My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 195

195. Self-Inflicted Wound (2)

Count Crowd… He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

His eyes were wide open, staring at the scene.

콰콰콰콰콰콰쾅!!!

꽈아아앙!!!

The entire forest was being destroyed!

“T, t, this is… what is this…!”

Count Crowd couldn’t believe what he was witnessing.

Even though he was seeing it with his own eyes, it was hard to believe.

No, believing it was the strange part.

This… is this really happening?

“Kkeuaaaack!”

“Keuheok!”

Soldiers were swept away by the sudden bombardment.

The knights near Count Crowd couldn’t even resist.

The fact that they wielded Aura [a manifestation of inner energy used for combat] didn’t mean much.

They simply disappeared.

The knights around Count Crowd vanished as if by magic.

It’s hard to believe, but that thought didn’t even cross his mind.

“U, uh, uh….”

That was the only thing he could utter.

It wasn’t even a word, but rather an expression of being dumbfounded.

Count Crowd stood there blankly, his mouth wide open.

A thick cloud of dust rose.

“Count! Are you alright!!!”

A shout to check on Count Crowd’s safety came from within.

Count Crowd forced his gaping mouth to answer.

“A, a, alive….”

“Thank goodness! I’m so glad!”

A sigh of relief was heard in response.

He couldn’t see through the dust cloud, but it seemed like they were relieved.

But, relieved?

Should I be relieved about this?

No, more than that, how am I even alive?

With that question, the dust cloud finally settled.

And only then could he fully face the devastating scene.

Fully devastated…?

Count Crowd wondered if this expression was grammatically correct.

No, he was worried about how to even describe the scene before him.

Because the scene before his eyes couldn’t be fully conveyed with existing language.

Space collapsed?

The world split in half?

Count Crowd shook his head.

That couldn’t explain this scene.

Even if he found the perfect expression, would people even believe it?

He himself couldn’t believe it, even though he was seeing it with his own eyes.

“Am I… crazy?”

That was the conclusion Count Crowd came to.

“Count! Give us your orders!!”

Just then, someone shouted at Count Crowd.

At the same time, Count Crowd’s dazed mind snapped back to reality.

Unbelievable, overwhelming firepower.

He had lost his mind for a moment because of it, but that was all.

There was no way they could use that unbelievable firepower continuously.

Perhaps that last one was the last of it.

It was clear that they had concentrated all their firepower to seize the initiative in the war.

On the other hand, Crowd’s soldiers were still intact.

Although about half of them were swept away by the previous battle with the monsters and the firepower, it was still enough.

Having thought this far, Count Crowd opened his mouth wide.

And just then.

슈슈슈슈슈슉!!

A terrible sound reached Count Crowd’s ears.

He slowly raised his head to look at the sky.

There, a rain of arrows covering the sky was pouring down.

The arrows that had wiped out the knights all at once earlier.

Asymmetric Power.

From the start, this was… an unwinnable fight.

A firefly and the sunlight.

A goblin and a dragon.

That was the level of difference in this fight.

So, Count Crowd was able to come up with the best strategy he could in this situation.

The ultimate strategy that could completely turn the tide of this war.

“S, surrender!! I unconditionally surrender!!!”

Count Crowd’s scream echoed out.

#

“…So, the Young Master is currently negotiating with Crowd regarding war reparations.”

That was the end of Hans’ story.

“….”

Hugo simply closed his mouth.

He had nothing to say. What could he say?

His first impression was, what the hell is this nonsense?

No joke, he really thought, what the hell is this nonsense?

No, what the hell is this really?

The war ended as soon as it started?

Crowd unconditionally surrendered to Ruben?

In the process, Ruben’s forces didn’t even have to step up!

It didn’t… it didn’t make sense.

He had seen many ridiculous things while working as a mercenary.

He had experienced countless things that couldn’t be understood within the bounds of common sense.

But this was not it.

This was something that far surpassed that category!

“Are you really senile…?”

It was more reasonable to think that Hans was senile.

He looked like he had deteriorated a lot.

He didn’t know the details because he had entrusted himself to Elan Dur, but he could roughly guess the hardship.

So, Hans is now senile….

“I am very much fine.”

But Hans’ answer was not so.

And frankly, Hans’ mind seemed fine to Hugo.

His body had deteriorated a lot, but his eyes were no different from the past.

No, they were even brighter than before.

What that meant was one thing.

“Is that… really true?”

Hans nodded lightly.

Hugo closed his mouth again.

And silence followed.

How much time had passed again?

“Th, then… why did you want to meet me? It’s been almost 30 years since we last contacted each other, why so suddenly?”

Hugo, who had come to his senses, asked Hans.

“I want to find someone.”

“Find someone…?”

“Yes. A man named Soren… do you happen to know him?”

“Soren… Soren… Hmm… I don’t recognize the name just by hearing it.”

Hans nodded lightly.

Then, he told him the story related to Soren.

A story that couldn’t be easily uttered, a secret.

But Hans continued the story without hesitation.

Hans and Hugo.

The trust they had built was not so simple.

After Hans’ story ended.

“If it’s about the Brahe family… I know about it.”

Hugo nodded slowly.

The sudden downfall of the Brahe family.

That was an event that had caused a stir throughout the empire.

“Now that I hear it, I remember.”

“You mean the name Soren?”

Hugo nodded lightly and replied.

“At the time, Count Brahe asked me to find someone. The name of the person Count Brahe asked me to find was also Soren.”

Of course… he couldn’t find him.

Hugo swallowed the rest of the words and made a bitter expression.

And having received a request directly from Count Brahe.

Hugo knew more about the incident than others.

“But I didn’t know that the incident was related to Elan Dur….”

But this was something Hugo didn’t know either.

“It’s just a guess yet.”

“A guess with evidence.”

Hans didn’t give any answer.

“Hmm….”

Hugo was lost in thought for a moment.

Well, finding someone wasn’t that difficult.

No, to be exact, he could take on such requests as much as he wanted.

Mercenaries are a kind of people who do anything for money.

If the client is an old friend, there was no need to hesitate.

But there was one thing that bothered him.

“Elan Dur….”

It was the fact that the name Elan Dur was involved.

No matter how crazy mercenaries are for money, they don’t value it more than their lives.

The values that mercenaries prioritize the most are their lives and their bodies.

The next is money.

So, they knew where to stretch their legs even if they were given a lot of money.

Therefore, requests related to Elan Dur were a bit… reluctant.

Because no one in the empire had survived after being involved with Elan Dur.

That was impossible even for Hugo, the Mercenary King.

More than anything.

“Weren’t you working for Elan Dur?”

Hans was known to be working for Elan Dur.

But now he’s digging into Elan Dur’s past?

Of course, he knew that he was in Ruben now, not Elan Dur.

But wasn’t he maintaining a good relationship with Elan Dur?

“I have no regrets about Elan Dur after Cecil-nim [term of respect] passed away.”

“Cecil-nim, you mean….”

At Hans’ answer, Hugo rummaged through his old memories.

None other than the time when Hans left the Gale Mercenary Corps a long time ago.

Only then could Hugo remember Cecil’s name.

“That person… passed away?”

“It’s an old story.”

Hans answered calmly.

But Hugo could read the sadness on Hans’ face.

What Cecil was to Hans.

Hugo knew enough.

Should he call her a savior of his life?

Or should he call her a savior of his life─.

“You’re thinking useless thoughts.”

Hans clicked his tongue and cut off Hugo’s thoughts.

Hugo smiled awkwardly and replied.

“Is it that obvious?”

“Your habits are the same even after 30 years.”

Hans shook his head.

Then, Hans lowered his gaze slightly.

“It’s all in the past. A lowly mercenary who loved a noble lady. A noble lady who loved such a lowly mercenary.”

Hans spat out the words with a self-deprecating tone.

“Forbidden love that cannot be achieved is an old-fashioned story that doesn’t fit in this day and age.”

However.

“Wasn’t that the happiest moment for you than ever before?”

Hans didn’t give any answer to Hugo’s words.

He just remained still with his gaze lowered.

Lowly mercenary, Hans.

Noble noble lady, Lorelin.

The ending of the story following that forbidden love was predetermined.

And that was an old-fashioned story, as Hans said.

The noble family opposed the love.

The two still couldn’t break up.

In the end, the two chose to run away.

The noble family issued an assassination order to the two, calling it a disgrace to the family.

And Cecil was the benefactor who protected the time of the two.

Cecil, who was carrying Cyan in her womb at the time.

Cecil lent the name of Elan Dur for the two.

She protected them from the threat of the noble family trying to assassinate them by putting Elan Dur’s name forward.

Cecil, who received all sorts of humiliation from Isabel because of that.

Cecil protected Hans’ time even in that humiliation.

The happiest time in his life.

“If I had known she would leave so soon, I wouldn’t have met her. She’s a bad old woman who ruined other people’s lives.”

Hugo chuckled at Hans’ words.

That’s because Hugo had seen Lorelin, whom Hans loved.

The reason why the Gale Mercenary Corps was disbanded was also because of that.

And in Hugo’s memory, Lorelin was young and beautiful.

Even when she was dying of illness, Lorelin was young and still beautiful.

Of course, Lorelin in Hans’ memory must have been young and beautiful.

But now Hans calls her a bad ‘old woman’.

That means that she has been aging together in Hans’ heart from the time Lorelin left until now.

That’s why Hugo didn’t bother to correct the facts.

“But… why are you still there even though Cecil-nim passed away?”

After Lorelin died like that.

Hans decided to live the rest of his life for Cecil.

And when Cecil also returned to ashes.

Hans no longer had any regrets in his life.

He didn’t feel any reason to live.

He briefly thought about returning to the mercenary world….

But he couldn’t bear to leave the young Cyan alone.

If Cecil died and Hans left too.

Who would take care of that young child?

The reason why Hans stayed in Elan Dur was a small pity.

And the extraordinary things that happened after Cyan was kicked out as the lord of Ruben.

Little by little, Ruben is developing.

The people and children of Ruben who are regaining their lost smiles.

That became a new reason for Hans to live.

The reason why Hans stayed in Elan Dur after Lorelin left and Cecil died, and why he is still in Ruben to assist Cyan.

He couldn’t say exactly.

Nevertheless, if he had to say it exactly….

“Isn’t he an old man who values the days he has lived more than the days he will live?”

He felt like he could answer like this.

“You’ve really gotten old.”

“Even the Arnise can’t do anything in front of time.”

Hans and Hugo smiled at each other.

“Good.”

Hugo nodded.

“I’ll accept the request. Is this… the Gale Mercenary Corps reuniting after 30 years?”

“Hmm? Are the members still active?”

“No. I’m the only one who is active as an active member. I’m just putting my disciples forward and staying in the back room. But… Hans, if you say you’re back, everyone will move.”

The legendary mercenary corps reuniting after 30 years.

Although the spirit of that time has been buried in time and disappeared….

There was a wealth of experience that didn’t exist back then.

Hans smiled slightly, recalling the memories of that time.

“What’s the commission fee?”

Hugo was lost in thought for a moment at Hans’ words.

Investigating Elan Dur’s past involves considerable risk.

Naturally, compensation is added according to the risk allowance.

Therefore, he had to demand a lot of commission fees….

Just now, Hans’ words.

‘Isn’t he an old man who values the days he has lived more than the days he will live?’

Why do those words touch his heart now?

The Gale Mercenary Corps gathering after 30 years.

He may not be able to show the same appearance as before now.

“I’ll take it as a memory.”

That alone would be worth enough.

#

Hugo had various conversations with Hans.

There were many things to ask about the details of the request.

How could he easily let go of the reunion after 30 years?

So the story went on for a long time.

Before he knew it, it was completely dark outside.

“Has it already become this time?”

“I think I’m getting old. These days, it’s more fun to sit and chat than to move around looking for requests.”

“Stop talking about that age. What are two old men doing….”

“Isn’t it true that I’m old?”

Hans and Hugo smiled once again.

“I’ll stop here today. I’ll be staying in Jairen for a while, so it’s not just today. I have to leave some stories to tell my colleagues.”

Hans slowly got up from his seat.

Hugo suggested that he stay at the mercenary office at Hans’ words that he would stay in Jairen.

But Hans stubbornly refused and left.

After Hans left like that.

“Hmm….”

Hugo quietly organized the story with Hans.

The territorial war between Ruben and Crowd.

A request to search for rumors about Soren and Elan Dur.

It was an unbelievable story.

It was also a dangerous request.

Hugo pondered for a while and slowly got up from his seat.

Even if the story of the territorial war was true, he needed to prepare for the request related to Elan Dur.

And whatever the truth may be.

Hugo felt strangely excited at the thought of old colleagues gathering again after 30 years.

Hugo stepped outside with a light step that didn’t suit his age.

And as he was going down to the tavern below.

“Hugo-nim! [term of respect] Hugo-nim!!”

Someone suddenly grabbed Hugo and called him.

He looked at that place.

There, a mercenary was approaching Hugo.

“What is it?”

Hugo tilted his head without realizing it.

It was strange that he suddenly stopped him.

Moreover, it wasn’t just one person.

So, dozens of people.

Everyone in this tavern was approaching Hugo.

And they stood in a row in front of Hugo.

“Thank you so much!!”

“Thank you so much!!”

They bowed their heads deeply and expressed their gratitude.

Hugo wondered what they were doing.

“What the hell are you doing?”

I mean, what the hell are they doing?

There’s no reason for these guys to suddenly do this.

Until just now, they were saying that they had rejected Crowd’s request.

Because of that, they were gossiping about not being able to make money.

What is there to thank him for all of a sudden?

“If it wasn’t for Hugo-nim, we would have been in big trouble.”

“Fortunately, Hugo-nim stopped us….”

But they didn’t seem to think so.

“So what the hell are you talking about?”

“Huh? Haven’t you heard the news, Hugo-nim?”

“News? What news?”

As Hugo tilted his head, a mercenary stepped forward and said.

The mercenary who first stopped Hugo.

“I’m talking about the territorial war between Ruben and Crowd.”

Hugo stopped at the mercenary’s words.

“Why… why?”

Hugo carefully asked the mercenary.

The answers came from several places, not just one.

“Crowd was just completely destroyed.”

“I heard it wasn’t just destroyed, it was completely annihilated.”

It was all about Crowd being completely destroyed.

And that was no different from what he had heard from Hans.

“The messenger said that the territorial war ended as soon as it started.”

No, Hans’ story was reduced!

Hugo’s mind went blank for a moment.

What the mercenaries’ story is saying now is one thing.

So what Hans said earlier was all true?

Really? Really? Not kidding?

Without any exaggeration?

“The couriers were also rambling about what happened.”

“They did say something about monsters, but we had to be able to understand it.”

“Still, it seems that Crowd was completely destroyed, judging from the fact that they unconditionally surrendered.”

Hugo didn’t know what to say.

However, he could understand why the mercenaries were suddenly thanking Hugo.

The Crowd family, which was literally completely destroyed before the territorial war even started.

If Hugo hadn’t rejected Crowd’s request.

If so many mercenaries had participated as Crowd’s soldiers.

“I was going to confess to her when this territorial war was over….”

“I was going to make a lot of money and go down to the countryside to live a simple life.”

The result would have been obvious.

No matter how crazy mercenaries are for money, they don’t put it before their lives.

“If it wasn’t for Hugo-nim….”

“I would have become monster food without even being able to collect my bones.”

“The Forest of Darkness. The Forest of Darkness….”

The mercenaries looked at Hugo with the eyes of someone who sees a savior.

“At first, I resented Hugo-nim….”

“I wonder if this is the insight of the Mercenary King.”

“As expected, the Mercenary King is the Mercenary King!”

Then they raised their glasses among themselves.

Then, they raised their glasses high towards Hugo.

“Savior of life! For the Mercenary King Hugo-nim!”

“For!!”

“For!!”

They were having a festival among themselves.

Blank mind.

Frankly, he still didn’t completely believe that story.

And he didn’t exactly intend this.

He just… didn’t want to point a knife at that place because Hans was in Ruben.

In a word, it was a fluke.

“We didn’t even know if Hugo-nim was doing it for us….”

“I’m sorry! We dared to doubt Hugo-nim!”

But how could he tell the truth to those sparkling eyes!

Hugo turned his gaze slightly and said.

“If you, you listen to me, you’ll get rice cakes even while you’re sleeping, you, you guys! Got it?”

To be exact, if you trust Ruben, you’ll get rice cakes [Korean saying meaning unexpected benefits].

But how would these people know that fact?

“From now on, I’ll pretend to die if it’s Hugo-nim’s order!”

“Just say anything!”

The dissatisfaction with Hugo became loyalty and was piercing high into the sky of Jairen.

#

“T, this is ridiculous!!!”

Count Crowd shouted in an angry voice.

He also accompanied it with the rude act of slamming the desk, but Count Crowd didn’t care.

That’s because of a piece of paper that is visible in Count Crowd’s gaze now.

To be exact, the number written at the very bottom of the document.

[100,000,000 G] [100 million Gold]

“100 million gold! What kind of nonsense is this…!!!”

Count Crowd couldn’t maintain his sanity at all!