Perhaps due to Kasim’s influence, most of the mercenaries chose loyalty over abandoning a comrade.
Although Damon had once given them a severe scolding, they had gotten along relatively well since then, and above all, had he not bestowed upon them the favor of teaching them a mana cultivation method? They spoke as one.
“That’s right. He is our comrade, and we are most certainly members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps.”
“The Kasim Mercenary Corps dies together and lives together.”
Unfortunately, Vertek was not the least bit moved by their fervent camaraderie.
“Heh heh heh. Empty-headed fools.”
Of course, since they had confessed so readily, there was nothing bad in it for Vertek. If anything, he could hardly bear how wasteful it felt that he had stayed up all night preparing counterarguments. Perhaps feeling it would be too bland to end things like this, he latched onto Gerald and Heinrich, the youngest among the mercenaries.
“Think carefully. Your futures are still bright. My conscience will not allow me to let you rot in prison for the rest of your lives. So I will give you one more chance. Answer only this: are you truly members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps?”
As if there was no need to think about it, Gerald admitted the truth.
“There is no doubt. I am a member of the Kasim Mercenary Corps, and the black mage is most certainly my comrade.”
Since he could not even dream of avenging his family even if he were released alone, Gerald instead chose the path of acting together with his comrades. However, under the seasoned Vertek’s eloquence, the weak-hearted Heinrich hesitated slightly. His heart had weakened at the thought of being punished. Perceiving that he was wavering, Vertek continued to provoke Heinrich.
“Think deeply. You surely have parents and siblings. Would it not matter to you if one wrong answer meant you could never see them again for the rest of your life?”
“I, I…”
Heinrich continued to hesitate. He desperately wanted to deny it, but he could not bring himself to say the words. It was because he felt truly sorry toward his comrades. Unable to watch any longer, Kasim stepped forward. His voice was deliberately curt.
“Didn’t you already submit your withdrawal papers last time? Hurry up and answer. You are no longer a member of the Kasim Mercenary Corps.”
The mercenaries’ gazes all focused on Heinrich at once. Surprisingly, there was no jealousy or anger in those gazes. Rather, as if to encourage Heinrich, the mercenaries kept nodding. It was a silent camaraderie telling him that at least he should deny it and have his sentence reduced. At the sight, Heinrich bit his lip hard. At last, he had made up his mind. Heinrich looked at Vertek and shouted loudly.
“I am a member of the Kasim Mercenary Corps. That fact will never change.”
“Good grief.”
Vertek’s face twisted. In the end, the counterarguments he had prepared had all become utterly useless. Since all the prisoners had admitted their guilt, the interrogation proceeded no further.
Kasim and the mercenaries sent Heinrich looks that were at once regretful and proud. Heinrich, too, wore a pleased expression. Now that he had honestly revealed the truth, he felt truly relieved. Heinrich was no longer the least bit afraid of punishment.
Now all that remained for them was to go to Terbia’s capital and stand trial. After confirming that the clerk had recorded every question and answer without omission, Vertek turned his gaze this time to Mitchell and Juliana. They were still hanging their heads low.
“This time, I shall begin questioning you two. However, do not worry too much. You are not members of the mercenary corps, and since the mercenary captain has already stated that he terminated his contract with you, you should be released after only a simple investigation.”
At Vertek’s words, Juliana slowly raised her head. Her eyes were filled with nothing but emptiness. It was an expression as though she had lost all will to live in this world. As expected, Vertek did not mention even a word about the fact that Juliana had made the report. Looking at her, Vertek continued in a dry voice.
“Since the mercenary captain has stated that the contract was terminated, if you acknowledge that, the charges against you will be cleared. Instead, taking into consideration that the mercenaries cannot pay the penalty fee because they are being detained, the city of Dontrel has decided to pay part of the penalty fee on their behalf. According to the contract, you and the Kasim Mercenary Corps entered into an agreement for 10 gold. Therefore, once you go to the capital, undergo the investigation, and return, we shall pay you 10 gold as the penalty fee. Thus, you should feel grateful for our city’s magnanimity.”
After finishing his words, Vertek fixed his gaze on Juliana’s face. Depending on her answer, he intended to draft the charges differently. If by any chance she brought up the matter of her report, he intended to show no mercy and tie her in as one of the group. Once he made her an accomplice, it would be difficult to expect much effect from her testimony.
“If she behaves according to her station, I am naturally willing to be lenient.”
If the situation proceeded as he expected, he could silence her with 10 gold and pocket the rest of the bounty. Vertek’s face shone especially greasily with anticipation for unearned income. On top of that, there was also the reward awaiting him for capturing the black mage.
Fortunately, the princess of Carcel seemed to have grasped to some extent that the situation was going according to his expectations. After all, she said nothing about the fact that she had reported him.
“Good.”
He swallowed dryly, then began questioning the two.
“The mercenary captain has already testified that the contract was terminated. Do you agree?”
However, the answer that came back in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s overturned Vertek’s expectations entirely.
“I do not agree. I do not remember terminating my contract with the Kasim Mercenary Corps.”
“What?”
Startled, Vertek sprang to his feet. The princess of Carcel’s answer was truly unexpected. As if unable to believe it, he questioned her once more.
“Are you certain? Think carefully before you answer.”
“My answer will be the same even if I say it again. I did not terminate my contract with the Kasim Mercenary Corps. Therefore, the contract is still valid. Of course, I also witnessed without omission the fact that the black mage joined the mercenary corps, so I am guilty as well.”
Vertek looked utterly dumbfounded. Somehow, every single one of this group, mercenaries and employers alike, was bizarre beyond belief. He had never heard of a prisoner who refused when offered a way out. At a loss for words, Vertek shook his head.
“I truly cannot understand this.”
Vertek was not the only one surprised. Mitchell, who had been sitting there listlessly, also snapped to his senses at Juliana’s answer. Though he had been unable to raise his head out of guilt, Mitchell had been certain that he would be released before long. Yet the immature Juliana had gone and caused trouble again.
“No! I, I’m not…”
But that cry spread only within his heart. Mitchell knew well that protesting would be useless. Even by common sense, that was the case. There was no way a guard knight could overturn what the princess had confessed. As if to prove it, Vertek did not even glance at Mitchell. As though there was no need to ask him.
“This is driving me mad.”
In the end, Mitchell had no choice but to stew inwardly.
The mercenaries also reacted as if this was completely unexpected. Kasim in particular watched Juliana with a surprised expression. Just then, Juliana also turned her head, and when their eyes met, she gave Kasim an awkward smile. Her face clearly showed that she wanted to convey her apology in this way at least. At that sight, Kasim felt something that had been knotted in his chest loosen somewhat.
“I suppose she wasn’t bad to the core after all.”
But he could not show his true feelings outwardly. They themselves had to face the fate already decided for them, but those who could live had to survive somehow, so Kasim kept signaling with his eyes. He was telling her to retract her statement so that at least they could be released. But Juliana’s stubbornness was, as expected, as tough as whale tendon. As if saying she would not listen, Juliana squeezed her eyes shut. Watching that, Vertek clicked his tongue.
“It cannot be helped. I have no choice but to send all of you to the capital and put you on trial…”
Vertek turned his head irritably.
“Imprison them all. We will escort them out tomorrow as soon as Sir Wilkerson arrives.”
“Understood.”
The knights nodded, seized the mercenaries, and roughly pulled them to their feet.
“Move. Anyone who causes a commotion will not be forgiven.”
The mercenaries were dragged out one by one. But there was no trace of regret in their eyes. The same was true of Juliana. Only Mitchell wore a somewhat hollow expression.
“See you at the trial.”
“Take care until then, Damon.”
As if they had all agreed upon it, the mercenaries each offered Damon words of farewell before being dragged away. Only Mitchell and Juliana did not turn their heads. Emotional resentment still remained between them. After everyone had been dragged away, only Vertek and Damon were finally left in the interrogation room.
“You really have some remarkable comrades. Every last one of them is loyal, but unbelievably stupid.”
Watching Damon with a sinister gleam in his eyes, Vertek closed the curtain without delay. Now that everything had become clear, all he had to do was write the report. A report recording the crimes of the wicked black mage and his party.
“I will have to hurry if we are to depart tomorrow.”
After checking the magic circle once more, Vertek slowly made his way to his office.
A day had passed since Princess Carcel and her party had been imprisoned. Vertek had written all the charges into a report and was waiting for the escort party to arrive. Since the prisoner was a mage whose ability surpassed his own, they could not depart until a Sword Master came to escort him.
“Sovereign Fortress is not that far, so they should arrive soon. Considering the gravity of the matter…”
Vertek waited with all preparations for the escort complete. In the meantime, the escort party finally arrived. Under the command of Sword Master Wilkerson, who was in charge of the escort, two capable paladins appeared.
“Welcome.”
Seeing Vertek bow his head respectfully, the escort captain Wilkerson nodded. He was an old swordsman well past fifty. Among the eighteen Sword Masters in all of Terbia, he was a skilled fighter who could easily rank within the top five. At that level, his ability would not fall behind even a mid-ranking unit commander-level Sword Master among the knights of Crosen.
“So, you personally captured Sebain’s black mage…”
“That is correct.”
Vertek answered, proudly puffing out his chest. Since it was, no matter what anyone said, a splendid achievement, Wilkerson looked at Vertek as if he found him reliable. Of course, he, too, knew that the Crosen punitive force had been defeated by Sebain’s black mage.
“You have caught a tremendous figure. Truly, you have worked hard.”
Although the trials of time could be felt in his half-gray hair, Wilkerson was a swordsman who exuded a powerful aura. Having devoted nearly forty years to the sword, his eyes emitted a sharp light that brought to mind a well-tempered blade.
“Then, when is the departure time?”
“The sooner the better, so how would it be if we left immediately?”
Wilkerson nodded as if in agreement.
“That would be best. The fellow may try some trickery, so let us depart at once. By the way, how large is the escort force you have prepared?”
“We have already selected five hundred first-rate soldiers from the Dontrel garrison. In addition, five paladins belonging to Dontrel are on standby, and I will accompany them as well. With Lord Wilkerson and your two attending knights present, he will not dare even think of escaping.”
Perhaps finding Wilkerson’s sharp gaze somewhat burdensome, Vertek answered while breaking into a cold sweat.
“That should be sufficient. In truth, the three of us alone would likely be enough, but it would be better to take some troops along just in case.”
In fact, though they were all paladins, the paladins belonging to Dontrel and the paladins Wilkerson had brought could not be compared in terms of ability. Even among paladins, there were clear differences in skill.
Wilkerson was a Sword Master belonging to the knight order and had been dispatched to a nearby fortress. Because of that, the paladins under his command could only be carefully selected talents whom the knight order had poured its heart and soul into cultivating. However, the paladins belonging to Dontrel were inferior to them in quality. No matter how much of a hub city Dontrel was, it could not be more important than a major fortress, so the reality was that relatively inexperienced and less skilled knights were dispatched there.
Therefore, at present, their assistance was desperately needed. If by any chance the black mage escaped the magic circle, not only would Vertek himself, with his inferior ability, be in danger, but relying only on Dontrel’s paladins would be somewhat unsettling. That was why he had requested support from Sovereign Fortress.
Now that Wilkerson had arrived, there was no need to hesitate, so Vertek soon hurried the preparations for departure.
“Would you like to see what the fellow looks like?”
“No, there is no need. Once he is put on trial, I will have to see his face until I am sick of it anyway. It would be better to hurry our departure.”