Episode 33 This is a crazy place. (1)
Manus began to cleverly agitate the people.
“This is beyond what an individual can handle. We are doing useless things right now.”
“But they say the destination is not far from the entrance… … .”
“Hehe, do you believe that? Where is that? How far do you think it will go?”
“… … .”
“Now that I think about it, there are more than a few strange things. You decided on a destination in this forest where no one has ever been? Do you know where it is? Why are you going? Do you know what there is?”
“Hmm, I never thought about that.”
“Damn it! The employer is clearly crazy! He’s not just a crazy guy who fantasizes about things, he’s a bold crazy guy who has the ability to execute them! We’re all going to die in the end!”
No one could refute Manus’ words.
This is because there were actually cases where delusional lords or nobles did strange things.
There was a moment of silence and the mood became quiet.
The older mercenary, Toran, who had been listening quietly, frowned.
“If it weren’t for my employer, we would have all died long ago. Stop making people anxious by talking nonsense.”
“… … No, I’m just anxious.”
“Do you think it’s common to meet employers like that? They are the ones who are fighting ahead of everyone else and trying to save our lives more than anyone else.”
Usually, nobles would only give orders to their mercenaries and not lead the fight, especially if it was dangerous.
The reason you hire mercenaries is to use them as shields, not to accomplish something together.
That was a fact that even mercenaries took for granted.
But Giselle was different.
He kept showing that he was trying to save at least one more person.
Toran, already impressed by the sight, growled at Manus, who was trying to cause trouble.
“If it weren’t for our employer, we would all be dead already. It’s not a delusion, it’s the ability to do that. We just have to believe and follow.”
Manus could no longer refute Toran’s words.
The other mercenaries nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. They’re not trying to use us as meat shields.”
“It is clear that the employer is different from other nobles.”
“How about conducting? He’s very skilled. It’s not something he’s done once or twice.”
“I can trust an employer like that.”
However, since they had to fight against powerful monsters, there were bound to be casualties and deaths.
Manus grumbled, reminding himself of that fact.
“How long do you think that’ll work? Even if it’s okay now, if we keep going like this, we’ll all die in the end.”
What good is showing off such amazing abilities?
If we keep fighting without rest, we will all eventually collapse from exhaustion.
This forest was so dangerous that if it weren’t for Giselle, everyone would have died long ago.
The monsters that inhabit the entrance were those that lost the competition and were pushed to the outskirts, but they were stronger than the monsters outside the forest.
I had to beat them all up and run away while they were still alive.
That’s why Manus kept bringing up this story.
If I ran away, I felt like I would be killed by my employer, and even if he let me go, I didn’t have the confidence to go back alone.
The best way was to agitate the mercenaries, who were feeling anxious and tired, to pressure their employers and have them return with the lowest possible penalty.
“Don’t you care about your life? Even if you’re a mercenary, where would you find someone who would go to a place where they will die?”
But Toran laughed and argued back.
“If you receive money, isn’t that what it means to be a mercenary? You risk your life.”
“You idiot, where can you find such mercenaries these days? We’ll end up being used as meat shields and die. Even our employers will run away if it gets really dangerous.”
What are the criteria for selecting a skilled mercenary?
Risking your life to complete a mission?
No. The one who survives the longest is the most skilled.
Being able to quickly withdraw when you feel danger is also an essential skill for a mercenary.
It is really stupid to trust and follow nobles.
Even if you pretend to be considerate now, they will run away and abandon you whenever danger arises.
That’s what nobles are like.
As Manus continued to agitate, there were some mercenaries who began to become agitated.
My heart began to waver a little at the realistic remarks.
‘Damn, you stupid old bastard!’
But old-fashioned people like Toran were the problem.
Most of the mercenaries seemed to have the absurd idea that they would trust their employers and complete the mission to the end.
As Manus was about to open his mouth again, Toran grabbed him by the collar.
“Now, look. The potions and medicines that our employer uses are more expensive than our own. Would you do that? Do you really think our employer intends to use us as meat shields?”
All the mercenaries nearby turned their heads at those words.
In the place where the mercenaries’ eyes were focused, Jiselle was treating the wounds of the injured.
Everyone who saw that sight was speechless.
Because the drugs that the employer was using were actually more expensive than their own salaries.
The mercenaries nodded and muttered without exception.
“Well, he doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would abandon us.”
“Your healing skills are no ordinary skill. I thought you were some kind of professional therapist.”
“You only use a small amount of potion, but the effect is amazing.”
Manus bit his lip as the people’s reaction died down again.
Toran, seeing that sight, let go of the collar he had been holding.
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“We got the money, so we just have to follow it.”
“Tch.”
After glancing at the spitting Manus, Toran returned to his seat and sat quietly, looking at Giselle.
At first, he thought he too had to go back.
However, I was gradually drawn to it because it was so different from the employers I had worked with so far.
I have met many nobles who were brave, had excellent leadership skills, or were intelligent.
However, he was by far the first noble to treat mercenaries like human beings rather than as expendable items.
I have never seen a nobleman fight so bravely and without sparing his own life.
Toran was not impressed by money, but by the human being called Jiselle.
‘I might really die… … but I still want to see you a little more.’
It’s not that death wasn’t scary.
As Manus said, I could really die.
Still, even if I had to die, I wanted to go with him to see what the end would be like.
This may be a stupid decision, but… … If a mercenary who sells his life for money runs away because he doesn’t want to die, can he be called a mercenary?
That was Toran’s last belief and conscience as a mercenary.
“By the way, our employer has a lot of money. He said his estate was poor, so how did he get such expensive medicines?”
As Toran said, Jiselle was using precious medicines and potions without sparing any effort.
It was so bad that Belinda kept nagging him.
“No, Master! How can you use those precious herbs and potions so carelessly? They should be used when you’re hurt! I’m going crazy!”
“Gisselle said, wrapping the bandage tightly around the mercenary’s arm.
“What’s the use of saving that? I brought it to use it all. You have to use it properly when you need it.”
“If this continues, you won’t be of any use when you need me later!”
“Well, let’s think about it when we get there.”
Belinda grumbled, glancing at Giselle.
“I feel like it’s a waste to use expensive medicine, so why are you even providing treatment yourself?”
“Treating these guys is a total mess. It makes my stomach turn just watching it.”
Belinda tapped her chest as if she was frustrated at Giselle’s blunt answer.
The injured mercenary said with emotion.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Okay, get some rest when you can. Later, you’ll learn some proper first aid techniques.”
“Hehehe, I understand.”
Seeing the mercenaries urinating on the wounds to disinfect them and applying ineffective glue, Jiselle felt dizzy for a moment.
I had no choice but to catch them one by one, teach them, and take care of them.
“If you apply the cast like that, your bones will be misaligned. And you can’t pee. If you apply more, your flesh will swell. Why are you drinking that, you idiot?”
The number of mercenaries who were impressed by Jiselle’s actions gradually increased.
Other employers usually abandon seriously injured mercenaries or leave them to die.
Because keeping them alive costs money and is tiring work.
Belinda narrowed her eyes and looked at Giselle, who was wandering around collecting mercenaries.
“How does your highness know such things? He’s not the type of person to take care of those around him… … Could it be that he’s really possessed by a black magician?”
Even while she was worrying about nothing, the group slowly moved forward.
It was the fifth day since we had been fighting like that.
The group discovered a small lake.
“Wow, it’s water!”
“It’s so cool!”
As soon as they found water, all the mercenaries ran to quench their thirst.
I had brought water, but it was lukewarm and, as time passed, it began to smell like the water bottle, so it wasn’t in a good condition to drink.
The cold lake water that was so cold it made my insides feel hollow instantly quenched my thirst.
Even Giselle, who usually restricted the mercenaries’ movements, did not stop them.
He looked around, lost in thought.
‘The organized route is relatively accurate.’
The path that the kingdom’s punitive force took in his previous life and the path he wanted to take were different.
Of course, the monsters weren’t recorded in the order the party encountered them.
Jiselle searched her memory and re-measured the expected path and the records of the monsters.
So far it’s been relatively good, and there were some monsters that didn’t show up, maybe because I was lucky.
‘The real danger starts now.’
This lake was the most important junction that Jiselle had to pass through to reach her destination.
And it was also a place that signaled the beginning of a greater danger.
[They probably started following us as we passed the lake.]
Jiselle repeated the phrase from her memory to the group several times.
“I’m going to rest here today. I’ll take a shower and reorganize after a long time.”
The mercenaries followed his instructions, cut down the surrounding trees to secure a clear view, and prepared to camp.
“Your Majesty, I will prepare dinner for you shortly.”
After learning a little about Giselle’s abilities, Belinda barely moved when fighting monsters.
That’s why I used up much less physical strength than other people.
She took a small pot out of the cart, filled it with water, added various seasonings and beef jerky, and boiled a warm soup.
“Here, eat this. In a place like this, you need to eat well to gain strength.”
“No, but I can’t be the only one eating this every day… … .”
“Eat it! Don’t say anything and just eat it.”
Belinda thrust her fork up to his eyes and laughed ferociously.
Jiselle nodded helplessly.
The mercenaries whistled and jeered at the sight.
“Oh my, some people eat warm and delicious food, while others just eat hard jerky.”
“No, if you’re not going to fight and just follow the lord around, then you should at least cook for us!”
“Okay, you’ll be in charge of the meals from now on! Woof!”
“We want some warm soup too!”
Peeing!
In an instant, the fork was deeply embedded in the tree with a sharp sound that cut through the air.
It was the tree that one of the mercenaries who had been heckling was leaning against.
The mercenary rolled his eyes and broke out in a cold sweat as he looked at the fork stuck right next to his ear.
Belinda said with a smile.
“Hahaha, you all have hands. Do it yourself. Got it? I’m busy taking care of our master.”
The mercenaries nodded their heads repeatedly.
I thought she was just a maid, but her fork throwing skills were no ordinary skill.
I felt like my forehead would get pierced without anyone noticing.
Giselle snickered and said to Belinda.
“If you have free time, take care of the mercenaries too. They’re all having a hard time.”
“Well, I’ll think about it.”
“By the way, I don’t have much of an appetite today, so I’ll give this to other people… … .”
“You came all the way here and are complaining about the side dishes? You should eat quickly. Do you remember what I did when you didn’t eat right away when you were little?”
Belinda took out a new fork and shook it in front of Giselle’s eyes.
Jiselle also drank her soup quietly without saying anything else.
