The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 119

15. Conspiracy: The Called Scoundrel

The Lloyd Fiefdom.

Albus Castle.

Quite some time had passed since I became a flattened shrimp between the giant whales that were the Lloyd and Hilton families.

The territory war ended with the Lloyd family’s victory, and the rightful ruler here was now Baron Henon Lloyd.

However, Henon was the heir to the entire Lloyd Marquisate and was too busy, so the actual ruler was Rakan, the commander of the Blue Hawk Mercenary Company [a military unit for hire].

“Work harder!”

“Is that all you can do with a sword?”

“I regret feeding you flour!”

The lives of mercenaries are arduous.

They wander every day and get caught up in numerous territory wars.

Sometimes, they are mobilized for dirty work that is ethically unacceptable.

And if they’re unlucky, they die in battle.

A dog’s death that no one recognizes.

Do mercenaries want to live this life?

Sometimes there are crazy bastards who are intoxicated with the heat of battle, blood, and carnage, but the majority of the Blue Hawk Mercenary Company were normal people.

It’s just that they don’t have money.

Earning a quick buck as a mercenary is a better way to make a living than farming for the rest of their lives.

Even then, very few people diligently save money and leave this life because of the loneliness of living away from home.

Mercenary Commander Rakan, as a true mercenary who had been wandering for decades, knew this difficulty better than anyone else.

Because of this, he always felt sorry for his subordinates who trusted and followed him so faithfully.

He only wanted one thing.

‘Don’t live like me.’

He always thought so.

This is no way to live.

Especially when burying his brothers who had become cold corpses in the ground.

But the foolish guys always smiled and accompanied Rakan on his journey.

Someday, they would settle down.

It was a dream he always cherished.

Of course, he knew it was impossible.

The Blue Hawk Mercenary Company wasn’t a top-tier, massive mercenary company in the Calon Empire.

What noble with a knife to their head would spend a fortune to raise and feed a mid-tier mercenary company?

“There really was such a noble.”

Baron Henon Lloyd.

When he first saw him, he was nothing more than a bastard from a fallen family, except for the title of having been discharged from the North.

A greenhorn who wouldn’t be strange to mistake for a windbag.

But why?

Rakan had a strange expectation of him.

From the first meeting, he was unusual.

Moreover, his skills were real.

‘This guy might cause a major accident.’

It was his own sense that he had developed while rolling around in the fields [experiencing many battles].

Just in case, he bet on him, and as a result, the gamble was successful.

‘He single-handedly destroyed Albus Castle and defeated the elves, who are called the Forest People, in the forest.’

Henon’s good points go without saying.

What Rakan was grateful for was the full support, trust, and faith that he had sent to the Blue Hawk Mercenary Company.

The Blue Hawk Mercenary Company is currently staying in Albus Castle for a long time.

While residing here, they are performing administrative and security duties at the same time.

As a result, the rough men gradually took root in this small city, and at the same time, a warm affection grew in one corner of their hearts.

“He’s completely fallen for it since he got married recently.”

“I don’t know if he’s doing his job properly at night with such poor performance.”

“Hahaha!”

He looked down at the mercenary company members who were training fiercely while joking around.

Perhaps because they were eating well, their overall size had increased, and instead of the old equipment looted from the battlefield, they were equipped with unified weapons and armor.

It was no exaggeration to consider them an elite regular army rather than a ragtag mercenary group.

“Now I feel like the lord’s personal guard.”

The support money sent from Liang was constant.

The financial power of the free city was enormous, and Rakan never wasted money.

The happiness he was feeling now was too sweet to pocket or waste wealth.

To continue this, the Blue Hawk Mercenary Company had to constantly prove to Henon that they were a valuable army.

“The weather is nice.”

While he was lost in thought, a low-pitched voice was heard from behind.

He turned around and saw a young man with a buzz cut and a blank expression standing there.

“You’ve arrived, Yucal.”

He was a young man that Henon had personally entrusted to him from Liang.

When he first saw him, he was just a kid.

He showed a genius-like talent in swordsmanship and soon grew explosively to become an expert master.

Now, he was the de facto successor who would lead the Blue Hawk Mercenary Company after him.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“I was thinking about the lord.”

“Are you talking about Baron Lloyd?”

“That’s right.”

Yucal stood next to Rakan and looked at the same scenery through the window.

He pointed to a soldier training below and opened his mouth.

“Do you see Lehman holding the shield over there?”

“I do.”

“I heard he got a lover just a week ago. He’s quit drinking, which he used to love, and is focusing on training.”

“That’s a good thing.”

“That’s not all. Felix got married a month ago, and Garrett bought a small house in the outskirts with the salary he had saved up.”

“······”

Yucal continued.

“Even if they don’t say it out loud, everyone knows. Who we are enjoying this luxury thanks to.”

“Is that so.”

“Of course. Even if their hands are calloused and their knees are filled with water [aching], they will run for Baron Lloyd, who has given them happiness that they will never have again, and for you, Commander.”

Originally, Yucal was a man of few words.

He prefers to prove it with actions rather than words.

But when Henon’s story came up, he became talkative today.

“And I am the same. You know what my past was like, Commander.”

Rakan briefly recalled Yucal’s first appearance, with his gaunt ribs exposed.

“Back then, I was so afraid of nobles. I thought they were demons. At the time, I accepted that I was destined to be used and die for the rest of my life.”

“Not anymore?”

“Of course. Not all nobles are the same. There are eccentric nobles like Baron Lloyd.”

His voice was dreamy.

“There is a god called Belanus in the Empire that many people believe in. But for me, the real god is none other than Baron Lloyd, who brought freedom and hope.”

“This friend is seriously ill.”

“I’m not the only one who thinks this way. Don’t you think so too, Commander?”

In fact, Rakan is the same.

He has received a favor from Henon that he cannot repay even if he repays him for the rest of his life.

As he let out a faint breath, Yucal handed him a letter.

“What is this?”

“I don’t know either. A messenger just left and delivered it without checking the contents.”

Rakan opened the envelope, checked the contents, and smiled.

“Anyway, the lord is not a gentleman.”

“What’s wrong?”

He shook the letter.

“He’s calling me. It’s an urgent business trip, so take good care of the mercenary company.”

* * *

Southeast of the Arnia Continent.

The Free City of Liang.

The sunlight shining through the curtains stung Aiden’s eyes.

As he raised his stiff upper body and stretched, a cup of steaming tea was already placed there.

“Drink this.”

It was morning tea prepared by his beloved wife, Kayleen.

“Thank you, wife.”

Kayleen smiled brightly at Aiden, who scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“I like you so much these days.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just everything. You don’t live drunk like before, your complexion has improved, and above all, you are so confident that it feels like we’re back in our honeymoon days.”

He had definitely improved recently.

He hadn’t quit drinking, but he hadn’t drunk to the point of being drunk, and he trained and commanded the troops every day.

Naturally, he treated Kayleen well, and it seems his wife noticed it.

“This is all thanks to him, right?”

“If you’re talking about him···”

“Henon. I heard he defeated the devil.”

Aiden’s neck prickled with goosebumps.

“Wife, where did you hear that?”

“Where else would I hear it? How many times do you call Baron Lloyd’s name in your sleep every day?”

Feeling embarrassed, he hurriedly waved his hand.

“Don’t spread that sound outside. Do you understand?”

“Of course. I have that much sense. To be honest, I’m jealous, but I’m still grateful.”

“To Henon?”

“Yes, because he gave me back the husband I used to know.”

“Hehe···”

Aiden, who was slurring his words, recalled Aileen’s appearance when she was depressed with him when he was shrinking in the past.

In her face, smiling brightly in front of him now, there was no trace of the gloomy shadows of the past.

‘Is this also thanks to the Baron?’

Just sweeping away the sticky twilight of the Twilight Church in Liang has changed a lot.

More than anything else, he was sincerely grateful to Henon for bringing peace to his family.

He ate a hearty breakfast and went to work.

As soon as he entered the city hall, his subordinates lined up and saluted sharply.

“Vice Commander has arrived!”

“Good morning!”

“Loyalty!”

Compared to the old days when he was treated like a sack of barley whether he went to work or not, it was an amazing change.

Aiden’s influence has risen vertically that much.

He was now the vice commander of the Guardian Army, which numbered as many as 5,000, and had the power to overturn any small or medium-sized territory if necessary.

But he was humble.

He knows that the given power is not the power he can wield as he pleases.

He is only a ‘Vice Commander,’ not a ‘Commander-in-Chief.’

The only person who is entitled to use this unit as he pleases is Henon Lloyd.

As he entered the mayor’s office, Mayor Yuron, who was buried in documents from the morning, greeted Aiden.

“Welcome.”

“Don’t overdo it too much. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“After surviving a life-threatening crisis, I realized how happy the act of working is.”

Mayor Yuron looked healthy, although his wrinkles had increased and his hair had turned white.

After Henon got rid of Haman, the Seventh Apostle of the Twilight Church, Greed, and the corrupt head of the Merchant Guild, Mayor Yuron moved the busiest.

As a result, Liang formed a solid ruling system centered on the mayor, and the Merchant Guild, which was always a problem, became controllable.

Incidentally, the slave trade in the Full Moon Market was completely eradicated.

“But what brings you to me?”

“I have to go far away.”

It was clear who it was because he had to be in Liang.

“Is it related to Baron Lloyd?”

“That’s right. He needs you.”

Baron Lloyd is not only Aiden’s benefactor but also Mayor Yuron’s benefactor.

There is no reason to refuse his call.

“I’ll go.”

“Be careful.”

“Yes, where should I go?”

Mayor Yuron, who had been silent for a while, said.

“Go to Fontano, the capital of the Elden Kingdom.”

* * *

The Eastern Great Forest.

The Elves’ Sanctuary.

The chirping of sparrows brightens the morning.

On one side of the village, a clear stream flowed gently enough to see the bottom.

Amelia, who had just woken up, chewed on a ripe apple and quenched her thirst.

“Hehehe!!”

“Stop there!”

Children are full of energy.

An elf child with pointed ears chattered noisily next to her and played tag.

A natural smile appeared on her face as she watched the cute scene.

It is a truly peaceful scene.

Originally, the elf village had this atmosphere.

Even when she was young.

That hasn’t been the case recently.

Since Richard became the Great Elder, the warriors’ training time has increased over time.

The age range of children selected as warriors has also gradually decreased.

Elves who burn with hatred and animosity towards humans have also increased frequently.

At the time, all these changes were thought to be positive.

It was a time when she closed her eyes and ears and focused only on her personal strength.

In the meantime, the Elven race was slowly but surely rotting from the inside.

‘What would have happened if I had been baptized too?’

It’s terrible just to imagine.

She was the last bastion of the Elven warrior.

Even when Scott, who had been her destined rival since childhood, was baptized, she wanted to become stronger only with her own strength.

Amelia’s stubbornness became an opportunity to save her.

Step by step.

There is a place Amelia goes to every morning.

It’s the cemetery.

After the mass baptism incident by Great Elder Richard, a cemetery was created in the Elves’ Sanctuary to commemorate the victims.

She stopped in front of a tombstone.

It was written like this.

[Scott]

She heard the story.

He conquered Molty Territory, defeated the human race army, and was on a winning streak, but eventually met ‘that guy.’

When she heard that he had met ‘that guy,’ Amelia was sure that Scott would be dead.

‘Monster bastard.’

He’s an enemy, but she has to admit it.

Henon Lloyd.

He was an irrational guy.

Isn’t it embarrassing that the Elves, the forest race, couldn’t even fight properly in the forest, which is their main stage, and lost?

Not at all.

If the Elven race is the forest race, Henon was the forest itself.

At least that’s how Amelia felt.

As she knelt down on one knee and prayed for Scott’s soul, she heard a familiar girl’s voice from behind.

“You were here.”

“Ms. Sasha.”

The Elven shaman and temporary chieftain had grown a lot, both internally and externally, since the baptism incident.

She was already showing signs of being a woman.

Her sparkling silver hair had become abundant, and her unique eyes had become deeper.

No shaman in history has suffered as much as Sasha.

She opposed Great Elder Richard’s plot and was sold to the slave market in Liang, and suffered all kinds of humiliation among the human race.

Amelia, who had ignored Sasha because she was following Richard at the time, still felt guilty towards her.

Anyway, thanks to Sasha, the Elven race quickly regained stability after the baptism incident.

Now, all the elves in the Sanctuary are united, worshiping Sasha as their mother.

“You prayed for Scott’s soul.”

“Yes.”

“You and Scott were especially close.”

“There was nothing close about it. We were just aiming for the same goal of strength.”

“Do you hate Henon, who killed Scott?”

Amelia stopped breathing at the sudden question.

“Rather than hate him, I resent him.”

“Resent him?”

“Anyway, he’s the guy who took away countless of my colleagues and friends. But he’s the great benefactor of the race, so I can’t hate him outright. That’s why I resent him.”

Sasha nodded as she listened to Amelia’s honest feelings.

“Was what you said before real?”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if you hate Henon, you said you would help him if I asked you to.”

Memories of the past came to mind.

She had definitely said that.

“That’s right. Whatever the cause and effect, Ms. Sasha is our leader. The shaman’s orders are more important than my personal grudges.”

“Thank you for saying that. In that case, I’m going to ask you without shame. Help him.”

Amelia tilted her head.

“Yes?”

“I want you to help him.”

“Who?”

“Henon.”

Amelia shook her head after hearing Sasha’s explanation.

Henon Lloyd is fighting fiercely with the humans who joined hands with Great Elder Richard, and while he has been fighting with his tongue, now is the time when he needs a sword.

“That sly guy is causing a storm wherever he goes.”

“That’s his charm. I wish I could go, but I’m sad because I don’t have the strength.”

If it’s a human who formed an alliance with Great Elder Richard, it’s not entirely unrelated to the Elven race.

Amelia fiddled with the bow she had on her back.

“I’ve made a slight improvement recently, and it looks like I have a good opponent to test it on. I’ll be back.”

“Okay. Please. You can get there quickly by using the wormhole [a portal for rapid travel]. You have to come back without getting hurt. Okay?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll finish it quickly and come back.”

Amelia’s figure, which had been right in front of her until just now, became blurry.

Before she knew it, she had left the Sanctuary and was moving away at a terrifying speed.

Sasha, staring at the spot where Amelia had disappeared, muttered as the wind blew her hair.

“Good luck, Uncle. Fighting [Good luck].”