Chapter 98: The rcenary Bureau’s First Request (12)
The fierce battle ended.
Ragnarsson ordered the march to stop and commanded the n to pitch their tents.
He then distributed various allowances and spoils of war to the rcenaries. Shatien took a portion of the amount he received from Ragnarsson and paid it out again to the rcenaries as a separate bonus.
“Next.”
A rcenary with a severed arm walked forward. Shatien felt a pang of pity.
“Tsk. Is your arm alright?”
“Of course. Now that it is cut off, it no longer hurts. I am worried about making a living, but things will work out sohow, right? Hahaha.”
The rcenary spoke with an awkward laugh. Still, it was better than his fallen comrades.
“I see. Congratulations on your retirent.”
Shatien let out a bitter smile and handed the rcenary his share.
-Clink.
The bag was quite heavy. The rcenary opened the pouch and gasped in surprise. Even considering retirent pay, it contained an excessive amount of money.
“There’s so much….”
“I added my own share to it. The devotion you showed is not sothing that should end with a re pittance. And….”
Shatien took a letter from his tunic and handed it to the rcenary.
“What is this, Captain?”
“Go to the rchant guild and submit this. It is a letter of recomndation. Since you know how to handle horses, if you give this to the guild, you can at least get a job as a local stable keeper. That should be plenty even with one arm, shouldn't it?”
“...”
The rcenary’s eyes grew red. Soon, thick tears stread down his face.
“Kuhuhuk. Thank you. Centurion Shatien. I will never forget this grace.”
“Tsk. Why is a grown man crying? Stop it at once!”
“Kuhuk. But still. To take care of like this. Kuhuhuk.”
The rcenary wiped his nose and tears with his sleeve. A wave of quiet emotion rose among the rcenaries waiting behind him. To take care of even the wounded rcenaries.
There was likely no other rcenary centurion on the entire continent who was this humane.
‘As expected of Sir Shatien.’
‘I am truly lucky to have co here.’
‘It is a rcenary's life anyway. It is good to live in a place like this.’
Shatien glanced at the faces of the rcenaries. Loyalty was clearly visible in their moist eyes.
‘Good. Very nice.’
There was nothing more frustrating than a rcenary one had carefully raised leaving or becoming independent. It was better to show that he took responsibility until the very end.
Plus, it cleared the discomfort in the corner of his mind.
Since Ragnarsson had purchased a large quantity of the armor obtained this ti, gold coins were overflowing. It was a level where he could form another centuria if he only received permission.
“Next.”
“…There seems to be no one else.”
“Good. You all worked hard. Rest until the next command.”
“Understood, Centurion.”
“You worked hard too, Centurion.”
Shatien dismissed the rcenaries and looked back at a chair.
Renalf, the rebel knight captured recently, sat there quietly. Since there was no proper place to imprison him, Shatien had tied his own arm to Renalf’s with a rope.
Renalf spoke as soon as their eyes t.
“Hohoho. I was deeply moved. Sir Shatien. Could you show that sa rcy you have for your rcenaries to ? I will never forget this grace. I swear it on my honor.”
Shatien let out a smirk.
The man was likely saying those things because he didn't want to die... But what did honor matter to a rebel knight who had already thrown everything away?
The duality of these knights was truly uncomfortable.
“I am sorry. I don’t particularly have any rcy to show you. Do I?”
Shatien spoke while flicking Renalf’s sword. The blade vibrated and emitted a clear sound.
Only then did Knight Renalf swallow hard.
‘I will die instantly if I slip up with my tongue. As the rumors say, this man has no hesitation in killing nobles.’
Furthermore, Renalf had no family to pay his ransom. Revenge? All the connections who might seek such a thing had died in the previous battle.
“Uh… I think speaking with words would be sufficient. Like a noble. Dignity? Isn't dignity a good thing? Haha.”
“Hahaha. Dignity? A conversation? A conversation is good. Then… Sir Renalf. Shall we have a little chat?”
At the sowhat familiar repertoire, the rebel knight Renalf felt a chill down his spine.
“B-But! If possible, how about talking in a bright place with many people! Right? Please!”
It was a judgnt made under the assumption that he wouldn't be treated poorly if many people were around.
After all, he was a knight and a noble. Of course, Shatien had no intention of complying.
“Hmmmm. That's strange. Does a rebel knight like bright places? Ah! Now that I think about it, you did attack in broad daylight!”
Renalf, caught off guard, made an excuse.
“Ahem. That was a mistake. Please forgive .”
“If I forgive you, do the dead co back to life? Or do those injured because of you recover?”
“No, that is not it. Kuheock. Keck. Keokeokeock!”
Shatien grabbed Renalf by the neck and lifted him. Then he dragged him into his tent.
“Are you goi… to… k-kill… … Kuhuk!”
“What? You want to kill you?”
“No! No! Sir Shatien! Please. Kuhuk! Save !”
-Thud.
Shatien threw Renalf onto the floor. Finally, unable to bear the insult, the rebel knight shouted.
“You who know no honor!! Fine, just kill ! Kill !! You filthy rcenary. To ignore the customs of nobles and speak like this! Arghhhh!”
“Hmm. Now that I think about it, it seems eyes are not necessary for a conversation. Since I am a filthy rcenary, as soone said.”
Only then did Renalf realize his mistake and shouted hurriedly.
“No, Sir! Sir Shatien. Just say the word. Should I confess the location of the remnants? Hehe.”
Shatien shook his head.
“No. I am not even curious about the location of so rebel knight remnants.”
“T-Then?”
“It is simple. Give the na of the man who told you to attack us. Then I will release you imdiately.”
A smile spread across Knight Renalf’s lips.
‘I am saved!!’
To think it was for such a reason. Since he didn't get along with that person anyway, he felt no guilt. If it was that, he could say it a thousand tis.
“T-That is not difficult! His na is Waldheim. From what I know, he is of peasant origin who learned so letters at a church!”
Shatien frowned at those words. Not Balud, but Waldheim?
‘What is going on now?’
From all the circumstances, it was clear the enemy had an extraordinary strategist. He naturally thought that strategist would be Balud, but to hear the na Waldheim out of nowhere. It was a na he had never heard before.
‘Hmm. I planned to find and deal with Balud before he grew too large. This is unexpected.’
The thought he once had about letting Balud go to buy ti was truly a stupid one. The Northern rebels Shatien experienced were not weak enough to be careless around.
On the contrary, they were dangerous.
Dangerous enough for the tide of war to collapse if he made a mistake. What if the famous and great Balud appeared in the midst of that? The rcenary group participating in the Northern war could suffer great damage for no reason.
‘I don't understand. Just what is going on?’
His head throbbed.
He was confused by the unexpected variable. Did this an he had to kill this man nad Waldheim first?
In the anti, Knight Renalf was proudly demanding his release.
“Now. Keep your honor and release as promised. Sir.”
“Hmm. Is it really Waldheim?”
“Of course. Why would I lie? His na is truly Waldheim. He is negotiating with each noble by rallying the power of the serfs. He is becoming the leader of the rebels before we know it. Though he and I don't get along….”
A noble jealous of a serf. It was consistent. In a way it was pitiful, and in another way, it was just a mass of inferiority complex.
“D-Don't look at like that. You will have a similar impression once you et Waldheim.”
“Hmm?”
Shatien smirked at Knight Renalf’s words.
“A similar impression?”
How did Renalf think he knew him to say such a thing?
“I value myself. My appearance as I improve day by day. I am not a fool who falls into despair by comparing myself to others like you.”
“E-Eek!”
It was a deeply insulting remark, but Sir Renalf could not bring himself to retort.
Because it was the truth.
And Shatien clicked his tongue and released Renalf.
“Go.”
“?! Can I really?”
“Yes. You are… not my opponent anyway.”
He had already grown too much to be compared to such small fry.
Before he knew it… an ordinary knight could no longer dare to approach Shatien.
* * *
That evening, after releasing Sir Renalf.
Shatien headed to Ragnarsson’s tent to attend a banquet celebrating the victory.
“Kuhahahaha! Bring more ad!”
“Tsk. Those rebel bastards were nothing.”
“Right, we just need to keep going like this.”
The boisterous laughter of the Elf knights could be heard from the entrance of the tent.
-Swish.
Shatien pushed aside the tent flap and stepped inside. He was slightly taken aback by the scene before him.
‘Is this a tent or a stable? No, is this even a festival?’
Plates rolled on the ground and discarded food was everywhere. Parts of the floor were damp with what was either saliva or drink.
To play so ssily in a lord's tent. If a Southern noble had seen this, it would have been a scandal.
Nevertheless, no one cared. To them, their lord Ragnarsson’s tent was no different from a gathering place to flaunt their friendship.
“Uwahaha! Sir Shatien. You have co!”
Ragnarsson shouted when he spotted Shatien.
“Ah, Viscount. Congratulations on the victory.”
“Congratulations my ass! Did I fight alone? We all did it together, didn't we?”
“Uwahahahaha. That is right, Viscount!”
Everyone burst into laughter at Ragnarsson’s words.
“Now, sit here. I have a lot to talk to you about.”
“Talk?”
Shatien tilted his head as he sat down. What would there be to talk about with him?
“Yes. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical about your rcenary group. I wondered if you would fit the battlefield conditions of the North.”
“Ah, I understand, Viscount.”
“But seeing this battle, I was a fool. By any chance… Can you increase the number of rcenaries sent here?”
“Pardon?”
“I will issue a recruitnt permit in your na. I am telling you to grow your size by recruiting more rcenaries. I will send a letter to Baron Mordo to get permission for everything else. How about it?”
It was a fantastic proposal.
To recruit more rcenaries.
Did that not an he could form a large rcenary force of nearly 1,000 n? Therefore, Shatien replied.
“Of course I will, Viscount.”
The dream of reconstructing his family.
He had moved one step closer toward it.
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