Episode 66
* * *
War Agency Corporation. A mercenary organization with more powerful operational capabilities than their clients.
But building a massive organization of that scale isn’t something that can be accomplished overnight. That’s why there was only one thing to do first.
Purely to increase the reputation and value of the mercenary unit itself.
The first employer was a nobleman who wanted to hire mercenaries for his territorial wars.
At first, I hesitated because of the outrageous commission fee, but soon I had to hold my breath when I saw the representative of the mercenaries there.
“… … !”
The world’s ‘black prince’ was there.
I couldn’t understand why the heir to the Grand Duke of Saxony was acting as a mere mercenary captain. But it was a good thing.
For a battle where the fate of the territory is at stake, spending this amount of money is not a waste.
Some time after that.
Two noble units conducting a land war were facing each other on a hill.
And Dale, the mercenary captain of the Black Armor Company, was also there.
Under the standard of the unit, which is not the night raven symbol of the Duke of Saxony, but rather the black armor symbol of the ‘Black Armor Company’, a female knight in custom-made black armor holding a greatsword is the standard-bearer of the unit.
The Black Armor Company commanded the left wing of the unit. And on the right wing of the enemy they were to face, the elite cavalry of the opposing nobles were aiming their spears at them.
And the battle began.
Enemy cavalry charged at the heavily armored infantry taking defensive positions on the hillside.
“Never break the defensive posture!”
“Stay in position!”
It was time to show the results of sweat pouring down like rain on the frozen soil of the Duchy of Saxony. But it was just then.
“「Barrett M98B」, 「8.58x70mm」.”
Dale muttered blandly. The shadow cloak began to flutter and take the form of a gun, its barrels glaring at the charging enemy cavalry.
It wasn’t just a projection of a formula that Dale had shown so far.
That day, the magic power of the 6th circle black magician was consumed and a black magic power that was even closer to the abyss was created──.
A ‘Shadow Weapon’ of a definite form incomparable to anything seen so far was projected there.
《Shadow Rifle》.
Holding the unmistakable weapon of another world, he aimed his gun at the heavily armored infantry. Dale aimed for the enemy cavalry commander’s helmet and pulled the shadow’s trigger.
Taang!
“one.”
A sniper bullet struck. The enemy cavalry commander, who was charging with burning fighting spirit, fell down from his horse.
“What, what is it?!”
“The captain fell to the ground with one blow… …!”
“Hey, did you get hit by an arrow?”
“That can’t be true!”
However, great unrest began to spread among the enemy’s right wing cavalry, who could not stop their charge.
“Sir, no way.”
A 3rd circle wizard who could participate in a fight between low-level lords would not have the destructive power to penetrate a knight’s heavy armor. It should have been so.
“The captain has struck down the enemy cavalry leader!”
“Oh, how? Is that magic?”
“I heard that a 3rd, 3rd circle wizard can’t penetrate a knight’s armor!”
A cheer of near-astonishment erupted from the heavily armored infantry of the Black Armor Company.
“Reload.”
In the narrowing distance, another clash took place.
The more specific and concrete the image of the target is, the more destructive it becomes. It is incomparable to the indiscriminate pouring of shadow bullets on the spot.
Distance, destructive power, accuracy, each and every parameter is amplified by dozens of times.
Even though Dale is specialized in close combat, it doesn’t mean that he has given up the advantages of a distance wizard.
Taang!
“two.”
Dale muttered as he pulled the trigger of his Shadow Rifle. Bullets of darkness rained down. With each bullet, a galloping cavalryman fell.
The helmet shattered, the skull was shattered, the brain burst and cerebral fluid was scattered. It was an instant death, beyond doubt.
“three.”
Taang!
The cavalrymen protected by armor could not possibly understand the fear of a battlefield where bullets were flying. The fear of not knowing where death would come from. The fear of a comrade right next to you being killed instantly by a single bullet.
The courage that was the lifeblood of a cavalry charge crumbled helplessly in the face of that very fear.
“four.”
To be blunt, the number of cavalrymen taken by Dale’s bullets was insignificant. Just a few. But the horror that came from those insignificant deaths was not.
Fear was spreading like a plague.
The distance was closing in, and the emotions that were draped over the helmets of the cavalrymen were spreading rapidly, the fear of death that it might be their turn next.
“five.”
bang!
The baptism of death pouring down equally. No matter how much you train and hone your bravery for battles where you are prepared to die, the unknown fear that brings death is not something to be taken lightly.
After several sniping attacks, the distance between the two sides narrowed.
But, out of fear of death, the enemy cavalry galloped too fast, and as a result, their ranks were in disarray.
The spears of the ragtag cavalry slammed into the heavily armored infantry of the Black Armor Company. But what was etched into the spearheads of the cavalrymen was fear and dread spreading like a plague. It was not a blow that should have driven a wedge in.
“For the captain!”
In comparison, facing the cavalry are a hundred heavily armored infantrymen with their morale rising to the max.
Among the hoplites, their leader, Lord Johnes, raised his voice.
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“For the Black Armor Company!”
“If we die, we die in place!”
The Black Armor Company roared their slogan. It was literally an unbreakable formation.
* * *
“In this world, the one who is good at biting the spoon is the winner.”
Dale muttered as if it were someone else’s business.
That night, a celebration was being held at Baron Roosevelt’s to celebrate the victory. To celebrate the achievements of the Black Armor Company, the main players in the victory.
Alcohol, meat, women. As mere mercenaries, they were treated to luxuries that they rarely had the opportunity to enjoy.
“As expected, he is the leader!”
“I never thought that I would live to be treated as a noble lady in the castle!”
A mercenary shouted loudly, carrying a woman. He ate the meat on the table greedily. Could there be a greater heaven for mercenaries?
“Don’t spread out too much, because you’ll get sick of this scenery from now on.”
Looking at the sight, Dale added as if it were someone else’s business.
“Oh my, it’s Prince Dale!”
“I heard from my father about his exploits in battle today!”
“You say you defeated the enemy cavalry with just your wit?”
Leaving behind the young ladies of Baron Roosevelt, who were desperately flirting with him.
“You are so cool and handsome!”
“It was possible thanks to the hard work of my subordinates.”
It was a passion that truly spared no expense.
Of course, the eldest son of the Duke’s family is by her side. As a young lady of a lower noble family, she would never get a chance to talk to him in her entire life. It’s not that she likes the young ladies of Roosevelt. That’s the way people in this world live.
The gap between nobles and non-nobles, and furthermore, the gap in class, was not an exception even among nobles. But what difference would it make if it were a world of past lives? It would probably be the same no matter which world you go to.
It was truly a bitter world beyond words.
* * *
The next morning.
When Lord Yoness woke up staggering from a hangover, the young captain of their mercenary band was sitting before him.
“Hey, boss!”
The place that had been turned into a mud-splatter during the last night’s festivities was the hall of Baron Roosevelt. All the mercenaries, including Lord Johnes, were lying with their heads down on the tables or sprawled out on the stone floor.
“Are you guys dogs or people?”
“All, I’ll wake up all the children and gather them together right now!”
Dale was muttering as if it were someone else’s business, and Sir Johnes was about to raise his voice in urgency.
“No, that’s enough. These guys deserve to live this kind of luxury. Let them spread out a little more.”
Dale shakes his head gently.
“I was waiting for you because I had some business to attend to.”
“Are you talking to me?”
“okay.”
Dale nodded.
“After you return to the Duchy of Saxony, I plan to assign you some people to teach you.”
“Who will teach me?”
Sir Yoness tilted his head at the unexpected words.
“In the future, if we build up a reputation greater than ours, and if the eldest son of the House of Saxony becomes the head of this organization… … based on that trust, the nobles will entrust us with all of their troops and operations.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
An organization with more powerful operational capabilities than its employer. That was the very purpose of the Black Armor Company’s existence.
“But even if that’s true right now, who will lead this mercenary army and win the war when I’m away?”
“Well, well, I’m the deputy commander, so it’ll be my share.”
“That’s why I have to learn. How to win in battle, how to fight in what situation, where to fight. So that Black Armor Company can be reborn as an organization that guarantees ‘victory in war’ without me.”
Dale continues.
“As soon as you return, the high-ranking officers of the House of Saxony will take care of you day and night. Don’t forget to train with your sword under our knights.”
“… …Why me?”
After hearing Dale’s words, Lord Jonas asked again.
The fact that the second son of a mere low-class noble was in charge of the military organization of a great noble family that no one could dare look up to. There was no way he wouldn’t know the weight of that.
“Because you happened to be there.”
A path to success that even his father and older brothers could not dare to approach was spread out before him.
“Is that really all?”
“Then did you know that we were bound by the thread of love?”
Dale answered as if it were someone else’s business. It was no different from his previous answer.
“Then you don’t care about me or anyone else there?”
But Sir Johnes asked again, and Dale answered.
“Who else could have been there besides you?”
“Well… … .”
Sir Yoness swallowed his breath before continuing. Only now did he understand what Dale was really saying.
When the Duke of Saxony called together his nobles to fight against the great migration of the Demons, Lord Johnes was also there.
He left home at the age of sixteen and made a name for himself as a wandering knight, starting from the bottom and becoming the captain of a mercenary band of one hundred men.
He thought that even those who had nothing could defeat those who had something. That was why he challenged the ‘Black Prince’ of Saxony and was defeated. At the same time, that was the reason why Lord Johnes was able to be in that position.
“Captain… … no, Prince Dale.”
Lord Jonath, who had understood Dale’s meaning, knelt quietly, bowing his head in unspeakable loyalty.
“I am Johnes of Kennet, Vice-Captain of the Black Armor Company. I will never disappoint Prince Dale.”
