Chapter 76

It seemed I had underestimated Cavaldi too much.

Falling into an ambush, let's say that's understandable.

But taking the lead to guard the rear for his subordinates and charging into the enemy camp was not something just anyone could do.

And to think he would come straight to where I was, of all places, I couldn't have imagined it.

Could it be that when the gods created Cavaldi, they gathered only traits like grit, competitiveness, and passion?

…And he had an unexpected talent for sharp remarks, too.

“So, you're that famous mercenary captain, Leon Gryph. You look much more like a greenhorn than I expected.”

“I hear that a lot. But now the Urdino Ducal Army is in the palm of my hand.”

“I really have no words for that. I shouldn't have been complacent just because you're a greenhorn. To think you'd have unexpected military insight. Fasa has found a mercenary captain far better than its station.”

“Thank you for the compliment. But that's not what's important right now. There's something I'd like to propose.”

“What is it?”

“Duke Cavaldi, surrender. I will guarantee your safety. All of your subordinates as well. No, how about switching sides to us altogether?”

Cavaldi was dumbfounded.

“Ha, are you trying to win me over in this situation? Are you in your right mind?”

“Of course. I'm doing business, not just war. You know I'm a competent businessman, right? The story of how I obtained the pirates' treasure at the beginning of my business is so famous that I don't think I need to explain it.”

Cavaldi shook his head from side to side as if looking at a hopeless case.

“I see you're crazy enough to do business in the middle of a battlefield.”

“Hey. You shouldn't think like that. When doing business, one doesn't pick the situation. Anyway, give it some thought. I don't know if you've heard, but the contract terms our mercenary company offers are quite good, you know? I think there were some people from Urdino in our company as well.”

“A person of Urdino attacking me is treason against Urdino!”

“Well. I think we'd have to hear that person's opinion on that. In this case, it should be called an unavoidable exercise of the right to self-defense.”

“Forget it. I don't want to discuss that right now.”

“Very well. But the offer is sincere.”

Anyway, Cavaldi was skilled enough to beat up that Troll Knight, Rhom.

He was a man too valuable to just kill.

Besides, seeing how he dealt with the ambush and his actions, his judgment was also quite decent.

I didn't have much hostility towards him either.

Not yet, at least.

“Speaking seriously, our mercenary company is continuously expanding its business. That means we don't have many people yet. If you join the company now, we can accept you as a partner. So, what do you say? The terms won't be this good the next time I offer.”

“It doesn't sound like a very good offer.”

“Wouldn't Urdino have more to gain from this than continuing the war? I heard your territory was attacked by pirates, too.”

Cavaldi was horrified.

“How do you know that? That's creepy.”

“Let's just say we have our own sources of information.”

Of course, I knew because I was the one who planned it.

Cavaldi looked at me silently, then shook his head.

“Thank you for the offer, but I'll pass.”

“Don't you feel sorry for your subordinates dying over there? They're getting hit by arrows because of you.”

“Hmm.”

Down below, the Urdino Ducal Army was retreating.

But those who fell even slightly behind or were delayed were falling to the rain of arrows.

Cavaldi looked at his subordinates with a hesitant face, but when he turned his head again, his face was filled with resolve.

“The men of Urdino do not surrender easily! If you want a surrender, you'll have to step over my dead body!”

Cavaldi's guards, who had broken through the rain of arrows, responded in kind.

“That's right! Show them the spirit of Urdino, Your Grace the Duke!”

In the lore of , it was said that the people of Apennia were full of passion, and it seemed that was no empty saying.

Though I didn't like it, their tenacity to not give up even in a disadvantageous situation was highly commendable.

Of course, that judgment was likely due to the calculation that if they defeated Theo and captured me, they could neutralize the mercenary company.

As expected, Cavaldi shouted.

“I'll teach you a lesson today. And that is that a commander should not stand out on the battlefield! Because you get targeted like this!”

“The Duke of Urdino seems to be full of confidence, but let me tell you in advance, if you want to capture me, you'll have to step over this friend's dead body first. Then you'll understand why I keep this friend as my bodyguard.”

At my gesture, Theo pointed his axe at Cavaldi.

At the pressure from its weight, Cavaldi seemed a little surprised.

Theo's axe was indeed unusually large.

“And one more thing.”

“?”

“You are also separated from your subordinates. You shouldn't forget that.”

“!”

Cavaldi wore an expression of being caught off guard.

Still, his fighting spirit burned, and he did not give up.

“Go ahead and try.”

Theo glanced back at me.

“Should I kill him or capture him alive? It seems you don't want him dead.”

“There's no need to overdo it. You being safe is a hundred times better than you getting hurt trying to capture him alive.”

“That sounds like a challenge, somehow. Understood. I'll do my best.”

“What? Hey! I told you not to overdo it!”

Ignoring my call, Theo stepped forward.

With each step, there was a strange force.

There was nothing I could do in that situation.

I stepped back and watched the situation.

Before the fight, Cavaldi aimed his sword and asked.

“I am Cavaldi, the Duke of Urdino. Your name?”

“Theo, descendant of Dire.”

“Hmm? That's not a barbarian's name.”

Cavaldi's eyes widened as if he had realized something, and he looked back at me.

No way.

Did he figure something out with just that clue?

At the opportune moment, Theo cut off Cavaldi's attention.

“That's not important. Now is the time for a warrior's duel. You and I. Just the two of us.”

“Yes. You're right. In that case, let's give it a try!”

Cavaldi shouted and rushed at Theo.

In response, Theo swung his axe.

***

Thud!

The left side of the battlefield vibrated.

Selvi, who was commanding the main force of the mercenary company, inadvertently looked in the direction of the sound.

“That side, that's where the captain is.”

Eleonor, commanding beside him, struck down an enemy soldier with a war hammer and then snapped at him.

“Selvi, Selvi, Selvi! Get a move on! Can't you see we're in a hurry?”

“Ma'am, didn't you just hear that sound?”

“I heard it, so what?”

“It was huge, wasn't it?”

“So what? Does that block a sword? Look in front of you! One's coming for you!”

Selvi swung his sword without looking.

The enemy soldier who had been cautiously approaching screamed and fell.

It was the punishment for daring to face a vampire in a night battle.

Naturally, Selvi didn't even pay attention to the falling enemy.

“That's where the captain is. What if something happens to the captain?”

“Theo is there, so it's fine. Don't worry about it and just do our job.”

Selvi tilted his head.

“That friend is quite tall, but he's a bit of an airhead, isn't he? Is it really okay?”

“Are you kidding me? Who are you worried about right now?”

“But it's true, isn't it? It's a bit much for me to say this as a comrade, but he hasn't shown anything, has he? He was smashed by Tospol, too.”

From Selvi's perspective, Theo was living an easy life thanks to meeting a good master.

Compared to his master, Theo had never achieved any great results, nor had he ever offered an opinion in strategy meetings.

It was natural since he was a bodyguard, but that made Theo seem even more ordinary from Selvi's perspective.

So, in a situation where Leon might be in danger, he just couldn't understand why Eleonor was showing a nonchalant reaction instead of trying to rescue him.

And Eleonor was getting frustrated.

Selvi himself was on his first campaign, so who was he to worry about whom.

“Hoo.”

Eleonor swept her fiery bangs back, stopped what she was doing, and walked over to Selvi.

Selvi felt his hair stand on end.

The bloodstain on Eleonor's cheek made her look alluring.

For a moment, Selvi had a wild thought.

‘Is she going to give me a deep kiss?’

Instead, stars sparkled before his eyes.

Eleonor had given him a powerful headbutt.

She had hit him so hard that Selvi staggered on the spot.

That he barely avoided falling was thanks to his usual lower body training.

“M-ma'am?”

Instead of answering, Eleonor grabbed the back of Selvi's head and pulled him in.

As their faces got so close that their noses touched, Selvi thought once more.

‘Is it a real kiss this time?’

Instead, a thunderous scolding fell upon him.

“Selvi, you foolish Caledonian country bumpkin! Have you forgotten everything you learned in school?”

Selvi blinked.

He wondered if he had missed something, but nothing came to mind.

Eleonor bellowed again.

“What style is Theo's name?”

“Pardon?”

“The Siberia Empire, isn't it.”

“So?”

“You idiot. A Snow Elf with a Siberia Empire-style name, you still can't connect what that means? Has your head already hardened?”

Fortunately, Selvi's head had not hardened that much.

Selvi's brain immediately found the connection and trembled at the chilling fact.

It was an unbelievable thing, but it was the only possibility.

“Don't tell me!”

“Looks like you've finally realized.”

Snow Elves usually used northern-style names.

However, it was not unheard of for a Snow Elf to use an Empire-style name.

It was when they served as a close aide to the Emperor in an old organization of the Siberia Empire, an institution created to guard the Emperor.

“A member of the Emperor's Royal Guard!”

Kwaang!

At that moment, another vibration shook the ground.

Selvi looked there in astonishment.

“How on earth is a Royal Guard member here? Besides, he's too young.”

“I don't know either. He didn't bother to tell me the story. But if I were to guess… Theo is probably a retired veteran.”

“A retired veteran?”

“Yes. Retired Snow Elf veterans sometimes drifted into Apennia as mercenaries. Now is your question answered? Then go and do your job.”

Eleonor, after snapping at him lightly, left Selvi behind and went to command her unit.

Only Selvi, left alone, awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“I didn't know he was such a distinguished person. I should probably try to get on his good side from now on.”

***

Cavaldi blocked the attack, but he had to retreat, breaking out in a cold sweat.

That Snow Elf looked skinny on the outside, but his strength was no ordinary thing.

Every single one of his attacks was packed with immense power.

‘Where did such a monster come from?’

Cavaldi discovered a nick in the blade of his sword that had blocked the attack and trembled with rage.

It wasn't a magical tool, but it was a weapon that was considered a treasured sword.

But just by blocking Theo's attack, it had been badly damaged.

On the other hand, the Snow Elf did not look the least bit tired during their several exchanges.

Rather, he just looked at him with an arrogant gaze as if to say, is this all you've got.

That gaze ignited Cavaldi's anger, but it was also true that he had shown a disgraceful sight, so he had nothing to say.

Behind the Snow Elf, the mercenary captain Leon was watching the fight with his arms crossed.

He looked completely at ease, as if saying, I knew this would happen.

As the number one knight of Urdino, Cavaldi could not accept such an evaluation.

“That was a pretty good attack, Snow Elf knight.”

“Stop bluffing.”

“Hmm.”

At the Snow Elf's words, which saw right through his condition, Cavaldi was at a loss for words.

He was a really quick-witted fellow.

But still, after clashing a few times, Cavaldi was able to figure out his opponent's identity.

To buy some time to catch his breath, Cavaldi spoke to Theo.

“For a strong man of your skill to be a mere bodyguard for a mercenary captain is absurd.”

“Why is it absurd?”

“It's a waste of your skills.”

Theo grinned and looked back at me.

“That's what he says, Young Master.”

“Is that important right now?”

“That's why I've figured out your identity.”

Theo, who had been joking around while chatting, stopped.

“You must have a reputation to match your skills, but this is the first time I've heard the name Theo, descendant of Dire. Perhaps I'm mistaken. But if my guess is correct, you are.”

Theo raised his axe, but Cavaldi confidently pointed the tip of his sword at Theo.

“Aren't you by any chance a retired veteran of the Royal Guard?”

“What?”

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