The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 107

Guillaume Valte immediately ordered his subordinates to rescue the bridgehead, but his vassals and retainers insisted on observing the situation first, fearing a trap.

At first glance, it was a reasonable argument. To land a large force, they needed to assess the situation, and the Kora River wasn’t easily crossed on a whim.

The problem was the reports that came from the sharp-eyed watchmen the next morning.

‘The bridgehead is annihilated!’

This meant Count Lantaric’s long-cherished ambition had been thwarted. The annexation of Salasma had failed, and Count Lantaric, isolated in enemy territory, was in danger.

Moreover, a terrible rumor spread among the soldiers. It was said that Count Lantaric’s army had been attacked by monsters near Salasma, and the Count had gone missing, which began to disturb the camp.

“They call themselves knights, but they’re worse than slaves! They were too scared to cross at night, so they opposed it, and because of that, we lost the bridgehead right before our eyes, and no one takes responsibility! In the end, it’s me, the commander and noble, who has to take responsibility!? I’m the stupid son who let his father die before my very eyes! I said we should cross immediately and rescue him, but those bastards trampled on my opinion, and now I have to bear the disgrace! Is it because they all think I’m ugly and look down on me?! My vassals dare to make a fool of me!”

Guillaume Valte nervously slashed at the weeds as he moved forward.

“Okay. This place looks crossable!”

“Sir?”

“You and me! We’ll cross the river first. I need to see the situation with my own eyes. Don’t worry. I’ve been trained by the Holy Knights.”

Guillaume Valte gave up on persuading his disobedient vassals and decided to take the adventurers, who were loyal to money, and scout the Salasma camp himself.

“No, young master. Hehe. Didn’t you hear what the shamans or holy knights with great insight were saying last night?”

“We’re also against crossing the river. We came here to scout.”

Last night, shamans and holy knights with great insight had heard the roar of a terrible monster.

The roar that Night Crawler emitted as it absorbed the Orc necromancer, Scott McGreene, had affected an area half a day away.

“Are you guys doing this too? Do you want to be reported to the Sellsword Guild for insubordination?”

“Ahahaha.”

“That would be troublesome.”

“Then go and prepare to cross. There should be boats nearby. Find them.”

The adventurers, who were easily swayed by rumors and jinxes, couldn’t persuade the headstrong Guillaume Valte and did as they were told, preparing to cross the river.

“I’ve confirmed there are boats here. Pay the fishermen and requisition the boats.”

It was then that Guillaume Valte said that.

“Huh?”

Those pushing through the bushes encountered a group of adventurers who were camping. And then….

“Huh? Lord Brand?!”

“Sir Guillaume Valte?!”

There was Brand, wearing blood-stained armor.

“No, Lord Brand?! What happened? I heard you disappeared without a trace, but what is this….”

“Who is it?”

The masked man next to Brand asked him.

“He’s the legitimate son of Count Lantaric. The one I taught to read.”

“I am Guillaume Valte, Count of Lantaric, Baron of Adirof, and the eldest son of Garnaher.”

“Ah….”

A holy knight next to the masked youth stepped forward instead.

“I am Zibeck, a holy knight of the King’s Church.”

“But….”

“Orc!”

The members of the Sellsword Guild were surprised and wary when they realized there was an Orc among their group.

“Ah, he’s our prisoner.”

Guillaume Valte was surprised when the masked man said that.

“Wait a minute. Did you guys cross the Kora River?”

“Yes?”

“Did you come from the Salasma side? What happened to Count Lantaric’s army? I want to know the rumors. I’ll give you a reward if the information is detailed.”

“Well, that’s….”

The situation became awkward.

*********

‘I was too focused on camping and training.’

Azadin regretted that they had been visited by unexpected guests while camping. Should they have set up a perimeter?

But the other party was the son of Count Lantaric. If suspicious people were suddenly on guard in their territory, they would have a reason to investigate and subdue them at any time.

If they said they were just camping nearby and not from Salasma, it would be a headache. They would run out of excuses for why they were camping by the river.

Then Brand spoke.

“The Count’s army was attacked by monsters and scattered. The Count is missing.”

From Brand’s point of view, Count Lantaric was an enemy he could not live under the same sky with. Of course, he wouldn’t have good feelings about his son, Guillaume Valte… Nevertheless, Brand spoke with the polite attitude that a former vassal would show to his master.

“Yes?”

“We saw it from afar. A considerable number of undead attacked the army. We were too busy running away in fear, but when morning came, we saw that the people across the river were not moving, so it was not difficult to know that something had happened to the Lantaric army.”

“I see. I understand. Then, would you hand over that Orc to us for interrogation, sir? If monsters attacked Count Lantaric’s army, that monster might know something.”

Guillaume Valte requested that they hand over the Orc necromancer, Scott McGreene. Azadin shook his head.

“Ah, well, this guy isn’t in his right mind.”

“Not in his right mind?”

“Yes. He keeps talking about the age of Jupiter coming.”

Azadin said that and snapped a reed leaf with his finger. The reed leaf, which flew with a sharp force, hit Scott’s face.

“It’s the end of the world! When the power of Jupiter reaches Hybris, the old kings of the Nether will return!”

“He seems to have gone mad from using black magic.”

“…Then why is he a prisoner? Why not just kill him here? Orcs cost a lot to feed.”

Guillaume Valte said that and drew his sword, and Scott flinched. He could feel the murderous intent from him.

‘No, this guy is spacing out while acting? You’re going to die if you keep doing that.’

Azadin stepped forward to shield Scott’s body and said,

“I know a shaman who is good at mind reading. I’ll extract his knowledge through him.”

“Who is it and where does he live?”

“Well… you know how shamans are, right?”

As Azadin made that excuse, Guillaume Valte glared at Azadin suspiciously.

“But why are you wearing a mask….”

“Well, I have a scar on my face.”

“Hmm? Would you mind taking it off, just in case?”

As Guillaume Valte sent a suspicious look, Azadin was at a loss.

“I hope you understand. Suddenly, my father’s contact was cut off, and they say monsters have appeared nearby… I ask for your cooperation.”

Guillaume Valte spoke politely, but his actions were not polite. Next to Guillaume Valte, the Sellsword Guild members exchanged glances and drew their weapons at once.

“Hmm?”

Were they going to attack? Azadin was about to be on guard when he felt something was wrong. The direction of the killing intent was different.

Indeed. One of the Sellsword Guild members suddenly hit Guillaume Valte in the back of the head.

However, Brand, who was watching, held out a spear and knocked away the Sellsword Guild member’s weapon. Brand, who was well aware of the situation in the Lantaric County, had already predicted this situation.

“Be careful!”

“Ugh?!”

Guillaume Valte was flustered to see his subordinates suddenly attacking him.

“Traitors! Traitors!”

“…….”

The Sellsword Guild members drew their weapons and surrounded Guillaume Valte without answering.

“You guys can go.”

“Our only goal is Guillaume Valte.”

The Sellsword Guild members said to Azadin’s group as if they were doing them a favor.

“Y-you bastards! Why? I paid you your salaries properly?”

Guillaume Valte was flustered and glared at the Sellsword Guild members.

“Because the real successor of Count Lantaric is Prince Adler.”

Brand, who was watching, said that.

“Adler?!”

“Yes. Prince Adler shares the Count’s darkness, but Sir Guillaume Valte knows nothing and only knows the Count’s surface, doesn’t he?”

“What are you talking about! Adler is just my youngest brother! He did go to my father’s study often, but!”

The Sellsword Guild members chuckled at that.

“As expected of a former scribe, he knows well.”

“So what? Aren’t you running away?”

“With so few of you?”

There were more than 20 Sellsword Guild members, and they were all well-armed. On the other hand, Azadin’s group looked weak on the surface.

Sir Zibeck, who was wearing heavy armor, certainly looked strong, but Azadin was wearing light armor, and Midiam and Ismail were still young boys and girls. Shati and Scott were wearing robes instead of armor, and Brand was wearing ridiculous rags.

The veteran mercenaries were confident of their victory.

“Run away. It’s none of your business, is it? Even if you save Prince Guillaume Valte, there’s no one who will thank you. Lantaric already belongs to Lord Adler.”

“But if we run away here, you’ll blame us for the murder of Prince Guillaume Valte, won’t you?”

As Azadin said that, the Sellsword Guild members chuckled.

“You’re not stupid. But even so, running away is better than dying here, isn’t it?”

“Ah, really. Why did I get caught up in someone else’s family feud? Brand. You know this place well, right? You choose. Shall we save Guillaume Valte? Or just ignore it and leave?”

Azadin didn’t know anything about the Lantaric County, so he left the decision to Brand, who knew the place well.

“Let’s save Prince Guillaume Valte.”

“If that’s what you want.”

As Azadin nodded, the Sellsword Guild members started laughing.

“Heh. Are these guys crazy?”

“They seem confident in their skills just because they have a holy knight.”

“In this kind of riverside reed field, even horses can’t exert their power. This kind of muddy field is where the experienced ones win.”

“Yeah. I agree with that.”

Azadin jumped into the reed field. Not only Azadin, but also Midiam and Ismail jumped into the reeds, and their presence disappeared in an instant.

“What?”

-Swish!

Instead of an answer, an arrow flew.

Surprisingly, the arrow came from the side of where Azadin had jumped. Azadin had bent the arrow so that it would fly from a different location than his own.

-Thud!

One of the Sellsword Guild members fell, hit by an arrow flying from an unexpected direction.

“Ugh?!”

“What! He clearly went that way!”

“It’s an ambush!”

The Sellsword Guild members were flustered. They couldn’t even imagine that Azadin, who had just jumped into the reed field, had shot the arrow.

Then, more arrows flew again. Too many arrows were pouring in from all directions to be shot by the three who had just hidden.

“Agh!”

“H-it was a trap!”

The Sellsword Guild members misjudged the number of archers because the arrows were flying too fast and too often.

They couldn’t imagine that the three who had just hidden in the reed field were all there were, and they mistakenly thought that a large number of archers had been ambushed in this area from the beginning.