Duke Perstein once more sorted through the strategy he had devised.
“Once the matter is successfully concluded, I begin the war of conquest immediately. I will gather every force I possess, then invade Terbia without giving them a moment’s opening. After breaking Terbia’s main defensive forces, I will immediately turn all troops toward Tezeros, leaving the occupation of Terbia’s remaining territories to the reserve divisions and the mercenary corps. That period should be roughly three days. If my calculations are correct, Tezeros, too, can be brought down in three days, and the king’s head can be struck off in the central square. The problem is Pencelot……”
Duke Perstein, who knew the state of affairs across the entire continent like the back of his hand, was well aware of what had recently happened in Pencelot. In particular, because two members of the mercenary corps to which the black magician belonged had received titles in Pencelot, Duke Perstein had been forced to alter his plans considerably.
“If that information is true, the black magician cannot be deployed in the war against Pencelot. I will assign them the task of subjugating the remnants of Tezeros, then mobilize the Crossen Knights and the Duke Knights in full to take Cordo, Pencelot’s capital, as quickly as possible. Even at the fastest, it will take more than ten days, but there is no helping it. Hm. It seems I will have no choice but to leave the king of Pencelot alive. If I wish to keep hold of the black magician’s favor, that is.”
Of course, two mere mercenaries were not worth considering. No matter how much they might be paladins, from Duke Perstein’s perspective they were nothing more than insignificant minnows. The problem was that they were the black magician’s comrades.
“According to intelligence, the black magician cherishes his comrades a great deal. Therefore, I must cater to his whims no matter what sacrifice it requires.”
He regarded the black magician as already all but won over. That was because he knew perfectly well the purpose and route of the Kasim Mercenary Corps. As he recalled it, a look of incredulity appeared on the duke’s face.
“To think that such an extraordinary black magician would take on a mere task of escorting the princess of Karsel…… He must be more of a lecher than I expected. Judging from the situation, I can only conclude that he has designs on the princess of Karsel. In any case, those mercenary fellows were exceedingly fortunate. Because they took on the escort of Princess Karsel, they were able to become the black magician’s comrades.”
He had already grasped the personal details of the members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps. It was information he had extracted by paying a vast sum to an officer of the Thunderbird Mercenary Corps.
“According to what I found out, every one of them was either a third-rate mercenary or nothing but a greenhorn. And yet by what method did the black magician train them into paladins? In a mere year and six months or so?”
Since everything would be resolved once he met the black magician, the duke forcibly erased those thoughts. According to the intelligence, it was almost certain they would come to Laytona. To receive them, the duke had already dispatched many of his trusted men to Laytona. Once he met him, the duke intended to win him over by any means necessary. Even if he had to kneel before him.
“I look forward to the days ahead. I can only hope Krancia and Krovitz handle the matter well……”
Astonishingly, in order to receive the black magician, he had urgently dispatched his son Krancia and Krovitz, commander of the Duke Knights, to Laytona. If not for the certain information that the black magician would be attending the crown princess selection ceremony, the duke had even been of a mind to go in person and receive him.
“First, we must welcome him with all possible sincerity and devotion. With a grand reception such as we have never bestowed upon any kingdom’s delegation before……”
Having finished his thoughts, the duke looked out the window. Perhaps because the night was deep, starlight dazzling enough to feel icy pierced the duke’s eyes. As though even the heavens yearned for the realization of his desire……
Laytona, the gateway city of the Crossen Empire, was showing an especially lively appearance. Far more people than when the selection ceremony had been postponed a year ago had gathered, bustling about, and touts seeking to draw them in could be seen everywhere.
The people walking the streets were all dressed splendidly. Most of them were princesses who had come to participate in the selection ceremony and their attendants. Having arrived as recently as a week ago or as long as a month ago, these parties were staying in Laytona, counting the days until they could depart for Felzentin, the imperial capital.
“I’m truly looking forward to it.”
The princesses’ hearts were swelling with anticipation. If not for such an opportunity, they would rarely have a chance to see Felzentin, the capital of the superpower Crossen Empire.
But it was a few hours before the second group of princesses and their parties gathered there was to depart for Felzentin that one utterly incongruous band inserted itself among them.
“Eek!”
The people who spotted the group racing in frantically shrieked and stepped aside. It was because every last one of those running toward them was blackened all over with dust. The sight of them floundering in fear that dust might get on their clothes was truly something to behold.
Because of that, the path opened before the approaching group like waves parting, creating a spectacular scene. Since so many people had gathered, the city gates were wide open, and thanks to that the group was able to race straight into the center of the city.
Neighhh.
As a horse stopped, letting out ragged breaths, the men who had been running behind it also began to come to a halt one by one. Their faces were all so caked with dust that it was impossible to make out their features. One man stepped forward and wiped at his face.
“Hah, hah. We’ve finally arrived.”
The face revealed as the dust fell away was none other than Kasim’s. Behind him, the utterly exhausted members were sinking to the ground one by one.
“Kraaaah. I’m dying here. Why do I have to run like this?”
The complaint that suddenly burst out from behind was Catroi’s. He was so covered in dust that his handsome white hair and white clothes had turned entirely grayish-white. There was no trace of his usually neat appearance. Before he had even finished speaking, a curt reply burst out from beside him.
“Don’t exaggerate, you punk. If you’re a dragon, try keeping your dignity like one.”
Damon’s appearance was no better. True to its dust-catching color, the black robe he wore was piled thickly with dust, as though snow had settled on it. His face was the same. After catching their breath for a moment, the members looked at one another’s appearances and began bursting into laughter.
“Huhuhu. Just look at the state of you.”
“Hey, you’re the same.”
The members of the Kasim Mercenary Corps simply sat down by the roadside, busy pointing at one another’s faces and laughing. Though the gazes of the people around them focused on them, not a single one of them paid any mind. The gathered people began murmuring as they stared at them.
“Who are those people?”
“Hm? Isn’t someone tied up on that horse?”
Indeed, on the back of the horse that was still panting, someone was dangling, bound tightly with rope. Judging from the slender figure, it seemed to be a woman, but she did not move in the slightest, like a corpse.
“Ah, that’s right.”
Noticing the people’s gazes, Kasim hurried over to the horse.
“Upsy-daisy.”
He hastily pulled the corpse loaded on the horse down. The corpse(?) was none other than Juliana, and seeing as her chest was faintly rising and falling, it seemed she was not dead yet.
The reason she had ended up in such a state was this. The mercenary corps members had run for their lives for two full days, and there was no way Juliana could endure such a forced march. Though she had been riding a horse, she had continued to whine about how hard it was.
“I’m tired. Let’s rest just a little.”
But Kasim could by no means slow the march. They were far too pressed for time. In the end, he went to Damon and asked him to resolve the situation.
“I don’t think this will work. Perhaps you could at least teleport Princess Juliana……”
But Damon shook his head coldly.
“There’s a far better method than that. Sleep.”
No sooner had mana been rearranged than Juliana collapsed on the spot. He had used the power of magic to put her to sleep just like that. Looking at the limp Juliana, Damon wore a triumphant expression.
“Solved cleanly, didn’t it? Then tie this girl securely to the horse’s back. It would be troublesome if she fell off.”
At Damon’s ingenious solution, Kasim and the rest of the members could only click their tongues. But because time was far too short, the mercenaries ultimately had no choice but to tie her onto the horse’s back. In that state, they had run without stopping all the way to Laytona.
Recalling that fact, Kasim carefully examined Juliana’s condition. To be honest, he could not imagine that she would be fine after being loaded onto the back of a horse that had shaken wildly the whole way. As expected, Juliana’s face was marked here and there with bruises and wounds. It seemed to be because she had kept slamming against the swaying horse’s back. In particular, the parts of her wrists and ankles that had been bound were bruised a hideous blue. Seeing that sight, Kasim clicked his tongue as if at a loss.
“Good grief. Sir Damon really is wicked. How could he do this to a woman……”
Damon’s reply soon came from behind.
“What’s wicked about it? Who told her to whine?”
Worry settled over Kasim’s face.
“In any case, this is a serious problem. She needs to participate in the selection ceremony, yet her face has been injured……”
“That’s none of my concern. To be honest, there’s almost no chance this girl will be chosen anyway, is there?”
Replying indifferently, Damon lightly waved his hand. Then Juliana’s eyes flew open. In the next instant, a piercing scream burst from her lips.
“Kyaaaak!”
It was loud enough to draw everyone’s attention in an instant. Having awakened, Juliana began groaning as she frantically rubbed her entire body. From the look of her, the pain seemed to be considerable. Kasim shook his head from side to side with pitying eyes.
“It’s no wonder it hurts. Even if she had ridden normally, her whole body would be stiff, but she was carried here tied to the horse’s back……”
Just in case, he looked at Damon, but it was in vain. He had secretly hoped Damon would cast healing on her, but Damon showed no sign of any such intention. Rather, at the sight of Damon smirking, Kasim had to smile bitterly.
“Keep in mind that if you whine again in the future, you will end up in an even worse state than this.”
Even while groaning, Juliana shot him a venomous glare.
“J-just you wait!”
“By all means, wait all you like. For reference, there have been countless people who told me to just you wait.”
After replying briefly, Damon coldly turned away. Juliana’s venomous gaze flew into his back like an arrow and lodged there. If a person could be harmed with one’s eyes, it was the sort of gaze that seemed as if it could hack him to pieces outright.
After hesitating, Kasim ultimately approached Catroi and made his request with an awkward expression.
“Um, Sir Catroi……”
After hearing the situation, Catroi fortunately accepted Kasim’s request readily.
“That much isn’t difficult. Heal!”
Because it was magic cast by a dragon, one of the progenitors of magic, the wounds and bruises on Juliana’s face and body disappeared in an instant. Though her face had become spotless, Juliana did not even thank Catroi. She merely glared at Damon with eyes that seemed to burn.
Kasim, feeling awkward, approached and brought her attention back.
“We must hurry. If we are late, they may not accept our application to participate.”
At those words, Juliana lowered her head. After glancing once at Kasim, Juliana began walking in silence. Since she had already come once before, she knew well where the registration site was. The members of the mercenary corps quietly followed behind her.
As the party approached in their dust-covered state, people shrieked and made way for them. If they accidentally bumped into them and got dust on their clothes, it would be no small matter. Thanks to that, the party was able to move along comparatively easily.
But just as they were nearing the registration site, an unexpected incident occurred. From among the people who had stepped aside, a sudden mocking laugh rang out. Judging from the high-pitched voice of a woman, it seemed to belong to a princess intending to participate in the selection ceremony.
“How extraordinary. No matter how open a festival the selection ceremony may be, to think they would allow such shabby trash to attend.”
Though it was not very loud, the sneer rang out clearly enough for the entire party to hear. As if misfortune had piled upon misfortune, a deep voice that seemed to belong to an escort knight then insulted the party without mercy as well.
“Indeed. At a glance, they must be fellows who came to scavenge whatever they can get, would they not? Please do not look at them. I fear that such things may sully Your Highness’s beautiful eyes.”
The mercenaries smiled bitterly, but merely laughed it off. Having gained strength and composure, they were able to let such petty insults pass by. But the problem was Juliana. Already heated to the limit because of Damon, she finally lost her reason.