Ch28: Those Hidden in the Sand (1)
Entering the desert required great resolve. Water was scarce, the temperature difference between day and night was extreme, and it was easy to get lost due to the monotonous terrain. The Mountain Rabbits also came to feel the power of the natural environment firsthand after the 'Vanishing River' truly vanished.
Whiiiiii, sussssssh-
"……."
"……."
A place where vegetation had disappeared and countless sand dunes rose up. With fierce winds whipping up grains of sand, there was no leisure for casual conversation. Though they had wrapped cloth around their faces, the grains seeped through small gaps and scraped against their skin.
Unfortunately, their clothing was also loose and long. An unavoidable choice to maintain body temperature by evaporating sweat. Naturally, their lips were parched and cracking, and the mercenaries each pulled out leather water pouches to moisten their throats.
And for Volga, thirst was a pain he had never experienced once in his life. Even if food had been scarce, water had never been lacking.
Tap.
"……?"
"Just a little."
Therefore, when someone's palm blocked the mouth of the water pouch, his eyes gleamed, but Calix paid no heed and used hand signals to add an explanation. Dehydration symptoms were something he had experienced plenty of in the mines. In places where water was hard to obtain, it was advisable to drink little and often.
'Ah, damn.'
Nod.
What could he do when his friend said so? Volga drank less than half a mouthful, then smacked his lips and headed toward the other newcomers. If he couldn't drink his fill, how could he let the other bastards drink?
"……?"
"Damn it."
"Why are you doing this……. Cough cough, ptooey!"
Though the intention wasn't admirable, the result was proper. The affected ones (?) couldn't stand watching only themselves unable to drink, just like Volga, and soon all thirty newcomers maintained unsatisfactory but stable physical conditions.
Swish.
Meanwhile, Calix moved to the front row and crouched down beside Hadiya. Due to the scorching heat, they rested during the day and advanced at night. Since sand dunes were everywhere, the direction the Mountain Rabbits would take was entirely in the hands of the desert-born scout.
Tap tap.
Soon after, Hadiya tapped the back of his hand and pointed to the sky above. What filled their vision were countless constellations. This was also what Calix had been learning these past few days.
Swish, swish.
Hadiya used her fingers instead of words to draw the patterns of constellations, and Calix looked up to confirm the shapes of the constellations. Desert Tree, Arrow of the Heavens, Rider of the Wind, Cloud Turtle, and so on. They determined their position and direction to proceed among various constellations.
And that night, the Mountain Rabbits reached their intermediate destination under the guidance of the constellations. It was about the fourth day since leaving Marquis Hoover's territory.
***
As desert settlements typically were, the village was built around a small oasis. What was unusual was that the walls weren't very high. A height that an adult male could easily climb over. However, the village houses were also half-sunken into the ground, just the same. At first glance, it seemed like a place where dwarves lived.
"What……. It's better than I thought?"
"Right. It's spacious."
The inside of the house was surprisingly roomy. The interior they entered while receiving the hospitality of nomads. Black fur rugs woven from beast hair were laid on the floor. Brightly dyed fabrics with colorful patterns hung from the ceiling, and a small brazier was placed in the very center to block the cold air.
"Is this a horse saddle? Ah, it must be used for camels."
"There are herbs too, and dried fruits. It should be okay to eat them, right?"
"Don't put it in your mouth before asking."
"Hehe."
However, their rest after unpacking was brief. As dawn approached and the sandstorm subsided, Calix realized that the Mountain Rabbits weren't the only ones staying in the village.
Whiik, whoook!
Early morning, near the oasis. A man with quite a few sword scars on his face was swinging a weapon in front of the water. The weapon in his hand looked like a scythe, and a heavy weight was connected to its end by an iron chain.
Whirilirik, crack!
Soon the chain shot out in a straight line, and palm fruits fell in a shower. Calix carefully observed the opponent.
'The neural accelerator is light blue, no. Closer to sky blue. His weapon handling skills are also no ordinary. He's experienced.'
He felt half curiosity, half wariness. Since he had only stayed at the monastery while in Marquis Hoover's territory, he had never directly faced other mercenaries. However, it was also true that Commander Royce's voice from last night remained in his head.
'It's rest and maintenance time, but this is a village located in the desert. Other mercenaries or villagers might intentionally approach. Be careful. However, official members may gather information within reasonable limits. It's important to prepare in advance.'
Just then, their eyes met. He exhaled a sigh of unknown meaning and greeted him as if meeting an old friend.
"……Hey, nice to meet you? There was someone else besides us. When did you arrive?"
"We arrived last night."
"Why does your speech sound blunt?"
"Because I don't know who you are."
When he responded with appropriate confidence, the man laughed heartily - "Uhaha-"
"Well, I was going to ask where you left your daddy and came out alone. But you're all grown up, aren't you? You have the right posture. It's excellent how you've raised your guard. Nice to meet you. I'm Joltan of Grima."
"Grima?"
"The Grima Mercenary Company. Haven't you heard of it? We're still a two-knot mercenary company, tsk. I guess I need to work harder."
Two knots. At least, it was good that it contained information he didn't know. It meant he could extract something.
"So, what about you?"
"I'm called Calix."
"Calix, Calix then. What's your affiliation? Which mercenary company?"
"It's embarrassing to say. Just a small place."
"Embarrassing my foot, you must be one of the friends who came in yesterday afternoon."
He hid the name 'Mountain Rabbits' for now. The man seemed to think of it as one of the small mercenary companies, nodding with an indifferent attitude.
Craaack!
Soon, Joltan split a palm fruit that had fallen to the ground with his scythe and handed it to Calix.
"Just drink the sweet juice inside. It's a gift of encouragement."
"The palm fruit... Doesn't it belong to the villagers?"
"I didn't say it was my gift."
"……."
Anyway, good things are good things, and he soon learned the meaning of 'knots'. The man with the bushy beard showed him the rope knots at his waist. Tied to the end of the rope was a wooden nameplate engraved with a mercenary's mark.
"If you guys work hard too, you'll gather knots. That's the taste of being a mercenary. As the number of people gradually increases and the number of successful commissions accumulates, the guild gives you tokens."
"I see."
From what he heard, large mercenary companies had between three to four knots. Then Grima, with two knots, wouldn't be a very large scale.
"But now that I'm talking, I'm a bit embarrassed too. Like an insect showing off in front of a larva, do you see that flag fluttering over there?"
"A flag?"
"There's a carriage parked in front of the leftmost building. The flag with a mountain rabbit drawn on it. A large mercenary company came in late at night."
"……."
"You've heard of them, too, right? The 'Mountain Rabbits'. Those bastards are a four-knot company. They correspond to the highest rank within the kingdom. Five knots haven't appeared yet."
"Yes. But I don't think you need to be embarrassed. Two knots alone is pretty impressive."
"……This makes it even more uncomfortable. Flattering my face! Pretty embarrassing!"
Joltan chuckled to himself and then walked over to the palm tree trunk and plopped down. Then he pointed to the spot next to him with his finger, apparently meaning to have a conversation.
"Anyway, Calix. You seem like a hard-working person. Coming out from dawn and all. Were you going to practice swordsmanship or something?"
"……."
"Huh, was that really it? I wish the guys under me would take after you a bit. Tsk, I unintentionally got in the way. But is it okay to swing anywhere like this? What if someone sees and copies you?"
As expected, the conversation started with a non-sensitive topic.
"It doesn't matter if they copy. It's not worth imitating."
"Hmm?"
"Was my explanation insufficient?"
"Not at all? I understood perfectly! How dare you look at this body! The timing of applying force, huh? The position of placing your feet! Right? Those kinds of things! You can't learn such things just by skimming the surface!"
"……That wasn't what I meant."
The first impression wasn't bad. He had tried to act like a greenhorn who could only do clumsy swordwork, but the opponent stepped forward first and wrapped it up nicely.
"Hey, kid, you can't always answer everything honestly. If it's not a person of character like me, others will look down on you."
"Thank you for the advice. Have you been in mercenary life for a long time?"
"Look at how I look. I've been in mercenary life for 15 years. Before that, I rolled around battlefields for 3 years. Plus, now I'm the mercenary captain of Grima! I'm quite a fart-worthy body when you know me!"
"Do you call it captain over there? We call it commander."
"Mm-hmm, right. I'm the captain. That's how much I'm respected by the members!"
"Then is our commander less respected?"
"……Look at this guy talking? Sorry! I was wrong! Please forgive me!"
Surprisingly, the more they conversed, the better his impression seemed. Whether it was because Calix himself didn't use aristocratic speech, or because he reminded him of someone by his side, he couldn't tell.
Just then, as if overhearing his soliloquy, a large young man sauntered over. It was Volga, who had just woken up.
"……Who are you, mister?"
"Who am I? What's with this brat now?"
"Brat? Don't even think about getting respect just because you've got some hair hanging from your jaw. I'll snap your waist right off."
"Who's talking? Someone who'd turn into meat scraps the day I give the order?"
"Oh my. Then should I call for backup, too?"
"Hey shit, then I get a bit intimidated."
"Uhehe."
"It's just because Calix is right next to you, not because of you, you stupid fool. Getting all cocky because you feel good, tsk tsk. Calix, you have it tough."
"You fucking……."
The age difference must be at least ten years or so. Somehow, in Calix's eyes, it looked like a young Volga and an old Volga fighting each other. The argument between the two men didn't end easily, continuing even when other mercenaries walked out of the building.
"What are you? Why are you picking a fight with the captain?"
"This human started the fight first."
"This bastard……. Want to have a go from this morning?"
"Go ahead!"
No, it actually spread to the surroundings. Calix chose to watch rather than stop Volga. Adding the image of a crude and hasty novice mercenary would also help ease the opponent's wariness. If it didn't cross the line, he would watch. At the same time, he acted flustered on the surface, so Grima's mercenary captain Joltan waved his hand as if it was nothing special.
"Forget it, don't worry about it. Kids originally grow up fighting. They won't use swords. No, they can't. If they did, this would be the last time they stayed in this village. Fistfights are okay, right?"
"……I suppose."
Soon, Volga and Grima's mercenary members began hitting each other with bare fists. The opponent was ahead in punch accuracy, but the difference in innate strength and physique decided the match. He only seemed relatively lacking because he was next to Calix, but Volga also had natural talent.
Thwack!
"Ouch, got hit in the jaw. Gone, he's gone. That guy was really a brute. I wish my worries could be solved that easily."
Even though his own member had collapsed spread-eagled, Joltan's face clearly showed signs of enjoyment. At this, Calix intentionally only looked at the oasis scenery. When you want to obtain information, 'asking questions' is inefficient, from the continuous sighs to the sincerity that flowed out at the end. He had noticed that the man had unspeakable worries, so it was enough to wait quietly.
"Hey, young friend. Can I ask you just one thing?"
"……."
"I'm not hoping for anything grand. It's just that sometimes, you know. Rather than hoping for an answer, there are moments when you need somewhere to pour out your worries."
As expected, the frustrated side opened up first. Therefore, he slowly nodded his head, but firmly locked the door to his heart. If it were content related to the Mountain Rabbits, he wouldn't answer. He planned to only take information that would be helpful either way.
However, Joltan's story completely departed from his expected range.
"……There's a viper living in the desert. It's held deadly poison and killed countless people by biting them, a very venomous one."
"……."
"Then one day, that old snake called in drifters. Those far away pretended not to know, but those living in the snake's territory couldn't dare refuse out of fear. But then... Well, this bastard told them to enter a wolf's den."
Even without knowing the local situation well, he could easily figure out what he was talking about. The viper would be Count Mozak, and the wolf would be Marquis Hoover. However, for Calix to continue the conversation, he had to address one problem.
"……It's not easy to answer. Why are you bringing up this story to me? Words spread in all directions the moment they're spoken out. You wouldn't not know that."
"Maybe because of a momentary whim. Maybe because I only realized it was a place to die after I was up to my neck in it."
"……."
"Why, wasn't I sufficiently honest?"
Right. Actually, this much wasn't convincing. Calix looked at him steadily, and at this, Joltan smiled bitterly and continued speaking.
"You really like honesty. Then I'll tell you as it is. To be frank, it's because we're just passing by. Because you look young, and it seems your experience isn't very long. Your weapons and armor are newly acquired, but your hands haven't gotten used to them, so they don't match, and you have sharpness but no leisure. You're obviously someone who sold the family fortune and started a mercenary life, and you came across the desert trying to find work, right?"
"……."
"Ah, but don't misunderstand. I don't think you're a brat who can't understand my words at all. You're at least smarter than the ignorant fools under me. I gave up talking to those bastards long ago. They just ask back how much money they're getting."
The last part was a lie. Sure enough, while cursing his subordinates, the corners of his mouth slyly rose. Soon, undisguisable affection showed over his bitter smile.
"I know too. They're really stupid bastards, right? Idiots who can't even count more than five gold coins... But strangely, I can't abandon them. Shit, is it because we've exchanged too many lives with each other? I don't understand it myself. If I just wanted to look out for my own interests, I could just run away in the middle of the night, but connections are really tenacious."
Was he such a responsible person? Nevertheless, he had to say what needed to be said.
"……Yes. I understood up to that point. But you still haven't given me an answer to my question. If the words accidentally leak out-"
"Ah, for that to be a problem, it would have to be before Grima enters the wolf's den. But this is the desert. Sandstorms are much faster than rumors. By the time you spread rumors, it'll already be chaos."
"……."
"Anyway, for that reason, I'm grabbing you as a person and... Lamenting. How should I put it, like I've half given up? The mercenary company called 'Grima' has nowhere left to retreat. Now I really have to choose. Will I follow, or will I resist?"
He understood. The opponent was standing at the edge of a cliff. He was struggling desperately to somehow save his mercenary company, but was about to set foot in a place that might become a deathbed. And perhaps, he might be hoping for someone to persuade him.
'It's still just speculation. Let me hear more. But I'll draw the line clearly. Distinguish between what can be said and what shouldn't be revealed, and I mustn't utter words I can't take responsibility for.'
Calix reminded himself of his given role. Extracting information was the top priority, and he mustn't provide direct help. That would be overstepping his authority.
"Well, forget it. What would change if you understood? As I said before, just listening is good enough. Let's just say it's a soliloquy. That much is okay, right?"
"Does Grima have to fight the wolf?"
"Uh……. Uuum."
Instead, he could make a deal. The meaning of the question was clear. 'Have you received a commission to attack the Marquis Hoover family?' It was a very dangerous question, but if he risked this and provided information, he was prepared to compensate. Of course, it wouldn't be Calix himself paying that price.
And after a certain amount of time had passed, Joltan broke the silence and gave his answer.
"Hehe……. How could guys who tremble before a viper stick their heads into a wolf's muzzle? The old snake isn't foolish. He, no. The viper wants to make the area around the den noisy. He probably wants to buy time until the lion arrives."
"A lion……."
"Right. Far away, a lion from the grasslands is approaching, targeting the wolf. So a mere viper dares to covet the wolf's territory. By the way, I heard the old snake sent other insects besides Grima."
He expressed the Duke Skeles' family as the 'Lion of the Grasslands' and completed the big picture. It was an answer honest enough to surprise Calix inwardly.
'He definitely seems to want someone to persuade him. However, he's trapped in contradiction. He can't tell anyone, but he hopes someone will help him.'
If he had to guess, the commission he received would be to plunder villages within the marquis' territory or cause disturbances. Then he could give indirect hints.
"If I were 'Grima', I wouldn't take the viper's hand."
"……Why?"
Grima's mercenary captain put away his playful demeanor and urged for an answer with serious eyes.
"Because it seems like the viper doesn't want to fight the wolf until the lion arrives, either. So he sent those he could abandon at any time."
"'Those who can be abandoned'……."
"Yes. For the viper, it wouldn't matter at all whether the commission succeeds or fails. The moment Grima enters the wolf's territory, he will have achieved his goal. Even if the commission is successfully carried out, the fact that they attacked a noble under his orders wouldn't disappear, so he could handle them as he pleased afterward. They'd have a leash around their necks. Conversely, if they fail……."
"He could just abandon them. Damn, you're right. Success or failure, it's all problematic."
"There's one more reason. Does Grima know what the wolves are doing?"
"They'd be preparing to fight the lion."
"If that's true, from the wolf's perspective, would they attack the lion first, or would they crush the insects that flew right in front of them?"
"Insects, that expression is a bit... Morning, we're Grima. We are insects, right?"
"Yes, and that very fact is what's important. It's not about which side to choose, but about discerning 'who can help.'"
"Mm……. I see."
Joltan didn't fully understand Calix's words, but instinctively grasped it. If it was hard to choose either side, eliminate the worst option first.
"Thank you. It was a big help. But I don't understand what the last part meant. Who would help insects like us? I mean, Grima. Should we attach ourselves to the wolf even now? Or to the lion?"
However, since the opponent no longer wanted to talk, the conversation ended there. It was because Calix suddenly got up from his seat.
"Huh? Hey, where are you going in the middle of talking? Hey man! Calix!"
Grima's mercenary captain raised his voice toward Calix's back, then suddenly froze stiff in place. The direction he was walking was toward the largest house among the 'Mountain Rabbits' temporary lodgings.
"You, you……?"
"Hey, let's go together!"
The answer to his questions and shock flowed from Volga, who followed behind Calix.
"Dude, I won completely!"
"Did you?"
"Of course. I'm also a Mountain Rabbit. I don't lose in fistfights."
Right. Calix was a 'Mountain Rabbit'.
'Fucking shit, shiiiit, shiiiiiit-!'
After confirming the facts, Joltan's face turned redder than even his bushy beard could hide. This was because he remembered all the words he had babbled as advice earlier. However, emotion and reason were different things. Grima's mercenary captain soon interpreted what Calix's behavior meant. Whose hand would he take? The viper, wolf, lion, or perhaps the Mountain Rabbit? Since he had no more reason or authority to answer... It meant he should meet with his superior directly and resolve it.
"Right, I see. That's how it was. The urgent one finds a place to shit, is that it? Clever bastard, stop there! I need to meet the commander of the Mountain Rabbits!"
The temptation had been successful.