Ch.515515. Mercenary Guild (1)

The inspection of the territory with an escort wasn’t bad at all.

The weather was nice, and seeing my precious territory residents living well while dutifully paying their taxes naturally warmed my heart.

Well, perhaps because the lord and his wife were personally walking the streets for inspection, there were quite a few eyes looking our way along with the escort troops.

“Even though it’s the western region, it’s still quite different from the Count’s territory overall.”

“That’s because most goods and money flowing from the kingdom’s center and south to the west pass through here. I heard quite a lot of people from those areas live in the barony as well.”

“I suppose a fortress city and a trade city are bound to be different.”

“Then comparing the Count’s territory and the Baron’s territory, which is better?”

“…Do we really need to compare them? Since you’re in the Baron’s territory now, this place is better, but…”

Just being out together with my wife and having this intimate conversation was enjoyable enough.

As we gradually approached the problematic area that the security forces and Lord Benner had told us about, it became clear they hadn’t reported it while on break for no reason. I could see the current territory issues firsthand.

“My lord, there’s a crowd gathered over there. But the atmosphere seems…”

Tasha, who was following behind Sione and me, pointed ahead.

I saw many territory residents hurriedly moving away, looking for security forces.

Curious about what was happening, I quickened my pace, but a guard carefully blocked my way.

“There seems to be a small disturbance on the main road ahead.”

“A disturbance? In broad daylight?”

“Yes, it appears to be those troublemakers we’ve been having issues with lately. If you’ll wait, we’ll resolve it quickly.”

Resolve it, he says.

Judging by their attitude, they seem determined not to show such a scene in front of the lord. They look like they’re ready to beat the troublemaker just short of killing him.

“Let’s go together. After all, the reason we came out for inspection today was to directly observe their situation.”

“But if something dangerous were to happen to the lord…”

“Do I look so weak in your eyes that I would feel threatened by a single rioter?”

“I apologize for my thoughtless words.”

Rather than rushing to resolve the situation, the guards focused on clearing a path through the crowd surrounding the troublemaker.

Following the path they made, I saw a disheveled man in an unusual state.

“He’s wearing a sword at his waist. Looks like a mercenary, but he’s missing an arm. He doesn’t look well at all.”

“Must be one of the mercenaries Lord Benner mentioned who fled the Winter War.”

For a mercenary, their body is essentially their livelihood.

The man had lost his left arm, and his hollow cheeks and protruding cheekbones suggested he hadn’t been eating properly.

He was looking around wildly with bulging eyes, his breathing becoming increasingly labored, his shoulders heaving.

And I knew better than anyone what that kind of appearance meant.

‘He’s terrified.’

He looked just like Hunters who had just entered a dungeon for the first time or those who had escaped alone.

That’s exactly how people looked when trapped in memories etched into their minds, constantly tormenting them.

Though he seemed to be trying his best to control himself, soon, with tears welling in his eyes…

“How dare he reach for his sword in front of whom! Just give the order, and I’ll subdue him immediately.”

He grasped his sword with his right hand.

Both the guards and the watching residents all viewed him as nothing but a madman.

“No, I’ll handle this myself.”

Sione shook her head as if she knew this would happen, yet smiled proudly as I instantly moved past the soldier who was ready to spring into action.

Well, Sione would reassure the soldiers not to worry.

“No, I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t kill them.”

Up close, he seemed to be suffering from an even more severe trauma than I thought.

“No! It’s not true! I’m not bad. You’re the bad ones. You who killed my family!”

Anyone could see he wasn’t an ordinary troublemaker but someone with a painful story.

Unfortunately, this world doesn’t sympathize with those suffering from such aftereffects. That’s probably why he was driven to this extreme.

‘First, the sword.’

Before he could draw his blade, I moved first and pushed it back into its scabbard.

Then I firmly gripped the mercenary’s hand and grabbed his collar with my other hand.

“Breathe.”

“Hng…ugh…!”

“It’s alright, go ahead.”

This world is crueler than one might think.

War trauma is a trial one must overcome alone. Unless you’re a cleric dedicated to helping others, no one will listen to your painful story. Everyone here thinks it’s just something that everyone experiences at some point.

Those who can’t overcome it are treated as cowards and ostracized. Those who crave sympathy and attention gradually crumble and eventually become madmen, despised and abandoned by society.

Even nobles lament having “produced failures” if their children suffer similarly. Those who can’t overcome are destined to fall amid everyone’s contempt.

‘But not me.’

I don’t think of them as weak.

“Why, why are you doing this to me? I’ve spent my whole life fighting monsters that hurt others! I don’t deserve this!”

And certainly not someone who deserves contempt.

“You’ve done nothing wrong.”

The mercenary’s eyes, which had been half-turned away, finally began to look at me.

“You were caught up in the Winter War, weren’t you? And you lost your family during it.”

“…!”

The mercenary’s breathing was rough.

He was still trapped in the hotbed of his past.

But his ears were fully receiving my voice.

“It’s not your fault. The ones at fault are those who started the war. It’s not your fault.”

“N-no. Her death was because of me, that Demonkin…”

“You’ve been hunting monsters for people’s peace all along. Back then, you must have stood on the battlefield with those who were like family to protect them.”

“…!”

“It seems those warm family members fought hard to protect you.”

I embraced the mercenary with one arm.

It wasn’t particularly costly or difficult.

“I’ll say it again, it’s not your fault. Think about the person who chose to protect you.”

“…”

“If they were such a good person, wouldn’t they want you to enjoy life for their share too, rather than blaming yourself?”

The man’s labored breathing gradually steadied.

“You did nothing wrong. Don’t blame yourself, and take slow, steady breaths.”

Soon, he released his grip on the weapon’s handle and covered his eyes as he sobbed.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…!”

And now, as he clung to me and sobbed, the picture I had been painting emerged.

A noble lord in expensive silk clothes reforming such a ragged mercenary, whom everyone had clicked their tongues at and despised, with love and acceptance. How would the territory residents see this?

‘Ah, our lord truly cares for his subjects, unlike lords of other territories.’

That’s exactly what they would think.

Yes, I need to seep into their hearts and give them voluntary faith to revive religion.

“Tasha, could you comfort this person?”

“…I’m moved. Then I’ll stay by his side and continue to comfort him like you did, my lord.”

Yes, with Tasha sniffling like that, this should work well.

Even though my clothes now bore the imprint of that man’s tears and mucus, no one here would dare laugh at my appearance.

‘I should unify politics and religion, right?’

To become an object of faith and support for the territory residents, I turned to face them—the same residents who had been looking at this mercenary as if he were insane just moments ago.

“Do you still see this mercenary as a mad rioter?”

I didn’t need to raise my voice.

“Is he not just a vulnerable person wounded by the pain of war and loss, with a fundamentally good nature?”

This kind of performance from a noble lord is not something they can easily witness.

“The Winter War ended in our victory, but I am well aware that its remnants still remain.”

A lord who reduces taxes to win the favor of residents is, in my view, an amateur.

“So I speak to you from the closest place.”

A true master is—

“I promise not to ignore the suffering territory residents until the pain of war is washed away.”

A lord who speaks so well that people believe any policy is for their benefit, even if it means collecting more taxes—isn’t that a true master?

And well, I’m not falsely promising to help.

Our soldiers also participated in the war, so there must be those who are suffering even if they don’t show it. Their families might have been mixed in this crowd too.

And the response to my words was—

“Hurrah!”

Quite explosive.

“For the rightful lord of this land!”

After returning to Sione’s side, surrounded by guards, I smiled slightly and thought:

‘Now I just need to help Tasha imprint the doctrine along with the territory business.’

Divine Power will be supplied.

The support of the territory residents will also increase.

And if I leave a good impression on mercenaries like this?

‘There’s no better benefit.’

Just as I was indulging in self-praise at that moment,

A creepy feeling rose up, and when I looked to the side, I saw slightly raised corners of lips and a very faint blush.

A face full of the sentiment “I’ve fallen in love again even though we’re already married.”

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing, just that with Tasha earlier and now this, you’ve seduced me again by showing such a cool side.”

“…”

Indeed, Sione seems to have been captivated by the beautiful picture I painted.

‘Come to think of it.’

Whenever I help others or show concern, rather than finding it annoying, Sione acts as if she’s proud, doesn’t she?

As if she’s seen a hero who perfectly matches her taste.

Looking at her face again, I could see both pride in her husband and something mischievous coexisting.

“We should go to the brewery, right?”

No, Sione, you can’t even drink well.

“If it tastes good, we might as well bring back an entire oak barrel.”

I wonder why she’s so intent on getting alcohol.

* * *

The kingdom’s Mercenary Guild establishes branches in territories with high floating populations.

And the Karpel Barony also had a branch established to meet the various mercenary demands arising from the many people gathering there.

The branch manager, Antael, who usually delegated work to his subordinates except for supporting seemingly competent mercenary groups, was trying to enjoy his nap time as usual today, but—

“Branch Manager! Big news! Really big news!”

Today, unlike his usual routine, his nap time was interrupted by the receptionist’s fuss.

“What big news again… You’re not waking me up for something trivial, are you? For most matters, you should tell my secretary—”

“No, today it’s really big news!”

“Sigh… I definitely paid your salary on time.”

“Listen…!”

“What, did an entire mercenary group get wiped out?”

“That’s not it! It’s even bigger than that!”

“Right? There’s no threat to Karpel Barony… Wait, something bigger than that?”

The branch manager, who had been responding halfheartedly, finally checked the receptionist’s face.

It was more serious than expected, with beads of cold sweat.

He jokingly threw out a question.

“What, unless the lord himself has come—”

“That’s it!”

“…?”

“That’s exactly it! Lord Karpel has requested to speak with you directly!”

“What?”

An unfortunately accurate guess.

“Why would the Western Hero want to see mediocre mercenaries like us—”

“And right now! He’s already entered the branch and is waiting!”

“This is insane…!”

The branch manager hurriedly dressed properly and tidied himself up while asking:

“Did we do something wrong?”

After all, he had never imagined the lord would personally visit the branch.