Shatien had longed for the expansion of the Sauerland Mercenary Bureau that much.
But to think another high-ranking noble of the North would officially recognize the Mercenary Bureau!
This was a truly irresistible and tremendous proposal.
If Count Joberham officially recognized the Sauerland Mercenary Bureau following Count Bellua and Viscount Ragnarsson, it could establish its presence as a legitimate organization in both name and reality.
Therefore, there was no way Shatien would refuse Count Joberham’s offer.
He immediately dispatched a messenger to Captain Mordo with the results of his achievements and the details of the proposal.
It was only natural that Captain Mordo, whose thoughts aligned with Shatien’s, burst into laughter and rejoiced upon seeing the proposal.
Since the intentions of the three men became one, momentum gathered in an instant.
-Bang, bang, bang, bang.
-Hey! Hammer carefully!
-Good grief? How many years of experience do I have that you're pointing fingers! I said I'll take care of it.
Count Joberham allowed the establishment of a branch of the Mercenary Bureau and even provided the site and manpower.
It was a tremendous benefit as well as a gesture of goodwill.
Thanks to this, the people around were all surprised.
“My goodness. I didn't know Count Joberham would provide this much support. Well, did you have some secret help I didn't know about?”
“How could that be. Everything is within what you already know, Branch Manager Marhen.”
“Hnng. Then why on earth did that old elf help so much?”
Branch Manager Marhen narrowed her eyes and scanned Shatien.
What kind of relationship did they have?
In fact, it was likely they shared most secrets with each other.
Moreover, this young knight had already been claimed(?) by her first.
Of course, Shatien felt only unfairly accused by Branch Manager Marhen’s suspicion.
“There really wasn't a single special request, though?”
“Yes, yes. I'm sure that's true. Hnng.”
“……”
Seeing her pout her lips, it didn't seem like she understood at all, but Shatien only let out a sigh.
Truly, this matter was something Count Joberham decided on his own.
Still, it wasn't right to refuse the benefits being given, was it?
Thanks to this, the Sauerland Mercenary Bureau gained a golden opportunity to take firm root in the northern region.
“Hnng. By the way... so what is Mage Agpiel going to do? He seemed to think very highly of you.”
“Ah! Mage Agpiel you ask?”
Shatien brightened up as the subject turned at just the right timing.
“He says there is still much left to research. He mentioned he would stay in this area for a while to study the mysteries of the pagan temple.”
“Aha? I thought he would join us since he became quite close with Sir Shatien, so that's a shame. It would've been very reassuring to have him with us.”
“Hahaha. Wouldn't there be a day we can be together sometime?”
As Branch Manager Marhen said, they had become quite close with Mage Agpiel during that time.
They had spent a considerable amount of time together training to deal with the mysteries of bloodlines, and he had also received teachings on various types of specialized knowledge.
Literally, a day would come when they could be together once this matter was over.
“Well, that's a relief then. By the way, I want to rest quickly once we arrive in Friesland. My only thought is to wash with warm water and rest deeply on a comfortable bed. Ugh. I'm telling you, camping outdoors is truly terrible.”
Branch Manager Marhen trembled as if she were fed up, with the fur all over her body standing on end.
It had already been five days since they left the territory of Count Joberham.
Due to the nature of the North where distances between cities and villages were long, camping outdoors happened frequently.
Since she couldn't even wash properly, that kind of reaction was somewhat understandable.
Although, it was hard to understand a cat person looking for water.
“You just have to endure a little more.”
“I know that too. I just want to rest quickly.”
Seeing her looking so slumped made his heart feel a bit pained, but there was nothing he could do.
He wasn't a mage himself.
Shatien merely shrugged his shoulders and did his best in what he could do.
He urged the mercenaries and merchants to move as quickly as possible, sent out scouts to prevent ambushes...
Just as he was struggling through a few more days like that.
“Welcome to Friesland! My friends!”
Finally, Shatien and Branch Manager Marhen were able to arrive at their destination.
Finally, hot water and comfortable bedding.
They were placed in an environment where they could rest peacefully and deeply.
“Nyahahaha!”
Branch Manager Marhen let out a cheer.
Goodbye to the bread and jerky that felt like they would break one's teeth if chewed! And to the blankets that smelled of mold.
However, this happiness of Branch Manager Marhen was only temporary.
“Ah, and a guest has arrived. I was worried our paths might cross, so it's a relief.”
“?”
“It is a messenger sent by Viscount Ragnarsson.”
“???????”
“Nice to meet you, Sir Shatien. And Branch Manager Marhen. Viscount Ragnarsson has summoned the two of you as it is almost time to enter the main road.”
“???????????????????????”
* * *
“Noooooooooooooo!!!!!”
Branch Manager Marhen shouted while grabbing the entrance of the castle gate.
The people around the gate were surprised and looked at Shatien and Branch Manager Marhen all at once.
Feeling his face heat up, Shatien hurriedly approached Branch Manager Marhen.
“Even if you hate it, there's no choice. Branch Manager Marhen. If you refuse with such a nonsensical excuse, you might really get in trouble for the crime of irreverence you know?”
It wasn't that they had to leave immediately just because a messenger came; they had been given plenty of time for maintenance, yet Branch Manager Marhen was acting like that.
“But... I just got to the city. Sniff.”
“Good grief, as if that matters. I'll just drag you along for now. Branch Manager Marhen. Okay?”
Shatien dragged Branch Manager Marhen along as she struggled, saying she didn't want to go.
People just laughed at the rare sight and enjoyed themselves.
“Escort Branch Manager Marhen quickly. Is everything ready?”
“Yes. You just have to give the order.”
“Fortunately, there are no wagons of the merchant group going this time, so the movement speed will be a bit faster. Move out!”
“Yes!”
Fortunately, the location designated by Viscount Ragnarsson to join was not very far.
Arpelheim, a territory roughly three days away from here.
Since there was a fairly large village in the middle, they could even skip the outdoor camping she hated so much.
Then the complaints of that picky cat beastman could be settled to some degree.
And in fact, that thought turned out to be exactly right.
Fortunately, as they marched quickly, they arrived at a large village in the middle around the time the sun set and it grew dark.
“Oh, pious Sir Shatien! I have heard many stories.”
“Hmm?”
“Your great reputation has spread far and wide. Please, rest comfortably in our village before you go.”
“Uh... thank you. I'm just grateful for your warm welcome.”
For some reason, the village gave a truly friendly welcome.
While yielding the village chief's house, the best in the village, to Shatien and Branch Manager Marhen, they also treated them with fairly high-quality bread and soup, and even slaughtered a pig.
He wondered if it was a trap due to the passionate welcome he couldn't adapt to, but it wasn't anything like that, and Shatien was bewildered, not knowing the reason.
“Goodness. Shatien. Worried again? It's all because your reputation spread. Why do you think nobles receive this kind of hospitality every time?”
“...Miles. Am I not just a lowly knight.”
Then, Branch Manager Marhen, who seemed to be in a much better mood after coming out from a shower with hot water, said with a snort.
“Hey, think about the reputation you've built up. And didn't you even get recognition from the Church while subjugating the cultists recently? I don't know what the monastery knights said, but according to the rumors that spread then, you're at the level of a knight who performed miracles? Hnng.”
“Um... could it be that?”
Shatien frowned.
Thanks to the playful mischief of Mage Agpiel that made the situation ambiguous, he was misunderstood as having performed a miracle of healing the poor with his hands.
To make matters worse, the monastery knights were running wild saying they would notarize it, which made things even more difficult.
If the village's favor was because of that, Shatien was overwhelmed by a sense of needless anxiety.
‘How am I going to handle the aftermath?’
Therefore, Shatien comforted himself by thinking it was a needless worry and led the unit early the next morning.
“Oh my! Sir Knight. To think you're leaving like this. Please stay just a little longer.”
“I have no choice as Viscount Ragnarsson is waiting. I will surely remember your and the village's favor.”
“Thank you, Sir Knight. Please do remember us. Hohoho.”
At the same time, the village chief was so regretful that he held his hand so tightly his palm felt tingly.
In fact, Shatien should have caught on by this point.
That the situation was unfolding strangely.
However, Shatien thought nothing of it and soon had to pay the price.
“It, it's Lord Shatien!”
“Oh!!! Pious knight. Give us a blessing!”
“?????????????????”
* * *
When Shatien first led the unit and set out on his journey again, he frowned at the news that reached him.
“Hmmmm. The atmosphere is not good at all.”
The news brought by the messengers who went out scouting was not very good.
Clearly, Viscount Ragnarsson had led his army through, yet this area was still not properly organized.
Groups of bandits were still swarming in various places, and there was news that groups of deserters and remnants of defeated soldiers were everywhere.
Moreover, although he didn't know how it happened, it wasn't a very good situation as groups of poor people and vagrants were begging in unusual numbers.
‘If things go wrong, a big incident could happen.’
There wouldn't be any crazy person who would attack a mercenary group numbering as many as 200, but aren't there always variables?
Just like when Count Joberham's youngest son organized bandits on a large scale to attack them in the past.
But in this case, it was a bit different.
“Keep a tight guard. There might be an ambush.”
“Yes, understood. Captain! Don't worry.”
“In fact, all the bandit groups that were loitering around fled as soon as they heard we were coming.”
“Shouldn't the local lord be grateful to us? Euhahahaha.”
“I suppose so... Huh?”
A bit too much, even.
“?”
“Uh...?”
When a mercenary who was guarding in front on horseback suddenly made a dazed sound, Miles barked out a shout.
“You rascal. What are you dazed about and just going 'huh? huh?' for? Didn't you hear Shatien?”
“U-Um...”
However, the response and the mercenary's face were not good at all.
A dazed expression along with a somewhat pale complexion.
Soon, the mercenary hurriedly turned his body, approached, and shouted.
“Ca, Captain! They're swarming.”
“What? Is it the enemy?”
“Form a square! It's the enemy. The enemy is swarming...”
“No, it's not!”
“?”
“T-The poor! They're swarming while calling out Captain's name I think?”
“What????”
Soon enough, Miles’s face couldn't help but become as stunned as the guard he had just scolded.
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