Chapter 1
uDh1tnA mercenary who doesn’t die is third-rate. The reason they’re paid so much is because they exist to die instead of the nobles and the commoners.iGorng
SMpThe nobles used to joke like that about mercenaries.lg4KG
jgtVpIt was only natural that every time they said such nonsense, the mercenaries would be outraged.lat
RsYWhen there was danger, they acted as if they were going to give them land and titles, but as soon as the war ended they spoke that way.EIcbpwt
tkpSFInevitably, the more experience mercenaries accumulated, the stronger their distrust and aversion toward the nobles became.QNB
ZYeBeing hired multiple times by nobles also meant that they had seen many unpleasant things.y0ADb
EtVAoJake, the leader of the mercenary group, was one of them.zDSPi87
bg2O‘Seriously, the excuses never ended.’NmX2rc3
YqyeThe damage to the enemy was too low, since they hadn’t killed the leader they couldn’t say they had won, they had only won a skirmish and it hadn’t changed the situation of the war.Bsa6dpk
3z23All kinds of creative excuses that sometimes even made the employer’s own vassals frown.5d43
9X0C13UAnd the funny thing was that, no matter how creative they were, they all ended the same way: “We can’t pay the promised money.”
But even Jake, who had heard countless excuses, had never heard such stupidity.ImaSl
54HNyvW“Die for us.”eAXPxK
CJRO“….”0jxnLBS
mqBJake blinked in amazement at what the knight in front of him said.Z6Hbe
e16MDid I hear wrong?6uIiE
uuKCpAny other noble maybe, but this wasn’t the kind of person who would blurt out such stupidity.lBO
C8rSqwq“Excuse me. These days I’m tired and I don’t hear well…”x8Hrl
0z52Y“You didn’t hear wrong. Die for us.”i9Zb
J2w1HDamn madman.ZVKSIC
V6IHolding back the curse rising to his throat, Jake glared at the knight.XMqde
ZTqfnGDHas he lost his mind after so many consecutive defeats?9FWg7
RlUAnd to think that he had already done more than enough to leave, and now suddenly they were asking him to die.iI6Hf
78crMZ“Sir, do you know what my profession is?”3kZPKt
UTlD“You are a mercenary.”AI0d
g1uGp2“I see that you’re clear about that. For a moment I thought you had confused me with a knight.”3EbCLD
AbGa“I wish you were a knight.”07y
NJwl9If you were, I could ask you without remorse.knMa
9eBjSfThe knight sighed, closed his eyes for a moment, and opened them again.L8ohl
hpGWeariness and self-loathing filled his gaze, things that hadn’t been there before.YKuL
Csqum“Forgive me. It seems I spoke roughly. I may have caused a misunderstanding.”Gls3Mai
o2IqFx“A misunderstanding?”kdho1
7LR“The truth is that I wanted to ask you to defend the position. But since the situation is so desperate, the words slipped out.”hoIp
JL3PApwIn short, it was a mission so dangerous that even his conscience weighed on him and he had grown sentimental.wMm3deV
u2zWhat a way to scare someone.ewq8
ioaXib“Don’t worry. It’s understandable.”dtfXEL
24SHJake hid his true thoughts and showed a professional smile.TvKLn
20U1saAfter all, the other man was the employer’s right-hand man.wgJ6eq
LxUShowing annoyance could cause problems with the final payment.hB7
abOarOBesides, unpleasant as it sounded, that tone came from someone who, within reason, had consideration for mercenaries.PlIisKl
yrXmEa1Up to now he had assigned missions within what was reasonable, so no matter how dangerous it was, he wouldn’t cross that line.0ai
3DPoFaq“The mission is simple. Tomorrow the rebels will launch a total attack. While my lord gets to safety, stay with me and stop the enemy.”bPdSAkm
rdwMcA“…Excuse me?”15Qfl
bswSQ“If possible, for as long as you can. At least until I die. I will give you the final payment with this when you retire.”YELj
NrmlThe knight took something out from his chest and dropped it in front of him.aZjV7
DGKIfiA red stone the size of an adult man’s fist.sriv
fpKAaFrom its shine, it was undoubtedly the “Prince’s Tear,” extracted only in the mines of the far south.jBRm
KeYPA size like that would be enough to pay for more than three years of hiring the mercenary group.98vT8
DI37sBut Jake frowned without even looking at it.WvA
4lXVY“Sir, did you perhaps eat something that had gone bad yesterday?”UQxijNX
81YdGbe“I am perfectly fine.”YLTw
L5DnJE“A madman never admits that he’s mad.”TzW
m0mfV“Watch your words. If you cross the line, even if it’s you…”iP9
1SO2“The one who crossed the line was you. Do you want to drag us to die with you? Do I look like an idiot to you?”euQc
JaUIn theory it sounds beautiful.Zdeo
47jIvrFKnights who, on a lost battlefield, sacrifice their lives to give their lord time to escape.KjMyCoE
ujJYAdAnd mercenaries who, after fighting to a certain point, are rewarded and sent back.ZvZ
IsdA naïve rookie might have believed it.RWhXF
cahRaBut unfortunately, Jake was a mercenary far too seasoned.VvLy
ViAzo“You are the commander-in-chief. And you say they’ll only let me go when you die? When you’re about to be annihilated? Nonsense! Do you think the enemy will just let us go like that?”BgIj
Dvcg6“Since you’re not knights but mercenaries, they won’t pursue you that much…”7by
JMD5vz“We are mercenaries who have caused them enormous damage! For the enemy, there will be no rest until they grind our bones!”RQtNF
hq5n1qA mercenary has no reason to keep fighting once he is no longer being paid.qhWw
KSbSFThat’s why when the employer dies, the mercenaries usually flee, and the enemy doesn’t pursue them excessively.ekA
Lj0AIf they foolishly pursued them and the mercenaries fought desperately, it would only be needless loss.Hpjr
jKn1But that only applies when there is no accumulated hatred.f0RSWv
JBo“Do you know how much I’ve wrecked their ranks so far? The common soldiers convulse just from hearing my name. Do you think they’ll let us go?”jepD1
BstefgEven a hired mercenary ceases to be irrelevant when the enemy wants his head.UNP
E19pAnd Jake had cornered the enemy command more than once.DrIa
sbo5GOf course they would chase him to kill him, no matter what.0L9
8TZtEven if they fled now, they would send troops after them. And he expected him to wait in the middle of the open field?5uPHG
60qh“They plan to use us as sacrifice.”Ilu
0aYtsRY“…”kSi
gpF6“They want to buy time for their lord to escape and force us to participate? Magnificent. So honorable it almost makes me want to bow.”i4iKs
8kqBefore the biting sarcasm, the knight pressed his lips together.u0a0
BYwFDL1It seemed he still had at least some shame.1walR
R7oYBut it was also obvious he had no intention of letting Jake go.uqBuOs
E6NPO“If you don’t accept, I’ll take command. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to accompany me to the end.”Br4yroa
zIVnqD“And if I don’t want to?”RIDaGR
S9nw“I’ll have to use this.”a6z
qmsr5TtClang.1Y5jJ
Ig480The knight partially drew his sword.C5E6
3i2A clear threat: if necessary, he would kill him and lead the mercenaries himself.7vc
kocifQJake clicked his tongue at such stupidity.fIo1fK
ni8The subordinates wouldn’t obey anyone but him, so it was useless.Ol5D6P
DTJBut the knight had already decided to accept the dishonor.R5gJO
20mEven if Jake explained, he wouldn’t listen. And even if he believed, he would end up imposing it by force.5VB
qthw“Damn bastard.”xbzU6dh
YcEZBAG“I’m sorry.”Dxa0A
6HPn“Don’t apologize. On the contrary, thank you for making me feel less guilty.”SuJ4OV
wAjZm48“What?”mGrY
Pfe4“Since things are already like this, at least I’ll take your head with me. It’s already too late to escape, so I’ll do what I can.”S7y0hD2
eymI2LlThe knight’s expression twisted.aPlf55
eBLZMkGuilt disappeared, leaving only contempt.hal
7ZXiOPU“And I thought wrong of you.”Lq5c
FlV7u“How did you judge me?”4Ni
kWP0QO“I thought that, for a mercenary, you were someone with honor. More knightly than many knights. But in the end, you were just a simple mercenary.”XZLa
chh2qTC“Wow. And who are you to talk?”AfrtO
yR6“No one. But this makes me feel more at ease. If we’re the same trash, I have no reason to hold back.”Dl0
ZBppKJake let out a hollow laugh.4GZ
qnJIt seemed the knight thought it was all just to save his own life.F6ofuNT
YWpBhGJake smiled mockingly.uKfV8
XDW0f3p“It seems you’re mistaken about one thing. I have no intention of surviving.”bfcgH
DoO“What did you say?”rAQ
Iy4“Whether I accept or reject your proposal, I’m going to die anyway. The problem is that my men would die with me. So at least I want to save them.”mgz0
RUM“The enemy’s pursuit…”m2auMB
i0ORwBQ“If we present your head and mine together, it might work. In the end, the ones who generate resentment aren’t the soldiers but the commanders.”tEr
RT9PQWThe knight’s eyes opened wide.yAESyDF
eIK4D0After a slight tremor in his eyelids, he let out an empty laugh.mrhw
pRZpDR“Ha… haha. You want to die to save your subordinates?”pPp
cLJ“They’re men I brought in promising them a future. If I failed, the responsibility is mine. Isn’t that obvious?”yQSO
4tdi0Fm“The obvious… yes, it is.”dfakOpZ
tFMShiing.CQ2
LLeYKEThe knight’s sword came completely out of its sheath.7fd2YF2
CGEA fluid movement, like water.XzV
bWkmhiJake drew his a moment later, but bitterness filled his mouth.bl2
DFN‘He leaves no opening, damn it. How many levels above me is this guy?’gaxTT
Tt2uJake knew some tricks to make up for the difference in skill, but none seemed to work against that knight.vpYtky
Vth1DEIt wasn’t that he was mediocre among mercenaries—he was feared.iPK
H0biBut before this knight, famous even among the great warlords, he was insufficient.opBu
Wgy3ajWHe might die here before even offering his head to the enemy.7GgDwGw
IaWVWell, it wasn’t a bad death either.j0hW9
vblXwAt least his men, upon learning that Jake had died, would abandon the battlefield immediately.lVWj
lTgdS“I wish you had been my lord.”5W4
5gsIUnlike tense Jake, the knight’s voice sounded melancholy.itkp9a
lYcuHis lord, of noble blood, had abandoned his vassals to flee; Jake, of vulgar origin, was the opposite.s8Bc
FXT2pwA noble of blood and a mercenary of humble origins.oR01
1inlBut if they ignored blood, which of the two had the mettle to be a true king?lZrUr84
w4vRI2Holding back another sigh, the knight spoke.n4Hne
btjj3z“I’m sorry.”VZ3Fvr1
w9D9hr“Eat this.”cvKg
B1lsSplat.sY5k
jtBveAt the same time as he replied, Jake hurled his sword with all his strength.vhMTq
XETqFAnd with a flash, he felt something warm gush from his neck.T0tpbb
sRzHe didn’t see when the knight completely unsheathed nor when he attacked.Oyvh
v6050Only from the strange sensation and from seeing the knight’s sword on the other side did he know he had been cut.PVbmq
rK5evabHe had expected it, but the swiftness of the outcome left a bitter taste.7DpNyZ
eYil3Y‘Damn it.’JbtZf
UGbXFIAlthough Jake had made his move, the knight, who had never doubted his victory for an instant, still wore a calm expression.ZIE9zEs
V17There wasn’t the slightest trace of tension, and Jake couldn’t help letting out a bitter laugh.3Df
zmRAQa‘So that’s talent…’6ob
1OXfciWith that final thought, Jake’s vision went dark.J8S
H6dY2Zw***DZx4FW
i73svb“…Young master! Young master!”nfq6S
ZCY7Jake woke up suddenly feeling a strong dizziness.8mVNy
Fses5Someone was shouting in his ear while shaking his body.oltB
8ItEP‘…What the hell? Am I alive?’yARpyz
PuXpImpossible.SNYUD1Q
xy4W2RHe remembered with perfect clarity the sensation of the sword piercing his neck.9jaZs
YPDfRNot even a legendary saint performing miracles could save him in such a state.
So was this a dream?muAKk9
6VQWXS“Young master! Oh, young master!”gd2
jAYBut for a dream, everything felt far too real.7xWKGgi
yFZkZThe voice echoing in his ears made his skull vibrate, and every time they shook him,
he felt like throwing up.a8oMpj5
BTJOvfHe wanted to shout for them to stop, but before he could, the other person raised their hand.49CkZx
pdEF“Please wake up! If you leave like this, I’ll die too!”1QoWkKB
5fXOfNwSmack, smack, smack!EqLq
KeT4YypDamn lunatic, stop hitting me!y0pUzgk
LdZThe hand was small, but each slap made his head tremble.j0rzi
HReQQinWhen his cheeks were so red they felt like they were burning, Jake couldn’t take it anymore and shouted.s8MrE3
NSiRj“Stop… I said stop…!”hxWo
nnqZ“Yo– Young master! You’ve regained consciousness!?”RmREsAd
OKXWith his vision still blurry, Jake focused on the figure in front of him.6lqstaN
3HYVlBKLooking closely, it was a boy with a soft voice and small frame.SCc
FHOI9Just as Jake was about to complain about the stinging pain in his cheeks, the boy burst into tears and cried out.dVU
b6VlD“You’re safe, young lord! I thought you were going to leave us just like that!”LM0MhiB
IdaMv3What? Young master?1tbEVn
F9m66o1Jake blinked, confused.zorV
JT3t3IIt was the first time in his life someone had used that title with him.YJsDoC
Al7V6zRNo matter how well a mercenary was treated, at most they’d be called a “quasi-knight.”6eve1
aqEAnd now they were treating him like the son of a noble family?lBXQg1
N61u7jz“What nonsense are you spouting after slapping me like you were trying to kill me…?”aDY
pyDJake was rubbing his swollen cheeks when his body suddenly froze.ARQFiOb
yu7WsThe palm of his hand was too soft.RYySK4S
Ztm1QNJust a moment ago, it had been full of hardened calluses.EWZ
VXJZWith his original hand, he would never have felt something like this.FVv
eRYIGXHWhen Jake, curious, looked at his own palm—4drS
XYnHo“…What the hell is this now?”msmnDi
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