Ch.19: The Wrong Choice
At the very beginning, when Royce received Calix's opinion, the first thought that came to mind was 'hasty'.
"Let's head to the forest first."
"However—"
"No, it's a reasonable speculation, but we need more evidence before we can act on it. If it's true, then Duke Saitz has plotted against Marquis Hoover. Fortunately, the traces of the trade caravan also lead into the forest, so we'll have time to think."
"......Captain, please think carefully. That could also be evidence. Aren't Duke Saitz the ones who even manipulate the royal throne? There are only two houses they hate the most. The western Marquis Hoover and the eastern Marquis Gaita. The motive is sufficient."
Vice-Captain Marik's words were correct.
If it were Duke Saitz, they would do anything to increase their control over the West. However, from the standpoint of leading a mercenary company, it was also true that he couldn't make a decision easily.
"Marik, the quarrels of the high and mighty are important, but let's focus on our 'Mountain Rabbits' for now. Truth and justice are important too, but the moment we put our series of plans into action, we'll be making enemies of the kingdom's greatest power holders."
"That's...... Hmm."
"I'll make a decision before it's too late, so don't worry too much."
"Yes. I understand."
In reality, despite delaying his decision, Royce thoroughly prepares for problem situations.
While leading the group deeper into the forest, he scattered those in charge of menial tasks first, under the pretense of sending them out for reconnaissance.
Some of the men who took care of odd jobs, and the women who did dishes, laundry, and occasionally sold their bodies. The weakest members of the mercenary company disappeared first, avoiding the soldiers' eyes.
"......Captain."
"......"
Then suddenly, when they reached the middle of the forest, everyone's footsteps stopped.
"Is this a settlement?"
"Yes. It must have been a village created by those who fled here. But regardless of who these people were...... They're all dead."
"......The traces."
The answer was Hadia's responsibility.
"Same as before. Looking at the corpses, there are only slashing and stabbing marks, so it seems they didn't use blunt weapons. They only used certain types of weapons, like swords or spears. Also, some corpses have penetrating wounds from spears. What's peculiar is that they were pierced completely from front to back of the torso, and the holes are wide and clean. To leave wounds of this degree...... They'd need at least medium-output neural accelerators or higher."
Subsequently, the slim-built young man from the desert lifted something up.
It was a brown feather.
Thwack!
"Kugh!"
"You lowly bastards, what are you trying to do now? Why are you stopping on your own! Didn't I tell you to pursue quickly!"
In the midst of this, the knight's squire was being tyrannical. He kicked the mercenaries' shins or struck their shoulders with his fists while urging them on.
There was no sign of surprise anywhere on his face.
"It's certain those bastards did this."
"Yes. They must have lost track right from here and wandered around. They abandoned the trade wagon and fled...... The traces became faint."
"Where is the trade wagon?"
"Over there, behind the building on the far left, they burned it down. I don't know what happened to the cargo. If it were light goods, the survivors might have taken it and fled, or if not......"
"Those bastards might have already secured it?"
"Yes."
While the Vice-Captain dealt with the raging squire, Captain Royce slowly looked around the scene where the massacre had occurred.
There were corpses of soldiers who had escorted the trade wagon as well. They had killed men and women, elderly and children, indiscriminately.
Naturally, there were no traces of resistance.
What was there to hesitate about?
And at that moment, by coincidence, his gaze met with the young mercenary who had provided the clue for deducing the case.
It was Calix.
"Do you have something to say?"
"......The choice isn't ours to make. They chose first."
Royce smiled bitterly.
As he said, there was no need to think about it in a complicated way.
"Let's begin."
It was time for retribution.
***
If there's one iron rule of mercenaries, it would be 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth'.
The Mountain Rabbits led the soldiers deeper into the forest.
To a place where vegetation was thick, sunlight was split into hundreds of rays, and no such thing as a path existed.
Rustle, rustle.
"These bastards, how far are they going?"
"Right. At this rate, we'll reach the desert. Aren't we going to meet nomads?"
"Shut up! We need to finish this properly; there might be remnants left."
Naturally, complaints burst out among the soldiers, but since they had to deal with everyone connected to the 'trade wagon conspiracy', squire Caton forcibly suppressed this.
Soon, while being preoccupied with clearing a path for the baron's horse, the soldiers who had once been densely grouped together followed behind the mercenaries in a single file line.
Then at some point—
"Hey, you bastards, go a little slower!"
"......"
"Hey, you!"
"......"
"......Huh? Hey there, mercenary! Where are you guys! We got separated!"
The Mountain Rabbits had perfectly concealed their tracks.
Therefore, it was inevitable that the long, stretched-out procession would stop.
"What, why did we stop again! You lawless bastards! This time, I really won't let this slide! For insubordination—"
"Ca, Caton, sir. The mercenary bastards have disappeared!"
"......What?"
For squire Caton, this was very bad news. The Baron he served was already in a foul mood, complaining about his armor being scratched by tree branches, and now even the mercenaries had disappeared.
"Find them quickly! Run and catch them! Can't you even do that properly!"
"......Understood."
"These idiotic bastards. Just like the ignorant and lowly ones they are, just running straight ahead, looking only forward."
At his furious outburst, the squad leader of middle rank sent one swift soldier ahead, but the answer came back only after a long while.
Aaaaack—
"......"
"......"
The scream, cut short by the leaves, echoed faintly but at the same time was heard chillingly clear.
"Betrayal, it's betrayal! How dare they betray Duke Saitz, the Baron! This is treason against the kingdom!"
"......"
"No. Maybe this worked out well, Baron. They were bastards who had to die anyway."
"Caton."
"Yes, ye-es......"
"Battle formation."
"Yes. Prepare for battle!"
In fact, this was a pointless order. The soldiers had been activating their neural accelerators right after hearing the scream.
The Baron was notorious for his evil rule in his territory, and his squire disrupted discipline by borrowing his master's authority, so the soldiers were also making their own judgments and acting accordingly.
The average performance of their neural accelerators and the level of their weapons and armor were very excellent, but in reality, they were just an army built with money.
Literally, every man for himself.
And an army with broken discipline becomes prey for a well-organized mercenary group.
Whirrrr, thud!
"It's an ambush!"
It began with a single thrown spear.
It wasn't even aimed at a human, but at the sound of the spearhead digging into the ground, the soldiers' tension rose tautly.
Rustle!
"There, on the left! Enemy on the left!"
"Maintain formation! Don't charge, hold your positions!"
Subsequently, heads turned toward the sound from the opposite side. The moment the squad leader demonstrated a textbook response, squire Caton shouted loudly.
"Go catch them! Catch them! How can you be so scared of mere mercenary bastards!"
"Caton, sir, they're not simple mercenaries but a large mercenary company—"
"They're still just mercenaries! Are you planning to disgrace the Baron's honor!"
"......"
With that, the situation rushed toward the worst.
***
The 'Mountain Rabbits' were divided into two groups. The former were veteran mercenaries who knew how to fend for themselves, and the latter were inexperienced newcomers.
"Captain, what should we do with the baby rabbits? If we leave them alone in the forest, they'll die like dogs. We should probably attach a full member to them."
"Hmm......"
"Let's leave it to Ericha? How about it?"
"What the fuck are you saying, you bastard. Should I skewer your tongue with a stick? Why should I be left out?"
"No, you bitch. I'm saying it's because we sent Kenta not long ago...... Damn woman, forget it! Then fight, you bitch. Just like the crazy-eyed bitch you are."
"Thanks for the compliment, you crazy bastard."
Only about thirty people survived the previous battle. Since they couldn't just leave them alone, the veteran mercenaries passed responsibility around with affectionate language.
After brief consideration, Captain Royce reached a conclusion.
An official member.
Someone with excellent battlefield judgment and responsibility.
Someone with enough affection to handle the newcomers.
Yet not quite a main force— there was one such person.
"Calix."
"Yes, Captain."
"You'll take charge of the newcomers. Judge and move independently, but absolutely avoid combat situations. Don't engage in fights you can't win, at least. Understand? Thirty lives are in your hands."
"......I'll keep that in mind."
Shortly after that.
Whirrrr, thud!
[It's an ambush!]
The moment the offensive began by the veteran mercenaries, Calix found himself leading countless baby rabbits behind him.
"Calix, what should we do?"
"Wouldn't it be better to stay well back? We probably won't be much help."
"That won't do. We need to do our part at times like this to become full members. Like someone did."
"......"
Despite not saying a word, various opinions burst out from the leader-level newcomers.
Volga was on the side of respecting Calix's opinion, but Wheatley and Kotchap were entirely for withdrawing, while Romance showed aggressive tendencies.
When disagreement seemed about to turn into an argument, Calix calmed the baby rabbits with a low voice.
"Shut your mouths."
"You......"
"I'm the one making decisions. I'll listen to your opinions, but I won't tolerate overstepping authority."
"......"
Gulp.
Wheatley, Kotchap, and others who didn't get along well frowned but reluctantly accepted his warning.
Volga whispered to someone behind him, asking what 'overstepping authority' meant, then shrank back after receiving a bowlful of curses through eye contact.
In truth, Calix had made his decision early on.
"We won't fight recklessly."
"No, but then......"
"......"
"......Sorry for interrupting."
The power struggle didn't even get established.
When Romance, who had been about to rebel, backed down with just one glance, the baby rabbits realized the gap in strength and all stared intently at Calix's face.
So now it was time to explain the strategy and establish justification.
"But we won't retreat or run away either. As Romance said, if we don't do anything at times like this, none of you will be able to become full members. So we'll only do what we can, drawing a precise line and moving within it."
"Ho, how?"
"We don't have throwing weapons like the veteran mercenaries do. So we'll only approach to a certain distance and make noise. It's fine to step on leaves or break branches. We don't even need to make it loud. It's good if the enemy hears it, and even if they don't, we have nothing to lose. After that, when full combat breaks out, then we'll lend a hand."
'When a rational plan is established and clear reasons for carrying out orders are given, only then can all members demonstrate maximum efficiency.'
Calix had learned this from the veteran divers in the mines, from Captain Royce of the Mountain Rabbits.
"......That's all good. That's all good, but what if by any chance we get caught by the enemy?"
"That's all my responsibility. Of course, you shouldn't act aggressively either. I'll take responsibility, but before that, you'll pay for your greed with your life. Just move as instructed. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"......"
"Romance, answer me."
"......I understand."
However, one last thing. The element of 'faith and trust' could only be shown through direct proof rather than verbal persuasion.
'The soldiers are the ones clustered together. Most are green, the knight is blue. The veteran mercenaries are...... Maintaining about that distance.'
And Calix was already certain.
This was a fight they couldn't lose.