Chapter 343: Let’s Make Our Escape Easier (2)
Martin, caught by Ghislain in an instant, screamed at the top of his lungs.
“You, you bastard! Do you even know who I am?!”
Ghislain ignored Martin’s outburst and dragged him along without a care.
“Step aside, unless you want this spoiled brat’s throat slit before your eyes.”
It was the very image of a bandit. Faced with Ghislain’s menacing warning, the knights and soldiers had no choice but to step back.
“Let me go, you bastard! Do you think my father will let this slide? I’ll make sure you’re all dead!”
Martin’s continued raving was futile. Ghislain gripped him by the collar and strode forward unimpeded.
He didn’t even prepare for a counterattack. After all, it was impossible for the knights here to mount one against him.
The soldiers, seemingly aware of this fact, cautiously trailed Ghislain, keeping their distance.
“If you don’t want to see this fool die here, then get out of the way.”
The soldiers waiting outside were no different. When Ghislain appeared with Martin in his grasp, the troops parted like the sea, making way for him.
No one dared to attempt a rescue. Even if they managed to save him, they would be dead the moment Martin got so much as a scratch.
That was how little loyalty Martin commanded. Most of them only pretended to follow out of fear of the consequences.
Gordon leaned toward Ghislain and whispered.
“So… we’ll let him go once we’ve escaped safely, right? Killing him might cause quite a stir.”
Ghislain smirked, raising a corner of his mouth in disdain.
“Who cares? We’ll have to fight them anyway, so why bother worrying about appearances? That said, I won’t kill him.”
“Then who will?”
“That’ll be up to the Drake Mercenary Corps. This bastard is their mortal enemy.”
Martin had previously killed several family members of Drake Mercenaries to set an example. The grudge they held was anything but trivial.
Ghislain could have killed him himself, but vengeance meant far more when delivered personally. Understanding this better than anyone, Ghislain intended to hand Martin over to them.
Gordon and Lucas exchanged uneasy glances at his words.
‘Great. Things are going to get messy again.’
‘I swear, nothing ever ends quietly.’
This was the son of the Marquis of Roderick, a man considered the overlord of the West. Killing Martin would surely provoke the Marquis into a furious rampage.
And yet, the idea of his mortal enemies relocating to Fenris’s territory? The Marquis would stop at nothing to destroy Fenris in retaliation.
Of course, they knew Ghislain had already set his sights on the Marquis of Roderick as his next target. However, the difference between a political rivalry and a personal vendetta was immense.
Political enemies could, under certain circumstances, become allies again.
But a family feud meant one side had to die for the sake of honor.
‘Seriously, is there really a need to create more enemies this way?’
‘You never know how things will turn out. Sometimes, the lord is just too extreme.’
Unaware that Ghislain harbored centuries worth of grudges as a regressor, Gordon and Lucas couldn’t help but feel unsettled.
Though their whispers were quiet, Martin, standing right beside them, surely heard everything.
Seeing their uneasy expressions, Martin realized that Ghislain truly intended to kill him. Panic-stricken, he flailed wildly and screamed like a madman.
“W-What are you all doing?! Save me! Hurry and save me! These bastards are going to hand me over to that Dominic scum!”
What good were a thousand soldiers following him if none dared to act? There wasn’t a single loyal or capable subordinate among them.
Thus, Ghislain led Martin safely to the underground tunnel.
Martin’s soldiers followed but could proceed no further.
“Oh, Lord! You made it back safely! I knew you would.”
Galbarik greeted them with a chuckle as he opened the door.
Ghislain ushered Gordon, Lucas, and the hostages inside first, then followed last, shutting the door behind them. With the door sealed, the soldiers could no longer pursue.
“Now, let’s head outside the city. They’ll probably figure out where we’re going soon.”
“Understood. I’ll collapse the entrance then.”
The hostages and prisoners moved under the guidance of the knights. Meanwhile, Galbarik destroyed the door, sealing the tunnel.
RUMBLE!
With a deafening roar, a cloud of dust billowed into the air. The dwarves’ craftsmanship ensured that the door completely blocked the tunnel.
“What… what do we do now?”
“We need to rescue the mayor…”
“If we don’t, the Marquis will kill all of us.”
The soldiers who had been following behind didn’t know what to do and simply stomped their feet in frustration. The escort knights were no different.
With Martin captured, they needed to follow somehow, but the collapsed tunnel left them with no way to pursue. Moreover, they weren’t smart enough to deduce where the tunnel might lead.
The captain of the city’s defense forces pondered for a moment before questioning one of the knights.
“Did you say Dominic is gathering troops?”
“Yes, sir. We received intelligence that he was planning to strike here today, so we were preparing for it.”
“Then he must have set up camp outside the city. It wouldn’t be possible to gather such a force within the walls. Let’s head out and check.”
At least the defense captain showed some strategic thinking. After regrouping their forces, they moved toward the outskirts of the city.
Meanwhile, Ghislain and his party exited the tunnel and arrived at the rendezvous point.
There, a group of heavily armed individuals waited, emanating a menacing aura.
The hostages initially cowered at the sight but soon recognized the figures and broke into joyous expressions. They were none other than their families the mercenaries of the Drake Mercenary Corps.
“H-Honey!”
“Father!”
“My son!”
As the hostages burst into tears and rushed forward, members of the Drake Mercenary Corps ran out to meet them.
Hostages and mercenaries embraced each other, sobbing.
Even the hardened mercenaries wiped their noses at the heartwarming scene. Those who had served with the corps for a long time understood the pain behind these reunions.
Dominic, as the leader of the corps, was more overwhelmed than anyone else.
“Dad!”
A boy rushed toward him, with his mother running alongside.
Dominic embraced them both tightly, shedding the tears he had long suppressed.
“Ahh…”
Words failed him. It felt unreal, like a dream.
After the dwarves were captured and Ghislain taken, rescuing the hostages had seemed like an impossible feat. Instead, Dominic had resolved to ensure that Martin would die, even if it cost him his life today.
But now, all the hostages had been rescued. It was more than he could have hoped for.
After sobbing for a long time, Dominic finally regained his composure. He stood and bowed deeply to Ghislain.
“Thank you so much! I will never forget this debt for as long as I live!”
“I have one more gift for you,” Ghislain said nonchalantly before throwing Martin forward.
“Ugh! Y-You insane bastard! How dare you!”
“Martin!”
The moment Dominic laid eyes on Martin, he drew his sword. The mercenaries around him followed suit, all unsheathing their weapons.
How they had longed to kill this man! Because of Martin, their loved ones had been taken hostage and even killed. No punishment would ever be enough for him.
“W-What is this? Are you planning to kill me?! Do you think it’s all over just because you’ve rescued the hostages? If you harm me, do you think my father will just stand by?!”
Martin scrambled to his feet, glaring at the mercenaries and screaming at the top of his lungs. He still hadn’t grasped the situation.
“My father is one of the most powerful nobles in the Ducal Faction! Do you think the ducal families will stand idly by?!”
Born as the son of the mighty Marquis of Roderick, Martin had never experienced true hardship in his life. He couldn’t imagine that mere mercenaries would dare to do anything to him.
Surely, if they harmed him, the Marquis’s wrath would crush them all.
Dominic stood there trembling, gripping his sword tightly but unable to make a move.
Martin was the sworn enemy who had killed his wife and father. Even devouring him alive wouldn’t quench his hatred.
But killing Martin here? That would condemn the Drake Mercenary Corps to a life on the run.
The enmity between the two groups was already deep, but killing Martin would provoke the Marquis of Roderick into relentless pursuit, determined to annihilate them.
‘I have to kill him… I must.’
Dominic, as the leader of the mercenary corps, also had the responsibility of considering the lives of his comrades. It was a burden he couldn’t ignore.
As Dominic stood frozen, Ghislain spoke in a calm tone.
“Revenge should be taken when the opportunity arises.”
“…My lord.”
“Don’t fear the consequences. You’re moving to Fenris now.”
“But… if we do this, the Marquis of Roderick will undoubtedly try to destroy Fenris. The Marquis is one of the leading figures in the Ducal Faction.”
Ghislain smirked and replied confidently.
“I can handle you and your people. Don’t worry about that.”
“…”
Dominic gulped involuntarily.
The Marquis of Roderick wasn’t just a wealthy noble of the West, but also its very overlord, a figure often described as the embodiment of the Western region itself.
No matter how strong Fenris was in the North, they weren’t yet capable of withstanding the full force of the Marquis of Roderick.
Dominic, unwilling to impose such a burden on his benefactor, loosened his trembling grip on his sword and lowered it.
“I’ve rescued my remaining family… That’s enough for me. This was already an impossible feat.”
If Martin were spared, the Marquis might not find it necessary to expend resources fighting Fenris. At most, he might deal with the Drake Mercenary Corps when the opportunity arose.
But if Martin were killed, the situation would escalate dramatically. Not only would the Drake Mercenary Corps become the Marquis’s enemy, but Fenris, which harbored them, would too.
Ghislain stared at Dominic and asked, “You won’t regret this?”
“…I’ll carry this pain in my heart.”
Ghislain shook his head firmly.
“There’s no such thing as vengeance buried in one’s heart. There’s only forgiveness or revenge nothing else.”
“Count…” Dominic murmured.
“I’ll say it again. You don’t need to worry about the consequences. But if you still can’t stomach it, I won’t force you. If you want to forgive, you can. That’s your choice. However…”
Ghislain’s cold gaze fixed on Dominic, who still hesitated.
“Whether or not you kill Martin, I will destroy the Marquis of Roderick. And the Ducal Faction too. That will not change. No one can stop me.”
“…!”
“So don’t concern yourself with the matters between Fenris and the Marquis. But if you still feel burdened by it…”
Dominic’s trembling eyes met Ghislain’s resolute gaze. Ghislain spoke again, his voice firm.
“Then, when the time comes to fight the Marquis, stand at the vanguard of my army. That will be enough.”
For a long moment, Dominic stared into Ghislain’s eyes. Everyone around them held their breath, watching the tense exchange.
Thunk!
Dominic suddenly strode toward Martin and roughly grabbed him by the throat with one hand.
“Gah! Ugh! Y-You bastard! Do you know who you’re grabbing?! Let go! I said, let go!”
Ignoring Martin’s protests, Dominic spoke in a low voice.
“Consider this as the advance payment for my services.”
Then, with a chilling smile, he continued.
“I will stand at the vanguard of the Fenris army.”
Thrust!
“Guh…!”
Dominic’s sword pierced Martin’s abdomen. But even as blood spilled, Martin staggered, refusing to die.
Dominic turned to the captains of the Drake Mercenary Corps and their subordinate leaders.
“It’s your turn.”
The commanders and squad leaders of the Drake Mercenary Corps approached Martin with sharp, murderous intent. They too had suffered losses, their families taken and killed because of him. Their hatred ran deep.
As the mercenaries approached, Martin clutched his bleeding abdomen and screamed.
“D-Don’t come closer! S-Stay away! You lowly scum dare to lay hands on me? My father, my father will never forgive”
Thrust! Thrust! Thrust!
Martin’s words were abruptly cut off as the mercenaries’ blades stabbed into his body, one after another.
Thrust! Thrust! Thrust!
“Ugh…!”
The pain was excruciating. By now, Martin should have been dead.
But the mercenaries, seasoned veterans, deliberately avoided fatal areas, ensuring he would suffer as long as possible.
Thud.
Martin collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Blood loss made his vision blur, and his head swam with dizziness. Yet the worst of it was the unbearable pain searing through his entire body.
For the first time in his life, Martin experienced suffering unlike anything he had ever known.
“P-Please… spare me…”
The mercenaries stared down coldly at Martin, showing no sign of sympathy. He was the man who had killed their loved ones and taken their families hostage, forcing them into vile submission. He didn’t deserve their pity.
Martin’s dimming vision flickered toward a familiar figure Ghislain. Staggering forward, Ghislain spoke calmly as he stood over Martin.
“Go on ahead and wait. I’ll send your father to join you soon.”
Martin fought to hold onto his fading consciousness as fragments of Ghislain’s and Dominic’s earlier conversation surfaced in his mind. Fenris, they had said. It had to be Fenris.
“You’re… not just a mercenary… Fenris… Who… are you?”
A faint smile tugged at Ghislain’s lips as he replied.
“That’s right. I am the Count of Fenris. And…”
His voice carried with absolute conviction, reaching everyone’s ears.
“I will become the King of Mercenaries.”
Ghislain’s declaration sent shockwaves through those gathered. The conviction in his voice left no room for doubt.
Every person present felt a profound resonance, an unshakable belief that his words would become reality.
Ghislain had unwavering faith in himself.
And one day, the banner of the King of Mercenaries would once again rise, spreading beyond the kingdoms to engulf the entire continent.