Chapter 389: Silver Mercenary (6)

Mercenary commissions on the Three Sisters Peninsula differed greatly between north and south.

In the north, where large kingdoms held sway, regular warfare against fellow humans was common, while the southern free cities faced more irregular combat against monsters and pirates.

“Life is all about one big score. Scrapping for copper coins and silver coins is for suckers. That’s the mercenary life — you scrape by, and if you’re unlucky, you die for nothing.”

“Win one big fight and you can live off it for over a year. Get lucky and catch a noble’s eye, and you could change your fortune entirely. Why suffer down south for your whole life?”

Mercenaries who dreamed of high risk, high reward preferred the north. You could claim the equipment, money, and ransoms of defeated enemies, and the profits from raiding civilians were substantial.

“What crap. How many guys actually strike it rich that way? Far more of them get taken out by a single lance thrust or crossbow bolt trying to make that one big score.”

“What’s success anyway? Do you have to catch a noble’s eye? Look at Henderson. He spent five years doing odd jobs in one city, snagged the vegetable shop girl, and settled down. Every time I pass by and see them arranging vegetables, I’m so jealous…”

On the other hand, those who wanted stability preferred the southern free cities. While raiding opportunities were scarce, there was plenty of work and favorable conditions for finding good settlement opportunities.

Besides, their main enemies were foot soldiers, so it was easy to press the attack while minimizing friendly casualties. It was ideal for steadily building reputation.

In fact, after sweeping away the merfolk lair, the second commission came to Eugene of its own accord.

“Your Majesty! We beg for the aid of the lord of the fairies and the hero who slew the dragon!”

Envoy delegates from the free city of Veros knelt and pleaded earnestly. Cassandra smiled meaningfully and whispered at the sight.

“They acknowledge the dragon-slaying feat right from the first meeting? Others usually radiate disbelief through their expressions or tone of voice.”

“They must be desperate, whatever they’re asking for.”

Veros City was allied with Spardia City, a common arrangement among the southern free cities.

With northern kingdoms and the eastern Empire constantly eyeing them, and pirates and monsters attacking as well, they couldn’t survive without mutual support.

Of course, not all cities had tight alliances. Based on non-aggression pacts, this city had this option, that city had that option, creating a complex web.

“Veros has long been a friend of Spardia. That makes it my friend as well. What brings you to me? I will gladly listen.”

Veros, on the eastern coast of the peninsula, was a city Eugene had taken interest in. It was a port city that maintained good relations with Spardia while also trading with the Eastern Empire.

If he performed well here, he could solidify a strong ally on the peninsula while also appealing to the Eastern Empire.

The Veros envoys were moved by Eugene’s warm response and bowed even deeper.

“Our city is in crisis. We are threatened by a terrible monster.”

“I know that Veros is not a city that would be shaken by pirates.”

This was expected. Veros City was prosperous thanks to its excellent location, and thanks to its diplomatic skill, it could hire warriors from both the peninsula and the Eastern Empire.

But if they had still come seeking help, it meant the enemy couldn’t be dealt with through fine warships or superior numbers.

“Is it a big one?”

It wouldn’t be a bugbear at the lower end of medium monsters or a cost-effective troll. The free cities could handle those on their own.

But stepping up to the tier above that meant a huge jump in danger while the reward for killing it decreased. It had become difficult to recruit mercenary companies or free knights.

“It’s a creature satisfying enough to sate the great axe Your Majesty wields. A Kraken has seized the waters before the harbor.”

“…What?”

Even Eugene hadn’t anticipated this.

* * *

The Kraken.

Along with the sea serpent, it was a giant monster known as a living disaster of the sea. However, unlike the former, it was considerably harder to find.

Sea serpents operated near the surface, so if you were prepared to die, you could easily find them in their habitat.

The Kraken, by contrast, operated in the deep ocean, so even sailors who ventured onto the open seas had rarely seen one.

“Why on earth would a Kraken cause a ruckus in front of a port?”

For a moment, Eugene wondered if the Kraken, like the merfolk or sea turtles, came ashore to lay eggs. But given that it was a cephalopod, that seemed unlikely.

“I-I don’t know. We’ve searched through all past records and made inquiries, but there’s never been a precedent like this…”

“When a monster like the Kraken suddenly appears in human territory, there must be a reason. If we can find out what it is, we can send it away without fighting an uncertain battle.”

Eugene’s words were sound reasoning, but the fact that the opponent was a Kraken was the problem. Only its appearance, size, and ferocity were known; much of its ecology remained shrouded in mystery.

“We’ve already mobilized all our connections to investigate every possible avenue. But right now, the only one we can rely on is Your Majesty! Please, don’t abandon us!”

The envoys had thrown away all pride and were begging.

-The great Caliph wishes to end the fruitless confrontation to date and move forward together with you.

After the Caliph changed, the Eastern Empire had halted its predecessor’s mindless expansion policy. Sensing the smell of money, several free cities on the peninsula had attempted to lobby for trade deals.

The finest goods and the best trade rights were limited, so they had to get ahead of others.

And Veros, with the right combination of luck, ability, and effort, had become the number one trading partner. Their city delegation had even been granted an audience and dinner with the Caliph.

Embassies were being built, and trade relations were being solidified when the Kraken struck.

-Damn it! If the port stays blocked like this, other free cities won’t just stand by and watch. They’ll definitely steal our position.

-Absolutely not! Do you know how hard we worked to open these channels!

Naturally, Veros City’s feet were on fire. And just then, the Silver Mercenary Company and Eugene’s reputation had become a ray of hope like sunlight.

The problem was that Eugene couldn’t exactly accept immediately either.

-Land monsters are one thing, but sea monsters have too many variables. We can’t exactly fight a naval battle.

But flatly refusing would damage his prestige. Cassandra, sensing his hesitation, stepped forward.

“My King. Their circumstances are pitiable, but many have already sought Your Majesty’s help. They all reached out with their families’ safety at stake. You cannot simply push them aside. Please, deliberate with your subjects and determine priorities.”

A simple but clean excuse. For things like this, it was better for someone below the king to float the idea.

“How could we, Your Majesty of honor, ask you to prioritize us alone? We will await your decision.”

The envoys had no choice but to take a step back here as well.

“These are gifts prepared by our city. Please accept them.”

They had brought wagons full of gold, silver, and rare treasures from the Eastern Empire. Eugene was staying in the wealthiest district of Spardia, but even passing citizens would gape at the sight.

“I haven’t made my decision yet, have I?”

“Even if you don’t help us, it’s fine. We simply wished to express our admiration for Your Majesty’s reputation.”

A lie. They simply wanted to burden Eugene with a sense of obligation by showering him with gifts first.

“When Your Majesty, who slew a dragon, arrives in our city with a fairy army, that alone will give everyone courage.”

The Veros envoys had researched not only Eugene’s reputation but also his personality.

-A king who personally ate rat meat and stood against the nobles because he loved the common people.

-If we can just get him to the city…

Then they could show him the suffering citizens and make an even more compelling case. That was their strategy.

* * *

“Why exactly has the Kraken come to cause trouble in the waters before the city?”

Gathering his leadership, Eugene posed the question.

“Giant monsters fundamentally have strong territorial instincts. Could something have happened in the deep sea?”

Homi, who always thought from a hunter’s perspective, recalled the habits of beasts. The countless monster rampages that had recently occurred in the Great Fairy Forest had originated from this same principle.

“What could threaten or drive a Kraken away in the sea? Even if something exists, I don’t understand why it would stubbornly remain in front of the port. Wouldn’t it be easier to go to a different stretch of ocean?”

According to the envoys’ information, this Kraken was abnormally obsessed with attacking the city. It was so obvious that even crossing species lines, everyone could tell the creature was enraged.

“Could a rival free city have carried out sabotage? There are quite a few alchemical concoctions that can lure and hold specific monsters.”

This was Cassandra’s opinion.

“It was a method my mother’s kingdom often used against hostile factions as well.”

She lowered her voice so only Eugene could hear.

Cassandra’s maternal dark elf kingdom, though its individuals were exceptional, faced severe limitations in numbers and territory. Relying solely on harsh terrain wasn’t enough to weather the world’s storms.

Therefore, they had used every means available to weaken surrounding powers, and using monsters to fight monsters was one such method.

“A good thought, but would it be possible to lure a Kraken from some unknown point deep in the ocean?”

“It would be extremely difficult. The Easterners are close to the sea and possess mysterious knowledge, so I thought it worth mentioning.”

Cassandra didn’t think the probability was high either. She was simply presenting various possibilities to Eugene. It was the ruler’s duty to combine them and derive the most reasonable conclusion.

“I do have one thing that’s been bothering me…”

Rex let his voice trail off.

Surprisingly, he was someone who understood the virtue of silence. On matters of general combat, he would actively voice his opinions, but in unfamiliar domains like this, rather than running his mouth, he preferred to listen.

“Rex, say whatever you like. Feel free to speak your mind.”

At Rex’s gesture, dark elf warriors placed a large serving tray on the meeting room table. On it lay some of the loot collected from the merfolk subjugation.

“These are…”

Eugene picked one up.

It was an octopus sculpture crafted from gold. Unlike ordinary octopuses, it was depicted standing firmly on multiple tentacles, looking down with an air of arrogance.

The crafting style and finish were also distinctly different from the sculptures Eugene had seen before. It looked as though the merfolk had made it.

“They’re all octopuses.”

“Could these possibly be…”

All the retainers picked up the sculptures one by one. They weren’t all gold craftsmanship. Some were carved from coral, others were sculptures made by combining various things with ammonites. All of them were in the shape of an octopus.

“This is unmistakable.”

What Valda held was a sculpture of an octopus clutching a human ship in its tentacles. Anyone could see it depicted a Kraken.

There were five Kraken sculptures in total. They fit in one hand, and since they’d gathered so much from the Crystal Cave, they hadn’t been noticed. If Rex, whose hobby was sorting and admiring loot, hadn’t been there, they might have been overlooked.

“This was worn by the individual who appeared to be a kind of priest among them.”

What Rex produced from his robes was an ornate crown. It had a similar feel to what bishops wore, with a large eye engraved in the center and eight tentacles flowing down in a grotesque design.

“As everyone knows, savage tribes often worship giant monsters as gods. I believe the merfolk we wiped out may have been worshipping the Kraken.”

Rex pointed to the Crystal Cave on the map. Conveniently, the nearest city to it was Veros City.

“Just to be sure, I checked, and the ocean currents of the cove leading to the Crystal Cave also merge with the waters before Veros City.”

“So the Kraken appeared to avenge the annihilation of its servants? Mistaking Veros City for the culprit?”

“That is my hypothesis.”

It was a shocking opinion, but no one immediately opposed it.

Looking at the Kraken crafts, they couldn’t argue. Even within the merfolk’s rough artistic style, they could feel immense reverence for a god.

“Cassandra’s theory was partially correct. Sabotage was the cause. We just didn’t realize it was us who committed it against the Kraken.”

“You agree with the chieftain’s opinion?”

The skeptics spoke up.

“If it were any other creature, maybe, but it had to be an octopus. They’re called the con artists of the sea for being so intelligent.”

Octopuses used both short-term and long-term memory. If raised in a tank, they recognized their owners and could understand meanings conveyed through finger gestures. They knew how to use tools and had excellent judgment, capable of appropriate camouflage for each situation.

“Let alone a Kraken, which likely has a long lifespan and thus much experience.”

Nothing was more frightening than experience. Even species that were the epitome of stupidity among monsters, if they lived long enough, would skillfully outwit subjugation forces.

Giant monsters weren’t troublesome only because of their physical specs. They all had long lifespans, and with that came extensive experience that made them act intelligently.

Even octopuses, with an average lifespan under five years, were extremely cunning. What about a Kraken that could live for hundreds of years?

“Ruling as the god of the merfolk, receiving offerings, and living in luxury. That’s entirely plausible.”

Cassandra also seemed swayed by Rex’s opinion.

“Your theory was half right. Sabotage was the cause. We just didn’t realize it was us.”

“The people of Veros City wouldn’t have known. My subordinates personally sealed up anything that looked valuable right after the subjugation.”

The porters who arrived after the subjugation had simply moved what was already packed. This was to prevent anyone from sneaking anything away.

Of course, the relationship between the merfolk and the Kraken couldn’t be confirmed one hundred percent. At this point, perhaps eighty percent.

“I need to see it with my own eyes first.”

“You’re going to subjugate it?”

The dark elves were brave, but right now their voices lacked their usual spirit. Fighting at sea was the greatest taboo for them.

-We can’t even ride horses on a ship.

-If that Kraken swings even one leg, we’ll be fumbling around and fall into the sea.

-I-I can’t swim.

Their eye conversations were practically visible.

“Calm down. If the Kraken is burning for revenge, we might be able to lure it to shore. I don’t want to fight a sea monster on a ship either.”

“What he says is true. Going to Veros City doesn’t mean we must kill the Kraken. Drawing it to a place where we can fight is the city’s responsibility. No one would dare tell the king to go fight at sea.”

When the king and queen spoke with one voice, the decision was made.

“We’ll go to Veros City.”

The envoys who received word of their decision ran over barefoot and prostrated like frogs.

“We are eternally grateful!”

“May God’s blessing accompany Your Majesty’s decision!”

Kneeling on both knees and placing both palms on the ground was the Eastern protocol for addressing a king.

-Don’t the Easterners have any pride?

Eugene’s subordinates were satisfied with the maximum courtesy shown to their lord, but this custom didn’t sit well with them.

In the West, even before a king, only one knee was knelt. Except in special circumstances, kneeling on both knees was something you did only when praying to God.

This was also a reason Eugene had chosen the southern peninsula. Even the relatively powerful Veros City was ultimately just a free city.

Unlike the northern nobles, who were bound by blood relations and backed by great lords or kings, they couldn’t present themselves with such confidence. Those with non-blue blood had no choice but to feel inferior before blood that not only surpassed blue but shone gold.

* * *

The next day, amid the enthusiastic send-off of Spardia’s citizens, Eugene’s army departed.

“The Silver Mercenary Company.”

Those who spotted Eugene during the march would deliberately seek him out from a considerable distance to pay their respects.

It was because of the banner that had already begun to gain fame on the peninsula. A beautiful fairy woman’s profile fluttered in the wind.

“And you are?”

“We’re the Mad Lion Mercenary Company.”

Eugene’s subordinates struggled to suppress the laughter that threatened to burst out. The mercenary captain shrugged his shoulders as if used to such reactions.

“We received a commission to subjugate the Crystal Cave, but honestly, we found it too daunting and declined.”

“It wasn’t easy work. It really felt less like fighting a pack of monsters and more like fighting an entire civilization.”

“That’s exactly right. They coat their spear tips with venom, and it’s different from anything you can find on land. Truly vile stuff.”

“In fact, some of my men suffered from the poison. They didn’t die, though.”

The mercenary captain was astonished.

“A poison potent enough to kill even a fully grown pig, and your people endured it?”

“The fairy race’s detoxification ability is truly remarkable. In drinking contests, even dwarves can’t match them, and they can go months without bathing without getting a single skin disease.”

“Oh my! Thanks to Your Majesty, I’ve learned something new.”

The mercenary captain and his men were intrigued. In a world starved of entertainment, even these trivial tales were great fun.

Following the main road, they encountered various merchant caravans and mercenary companies along the way.

“I’m Raycell Blade, company commander. I’ve wanted to meet you at least once. This must be divine guidance.”

“I recall hearing about you. They say it’s the most beautiful mercenary company on the peninsula, and the reputation is well-deserved.”

Raycell Blade was an all-female mercenary company. They specialized in support missions like guerrilla warfare, reconnaissance, supply line raids, and transporting and treating the wounded.

They were often dismissed for various reasons, but their skills were the real deal. The plate the captain displayed was already gleaming silver.

“Ho ho. I’m grateful for Your Majesty’s words, but that glory is now in the past.”

The captain whistled upon seeing Cassandra and the special forces unit behind her. It contained not only admiration for beauty but also a sense of camaraderie between fellow warriors. Her statement about wanting to meet them hadn’t been mere politeness.

“I am the Dark Hawk Guard. I wished to pay my respects to Queen Valda.”

They also encountered mercenary companies that had been founded in the northern peninsula and passed down through generations.

“Thank you. May your loyal cause bear fruit.”

“It is our honor!”

The Dark Hawk Guard was a mercenary company unusually formed with knights as its core. Their true identity was the royal guard of the Kingdom of Jodan, which had been destroyed by nomads ten years ago.

They were searching for the missing prince while building strength for the kingdom’s revival. Valda’s story of restoring a royal house was like a beacon of hope for these loyal subjects.

Building these small connections as they marched, Veros City finally appeared. Countless ships, unable to dare venture out to sea, were all trapped in the harbor.

No, looking more closely, one ship was actually setting out.

“No! Come back!”

“The contract period ended long ago! If we don’t leave now, we’ll face enormous penalties! We’re damned if we do, damned if we don’t!”

Ignoring those trying to stop them, the merchant ship left the harbor.

Keeeeee-!

Soon after, a blood-curdling cry resonated through the world. It was a strange, warbling sound, as if the sea itself were being pierced like a water pipe.

“It’s the Kraken!”

Three massive tentacles shot out, creating white foam, and wrapped around the merchant ship.

“To think we’d see it the moment we arrived. It’s really worked up, isn’t it?”

Eugene instinctively felt certain that Rex’s theory was correct. The dragon’s blood flowing in his veins told him the emotion contained in the Kraken’s roar.

It was pure rage.