Medenich felt like his insides were burning up.
“Can’t we just go through as we are? It’s not like we have no escort, and from what I hear, that mercenary group is pretty seasoned.”
Whether he understood Medenich’s anxiety or not, the middle-aged man in front of him just shook his head.
“My friend, do you not know how rough the back route through the Hyarc Mountains has gotten these days? Don’t even think about it unless you’ve got two or three mercenary groups with you!”
“I’ve heard the rumors too, but at this rate, we’re bound to go bankrupt!”
“That’s unfortunate, but I can’t help you with that.”
Medenich was a merchant who traveled between the Southern Empire and the Northern Region. He was also an ambitious man, willing to sell his mountain to make investments.
Right now, the cargo he was carrying was mostly wine from the Northern Region. The problem was the delivery deadline.
It’s true he was delayed a bit trying to secure more goods.
However, he was certain that if he hurried, he wouldn’t be late.
“Sigh, this is driving me mad. Who would’ve thought I’d waste two days here?”
The back road through the High arc Mountains was the fastest way from the Northshine Domain to the Empire.
The slope was steep, so the horses and porters would suffer a bit, but that’s nothing a generous bonus wouldn’t fix.
If he could just get these goods over to the Empire, he’d make a solid profit.
“Have you ever traded with nobles from the Empire?”
“…Eh?”
“Tsk, tsk…”
The middle-aged man clicked his tongue quietly.
He was a merchant himself, so he knew full well how terrifying it was to break a contract with a noble.
“If we don’t set out today, we’ll miss the deadline…”
The noble who had contracted with him had ordered a huge quantity of wine, saying he’d provide it for his party.
Medenich himself had guaranteed there’d be no delay and persuaded the noble to place the order.
But if he was late and the party was ruined, he didn’t even want to imagine what would happen afterward.
Not only would he owe an enormous penalty, he’d incur the wrath of a noble. In that case, bankruptcy would be the least of his worries; his life would be at risk.
His face turning pale, Medenich pleaded with the leader of the Soron Mercenary Group.
These mercenaries waited under the mountains to take merchants like Medenich as clients.
Medenich, the middle-aged man, and another merchant had pooled their money to hire these mercenaries temporarily.
“Captain, can’t we just set out? If you count the personal bodyguards us merchants hired, we’ve got a fair number, don’t we?”
“Ah, you don’t know what you’re saying. Those who’ve tried to go through with just one mercenary group never made it through unscathed. If there aren’t at least one or two other groups besides us, the contract is null and void. Of course, we’ll return the deposit.”
“Sigh…”
As Medenich’s sighs never ceased, morning passed and it became midday.
Then a group of people approached.
“Are you also planning to cross the back route?”
“That’s right… Are you mercenaries?”
A glimmer of hope shone in Medenich’s eyes.
The group, which looked to be about ten strong, was clearly armed.
“That’s right. We plan to cross today.”
“Oh! H-how many people do you have?”
“Nine.”
Medenich started calculating in his head.
He and the other merchants had hired five personal guards. The Soron Mercenary Group had fifteen.
With this new group adding nine, they’d have about thirty in total.
“Good, good! Everyone, look! A new mercenary group has arrived! Now that we have the numbers, let’s get going!”
He hurriedly called the other merchants over.
“Nine, huh? That brings us to the right number… What does the Soron Mercenary Group think?”
The middle-aged merchant turned to Soron. Since he led the largest group here, his opinion was crucial.
Soron scanned the new group and frowned.
He walked over to Brunel and asked,
“What’s your mercenary group’s name?”
“Our name? Uh, we’re the Brunel Mercenary Group.”
“Brunel? Never heard of you. Are you Brunel?”
“That’s right.”
“I’ve been in the mercenary business for ten years, but I’ve never seen you before. Be honest, how long have you actually worked as mercenaries?”
Brunel’s face darkened at the interrogation.
“Why do you want to know? You’re not even our employer.”
“True, that’s true. But when a fight breaks out, we’re the ones who’ll suffer, aren’t we? What help can a bunch of rookies be?”
“You don’t have to worry. We all pull our weight.”
“Hah, do you think being a proper mercenary is that easy?”
As the atmosphere grew more tense, Medenich stepped in between them.
“Why are you like this, Captain Soron? Didn’t you say the more people we have, the safer it is?”
“That only applies when the people have some experience. Not these kinds of guys.”
As disdainful remarks were thrown at the rookie mercenaries, one of them, who wore his hood low, put his hand on his waist, as if about to make a move.
Another hooded member quickly held him back, but Soron, who was watching, only scowled.
“These rookies don’t even know their place…”
Worried things would get out of hand, Medenich quickly pulled out a pouch and slipped it to Soron.
The sound of coins jingled.
“Come on, Captain. Let’s just focus on getting the numbers together and making it through safely, all right? The bandits won’t dare attack us, I’m sure.”
“…Hmph. I’m only putting up with this for your sake. Rookies these days, tsk!”
Soron turned on his heel and went back to his group.
Only then did Medenich let out a long sigh and approach Brunel.
“Ah, I’m Medenich. You said you were the Brunel Mercenary Group, right? Let’s make a contract right away. We’ll pay you for the whole journey, whether there’s a battle or not, until we’re past the back road. How about it?”
“That’s fine with us.”
“What about the other merchants?”
“…Let’s do it.”
When Brunel and the other merchants nodded, Medenich hurriedly drew up a contract and gathered the deposit from the merchants to pay them.
Now, he truly didn’t have a penny left to his name.
“Phew…”
After all that chaos, he collapsed onto his wagon seat and put his hands together.
May nothing go wrong and let us arrive safely.
Goddess, please help us.
Medenich prayed desperately.
***
“You really had to make it obvious, huh?”
“…Sorry. I lost my temper for a moment.”
“Still, we got through it well enough. That’s what matters.”
“Yeah, you did well too. Your acting was pretty good.”
“Thank you.”
Brunel bowed his head to the hooded man—Glenn.
Glenn fiddled with his hood, frowning.
“But I just don’t get it. I understand Eredin Knight, but why do I have to wear a hood too?”
“What reason did you give for me to wear a hood?”
Another hooded figure, Eredin, asked him with a slightly incredulous expression.
“Your looks stand out too much. What mercenary looks like you?”
“Then, on the other hand, do you think there’s a mercenary who looks like you, Young Master?”
“…What’s wrong with me?”
Glenn blinked as if he genuinely didn’t know.
Eredin just tilted her head at that sight.
Is he seriously asking because he doesn’t know?
“Sorry, but you don’t exactly look like a mercenary either, Young Master.”
Brunel, unable to watch any longer, spoke up. Glenn glanced at Sir Nedian beside him.
Sir Nedian slowly nodded as if agreeing.
“…Heh, I guess there’s no helping it.”
“You two, hurry and get inside the baggage wagon. If you’re caught now, the bandits might catch on.”
Eredin frowned.
She disliked sneaking around like this.
“Hey, you rookie mercenary group!”
Just then, an uninvited guest showed up.
That mercenary captain who’d picked a fight earlier—was his name Koron or Soron?
“What do you want?”
Before anything could happen, Brunel stepped forward.
“Yeah, you’re their captain, right? As your senior, let me give you a word of advice…”
Advice, my foot.
He hadn’t even come alone—he’d dragged the other mercenaries over as well.
Clearly, he was trying to intimidate them.
Brunel decided to just play along for now.
He couldn’t predict what might happen if Young Master or Eredin Knight got involved.
“Advice, is it?”
“Yeah, those two with the hoods! Come here for a second. Let’s have a talk.”
“Wait, what business do you have with my mercenaries? If you have something to say, say it to me.”
“Hey, kid, I’m not going to eat them. But what’s with those two wearing hoods for no reason?”
“…They’re sensitive to the cold.”
With nothing else to say, Brunel just bluffed.
…Is this guy crazy or just desperate to die? Why does he keep poking at those two?
“Hah! Cold? Cold, really? Mercenaries these days have no basics. What kind of mercenary wraps himself up in a hood like a dancer? Do they set up a bed every night too, hahaha!”
At Soron’s mockery, his men all burst out laughing.
Eredin, on her way to the wagon, stopped and glared in their direction.
“Ooh, what, you gonna glare at me? Come say it to my face!”
“That’s enough. Why are you making a scene?”
Hearing the commotion, the disguised knights posing as mercenaries began to gather one by one.
For a moment, a subtle standoff unfolded between the two groups.
Thankfully, Glenn managed to drag Eredin into the wagon before anything happened.
“Hey! Seriously! Captain Soron, are you really going to be like this? Didn’t I ask you to behave, huh?”
Fortunately, Medenich rushed over and persuaded Soron, ending the small disturbance.
***
“You really need to watch your temper. You’re not a teenager anymore…”
“…I’m sorry. I’m just not good with that kind of person.”
Eredin apologized in a small voice inside the wagon.
She must’ve realized she slipped up.
“Fine, just stay here with me until something actually happens. That’s what we were supposed to do anyway.”
“Okay.”
Suddenly, a question popped into Glenn’s mind.
Did Eredin at this point have any experience killing someone?
“By the way, Eredin Knight. Have you ever killed a person before?”
“Why aren’t you answering? Don’t tell me you’ve never done it?”
This could be trouble.
Would she freeze up in the middle of a fight?
But thinking back to his previous life, that wasn’t really her personality.
“I have experience killing training pigs.”
Everyone went through that kind of training as a squire.
…But what does that have to do with this?
“I asked if you’ve killed a person, and you’re talking about slaughtering pigs?”
“Bandits are criminals anyway. It’s the same thing.”
“Since when did pigs become criminals?”
“It’s about the same, for me.”
“Sigh, you’re really something…”
As Glenn continued to chide her, Eredin couldn’t help but flare up.
“Then, have you killed anyone, Young Master?”
A laugh escaped him.
Had he ever killed someone?
Back in Ricklan, he’d killed so many with his own hands that the count was nearly three digits.
…But how many times in this life?
“Once?”
Now that he thought about it, in this life, he hadn’t killed anyone except for the Black Hand boss.
Eredin scoffed.
“Hmph, so there’s not much difference between us.”
“…It’s still a definite difference. Isn’t it?”
“Then I suppose I’ll just surpass you on this trip.”
Somehow, a glint of competitiveness flashed in her eyes.
Glenn felt a headache coming on again.
“Why are you so eager to compete over something like that?”
“Are you scared I’ll outdo you?”
Now he really couldn’t believe her.
“Are you trying to use what I taught you last time? You’re pretty, but that won’t work on me. Such childish…”
“Looks like you’re scared stiff. Not very manly, are you?”
“…Should we make it a bet?”
“Gladly.”
Listening to the banter between the two, those standing guard outside the wagon felt their mood sour.
“…Aren’t you two being a little too relaxed?”
Brunel asked uneasily, while Tillen blushed and hung her head.
Sir Nedian let out a small sigh.
“…Still, they get things done when it counts, so I suppose it’ll be fine.”
Probably.
Sir Nedian added quietly.
“This is so embarrassing I could die…”
Meanwhile, Tillen was starting to regret following out of concern for Eredin.
Who would’ve thought the lady she served would be so brazen…
Unable to voice her feelings, she could only blush.
And before long, the merchant caravan and the mercenary groups set off for the back road.