The size of the military depot following the group increased to accommodate more than 100 troops and 20 porters. Such a large group of soldiers would be able to achieve victories in territorial wars against many nobles, with the exception of some great nobles. They were all united under the black dragon’s crest.

But that wasn’t the end…

“You want to join my army?”

“That’s right, sir. I would like to glorify the name of the Florence family and practice true chivalry under the command of Sir Eugene. Please allow it.”

“I want to show Sir Medein that the spear of Demeter has yet to break. I do not need any compensation. All I would like is a chance to prove my determination.”

Eugene felt a little dumbfounded when knights started coming to him with their burning wills. Mercenaries had responded to his recruitment notice because he offered a good deal in regards to their salaries and compensation, but Eugene never expected prideful knights to come to him of their own accord.

“Hmm. I don’t know if you know, but I cannot afford to take care of all you sirs.”

“That’s fine. The worth of a knight is to be self-proven. When the right time comes, please just give us appropriate compensation. “

“Just being with an outstanding knight like Sir Eugene will allow me to spread my name. Please give the permission for us to fight together, sir!”

In other words, the knights were offering to fight without pay for the time being. However, they would be asking for compensation according to their performance in the future. They wanted to join Eugene’s rise to fame and glory.

“Hmm.”

Eugene looked around at the flock of knights. All seven knights were armed with either plate mail or chain mail. Moreover, all of them had their own horse and one or two aides as well.

If the skills of the seven knights were similar to the knights that Eugene had seen thus far, they would add up to be quite an overwhelming force.

Knights were easily capable of slaughtering five or six times their numbers if they were fighting on flat terrain.

‘But it’s not like I can just trust them.’

Although they were willing to yield for now to chase after honor and reputation, as well as future compensation, knights were completely unpredictable when it came to real battles. Eugene eventually decided to adjourn, for now, after recalling the templars in the labyrinth of Count Evergrove – the trio had driven themselves to death while acting as they wanted.

“I apologize, but I do not think that I will be able to officially take you sirs under my command.”

“Huh? The more knights there are, the better. Your vassal, Gal, said so, right? You need to take them and work them like slaves!” Mirian spoke out with a puzzled expression. She had been spectating with excitement until now. The expressions of the knights stiffened after hearing Eugene’s response.

“Sir Eugene! Please reconsider…”

“However, there is nothing for me to say about the determination of meritorious men to practice true chivalry, is there?”

“…!?”

The faces of the knights filled with surprise, and one of them hurriedly asked. “Are you saying that you will allow us to follow you?”

“What is there for me to do if you insist on doing so? Do as you please.”

The knights brightened up after hearing Eugene’s answer.

“I will not hold you back!”

“Yes. I will trust you sirs.”

Eugene nodded with satisfaction. He was able to gather seven knights without spending a single penny. He also prevented any worst possible outcomes.

“You are going to make them your slaves for free? Wow, our sir always has a plan. Those idiots, look at them beaming with smiles on their faces.”

Mirian sympathized with the knights when they saw them being done in by Eugene’s technique as they volunteered themselves to serve him for free. However, the knights mistook Eugene’s trap as his acknowledgment. They shouted vigorously.

“To think I, Florang Florence, will be fighting alongside a troll slayer and a wyvern slayer! This is the most honorable thing that ever happened in my life.”

“Even Sir Medein won’t be able to avoid my challenge if I am with Sir Eugene. When it comes to status, Sir Eugene holds a much greater position.”

“I will wholly devote myself to the peace and stability of the Carls Baggins Peninsula!”

Although the knights possessed slightly different goals, they were sincerely pleased. Eugene was also quite pleased to acquire free laborers.

***

“Spectacular. What a sight.”

Gardye’s face was filled with joy as he overlooked the departing parade of troops. They were accompanied by depot merchants responsible for supplying the soldiers and trading with them.

“Hmm. Do you truly believe that the knight will be able to accomplish it? Even if he is competent, you know that they won’t be nice and obedient to an outsider. Especially the knights, since they are prideful. They might be hard to deal with…”

The mercenary guild leader voiced his worries and Gardye clicked his tongue in response. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. You have definitely aged, guild leader. Your head is failing you. Don’t you know that they will be even more willing to follow Sir Eugene since he’s not from the peninsula?”

“What?”

“Why do you think the nearby nobles left Mount Nadir’s silver mine unattended? Why were Lord Bemos’ villages left alone by the nobles?”

“Well, because they would have been fucked if someone held them responsible later on… Hmm?” The mercenary guild leader trailed off as he came to a realization. 

Gardye spoke with a grin. “Do you get it now? There won’t be any problems even if Sir Eugene runs rampant. Responsibility? Holding someone accountable later? Who could do such things to a knight with no connections to the peninsula?”

“I see. That’s for sure.”

“Although we cannot be certain, about half of those knights must have chosen to follow Sir Eugene due to this truth, even forgoing any pay. If they are bestowed a village or two, later on, they won’t have to worry about it being taken away.”

“You are suggesting that the knights will be free as well since their lord is free from any accountability.”

“Exactly! Hehehe.”

“Then, what does Moffern stand to gain from this?”

“No matter what anyone says, the fact is, our guilds supported Sir Eugene. It’s only one silver mine for now, but who knows? Maybe he will acquire an evil land or two in the future. Where do you think he will dispose of the materials he gains? Even if Sir Eugene and Maren possess a deep relationship, do you really think that he would go through the trouble of sending a ship there each time?”

“Ooohh!”

“I’m not hoping for something grand, like conquering and unifying the peninsula. However, we will benefit greatly if we participate in this correction of balance. Compared to the potential benefits, an investment of thousands of silver coins is nothing. Huhahahaha!”

Gardye laughed boisterously while dreaming of a rosy future. Even if Eugene was a ‘Wyvern Slayer,’ he knew only how to fight. Eugene was certainly quick-witted and intelligent, but territorial management and politics could not be solved by brute force. Eventually, he would come to realize his limitations as an outsider, and the City of Moffern would step up to supplement his flaws.

The knight would take care of hard, arduous tasks, and Moffern would reap the benefits. That was the true reason behind why Gardye and the other merchants of Moffern decided to support Eugene.

“Master Gardye! Master Gardye!”

A city guard shouted while running up to the wall.

“What is it? Is something wrong?”

“The administrator of Sir Eugene would like to see you.”

“Ah, Sir Delmondo? Where is he right now?”

Although he appeared quite knowledgeable, at most, Delmondo was a young, naïve official in his mid-to-late 20s. Gardye was confident in being able to trounce him. However, Gardye did not know that the ‘young, naïve’ administrator had worked 10 years as the Roman Empire’s financial and personnel management officer and had wandered around the world for almost 20 years. Most importantly, his opponent was a member of the Night’s Tribe. In addition, vampires were known to be unrivaled in craftiness.

Gardye hummed as he descended from the wall.

***

“A… castle?”

“That’s right. A castle. Since he is the lord of six hamlets and four villages, it’s only natural for him to have a castle.”

“No, but to ask for such a thing so suddenly…”

“A village with a castle and proper walls could be the headquarters. It will be able to house troops, and it would allow for a large marketplace, which would be quite useful. Moreover, it would be much better for merchants to stay in a village housing troop and a castle.”

“….”

Gardye was immediately forced to shut his mouth. He couldn’t think of an adequate response to Delmondo’s words.

“Well, if you do not agree, that’s fine as well. It’s not like Moffern is the only city to dispose of the silver from the mine. Ah, perhaps I could make a suggestion to Maren. Since the mayor was kind enough to gift the lord with a set of armor engraved with the city’s crest…”

“L-let’s do it! We will be providing full support! A castle! Let’s build it!”

The merchant’s greed caused him to take the bait. Delmondo was smiling shrewdly on the inside, but he quickly continued without a change in expression. “Seven castle towers, including the main building, and two annexes. It should allow for up to 100 troops to be stationed at all times, and the number of residents should be around 50, excluding the troops. At least 30 arrow slits are to be installed on the left and right walls surrounding the gate with crossbows.”

“What?”

“Ah, is it a bit difficult to picture? Then, you could refer to the Lion Castle of the Calead Viscounty. There is a dwarf architect in Moffern, correct? If you leave it to them, they will finish it for you in half a year.”

“Uh, I-I understand… for now.”

Gardye was greatly shocked. He never imagined, even in his wildest imaginations that the young administrator would be so thoroughly prepared, and would be so specific in his demands.

“The construction site should be the Village of Varan, where the mansion of Lord Bemos is located. If you do not demolish the mansion and use it as one of the annexes, you should be able to save quite a bit of money. Hmm? What’s wrong?” Delmondo asked with a bright smile after seeing Gardye’s reaction, which appeared somewhat bitter.

“Aha! You must be worried that the castle will be a little small for Sir Eugene to stay in! Don’t worry. That castle will not be Sir Eugene’s main castle. It will be a place for his appointed knights or administrators to stay.”

“What do you mean by that?” Gardye asked while wiping off sweat from his forehead. What was Delmondo talking about? He would have to spend even more money?!

“What else could I mean? Don’t tell me that the guild leader thought that Sir Eugene would only go on to become a neighborhood lord of the peninsula?”

“…..!”

“Tsk, tsk. I thought you might have a wider outlook as the merchant guild leader of a city like Moffern, but it appears that I have overestimated you. Take a step back and look at the big picture here, Gardye.”

Delmondo even went on to criticize Gardye with disappointment. However, Gardye was still filled with shock from Delmondo’s previous statement.

-You thought that Sir Eugene would only go on to become a neighborhood lord of the peninsula?

Of course, Gardye didn’t think so either. In the first place, he suggested that Eugene should hire mercenaries and even paid for most of the expenses as a result of it because he believed that Eugene would become one of the pillars of the Carls Baggins Peninsula in the future.

However, Eugene’s younger cousin and administrator saw something larger with complete conviction. Gardye finally regained his calm after a million thoughts and doubts passed through his mind.

“Then… How far do you think Sir Eugene will go, Sir Delmondo?”

“A great lord of the empire? Perhaps a king? Or maybe both?”

“…!”

Gardye’s eyes filled with disbelief and immeasurable shock.

However, Delmondo was calm.

‘Since a great Origin has made the decision to live among humans, that much is only natural. Even my father was a lord of the empire.’

***

“The Malt Brothers?” Eugene asked. For some reason, Eugene thought that all the names of the bandit groups were rather impersonal and vague.

“Yes! They rarely come out of the forest, but they loot villages and attack merchants during every harvest. I’m sure that they must already know about the stories about Sir Eugene, so it’s unlikely that they will come crawling out anytime soon…”

“We will take care of them before leaving.”

“Yes!”

A newly appointed squad leader saluted in a fairly disciplined manner. In addition, all but Partec among the eight squad leaders gathered in Eugene’s tent appeared similarly nervous. Was it because of Eugene’s amazing display of spearmanship during their first meeting, at the pub?

No.

All of the mercenaries and squad leaders were frozen stiff because of the bouts that took place yesterday among the knights. It would have ended without any problems if the knights participated to hone their skills and to practice, but the typical characteristics of knights overcame the men.

Even though they were sparring with wooden swords, the knights became heated when they became filled with the desire to win. However, that was still fine, since it was a normal, daily occurrence for knights.

However, the problem arose when the knights applied for a fight with their commander out of curiosity and their competitive spirit.

Eugene remembered Galfredik’s advice, that he should always crush his subordinates’ spirit at the very beginning, regardless of whether they were mercenaries or knights. As such, Eugene battered the knights without hesitation.

Moreover, it wasn’t just one or two, but all seven knights.

The knights were fortunate to escape with only a few bruises since they were wearing armor, but all of them agreed that they would have been absolutely crushed if it had been a real battle.

However, the highlight of the scene was Eugene’s following words.

“Should we do it again? Properly this time. I will feed you mana stones.”

In other words, his merciless and relentless beating had not been ‘proper.’ The squad leaders could not help but be nervous and disciplined after witnessing such an unbelievable sight just yesterday.

“Who will go? We won’t be needing all of you. Three squads should be enough.”

“Sir! The Iron Bull Mercenaries will take the front!”

“We will go. We will bring back the heads of the Malt Brothers within two hours!”

“No, we will!”

“Sir!”

The conversation quickly escalated into a heated competition. The entrance to the tent opened and a mercenary rushed in just as Eugene was about to intervene.

“Sir Eugene! T-the sir knights rushed into the forest!”

“What?”

Not even a day had passed since they were pummeled, yet they were already throwing a fit?