CH 18

Chapter 18 – Urich’s Brothers (1)

Crackle, crackle.

The whole roasted piglet was getting cooked well. Urich was next to it, sharpening his axe.

“Can we eat it now?” he asked.

“It still isn’t close to being done yet, Urich.”

Bakman shook his head and turned the piglet another time.

“Is it still long until we move? My body’s aching. We’ve been waiting here for three days already,” said one of the other men. They were all waiting for a fight.

The Horus Gladiator Troupe changed into a mercenary group. Combining the guards and gladiators, 22 people agreed to transition into one. After they became mercenaries, they earned small sums of money by working petty escort and security jobs. No one wanted to use a small, nameless mercenary group.

‘We can’t keep going like this. We’re not making any money.’

Urich bit into his fingernail and watched the horizon.

Their funds were tight from just living expenses and food. Furthermore, there was no one that had used a pen enough to take care of the group’s accounting. Money drained out like a leaky bucket. Two fortunes had already been used up since they were spending like their gladiator days.

Urich and the others quickly realized how competent Horus actually was. When he was still here, their fortune was always plentiful—whether it was women, food, or alcohol.

“Are you sure about that information?”

“Think of how much money we spent at the tavern. If it’s a lie, I’ll go back there and bring back their heads myself.”

The mercenary group quartered here for three days after hearing that piece of information.

“Earl Degelton and Earl Molando are about to start their territorial dispute. They will most likely bring their militaries here for the first battle. These are the only plains around here that could be fought on.”

“It’s already been three days since we waited here after believing those words.”

The men looked at each other with uneasy faces.

“Urich, if this fails, the majority of the people will probably leave,” said Bakman.

“Or I can hand over the position of leader to Donovan, right?” responded Urich.

The temporary leader of the mercenary group was Urich. It was because he suggested becoming mercenaries. The mood was also favorable to him at that time. He was the leading factor behind their victory, and they were blown away by his valor.

“The reason that Donovan agreed to the mercenary group was because he planned to take the leader position from you someday.”

Bakman glanced to the side. He was looking at Donovan who was lying down in the field, gazing at the sky.

“Donovan is necessary though. He was good at giving commands. He might be more suited to be a leader than me.”

Urich shrugged as he spoke. Donovan had the ability to lead.

“Why didn’t he stay in the military? Being an imperial soldier is much better than living as a gladiator,” questioned Bakman. Donovan being a capable soldier was an irrefutable truth.

“It smells good?”

Urich smacked his lips while looking at the whole roasted piglet.

Stab.

Bakman stabbed deep into the whole roast with a dagger. Instead of blood, juices came pouring out.

“Well, we can eat it now. Let’s eat, you pig bastards!”

With Bakman’s yell, the scattered mercenaries started to gather one by one. As they were about to start their meal…

“I’m here! I’m here!” yelled a guard that had been on watch.

The other mercenaries scowled.

“What? Why does it have to be now? Fuck.”

“Shut up and take your equipment. When this job is over, I’ll feed all of you until your stomachs burst.”

The mercenaries slowly stood up while taking their equipment. Like mercenaries, all of their equipment was their own.

“Urich!”

“I know. I’m going.”

Urich spoke while standing on top of a hill. He squinted his eyes, staring at the horizon. He had amazing eyesight.

“Ah, they’re soldiers. The flag of the army on the right is the Red Bear’s, and the flag of the army on the left is the Golden Trident’s.”

As Urich spoke, Bakman quickly relayed it to the other mercenaries.

“Earl Degelton has a Red Bear flag, and Earl Moland has a Golden Trident flag.”

“There are about a hundred people each. It would be fine for us to join.”

“We should go as well.”

The mercenaries had high morale. They had been waiting for this moment for three days. Their eyes were burning with hunger. They pressed their helmets on tight and raised their weapons and shields.

“Alright, let’s go, friends,” said Urich.

He unsheathed his blade and led them.

Earl Molando did not want this conflict. He was on horseback while the Golden Trident flag fluttered behind him.

“Fucking Degelton. I can’t believe he’s claiming his grandfather’s land right now.”

The area of conflict was the outskirts of the farmland where the two territories overlapped. While it was documented that it was in Earl Degelton’s fiefdom, Earl Molando’s family had been managing it for two generations.

‘We probably bought the farmland. There just isn’t a transaction record of it. Damn secretaries.’

Earl Degelton and Earl Molando. Both had a good reason for their right to the farmland.

“We have no choice but to be judged by Ru’s will.”

Sun God Ru will declare whoever was in the right as the victor. The only thing left was war.

Earl Molando gathered his troops. It was an army comprising twenty of his militia and eighty conscripted soldiers.

“Earl Degelton’s situation shouldn’t be too different from ours. Whichever army received Ru’s grace more should win,” spoke Molando’s retainer.

Earl Degelton’s army could be seen on the horizon. Because their fief and populations were similar, the scales of their armies were similar as well.

‘But if we lose this territorial dispute, we’ll be pushed around by Duke Degelton for a while.’

Earl Molando gathered his fighting spirit and lowered the visor on his helm. Every time he moved, his chainmail armor would clang. He also wore leather underneath it.

While the earl and the members of his militia were heavily armed, the equipment of the conscripted soldiers were horribly shabby.

“Damn it. Why do we have to fight? It’s a fight between the earls.”

“What does it matter to us which earl wins?”

The conscripted soldiers complained. At most, they had animal pelt as armor, but most of them were wearing cloth.

“How can I even fight with this dull spear?”

“Shut up. If you don’t like it, give it to me.”

Spears were supplied to them, but even that wasn’t enough. As such, there were some who held plows or lumber axes. Hunters carried bows and took on the role of an archer. The majority of the conscripted soldiers weren’t warriors but farmers, so their morale was disastrously low.

There were a lot of people able to live safe lives in fiefs that had become cities. However, in these small fiefs, the commoners were essentially serfs.

“If I am in the right, Ru will assist me.”

Earl Molando clasped his two hands together and prayed. Soon, a fight was going to start.

“Your Lordship! Someone is approaching us.”

The archers readied their bows.

“Is it Earl Degelton’s envoy?”

“Why would he send an envoy now? At most, it’s an invitation to surrender.”

“He doesn’t seem to be Earl Degelton’s envoy based on his clothes.”

Earl Molando and his retainers whispered amongst themselves. During that time, a strange man came closer.

“I am an envoy from a mercenary group. We are stationed around here.”

He was a man from Urich’s mercenary group. He made contact with Earl Molando.

“A mercenary group? Who is your leader?” asked Earl Molando.

“A warrior named Urich. Previously, he was Horus Gladiator Troupe’s—”

“I’ve never seen or heard of him. So, how many people do you have?”

Earl Molando was displeased before the mercenary even finished.

“Twenty-two people. And all of them are veterans that have their own equipment and real combat experience.”

The retainers whispered amongst themselves. In terms of quality, mercenaries were better than conscripted soldiers. No, they were much better. An excellent mercenary group could rival a militia.

“If it’s 22 people, it’s enough troops to have an influence on the battlefield, Your Lordship.”

“But how can we trust mercenaries? They appeared right before the fight!”

Earl Molando was unwilling to hire mercenaries.

“If Your Earlship doesn’t hire us, our mercenary group will go under Earl Degelton’s banner. A similar proposal has already gone over to their camp.”

“A damn mercenary dares threaten me? How dare you!”

Earl Molando pulled out his sword and put it against the mercenary’s neck.

‘Damn it. I shouldn’t have done this even if they said they would pay more.’

The mercenary gulped and pretended to be calm.

“If you are refusing, I will take my leave.”

The mercenary tried to turn his back. Earl Molando slowly opened his lips.

“How much is it?”

“Give us an offer first.”

“One million cil per head. However, we will split the loot in half, and you will have priority.”

The loot that came after a battle was also of considerable wealth. The militia especially had lots of expensive equipment. A well-made chainmail armor would sell for 10 million cil.

“I will relay your offer and return.”

The mercenary ran back towards the hill.

“I can’t believe mercenaries are interfering in this situation. These bastards sniff out money like dogs,” Earl Molando grumbled. He stared at the opposite side of the plains.

Earl Degelton’s army wasn’t moving anymore—presumably because they got the same offer.

“Fuuu, fuuu.”

The mercenaries ran back to the campsite. Urich and the other mercenaries were standing around there.

Urich, who was seated on a stump, laughed.

“So, what are the offers?”

The mercenaries who left as envoys spoke one by one.

“Earl Molando offered one million cil per head, and we will get priority over half of the loot.”

“Earl Degelton offered 2 million cil per head, and he’s willing to reward us more based on our achievements.”

The mercenaries started to discuss.

“Earl Degelton’s offer is much better. We can just take the loot anyway even without the condition. It’s also a pain to clear up the loot and split it up. Also, the base pay is double,” said Bakman.

The other mercenaries nodded in agreement. They thought that it was better to have a higher base pay instead of the priority on loot.

“Yeah? Then let’s stick to Earl Degelton’s side,” said Urich as he stood up.

“I disagree. I think it would be better to go to Earl Molando.”

Sven, who had been silent, finally spoke up. He looked at Earl Molando’s side.

“And the reason?” asked Urich.

Sven was a man of few words. He doesn’t waste them.

“I don’t think Earl Degelton will really pay us 2 million. And he said that he would give us even more based on our achievements. Of course, it isn’t a price he can’t pay, but it’s a steep price for an earl of a small fief. I don’t think that he will put up with paying a small mercenary group so much. On the other hand, Earl Molando’s proposal is realistic. He would only need to pay us 22 million cil.”

“Do you think Earl Degelton won’t pay us?”

“He can either try to drag it out until it fizzles out or aim to kill us after the battle is over. I also heard that Earl Degelton was the aggressor in this dispute. It means that he’s an ambitious noble.”

The mercenaries discussed it again after hearing Sven’s words. Everything that he said seemed to make sense.

“After hearing old man Sven, I think so as well. What does everyone think? Everyone who wants to go to Earl Molando’s side, raise your hand.”

The mercenaries looked at each other then slowly put their hands up one by one. The majority already raised their hands for Earl Molando.

“Then it’s settled. If anyone disagrees, say it while I count down from ten.”

Urich folded his fingers one by one and counted down. No one opposed it.

“Alright, then let’s start.”

Cling, clang.

The mercenaries started to lift up their weapons. They joined with Earl Molando’s army.

“It’s them.”

Earl Molando watched the approaching mercenaries.

“They look to be individuals with a lot of experience,” whispered the retainer.

“We accept your offer. One million cil per head. And priority over half of the loot,” said Urich, who stood in front of Earl Molando.

“Are you the leader?”

“I’m Urich, Earl Molando.”

Earl Molando grimaced.

‘A barbarian?’

He had a hunch. Due to his foreign pronunciation and wild aura, Earl Molando thought Urich was a Northerner. Furthermore, there was someone in the mercenary group that looked like a stereotypical Northern warrior.

‘I can’t help it, since I’m desperate.’

Earl Molando reluctantly welcomed Urich.

“Ah, and how much for Earl Degelton’s head?” asked Urich.

“It will be troublesome if you kill him. If you are able to capture him, I will pay half of his worth.”

The only people that died in a fight between nobles were the soldiers. Nobles did not kill one another. It was an implied rule and a reasonable one.

‘And if Earl Degelton dies, all of the nobles related to him will rush in to steal my land under the pretext of revenge.’

Urich tilted his head.

“The people here are so obsessed with their own worth. Can’t you just kill him and take all of it?”

Earl Molando and his retainers laughed loudly.

“It’s not as easy as you say. It is intertwined with complicated politics and family relations.”

After hearing that, Urich shrugged.

“Anyways, don’t forget that you said you would pay us more if we capture him.”

Urich tapped on Earl Molando’s horse and returned to the mercenaries.

‘“Capture”, my ass. I don’t expect it at all. If it weren’t for the fact that we are just about to head into battle, I wouldn’t have hired these guys.’

Earl Molando and Earl Degelton both knew through their spies that the other wasn’t using mercenaries. It was because it would have been a loss for both parties to hire mercenaries for a small farmland. They were being responsive to each other and came to the brink of battle without mercenaries.

‘And the mercenaries step in now. How unlucky.’

Earl Molando looked at the end of the horizon. Earl Degelton started to move. It looked like he decided that mercenaries wouldn’t be a variable.

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