Surviving as a Knigh Chapter 77 : Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Bahamut, the rcenary King, was a legendary figure in this world.

The term 'rcenary' was fading away, pushed aside as even small gangster-like groups began calling themselves knight orders and reaching into the work forrly done by rcenaries.

He was the one who gave aning to the existence of the na 'rcenary'.

In the past, those called rcenaries in this world filled the ranks of low-level soldiers or did work even more nial than that.

On the battlefield, they were considered arrow fodder or human shields, their main role being to fill the numbers.

As a result, the treatnt of rcenaries naturally worsened, and predictably, the number of applicants decreased.

Thus, being a rcenary was mostly a profession chosen by criminals or those driven to the end of their lives.

Most influential figures hired rcenaries yet pointed fingers at them and distrusted them.

During such tis, a rcenary nad Bahamut appeared one day.

Wielding a single greatsword, he road the world freely, earning the title 'rcenary King'.

Despite reaching the supre realm of Master, he identified himself as a single rcenary.

Those who admired such a Bahamut flocked under his banner.

rcenaries were no longer just those who did nial tasks and were treated as consumables.

Among rcenaries, Superior-level individuals erged, and skilled individuals like Bahamut, at the Master level, appeared.

A rcenary Guild was established, and rcenaries could be introduced to jobs matching their rank and level.

rcenaries whose identities were guaranteed by Bahamut and the rcenary Guild naturally saw their treatnt improve.

Along with that, the overall treatnt of rcenaries also changed.

People began calling Bahamut, who had achieved all this, the rcenary King.

That was Sancho's explanation.

On the second day after setting off towards Bahamut, I spotted a familiar face in an inn.

Karl, needing information anyway, grabbed Sancho, who was engrossed in poker, by the scruff of his neck.

"Huh!? Who is this? Isn't it Sir Karl?"

He pretended to be surprised, but could it really be a coincidence?

The organization he belonged to was the fastest source of information on the West Continent.

Since reuniting like that, Karl had continued his journey, obtaining information from Sancho until now.

"I will serve you diligently until we reach Ulstein!"

"Stop the bullshit."

"Heop."

He seed to know it was bullshit.

[Gloves of the Seeker: Gloves of the legendary knight Bartein, known for slaying demons. Bartein's power resides within them. Increases brute strength. Increases defensive power.]

[Set Information: Belt of the Seeker, Boots of the Seeker]

While Sancho shut his mouth, Karl was looking at the description of the gloves he had received as a reward this ti.

Although he was wearing them, the unfriendly system didn't provide a detailed explanation of what functions the gloves had.

Karl just assud they had special functions like the other equipnt he used.

'Basically, their durability and defense were certainly excellent.'

They seed likely made of a special material, as they didn't even get scratched when stabbed by decent swords.

Since it was a set, he thought it would be nice if he could obtain the belt or boots too, if the opportunity arose.

In any ga, set item effects were usually good.

Checking the rough information of his newly acquired equipnt, Karl spurred his horse and continued his journey towards the rcenary King's location.

***

A whopping 8 floors.

It wasn't common in this world.

At the top of such a huge castle, a man sat with his eyes closed, lost in thought.

"So, have you found the one who brought in outside forces?"

"We are still investigating."

The white beard growing from his chin and head, and his white hair, were things even the rcenary King couldn't stop.

"It's my oversight. I should have paid more attention to my disciples.... They weren't like that when they were young...."

Bahamut let out a deep sigh.

"How could that be your fault, my Lord? It is rely their choice."

Despite the comfort from Zabed, who had dedicated himself to the rcenary Guild alongside him for a long ti, the rcenary King's expression didn't change.

"There is one piece of good news."

Zabed shared a piece of good news for his lord.

"Sir Karl yer is said to have departed for this place."

"Is that true?"

"Yes, it is."

Bahamut liked the recent rumors about the figure nad Karl yer.

He even enjoyed summoning people to hear about the path Karl had walked so far.

"I heard he also resolved Alcantara's internal strife?"

"That's correct. Despite the machinations perpetrated by those Tarantula bastards, I heard it was resolved well thanks to Sir Karl."

"The damage was considerable, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it seems about half of the knight order's personnel decreased. They either died or left, I heard."

"For the ti being, Alcantara won't be able to exert as much power as before, I suppose. Contact Owen and convey that if he needs rcenaries, he should contact us anyti."

"I will convey it imdiately."

Bahamut nodded and looked out the window.

"Karl yer, huh. I hope to et him soon. If even half the rumors about him are true, perhaps he can solve the problems with my disciples."

He hoped Karl could sort out his complicated thoughts.

Even though he was the rcenary King, whose profession was solving other people's problems, the issues with his own disciples were too difficult for him.

***

As they got closer to the Ulstein Domain, where the rcenary Guild headquarters was located, the number of people who looked like rcenaries noticeably increased.

Because of this, the domains around here certainly had a stronger sense of freedom compared to domains centered around knights and nobles.

There were significantly more taverns than in other cities, and inside the taverns, the sound of laughter from people raising their mugs never ceased.

People singing, dancing, or playing instrunts, as well as artists drawing pictures, could also be seen without difficulty while walking down the street.

"Isn't the atmosphere really great? I always get excited and happy whenever I co here too."

It was Sancho, speaking in an excited voice, caught up in the surrounding atmosphere.

"...."

Leaving behind Sancho, who was starting his useless talk again, Karl decided to look around the Ulstein Domain alone for a bit.

As Karl entered a tavern, there was a group of rcenaries shouting while clinking beer mugs.

'Noisy.'

Karl, who didn't particularly enjoy rowdy and noisy places, frowned very slightly before smoothing his expression and taking a seat in a rather secluded corner.

"What can I get for you?"

"Beer, and duck at."

While Karl waited after ordering his usual food, the conversation of rcenaries from one side reached his ears.

"Honestly, isn't it obvious that Sir Kavar should be the successor? He's Lord Bahamut's first disciple, after all. In truth, isn't he soone lacking in nothing, be it character, reputation, or skill?"

"You don't know anything. When it cos to rcenaries, isn't personal martial strength the most important thing? His personality might be a bit off, but the next rcenary King should be Sir Seonil."

"If that happens, none of us will survive. Isn't that a known fact among those who worked with him? And is that personality normal? I heard beating his subordinates is basic. How can he lead the guild with that temper?"

"What did you say? Are you finished talking? If you want to talk like that, are you unaware that rumors are spreading about Sir Kavar being two-faced too?"

"Sir Kavar is two-faced?"

The two rcenaries, who had been happily singing while clinking beer mugs just monts before, drew their weapons towards each other.

"Let's see how long that mouth of yours can run."

"With those skills?"

The two rcenaries charged at each other.

The surrounding people, watching the clash between the two, actually clapped and cheered.

While everyone was enjoying themselves, only the tavern owner let out a deep sigh.

Seeing that he only sighed despite the establishnt's property being damaged, it seed this kind of thing wasn't uncommon.

"You seem to be from outside. This must be your first ti seeing such a sight."

After handing Karl a beer mug, the tavern owner picked up a beer from an adjacent empty table and raised his glass towards Karl.

"It's the culture of the people here; they consider clinking glasses together a friend's duty."

Karl nodded.

"The succession fight seems quite intense?"

"It wasn't originally this bad, but the situation has worsened recently."

"What is the rcenary King doing for the situation to worsen? Wouldn't this end if he just officially announced his successor?"

"It's not that easy."

The tavern owner, who looked quite old at first glance, seed to have gained his own wisdom from doing business here for a long ti.

"All three of Lord Bahamut's disciples have different followers, and their individual scales are considerable, so if the rcenary King declares any one of them, the probability of the remaining factions rebelling increases significantly."

"I see."

Karl recognized that the succession structure here was also quite complicated.

"By the way, did you hear? I don't know who, but supposedly one of the three successor candidates brought in Baltimo's forces."

"What nonsense is that! Don't they know that rcenaries must never collude with specific factions beyond a certain line!"

"Shh! Quiet down, man."

"It's a rumor widely spread in the city. I heard the Espino rcenary Corps got hit recently."

"Weren't they neutral?"

"They were neutral, but... it seems they were trying to align with soone."

The principle Bahamut prioritized most when establishing the rcenary Guild was not to permanently join hands with anyone.

Due to the nature of the rcenary Guild, needing to trade with any faction depending on the circumstances, joining hands with a specific family, noble, or knight order faction would make it difficult to work with the other side.

rcenaries killing each other could happen due to disputes between employers, but the Guild itself forming cooperative relationships with soone was sothing that should absolutely never happen.

'Interesting.'

Listening to their story, it seed one of the candidates had committed a taboo act.

And right in the middle of Ulstein, where the rcenary King resided.

Even though the situation had reached this point, the rcenary King still seed to have no intention of stepping in.

Even in the chaotic situation where people were swinging weapons and throwing objects at each other, Karl put the duck at in front of him into his mouth and chewed silently.

***

Karl spent the next few days wandering through taverns and various places, listening to people's stories.

And when he had grasped the situation to so extent, he walked towards the rcenary Guild headquarters.

Ulstein was a sowhat peculiar city; before the rcenary Guild was established, it was barely worthy of being called a city, with just one small castle barely standing.

The owner here was addicted to gambling and sold the castle, and the one who bought it was the current Bahamut.

Even longer ago, it was said to have been a count's castle.

After Bahamut purchased the castle and established the rcenary Guild headquarters, it reportedly developed into a larger city in about 20 years.

Moreover, peculiarly, existing features like the moat and castle gate had all lost their defensive functions.

The castle gate was open, and the moat seed to have been filled in long ago.

"They said they removed the castle gate and moat so that anyone could enter freely."

Sancho, who had insisted on following even though Karl said he would go alone, explained.

"The Guild Master's office is this way."

Following the guide's direction, he opened the door to what appeared to be the office and entered.

A man transitioning into old age, with a white beard and white hair, sat in a chair.

'Hmm.'

Karl swallowed sothing akin to a groan.

"Welco, Sir Karl Reitz yer."

It was natural condescension, but it didn't feel awkward at all.

'He is above .'

That was a kind of shock.

After stepping into the realm of Master, he had t several other Masters.

As a result, Karl had thought that while there might be slight differences in level, there wouldn't be significant disparities among Masters.

And that was a very big misconception.

Top 10 of the Continent.

The man before him, one of the ten strongest on the West Continent, was soone whose limits even Karl couldn't fathom.

"It's been a while, soone sizing

up like this. Hahahahahaha."

Looking at Karl, whose eyes were wide open, Bahamut laughed heartily.

"Well then, how about this?"

As soon as the words fell, the pressure of a terrifying aura was applied, so intense that Karl could barely hear the hearty voice.

Karl surrounded his entire body with Aura to deflect the pressure.

After doing that for a while, the pressure that had been pressing down on Karl subsided as if by magic.

"Yes, welco to Ulstein."

Bahamut, who had strode forward before he knew it, extended a rough hand forward, and Karl clasped his hand.