Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 267

Chapter 267

Etan Village, a settlement formed by pioneers, was small, with a population of only about two hundred people. Nearby, a group of Imperial Army soldiers had pitched tents and settled in from early afternoon. They were a scouting party, divided into five groups on the move. They happened to be running low on supplies, so they stopped to replenish them and rest.

At the news of the Emperor’s army’s arrival, the villagers locked their doors and held their breath. To people living under a monarch’s rule, whether a Grand Duke or an Emperor, both were equally fearsome. They had no choice but to be wary, fearing harm from the rough soldiers. It was a familiar reaction, so the scouting party didn’t pay much attention.

The situation began to turn strange as the day drew to a close. The soldiers on guard in front of the camp sensed approaching figures and raised their spears. A group of people was rushing from the village entrance.

“I’m telling you, it’s not going to work! It might be dangerous!”

“Are we just going to stand still like this? It’s better to do something!”

The group approaching while arguing was made up of Etan Village residents. Women who appeared to be housewives were at the forefront, followed by men with flustered expressions. The situation was immediately reported to the unit’s command. The commander, having heard the news, came out of his tent to face the villagers.

“What’s going on?”

The scouting party was mostly composed of mercenaries, but each commander was a knight with a title. The residents, already tense, became even more rigid at the commander’s stiff tone. Being a small, peaceful village, it was their first time seeing a fully armed army. The soldiers up close were more frightening than they had imagined. The terrified people suddenly recalled an incident in a neighboring village where soldiers of the Grand Duke had stayed at an inn and, because the food served was terrible, all the employees were dragged out and beaten unconscious. They had also left without properly paying for the purchased goods. It was hard to guarantee that the Emperor’s army wouldn’t do the same.

However, after watching them all day, the Emperor’s army was staying quite quietly. They had come to the village to get food supplies, but they didn’t harm the residents or steal goods. That’s why they dared to come this far. Besides, they couldn’t just back down now. The villagers looked at each other and nodded. The woman at the front opened her mouth with a determined face.

“A-Are you soldiers of His Majesty the Emperor? We are people who live in this village.”

“I believe we paid properly for all the goods we purchased here. Is there a problem?”

“Yes? No! That’s not it. It’s not that… We want to ask for help.”

“Help?”

The residents gained more hope from the moderate response. The woman nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

“T-Three children from our village have gone missing. They went to pray at the Temple of the Evil God, but they disappeared and haven’t returned. The priests only say that the children didn’t come… We don’t know what to do.”

“If that’s the case, you can report it to the city’s security forces, can’t you?”

“We went, but maybe because it’s a remote and small village, they’re not actively investigating. They just tell us to wait. So, we thought that the Emperor’s army might be interested…”

“Hmm.”

“It’s already been three days since the children disappeared. Please help us, sir! I beg you!”

The woman bowed deeply, and the other residents hurriedly followed suit. The commander’s face became serious as he watched them. They had secured all the necessary supplies and had enough rest. They were originally planning to leave right away at dawn since it was just a temporary stop. But as the Emperor’s army, they couldn’t ignore the plight of the people.

Emperor Isana had made it his first principle in this civil war not to harm innocent people. That meant he cared about the lives of the people. The fact that the children had disappeared on their way to the Temple of the Evil God was also troubling. The cult of the Evil God was deeply connected to Grand Duke Ykarte, their enemy. It was necessary to investigate even the smallest details.

“Can we take on that task?”

“……!”

At that moment, someone’s voice was heard from among the soldiers. The commander turned around, his eyes gleaming. A tall man with light blond hair and a handsome face was coming forward. He was a mercenary who had participated in this civil war, and he was famous within the unit. Hussen, the Gold-Ranked Mercenary [a highly skilled and experienced mercenary]. A skilled man comparable to a high-ranking knight, yet he chose the path of a wanderer. A free warrior who had never failed a mission, truly a paragon of mercenaries.

Behind him were familiar faces as well. They were members of the same mercenary group as Hussen, who had participated with him. They had been constantly aware of their extraordinary skills throughout this journey. Hussen smiled at the commander of the unit, who was staring blankly.

“Hussen and five others, belonging to the Pavilas Squad of the scouting party, volunteer for the mission.”

* * *

Some might see a war that seems to ruin everything as an opportunity. Professional mercenaries who make a living from battles were such beings.

As news spread that a civil war was breaking out in the Swalt Empire, numerous mercenaries from each continent gathered, aiming for a fortune. Mercenaries who were already active within the empire also began to choose their sides according to their beliefs. Even the guild, which was usually sensitive to conflicts and disputes between mercenaries, took a neutral stance on the conflicts during the war.

In a situation where today’s ally could be tomorrow’s enemy, the Champagne Mercenary Group chose the Imperial Army without hesitation. They were originally more supportive of the Emperor, but a special connection they had made during their journey left them with no other choice. However, Matthew, the youngest member and about to take his final promotion exam, was reluctant to participate in the war itself and decided to act separately for a while.

Although one person was missing, the Champagne Mercenary Group was one of the most renowned mercenary groups in the Swalt Empire. Even people who didn’t know the Champagne Mercenary Group knew the name of its leader, Hussen. The Imperial Army was greatly pleased at the news of their support. In fact, their performance was truly remarkable. They easily found the enemy’s perfect ambushes with their experienced eyes, and they remarkably grasped the routes to move avoiding tracking. The battles with monsters that were unavoidable when moving through mountain paths were always concluded in an instant.

Therefore, when they offered to take on the village’s missing children case, Raugan de Pavilas, the commander of the Pavilas Squad of the scouting party, had to feel a moment of overwhelming shock. But he soon judged it necessary and accepted the request. He thought that if it were them, they could quickly solve the case and return. Of course, he had no doubt that the Champagne Mercenary Group had stepped forward with such confidence. None of them knew that it was all just Hussen’s impulsive decision, and that the remaining members were inwardly horrified.

“Damn it, I thought my heart was going to stop. Can you please not suddenly jump out like that, Captain? We need some time to prepare ourselves, you know?”

It was evening, and no sooner had they left the unit than complaints burst out, causing Hussen to make an embarrassed expression. Herol’s face, glaring at him, twitched greatly.

After formally receiving the mission from the military, they had immediately begun investigating the missing children case. They had grasped the detailed circumstances from the villagers and obtained the necessary information. Until then, everyone had silently focused on their assigned roles. And finally, when they were left alone, they began to vent their pent-up complaints.

“The Captain is always like this. He decides everything on his own and takes on work without any warning. I thought I wouldn’t have to see that after joining the army, but what is this again? Is it all okay just because you’re the Captain? Is it all okay just because you’re the Captain!”

The members all nodded in unison at Herol’s accusatory protest. Sherry was restless, not knowing what to do. Hussen, feeling even more sorry at the sight, made a troubled face.

“I’m sorry. But the children are missing. How can I just leave it alone?”

“Ah, I’m not saying don’t investigate! I’m saying give us a signal before making a decision, a signal! Hand gestures, foot gestures, eye gestures! Is it that hard to send just one? Am I asking for something impossible?”

“Yeah, yeah. I was really wrong. I’ll pay attention next time.”

“Liar! You always just say that! Do you think I’ll fall for it again?”

“Why do you have to go that far…”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know! If you think about it, the Captain has been playing with me from the beginning! He seduced my innocent self with all sorts of sweet talk, saying he would treat me well if I joined the mercenary group! But once I fell for it, he ignored me and didn’t even cherish me! He doesn’t even feed the fish he’s caught! [an idiom meaning he doesn’t maintain interest in what he’s already won over] You bad man!”

Hussen’s expression rotted as he listened seriously. The faces of the group cheering from behind were no better. Herol, intoxicated with the role of a pitiful maiden, burned with acting spirit without realizing it.

“They say you shouldn’t believe what a man says when he’s trying to win you over! How could you do this to me! Even the baby in my belly is only looking at its dad! Take responsibility! I said take responsibility!”

“…Someone shut that guy up.”

The order was executed immediately. Everyone drew their weapons with grim faces. Herol screamed in horror, but even his lover, Iril, didn’t take his side at this moment. Rather, she was more actively involved in the punishment than anyone else. “Ack! Ack! I was wrong, Iril! I’ll only tell you to cherish me! I won’t overuse it again! Please forgive me!” Avoiding the fiercely flying whip, Herol had to beg pitifully for a while. By the time the series of events was over, no one remembered why it had started in the first place. Herol, who had only damaged his reputation instead of getting his revenge, was very dejected. Mighty clicked his tongue at him, who was drooping his shoulders and looking gloomy.

“That’s why you should only say one verse. Anyway, you always end up asking for trouble.”

“No, I just got too excited while talking…”

“Shut up. You should be glad Matthew isn’t here. You would have been showered with looks of contempt.”

“Cough, are you trying to kill me? I ended up imagining it! Do you know how scary it is when Matthew looks at you like you’re pathetic?”

“I know that. It really makes my legs tremble.”

“I’m serious. I’ll betray the Captain, but I’ll never betray Matthew. If Matthew starts a new mercenary group, I’ll follow him no matter what.”

“Oh, that’s unfair! I’m going too!”

“…Hey, future traitors. Do you want to get properly disciplined while you’re at it?”

As Hussen’s voice lowered, the two people who had been uniting quietly closed their mouths. They climbed to the top of the Captain’s head whenever they had a chance, but that was only possible because Hussen was letting them. They knew better than anyone else that it was hard to handle him when he was really angry.

After scanning the much quieter atmosphere with a displeased look, Hussen sighed quietly. Generally, mercenary groups had a similar system to the military, so the hierarchy was clear and strict. But the Champagne Mercenary Group was a small, elite group, and Hussen himself didn’t like that kind of atmosphere, so it was being run in a free-spirited atmosphere. He was satisfied with that itself, but he couldn’t help but have his patience tested from time to time. It would have been better if Matthew was here. He would have simply laughed and sunk them, saying, “I wouldn’t even accept the likes of you.” As much as he had been secretly mediating the noisy group, his absence was sorely missed.

“Anyway, let’s summarize the information we’ve gathered so far. The missing children are one boy and two girls, right?”

As a way to change the subject, Hussen turned to everyone and asked a question. In fact, the method had a great effect on changing the atmosphere. The light atmosphere quickly became heavy, and everyone became serious. Sherry, nodding, recalled the information she had heard from the villagers and explained.

“The girls are called Rogia and Ahwina, and the boy’s name is Igil. Igil and Rogia are both twelve years old, and Ahwina is nine years old. Igil and Ahwina are siblings, they said.”

The residents couldn’t stop crying when the Imperial Army, whom they had hardly expected, readily offered to help. Among them, there was a young couple who kept bowing and thanking them, and Hussen vaguely remembered that they were the parents of the missing siblings.

The missing children usually stuck together and liked to explore here and there. They often went to the inner castle, which was hours away on foot. One day, the children came running excitedly, saying they had found a pretty castle. They said it was a palace as white as if it were made of snow and sparkling like ice. It turned out they were talking about the Temple of the Evil God.

“The children had never seen a temple before. They were excited, saying it was like a place where a princess lived, so I told them that it wasn’t a castle but a temple. I told them that if they prayed with a reverent heart, the Evil God would grant their wishes. That must have made an impression on them because they said they would go to the temple to pray the next day. I thought it was admirable, so I told them to go ahead. I even put offerings in their hands to give to the temple.”

However, the children who left that way never returned. The parents, worried because they hadn’t heard from them even at a late hour, went to the temple, but by then everything had already gone wrong. The children were not there. Even the priests said they had never seen such children. They even personally showed the inside of the empty temple to the parents who couldn’t believe it. After that, they went around the entire castle looking for them, but the result was the same. Nowhere, in any place, could they find any trace of the children. It was as if they had evaporated.

“It’s a ghostly thing. Three children disappeared at once, but no one witnessed it. This is really too strange. How could something like this happen…”

The siblings’ parents, who were explaining while sobbing, couldn’t finish their words and sat down and wept. The sense of loss of losing their precious children and the guilt that this tragedy had happened because of them weighed heavily on them. The parents of the girl who disappeared with the siblings were relatively calm compared to them, but that was closer to being in a daze than being calm.

“Hmm, could it be the work of monsters? There is a habitat of dog-headed rabbits nearby, though.”

“Dog-headed rabbits are timid creatures. Even if it’s a remote village, they wouldn’t come down to the houses, would they? But we still need to check it out.”

“Judging by the fact that they didn’t leave any traces, it might be the work of slave hunters.”

“Ah, that makes sense too.”

There were too many possible threats in a world where so many different dangers existed. Judging by the city’s attitude of standing by even though the children had disappeared, the security in this area was obviously lacking. Hussen, nodding, turned to everyone.

“Anyway, it’s too late today, so let’s divide the personnel and start investigating early tomorrow morning. It might be dangerous, so let’s pair up in groups of two. Sherry and Mighty, you guys take charge of the dog-headed rabbit habitat. Herol and Iril, go to the slums and check the rumors that are floating around. Secret news will spread there first.”