Viscount Ragnarsson was indeed bold. After hearing Shatien’s story, he decided to provide full support.
He even attached a professional administrator to him and prepared relevant documents to avoid conflict factors as much as possible.
‘Oh! Long live. Long live.’
It was truly long live Viscount Ragnarsson.
It would have been quite difficult if he had tried to do it alone, but to attach such an expert.
Thanks to this, Shatien and Branch Manager Marhen were literally beaming.
“Hmm, it feels like I did the most work, but Branch Manager Marhen seems to be taking the biggest profit? My goodness... To think you would obtain the right of passage guaranteed by Viscount Ragnarsson.”
“Hnng. Why? Are you dissatisfied? Are we going to be disappointed with each other like that between us?”
“Ahem. Hm.”
A man like him would be flustered when she stepped in like that. What a wicked cat!
Shatien hurriedly cleared his throat and stepped back slightly.
“I was just trying to take some credit. Ahem. Ahem.”
“Nyahahahat.”
Branch Manager Marhen cackled.
“Ugh. Stop teasing and let’s talk about future work now.”
Shatien grumbled and turned the subject of conversation.
In the future, help from the merchant company led by Branch Manager Marhen was desperate.
No matter how much the nobles said they would cooperate, strictly speaking, a mercenary company was a burden from the perspective of the lords.
No matter how much it was a military group that could be hired with money in case of emergency, having a military group that could not be commanded within their radius was a burden in many ways.
“They will probably try to increase dependency as much as possible to prevent any foolish thoughts. The easiest way is to block the supply of food, weapons, and clothing.”
“Indeed. If there is no supply, the fight cannot be continued, so they would think they can control us.”
“Even if it is not that, there would be a way to put servants under their influence into the station.”
“Hmmm….”
Mercenaries could not do all the miscellaneous chores, so it was certainly true.
And if such servants were under the lord of the region, it would be very easy to acquire information about the movements of the mercenary company.
Of course, that did not mean all of that could be blocked.
“We should give what we should give.”
“That’s right. An information source that is known to leak anyway is perfect for leaking false information instead. Hehe.”
“Oh!”
It was a quite insidious scheme.
As expected of someone sensitive to the power structure of the merchant company.
“What’s with that look? It seems you think of me quite strangely just now?”
“It is a misunderstanding. I just think you are great. Hehe.”
“…….”
“Awww. Don’t be like that. Now, now, now. Anyway, now I need Branch Manager Marhen’s assistance. Can you take responsibility for the supply to each base branch? We give what we give, but we must take the core.”
Regarding supply, compromise was impossible.
If the supply line was controlled by regional lords, what would be the meaning of the existence of the mercenary company located in the branch?
Even when the lord of the region was hostile to the Mercenary Office, there was no way to respond.
“It sounds like you mean to actively use the merchant company’s trade network located in the northern region?”
“That is correct. Since our friends have such large appetites, it will be difficult for ordinary merchant groups to provide proper supplies.”
“Hmmmmm.”
Branch Manager Marhen wagged her tail.
Considering her relationship with Shatien so far, she naturally had to do it and wanted to do it, but unfortunately, the merchant company in the northern region was not her territory.
Of course, she had expanded some parts here, but this was, in a way, outside her authority.
“It is difficult for me to decide alone. The northern region is the core jurisdictional area of the merchant company, and a meeting of the main assembly is required to make a contract of this magnitude.”
“Shoot….”
“Still, don't be disappointed. Sir Shatien.”
Then, Branch Manager Marhen shrugged her shoulders and continued.
“You have me, right? I will willingly speak to the main assembly and strive to pass the relevant agenda. In any case, this matter does not conflict much with the profits of the merchant company, so there will be no problem.”
“Oh! Is that so?”
It was truly a relief.
Thanks to that, Shatien’s face brightened.
If so, now he could get the Mercenary Office notarized in the northern region, and through a recruitment permit, form a mercenary company of at least 5,000 in the north and 3,000 in the south.
In total, he would be able to maintain a military force of nearly 10,000.
And if that happened….
‘I can become the core of the endless civil war sparked by the upcoming emperor.’
It was a different level from the nobles who could form a small manor and an army of dozens, or at most hundreds.
This was the reason Shatien had established the Mercenary Office within the Black Raven Mercenary Company and gained fame until now.
Anyway, during the civil war, many territories would lose their owners and gaps would be created.
If he achieved merit and raised his honor at that time, titles and fiefs would naturally follow.
‘It will be the optimal opportunity to revive the family.’
He would finish all those preparations perfectly and wait for the time.
Shatien thought so with his eyes sparkling.
While he was thinking like that.
“Ah! But… hmm….”
“?”
Suddenly, Branch Manager Marhen looked at Shatien with an extremely troubled expression.
“Well… if you follow Viscount Ragnarsson to the capital, there might be a troublesome matter.”
“??”
“But actually, it is not something that’s too troublesome or conflicting. No, rather it would be good. Or maybe not? Hah….”
“????”
“Ugh. Anyway, don’t be surprised at that time! Make sure to prepare your heart firmly in advance. Got it?!”
“?????????????”
It was Branch Manager Marhen saying something completely incomprehensible.
* * *
-Thump thump thump thump.
-Pwuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.
As the drums rolled and the sound of the horn shell soared high into the sky.
-Advance from the prepared ranks!
-Keep the formation!
-Stomp stomp stomp stomp.
The loud shouts of the officers and the heavy sounds of the soldiers’ footsteps spread out.
The army led by Viscount Ragnarsson finally arrived at the capital of Rostingia and was having a triumphal ceremony.
-Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!
-Long live His Excellency Viscount Ragnarsson!
-May the Rostingia Marcher Lord live forever!
All the citizens came out and showed an enthusiastic welcome to Viscount Ragnarsson’s army marching down the main street.
A dignified and gallant successor who returned after suppressing the wicked rebels.
In a situation where the illness of the Rostingia Marcher Lord had spread even to ordinary citizens, there was no more reliable achievement than this.
Thanks to that, some scattered petals prepared from somewhere, and others waved colorful cloths and offered welcoming greetings to Viscount Ragnarsson.
The nobles who participated in the triumphal ceremony, as well as the lowest soldiers, were encouraged by this enthusiastic welcome and were participating in this glorious march with all their might.
And at the very front of the marching ranks was Shatien.
‘Oof… it is really heavy. I might drop it if I make a mistake.’
He had thought that a flag-bearer carrying a flag was no big deal, but when he actually carried it himself, this was not easy.
The family symbol flag attached to the end of the lance was incredibly heavy due to its size, and the lance pole, which was heightened to look tall, was flexible, making it quite difficult to maintain the center of gravity.
Thanks to this, Shatien was breaking into a cold sweat and sweating profusely unlike others.
Moreover, what tormented Shatien was not only this.
“Oh! Is that by any means Sir Shatien over there?”
“The one who is said to be devout?”
“According to rumors, he manifested a miracle?”
“Hey. My friend. What miracle. Do you think just anyone manifests a miracle?”
“No, I am serious! The rumor has already spread far and wide. The clergymen say so, so it won’t be a lie, will it? Besides, look over there.”
“Oh??”
They said that a word without feet comes to the city faster than anyone, and it was exactly that case.
Even from a distance, what they were saying was literally piercing into his ears.
Even as they were surprised, when passing through certain areas.
“Oooooh! Devout Sir Shatien!”
“Knight Sir Shatien who receives God’s love!! Please look at me.”
“Please hold my hand. O performer of miracles!”
“May I hold even a piece of your cloak?”
People had properly discovered Shatien and were rushing in, cheering from all directions.
Thanks to that, the formation became a mess for a moment, and the city guards had to break into a sweat trying to calm them down.
Of course, our Viscount Ragnarsson….
“Uhahahaha! How is it, Sir Shatien? I spoke about it in advance. It is my gift to Sir Shatien who suffered with me. Now, now, now. Put down that flag now and approach them and give them a gesture. Yes? The march is almost over anyway, so it is fine. Hahaha.”
“…….”
Truly… he was causing things without even knowing Shatien’s heart.
* * *
If a triumphal ceremony was over, it was common sense (?) in this era to have a banquet.
Shatien had to be dragged by Viscount Ragnarsson’s hand without even time to rest and play a central role inside the huge and fancy banquet hall.
Viscount Ragnarsson needed a fairly plausible boast and a topic of conversation, and the participating nobles also needed an issue that could moderately set the mood.
Rather than starting with heavy topics like the rebellion or the illness of the Rostingia Marcher Lord, Shatien, who was said to have performed a miracle, was literally optimal.
Thanks to that, Shatien ended up participating unwantedly as a stepping stone for conversation between Viscount Ragnarsson and the nobles.
He had been dragged around like that for a long time, and the reason he was able to stop his role as the starting point of conversation and moderate accompaniment was thanks to the envoys who visited Viscount Ragnarsson.
“Hmm. Dear me. Sir Shatien, thank you. Now go see your business. Haha. Since our chef’s skill is very excellent, please eat a lot of delicious food.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you. Then, I will take my leave.”
Shatien quickly bowed his head and hurried away from Viscount Ragnarsson.
Others would be curious about what kind of conversation Viscount Ragnarsson and the envoys would have and would try to leave an impression, but Shatien was not.
His only wish was to escape from this damn banquet hall right now.
‘Ughhhh…. My hands are going to get worn out at this rate. Worn out for real.’
He wondered why they were so interested in health.
The nobles and officials whose flesh had risen plumply would often keep stroking Shatien’s hand while talking.
They said that if you hold the hand of a saint who performed a miracle, you receive a blessing or something?
It was an absurd situation for Shatien.
Take care of your bodies and lose weight in that time!
“Hmm, are you Sir Shatien?”
Just then, a stranger’s voice was heard from behind.
When he turned his body, a cat beastman was standing there.
Shatien let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth bluntly.
“I am Sir Shatien, but I have never performed a miracle, and I am not devout. I am just a knight from a mercenary background who knows how to fight a bit on the battlefield. Would that still be okay with you?”
It meant he wanted to stop holding hands now.
But the answer that came back was unexpected.
“I actually came to meet that ‘knight from a mercenary background’.”
“You sure would… wait, what?”
“Are you that Sir Shatien?”
“That is correct but… who might you be?”
“Hohohoho.”
That man. No, a cat beastman who felt somewhat familiar laughed boisterously.
Then that cat beastman man glared at Shatien.
“I take it you are indeed that Sir Shatien, the ruffian knight from a mercenary background who blocked a grown lady’s path to marriage?!”
“?????”
My goodness.
What on earth was this about.
Chapter 141: To the South Again (1)
11 min read