Afraid that Kasim might fall for Yuliana’s scheme, they were all sending him silent signals,
shaking their heads vigorously. Of course, there was no way Kasim could fail to notice
that.
‘Even if the heavens turn upside down, I can’t accept this!’
Kasim shook his head stiffly from side to side.
“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid it would be impossible to allow Your Highness to join the mercenary band.”
Yuliana stared at Kasim’s face expressionlessly.
“And why is it impossible?”
“Our mercenary band’s mission is to hunt dragons. It is dangerous beyond description.
In other words, anyone who lacks the ability to protect themselves in the worst possible situation cannot, under any circumstances,
become one of our members.”
But Yuliana’s next retort left Kasim struck dumb.
“I believe that old geezer Damon said something like this last time… ‘Does one absolutely have to be skilled
to be qualified as a comrade…?’ And at the time, Captain, you answered, ‘Absolutely not.’
That’s what you said.”
Kasim floundered, unable to find a proper reply.
“Th-that was…”
“The old geezer also said this. ‘If their skills are lacking, can’t you just raise them up?’ Perhaps
you don’t remember?”
“Th-that’s what happened, yes. It certainly was.”
Kasim nodded with an expression as if he had bitten into something foul. In any case, it was true that when they had
met Damon, their skills had been terrible. With that memory still fresh, Yuliana had seized upon
the issue, leaving him with nothing to say.
“If my skills are lacking, then everyone can work together and raise them, can’t they? Then that problem is neatly
solved, right?”
Though he had lost the argument, Kasim could not simply back down, so he desperately shook his head.
“B-but in order to enter the Kasim Mercenary Band, one must have the consent of its members.
Personally, I would like to accept Your Highness, but if the members oppose it, then I, too,
can do nothing.”
“Well, I expected that much. So how many have to agree?”
“That would be, well, a maj—”
Kasim, who had been about to say “majority,” turned to look behind him, and a strange light flickered in his eyes. The members were
all shaking their heads. It was an unmistakable expression of refusal. Among them,
Mitchell was shaking his head the hardest. Hadn’t Mitchell been the one who had suffered the most harshly
at Yuliana’s hands until now? Seeing that, Kasim made up his mind.
‘Right. Even if I set the condition at more than a majority, there’s no way that wicked woman
would readily accept it, is there?’
Kasim turned back and put on a serious expression.
“Very well. Then I will set forth one condition. If even a single one
of the members agrees, I will accept Your Highness as a member of the Kasim Mercenary Band. But
if everyone refuses, then I can do nothing more. What do you say? Do you
agree to this?”
At those words, a gleam of hope flashed in Yuliana’s eyes.
“You’re saying only one person has to agree?”
“That is correct. Of course, the opinions of myself, the captain, and Damon, who is lying sick in bed, will be
excluded from the vote. If even a single one of the remaining members steps forward in favor,
I will concede without complaint. In other words, it means I will accept Your Highness
into my mercenary band. However, if not a single person comes forward, then this time,
Your Highness must concede. I mean that you must give up cleanly on the thought of joining
our mercenary band. What do you say? Will you accept my condition?”
Yuliana nodded as if there were nothing to think about.
“Fine. I’ll do that.”
As if to prevent any possible trouble afterward, Kasim drove the point home once more.
“You won’t go back on your word, will you?”
Yuliana nodded without the slightest hesitation.
“Of course not. I swear it on the name of Princess Yuliana of Karsel. I will accept the result
cleanly…”
“Very well. We will now begin the vote.”
Kasim turned around and raised his voice.
“We will now vote on whether to accept Princess Yuliana into the mercenary band.
If anyone is in favor, raise your hand.”
Of course, no one raised a hand. As if afraid someone might misunderstand and think they had raised one,
they all sat at attention, gripping their knees tightly. Mitchell was no exception. He had gone so far as to
stuff his hands deep beneath his thighs. Seeing Mitchell pretending not to notice,
sparks flew from Yuliana’s eyes.
“Mitchell. You bastard. Do you want to die?”
But Mitchell instead squeezed his eyes shut. Only one thought
was surfacing in his mind.
‘I-I’m afraid of the aftermath, but I have to endure it. If I just take one severe beating this once,
then after that I can be free. I won’t have to suffer at Yuliana’s hands
a-anymore…’
Even with his eyes shut, Yuliana’s murderous gaze appeared vividly before him. Cold sweat streamed
down his body, but Mitchell calmed himself with all his might. He thought only that if this moment passed,
he could be freed from Yuliana’s clutches. However, Mitchell’s desperate efforts were completely ruined
by a single remark from behind him.
“I am in favor.”
The mercenaries’ heads turned as if they had been slapped. In their eyes as they glared
toward the source of the voice, something akin to killing intent flashed.
‘Surely it’s a joke, right?’
‘The one who agreed must be either Helton or Vieri. No one but them would dare
agree. If they’re dead, they don’t need to fear that wicked woman, do they?’
But their expectations were utterly wrong. They saw Gerald, who had been sitting in the back,
at a loss under the flood of gazes. Yet his left hand was already raised high.
When the members confirmed who the voice belonged to, incomprehension appeared on their faces.
“Gerald. Are you in your right mind?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve completely lost your mind because of your comrades’ deaths?”
Gerald silently shook his head. His face stung under the pouring gazes, but he
never tried to turn away.
“I’m sorry, but I am in favor of accepting Lady Yuliana as a member of the Kasim Mercenary Band.”
At those words, the mercenaries’ faces all turned into masks of misery. The one whose expression changed most
tragically was Mitchell.
‘G-Gerald, that bastard. H-he finally caused an accident. If I’d known this would happen, I should have raised my hand
first… I-I’m dead now. I probably won’t make it past today.’
Just thinking about what he would suffer at Yuliana’s hands made dizziness rise in Mitchell. Soon, Kasim’s
incredulous voice rang out.
“I will ask one more time. Gerald. Make no mistake this time. Do you agree
to Lady Yuliana becoming a member of the mercenary band?”
Gerald nodded without the slightest hesitation.
“I am sorry, but yes. Please forgive me.”
Kasim’s vision went dark.
‘Th-this is a disaster. An absolutely terrible disaster.’
Perhaps dizziness had surged up in him, for Kasim’s massive body swayed again and again. Mitchell, for his part,
had completely lost his senses. Beside Kasim, whose expression looked as if he had been struck squarely
by the massive fist of a Bronze Golem, Yuliana’s triumphant voice rang out.
“Hohoho. Thank you, Gerald. I’ll never forget this favor. Well then, everyone, I look forward to working with you.”
After giving her greeting as a new member, Yuliana glared at Mitchell and widened her eyes fiercely.
“Mitchell. I’ll see you in a little while!”
‘Oh, God.’
The mercenaries all clutched their heads. They had no idea whatsoever how they were supposed to
overcome this difficulty. A short while later, the mercenaries gathered together and whispered among themselves. Their eyes
contained firm resolve.
“Let’s tie those two up tight and bury them together with Helton and Vieri.”
“Yeah. If we dig a really deep hole and bury them, we’ll be able to regain our freedom.”
“Instead of that, how about we present that wicked woman to the Red Dragon Verkis?
I guarantee that bastard Verkis won’t last even a week before he dies of sheer rage.”
“Right. I agree with you completely.”
Countless solutions were proposed, but every one of them was an opinion with no chance of being carried out.
The next day, Duke Pershtein visited the detached palace as soon as day broke. It was to hear an answer
from the dark mage wearing Alkaris’s appearance. As he entered the detached palace, he happened to
stop a maid who was coming out carrying dishes.
“How is His Highness the Crown Prince’s condition?”
Faced with a man of power whom she did not dare even approach, the maid answered while trembling.
“H-he has recovered a great deal, Your Grace. He did not appear to have any particular difficulty moving about.”
“Is that so?”
Duke Pershtein’s face brightened. Since the man was indispensable for the fulfillment of his long-cherished wish,
he could not help but pay attention to his health. He immediately headed toward the Crown Prince’s room.
As he approached, the knights standing guard in the corridor bowed respectfully.
“We greet Your Grace.”
They were all Duke Knights. Duke Pershtein raised a hand in response and hurried on.
Thirty knights, led by Krovitz, followed closely behind him.
Clatter.
When he opened the door and entered, he saw a blond young man standing by the window,
staring blankly outside. Hearing the presence, the young man turned his head, and a pleased look appeared on his face.
“You have come?”
“Did you sleep peacefully through the night?”
“I could not sleep at all. As one grows older, one naturally has more thoughts.”
It was a manner of speech completely unsuited to his appearance. The tone of the young man, who seemed barely past twenty,
was filled with the seasoned air of someone who had tasted all the bitterness of the world. Unable to hide his impatience,
Duke Pershtein got straight to the point.
“Then I would like to hear your answer to the proposal I made yesterday.”
“Naturally, you should. However…”
Damon, his brow furrowed faintly, looked around as if something displeased him.
“I have heard an old saying that when there are too many ears, matters do not come to fruition properly…”
Quick-witted Duke Pershtein immediately understood Damon’s intent. He turned his head and looked at Krovitz.
“Send out all the knights standing guard. At once.”
“Understood.”
When Krovitz signaled with his eyes, the knights rushed out in a swarm. Soon, only Duke Pershtein,
Krovitz, and Damon remained in the room. Even then, however, Damon’s furrowed brow
did not smooth. Seeing that his gaze still rested on Krovitz, the duke
ordered him out as well.
“Krovitz. You must wait outside too.”
“B-but I am responsible for Your Grace’s safety…”
Duke Pershtein lowered his voice so that only Krovitz could hear.
“It is all right. The court mages, led by Filamones, have installed a magic circle infused with divine power
in this place. They say that even Filamones himself cannot use magic here.
So you need not worry at all and may go outside.”
After finishing the whisper, the duke deliberately raised his voice.
“I trust him absolutely. Therefore, I ask that you refrain under any circumstances from speaking as if you suspect him.
You are not to enter this place until there is a separate order. Do you understand?”
“Understood.”
Krovitz turned without another word. Damon watched him quietly.
Only Duke Pershtein and Damon remained in the room. Duke Pershtein looked at Damon
with an expectant expression.
“Now, as you can see, there is no one here but you and me.”
But Damon gave an entirely unexpected answer.
“I suddenly find myself thinking of that fellow called the regent who was captured. Yesterday, I nearly
died at his hands. Did you perhaps kill him?”
Duke Pershtein answered with a bewildered expression.
“We have not killed him yet. I decided to keep him imprisoned for several days.”
“To instill in him the fear of death drawing nearer with each passing moment, I suppose. Then did you
take the same measures with his family?”
“Th-that is correct. But why do you ask?”
“That is truly fortunate.”
As soon as Damon finished speaking, his expression suddenly changed.