Chapter 112

"It’s just a guess. I heard from the barbarian warriors that something was wrong in the North."

"Ha... I knew something felt off that day. I thought you had somehow learned what the new messenger brought this morning."

Trude sighed and wiped his face with his hand before turning back to Ian.

"If you knew that, why haven't you left already?"

"And what about you?"

Trude opened and closed his mouth, seemingly at a loss for words, before glancing toward the mercenaries, leaving the inn one by one. He then took another swig of his drink.

"I guess I'm a Northerner after all. My head knows they’re right, but I can't seem to move my feet... damn it."

"

Mmm....

" Ian glanced sideways.

There were some Northerners among those leaving, but all those staying behind were Northerners. Though these people had acted like mercenary opportunists, they stayed when the North was in trouble. It was pretty ironic, but Ian didn't bother to point it out. Instead, he took a sip of his drink and spoke.

"Tell me what you've heard."

"They say dark clouds and shadows swallowed the barrier. That was the first message. The guy said it was like an eclipse. And that he heard countless screams beyond the barrier the entire time he was riding out. He didn't see the barrier collapse with his own eyes, but... it must have... fuck it."

Trude downed his drink in one gulp before adding, "All those northern legends were true. There really is a wraith army dreaming of restoring the Giant Kingdom. Ah... Northern Superhuman...."

He muttered the last words like a lament before bringing the glass back to his lips. Ian stared down at his own drink. He didn't know how long the barrier fortress had held out, but it must have fallen by now.

"I don't know what news the messenger brought this morning, but it won't be good. His face was pale as a ghost."

"We'll find out soon enough."

Ian nodded as he watched the mercenaries leave the tavern. After a moment, Ian’s expression grew peculiar.

"...Or maybe we'll find out right now."

"...?"

Trude, tilting his head, followed Ian's gaze toward the tavern door. A man who appeared to be a knight was entering. He glanced at the mercenaries, who had their things packed with disdain, before locking his gaze on Ian. After scrutinizing Ian's appearance, the knight nodded and approached.

"Are you, by chance, Sir Ian Hope, the Stern Goddess' crusader and the executioner of the Giant Queen?"

"...?!" Trude and the nearby mercenaries stared at Ian in bewilderment.

Ian looked up at the knight with an impassive expression. If he's calling me that, he must be from the church.

"That's me, but I'm not a knight, so there's no need to call me 'Sir.'"

A smile spread across the knight's face.

"If the Stern Goddess recognizes you, then what's a knighthood compared to that? Nice to meet you, Sir Ian. I'm Mildred Anis of the Second Legion of the Dominion."

"Pleased to meet you, Sir Mildred. What brings you here?"

"I have something to discuss with you, but...." Mildred trailed off as he glanced around.

The mercenaries, catching his icy gaze, quickly averted their eyes.

I just came down and haven't even had breakfast yet. Fuck...

Ian sighed quietly and grabbed Trude's bottle before standing up.

"Let's head upstairs."

***

"I'm glad you didn't leave. As expected, the Stern Goddess' crusader differs from other mercenaries. They wag their tails for a little extra coin, but when the North is truly in danger, they all tuck their tails and flee—"

"I'm no different from them." Ian cut off Mildred as soon as he sat down.

While Mildred blinked in confusion, Ian poured himself a drink and continued, "I'm only staying because it seems like there's money to be made. That's why I'm sitting across from you right now."

Mildred forced a smile. "

Ha, ha

... just as firm as I've heard."

Ian looked at him with a humorless expression.

"Where did you hear about me?"

“From the church. Priest Ferma mentioned you. He said that the executioner of the Giant Kingdom's last queen was here and that we should ask for your help. He said you'd be a force as strong as a centurion, given your outstanding achievements. We need a focal point to rally the mercenaries.”

A faint smirk crossed Ian's lips.

Priest Ferma clearly hadn't forgotten the grudge. He was undoubtedly trying to put Ian in an extremely dangerous situation under the guise of asking for help. It didn't matter, though, as long as there was a quest involved.

I guess I'll have to visit that priest again after the next loot haul. Maybe I should bring a giant's head with me...

Ian raised his glass and spoke, "It seems like the situation is quite dire if you're reaching out to a mere mercenary like me."

Mildred nodded, his face hardening as if he'd never smiled. The young knight was clearly afraid, and his erratic behavior was likely an attempt to mask his fear.

"... Have you heard anything about the Northern situation?" Mildred asked.

"I know the basics. The barrier is being consumed by the darkness, and the wraiths are howling."

“That simplifies our conversation. Here’s the latest news: the darkness enveloping the barrier has started moving south. I’m not sure what happened beyond it, but... it can’t be good. The cities and fortresses soon to be shrouded in darkness will probably share the same fate. So—”

"Just get to the point," Ian interrupted. "Skip to the main point. I already know how things will go."

"...Archduke Olaf has ordered us to prevent those unholy creatures from defiling the lands near Travelga. So the brave General Gelud—"

This guy doesn't know how to be brief.

Ian swallowed a sigh.

Then again, explaining such a crazy order concisely would convince no one.

"So, what you're saying is..."

Ian took a sip of his drink and cut Mildred's long-winded explanation short. "You're going to hold off the wraith army at the Bellium Fortress instead of Travelga. You lack soldiers, so you're looking for mercenaries to fight and die alongside you."

"...We just need to hold out until reinforcements arrive. If the walls are about to fall, we'll retreat. And maybe... the reinforcements will get there before the wraiths do."

Mildred, who had been stiff for a moment, added with a hollow voice, probably because he didn't believe his own words.

Ian chuckled softly. This order didn't surprise him at all. The Archduke had given the same order in the game.

And then he acted like he expected no one to survive until the reinforcements arrived. That old bald bastard.

Mildred, misunderstanding Ian's expression, quickly added, "We've almost completed preparations to set out. The primary force will depart no later than tomorrow afternoon. We'll issue a conscription order to the mercenaries in a few hours, but we can't stop them from running away. I've heard of your achievements, Sir Ian. You'd certainly be a great help. If you could rally the mercenaries and—"

Ian tuned out Mildred's rambling as the quest window popped up in front of him. Not just one, but two.

[Recruit Reinforcements] and [Bellium Resistance.]

It was a quest chain Lucas had given in the game before. Ian hadn't expected to receive it this way. After closing the quest window, Ian looked at Mildred, who was still talking, trying to calm his nerves.

"Sir Mildred."

"May Lu Solar guide us—Yes?"

"Are you coming too?"

"...Yes."

"Then stop babbling nonsense. You already know this is basically a suicide mission."

"...." Mildred opened and closed his mouth several times, but no sound came out.

Ian smirked and lifted his glass. "So, make a realistic offer. What's the pay if we make it back?"

Mildred's eyes widened before he finally exhaled and said, "We can guarantee you at least fifty imperial gold coins. Those you recruit will receive twenty coins each, all fairly."

"At least? So, we could get more?"

"Depending on your contributions, yes."

"All right... but if you really want to be fair, give everyone fifty coins. After all, one needs to survive to receive them."

"You're right. ...We'll do that. With the church's support, it should get approved."

"And?"

"And...? Is there something else you want?"

"I heard there are many weapons made of imperial steel in Travelga's arsenal."

"...That would require the military's approval."

"If I die, the deal becomes void. You don't have the confidence to promise something that insignificant?"

"...."

Mildred seemed at a loss for words, but then nodded and said, "I'll do what I can. I'll make sure every surviving mercenary gets one... And I'm telling you now because I know you'll ask for this anyway."

"Excellent. Now, we just have one last step."

"Last... step?"

"Bring a written contract, stamped with the legion or the church's seal."

"...." Mildred gaped as if he hadn't expected things to go this far.

Ian didn't even scoff. He didn't trust verbal contracts with nobles or the church, especially in desperate situations like this.

The door swung open just then.

"If you keep me waiting again, I'll tell Ian everything—"

Thesaya, who was talking to Charlotte, stopped mid-sentence as she noticed Mildred and turned her eyepatch-covered face toward him.

"Oh, we have a guest."

"...." Mildred glanced back and forth between the two in confusion as Ian stood up.

"Get that contract ready. The job starts once it's signed."

"...Ah!" Mildred shot up and quickly left the room.

Thesaya, tilting her head as she watched him walk away, asked, "What's up with him?"

"He's a client," Ian said as he passed her and leisurely stepped into the corridor.

Thesaya followed up with, "Where are you going, Ian?"

"To eat. Both of you, come along."

***

The tavern was eerily quiet now. Those sitting silently, including Trude, wordlessly ascended to the second floor at Ian's gesture.

"...Do you think we'll be alright?" the waitress asked as she placed food on the table.

Ian glanced up at her and shrugged. "Who knows? If you stay put, you probably won't die."

"You think so?"

"Probably."

The waitress exhaled with relief and walked away toward the kitchen. As soon as she was out of earshot, Thesaya and Charlotte spoke up.

"The atmosphere on the streets is chaotic. Everyone looks downcast, the gates are crowded, and the soldiers are bustling around."

"They seem to be prepared for deployment. I don't understand it."

"And yet I'm going to join in on that nonsense," Ian muttered as he spooned stew into his mouth.

Charlotte frowned. "What did you say...?"

"I'm going to Bellium with the defense forces. I'll gather the mercenaries and lead them."

"Bellium... is that the valley fortress we passed through?"

"Yeah. You don't need to know all the details. You two won't be involved in this."

Charlotte's frown deepened. "Not involved? How can I not be involved when you're going?"

"Yeah, the three of us are one."

"You two are one, not me," Ian smirked and pointed his wooden spoon at Thesaya.

"I don’t know how many would survive, but someone will see this one fighting, and then the aftermath will be a hassle."

"Then leaving only the pointy ear behind is..."

"As you should know by now, you two are one. Having you around her will let me fight with no worry."

"...." Charlotte fell silent.

Ian looked at Thesaya. "You'd also feel more comfortable being with Charlotte."

"Well, it's actually kitty who can't live without me."

"That's why I want you both to pack up and head to the barbarian settlement right away. They'll welcome you. Help them guard the settlement. Even if Bellium doesn't fall, things might slip past the walls."

"If we just stay here quietly..."

Charlotte clamped a hand over Thesaya's mouth and lifted her. "All right, we'll do that. Just make sure you come back safely."

Ian chuckled softly. "Don't worry. I won't die holding onto your tail. While you're at it, tell Trude to come down."

"...I wasn't talking about the tail," Charlotte muttered quietly as she turned around with Thesaya, who had given up resisting and hung limply in grasp.

Now she's worrying about me.

Ian chuckled to himself and resumed eating.

Trude came down a few minutes later, scratching his belly. His face was weary, like he had just woken up.

"You called...?" He sat down, with his voice sluggish. Ian swallowed the meat he was chewing and looked at him.

"Are you staying here?"

"...That's why I'm still here."

"The soldiers are leaving for Bellium Fortress. They might start moving supplies this afternoon."

"Bel... Bellium?"

"Yeah. The remaining mercenaries in the city will probably be drafted too. So, you have three choices."

Ian munched on stew and held up three fingers. He began folding them down one by one as he continued speaking.

"First, you follow them for a pittance, or second, you sneak away during the night."

"...What's the third?"

"Volunteer with me in advance and come along."

"...?!"

"It'll be dangerous. I won't care about you guy’s situation when fighting. But..."

Ian shrugged his shoulders.

"If you survive, you'll earn fifty gold coins and an imperial steel weapon."

"Imperial-made...?"

"The choice is yours."

Trude's jaw dropped, and any trace of sleep vanished from his face. Ignoring Trude's gaze, Ian leisurely continued his meal.

Ian didn't care what choice Trude would make. He only looked back at Trude after finishing everything on his plate.

"What'll it be?" Ian asked after rinsing his mouth with his drink. By then, Trude had fought through his inner turmoil and finally spoke up.

"I'll follow you, Captain."

"Good."

The tavern door opened just as Ian flashed a smile. Mildred, panting for breath, held out a document.

"I brought the contract...."

The timing's perfect today. Could this be a sign that things are going well?

Ian thought, then gestured to Trude.

"See this? Then get up and tell everyone left in the city. Those who return alive will receive the same pay. The more people, the higher their chances of survival."

"...! Got it!"

Trude's eyes widened before he hurriedly pushed back his chair and dashed out of the tavern. Ian got up leisurely and approached Mildred, taking the contract from his hands and scrutinizing it. A few minutes later, Charlotte and Thesaya came down to the tavern.

"Yes. It's a fine contract."

Ian finally rolled up the document and looked at Mildred.

"Can you help my two friends here leave through the north gate first, Sir Mildred?"

"...Yes, that's doable," Mildred answered reluctantly.

Ian smiled. "Then, see you tomorrow."

That afternoon, after several wagons had crossed the northern gate, they issued the conscription order to the mercenaries. That night, a few remaining mercenaries snuck out of the city.

The next day, Ian led around twenty mercenaries through the north gate, forming the rear of the column heading for Bellium Fortress.