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Chapter 35 – Prince of the Sea (5)
“Wake up, you pigs! There are enemies!”
Donovan kicked the relaxed mercenaries. It was an emergency situation.
“How did the pursuit party catch up already?”
The other mercenaries were also questioning it. They only went on mountain paths that horses couldn’t traverse.
“That’s strange. No matter how quickly they’re able to assemble their troops, it should take them at least one or two days. But they caught up to us already.”
The mercenaries grumbled. They rummaged through their belongings to pull out armor to wear and weapons to raise. They helped each other tie the strings on their armor.
“What do you think, Urich?”
Sven came up next to the mercenary leader. He pressed a horned helmet onto his head and gripped his two-handed axe tight.
“It’s not a party that the city’s captain gathered. If they had chased us from the city, there would have been two days’ worth of distance between us. No matter how fast their march was, it’s weird that they caught up to us. Considering that we were also marching fairly quickly.”
Urich thought to himself while touching his chin. There was no way the city’s guards could have caught up with them so soon.
“Then that means the young master’s party was already being chased before they arrived at the city. They were narrowly escaping another pursuit party. Probably with a half-day’s to a full day’s difference in distance.”
Sven took a glance at Phillion and Fahel.
“If Phillion knew that, he would have told us. He probably just didn’t know that his pursuers were sticking to them that closely. The employers this time are such a handful.”
Urich clicked his tongue and laughed.
‘There are around twenty enemies. But we have over fifty people.’
It was an advantageous battle where they had the upper hand in numbers.
“The enemies aren’t idiots. They’re attacking us because they are confident that they will win, Urich.”
Sven warned him, as if he read his mind. One must never look down on one’s enemies.
“I know. Battles aren’t always won by whichever group has the bigger number.”
Urich pulled out his sword. The mercenaries and the guard knights finished preparing for battle. The only noncombatant was Fahel.
“Prepare your bows! They are about to enter our range.”
Donovan shouted as he measured the distance with his eye. The mercenaries who had bows pulled the strings taut.
The enemies were wearing light armor. They had to arm themselves lightly as they had to chase after their targets.
“Fire!”
The mercenaries released their arrows. The arrows swiftly flew between the gaps in the trees.
Ffff-thunk!
The arrows landed on wood. The enemies either hid behind the trees or raised their shields to block it. None of them fell to the arrows.
“Wow, did you see how those bastards dodged it? They have pretty good tricks. I don’t think they’ll die to just arrows.”
Urich spoke while spinning an axe in his hand. The enemies’ movements weren’t normal. They were very skilled warriors.
“Fire again!”
The mercenaries fired the arrows once more. The enemies hid behind the trees and didn’t leave their cover.
“Keep firing arrows at them so they can’t leave their cover,” said Donovan to the archers.
“Sven, you go to the left! Donovan, to the right! I’m going down the center. Bakman, just protect the young master!”
Urich pointed in different directions with his sword as he spoke. The mercenaries took long strides while carrying their weapons. They planned to surround the enemies to hold an advantageous position.
“Follow me, piggies!”
Urich shouted as he led the charge in the front. He held an axe and a sword in each of his hands as he ferociously sprinted in.
“UWOOOOOO!”
The enemies faced the mercenaries as well. Their shouts became distorted as the two parties collided.
“GUAAAAAH!”
Urich swung his axe into his opponent’s shield. He planned to keep going with that force to cut off their head.
SWOOSH.
A spear blade zipped towards Urich’s eyes. He quickly turned his head to avoid it. He almost had his head pierced.
“Keok!”
“Kaaargh!”
He heard screams to his side. There were mercenaries who were unable to dodge the spear and had their heads pierced.
‘Two-man groups?’
The enemies were warriors of considerable skill. They were fighting in two-man groups where one held a sword and shield while the other held a spear.
‘If the one in front blocks with their shield, the spearman behind stabs the enemy to kill them. They have great coordination, as if the two of them were one person.’
Urich took consecutive steps back to dodge the spear.
“Damn it! Pull the injured away!”
The mercenaries dragged the injured to the back. The mercenaries suffered a lot in their first bout. They had no answers to the unfamiliar fighting tactic.
‘They are soldiers that have been properly trained. It’s not their first or second time doing this.’
The roles of the two soldiers were clear. But even then, the mercenaries—who had the numerical advantage—weren’t able to rashly attack.
“Go around them! Go behind them and fuck them up from the front and back!”
The mercenaries backed away to try and capture the rear.
Clank!
The shieldbearers surrounded the spearmen in a circle. It was a prepared strategy that was achieved through rigorous practice.
“Urgh!”
The spearmen stabbed towards the outside of the formation with their long spears. The mercenaries stepped back after receiving injuries.
“Archers!”
Even though they asked for ranged support, the mercenaries weren’t archers by profession. They only partially learned archery, so it was difficult to precisely hit only the enemies in this complicated situation.
“This is a first.”
Urich stretched his back by supporting it with his hands and looked at the enemies.
“These soldiers have been trained in a tactic known as the ‘Hedgehog Formation’. If we fight them without using our heads, it wouldn’t be considered a victory even if we do win.”
Donovan groaned as he spoke. Blood dripped down the light cut on his neck.
“The Hedgehog Formation, hmm…”
Urich muttered to himself while looking at the enemies who were clumped together. The enemies who were in formation moved as if they were one body and repelled the mercenaries.
‘Even if I jump in there, I can’t imagine a different outcome other than me getting stabbed to death by their spears.’
Even Urich couldn’t hastily charge in. It was just that strong of a formation. No matter how skilled of a warrior he was, he would die if he had a spear impaling his chest.
“What are you doing over there, you Northerner bastards?! Hurry up and help!” shouted the mercenaries.
Sven and the Northerners were doing something in the back. They faced each other in a circle and spun a sword in the air.
Whirl. Thud.
The spinning sword fell to the ground, its end pointing at one of the Northerners.
“So Ulgaro has decided that it’s my turn this time.”
The chosen Northerner nodded and looked at his kin. The Northerners looked at one another.
“I will be going to the Hill first. It was an honor to fight like this again when I would have met my end as a slave.”
The chosen Northerner grabbed a sword and shield. He started sprinting, screaming at the top of his lungs. Though it was in their native tongue, everyone knew what those words meant.
“To the Hill of Swooorrrdsss!!”
The Northerner threw his body into the center of the Hedgehog Formation. He didn’t care about getting stabbed by the spears. He stabbed people with his sword and pushed them out with his shield.
“Keok!”
The Northerner didn’t stop even after getting stabbed in his neck. His bloodshot eyes glared at the enemies as he swung his sword until his heart stopped.
“Now! Get in there! Overwhelm them! Kill them all!” shouted the mercenaries.
The Hedgehog Formation was broken by the Northerner who was ready for death. A melee ensued, and the mercenaries who had the numerical advantage took the lead.
Thud.
The Northerner who broke the formation finally fell to the ground after having three spears embedded into him. He saw the Hill of Swords as his vision started to get hazy. The Northerner’s progenitor, Ulgaro, was waiting for him.
“This is the Northerner’s way.”
Sven spoke to Urich as he passed by him. Sven and the other Northerners charged in while carrying weapons, screaming.
The Northerners were able to resist the imperial army for ten years in poor conditions. They weren’t just simply big and strong; they had the warriors’ god behind their back.
‘Sun God Ru talks about mercy and love…’
But the Northerners didn’t have mercy and love as their virtues. Their virtues were fighting and death.
“The god of the Northerners is violent and arrogant.”
Urich thought of Gotval’s words and felt that he finally understood what the clergyman meant.
“Haha.”
He laughed. He looked into the dead Northerner’s eyes—empty eyes that had lost their focus
“Hup.”
Urich took in a deep breath and dashed in. He maneuvered between the enemies and ensured violence against them.
The battle quickly favored the mercenaries. They cut the heads of their enemies with rage on their blades, leaves quivering from the screams.
“Kuku, you idiots. Do you even know who you are escorting?”
A soldier spoke while letting go of his weapon.
“Capture him. We’re going to interrogate him.”
After saying that, Urich went up close to the soldier.
“What are you trying to say? If you tell me everything you know, I will let you live.”
“That person is—Keok!”
Suddenly, an arrow flew in and passed through the soldier’s mouth. Urich turned around.
‘Phillion.’
The knight was holding a bow. He looked at Urich.
“Why did you kill him?”
“I thought you were being attacked.”
Phillion spoke calmly.
“‘Attacked’, my ass. I was about to capture him.”
Urich furrowed his brows and didn’t say anything.
Eventually, the enemies started to run away from the battle, and the excited mercenaries didn’t even consider capturing them. They instead rushed to crush the skulls of the deserters.
“Fuuu, fuuu.”
The battle was over. The mercenaries sat on the ground and gathered their breaths. The flames of battle were still lit in their eyes.
“Gather the corpses.”
After gathering their breaths, the mercenaries stood up. They undressed the corpses, took their belongings, and gathered the bodies in one place.
“Oil.”
They threw firewood around the corpses and splashed the oil. Mercenaries always carried oil with them. They disposed of the bodies by cremating them.
“Dear Ru…”
A prayer could be heard.
They burned the corpses of both allies and enemies alike. Their souls would go up to Sun God Ru. In front of Ru, all were equal.
“Isn’t it a pain to bury them each time?”
Urich sat down while watching the Northerners. They were digging into the ground. They disposed of the bodies by burying them.
“What’s so difficult about it?”
Sven shrugged before he continued to dig with his shovel.
Urich watched the Northerners’ funeral. They would bury the corpse in the ground along with the weapons and equipment that they used. There were a few mercenaries that looked at the equipment, thinking it was a waste. But if they tried to take it, their heads would be split by Sven.
They finally finished clearing up the battlefield by sundown. The exhausted mercenaries took a rest.
“A great fight. We will surely award you for your efforts.”
Phillion praised Urich while looking at him. Urich stared at the middle-aged man.
“Seize him.”
Urich raised his hand as he spoke. Mercenaries, who had already heard from Urich before, surrounded Phillion and the guard knights.
“Wh-What is this?! Urich! Did you not swear sincerity on Ru’s name?!” shouted Phillion. Urich looked at Phillion with cold eyes.
“The ones who were insincere first were you guys.”
Phillion’s expressions quickly changed.
“It looks like there’s a misunderstanding. Please listen to what I have to say, Urich.”
Urich kept signaling with his hands without even listening to the knight’s words. Phillion and the guard knights were gathered in one spot. The mercenaries held weapons to their necks. If they did anything stupid, their heads would fly off.
“You lied to me and my brothers. Tell me, properly.”
Urich planted his sword into the ground. He held onto the handle with both hands as he glared at Phillion.
He had no proof or certain evidence that could prove Phillion’s deception. However, Urich interrogated him.
Even a hunch was enough to cause doubts. Things like evidence could always be pulled out through violence.
“I don’t know what you’re saying right now—Young master!”
Donovan walked out while dragging Fahel on the ground. He held onto the young noble by his nape.
Fahel looked at Phillion with a tearful face.
“S-Sir Phillion! S-Save me! Please!” he shouted. Donovan gave a toothy grin next to him.
“Sir Phillion, it might be best to talk before your young master’s tongue gets cut off.”
Donovan unsheathed a dagger from his waist. He grabbed Fahel’s tongue with his hand and pulled it out.
“U-Urghh!”
Fahel became deranged at the metallic taste of iron on his tongue. The spot between his legs quickly turned yellow.
“Stop! Please! Stop! He’s—”
Phillion clenched his eyes shut and then continued. His lips were trembling as he spoke.
“…Varca anu Forlcana. The sole heir of the Forlcana Kingdom.”
Donovan released Fahel’s tongue with a stunned look.
“R-Royalty?”
Fahel, who had his tongue released, became violent and shouted.
“Impudent! Why are you not getting down on your knees?! You bastards! I will personally send you to the gallows! Keok!”
Urich kicked Fahel’s stomach. It was a light kick, but to Fahel, it was as if he were hit by a rock.
“Quiet. I’m talking with Phillion. Keep talking, Phillion. Before your young master ends up a mess.”