Chapter 162

Chapter 162

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 162: Ashen (6).

Thanks to the King of Pushovers, Kallihill’s arrangement, Allen was able to easily meet the Duke.

The old Duke was far from authoritative. He didn’t care about status and enjoyed drinking and playing with anyone, and his affairs with women were also extensive. Despite already having three wives, he apparently had well over ten illegitimate children.

He had long abandoned administrative tasks to his subordinates and hadn’t attended to internal affairs for over a decade. Still, the city operated, likely due to his good fortune with people.

His personality wasn’t bad, but he was an incompetent person.

That was Allen’s impression upon first meeting the Lord of Kronstold and Duke Norton. He was someone who lived comfortably because he was born in a good era; if he had been born in turbulent times, he would have long lost his head.

“I offer my greetings to His Majesty. I am Allen Dewise Pomwell, leader of the Allen-Mercenary Group.”

“Oh, yes, yes. I’ve heard of you. The righteous mercenary!”

The Duke, who continuously sipped his drink with a good-natured chuckle, seemed utterly oblivious to the urgent situation in the South. Well, how could someone who was only interested in the confines of a lady’s skirts be aware of matters beyond the city?

However, Allen found it much easier to deal with such a straightforward person. At least he didn’t engage in unnecessary calculations with sinister intentions.

“Have you heard that a demon has appeared in the South?”

“A demon? Ah, yes, there was talk of that.”

The Duke replied nonchalantly.

“Two cities and countless large and small villages have already fallen. And even at this very moment, the demon is gradually expanding its forces. If this continues, it will grow beyond control.”

“Oh, such a thing!”

The Duke looked at his son, Kallihill, as if asking if those words were true. Kallihill gave a small nod, confirming that Allen’s words were indeed the truth.

“Still, we are Kronstold. No matter how fearsome the demon is, it cannot breach our walls.”

The Lord of Kronstold spoke with a tone full of pride. The largest city in the South, Kronstold, had walls as grand and high as its reputation.

“Of course, but even if the demon cannot breach the walls of Kronstold, the other Southern cities are not so fortunate. If they all fall, and Kronstold is left standing alone, what meaning does that hold…?”

“Would it really come to that? Would a single demon be that hard to handle?”

In fact, the Duke wasn’t wrong. It was indeed laughable to make such a fuss over just one demon brat.

When taken down early, demons aren’t that frightening. No matter how strong a demon is, it can’t withstand a group attack. However, I’ve seen more than once how things can spiral out of control if you’re too complacent.

And with two cities already fallen, its forces must have grown considerably. It might be manageable in other mid-sized cities, but in a Southern mid-sized city where the mercenary business is slow, it would likely be nearly impossible to stop.

“Your Highness! Two cities have already fallen. This means it has grown to a level where it is difficult to subjugate easily. If we do not stop it now, the damage will snowball.”

Allen further stirred the heart of the Duke lost in thought.

“All other cities are now in a state of hoping only for your mercy, Your Highness. The peace of the South is entirely in your hands. So please, subjugate the demon and let the whole world know that Kronstold is still strong!”

However, despite such an appeal, the Duke, whose judgment was already clouded by alcohol and women, could not make a decision easily. Instead, he slyly shifted his decision-making authority to his son, Kallihill.

“…Kallihill, what do you think?”

Fortunately, Kallihill was in agreement with Allen’s opinion.

“I also agree with Allen’s opinion. How can the great South be swayed by a mere demon?!”

“That’s right. The honor of Kronstold is the honor of the South, isn’t it?!”

As expected of the father of the King of Pushovers, the Duke’s face quickly spread into a smile under the barrage of flattery.

“Yes, we can’t just watch our neighbors suffer like that… Very well. I will do as you wish.”

“Indeed, a wise decision!”

The Duke used the pretext of forming the subjugation force to hold another banquet.

Allen, who couldn’t avoid attending the banquet, found himself unable to refuse the Duke’s offered drinks and thought he might die from drinking them all.

…And the next day, he was bedridden with a hangover all day.

The Duke permitted the formation of the subjugation force, but significant dissatisfaction followed. Concerns arose about what would happen if the mercenary groups protecting the city suddenly left.

Initially, aside from the Kalisman-Mercenary Group, several mercenary groups employed by the Duke’s castle were also to form the subjugation force and join the mission, but the timid Duke altered the plan somewhat.

Thus, the subjugation force was comprised of the Kalisman-Mercenary Group, the Allen-Mercenary Group, and two additional mercenary groups. The remaining thirteen mercenary groups decided to stay in the city.

Of course, as they continued to move south to regions where the demon was present, they planned to add more mercenary groups in each city they passed through, so a few mercenary groups leaving wasn’t much of a concern.

The plan was for none other than the Duke’s son and the direct leader of the Duke’s mercenary group to take the initiative to subjugate the demon, and no lord would refuse to lend their strength to such a cause. By expanding the size of the subjugation force in this way, the plan was to join the city the demon would attack and defeat it.

Honestly, just by listening, it didn’t seem like a particularly difficult plan, but the end of this plan was war with the demon. That in itself was already a hellish affair.

Fortunately, Group Leader Kallihill was a person overflowing with confidence. Even though a war with the demon was imminent, he did not doubt for a moment that they would definitely defeat it if everyone united their strength.

However, some members of the Allen-Mercenary Group, who had already experienced a war with necromancers once, never let their guard down.

…Still, it was fortunate that the creature was only at half-strength. If the Gates of Hell had really opened, at least two or three of the Top 10 would have had to intervene.

Ten days after leaving Kronstold, when they arrived at the next mid-city, they heard the news that a city had fallen to the demon again. There were already a considerable number of refugees there.

Realizing the situation was far more serious than expected after stepping outside the city, Group Leader Kallihill acted more proactively than usual.

Of course, the Count of the mid-city declared his willingness to help. Firstly, it was embarrassing for the Count to just watch when the Duke’s family took the lead, and secondly, the Southern temperament wasn’t particularly harsh. Additionally, the promise that they would certainly assist if the demon attacked this place also strengthened the persuasion.

As they passed through each city in that manner, two or three mercenary groups joined, gradually swelling the size of the subjugation force.

Thus, another month passed.

When the news that a neighboring city had fallen to the demon reached the mid-sized city of Armo, not long after, the subjugation force, which had grown to over three hundred, arrived just in time.

The Lord of Armo, Count Lochier, who was seriously contemplating whether to abandon the city or defend it with his life, rushed over at the news of reinforcements.

In a dire situation where even the group leader of the already hired mercenary group abandoned his members and fled, they were like a ray of light in the darkness.

“Norton Union’s representative, Kallihill Norton.”

Of course, even though Count Lochier had little interest in the mercenary business, he couldn’t possibly be unaware of the Kallihill-Mercenary Group of Kronstold. It was the most famous mercenary group in the South.

“You’ve come at the perfect time! Instead of standing around here, let’s go inside quickly!”

Fearing they might leave, the Count hurriedly ushered the subjugation force into the inner castle. He ordered them to be treated as the most honored of guests.

Given the urgent situation, as soon as the meal was over, the Count, the Viscount, and the mercenary group leaders gathered in the meeting room.

“What is the current situation?”

When Group Leader Kallihill asked this, the Viscount assisting Count Lochier spoke up.

“Recently, we received news that Cherbing has fallen. It’s a city not far from here.”

“So, that means the front line has reached this far.”

“That is correct.”

The real power behind the subjugation force, Group Leader Allen, who had been listening quietly, tapped his chin with his finger and asked softly.

“Do you know the size of the enemy forces?”

“…There is no information on that yet.”

“Haven’t you dispatched a reconnaissance team?”

When Allen asked this, the old Viscount looked aside, seemingly embarrassed.

“No, we haven’t.”

Ahem. As Group Leader Kallihill let out an uncomfortable cough, the Count scolded the Viscount in a low voice for all to see.

“You should have done that without being told!”

“I apologize, My Lord.”

And then followed the silence. With their feet to the fire, the Count and the Viscount only watched the subjugation force.

After a long thought, Group Leader Kallihill spoke up.

“Anyway, we will settle the score here. Four cities have already fallen.”

Only then did the Count let out a sigh of relief.

Of course, just because a decision was made didn’t mean it was over. Preparations were to start now.

It was certainly encouraging that the number of professional combat personnel had increased by over three hundred, but it wasn’t easy to completely turn the tide of the war with just them alone. The entire city had to unite as one to fight against the enemy.

Allen stepped forward again.

“Everyone who can fight in the city must be armed. Everyone, regardless of age or gender.”

“Understood.”

“I hope the Count’s family will spare no resources in support. And from now on, we must gather all the holy water in the cathedral. The demon’s army is very vulnerable to holy water.”

The Ash Demon, Pamalious, had currently devoured four cities.

When crossing one or two cities, the progress was still slow, but from the third, it increased significantly. According to the original plan, they were supposed to fight before it took down four, but they ended up losing one more than expected.

…This is getting slightly tricky…!

No matter what, Allen couldn’t afford to risk his one and only life, so he had no choice but to be sensitive to such small numbers. Still, this was within the margin of error.

After the meeting, Allen returned to the lodging and gathered the members.

“We’ve decided to fight here. The city will spare no material or human support.”

Everyone nodded with determined expressions.

Allen, scanning them, spoke in a slightly lower voice.

“We came here by my decision, but I don’t want any of you to die because of my greed. So, everyone, make sure to take care of yourselves, understood?”

Reading the heavy atmosphere, Furball Geese burst into loud laughter.

“Don’t worry! This isn’t the first time we’ve been through something like this, right? Even if we’re told to die, we’ll survive to the end! We’ll live until the walls are smeared with filth!”

Only then did the heavy air dissipate, and faint smiles appeared on the members’ faces.

…Yeah, that would truly be a relief.

However.

Allen couldn’t feel at ease.