CH 16

Eugene, Galfredik, and the members of the expedition were hailed as heroes. The people of the Rose Castle gathered together to welcome the two knights and the mercenaries, and Camara held a banquet with joy. Although about 30 percent of the members were killed or seriously injured, the survivors ate and drank to their heart’s content. This was just the way of life for mercenaries who sold their skills for money.

“By the way, Sir Eugene, are you sure you don’t need any mana stones?”

“None at all. I am satisfied with half of the materials gathered from the monsters, as we discussed previously.”

“If you say so…”

Camara licked his lips.

He wasn’t regretful that he had to give away half of the materials gathered from the low-rank monsters, although the expedition killed more than he had expected. Rather, he genuinely wanted to compensate Eugene.

“I heard you contributed greatly. Did you really take care of more than 30 percent of all the low-rank monsters, Sir Eugene?”

“I’m not entirely sure. I didn’t bother counting all of them.”

“Hahaha! I’m telling you that it’s true. Sir Eugene killed nearly half of all the kobolds. Moreover, he killed an adult troll and a cub by himself. Just like this, he pulled out its head along with the spine!”

“Oh my goodness!”

Galfredik recounted the event while pulling out the head of a roasted pig. The women of the Rose Castle and Camara were stunned by his actions. Women were usually absent from events with knights, but they were participating because this was a special banquet.

“But that giant cave spider you mentioned, the one at the end? It’s a bit regretful.”

“Tsk! There’s no need to feel regretful at all. If we headed in deeper to kill it, all of us might have been fucked over. You don’t really think that the giant cave spider and the trolls are the only intermediate-rank monsters present in a dungeon, do you?”

“H-how could I? I’m just saying. It injured Sir Eugene, right? We need to get revenge.”

“That’s a job for the next expedition. By the way, Sir Eugene, is your arm really okay?”

“It’s not broken. But the bone seems to have fractured. I should be fine after resting for about ten days.”

Eugene raised his left arm, which was tightly wrapped in cloth with a splint.

“Oh, my!”

“It is a scar of glory, Sir Eugene.”

The gazes of the women turned hazy. But instead of focusing on his injured arm, their eyes were all fixated on Eugene’s face. Eugene’s face was incredibly handsome and mysterious. It was hard to believe that it was the face of a knight who ripped off the head of a troll. Whenever his red eyes met their gaze, the women felt as if their very souls were being swallowed.

Of course, Eugene did not care at all.

‘I’ll have no choice but to keep it wrapped up for about ten days.’

He placed his left arm on a table. It was rather annoying to pretend his arm was injured, but it was unavoidable if he wanted to fool everyone. He could not possibly reveal that he had, in fact, killed a giant cave spider lord, a high-ranked monster, and consumed its blood and mana stone.

He had actually suffered various injuries while fighting the giant cave spider lord, but as soon as he consumed the creature’s blood and mana stone, his injuries were healed and his strength was completely restored. 

Moreover, the giant cave spider lord Eugene killed had been one of the special monsters even among the high-rank monsters, as Mirian mentioned previously. The mana stone gained from its corpse had been red.

‘I was lucky.’

According to Mirian, his fortunate encounter was likely due to the fact that it had been the first opening of a dungeon. But regardless of the circumstances, Eugene killed the giant cave spider and obtained its red mana stone.

This time around, a tattoo located on the back of his neck disappeared, and he gained an additional ability. It was similar to when he gained Black Scales from consuming the wetland monster’s mana stone. He gained the ability to camouflage. 

‘But… what the hell was that?’

When he consumed the red mana stone gained from the giant cave spider, a scene flashed through his mind. Someone had been holding his hand, and they were surrounded by a few people.

The image was brief, so he could not infer who they were nor where he had been, but he clearly remembered that the hand he held was very soft.

‘Who were they? Were they also vampires…?’

“It feels a little awkward seeing your face after all this time. No, rather, why were you hiding that handsome face inside a helmet all this time?”

Galfredik’s remark interrupted Eugene’s thoughts, and Eugene quickly responded.

“Because I don’t like the sun.”

“Hahaha! I’ve never seen a proper knight who had a pale face, but you’re the exception.”

It was a cloudy day, but it wasn’t without any sunlight. In the past, his face would have turned mushy and littered with blisters. But although Eugene was sitting near the window, his face was perfectly fine. He was protecting his skin with Black Scales. Utilizing the camouflage ability gained from the cave spider, he had changed the color of Black Scales to the color of his skin. No one would be able to tell the difference by sight.

‘I can’t change how it feels, but there’s no reason for anyone to touch it.’

People would have found it suspicious if he was wearing a mask or a helmet all the time during the day, but he did not have to worry anymore. In the future, he would be able to show his appearance like any other humans during the day.

“Come on! Let’s toast to Sir Eugene, Sir Galfredik, and the warriors who made this celebration possible!”

Ooooh!

Everyone raised their glasses at Camara’s shout.

“For the victory of the Tywin family!”

“Victory!”

Camara, Galfredik, and even Eugene gulped down their wine. All of them had achieved their goals. 

But there was one exception. 

Bertel continued stealing glances at Eugene, only pretending to drink his wine.

‘He played a huge role in the expedition? Even more than Galfredik?’

It was an unbelievable tale.

He had been truly dumbfounded. He even asked the mercenary leaders of the expedition individually, but all of their answers were quite similar. Even Breen, who previously held Eugene in disdain, answered while shaking his head.

“You will want to win Sir Eugene over to your side, rather than Sir Galfredik. I participated in a dungeon and an ancient ruins expedition during my time in the Black Sheep Mercenaries, but I have never seen a knight as strong as Sir Eugene. Even if you search the entire peninsula of Carls Baggins, you will be hard-pressed to find him a worthy opponent.”

It was ridiculous.

The peninsula of Carls Baggins was an area where numerous cities and territories battled and waged war without rest. There were so many cities calling for independence that even the king had partially given up control, and the knights and mercenaries of the region were known to be of high quality.

So how could it be difficult to find a match for Eugene?

Although he had withdrawn from the Black Sheep Mercenaries now, Breen had been active for nearly two years. It was hard to disregard his words.

‘If it had been me instead… I would have done as much as him!’

Bertel gazed at Eugene with an expression of scorn.

*** 

“The second son is glaring at you. I’m telling you that he’s a weirdo too. Guaaagh!”

Mirian whispered while plopped down on Eugene’s shoulder as she let out a loud burp. She had been devouring mountains of food.

‘That’s understandable.’

Eugene became quite friendly with Galfredik in the dungeon. But that was only how Eugene viewed the relationship. Galfredik treated Eugene as not only a close friend but rather regarded Eugene as though the latter was his long-lost brother. As such, Galfredik had informed Eugene about his relationship with Bertel, and what he planned to do in the future.

“What do you think? My suggestion. Have you thought about it?”

“I’m grateful, but I will have to respectfully decline.”

Galfredik nodded while looking at Eugene with a disappointed expression.

“It figures. You could find yourself a greater lord if you desired. Besides, even if you did decide to go to the Evergrove County, the knights there would pester you anyway.”

Galfredik asked Eugene to join him to be sworn in by Count Evergrove, and Eugene refused.

“So are you planning to remain here?”

“For the time being. I am thinking of participating in an expedition once more.”

“Hmm. If you are going to be participating, it won’t be difficult to hire mercenaries. They’ll spread rumors even without you saying anything.”

Galfredik gestured towards the mercenaries, who were busily devouring food and drinks. The mercenaries gained a lot from the expedition, and they were surprisingly calm as they celebrated. It was because nobles from the Tywin family were present, but more importantly because Eugene and Galfredik were here as well.

“If you are going to remain here, sir, here is an idea…”

Galfredik whispered in a subtle tone.

“Those guys. Hire them yourself. About ten of them, those that are capable.”

“Myself?”

“That’s right.”

Galfredik nodded before lowering his voice even further.

“if the Tywin family wants to continue sending people into the dungeon, they will need to hire more mercenaries. But it will be better for them to hire a single group with a capable leader rather than gathering multiple different teams. In that sense, if you put them under your command, there will be no better deal for the Tywin family.”

“Hmm. Seeing as how the second son is acting, it seems like he will be hiring another knight like yourself, don’t you think?”

“Keuk! I got myself into this mess because I made a mistake while drunk after the swordsmanship competition, but it won’t work with other knights. So what are they going to do, reach out to other nobles? No way in hell. Otherwise, they would have done it from the very beginning. I don’t know about the second son, but the eldest has no intention of doing anything of the sort. Even more so now that the expedition was successful.”

“I see. So what do I have to gain from this?”

Galfrediik rubbed his index finger and thumb together in response.

“Since they worked together in the expedition, they will respond immediately to your orders in the future. And it will be much easier to take control of the expedition if you have about ten men under your command. The newcomers will have to adjust to the atmosphere and play by the book. It will be comfortable for you in many ways.”

“Hmm.”

“In addition, the down payment and the success pay will increase with more heads. Of course, it wouldn’t be as much as the dungeon opening, but if you do as I say, you will be making quite a profit.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Eugene appeared rather doubtful. Galfredik continued with a smirk.

“Whether it be a monster expedition or a battlefield, the best thing for mercenaries is to have a strong captain. That way, they can live longer. And maybe the smarter ones would have noticed already.”

“....?”

“If you do well, sir, you might even become an actual lord with a title.”

Eugene nodded without understanding the full extent of Galfredik’s words. For Eugene, it only meant he could earn more money, which would allow him to destroy Bertel with ease.

‘Employing mercenaries….’

Eugene made a decision. He thought it would be useful in many ways to hire subordinates anyways.

“Sir Camara Tywin. Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Hahaha! Of course.”

Although he did not overhear all of the words exchanged between Eugene and Galfredik, Camara answered with a smile. He did indeed hear something about the next expedition. 

*** 

“Brother! Are you serious? You are going to let him meet Father?”

“And why not? He is a knight who succeeded in the opening of a dungeon. Everyone testified that he had contributed the most, and he’s saying he will participate one more time. Wouldn’t it be strange to not allow him to see Father? I’m only doing things by the customs and traditions, which you seem to adore so much.”

“But…!”

Camara frowned and cut off his younger brother’s words.

“But? You are acting a little strange. It’s not like Sir Eugene is seeing him alone. Sir Galfredik and Felid will be with him as well. What’s the problem?”

“.....”

Bertel closed his mouth, and Camara smiled as if he had anticipated the response.

“Oh, don’t tell me. Is it because Sir Galfredik, the knight you invited, did not contribute as much as Sir Eugene? But I heard he defeated a troll and did a great job commanding the mercenaries. Isn’t that enough?”

“Keugh…!”

Just seeing various emotions appear on Bertel’s face made Camara ecstatic. His younger brother had always maintained a cold front regardless of the occasion.

If he could completely win over Eugene, perhaps he could finally expel Bertel. Bertel had always acted as if he were the head knight of the Tywin family and always questioned his words.

“Anyway, get ready for the next expedition. Oh, the mercenaries hired by Sir Eugene are going to remain here for the time being. There are nine in total, so try to find ten more mercenaries and a knight. It would be great if Sir Galfredik could participate one more time. I’m sure it will be possible, since you were boasting to me about the great friendship you had, right?”

Camara left without waiting for Bertel’s answer. Rather, there was no need to hear his answer. Earlier at the banquet, Galfredik had announced that he would be leaving right after meeting Lord Tywin tomorrow.

‘Now what are you going to do? Come on, show off your good connections and acquaintances.’

Camara’s shoulders shook as he forcefully suppressed his laughter. Bertel glared at his older brother’s back as if to devour him.