Chapter 050: Conviction (4)
"We arrived early."
It was after reaching the rendezvous point.
Jewel muttered while looking at the mana stone in her hand.
It was a magical tool Roland had distributed to each of the key figures.
He said it would gradually shrink over time and eventually disappear.
"By this measure, we arrived more than half a day ahead of schedule."
"We should take turns standing watch and let the others rest."
"Agreed."
Jayden and Jewel coordinated to assign guard duties to their subordinates.
Of course, I was exempt.
Leaning against a nearby tree and loosening my bootlaces, Ramba didn’t miss his chance.
"My lord, my lord."
"What now?"
"Your swordsmanship was truly impressive. It made following you all the way here worthwhile."
In the past, hearing such praise would’ve made my lips curl uncontrollably, but not now.
They say you see as much as you know.
Having finally reached the pinnacle I so desperately sought, a broader world had unfolded before me.
It was like crossing a river only to find an ocean waiting.
I didn’t respond and was about to settle into a proper rest when Ramba pressed on.
"I’ve heard that Imperial swordsmanship differs from Kingdom swordsmanship in every way, from the fundamentals to the smallest details. Even the ranks that define mastery are different, aren’t they? How should I understand your standing, my lord?"
I leaned my head back against the tree.
My eyelids drooped, heavy with fatigue.
Through my hazy vision, I saw Jayden and Maserin engaged in a lively conversation in one corner.
…Right. Those two were master and disciple.
I keep forgetting that.
"Pinnacle."
"…Pardon?"
"Pinnacle Swordsman."
"Ah— I see! Haha! I’ve learned something new!"
No need to mention it’s the initial stage.
Suddenly, memories of my past life flickered faintly.
Sword Expert, Sword Master… How much we laughed with my comrades when we first heard those terms.
As expected of Kingdom folk, we’d said.
"…Heh."
I ruffled my hair to stifle the chuckle.
Yeah, that’s life, isn’t it?
"The Wild Dogs and Sewer Rats, was it? Interesting. If we do a good deed, will we gain something too?"
Jewel naturally joined the conversation.
Ramba suddenly made a sour face and turned his head sharply.
"No thanks. I’d rather starve to death than take charity from an Imperial merchant."
"Oh my, are you discriminating against Imperials? Yet you fawn over Young Lord Bihen like that?"
"Paha! Your shamelessness is truly next-level. Listen, missy. Did you think I wouldn’t know about the shady deal you proposed to the Lady as a condition for joining this subjugation?"
My eyes snapped open.
I looked between the two and asked,
"A deal?"
"Yes, my lord. Ahem. Were you… unaware?"
"I’m not exactly close with her. Spill it."
Ramba’s face lit up.
Grinning widely, he spoke with a triumphant air, as if he’d gained an army.
"Do you remember what I told you last time? That the mercenary bands seemed to have made separate contracts with the Lady?"
It was when we were heading to the barracks after dealing with the Wendigo remnants.
He’d whispered it to me.
I nodded.
"Go on."
"I found out it’s things like extra pay based on the number of demonic beasts killed, or slight variations in compensation or sometimes, they take payment in something other than money. But the Gunbel Trading Company…"
Ramba glared at Jewel.
Jewel merely raised an eyebrow under his gaze.
"They get their subjugation reward as is, but they also demanded a price for each participant’s life."
"A price for their lives?"
"Yes. If one of their members dies in battle, they’ll claim that person’s life price from the Lady. and get this!"
Ramba pointed at Maserin in the distance.
"They put a fortune on that swordswoman—equivalent to a third of Conwell’s monthly tribute! Is that even reasonable, my lord?"
"You’re gravely mistaken. We’re an Imperial trading company. We’re not a mercenary band to begin with. We joined this noble cause because there was a dire need for hands. Broadly speaking, this is just another form of transaction."
Jewel turned her head, surveying her subordinates behind her.
She shrugged.
"They’re all mine. They belong to me, Jewelina Gunbel. In a dangerous deal where I could lose them forever, isn’t it only natural to take precautions? Maserin, in particular, is someone I’ve painstakingly nurtured for a long time. Honestly, I regret not setting her price even higher."
"Hah! You’ve got some nerve running your mouth! Are people objects to be priced?"
"Is there any other way to measure value besides money? Perhaps the enlightened beggar king could share his wisdom with me?"
"Enough! I don’t even want to deal with you! Driving your subordinates to their deaths and pocketing their life prices? Hah, even demonic beasts would wet themselves and flee from that vile business tactic."
A beggar and a tycoon. Truly two extremes.
I just closed my eyes.
I didn’t want to waste energy on pointless arguments.
As long as no one dies, it’s fine.
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"My lord! Get up! Hurry!"
I must’ve dozed off.
I barely lifted my heavy eyelids.
Ramba was pointing to a group of people gathered nearby.
Upon closer inspection, they were surrounding one person—a member of the mercenary coalition that had gone to the central assault route.
"Has the mercenary coalition arrived?"
"Well, it’s… You need to see this."
I got up.
The Gunbel Trading Company members parted to make way.
A mercenary around my age was being supported by Jayden.
His face was pale, like someone with a fever, and he was drenched in cold sweat.
"What’s this?"
"Looks like he’s been hit by dark magic."
My drowsiness vanished.
I grabbed the mercenary’s chin, turning his face to examine it closely.
He was completely out of it.
When I slapped his cheeks to snap him out of it, his eyes briefly focused before he mumbled something strange.
"I keep hearing my mom calling me… I have to go back…"
That’s when it happened.
"Over here! There’s more!"
Bill, who was on watch, shouted.
All eyes turned in that direction, and gasps echoed around us.
"W-What’s wrong with them?"
"They look like they’re possessed…"
There were about a dozen of them.
They shuffled forward empty-handed, having discarded their weapons somewhere.
None of them had focus in their eyes.
Their steps looked unnatural, as if they weren’t moving of their own will but were being controlled.
"My lord! That guy, it’s Kendrick!"
Ramba pointed excitedly.
It really was Kendrick, trudging along at the back of the group like a defeated soldier.
I approached and grabbed his shoulder firmly.
"Hey, Kendrick."
"…"
His face was devoid of reason.
His downcast pupils were shrouded in a deep, hollow shadow.
"…I have to go back."
"What?"
"To my mom’s arms. My brothers are there too. I have to go."
My mouth fell open, and I quickly covered it with my hand.
Ramba asked from beside me,
"M-My lord? What’s wrong?"
You know how it is sometimes.
A trivial memory you’d forgotten suddenly resurfaces at the most unexpected moment.
Like right now.
But this time, a memory from my past life came back so perfectly timed that it gave me chills.
"My lord?"
Ramba’s persistent questioning brought me back to my senses.
I pretended to stroke my chin with the hand covering my mouth.
"This is probably…"
A faint crack came from somewhere—the sound of hurried footsteps on the ground.
I looked and saw one of the mercenaries who’d come with Kendrick sprinting back the way he’d come.
"I’m going back to my mom’s arms!"
It was utterly bizarre.
Janson, reacting quickly, tackled him, narrowly preventing a disaster.
That sealed it.
"Mandrake."
"…What!?"
"It’s definitely the work of a mandrake."
Ramba’s face turned ghostly white.
"M-Mandrake? You mean the notorious top-tier demonic beast from Tristan… But how does my lord know about mandrakes?"
Tristan.
The demonic realm in the Kingdom’s west.
Of course I’d know.
Few in Conwell know the geography of the Kingdom’s west better than I do.
The Kingdom’s west was the main stage of the war.
In my past life, I spent half my youth there.
Tristan, the Kingdom’s demonic realm, so different from the Empire’s, was a sort of hunting ground for us, weary of the stench of blood.
It offered a unique diversion.
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Mandrake? What kind of name is that?
What’s new? The Kingdom folk have tacky naming tastes.
Other units call them landmine weeds.
Step into their territory unaware, and you’ll suffer all sorts of hallucinations until you go mad.
They lure people, animals, even other demonic beasts, and feed on them.
It’s only recently been discovered that ordinary-looking weeds are the culprits.
What do you say, want to check it out? There’s a big bounty on them.
They say more Imperial soldiers have been eaten by mandrakes than killed by Kingdom swords.
Hallucinations, huh? Ridiculous. Are these demonic beasts casting spells or something?
Who knows? Maybe they’re enchanted weeds.
Hah, some measly plants?
If you’re scared, just say so. I’ll go alone.
Cut the nonsense.
Now we’re doing lawn-mowing in a demonic realm? Get my hunting permit ready too.
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…Back then, I should’ve ignored Hermann’s taunts.
I thought demonic beast tricks only affected those with weak minds or frail bodies.
Hermann and I sensed something was wrong the moment we stepped into the mandrake’s territory and got out quickly, but we still suffered aftereffects for a while—nightmares, exhaustion, nausea, tinnitus, you name it.
‘…Hm.’
Recalling that ordeal made me grimace, but Jayden spoke cautiously.
"Even with holy mages in the mercenary coalition, for them to end up like this, it must be a top-grade mandrake."
"That’s likely."
"My lord! Then my men…"
"I’ve heard mandrakes don’t consume their prey immediately but store them in their own way."
"S-So…"
"They can be saved. If we go now."
As Jayden was about to say something, Bill approached.
His eyes looked crazed too, startling me.
"What’s with you?"
"B-Bihen. Then Bonnie and Clyde are…"
"Don’t worry. I’ll bring them back."
Jayden and Ramba’s eyes nearly popped out, glaring at me.
"What are you saying, Bihen! Entering a mandrake’s domain without holy magic blessings or magical gear is suicide!"
"Exactly, my lord! We should wait for Lord Roland and discuss a plan…"
"By then, it’ll be too late."
I didn’t realize until I died, but now I know.
Mandrakes, like Wendigos, are demonic beasts that use dark magic.
In my past life, I didn’t understand the nature of dark magic, so I was helpless.
But not now.
"Since it’s urgent, I’ll go alone. Commander, wait here for the Lady and brief her."
"Bihen…!"
"I’ll be back soon."
As I turned to leave, my eyes met Jewel’s.
Her face showed utter disbelief at my actions.
Uncharacteristically, her mouth hung open.
"Young Lord, what are you doing…?"
"Can’t you tell? I’m going to kill the mandrake and save those who are still alive."
"But why you? There’s no reason for you to take the risk. It doesn’t even make sense financially. Their lives, all combined, aren’t worth a strand of your hair, if we’re being cold about it."
Before she finished, Ramba lunged at her, practically throwing himself.
"You! Get over here! I can’t take it anymore! A brat with blood still wet behind her ears, talking like that…!"
Janson and Bill held Ramba back, while Maserin and the trading company members in front of Jewel drew their swords.
The crazed mercenaries were busy calling for their mothers…
"Enough—!"
I’ve really seen it all now.
The commotion stopped instantly.
In the silence, I met everyone’s gazes calmly.
"…Until this subjugation is over, everyone in this canyon is an ally. Comrades."
I looked at Jewel.
I’d learned from Eugene.
"That’s why I’d save them."
Conviction is only valuable when it’s foolish enough to be called naive.
"You would too, Jewel."
That’s what chivalry is.