How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 117

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 118

Act 34. Mediator

“Hey, what’s your name?”

“Kind.”

“You look young. Do you even know where this carriage is headed?”

“Isn’t it going to the Duchy of Bashrun?”

“That’s right. And we’re going there to taste some blood. But you look like you need to drink more milk.”

The muscular, rough-looking man’s words made the others in the carriage chuckle.

Most of them were seasoned mercenaries, each with a large scar or two. They seemed to be heading to the Duchy to make some money from the recent civil war.

And my appearance on this boring journey seemed to be quite amusing to them. Well, my unblemished, handsome face probably made me look like a rookie to their eyes.

“Hey, have you ever killed anyone?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Oh! So, this is your first time? It’ll be a thrilling experience.”

“…….”

“Still, that sword looks pretty cool. You better be careful.”

“Careful?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if half the people here are already thinking about how to steal that sword tonight.”

Some of the mercenaries chuckled, as if they were really thinking about it.

“By the way, you only brought a sword without a shield?”

“Yes, I did.”

“You really don’t know much. Do you think you can deflect arrows with that sword? On the battlefield, you’re more likely to die from a stray arrow than a blade.”

“Then I’ll have to find one.”

“Here’s another piece of advice: even if you have a sword, stabbing is a hundred times better than slashing. Cutting someone down in one swift motion is just a fairy tale.”

“Stabbing is better than slashing?”

“If it gets stuck in the bone, it won’t come out easily. There are plenty of guys who get stabbed to death while struggling to pull it out.”

The advice from a stranger was quite useful. Of course, it was completely unnecessary for me.

“Or why don’t you just carry an axe like me? This can easily break bones.”

The rough-looking man pointed to a huge battleaxe that was half the size of his upper body, and another mercenary scoffed.

“What’s so great about that when you can’t even control your strength and end up cutting your own teammates?”

“What, you bastard?”

“Did I say something wrong?”

“You’re wrong! I don’t consider anyone who gets in my way a teammate in the first place.”

“Is that something to be proud of?”

“It is.”

The rough-looking man’s snort was followed by laughter inside the carriage once again.

‘They’re having fun.’

A few days had passed since we set off to resolve the territorial dispute between the Duchy of Bashrun and the three nobles.

The rumor that a territorial dispute was taking place had already spread far and wide, and in such a situation, the story of the third son of the Lindaier family visiting the Bashrun military camp would do no good.

So, I dyed my hair and hid my identity, finding a carriage heading to the Duchy to travel with.

Traveling a long distance alone on horseback would be a hassle in terms of lodging and other inconveniences. However, I didn’t expect that the carriage would be hired by mercenaries.

“So, which mercenary group do you belong to?”

“Belong to?”

“Why are you looking so clueless? Don’t tell me you’re going solo without any affiliation?”

“Is it necessary?”

“Seriously, it’s not like you’re taking on a goblin-slaying quest. You need to have reliable comrades when you’re joining a war.”

“Hmm, I guess you’re right.”

“This guy really doesn’t know anything, does he?”

The rough-looking man clicked his tongue and nodded.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t seem like there will be any fighting in this territorial dispute anyway.”

“No fighting?”

“I heard a rumor that an important person from the Duchy was taken prisoner. If that’s true, the Duke will probably back down and retreat.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. So, you should quickly join the three nobles before the territorial dispute ends. It’s a chance to make money without fighting.”

“I see.”

The Duke will give up the territorial dispute and retreat because of the prisoner.

It was quite detailed for a rumor.

Of course, if my prediction is correct, there’s a high chance he won’t back down.

“Well, if you’re worried, we could let you join our mercenary group.”

“No, thank you.”

“No thank you? What if a fight breaks out when you get there? Don’t die a dog’s death, just join us. Our mercenary group is a bit small, but it’s quite well-known, so the treatment is good.”

“…….”

There was no reason or need to join a mercenary group, but if I refused, they would probably bother me even more, so I nodded.

“Well, in that case, I’ll join.”

As if waiting for my words, the rough-looking man held out his hand.

“The joining fee is a hundred gold coins.”

“……Why is it so expensive?”

“We have to protect a clueless newbie like you on the battlefield, so we have to charge that much.”

Only then did I realize that the rough-looking man was teasing me.

But I didn’t feel too bad. His behavior was no different from a five-year-old child playing a prank because he thought it was funny.

“I don’t have that much money.”

“Really? That’s a shame.”

As if he wanted me to throw a fit, the rough-looking man smacked his lips as if he was bored.

At the same time, the questions directed at me ended there. It must be because I was seen as a boring guy.

The mercenaries, who had lost interest, started talking about other topics and chuckled.

‘Well, this is better.’

Taking a nap is a million times more beneficial than talking about things I don’t care about.

I shrugged, stretched, pulled my hood down to cover my face, and closed my eyes.

I was dozing off to sleep with the mercenaries’ chatter as a lullaby when suddenly:

Screech-

The carriage stopped.

I thought it was nothing, assuming the coachman needed to relieve himself, but then I heard the coachman’s shout from the front.

“Who is it? Why are you blocking the middle of the road alone?”

“Which way is this carriage going?”

“Why do you need to know?”

“Answer me.”

“Seriously, I’m seeing all sorts of crazy people in broad daylight. Are you messing with me right now?”

The coachman’s voice, which had been filled with annoyance, became fierce.

“I asked which way this carriage is going.”

“……Hey, fellas!”

At the coachman’s call, the mercenaries poked their heads out. Of course, the mercenaries’ reactions were no different from the coachman’s.

“What kind of crazy bastard are you? Are you a robber?”

“…….”

“Seriously, do robbers these days do business alone in broad daylight?”

Laughter erupted at the rough-looking man’s sarcastic remark.

However, the man’s voice remained unchanged.

“Are you mercenaries?”

At the man’s question, the rough-looking man shrugged.

“So what if we are? Do you have a job for us? Of course, we don’t take jobs from robbers.”

“The Duchy of Bashrun is not currently recruiting mercenaries. Go back.”

“Huh? We’re not going to the Duchy.”

“Then are you trying to join the three nobles?”

“Oh my, how did you know our secret? Then should we kill you now that our secret has been revealed?”

The rough-looking man spread his arms exaggeratedly and sneered.

Even so, the man simply nodded without any change in expression.

“I don’t particularly have any grudges against you.”

Swish!

Following the sound of a sword being drawn, the laughter stopped abruptly.

“That bastard, he drew his sword?”

“Is he seriously going to try to do something to us alone?”

“I’m seeing all sorts of crazy people.”

At the same time, metallic sounds began to echo from all directions as the mercenaries prepared their weapons.

Sensing that something was wrong, I opened my eyes and raised my body.

Then, I glanced out the window.

‘What is this?’

He was a man who looked like a typical traveler.

A dirty cloak, leather armor stained with grime, and a plain longsword. That was all the man had.

“I’m going to go out and smash his head.”

“Shut up. I’ll go out and deal with him.”

“Okay. Whoever wins gets all of his stuff.”

It was said that there was only a fine line between mercenaries and bandits.

Since the other party had drawn his sword, the mercenaries, who had secured their justification, began to play rock-paper-scissors to decide who would go out, kill the man, and take his belongings.

“I won!”

The rough-looking man with the battleaxe on his shoulder raised his hand with a delighted expression.

Then, he jumped out of the carriage in one swift motion and began to walk forward, swinging his axe around.

“Have you ever heard of Fire Axe Berion?”

“I have not.”

“Really? Then consider yourself knowing it from today.”

“No, I will probably forget it in a few hours.”

“What does that…….”

The man’s sword, which had been extended without warning, pierced through the rough-looking man’s chest.

The blood that spurted out behind him splattered on the coachman’s face.

“Ugh, ugh!”

Along with the coachman’s scream of shock, the rough-looking man’s body collapsed powerlessly.

It was an extraordinary skill. At least, it was definitely not a skill that the mercenaries here could handle.

“Berion!”

“That bastard……!”

On the other hand, the mercenaries, who had been leaning against the carriage wall or resting their chins on their hands to watch the fight, began to rage at the death of the rough-looking man.

Perhaps they hadn’t seen what I had seen. That alone made it clear how this fight would end.

The mercenaries could not defeat that man.

“I don’t think you should go out. Let’s try to resolve this through conversation…….”

“Shut up if you’re going to talk nonsense.”

My attempt to dissuade them was met with an answer mixed with profanity.

The mercenaries, who were already filled with anger, jumped out of the carriage without thinking and rushed towards the man.

Spears, swords, axes, maces, and countless other weapons were swung.

However, the man easily avoided them all and scattered his sword.

Each time the sword was swung, a mercenary died. Their hearts were pierced, or their necks were cut.

In that way, the man silently took their lives one by one with clean and efficient skill.

‘I told you not to go out.’

I bit my lip at the sight of people dying before my eyes.

Should I have stopped them more forcefully?

Even if I had, the mercenaries still wouldn’t have listened to me. So, let’s just think of it as their own fault.

Thinking that way made me feel a little better.

“Kuh-erk…….”

In that way, the last remaining mercenary collapsed, making a deflating sound.

Before I knew it, the dirt floor was soaked with blood. Because of that, the sound of splashing echoed each time the man moved.

Perhaps it was because the man, who had slaughtered an entire mercenary group in an instant, looked like a grim reaper, but the coachman began to scream.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh!”

The moment the approaching man swung his sword to take the coachman’s life as well.

Clang!

I jumped out of the carriage and drew my sword, deflecting the man’s attack.

The man, who had hastily sheathed his sword, narrowed his eyes as he confirmed my appearance.

“……There was one more left.”

“The mercenaries are one thing, but the coachman is innocent. So, let’s stop here.”

“I cannot do that.”

The man, who sneered at my warning, swung his sword again, and I also swung my sword in response.

“Hee-ik!”

In that way, a battle unfolded with the coachman in the middle. After deflecting five consecutive attacks, the man took a few steps back.

At the same time, I realized one thing.