How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 186

Living as the Third Son of a Wasted Novel – Episode 187

After that, the days continued with me relentlessly hunting down Redran’s supply convoys.

Though getting my hands dirty was unsettling at first, as it continued, it became as routine as brushing my teeth after a meal.

So it was, on this night, after finishing off another convoy.

Sitting blankly, staring at the bonfire, I slowly raised my arm and looked at my palm.

The calloused, rough palm was clean. But to me, it felt as if it were stained with a sticky, indelible blood.

‘I was prepared for it, but it doesn’t feel good.’

How many have I killed? Since starting this plan, I’ve personally cut down at least a hundred people.

Their dying faces and screams were still vivid.

But it’s a little better now. At least I don’t have nightmares anymore.

“Count.”

As I was lost in thought, Velom approached me.

“Velom.”

Velom was the most level-headed person I had seen since coming to Midland.

There were many who were simply cruel or insane. But Velom didn’t see this as anything more than a simple task.

Like a lumberjack cutting down trees or a fisherman catching fish, Velom was a man for whom killing people was just an extension of his job.

“An investigator who recently visited a nearby city brought some information.”

“Information?”

“First, there’s a bounty on the Frost Mercenary Group.”

“A bounty?”

“Yes. Baron Redran has offered five hundred gold coins.”

Five hundred gold coins.

Perhaps because of the amount of gold earned through the Blue Wind Merchant Guild, I momentarily thought that five hundred coins was too little.

‘No. Five hundred gold coins is enough to change a commoner’s life.’

I nodded, smiling bitterly.

“Redran is starting to become aware.”

“Yes. Bounty hunters from all over the continent are likely to flock to the east.”

“Is it time to move on to the next stage?”

Velom nodded at my words.

“I have a few places in mind.”

“Places in mind?”

At my question, Velom unfolded a tactical map, which showed our current location and several nearby areas marked.

The places Velom pointed to were small villages that Redran had already swept through and occupied.

“The recommended targets are Golem, Berino, and Holden villages. Basarak has occupied them, and a small garrison is currently controlling the villages. The number of troops is small, and there are no knights stationed, or if there are, only one or two low-level knights.”

Velom then moved his hand to point to a city near the villages he had pointed out earlier.

“This city is Sargos. Redran occupied it and used it as a bridgehead for the invasion of the southeast. Naturally, the troops and knights stationed there will be on a different level than what we’ve seen so far.”

“It wouldn’t be a selection for attack.”

“No. I believe the bounty hunters targeting us will use this city as a base of operations.”

“In other words, if we operate around Sargos, the hunters will gather on their own.”

“Yes.”

The second plan was simple.

If the first plan was to make Redran aware of our existence, the second was to further increase that presence.

If we attack the villages Redran has already occupied, hunters will naturally gather, and if we defeat them, the mercenary group’s notoriety will naturally increase.

There’s no need to think further. Velom’s proposal perfectly matched what I wanted.

But a sense of unease lingered in a corner of my mind. As I was wondering how to address it, Velom spoke first.

“But before executing the plan, there are a few things to consider.”

“Things to consider?”

“You once said that Redran has cunning aspects that go beyond being a simple tyrant.”

“That’s right. He’s not just someone who runs wild relying on his power.”

“Then we must consider the possibility that this bounty is a smokescreen set up by Redran.”

“If we move separately with an army, we’ll run away, so he’s putting a bounty on us and disguising himself as bounty hunters?”

“Yes.”

“Velom, what do you think?”

“I don’t think we need to proceed with the plan unnecessarily. The Redran’s subjugation force that will be formed will not be an easy opponent.”

“The Redran’s subjugation force will be made up of knights?”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you underestimating my skills too much? You seem confident in assuming that we’ll lose if we fight.”

It was a probing remark, but Velom shook his head.

“It’s not a matter of winning or losing in a fight. It’s because there’s no need to.”

“No need means…”

“In your plan, Redran must absolutely trust in the power of his knights. But the moment we defeat that subjugation force, that belief will likely be shaken. It’s an unnecessary act.”

Velom was right. What we need to do is amplify Redran’s anger as much as possible, making him go crazy at the mere mention of the Frost Mercenary Group.

But what if we defeat that subjugation force as well?

Redran’s mind will cool down. Caution will take precedence over anger.

There’s nothing more dangerous than a cautious beast, and Velom pointed that out accurately.

“Velom.”

“Yes, Count.”

“What should I give Duke Irfe to have you?”

Even at my offer to scout him, Velom replied with a calm face.

“If it’s necessary information, I’ll look into it.”

“No, it’s okay. I wouldn’t give you away either.”

“Is that so.”

“Sit down. Let’s have a drink.”

“Is that an order?”

“Yes. It’s an order.”

Velom, who doesn’t drink a drop of alcohol during missions, nodded at my words.

I handed Velom, who was sitting across from me, the wine I had obtained while raiding the convoy today.

“I received the position of investigator, but I never imagined it would be like this.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“The opposite. At first, I thought it was just someone who went around the direct territory and monitored the nobles.”

“That’s also one of my duties. Tracking down and killing those who embezzled the royal family’s wealth and recovering it.”

“I can’t even joke.”

I smiled bitterly, made a decision in my heart, and slowly nodded.

“If we back down just because the opponent has set a trap, it will cause a setback. So we must proceed with the plan as scheduled.”

“We will follow your decision, Count.”

Even when I said I would push ahead, Velom didn’t try to dissuade me. He was a terribly cold man. Even though it was an order, it was clearly a dangerous task.

“But that doesn’t mean we need to fall into an obvious trap. So let’s use that part.”

“What do you mean by using it?”

“Stay in Redran’s sight. But we won’t make contact with the subjugation force. Let’s move cunningly, like a loach [a type of freshwater fish] stirring up the water, seeming to be caught but not quite. We’ll only engage in direct combat when we’ve clearly identified the opponent’s identity.”

“You’re suggesting guerrilla warfare.”

“Wouldn’t that be easier for you too?”

At my question, Velom showed a rare, faint smile.

“You speak the obvious.”

* * *

Frozen Wraith.

That was the epithet attached to Ilya after relentlessly hunting down rear supply units for several months and raiding Basarak’s territory from time to time.

Frozen must have been taken from Ilya’s surname, Frost, and Wraith must have been attached to her elusive actions.

The bounty had long since exceeded a thousand gold coins. They said they would give a hundred coins just for providing reliable information, let alone capturing her.

But so far, no one has been able to figure out our true identities.

The only ones who saw our faces were the residents of the raided villages. But their testimonies would only provide information about rough-looking mercenaries.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we’ve completely neutralized Redran’s logistics. In the first place, it was nearly impossible to control so many areas with a small elite force.

But even this much was enough.

Redran is trying to swallow the entire east. As such, the front lines are bound to lengthen, and digging into the gaps that arise will disrupt the overall plan, even if only slightly.

“Devil! You devilish bitch!”

Even now, a soldier guarding the raided village was kneeling and shouting at Ilya.

At that sight, I smiled and looked at Ilya.

“Oh my, you’ve already earned the nickname Devil?”

“……Don’t tease me.”

Ilya frowned and swung her sword, cutting off the soldier’s head.

Thud, thud, roll…….

Ilya kicked the fallen head into the pile of corpses and nodded.

“The cleanup here is coming to an end.”

“Well, it’s almost boring. Does what we’re doing even matter? Velom takes care of everything.”

It didn’t even take half a day to clear out a village on the outskirts of Basarak’s territory.

That meant the prior investigation was thorough.

Even I was amazed by Velom’s ability to check troop movements and select villages with gaps.

“I’m concerned about the many eyes watching us.”

Ilya said, referring to the villagers gathered in the village hall in the distance.

“Once we take down Redran, Flores will rule the territory anyway. It’s better to reduce unnecessary damage.”

“If that’s the case, why are we burning the palisades [defensive fences] and looting supplies?”

Ilya pointed her sword at the investigators who were burning the palisades surrounding the village and looting supplies.

“Not touching them at all is also a problem.”

“I don’t quite understand.”

“Only when there is destruction can they truly feel the pain and anger when they restore and repair it.”

“…….”

“But it’s difficult to completely destroy it. That would make them lose even the will to rebuild. So we have to do it moderately, to a level that can be restored with a little effort.”

“…….”

“Remember. What we need to do now is instill fear and build notoriety.”

“When you think about it, my epithet is as good as given to me by you, Count.”

“Does it work out that way?”

I smiled bitterly and patted Ilya on the shoulder.

“Are you having a hard time?”

“……Not really.”

“How can you not be? Who would feel good about being called a devil? Besides, your life as a knight is as good as over.”

“If you know, take responsibility.”

“Of course, of course. I should take responsibility for Ilya. I’ve made a place for you in my knighthood.”

As we exchanged jokes, Velom, who had finished his work, approached.

“I think it’s time to retreat.”

“Is that so?”

“An investigator who infiltrated a nearby city to find out the news has returned. Redran, who has almost occupied the southeast, has left only a small occupying force and has begun to move north.”

“Without finishing properly? That’s faster than I thought. Is it because of that?”

“Yes. You’re right.”

What that meant was clear.

It must be because of the ‘savior,’ who plays the most pivotal role in the plan I set up.

“What’s the reaction?”

“It’s explosive. All the lords in the north have begun to unite with one mind.”

“Good, good.”

I could tell without looking. By now, Redran’s face would be as red as a ripe persimmon.

“The letter?”

“I brought that too.”

Velom took out a letter from his chest and handed it to me. There were obvious traces of it being opened.

Velom didn’t see it. Perhaps all the letters were torn open under Redran’s orders for censorship.

But that’s already expected.

The opened letter was full of useless content asking about someone’s well-being. But when I deduced only the promised code from it, the result was simple.

[All preparations are complete.]

Having confirmed that the time was ripe, I nodded.

“Let’s move on to the next stage.”

“Moving on means you’re referring to the final stage.”

“Yes. We’re leaking information.”

Leaking information.

That meant giving up the path of not leaving a trace like a ghost until now.

And it was also the final stage to end Redran, who was full of anger.

‘Even if the entire northeast is united, it’s still too early.’

There was still no chance of winning in an all-out war. After all, Redran’s army, which is advancing to the northeast, will rearm itself as it passes through its territory.

Besides, the biggest problem was Redran’s still-intact Red Knights.

No matter how many methods there are, the defeat of the Allied forces was a foregone conclusion unless we could somehow deal with those knights.

So we leak information. So that Redran chases after us. While making him anxious as if he’s about to catch us.

Unless Redran is an idiot, he’ll think that I’m behind all of this, so he’ll definitely try to catch Ilya.

If he can get evidence that I was involved and hold Lindaire accountable, the price Redran will get will be beyond imagination.

But what that desire brings about is ultimately destruction.

“Let’s fill our bellies and rest well today. Because from tomorrow, we’ll have to run non-stop.”