153 – The End of the War (2)
When we returned to Villa Hora Castle after several days of marching, our mercenaries cheered.
“f*ck, he came back alive! “I came back after defeating the 2,000-strong army of the damned Baron Maurer!”
“You can’t even see the damn Viscount Grunwald’s flag!”
“Now let’s really get some rest. “I don’t need anything, I just want to relax and feel the breasts of the women that the war merchants bring around…”
I also nodded my head at those words.
“There will be no fighting for a while. “To be honest, we destroyed over 2,000 enemies and made the remaining 4,000 retreat, so we shouldn’t abuse them any further.”
The guy next to me, Otto, shook his head.
“If that happens, there will be a really big protest. “I won’t be able to eat it.”
“When I return, if they tell me to fight more, I will cut off Viscount Cassano’s head and surrender to the Rhine-Palatinate.”
Of course, if I hit the back of the Medici Republic with whom I have a mercenary contract, my mercenary career would be completely over, so I have no intention of doing so…
I think I will think about how to make Viscount Cassano nice without getting caught about five times.
“As expected, Centurion Martin is very hot.”
Hearing those words, I shrugged my shoulders and chuckled.
“Aren’t men supposed to be hot? “In war, we fight fiercely, and at night, we fight even fiercer.”
“Commander Baek In was a problem because he was too hot-headed ever since he was a new recruit. He personally wishes he could be a little more chill.”
“The world won’t leave me alone, what should I do? Oh, I can cut back on buying you guys drinks often instead.”
The people around him, including Otto, looked at those words with a straight face.
“Oh, that’s a bit much. To be honest, we live by drinking and having s*x.”
“If you reduce that, we might move it to another white group.”
“You shouldn’t take away such a trivial pleasure when there is a much higher chance that Martin White University will be defeated than other White University students.”
Our mercenary unit has achieved many outstanding achievements in many ways compared to other mercenary units.
Thanks to this, there are a lot of guys in the Whitebeard Mercenary Corps who have made quite a bit of money, even if they are at the lowest level.
‘In return, the rate of casualties is relatively high, so you never know when you will die.’
It is also true that in our mercenary corps, the hundred corps I belong to has the highest rate of casualties.
“Just kidding, do you really think I would stop buying you alcohol even though I know that you guys are crazy about alcohol?”
“As expected, you are hot. “I will follow you for the rest of my life.”
“You’re not loyal to me, you’re loyal to alcohol, aren’t you, Otto?”
“Do you know now? I believe in Deus, but I think alcohol and women are the greatest things he created. Of course they are loyal.”
As we walked and chatted, the walls of Villa Hora Castle came into view.
Since there is no battle, it is normal to have only the minimum number of security forces stationed on the castle walls…
“Senior Karin, am I seeing something wrong? Why are there so many soldiers standing on the castle wall?”
“Really? Still, the flag erected on top of the castle is that of Viscount Cassano’s family, and the soldiers are also standing around. “It’s probably not an enemy operation.”
Certainly, if a noble from the Rhine-Palatinate Empire, whether Viscount Grunwald or whoever, occupied the castle, they would not be so eager to welcome our mercenaries.
‘Why on earth are they doing that?’
When such questions were asked, the gates were wide open.
From the open castle gate, mercenaries solemnly came out with shining spears and swords and began to make a path for us to pass through.
Soldiers holding musical instruments such as trumpets and drums, and flag bearers carrying the flags of various mercenary units lined up.
Dalton laughed and muttered when he saw this.
“Viscount Cassano, this guy knows some fashion. “They’re holding a brief but triumphant ceremony for us, who are just mercenaries.”
Triumphal Ceremony, usually a large-scale war between countries, followed by the regular troops of the victorious side being marched to the capital or a nearby large city.
It is an event that mobilizes numerous citizens in large cities to cheer the victorious army by scattering flowers and confetti, and mercenaries like us are not qualified to participate in such a glorious event unless it is a very special case…
‘I never thought we would hold a triumphal ceremony, even if only briefly.’
Other guys around also noticed the situation and started running wild, unable to hide their excitement.
Otto stood next to me with an admiring expression and muttered as he looked at the guys lined up in front of the castle.
“I lived and lived to be treated like this. I did well to survive.”
Lucia loved it, opening her eyes wide and wagging her tail.
“If we continue to follow Captain Baekin, one day we will be able to see a real triumphal ceremony, right?”
While I was admiring this, the military band started playing their instruments loudly.
“Viscount Cassano allowed a brief march to the Whitebeard mercenaries who defeated ‘Baron Maurer’s 2,000-man army’ and 4,000 Viscount Grunwald’s troops! “Everyone, follow the path and enter the castle.”
When Dalton heard that, he shouted in a loud voice.
“It’s time to march in style using the ritual that Martin taught us! “Gather in four rows!”
Until just now, they were standing in an orderly manner, but as soon as they heard that, they changed their formation into four rows with fixed angles.
Of course, Captain Dalton, the leader of our mercenary corps, stood at the front.
“Spread your shoulders and walk confidently! “Go forward!”
When Dalton took his first step, the mercenaries squared their shoulders and began to walk majestically toward the castle gate.
At the same time, trumpets and drums were played loudly.
Because we had followed the ceremony countless times up until now, no one was distracted while suddenly enjoying the honor of holding a brief but triumphal ceremony.
“… You just have to walk as trained… Just as trained…”
Of course, it seems like everyone was nervous to show off their cool looks.
I’m also secretly worried because if I look around like a country boy for no reason, I might look like a bit of an idiot.
‘You should pay more attention.’
And when Captain Dalton was about to enter the space created by the soldiers lined up left and right, one of Baron Cassano’s knights gave a command.
“Open the road!”
At the same time as those words were said, the soldiers raised the spears that were crossing in the shape of an ‘X’ and opened the way.
Because the formal training was not done properly, the movements were awkward compared to our mercenary units, but what is important now is that they are holding a ‘simultaneous victory ceremony.’
‘Someday, I will become a proud noble with a title and hold a real triumphal ceremony.’
With that determination, I took a step toward the castle gate.
The mercenaries around us might have been dissatisfied with us for preparing something like this for us, but surprisingly, they all liked it and even gave us compliments.
“Thank you, thanks to you guys, we didn’t have to fight with damn Viscount Grunwald.”
“I almost collapsed during the siege, but thank you for not having to fight an even more sh*tty siege.”
“For f*ck’s sake, let’s not meet as enemies! “You bastards!”
After listening to the contents, I can understand all of them.
Yes, this kind of improvement preparation is much better than fighting a sh*tty defensive battle where you don’t know how long the enemy will surround you.
So we finished the march to the castle lord’s official residence in the center of the castle in about 10 minutes…
Viscount Cassano and his knights, all smiling brightly, were waiting there.
When the Viscount saw us, he ran over happily, patted Captain Dalton and me on the shoulders and said,
“Thanks to you, we were able to get through the difficult battle without any trouble. Thanks to this, I think my territory will expand considerably. “I never thought that with just 600 men, we would annihilate over 2,000 enemy troops and capture nearly 700 prisoners.”
Dalton stood at attention and answered in a loud voice.
“This was possible because Viscount Cassano trusted us!”
…… Yes, in times like this, rather than being flattered, raising the viscount’s face in front of everyone is a ‘good way to get more money.’
“Is that so? Okay, then I’ll be generous too. Normally, if an enemy’s ‘nobleman’ is captured, half of the ransom is taken from the employer, the Medici Republic. “Hasn’t our Centurion Martin here become penniless because he bought a b*tch named Hilde?”
I am living with Dalton’s salary in advance, and am completely penniless.
Why would Lucia come to me often and ask me if I was really okay…
I nodded quietly at those words.
“Since his contribution is so great, I will take special measures to ensure that our republic does not receive the fee it deserves, especially for Baron Maurer’s ransom. “The Baron’s ransom is approximately 5,000 gold coins, so in effect, you are giving 2,500 gold coins as a reward to the Whitebeard mercenaries.”
Dalton and I were tearing up from the corners of our mouths to our ears.
“Ah, I am not a miser. “This is a favor I bestow, separate from the rewards for the Battle of Villa Hora and the Battle of the Aiden River.”
“Thank you, Viscount.”
Then Viscount Cassano looked at me and smiled secretly.
From Noble mtl dot com
“I am making this offer because I highly value your abilities. Are you interested in coming under my command? “I will give you a high-ranking knighthood and 10 villages as territory.”
When a high-ranking knight receives a territory, he or she usually receives ‘1 village’. Considering that, it is a huge offer, but…
‘My worth is not that much.’
“I still want to gain more knowledge.”
“…… It’s a shame. But now that this war is virtually over, we can’t hold on to it.”
“If you are saying that the war is over…?”
“The end of the war has not yet been confirmed, but the Rhine Palatinate Empire and our Medici Republic have entered into peace negotiations. “The results will be in our favor within a week to 15 days at the most.”
The Viscount looked at me and smiled with great satisfaction.
“I only had 2,000 troops under my command, but thanks to you, I performed well, worthy of the envy of the Count who commanded 10,000 troops. “If I’m lucky, I might get one more baronage.”
“It is an honor for you to say that.”
“Just take a break. “There will be a banquet for the next three days.”
At the same time as those words were spoken, our mercenary unit dispersed to take a rest…
I went to visit Hilde.
‘Now that she’s almost fallen for me, the key is how much I can make her obsessed with me.’
He doesn’t know how scary obsessive women are…