Chapter 682: Chapter 682

“Ah, understood!”

Osval just kept nodding and shouting that he understood.

He had already been completely humiliated, so there was no hope of continuing mercenary work in this region anyway. In fact, he was lucky to have survived even after being the one to pick a fight.

Ghislain’s voice followed in a low tone.

“Everyone will now be incorporated into the Julien Mercenary Corps. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. But don’t expect to work as a mercenary in this region anymore.”

“Y-Yes, sir, I understand.”

“You’re an exception. You seem halfway decent, so I’ll take you in.”

“I-I don’t want to…”

“Tsk.”

“Th-Thank you. I’m so grateful.”

He wanted to quit everything and return to his hometown right away, but he didn’t dare refuse. And just like that, Osval was forcibly made a member of the Julien Mercenary Corps.

Ghislain glanced around at the others and continued.

“If you don’t want to join our corps, and you don’t want to go anywhere else, you can always become a bandit.”

“…”

Who would do that? Anyone who tried would clearly end up caught and beaten to a pulp right away. That guy’s nickname was Bandit Smasher.

Better to just leave than become a bandit. But for people who had only ever worked as mercenaries, there weren’t many alternatives.

It wasn’t that moving to another region was a problem, it was having to start over from scratch.

For those who only knew how to fight, there wasn’t much choice. In the end, most of the mercenaries chose to join the Julien Mercenary Corps.

Ghislain shouted boldly to his newly recruited mercenaries.

“Welcome, friends! Though our start may have been less than ideal, from now on, we’re ‘family’!”

“Wooah…”

“Our goal is to become the strongest mercenary corps! And with whom? None other than our commander here, Julien!”

“Wooah…”

The bandits and mercenaries let out soulless cheers. It was already overwhelming to have been forced into the corps, and now the goal they were given was ridiculously grand.

The so-called commander had a permanently sheepish look on his face. No matter how you looked at it, the real power was that deputy commander guy.

But no one dared to question or confront it. Everyone had clearly learned just how terrifying Ghislain was.

If nothing else, discipline was firmly established. Everyone followed orders promptly and obediently.

“Alright, let’s go catch the next batch!”

Startled by Ghislain’s energetic declaration, Osval blurted out.

“C-Catch who now?”

“Every single mercenary corps in this estate will be brought under us.”

“A-Are you serious?”

“Of course, I am. So, get moving.”

“Um, boss…”

“What?”

“If we grow the corps by force like this… we’re going to make way too many enemies.”

Since Osval had been forced to join, a bit of resentment still lingered inside him. But that wasn’t a big issue. After all, no organization existed without a few defiant types.

The real problem was that as the mercenary corps grew, factions that aimed to keep it in check would inevitably appear.

Especially because in the neighboring estate, a terrifying mercenary corps existed. They wouldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

However, Ghislain responded with an unconcerned expression.

“So what? Our goal is to become the strongest anyway. Even if enemies pile up, we’ll just crush them all.”

Ghislain was firm. Osval was too afraid, a fist might come flying, to protest any further.

Ghislain immediately set off toward the next target. The faster they absorbed others before the rumors spread, the better.

There weren’t many mercenary corps left. Most had already left the Nodehill Estate because of them.

Soon, several mercenary corps received a visit from Ghislain.

“What the hell? Bandit Smasher? You got a death wish coming here?”

Thud!

“Oh? The guy we were planning to rough up came walking in himself?”

Thud!

“You reckless bastard! You’re dead today!”

Thud!

Everyone lunged at Ghislain the moment they saw him but they all got beaten to a pulp. Many had already been dealt with by Julien and Kyle before Ghislain even stepped in.

Ghislain absorbed each mercenary corps with flair. And since every single one of them had previously messed with his bandit underlings at least once, there was no lack of justification.

Osval was deeply impressed by Ghislain’s so-called “great campaign.”

‘Is he seriously planning to take over the entire mercenary world? Is that even possible?’

No matter how strong someone was, seizing control of the entire mercenary industry was considered impossible. That was common sense. But seeing how Ghislain was moving now, Osval found himself wondering if it might just be possible after all.

‘Ugh, I must be out of my mind. What kind of thought is that?’

There was no way it could happen. Osval quickly came to his senses.

‘I’ll just keep an eye on the situation, and if things go south, I’ll bolt right away.’

Most of the mercenary corps remaining in this area were nothing special. They had all relocated rather than risk clashing with the local lord.

But just crossing over to the neighboring estate changed the story entirely.

‘The Crest County has some seriously scary folks!’

Crest County, a powerful region located right next to Nodehill. It was known for its formidable forces.

Count Crest was a vassal of Marquis Falkenheim, the most powerful political figure in the kingdom. That meant Crest belonged to the kingdom’s strongest faction.

And like most lords, Count Crest maintained close ties with a mercenary corps, a group considered the strongest in the entire region.

If Ghislain kept this up, he would definitely end up clashing with that corps.

‘No, wait, that’s my chance. I’ll either flee then or surrender to them.’

With that not-so-humble dream in mind, Osval quietly observed Ghislain’s antics.

After closely watching Ghislain fight, Osval asked in a serious tone,

“Boss.”

“What?”

“Why is it that everyone says you’re a mage, even though you only fight in close combat?”

“Can’t you tell just by looking? I obviously look like a mage.”

“You obviously look like a berserker, though?”

“……”

“……Sorry.”

“Hmph, I guess it’s hard for ordinary people to recognize it.”

Ghislain felt a bit wronged. Lately, he’d taken a deep interest in magic.

Even though his body had improved, he kept casting various spells on himself. Spells that maintained a pleasant temperature at all times, spells that boosted his vitality those were just a few examples.

He deliberately kept using magic nonstop so that mana would flow naturally through his body. He had, quite literally, become someone who couldn’t live without magic.

And yet no one noticed this high-level use of magic!

“What a tragic thing.”

There was no helping it. Their perspectives were simply too different. Still, after he learned magic, he began to understand the world more deeply.

Ever since he gained the ability to use the Power of Will, it hadn’t been easy to reach a higher realm.

But as he learned magic and grasped the laws that governed the world, the Power of Will had also begun to grow little by little.

‘To think I could train this way… As I thought, there’s no set rule for enlightenment.’

He was satisfied. All the techniques and knowledge he had acquired were intertwining and becoming one.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed that no one acknowledged it. As if trying to brush off that disappointment, he kept moving without pause.

In an instant, he absorbed the remaining mercenary corps, leaving only one left. The commander of that final corps, lying on the ground, glared at him and spoke.

“You… you think you’ll walk away from this unscathed?”

“And you thought you would, picking a fight with us?”

“……”

The other mercenary commanders had tried to threaten him too, but they didn’t even get to break even. After all, they were the ones who picked the fight and tried to pull tricks in the first place.

Even so, this had gone too far. Not even criminal syndicates waged war this relentlessly.

In the end, the mercenary commander issued a stern warning.

“Word about you has already spread throughout this area. If you keep rampaging like this, ‘Ironclad’ won’t sit idly by.”

‘Ironclad’ referred to the Ironclad Lion Corps, the most famous mercenary corps in the region.

They were the very same mercenary corps from Count Crest’s territory that Osval had feared. Their commander was rumored to be a high-to-top-tier powerhouse, and their influence was immense.

Ghislain had heard those rumors long ago but he wasn’t scared at all.

“I don’t care whether it’s Ironclad or Tinclad. Any mercenary who stands against me has only two choices.”

“W-what do you mean?”

“Retire or join our mercenary corps.”

“……”

“What’s your plan? You’re no exception either.”

The Mercenary Captain bowed his head deeply.

Retiring at his age would make it hard to make a living. But he didn’t want to move to another region and start over as a rookie either.

Next to him, Osval chimed in with Ghislain’s words.

“Yeah! Just join already! What else are you gonna do? Big bro says he’ll give you a squad leader position if you come!”

“…….”

The Mercenary Captain seethed at Osval’s teasing but couldn’t bring himself to argue.

If he joined the Julien Mercenary Corps, he could probably work as at least a squad leader. Like that spineless Osval.

In the end, the Mercenary Captain nodded and muttered softly.

“I’ll… join.”

Ghislain beamed.

“Great, we’re ‘family’ now. Let’s build the best mercenary corps together.”

“…….”

The Mercenary Captain’s gaze turned cold. What a grand dream. The captain himself was shy, but the vice-captain was overflowing with ambition.

Thus, in just a single week, Ghislain had forcefully taken over every mercenary corps in the Nodehill Estate.

The Julien Mercenary Corps had grown overnight into a force with over 100 members.

* * *

Tyran, the leader of the Ironclad Lion Corps, was a rather famous mercenary in the Kingdom of Teramont.

He had a massive frame; his entire body wrapped in muscles like boulders. His nickname “Ironclad” was well earned.

The force and presence he exuded reminded one of a lion. No mercenary dared to meet his gaze properly.

A man born a powerful predator. That’s why he was called the Ironclad Lion.

Countless nobles had set their eyes on him. They tried all kinds of ways to recruit him, but he refused them all.

His reason for turning down wealth and glory was simple. He didn’t want to spend his life bound to any noble family.

Tyran had a grand goal: to create the greatest mercenary corps in the kingdom. So that no noble would dare to touch him.

He always moved toward that goal.

“Count Crest will soon launch a territorial war. We’ll be taking part in it, so prepare thoroughly.”

“Understood.”

Tyran had gathered his officers to make the announcement.

At his dignified words, everyone bowed their heads. They stood in formation, disciplined like a regular army.

Unlike other mercenary corps that were carefree and disorganized, the Ironclad Lion Corps upheld strict discipline.

Tyran looked at the map and spoke to his officers.

“Before the Demonic Abyss begins to stir, the Marquis of Falkenheim wants all other factions in the kingdom to be cleaned up as much as possible.”

One officer swallowed hard and asked,

“Are you saying… a civil war might break out?”

Tyran glared at the officer. Even if it were true, it was a word that should never have been spoken aloud.

Realizing his mistake, the officer immediately bowed his head. Tyran, after staring at him briefly, continued speaking.

“If the Demonic Abyss begins to stir, there won’t be any more territorial wars. Which means our mercenary corps won’t have any opportunities to shine.”

To mercenaries, fighting against the Demonic Abyss was nothing more than a waste of life. Even if they won the war, the glory would be taken by someone else.

Before that happened, they needed to firmly establish their base and build their power. Territorial wars were the best stage for mercenaries to gain influence.

Of course, no one knew exactly when the Demonic Abyss would stir. There had been rumors for over a hundred years, but so far, it had remained quiet.

However, since no one knew when it might move, humanity could never afford to ignore its movements.

“Don’t worry about anything else. In accordance with the wishes of Marquis Falkenheim, Count Crest will be at the vanguard. We’ll be accompanying the Count for the time being. That’s all you need to know.”

“Understood.”

No one was too concerned. Marquis Falkenheim’s influence already covered the entire kingdom like a shadow.

All they needed to do was ride the tide and expand their own power.

Tyran added a warning.

“Still, just in case, watch your tongues and make sure every mercenary in the area gets the message: choose your side wisely. If they stand on the wrong one, they’ll be facing us.”

The Ironclad Lion Corps was a massive mercenary group with no fewer than five hundred members. There was no way smaller groups would go against Tyran’s will.

Tyran truly believed that. At least in this region, no mercenary who had defied him had lived to tell the tale.

A few days later, one of the officers gave a report. He was the one in charge of information within the Ironclad Lion Corps.

“All the nearby mercenaries have agreed to follow our lead. Even those not participating in the war have pledged to remain neutral.”

“Good. That’s how it should be.”

It was practically collusion among mercenaries. But Tyran nodded as if it were only natural.

This was the power Tyran possessed. Mercenaries who didn’t want to die had to read the room and pick the right side.

Thanks to this control over the mercenaries in the region, even nobles had no choice but to yield to him.

Everything was going exactly as Tyran had planned. But then the officer brought unexpected news.

“The mercenaries near the Nodehill estate… it seems they won’t be joining us anytime soon.”

Tyran frowned at the unforeseen development.

“Why not?”

“Because there aren’t any mercenary corps left. They’ve all been… forcibly absorbed into the Julien Mercenary Corps.”

“What? Forcibly absorbed? Weren’t there quite a few small corps in that territory? I heard they were all operating normally not long ago.”

“Yes, those guys apparently picked a few fights with the Julien Mercenary Corps… and then the Juliens went to each of them for revenge.”

Hearing that, Tyran tilted his head in confusion.

The absurdity of the story left him momentarily speechless.