If it was a sacred object, it would not matter, but if it was a demonic object, it would be troublesome. That was because one had to pay an enormous price in exchange for borrowing its power.
Carlton withdrew his suspicion and checked the things I had handed over.
The staff was in fairly good condition, and the necklace had lost part of itself when it snapped. As for the ring, no special features could be found other than the fact that it was made of silver.
“Mage Triana would be pleased if these were sent to her. If you intend to sell them, I will arrange it for you.”
“If possible, I would like to meet her directly and negotiate.”
I had yet to meet a mage. I had experienced necromantic secret arts, but that was magic from the world I had lived in. I was curious about what magic in this world was like.
“I will draw you a rough map. If you say you came with my introduction, she will meet you. She is an eccentric elder who stays holed up in her tower, but since you obtained a large number of Poison Goblin corpses for her this time, she will welcome you.”
Carlton told me Triana’s location, and I engraved it in my mind.
“From today onward, you are a mid-grade mercenary. And I will grant you the qualification to apply for upper-grade mercenary.”
It was an exceptional promotion.
Only after resolving several requests and building trust as a mid-grade mercenary could one challenge upper-grade, but I was skipping that entire process.
“I ordered your mercenary badge at the blacksmith, and it should be complete by now. I sent someone, so wait just a little.”
Carlton patted my shoulder and offered me beer.
―To become a mid-grade mercenary in the blink of an eye! As expected of the master I chose! Even Veronica did not grow this quickly!
Veronica and I were in different positions.
She had become a mercenary with her bare hands, then made a leap forward after grasping Flambeju.
I had become Flambeju’s master after receiving the best education in the Republic of Korea. And I could borrow the power of powerful supporters, Abdul Alhazard, Baluka, and Karkash, rather than relying only on myself.
A short while later, the new mercenary badge arrived.
On the front of the smooth iron plate, the words “Veronica Mercenary Company Rohan (mid-grade)” were engraved in intaglio.
On the back, my representative achievements were recorded.
―Lowest-Grade Promotion Vamp Hunt (Solo)
―Lower-Grade Promotion Vulf Hunt of 50 (Solo)
―Mid-Grade Promotion Poison Goblin Hunt of 600, Shaiov Hunt of 300 (Solo)
They were achievements that were unbelievable even when seen. However, they were truths engraved by the Branch Manager of the Veronica Mercenary Office, who had staked his own honor on them.
Anyone who denied this fact would have to deal not only with me alone, but with the entire Veronica Mercenary Company.
“Upper-grade promotion requests are only handled at branches in viscounties or above. The County of Brisk is relatively close, so I think it would be good for you to go there……. If possible, however, I would like you to leave a little late.”
The territory’s people could not move to other regions without the lord’s permission.
Only special professions such as mercenaries and merchants were granted freedom of movement, but even this could be denied by a noble’s order.
“Is there a reason?”
“Because of Azif’s unstable situation.”
Branch Manager Carlton briefly explained the situation in the Barony of Azif.
Not only had barbarians invaded, but public order was in ruins to the point that a Poison Goblin settlement had formed right nearby.
In such a situation, a mercenary who had carried out a large-scale monster subjugation alone was a talent the baronial family had to recruit as its top priority.
“Baron Azif is waiting for you, I hear. Go visit him before it gets too late. It is not polite to keep a noble waiting.”
I headed to the Castle of Baron Azif immediately.
I had imagined a middle-aged lord with considerable age, but Baron Azif was a man in his late twenties whose exhaustion was plain to see.
He was thin as if he had not even eaten thin gruel, and his nervous eyes were slightly hidden behind his glasses.
“Thanks to you, we were able to prevent a great crisis. On behalf of the territory, I express my gratitude.”
“I merely did what I had to do.”
“I am grateful that you say so.”
The baron drank a sip of tea, then placed a bundle of documents on his lap.
He seemed to live buried in work, and habitual sighs kept escaping him.
“Haa~ I will be honest. There is not much I can give you. I spent a great deal of money on Knight Babel.”
I was a little surprised by the fact that it cost money to move a Knight.
That was because Knights were known to fight for the king’s orders and for honor.
“Is the territory’s financial situation that poor?”
“Whatever you imagine, it is worse than that. To be honest, it is to the point that I want to give up on this territory and everything else.”
“I see.”
One more reason to leave Azif had appeared. If I stayed stuck in a rural corner like this, I could see no prospects.
“I will make you two proposals. First, I can give you a position as a guard knight. Your skill allowed you to wipe out not only Poison Goblins alone, but Shaiov as well, so I will not verify it separately.”
The Rubalt Kingdom had 17 Knights called Knights.
They were true knights chosen by weapons, and they received the knightly title acknowledged by the king.
Below them were guard knights, which referred to elite soldiers supported by a lord. High noble houses of viscount rank and above possessed “knight orders” composed of guard knights.
And those who dreamed of becoming Knights were collectively called apprentice Knights.
“How many guard knights are there in the Barony of Azif?”
“If you join, there will be 6.”
That was a lot for a baronial house, but not enough to organize a knight order.
“If the barbarians invade again, it will be difficult to stop them.”
“I do not deny it. At that time, it will also be difficult to expect Knight Babel to appear at the right moment. But when that time comes, we will not suffer helplessly.”
I felt resolve from the baron. However, work was not something done through resolve alone.
“What is the other condition?”
The baron looked a little disappointed. He seemed to think I had refused the offer of becoming a guard knight.
“I will give you a house on the condition that you pay no taxes. I am giving it to you in the hope that you will remain in Azif.”
The first thing that came to mind at the baron’s proposal was the “street children.”
They survived by eating the meat I gave them. Thanks to the soap I had distributed, not only their bodies but even their clothes had become clean, and since their appearance now stood out everywhere, they could no longer steal carelessly either.
“I will choose the house.”
The baron nodded. He seemed to think that alone was fortunate.
“Could I rent land by paying money?”
Land belonged to the lord, so only rental was possible, not purchase.
That was why wealthy merchants sometimes bought 100-year usage rights for land from lords.
“If it is farmland outside the wall, I can give you a little, but it will be difficult to expect a harvest right away.”
“I want land inside the wall. It does not matter if it is not farmland, as long as it is wide. Abandoned land is fine as well.”
In truth, there was land I had already seen. I could have presented it first, but I handed the choice to the lord. That way, it would create a situation where he seemed to be bestowing something upon me, and there would be fewer problems afterward.
“There is land like that, but it is abandoned land far from the busy district and the gate, so people are reluctant to visit it. I should have maintained it long ago, but there have been many urgent matters inside and outside, so I could not pay attention to it.”
“That sounds good. I would like to rent that land. Would that be all right?”
“I cannot ask the hero of Azif for a great deal of money.”
Baron Azif took out the land register, showed it to me, and explained each item one by one. Seeing that left me dumbfounded.
“Are you handling this personally, Baron?”
“Then whom would I entrust it to? Most are illiterate, and those who can read a few lines are all swindlers.”
I felt like I understood why Baron Azif looked so exhausted.
Distributing work was also an ability. One who could not share work and instead held it all to himself would eventually have no choice but to dig his own grave.
“……I do not need that much.”
“Is that so?”
Baron Azif smacked his lips as if regretful. He had proposed a large piece of land, and it was obvious that he intended to push useless land onto me and tie me to Azif.
Even so, it was not a bad condition for me. Until recently, I had wandered from inn to inn or slept outdoors, yet now I had obtained a house of my own and land rented long-term for 10 years.
“Thank you for your consideration, Baron.”
“Welcome to Azif.”
Baron Azif offered me a handshake, and I took his hand.
Baron Azif sat on the sofa and let out a deep sigh. He was passionate, but he was just as exhausted. It would be troublesome if someone like this stood above me. A human exhausted to the limit became incompetent.
“May I offer one piece of advice?”
“Advice?”
“It concerns the training and deployment of the army, and their method of combat.”
Azif’s brow narrowed.
Tactics for moving troops were the exclusive domain of Knights and nobles.
The baron massaged the space between his brows with his hand, then spoke with an expression that seemed to say he no longer cared what happened.
“You know such things?”
“If you hear me out, it will be of help.”
I presented Azif with basic tactics.
Hammer and anvil.
It was a basic tactic often encountered in medieval fantasy games.
It was a tactic often used by Alexander the Great, and though the method was simple, using it in actual combat required long preparation.
Infantry armed with shields and spears were used as the anvil, and elite soldiers led by a small number of cavalry were used as the hammer.
While the anvil received the enemy’s attack, the hammer struck the enemy’s flank and ultimately carried out an encircling attack.
After hearing my explanation, Baron Azif’s mouth fell open.
“……Amazing. I have heard similar stories and experienced something similar before, but hearing it explained in such an organized way makes it sound completely different. Were you a noble?”
Instead of answering, I lightly swept my hair. My black hair and black eyes were the symbol of barbarians.
“……Were you of the bloodline of a barbarian general or chieftain?”
“I am Rohan, a mid-grade mercenary of the Veronica Mercenary Company.”
The reason I knew strategy and tactics was because I was formerly Special Forces, and also because I had read through many books on strategy.
In particular, I liked Clausewitz’s “On War” and Machiavelli’s “The Prince.” They taught not only how to wage war or govern the world well, but also how to live life wisely.
“I see. When training your tactics, could you look over our forces? I will compensate you.”
“Call me at any time. I will be staying at the mansion you have provided, my lord.”
“I will be counting on you, Mercenary Rohan.”
Baron Azif offered another handshake, and I grasped his hand firmly.
***
The house Baron Azif gave me was located about 400 meters from the Castle of Baron Azif.
It was not very far away, and I could read the baron’s intent that whenever trouble occurred, I should come and help.
The land he rented to me for 10 years was by the river, and it was around 50 meters by 50 meters. It was a little over 2,480 square meters.
On about half of that area, makeshift structures woven together from all kinds of trash stood as if they would collapse at any moment.