From Mercenary to King

For ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a moment, Shatien wondered if he had misheard. However, looking at Mage Agpiel’s nonchalant expression, this was sincere.

“Is ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that not just telling me to threaten him?”

“Threaten? ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍It is strictly advice. Heh. If you stay still until the medical scholars sent by the Holy See arrive and investigate, do you really think this commotion will not be discovered as a curse?”

A ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍curse infesting a fief was a very good pretext for excommunication. From the Holy See’s perspective, they would hold an excellent card to grab Count Shatin by the throat and shake him whenever they wished.

“That ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is true, but……. It is too radical. Also, is there a reason to step forward first and be hated?”

It was said that a person's mind changed before and after a situation. No matter how much of a noble he was, the anxiety of having his weakness caught would be greater than the gratitude for having the matter resolved.

“Then what do you intend to do, young knight? If you cannot do this or that, you will accomplish nothing.”

“Well, should I not appropriately pass the buck, Mage Agpiel?”

While saying that, Shatien looked at the envoy of the Holy See who was talking with Count Shatin on the other side.

The person most closely related to this matter and, at the same time, the one who would face no trouble even if a problem arose. He was the perfect candidate for passing the responsibility.

“Hahaha. Is something not to your taste, Sir Shatien?”

Then, the quick-witted envoy of the Holy See looked at Shatien and asked back.

“Ah! No. It is just that my stomach feels a bit bloated. Haha.”

“My. You must not get indigestion.”

“It is likely temporary, Envoy. By the way, do you perhaps have some time later? I would like to see you alone.”

“I have time, but what brings this on…?”

“I wanted to offer a prayer to God as it’s been a while. It would be a great honor to do so before the Envoy of the Holy See. Hahahaha.”

“Hahaha. Very well. I understand. I shall see you later.”

Shatien smiled at the envoy's acceptance. The preparation to pass the buck was complete! Of course, Mage Agpiel, who knew Shatien’s sinister inner thoughts, was appalled and clicked his tongue.

* * *

“Damn it! What? A mage came here?”

“Yes, Merchant Leader. They say Agpiel, who is called the Sage of the Forest, has come to Count Shatin now.”

“No, why on earth is that bastard who is supposed to be in the North here?!”

In a small branch of the Homel Merchant Guild on one side of Count Shatin’s market.

Loud voices were being exchanged in this place where darkness had fallen.

“I hear he is an acquaintance of that knight called Shatien. He came here at that knight's request….”

-Bang!

“Damn that Shatien! Shatien! That arrogant piece of a knight is still constantly obstructing His Majesty the Emperor's path.”

Hobbs, the branch manager of the Homel Merchant Guild, fumed and frowned.

Things could not have been more coincidental. Originally, the plague spread in Count Shatin’s territory was part of a maneuver they had carried out. A part of a grand plan to have them send people to resolve the matter and convert Count Shatin to the Emperor’s faction when the plague spread and became uncontrollable.

How much money and supplies had they poured in for this?

And to think it would turn into such a mess now.

“Should we not report to His Majesty the Emperor, Leader?”

“Are you mad? To report over such a trivial matter. It is a matter of losing one's head, you fool!”

The Emperor of the Holy Empire had become increasingly irritable lately. The moment they reported they had failed to handle even such a small task, their heads would not remain on their shoulders.

Whether it became porridge or rice, it was a problem they had to solve at their level.

“But since the Mage of the Forest has stepped forward, the plague will be resolved, and further, will he not find the traces of the curse we scattered? If he follows those traces, he might find us.”

“Hmmmm….”

At the subordinate's words, the Merchant Leader's expression hardened completely.

A curse using sinister mysteries.

If this was caught, they would not live out their natural lives. The Emperor would wash his hands of it, saying it was unrelated to him. An intrigue using a curse was a grave and serious matter that could lead directly to excommunication.

“Damn it!”

In the end, Hobbs spat out a curse along with a lament.

“For now, we watch. No matter if he is a mage, if we hide it well, finding traces will not be easy.”

“But what if he continues to interfere?”

“If he interferes…….”

Then was there any other choice?

It could not be helped.

That mage would have to face a secret and lethal blade.

No matter if he was a mage, he would not be able to avoid a ghastly blade coming out of the darkness.

Of course, this was the worst-case scenario.

He was the Sage of the Forest, whose reputation was widespread.

If they assassinated such a big shot, and now of all times when an envoy of the Holy See was visiting, the aftermath would not be easy to handle.

Therefore, Branch Manager Hobbs ordered with a deep sigh.

“First, extract the item from Count Shatin.”

“The item is inside the study as far as I know?”

“Can you not just bribe a servant and sneak in! Are you making that excuse now?”

“T—That is true, but……. It is difficult if Count Shatin is inside the inner castle.”

Not every noble's castle was massive. It was a structure built compactly with a bedroom right next to it, a study next to that, and a reception room nearby. Therefore, it was very easy to be caught if one made a mistake.

“I will handle that part. I will find some excuse to call Count Shatin outside. When that time comes, enter secretly and recover the item.”

“Ah! Understood.”

It was a night where a secret conspiracy bloomed in a tangled situation.

* * *

“Very well. What do you have to say? Seeing as you called me quietly like this, it seems to be something that should not be spread around. Hahaha.”

As soon as he met Shatien alone, he spoke with a pleasant laugh.

‘As expected.’

The envoy of the Holy See was indeed quick-witted.

“I did so because I have something to say cautiously regarding the plague spread in Count Shatin’s territory.”

“The plague? Is there some separate problem?”

“That is…….”

Shatien looked around and calmly stated the details he had found so far in a voice as low as possible.

From the traces of a sinister curse seen among the people who caught the plague to the guarantee of Mage Agpiel.

The envoy’s eyes widened at this unexpected story. It was evidence that was fatal and dangerous in many ways for Count Shatin.

From the Holy See’s perspective, it was a very good story. It was something that would bring a natural smile, but the envoy of the Holy See was quite composed.

That was because.

“Why? Could you not have resolved this personally, Knight?”

That was right.

Why did Shatien tell him this?

Was it not a golden opportunity to make Count Shatin indebted to him if he resolved it directly?

However, what this young knight before him said surprised the envoy of the Holy See.

“Is this not a matter for the Holy See? If I step forward for no reason, will the matter not turn strange in the middle? I believe it is important that this matter is resolved from the Holy See’s perspective. The view of the Holy See is identical to mine, Envoy.”

“Hahahaha…….”

The envoy of the Holy See smiled at the words of this young noble. Was there such a faithful noble? He was truly a man who could be an exemplar for nobles.

‘As expected from the individual the Pope praised.’

If all nobles followed and practiced the Gospel of God like this, the world would be at peace…. It was truly a regrettable thing.

“Then how does Sir Shatien think it is best to resolve this matter now?”

“Are you asking for my opinion?”

“Haha. I will listen intently to whatever you say. Are we not already one body, as you said?”

“Hmm. If so, I would prefer it not to go in a form of pressure for no reason. Would it not just deepen the resentment toward the Holy See? It seems right to show benevolence in the name of God.”

“Hahahaha. You are indeed deep in thought.”

The envoy thought it over carefully.

He could apply pressure using this matter, but as this young knight said, there was no reason to.

What if he resolved it appropriately and turned a blind eye?

Would he not be even more grateful to the Holy See?

“But if we bring up the story of the curse prematurely, will he not think of it as pressure?”

“Naturally, should we not find evidence first?”

“Evidence…….”

The envoy of the Holy See stroked his chin. He wondered if Shatien said it because there was some method.

“Is there a method?”

“Yes.”

Shatien nodded, recalling what Mage Agpiel had said.

“Can you take Count Shatin out of the inner castle for a short while?”

“From the inner castle?”

“Yes. If it is to the point that Count Shatin caught the curse, there will surely be a medium near him.”

“Hmmmm……. So you will enter the bedroom or the library secretly and conduct an investigation? Can you handle the aftermath?”

“Pretexts are what one makes of them, are they not? You can say you are taking measures to stop the plague, so if you keep him away for about half a day, a more delicate investigation will be possible.”

“I understand.”

If he was this confident, the envoy had to listen.

The envoy of the Holy See nodded and told him to just trust him.

It was a night where a conspiracy that was not quite a conspiracy toward Count Shatin deepened in many ways.

* * *

The next day.

Just as they were worrying about how to get Count Shatin outside, that task was accomplished easily, unexpectedly.

“What? A banquet?”

“Yes. That is right. Has the atmosphere not been very low lately because of the plague? We shall try to cheer things up once. Please do attend.”

The Hoppen Merchant Guild had proposed a banquet to Count Shatin.

The timing and the pretext were a bit suspicious, but there was nothing bad about it. Shatien and the Holy See envoy immediately visited Count Shatin and urged him to attend a banquet for the first time in a long while to soothe his weary body, and Count Shatin complied and headed to that banquet together.

Now the inner castle was completely empty.

“Good.”

Thanks to that, standing before the quiet inner castle gate, Shatien and Mage Agpiel smiled while loosening their fingers.

The work had gone smoothly without any hassle. Now all that remained was to appropriately search the inner castle and find the cursed object.

Since he had no intention of causing a loud scene, he planned to move as fast as lightning and resolve it.

And thinking that way, when they entered Count Shatin’s study inside the inner castle under the guidance of servants.

-Rattle!

“??”

“???????????”

“???????????????!”

Shatien and Mage Agpiel were flustered by the unexpected situation.

“Oh, shit!”

Some bandits wearing black hoods were inside there.

-Clang!

“Kill them!”

“Kill them quickly and bolt! Damn it.”

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