CH 131

Patos was a village centered around a manor protected by a 5-meter-tall wall. A 30-meter-wide, fast-flowing river was located right in front of the village wall. As such, it was almost impossible to invade Patos as long as the two bridges leading to the farms and pasture were properly defended.

In addition, the 500 or so residents, the livestock, and important facilities such as mills were all located inside the village walls. As long as a proper defense was maintained, it was possible to endure an attack for more than a year.

“Master!” Luke shouted with surprise and joy when Eugene returned. He had departed with only the beowulf warriors but was now returning with numerous mercenaries, as well as a depot.

“What’s all this about? Are you hurt anywhere?” Luke asked.

“I am fine. By the way, give your greetings,” Eugene responded.

“What?” Luke said with a puzzled expression.

Pythamoras stepped forward and introduced himself with a smile. “Are you the new Count of Crawlmarine? Let me introduce myself. I am a follower of mana from Mount Robtimo. My name is Pythamoras.”

“What?!” Luke expressed his shock. 

The other nobles of Crawlmarine also shouted with wonder.

“A druid!”

“What is a master druid doing here?!”

It was puzzling enough that a man had returned with mercenaries and a military depot after setting off to observe the enemy’s movements, let alone a druid.

“Nice to meet you. I am Luke. I continue the legacy of Crawlmarine and serve Sir Eugene as my master,” Luke responded in a polite manner.

Pythamoras took on a satisfied expression. “Well. Your eyes are bright, and your posture is confident. A man fit to be king. Nice to meet you, Lord Crawlmarine.”

“Yes. Please, come inside. Master, please follow me,” Luke said.

“Yes,” Eugene responded.

Although Luke was now a count, he didn’t hesitate to grab Silion’s bridle to lead Eugene inside. The nobles and soldiers of Crawlmarine were already used to such a sight, but the mercenaries and the members of the depot were greatly surprised by the sight.

They were rather ignorant and weren’t very knowledgeable regarding the status and history of the Crawlmarine County. However, it was still greatly shocking to see a count personally guide a man’s horse by the bridle.

“I’m starting to think that we made the right choice.”

“It’s obvious. Look how courteous the count is. Besides, look at their soldiers. We were lucky,” In particular, the two mercenary captains whispered with content expressions while celebrating their sound judgment.

‘The soldiers are in decent shape. Crawlmarine will definitely win if they mount a siege defense.’

‘As long as their supply is severed, we have the advantage. We just need to persist.’

The two mercenary captains even felt sorry for those who were still standing by Baron Riwad’s side. However, soon after they entered the castle, the two mercenary captains became dumbfounded after hearing Eugene’s orders.

***

“We’re going to set off in a day?”

“S-sir Eugene. Won’t you reconsider? Even if the enemy’s morale has been significantly reduced due to your remarkable display of skills, they still possess twice or thrice as many troops compared to us.”

It wasn’t just the mercenary captains either. Even the nobles of Crawlmarine tried their best to dissuade Eugene.

However, Eugene was adamant. “It took three days to get here from Baylin Forest. Baron Riwad’s army will take significantly longer.”

“However…”

“Both me and the warriors of Perseus came out of the forest in half a day. However, it would have taken Baron Riwad and his troops more than a day, even if they hurried. Do you know why?” Eugene asked.

Luke exclaimed with a clap of his hands, “Ah! Surely there’s a limit to how fast they could travel on foot!”

The mercenary captains and nobles jumped in response to Luke’s words.

“Moreover, Baron Riwad’s forces would have only been carrying enough food to last until they arrived at Patos. If they went searching for their depot after realizing their master’s plan, they would have run out of food by now. Master, am I correct?” Luke continued.

“That’s right.” Eugene nodded.

“In addition, the nearby villages and hamlets have been ordered to evacuate, so it will be even harder for the enemy to procure food,” Luke stated.

“Ohh!”

“Certainly!”

The expressions of the nobles and mercenary captains brightened at once.

“Now, do you understand why we must leave tomorrow?” Eugene asked.

“Yes, sir!”

Everyone answered in unison.

Eugene turned toward the bored, yawning beowulfs and spoke, “Wolfgan.”

“Give us your orders, Dark Lord,” Wolfgan responded.

“The warriors who were escorting Count Crawlmarine. They will take care of reconnaissance,” Eugene said.

“Understood,” Wolfgan replied.

“Move in pairs and find Baron Riwad’s army. Before sunrise tomorrow. Is it possible?” Eugene asked.

“Krrrrrr! Possible, you ask? We crossed mountains in a day chasing after trolls. Shall we depart right now?” Wolfgan answered.

“Yes.”

“Krrr! Look forward to it,” Wolfgan said with a confident expression before departing with several beowulf warriors.

The nobles and mercenary captains were once again struck with awe. They admired Eugene’s resourcefulness. In the war, the Crawlmarine family had operated the beowulf warriors as combat units and nothing more. No one had thought of using them elsewhere, since their power was so overwhelming.

But since the beowulfs were strong, persistent, and known to possess a good sense of smell, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to track down roamers that had encroached on their territory. In other words, it was possible for them to perform excellently as messengers and scouts as well as fighters.

“The rest of us will rest. No alcohol. Eat and sleep as much as you want,” Eugene stated.

Wuooooooh!

Kuwooooo!

Kieeeeeeeek!

As usual, a strange voice was mixed in with the cheers.

***

“My lord, more mercenaries have deserted.”

“What? How many of them this time?”

“Over thirty...”

“Keugh…” Baron Riwad gritted his teeth. His cheeks had sunken over the past few days. Even after attacking three villages and hamlets, they had failed to discover a single rat, let alone any food. At first, they searched the vicinity of the villages, thinking that the villages must have not gotten very far, but they discovered nothing.

The only food they managed to procure was enough to feed dozens, but they had more than three hundred troops. Even if they made porridge from the ingredients, it couldn’t even feed one hundred people.

In addition, as numerous attempts continued to be in vain, the mercenaries started to not return after setting out to plunder. They were starting to desert. To prevent such incidents, Baron Riwad gathered all the troops in one place and no longer dispatched them to plunder, but quite a few of them still deserted every night. Nearly one hundred troops had left the army until today.

Baron Riwad’s army was now half in number compared to when it first embarked.

“Unbelievable! Those mercenaries are disloyal dogs! When this war is over, I will find and kill all of them!” Baron Riwad shouted. Perhaps due to the blood of the orcs flowing in his veins, he seemed to have more energy compared to others.

Unfortunately, however, his streaks of misfortune weren’t quite over yet.

Neiiiiigh!

“What’s going on?! Is it an ambush?!”

The baron and his knights hurried out of their tents at the cries of a horse. Their jaws opened agape at the sight that awaited them.

“Oh, my!”

“Hey! Hold it properly! If it kicks you, you’re done for in this world!”

The aides of the knights were sprawled on the ground, and a group of mercenaries was busily taking off a horse’s armor and cutting its throat.

“You bastards!” The baron’s shout thundered. It was laced with Fear.

“Huagh!” The mercenaries shouted with shock and fell backward.

Baron Riwad walked forward while exuding terrible energy and unsheathed his longsword. “You dare to kill a knight’s steed? You must have a death wish!”

“Uagh!” 

The frightened mercenaries scurried away. However, some held their positions and gripped their weapons before shouting courageously. “Then you should be feeding us! I ate nothing but a single loaf of bread soaked in water during the last three days. What else do you want us to do?!”

“That’s right! We need food, even if we have to eat a horse! You and the knights had at least one meal a day!”

“That’s right! You’re not the only ones with a stomach to fill!”

Boooooo~~!!!

The mercenaries cried out. The eyes of the hungry were desperate and fierce. Even the knights were forced to take a step backward.

“W-what are they planning to do?” The knights and soldiers of the barony gathered around Baron Riwad with their weapons unsheathed.

However, the mercenaries outnumbered them two-to-one, so they couldn’t act rashly.

Baron Riwad stepped forward. “Listen up!”

Everyone paused at his loud shout. The baron forcibly suppressed his killing intent and looked around at the mercenaries before continuing. “Fine! I will allow you to kill the horses! However! You will need to provide compensation for the horses after the war! I will ensure it is paid back in full! Did I make myself clear?!”

“I-I understand!”

“Take it from our share!”

The captains of the mercenaries hurriedly answered. They were very tired and starving, just like their men.

“M-my lord. What should we do if we don’t have our horses?”

“Please reconsider, my lord!”

“Crawlmarine has recruited beowulfs! If we don’t have our horses, how could we possibly fight against beowulfs?”

The knights begged, and Baron Riwad vented his anger. “Dammit! Do you think I’m a fool? What other choice do we have?! So what if we stopped them from killing the horses? Do you really think that they will follow my orders when there’s war?!”

Baron Riwad’s shouts left the knights speechless. Even though he was ferocious and short-tempered, the baron was always looking at the big picture. He was a true knight.

“For now, we have no choice but to comply with their demands. Make sure you eat when they kill the horses. I will slaughter my horse as well,”  Baron Riwad stated. His expression was grim as he slowly approached his companion of tens of years. His steed had accompanied him through countless battles.

The knights bit their lips as they watched. It was then…

“Enemies! Enemy ambush!”

“Crawlmarine’s army has appeared!”

Baron Riwad’s patrolling troops shouted while rushing back into the camp.

“Fuck!”

“You bastards! We were just about to cook!”

“Uwaaah!”

The mercenaries went wild. Most of them were busy looking for their weapons, but there were a number of mercenaries who started stuffing themselves with the morsels of meat, which were still dripping with fresh blood.

“You fools! Get ready to fight! If you win here, you can eat all you want!”

“You fucking beggars!”

The knights ran around while desperately shouting at the mercenaries, but some were blinded and deafened due to hunger. Meanwhile, Crawlmarine’s troops quickly approached, and Baron Riwad’s forces had no choice but to face their enemies without proper formations.

***

Eugene was dumbfounded when he examined the enemy’s camp. Although the two forces were still more than 300 meters apart, Eugene was able to see far with his heightened vision.

“What a mess,” Eugene muttered. It was just as he heard from Galfredik and Lanslo. An army without supplies was miserable. Even though the two forces were coming to a face-off, some of the enemies were still stuffing themselves with meat, some were running away while holding disgusting pieces of meat on bones, while others barely managed to drag themselves to join the formation with others.

It was a pitiful sight, but they were the enemy.

“Wolfgan.” Eugene called out.

“Give me your orders!” Wolfgan responded.

“You will join me to crush the enemy’s formation. And Luke…” Eugene continued.

“Yes, master!” Luke responded.

“Once the enemy’s formation collapses, lead the troops, surround their forces, and destroy them,” Eugene said.

“As you wish!” Luke shouted.

“Mercenaries. I will leave the right wing to you. Don’t run. You’ll get tired,” Eugene said.

“Yes, sir!”

Everyone prepared for a battle after Eugene gave his orders. Unlike the starved, tired soldiers of Baron Riwad, everyone was well rested and in high spirits. However, an army led by a ‘swordmaster’ was still not to be taken lightly.

“Pythamoras. I would like to ask you something,” Eugene said.

“Go ahead.”

“Must the leaders of each army greet each other and fight while considering chivalry, honor, and such things?” Eugene asked.

“Perhaps with any other nobles. But you won’t have to worry about that with Lord Riwad,” Pythamoras answered.

“I see. Then what if a knight belonging to other races uses their unique powers in combat? Would that be considered a dishonorable act?” Eugene asked.

“Aha. You are wondering if it would be held in contempt,” Pythamoras said.

“That’s right.”

“That won’t be a problem. Likewise, no one would say anything since your opponent is Lord Riwad.” Pythamoras continued.

“Hmm? Ah.” Baron Riwad was a knight with the blood of an orc royalty. All of his enemies would have had to face the might of his Orc Fear until now. However, he still managed to obtain the title of a swordmaster after winning many battles, which meant that there was nothing for Eugene to worry about.

Well, there was nothing to worry about as long as Eugene won.

“I’m starting to like Brantia more and more,” Eugene muttered softly before immediately descending from SIlion. He started to take off his armor.

“Hmmm? What are you doing?”

“Master?”

“Dark Lord! Have you gone insane?”

It was a ridiculous sight. Eugene was taking off his armor just before a decisive battle. However, Eugene ignored the startled cries of his comrades and took off all of his armor except the magic shield. He turned toward Pythamoras and spoke, “Let me ask you a favor.”

“Anything but asking me to use magic and sorcery against them,” Pythamoras answered. Pythamoras had decided to refrain from using magic against Baron Riwad and his army, and Eugene intended to respect it. Of course, it wasn’t what Eugene wanted to ask from him.

“You won’t be participating in the battle anyway, so please take care of this,” Eugene said.

“Haha! Playing the role of a porter. Fine. But if you die, am I free to dispose of this as I please, sir? It appears quite precious,” Pythamoras answered.

“As you wish,” Eugene responded with a grin.

He turned to Silion and whispered into the horse’s ear, “Come with Mirian when I call for you later. You must come quickly.”

Neiigh!

Silion whined as if it had understood Eugene’s words. The beowulf warriors approached Eugene with dumbfounded expressions.

“Dark Lord. What are you planning to do? How is a knight going to fight without his horse and armor?”

“How? Like this.” Eugene responded.

Fwooosh!

A translucent Fear began to burn over Eugene’s frame like a flame. The fire began to blaze brighter, and Eugene’s body began to grow larger in the dark, red glow.

“What?!”

“T-that’s…!”

Everyone’s eyes filled with shock.

Paaaaaa…

The creature’s blood-red mane fluttered in the wind. The lycanthrope king opened its large jaws and thundered.

“The enemy. Little runts who had been starving for the last few days! If you lose, I won’t treat you like humans!”

Kuwuuuuuuughh!!!

The roar of the Origin Vampire that had morphed into a champion monster marked the beginning of the battle.