would have yielded the position of Mercenary King if you had just conceded a little.
Was this meager outcome what you sought by poisoning even the Master?”
“…The Master never gave his heart to me.
He always sought you, Verpin.
Awake or asleep, the Master only had eyes for you.”
Pow!
Verpin’s fist struck Kavar’s mouth.
Five or six teeth broke at once and flew into the air.
“If you have eyes, see, and if you have ears, listen.”
He threw the letter in his hand towards Kavar.
[To my disciple Verpin.
I know well that you have no greed for the position of Mercenary King.
However, even so, please do not leave the Mercenary Guild.
The Guild Master is a symbolic existence, absolutely necessary as the focal point of the Mercenary Guild.
Since Kavar is trusted and followed by many subordinates, if you let him be the Guild Master and assist him by his side, there will be no great trouble for the Guild.
I have things to leave for Kavar and Seonil, but to you, I only have this old man’s request.
I am sorry, and thank you.]
“…”
Kavar, picking up and reading the letter, collapsed.
He buried his head in the ground and wept.
“Master… Master…!”
Kavar cried out as if wailing.
“…Repent even in death.”
Verpin struck the neck of Kavar, who remained prostrated.
The mercenaries watching the series of events all froze like stone on the spot.
No one had thought he would actually strike his neck right then and there.
[Quest: Path of the Mercenary King Completed.]
[Khan's Throwing Manual is provided as a reward.]
Watching Kavar’s head fly off, Karl closed the quest window that appeared before his eyes.
The corpses of mercenaries lay scattered everywhere, and not a single person wore a bright expression.
In the end, countless precious lives were lost in a battle where no one rejoiced.
Faced with the bitterness of countless deaths rather than the joy of completing the mission, Karl lifted his head.
This world was still close to hell.