The journey to Zilvergard was the same as always. From the ferry landing south of the territory, we took a small ferryboat and traveled down the river for approximately an hour. At first, the fact that the round trip alone consumed nearly half a day had irritated me, but I had grown accustomed to it.
Once we arrived in the city, we headed directly for the Mercenary Guild.
<Zilvergard Municipal Mercenary Guild>
A sign bearing those words in an elegant script hung above the entrance to the three-story building.
The structure was nearly as large and impressive as City Hall, and it even had the word “Municipal” in its name. It was proof of the Mercenary Guild’s considerable influence.
Perhaps he found the imposing building displeasing, because Hakon crossed his arms and stared at the sign.
“As I already told you, I do not believe hiring people here is a wise choice. Selwin also hired mercenaries, but every one of them was incompetent rabble.”
“We do not know whether those men belonged to the Guild. Besides, this place calls itself a Municipal Guild. I imagine illegal commissions are prohibited.”
“Perhaps… If you are determined to hire mercenaries, I hope they have at least some experience hunting monsters.”
Listening to Hakon grumble, I opened the door and entered.
CLICK!
The scene beyond the door was little different from an ordinary tavern or inn. Mercenaries sat in small groups at tables throughout the hall, drinking or eating their meals.
There was one notable difference, however.
A desk resembling a reception counter stood in the center of the room. When I approached it, a neatly dressed receptionist addressed me politely.
“Welcome. What brings you here today?”
“I would like to hire some mercenaries. Approximately ten.”
“I see. For what purpose do you require them?”
“A monster subjugation. It is a fairly large operation involving nearly one hundred people.”
“Ah, I see.”
Judging by the receptionist’s surprised reaction, the Guild did not receive many commissions involving monsters.
As I had said, I had come to the Mercenary Guild to reinforce our forces for the Goblin subjugation.
The force scheduled to depart in several days numbered approximately seventy when the Zilvergard soldiers and indigenous warriors were combined. It was not an insignificant number, but according to Rolf, the Goblins outnumbered us by five or six to one.
Therefore, I intended to hire mercenaries and supplement our forces as much as possible.
“Is there anyone in particular you wish to hire? Otherwise, would you like to examine the mercenaries currently available?”
“Before that, I would like you to identify those who have not received a commission for at least a month.”
“Pardon?”
Both the receptionist and Hakon widened their eyes in surprise.
No client had likely ever entered a Mercenary Guild and made such a request.
“I want mercenaries who have not had work recently.”
“I-Is that so? In that case… You should speak with the people over there. They spend most of their time drinking while waiting for a client.”
The receptionist pointed toward several groups seated along the left wall and subtly frowned.
From that reaction alone, I could imagine how those mercenaries were ordinarily regarded within the Guild.
“Very well. I will take a look.”
I left the counter and headed toward the left wall. Hakon immediately questioned me.
“Why are you deliberately trying to hire cheap mercenaries? Is it because of the money?”
“That is part of the reason, but not all of it.”
“Then why?”
“This is a trading city. Merchant caravans and traders pass through it constantly. What do you think it means for a mercenary to earn a reputation in a place like this?”
When I turned toward Hakon, his eyebrows twitched upon his otherwise expressionless face.
It was an expression he displayed whenever something unsettled him.
“…Their primary source of income would be escorting merchant caravans. The pay would be generous as well.”
“They would not abandon such relatively easy work to accept a dangerous monster-subjugation commission. That means our only choices are the mercenaries sitting around with nothing to do. Men willing to risk their lives fighting Goblins for the sake of payment.”
“I see. Indeed….”
“What is it? Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”
“To be honest, I am somewhat surprised.”
The emotion in Hakon’s eyes as he stared at me differed from his usual displeasure.
Perhaps it was my imagination, but it almost resembled admiration.
“Even I failed to consider that, despite spending many years as a mercenary. You possess considerable insight.”
“Was that a compliment?”
“Interpret it however you please.”
“……”
“What are you doing? Are we not going?”
Hakon looked away as though nothing had happened.
Leaving the strange feeling behind, I resumed walking and approached the tables where the mercenaries were gathered.
[A Group of Drunken Mercenaries]
[They exude a disreputable air and reek of alcohol. Every one of them appears thoroughly drunk.]
The first group I saw was entirely unsuitable.
They were already drunk in broad daylight, their faces flushed red. The sight made me frown.
Ignoring them, I turned my attention to the next table.
[A Group of Mercenaries Awaiting Work]
[They sit at the table, chewing hardtack as they wait for a commission. Their well-maintained weapons and armor gleam.]
These men appeared reasonably capable.
The fact that they continued maintaining their weapons despite having no work proved that they were proper mercenaries.
When I approached their table to speak with them, the four men seated there glanced toward me.
“What is it? Are you an employer?”
“Something like that. Are you interested in work? It involves hunting Goblins.”
I answered directly.
The mercenaries’ expressions immediately brightened.
“Of course! Give us work, and we will do anything!”
“I have experience hunting Goblins!”
“So do I! Two companions and I once wiped out an entire Goblin settlement!”
Their eagerness was precisely what I had expected.
They were desperate for work, so a client who finally approached them must have appeared like a savior.
Furthermore, they had experience hunting Goblins. The situation could hardly have been more convenient.
“Good. Wait here for now. I require more people.”
“Ha ha! Thank you, sir!”
“Good heavens, how long has it been since we received a commission?”
Leaving the excited men behind, I spoke with the mercenaries at the other tables.
A short while later, nine mercenaries stood before me. That was approximately the number I had originally intended to hire.
‘Still, one or two more would be useful. We may also need an experienced man capable of leading them alongside Hakon.’
As I considered the matter, someone suddenly called out.
“Well, would you look at that? Can that truly be Hakon? Good heavens, it is!”
Everyone turned toward the approaching man.
He was a slender, middle-aged man carrying a large Crossbow across his back. Come to think of it, he had been sitting among the drunken group I first examined.
Hakon appeared startled for a moment before narrowing his eyes as usual.
“What is this? Are you still alive, Stefan?”
“Of course! Did you think Stefan would die so easily? Ha ha!”
“I assumed a man who lived soaked in alcohol would have died violently in the street by now.”
“Ha ha ha! Your jokes are as vicious as ever! Seeing that you have not changed makes me miss the days when we fought together.”
Despite Hakon’s brusque response, the mercenary called Stefan merely laughed heartily.
The two appeared to possess completely opposite personalities.
“In any case, hunting Goblins sounds entertaining! It will be even more welcome if you are participating!”
“My lord, take this man with us. He may be a useless drunkard, but he is the finest Sharpshooter I know.”
Hakon ignored Stefan’s remark and addressed me.
His tone was displeased, but Hakon was sparing with praise and judged everything coldly. For him to speak so highly of someone meant Stefan must have possessed exceptional skill.
However, it was difficult not to doubt that assessment while looking at Stefan’s flushed face, smelling the alcohol around him, and watching his hands tremble.
‘How can he aim and fire a bolt when alcohol makes his hands shake like that?’
I found it difficult to believe that he was a Sharpshooter.
Nevertheless, Hakon had recommended him so strongly that I decided to trust his judgment.
“Ah, is this the lord you serve? Then I should introduce myself first! My humble name is Stefan. Merely give the order, and I will do anything you ask.”
“…Very well. I look forward to working with you, Stefan.”
I returned his overly smooth greeting, although I could not entirely conceal my uncertainty.
BOOM!
The barrel spat fire and belched black smoke. The recoil was far stronger than expected, causing my body to stagger.
“Cough! Cough, cough….”
Mills repeatedly coughed beside me.
A short while later, the smoke cleared and revealed the scene ahead.
“The power appears to be precisely as you claimed, Mills.”
The sturdy wooden archery target had not merely broken. It had been completely shattered.
The shot had been fired from fifty paces away, yet it had produced this much destructive force. Mills’s calculations that it could penetrate plate armor had not been mistaken.
“I am satisfied. Although the method of using it is somewhat complicated.”
“That is unavoidable because of its current structure. I will improve it gradually, my lord.”
“What did you call it again? A Hand Cannon?”
“Yes. In the Dwarven language, it means a cannon fired by hand.”
Mills answered with a broad smile, and the name immediately appeared in the Status Window before me.
[Hand Cannon]
[A gunpowder weapon consisting of an iron barrel fitted with a wooden stock and handle. The barrel’s nearly black surface appears hard enough to withstand the pressure generated by exploding gunpowder.]
The Hand Cannon was lighter than expected, but it still weighed approximately as much as my shield and mace combined. Firing it with one hand would be difficult.
Its operation also appeared somewhat complicated.
Nevertheless, its power was undeniable. It was clearly a weapon with considerable practical value.
“However, this is still only a Prototype, so please exercise caution when using it, my lord. I am ashamed to admit that the barrel is not yet sufficiently strong. It may fail to withstand the pressure and burst when fired.”
“Understood. I will be careful.”
After listening to the remainder of his warnings, I turned and headed toward Hakon and the assembled mercenaries.
They had gathered here because today was the day we would depart to subjugate the Goblins.
“Is everyone ready?”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Let us cause some havoc!”
“It is time to cut the throats of those Goblins and earn our pay! Ha ha ha!”
Stefan and the other ten mercenaries were filled with enthusiasm.
They had spent two or three months anxiously surviving without a commission. It was only natural that they would be excited by the opportunity to earn money again.
“It is good that their morale is so high, but have you considered how you intend to pay them? We have already exhausted all the money we obtained previously.”
“Do not worry. I have a way to obtain the money.”
“Is that so? I believe I can guess. You intend to sell the monster materials stored in the forest village.”
“For the time being, yes.”
I was somewhat surprised that Hakon had correctly identified my plan, but I maintained a calm expression as I answered.
It seemed he had not forgotten what I mentioned previously.
In any case, we left the castle with the mercenaries and arrived at the village approximately an hour later.
[Total Forces: 88]
[Zilvergard City Guard: 52]
[Indigenous Village: 24]
[Bricks Territory: 12]
Our force of nearly one hundred completed its final preparations by distributing the equipment delivered from the smithy and gathering provisions.
Then everyone departed together.
Rolf and the indigenous warriors took the lead as guides, while the rest followed behind them.
After traveling through the forest for some time, the trees and bushes suddenly parted, revealing an open riverbank.
At a glance, the water appeared shallow and narrow enough to resemble a stream rather than a river. Crossing it should not have posed any significant difficulty.
However, our forces stopped at the riverbank rather than advancing farther.
We had decided beforehand to make this location our battlefield.
“As we agreed in advance, we will fight here on the riverbank, where there are no trees and the ground is open.”
I began speaking after gathering Valens, the commander of the soldiers, along with Rolf and Hakon.
“The Goblins are skilled at ambushes and climbing trees, so fighting inside the forest would be dangerous. We will establish a Defensive Formation here on the riverbank and wait. Meanwhile, Rolf and the indigenous warriors, who know the forest well, will lure the Goblins here.”
“Hmm. We are putting a great deal of effort into dealing with mere Goblins. They are nothing more than a pack of beasts.”
Valens grumbled in response.
His attitude plainly revealed his contempt for the Goblins, and Rolf’s eyes narrowed.
Hoping that Valens would remain quiet rather than provoke him further, I continued.
“Rolf, explain the rest.”
“Yes, my lord. Each soldier should concentrate on defending his lower body. The Goblins are short, so they will target our soldiers’ legs. It would also be best to exclude ranged weapons such as bows and Crossbows.”
“What? You intend to exclude the Crossbows? Do you know anything about battle?”
Valens spoke in the same contrary tone once more.
Anger briefly surged across Rolf’s face, but he quickly composed himself and answered.
“They will use their overwhelming numbers to surround us in moments. Melee Combat will begin before we have time to fire more than a few arrows. I am saying that it would be better to leave the ranged weapons behind entirely.”
“Arrows are indispensable in battle! Furthermore, my soldiers were trained under the assumption that they would fight while protecting the Crossbowmen. Changing that now will only confuse them.”
“This is not the same kind of battle you have fought before. We are fighting monsters, not people. Do you properly understand that?”
“What? You dare address me in that manner?”
Valens slammed his foot against the ground and sprang to his feet.
Rolf rose as well and glared fiercely at him.
The sight made my chest tighten with frustration.
‘Yakov claimed he was Zilvergard’s finest commander. Why did he send me someone so inflexible?’
Of course, if the other commanders were even more obstinate than this man, there was little I could say.
Regardless, at this rate, our own forces would begin fighting before we ever encountered the Goblins.
I could not allow that.
“Enough. Captain Valens, Rolf, both of you sit down.”
I raised my voice while looking between them.
Valens and Rolf continued glaring at each other, but eventually stepped back and returned to their seats.
Once both men had fallen silent, I continued.