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“Is… Is this real?” a mercenary mumbled in the ensuing silence.
In some people’s eyes, they gazed upon a god. Some, a role model or a goal.
Barbarian fell. One of the Twelve Superhumans, the Mercenary King, a paragon of Igrant—and he didn’t land a single blow on his junior opponent.
Marquis Crombell trembled like an aspen tree in the wind as his reality was upended. Ryan Geiger, the Lion King, repeatedly opened and closed his mouth. After a moment of thought, he just smiled. Cain, Leo, and the Wilhelm Knights itched to speak but also remained silent.
Joshua took notice of none of that; his eyes were firmly fixed on the fallen warrior. The man’s long braid had come undone and was splayed across the mud; his frightening best friend lay in the grime in two pieces as well. His body was covered in cuts, all weeping dangerous amounts of blood. The only indication that he wasn’t a corpse was the faint sound of his breathing.
“Even when the weapon is in front of you, you can’t even look straight,” Joshua told him, although the Mercenary King didn’t seem interested in what he was saying. “You failed to understand your opponent because you were certain that you’re the best. You weren’t willing to settle for anything… not even your current lofty position.”
Barbarian was still silent.
“You ought to know that you’ll lose if you try to fight someone stronger than you, given your years of experience.”
The Mercenary King flinched. With his years as a mercenary, that was an outright insult to him.
“Kkk… Grrr.” An animalistic growl slipped from between his grit teeth. “It’s incredible.” The Mercenary King’s dark red eyes peered through his fallen, bloodied hair. “You fooled me. To pin me down and shred my Aura Overlay—I’m not sure that even ‘Absolute’ accurately describes you. I wanna know… Who are you?” The bloodied mercenary stared intently at Joshua’s face.
“My name is Joshua Sanders.”
“You know damn well that that’s not what I’m asking.”
“I’m a knight and a soldier like you—but unlike you, I know my opponent.”
That silenced the Mercenary King.
“And…” Joshua began but was interrupted by the approach of the other mercenaries. Hostility was clear in their eyes—the Mercenary King’s defeat meant they would be forced to face the consequences of their choices. Of course, there was no reason to feel sorry for them when they made that choice of their own volition. That was simple cause and effect.
Joshua spared them a glance and quietly closed his eyes before continuing.
“Those who stand by me consider me their master and king.”
His knights came up behind him, ready to keep the mercenaries’ hostility in check while gazing at Joshua with soulful eyes.
“Master.”
“My king…”
“Even now, you come to me with the desire to kill, even when all I’m doing is speaking to him.”
The mercenaries shivered as the Wilhelm Knights roused their violent energy.
“It’s no surprise—to lead, you need skill and charisma. What a leader says can make or break the entire organization.”
“Then maybe you knew it all along.” The Mercenary King ignored Joshua’s confused look and raised his body. “Listen, my dear comrade mercenaries. The war starts now. Kill everyone here, and seize Peril Castle.”
“M-Mercenary King, you mean—?”
He watched Marquis Crombell stutter and smirked. “Are you worried about me? Don’t. Just stick to the plan.”
“But…” When Marquis Crombell glanced at Joshua, fear flashed through his eyes—the fear of prey in front of a predator.
“3,000 people abandoned us, but there’s still 5,000 here. Even those 3,000 can be called back with the crystal ball. There are only a hundred people here; they may be knights, but we have time and numbers on our side. Before you start worrying about me, worry about the man behind us.”
“Pl-Please don’t say that!” Gehor exclaimed.
A man stepped forward, interrupting them. “Do you think I’m just going to watch?”
“Lion King.”
“You did think I was just going to stand here, didn’t you? Barbarian, you swore that the war would end with the Battle of Superhumans. I heard it very clearly.”
“This is none of your business, though…”
The Lion King stared at him. “What?”
“This is between Duke Pontier and Marquis Crombell of the Avalon Empire. I don’t think you have any say in this—it’s outside the scope of the Battle of Superhumans. From their point of view, you and I are both outsiders. If you get involved, do you think the Emperor will stay still?”
“Do you have no sha—”
Barbarian stuck his tongue out at him. “As a leader, I’m more than willing to sacrifice my honor for the greater good.”
His sarcasm left the Lion King speechless.
“Give me a weapon.”
“What—?” The mercenary he ordered hesitated for a moment, then grudgingly pulled his sword off his waist. He was only a gold card, one of a million mercenaries, and not even a veteran. He had no choice but to obey the Mercenary King’s orders.
If we go back with nothing but the bitter taste of defeat… Not only would the guild’s reputation hit rock bottom, but they’d all starve. That can’t happen.
The mercenary steeled himself and handed over his sword with renewed determination.
“Ice Spear.”
The mercenary went stiff as three shards of ice barely missed him.
“Magic…” He spun around.
In the back stood a cloaked silhouette. Beside that figure was a familiar man. The Mercenary King stared; he knew exactly who he was.
“…Akshuler?”
“The mercenaries should never give up their honor.”
“Akshuler!” The mercenaries broke out into confused shouts. The second-ranked mercenary, the second holder of a diamond card, Master Akshuler, had appeared.
“Look at this.” Barbarian grinned.
“Barbarian.”
“Ah, I heard you became a Master. I’m late, but congrats! I’d congratulate you properly, but as you can see, I’m not in good shape. We’ll have our party later, and I’ll make it grander than any other banquet on the continent. You’re the face of our guild, and we’re proud to have you.”
His emphasis on “our guild” made Akshuler’s mouth harden into a thin line.
“Lead them for me. As you may know, I signed a contract with Marquis Crombell.”
“…I will lead them in your place.”
“Oh… Akshuler.” The mercenaries were deeply surprised. Akshuler’s relationship with the Mercenary King was no secret within the guild. If he was accepting the Mercenary King’s orders, then…
One by one, the mercenaries resignedly raised their weapons.
“Marquis Crombell.”
“Ah, the famed Akshuler. I’ve heard so much about you.” The Marquis’s lips curled into a small smile. They were still facing a monster, but with another Master on their side, they still had a chance. Plus, they had a clear numerical advantage.
“I’m breaking the deal.”
“What?”
“Listen, mercenaries. As your new commander, you are to obey my orders. The contract is now terminated. Every last mercenary here should leave.”
“This crazy—!” Marquis Crombell burst into a fit of cussing. “You know what this means. The penalty for breaking a contract is ten times the initial down payment. Do you have any idea how much money your king got from me?”
“You know what? Our mercenaries’ peace of mind is more important than petty cash.”
“WHAT?!” Gehor turned to the Mercenary King, his shoulders shaking with rage. “Mercenary King, am I to listen to this dog shit?”
“Akshuler.” The Mercenary King smiled at Akshuler, but his eyes were sad.
“Barbarian, your time is over. I’ll take care of the follow-up, but I’m not going to clean up your mess.”
“Why are you so cheeky—” He ground his teeth. “I am your king! I am the Mercenary King, Barbarian, one of the Twelve Superhumans! Obey me! I am your king! Kill them all!” Barbarian glared at the unmoving mercenaries and prepared to regale them with another mana-filled shout.
“You’re done.” Joshua stepped forward with a soft smile. “All of the participants in the Battle of Superhumans are to blame. The Nine Stars and Twelve Superhumans are established such that we’re never content with what we have, even though we have plenty—isn’t that right?”
“You are.” The Lion King nodded.
“As such, no one can get involved or be held responsible for conflicts between us, right?”
“You’re correct about that as well.”
“And…” Joshua turned to the Mercenary King. They locked eyes. “The Battle of Superhumans hasn’t ended yet, because you haven’t surrendered.”
Barbarian glared at him.
“Best you go away and let the guild start over from scratch.”
“This kid—”
He didn’t get to finish. Joshua’s spear flickered, and the Mercenary King’s head flew.
The bitter end of a powerful era.