The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 20

3. Northern Region: The Duel of a Scoundrel

Campbell was the vice-commander of the Rangers.

He wasn’t in a good mood today.

Because one of the members who went on patrol with him had been torn apart by an owlbear right before his eyes.

It wasn’t the first time he’d experienced such a thing, and it was a common occurrence, but he couldn’t help but feel terrible every time it happened.

“Filthy bear bastards! Damn the North! Stop snowing already!”

He spat out a string of curses as soon as he entered the Rangers’ lodging.

He was acting as the commander’s proxy in place of Commander Victor, who was out on an external mission.

Perhaps that was why he felt even worse, as if the death of the member was somehow his fault.

“It’s not the vice-commander’s fault. The dead guy was just unlucky. That’s how it is in this world.”

A member who had gone on patrol with him tried to comfort him, but it didn’t help much.

It was then.

Another member who was off duty that day came into the lodging and delivered news.

“Breaking news! Breaking news! Fresh news here.”

“What is it? Did Black Honey Erica finally get hitched?”

“What are you talking about? We have a new recruit. And they’re joining our Rangers.”

“What? A new recruit?”

The Rangers were a unit that everyone avoided, so they always suffered from a shortage of manpower.

Half of the people assigned here die within a year.

If you endure that hellish year, your survival rate increases slightly, but it’s not a comforting number.

Vacancies always occurred, and they were always desperate for new recruits, but the Rangers were a unit where new recruits rarely came.

“But this new recruit is something else.”

“Why?”

“They’re a noble.”

Everyone’s attention was focused on the new recruit’s special background.

“Are you sure? Why would a noble volunteer for the Rangers unless they’ve been hit in the head with a sword?”

“Gatekeeper Jeffrey saw the new recruit arriving in a carriage with the family’s crest on it. They even have a pretty maid with them.”

“Bringing a maid to the Rangers?”

“That’s right. The woman is also a Ranger.”

A silence fell over the lodging for a moment.

Then, Campbell burst into laughter.

“Kyah! Kkahaha! Kkahahahaha!!!”

Seeing Campbell laughing like crazy, the members awkwardly laughed along.

But they knew.

That such laughter was a sign that the vice-commander was truly angry.

“God damn it!”

Eventually, Campbell overturned the table with his thick arm.

As a result, the weapons and armor that were on it rolled across the floor with a crash.

He stomped around the lodging, puffing out his nostrils, and said in an angry voice.

“Five people have died this month alone. Not a single one of them died peacefully. They were all screaming for help before being torn apart.”

“That’s right.”

“And what? Someone’s bringing a woman to a place like this to have a good time?”

He didn’t know who the noble was, but he knew what kind of mindset they would have.

They were probably just a hot-blooded kid who thought they were a hero.

They’d come to the Rangers, the most elite unit in the North, mess around a few times, and then brag about it later.

“Is this some kind of playground?”

The nobles in the inner lands eat well and shit oil [live comfortably] because of the peace that commoners like Campbell have protected in the North while shitting blood [enduring hardship].

He was already sick of that, but now they were going to lord over him right in front of his eyes.

As he cracked his knuckles and exuded murderous intent, the atmosphere in the lodging became heavy.

“Vice-commander, what are you going to do?”

“What am I going to do? I have to start with the new recruit’s training. Tell them to come here. I’ll show them exactly what the North is like.”

Once the vice-commander gets this angry, no one can stop him except Commander Victor.

The members shook their heads as they watched Campbell, his head about to explode.

“I don’t know who the new noble recruit is, but they’re in for a world of hurt.”

“They definitely won’t last a day.”

“Let’s just hope they don’t piss their pants.”

* * *

I left Karina’s office.

As promised, she had assigned me and Sion to the Rangers.

Fortunately, Commander Victor had accompanied us, so I entrusted the guidance to him.

Victor was excited, his eyes sparkling as if he had passed the test himself.

“Amazing! I don’t think I could be so unaffected by the murderous intent that Karina-nim exudes when she’s serious.”

“It was a pretty easy test.”

“Hehe, I like the confidence. What kind of trick did you use?”

“It’s a secret technique.”

I glossed over the Druid’s ability as a secret technique.

Sion had vaguely suspected that I had hidden abilities since before, so she wasn’t too surprised.

She had seen me controlling the cursed black tree in the battle against the necromancer Raul.

Anyway, I felt sorry for her having to come all the way to the cold North and suffer with me, so I said a word to her.

“Sion, you’ve suffered a lot following me around. You’ll have to work even harder in the future, so good luck.”

Sion’s eyes widened at my passing remark.

She probably didn’t expect me, famous as a scoundrel, to say such words of encouragement.

I had spent some time with Sion, so I thought I could say this much.

“It’s my duty to serve you, Master. I will follow you to the end of the road.”

She bowed politely.

What would it have been like in the past?

She would have looked at me with suspicion, thinking that I was teasing or mocking her.

Now, her trust in me has definitely increased, so she recognized the sincerity hidden between the blunt words.

“What a touching moment. But now is not the time for you two to be lovey-dovey.”

Victor interjected from the side.

“Why?”

“As I mentioned before, our unit members are not easy to get along with. I like you, but I doubt the other members will think the same.”

“You’re the commander, what’s the problem? Aren’t you in control of the members?”

“Well, our unit isn’t very sensitive to hierarchy. Everyone just does their own thing.”

“Then there’s no problem, is there?”

“However, if you can’t prove that you belong in the North, they’ll kick you out. This world is merciless to those who don’t meet the standards.”

In short, they were going to give me the cold shoulder.

Victor pointed at Sion with his finger.

“Moreover, a noble recruit from a place where it’s hard to see young women is bringing a pretty maid? The rumors have already spread like wildfire. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re sharpening their knives for you.”

Even though I had been feeling the soldiers’ glances since earlier, it was true.

No matter how deeply I pressed down my hood, Sion’s long purple hair that peeked out was noticeable.

“Victor, what do I have to do to avoid getting caught up in such unnecessary squabbles?”

“It’s simple. Spend time and fill your experience bar [gain experience]. This place favors those who survive longer.”

“So, you’re saying I have to keep suffering until I fill my experience bar. I don’t like that.”

Victor offered an alternative to my grumbling.

“There is another way. But I don’t really recommend it.”

“What is it?”

“Become the commander or vice-commander of the Rangers. Then you can be favored without having to fill your experience bar.”

That option seemed better to me.

“Okay. What do I have to do to become the commander or vice-commander?”

“Of course, a duel. It’s a way to clearly distinguish between superiors and subordinates.”

He said the Ranger commander was Victor.

I scanned Victor and estimated his strength.

Perhaps because my connection had increased as I became a Druid, I could vaguely feel the strong power hidden behind his gentle impression.

The Heavenly Demon also said that Victor was several levels higher than me, so there was almost no chance of winning.

Then I had no choice but to aim for the vice-commander.

“What kind of person is the vice-commander?”

“Ah, are you talking about Campbell?”

A smile bloomed on Victor’s face as he thought of Campbell.

“He’s a person who’s hard to define in words. See for yourself. We’ve already arrived at the lodging.”

We had already arrived at the Ranger’s lodging.

Even though it was the lodging for the soldiers who patrolled the front lines of Black Castle, their lodging was simple.

It was a wooden building made roughly of logs, and even that had traces of being patched up with wooden planks between the walls.

According to Victor, the lodging wasn’t always like this.

But the Rangers broke the walls so often that they moved to this temporary shack.

In a way, it was their own fault.

The wooden planks that roughly blocked the broken walls seemed useless in preventing the winter drafts.

I opened the door and entered the lodging.

The interior was just like a medieval barracks.

There was a corridor in the middle, and beds and shelves that served as lockers were placed on both sides.

Seeing that the beds were empty in places, Victor’s words that there were many vacancies seemed to be true.

“Yo, Commander’s here, long time no see. Your face looks good after getting some southern wind.”

A Ranger recognized Victor and waved his hand.

“Good my ass. I’ve actually lost weight from running around all day.”

“Still, it must have been better than slaving away in the North.”

“That’s true. Hehehe…”

“Damn it, I wish I could go down south too.”

Victor, who had been bickering with the member, stood in the center of the lodging.

“Everyone, pay attention!”

Even though he didn’t shout to pay attention, the members’ gazes were already fixed on me and Sion.

“We have a new recruit in our unit. The new recruits should introduce themselves.”

Is it my turn now?

I stepped forward and opened my mouth.

“Henon Lloyd. A bastard of the Lloyd family.”

It was short, but the impact was great.

I could hear murmuring.

“Marquis Lloyd? The retired Sword Master?”

“He’s one of the Seven Stars [renowned warriors].”

“But a bastard.”

“Even if he’s a bastard, he’s still a noble.”

“That’s right. He must have lived comfortably without ever going hungry.”

Next is Sion’s turn.

“I’m Sion. I’m a maid serving my master. Please take care of…”

“You son of a bitch!!!”

Bang!

Before Sion could finish speaking, a rough curse and a loud noise were heard from the far corner of the lodging.

Whether he kicked the shelf with his foot, it shattered and pieces of wood scattered on the floor, and a small cloud of dust rose up.

The one who made the commotion was shirtless, and I couldn’t see his face because he was facing away from me.

Still, his back, as wide as the Pacific Ocean, and the countless scars of hardship and adversity engraved on it, testified to how many life-and-death situations he had gone through.

“What? A maid? Serving a master? You need to know your place. Do you think this is a playground?”

It was as Victor said.

It was clearly a challenge and a cold shoulder.

If I let this go?

I’d be ignored by the other guys too.

So I decided to go a little stronger.

“How childish.”

“What?”

“Are you deaf? I said it’s childish.”

Only then did the person who had started the fight take his butt off the bed and turn around.

As soon as I faced him, I knew it.

That he was Vice-Commander Campbell, whom Victor had mentioned.

‘What a monstrous guy.’

He was really huge.

Besides, he was over 2m tall [6’7″].

I, who was quite tall at almost 180cm [5’11”], even in the continent, had to look up at him.

“Say it again. Think carefully before you speak.”

“Um… I misspoke. I’m sorry.”

As I took a step back, the Rangers who had been watching with interest lost their enthusiasm and relaxed their posture.

‘I knew it.’ ‘There’s no one who would be brave enough to show guts even after seeing that size.’ ‘The noble is just a coward who’s only flashy on the outside.’ I could feel their sneering glances.

Until I added a word.

“Looking at your ugly face, it’s clear that you’ve never even held a woman’s hand, let alone had a maid. I apologize while expressing my condolences for your appearance.”

“Puhah!!”

“Puhahahahaha!!”

The Rangers laughed without realizing it, but then they became tight-lipped when they met Campbell’s murderous gaze.

“I’ve met a lot of immature nobles like you, so I know you well. You’re swept away by vain desires for honor and disappear without knowing what this place is like.”

“I see. I’ve never met an ugly commoner like you, so I have nothing to say.”

The big guy’s face turned red.

His fists were trembling, as if he was barely holding back from swinging them.

“I’ll tell you kindly just once. Get out of here. Go to the rear unit or get out of the North, I’ll pretend I didn’t see it. But don’t hang around the Rangers.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“I’ll take that as you want to get beat up and leave.”

It was Campbell’s ultimatum.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“But something’s strange.”

“What’s strange?”

“Why is there a monster roaming around in the unit? I can see an orc that I haven’t even finished exterminating in front of me?”

As someone who had to find the Golden Branch, I naturally kicked away the ultimatum.

A suffocating silence.

The first to laugh was Campbell.

“Keut, Kyahah, Kyahahahaha!!!”

“Puhahahaha!!”

Since he was laughing heartily, I laughed along with him.

We laughed at each other for a while.

A fist the size of a pot lid flew towards my face.

I crossed my arms in an X shape to block it.

Then, a strong shock swept through my whole body.

Kwaaaang!!

I heard something breaking as it hit my back.

Cold air hit my face.

Now that I saw it, I had only blocked Campbell’s fist, but I had been pushed through the wall and out.

‘So that’s why there were so many traces of wooden planks patched up in the lodging.’

Campbell’s fist just now didn’t have any mana in it.

He sent me flying with pure muscle strength alone.

Forget what I said about the orc.

He was a ogre [a large, hideous monster].

Campbell, walking out of the hole in the wall, snorted and said.

“Congratulations. You’re the Ranger who’s pissed me off the most in history. I’ll at least break one of your legs so you can realize what the North is like.”

I also replied.

“Campbell, I formally challenge you to a duel. I’ll beat you and take the Ranger vice-commander position.”