Chapter 126
GmNA deal is always between people.oB6sG
zkCplEAnd between people, there could be no such thing as the “absolute.”qNnUgu
ZatjEverything changed depending on the situation and the circumstances.LQX
mnKaThat was the case now.w0rsS0
DIDNormally, the King of Mercenaries should always be in a position of superiority.VAFHv9R
BshJHe was the King of Mercenaries, respected by countless men of arms, and also a Royal Knight appointed by the emperor himself.1mZd5bE
kxHtBut because there was something he desired, there was room for the positions to shift, and Fernan did not miss that opportunity.0js
ZZy4fi“Lord Garrett wants to fight a demon, doesn’t he?”2pzeuQ
HV7jY0“And that’s why you think you can raise the price of the commission?”UrCThjD
VPR“No.”U6XjsXV
UUhQJZ“No?”Bxfjtv
x3B“I wouldn’t—as long as you don’t insist on being tied to the matter of the corrupt.”IoUx1U
i7NZ8Garrett’s brow furrowed.vJ0MnvC
pEh“Are you trying to play with words?”X8MR6
eWg9l3“I just want to understand the true reason you came all the way here chasing the corrupt.”likLi5
7xw79L0The reaction he had just seen was enough to deduce it.1Zu6kvA
AGGQWIf Varus had died, Fernan really would have raised the price of the commission.EdnB4i
QrUXPOnly a fool would pass up a situation that could be used to their advantage. The King of Mercenaries, blinded by the death of his most beloved disciple, wouldn’t have cared about the money.xptXZ
qDj3ALtBut Varus hadn’t died.lZCZ
wfDFwHe wanted revenge against the corrupt, yes, but he didn’t need to risk everything or accept meaningless losses.Ts6ISp
PaXMHAnd yet, the King of Mercenaries spoke of revenge and sought contracts and leads on the corrupt and demons.Mfst
MPg7aMPeople would say he did it to avenge his disciple.5XdOlL
cc2lBBut in Fernan’s eyes, that wasn’t the truth.H8Zx5
LbXFV‘He didn’t become the King of Mercenaries by being an idiot or someone ruled by emotion.’vgJKqa2
rDiJNanMercenaries were despised, seen as those incapable of becoming knights.be2
UAt9fBut in any field, those who reach the top always have something extraordinary.7Uv
alm0pPWas he really chasing demons just for a disciple who hadn’t even died?PzeWQ
i4S9B‘Impossible.’ZjmjgTo
ljAt0No, he was looking ahead.PKDq4
9xGsJ0Fernan didn’t think Garrett saw the future like he or Gismond did, but he was anticipating how the board would move.tAhV
zGZHe knew the incident with the corrupt wouldn’t end easily, that the coming of demons was highly likely. And he was preparing.r2A7fMj
EkIU40He wanted to face corrupt and demons firsthand.iGHPGRY
WLs3t“I will pay the standard fee. But I also have a condition.”OFd1OH
COW“So that was your goal from the beginning.”p6IWFLW
3ul“Yes.”UuIzQ6
JlnxL1A“The Pellenbergs have always displeased me. And now you come with these games in front of me…”ipfS3
6YzpHe growled with a suffocating aura.o5EPRor
WGEThe air grew heavy, but Fernan had experienced it once before and, with the certainty that he wouldn’t be killed, was able to endure better than last time.gg0
v8SDzpqGarrett withdrew his pressure.WeQe
7bv“Speak.”ygbUnA
wYcQjMS“I know traces of another demon.”MLN3
PdB“……!”2Lnt
sx0iOj3The eyes of the King of Mercenaries opened wide.AJ2q7P9
IQUr4y“…I didn’t think the Pellenbergs had such a high level of information.”eJL
1CHPou“Then I want to hire you as well, Garrett.”i3Xdok
co6xX6That was Fernan’s true goal.JRHa
opn2From the beginning, he had sought the King of Mercenaries because he knew that the 64th demon, Flauros, could appear on the Pandrein continent.X8iQ
ZWl6OThe situation in Bercheff had disrupted his plans, but the solution was simple—hire him twice.tW9Lw
OeeK“……”SxKNI
bJphMHe didn’t respond immediately.EHUI57
pxKzwDThe King of Mercenaries stared at him in silence, and Fernan met his gaze without flinching.rEg5P
pYiIn the end.orzPP
ltiA7“It depends on the result of this commission.”U8W9iXf
x1sf“That’s enough.”LI9f66
ynd4bXFernan smiled in satisfaction.PAkACvr
iU8aqsj***xcSqHO
zaA5The egg was not brought to the center of Bercheff.vk31K
KmoThey couldn’t introduce into a populated area an object that, by its mere existence, emitted miasma and corrupted the land.I0i
fV6That’s why, upon learning of it, the margrave led them to an abandoned fortress on the outskirts.opu
V6IlmhAn old defensive outpost that Bercheff had stopped using after expanding its territory.hjd
MjUNmQ2Hardly anyone went there, making it a good place to store something so dangerous.JZxW
b7BT6E“…This is unsettling.”APqN
ZiUvThe count let out a sigh upon seeing the egg.QM5
8WdaIt seemed alive—the crimson surface pulsed like a heart, and the lines crossing it looked like veins.SwJxVKM
fAt“Where did you find it?”bjpOpg
YNMX“Around one hundred and fifty demonic creatures had occupied the eighth snow troll nest.”jqrHuAW
cHefyj8The “eighth” was one of the numbered settlements Bercheff had recorded.Chbchy
DnVKbK“During the battle against them, the ground collapsed. There was a huge underground cavern.”blf5
Mwze0k“And this was there?”q34EzR
dUEk“Along with numerous monsters.”RkW
aw4PyEA“And you couldn’t destroy it?”HqkLDS
yaO3jQl“No.”bDW
o57cAt the words of the captain of the White Lions, the count drew his sword.Px4Fm
ecmThe blade gleamed with blue aura. It wasn’t a grand or flashy strike, but Fernan felt it in his bones.DH8
3fq1bq‘If that hits me, I’ll die.’sJ9eTq
sXePGI9No magic, not even with artifacts, could stop it.SOWdt
pIqxIt was an aura concentrated and refined to the extreme.zE3L3h
nlFHcThe count slashed from top to bottom, a simple movement.1Yd
HOcSJ7C────!WKSnM
W0AReThe result was anything but.O7T
eDZ3wmA devastating shockwave swept through the area. The tempest reached Fernan, but Luina stepped in with her aura.ZffGr
SfRYW“Are you alright?”dLW7
K0J“…Thanks.”ZLI8Xz
JEntY9“Don’t mention it. You’re still a guest of Bercheff.”Zi8H
rDPDwBHyde arrived a second too late and stood awkwardly beside Fernan.ptMWinj
G1NCRM“…Ah.”jDrt4SS
ZOs6“Don’t worry. You might be a bit clumsy, but I won’t abandon you.”xH4xm
rpVOr“Even if I’m cut, my lord promised to secure my retreat.”Xmq0
LXbJ“That’s true—the Pellenbergs take good care of their people.”h8e
FzMFernan turned his gaze back to the egg.KLc
19l“Ah.”csd
qEmAnd understood how tough it was.ADNcCs
2T1The Royal Knight’s strike had shaken the entire fortress, but the egg had barely a scratch.syK
mCwZbio‘A mere scratch after that?’i4z
nfZbEveryone thought the same and was left speechless.ipYFYQ
GoCEveryone except one.hTyCmb
i2y“Step aside.”Tk0z
GcdyGarrett Schreiner drew the spear from his back and hurled it without hesitation.TlifPrB
jE5dOEa────!88PKJ
LGb9It seemed to pierce through it.MrB
ekpq6oBut the result was identical—a mere scratch.WYwtd
3jYbW0“Looks like your spear has rusted from rolling in the mud so much, and you haven’t even noticed.”oWUhIN
CNuxBieThe count swung his sword again.j1DHK1q
uqSt7“Bah.”oSp
DK6VxWAnd Garrett responded with his spear.J4MKy1
5WKiE65“Pathetic.”zqM
YDtSword and spear took turns, again and again, striking the egg.jZt
z3hN0xLThe clashes generated explosions that shook the foundations. The knights and mercenaries shouted, and the remains of the fortress crumbled.idZP
U7wOWgaUntil finally—D1py5I
3IJkx2Rumble—py4D
SSKRb5“The fortress is collapsing!”PCxF
CrlxI“My lord, we must evacuate!”v0z
4uyzKe“Captain!”LZ5A
moBETThe old fortress, abandoned for years, could not withstand the combined force of two Royal Knights.cBnis
52Ke***hU6W
1Se9hlsDozens of slashes wounded the egg, but they didn’t seem to cause significant damage.dxlI
YQewaiMIn the end, the two Royal Knights gave up trying to destroy it immediately and accepted that they would have to rely on the power of Aint Armian.PvlA
S8qFr“The problem is how to store this until Aint Armian arrives.”CwLY
TjaUiThe land where the egg was already stained black.KjuCi
H2PSGThey couldn’t simply leave an object there that continuously oozed corrupt magic.Oddjtj
l31k5Ss“I have a good idea.”FlCku
W98sd“What is it?”WJc
DtL3IHFernan explained the storage method he had been thinking about the entire way back.JZGdwu
NR0“Ask the Cult of the Dragon God for help. Among their spells, there’s one called Holy Light. It’s a spell created specifically to fight demons.”X2dfC
q5Ak“Holy Light?”kvoqP6Q
Pdjvg“It’s called light, but it’s actually fire. It’s not on the level of Armian’s light, but it’s quite effective for burning corrupt magic.”Xd6k
J10EB7“You want to surround the egg with priests and cover it with flames?”qPz
3FEsKD“I already mixed the holy water they gave us with sand. It worked.”Xqv7Mw
D7ZMXLdEach capital of the Elector Houses had a direct magical transport circle with the Cult of the Dragon God, so calling them wouldn’t be difficult.IkXX8u
wqSiiNb‘If that had existed during the Monster Wave, Bercheff wouldn’t have suffered so much…’kXHb
pQRUnfortunately, before that catastrophe, there were no transport circles directly connecting the Elector Houses.i2Nlf
RY15A thousand years ago, the First Emperor had united them under one roof, but they were never considered true allies.SjB3U
DKVdThat’s why the circles were feared as possible invasion routes.Ki7
XuVhfN‘Now it’s just a custom that has lasted a thousand years.’wAB7b
WLiP6YOnly after Bercheff was on the brink of collapse did they connect a direct circle with the Cult of the Dragon God, which had no political or throne ambitions.8BSZC
MarBm9Among the other Elector Houses, forget it.GMbsJ
yEE‘In any case, convincing the clergy will be easy. We won’t even need to convince them.’9Y26
sivESurely, upon seeing the egg, they would throw themselves at it like rabid dogs. Perhaps even the Pope would run over himself, saying he wanted to study it.yVlxF
i3ErCh“For now, that’s the safest option.”yz0nTh
lRjThe count nodded at Fernan’s suggestion.VfAvYr
BjWHvP4“We’ll leave the squadron here and return to the center to…”1P9m2
hHD17pAt that moment.GJEi
QBV40“My lord!”Cns
4TIJA pale messenger burst into the castle urgently.4iNjS6
ODGtX“What’s happening?”4jheD4
WpFSThe messenger collapsed at the count’s feet.W6Hl0zq
v8432ZT“It’s terrible! An attack!”2xTbNQ3
wFdEFE“An attack? Who the hell would dare attack Bercheff? Speak clearly!”dMVQYq
qUdJjThe messenger managed to catch his breath and continued.WYA
kiT“We have information that a massive army of demonic creatures has begun moving from the Demon Realm! They’re advancing here right now, and their number exceeds ten thousand!”jnzOE
HgyZK“……!”2105v
9xZU9Everyone turned pale.uuj5Po
pV3hL***sQBaKGm
vUgdQx‘Because of me?’tFNqL
9Bg1uVRFernan knew that sooner or later the demons would march south.Nae
uLN6But not now, and not in such numbers.bh2CI
F4WrmnThis was because of the egg.TQ4
IEqmThe egg that served as a catalyst for the arrival of the 69th-ranked demon, Decarabia.KkKoX
QjyyRsNow that they had lost it, they were marching to retrieve it.DglYx
QXs‘Wait, then…’EMEeEg
959HfgA sinister premonition ran down his spine.ci1f6I
d8X6lgCFernan had thought that it was Decarabia himself who was leading the demonic army’s march south.ddD
kbyIt made sense—Decarabia was a demon.LxgnDP
R1FG5o4But he hadn’t descended yet, and still, the army moved.7Na
Ff8FuDO‘Can the corrupt control a horde of demons that large?’xmMm
GROThere were no monsters mixed in—it was a pure army of demons.9ee
NMX5TxKHe wasn’t sure if it was possible, but he was almost certain it wasn’t.Oxl
cAZIf it were, it would’ve already happened in the Taklakan Desert.q6T
DDOK1Then…lhl2
UiC“A demon. A demon has already been summoned…”XYLIQj
eu7Fernan’s face turned pale.IgN
6oXMxzAnd that sinister premonition—29j16Jk
EBB3J5hA few hours later, when the demonic army formed in perfect order before Bercheff’s first wall, it ceased to be just a premonition.7Ib3mB
ujS“The demons aren’t attacking immediately, they’re lining up…?”3N7JsoX
e0T“Someone is controlling them!”Qg5vwV
42VBO7“Could it be the corrupt?”eaVoRA
QCQcZbiThe soldiers on the walls were horrified.LPNW16a
V0fJ“A demon… It has to be a demon! Why? Why now?”5iNz3dQ
DacRGismond’s face turned pale as he murmured to himself.cbTABIM
xwlAnd as if to confirm it, the horde split in two, forming a path.7mGU2
zBAFrom the end, someone advanced.6Tj
cclCsA massive black steed, twice the size of a regular horse.iNgCN
bz5QiPUpon it, a gigantic dark knight bearing a greatsword.TJxE
aH9wOClop, clop—XT3ycjx
ITKqvDWith his appearance, the corrupt magic intensified.ei2
yeOaaNo one could look away.qcUZP
y0hCXIn the silence, only the pounding of hooves was heard.WheP
Suxc5MBAnd when he finally stood before humanity—Ijcv3UN
u1rWGHe raised his gaze toward the men on the walls.gpm3X
2HlfZ“Hiieeek…!”OXKu
VycVSK“Kuhk…!”FdC0JJ
EzFThe soldiers who saw the red glow inside his helmet gasped and collapsed to their knees.0MaFs1
bzIAtZ“I am the 66th, Kimaris. Marquis of Hell and commander of twenty infernal legions.”cyJ
P21GbvHis voice was like metal scraping iron, repulsive and terrifying.Bka
3D9gThe instinctive pressure in his voice made the soldiers tremble, unable even to comprehend that they were facing a demon.5mwN
dfWw“Miserable beings, I will give you a chance. Submit to Hell. I grant you the privilege of serving our kingdom…”9A8b4
1XspIGDAt that moment.ayt
I16A wild spear tore through the air and appeared right in front of the demon.IZzp
IV9vQf─────!gGyy
fOmwfWlA shockwave shook the entire battlefield. The roar jolted the soldiers from their paralysis.3kHVm
tR2“I am the great Royal Knight and the King of Mercenaries. Shouldn’t a mere marquis like you bow your head before me? Kneel right now.”jgo
QNPuoj6The owner of the spear, standing atop the wall, shouted with a crooked smile.ebtle6
dPXA“I see…”KTgTB
p5cOPGKimaris slowly lowered the greatsword he had raised.QD6V
WWlI3“Humans always need to experience terror before recognizing it. Backward barbarians…”Uk4Lc
0enrA thousand years have passed, it seems I had forgotten.8zWvoMg
CENRiNhThe black sword began to charge with corrupt magic. He swung a slash.MEow4TV
EYgmer────!xsl
RH2e4The magical circles engraved on the wall shattered instantly.z0Rpa1g
IC6A massive gouge was carved into the fortification.MprN18x
T9kSKwThe soldiers screamed as part of the wall collapsed.UDCc
VRPMYAnd then.d44uTB
apSP9o“Attack!”kUG2K4h
I6RkyoKieeeek!hEdYh
85aKyaaaa!vW1fsg
9Uyn5xThe demonic creatures began their march.vc1iE
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