Chapter 47: The Prince of Latia
"Where on earth are the Mountain Rabbits hiding?"
As the rumors grew, so did the curiosity of the busybodies, for a large mercenary group to vanish like ghosts while a war with the Niboria Empire was underway.
Thanks to this, their abilities received even more attention, but the subjects of all this talk revealed their location themselves when their next commission was decided.
Central Astria Kingdom, Count Colonnel's territory.
About a hundred mercenaries emerged from the brush and moved toward the main road. The residents' eyes widened because the place they emerged from was a restricted area.
"The royal hunting grounds. Who would've thought to hide there?"
"Who else but the captain? The royals never come out anyway. Hiding right under their noses is the best strategy."
"We had a good rest~"
Indeed, the Mountain Rabbits had been staying very close to the kingdom's capital all this time. The territory ruled by Count Colonnel, a royal relative, and a place where the royal hunting grounds served as a refuge. This was an extremely private space, making it an ideal place to avoid people's eyes.
'It's the Mountain Rabbits!'
'Aren't they fake too?'
'No. I've seen that flag before. They're real!'
And the mercenaries led by Royce experienced their elevated reputation for the first time.
While it would be proper to keep one's distance and be hushed around those who make their living by the sword, most showed no signs of aversion. No, far from being averse, they approached excessively close.
Men nodded in greeting whenever their eyes met, women prayed for them to protect their children and families, and the children... It was pointless to describe.
Clank!
"Damn it... Get away!"
"S-sorry."
"...Don't touch the weapons. Got it?"
It was a strange feeling. Though they'd been fairly respected for a mercenary group before, this time, the look in people's eyes was different. Could solving one anomaly really make such a difference?
Although some residents who'd heard false rumors looked at them coldly, saying things like ‘Stay loyal to the kingdom’ or ‘Not fighting the Niboria Empire is betrayal!’.
Still, taking the good with the good, the Mountain Rabbits accepted the dual emotions directed at them as they were.
That lasted until they entered the kingdom's capital.
***
Astria Kingdom's capital, Star Haven.
The great city called the Sanctuary of Stars had changed much in just three months. Especially the outer district, where commoners resided, had become desolate due to forced conscription and tax collection.
The aftermath of war had struck.
Crash!
"Look here! If you take that too, what are we supposed to live on!"
"Get out of the way!"
"Ahhh!"
Calix quietly watched as kingdom soldiers ran amok. There was no mercy in the hands overturning the shop stall. Fruit and dried fish rolled on the ground, and the young man who tried to resist was instead being dragged away as a conscription target.
"Not good."
"Gregor?"
"Really not good, Cook Comrade. They say all sorts of things happen when war breaks out, but for the kingdom's capital to be this desolate... Perhaps the war situation is worse than we thought."
Volga added his words.
"Sir Gregor is right. Even in my homeland of Angalia, they didn't conscript this severely. At least they discussed who to send and who to leave before taking people."
The situation certainly didn't look good. Conscription aside, the capital's residents were all skin and bones. Their cheeks were sunken, they lacked the energy to stand properly, and their breath smelled sweet.
Yes, they were starving.
It was difficult to understand.
"Gregor, isn't Count Colonnel's territory only two days away? The residents there seemed to have some comfort, so why are the capital's people..."
"Cook Comrade, this is a major city. It's a place where farmed goods are bought and sold, not where people farm and live. Even if the mouths to feed increase, the land size is fixed, so what can be done?"
"...I see."
He understood.
As the population was large, the blow when commerce stopped was also great. And that 'commerce' would operate according to Duke Saitz's will.
He was condoning death for the sake of war.
Thud—
Then suddenly, Calix looked at an old man collapsed on the street. His family members approached and shook his body, but there was no response. The wife grieved but lacked the strength to squeeze out tears and couldn't cry.
Only battlefields aren't cruel.
The lifeless streets, the living spaces suffering from starvation, the reality of helplessly letting loved ones go—all were equally terrible.
Gleam—
In contrast, the nobles' mansions visible in his sight were incomparably splendid. Even during the war, emerald light swirled around the windows, and carts loaded with gold items constantly came and went through the main gates. They didn't even bother to hide their glittering treasures.
Thus, even while war was being waged, money accumulated. They were becoming wealthier.
'The capital's appearance is splendid but... it's built on people's blood.'
Was this the best option?
At least it was clearly intentional. The Duke anticipated everything yet just watched. He killed the starving, yet didn't dirty his own hands directly.
A clever yet despicable mindset.
Soon, Calix's fingertips tingled. Perhaps because his abilities had grown, he wanted to cut something. Rarely, emotion seemed to push past reason.
It was a hasty thought.
'To think of opposing Duke Saitz. Not yet. I'm still far from it, Calix.'
Fortunately, reason quickly regained its position, and just then Captain Royce raised his fist to signal they'd arrived at their destination.
The birthplace of Astria Kingdom's mercenaries and where all commissions began—the Mercenary Guild Central Branch.
***
While the new Mountain Rabbits organized their luggage, Calix followed the captain into the building.
Clunk!
"...It's quiet."
A dozen pairs of eyes gathered for a moment, but there were no excessive greetings or commotion.
A somehow cold atmosphere.
For a central branch, there weren't many people, and above all, deep wariness resided in their eyes.
"Royce."
"Kecha. How've you been?"
"As you can see. Still alive."
The guild administrator exchanged eye greetings and shrugged his shoulders. Meanwhile, kingdom conscription officers sat at one side of a table. If they were half-baked youngsters, he'd have given them a look to run away quickly, but the opponent was the 'Mountain Rabbits'.
They'd be fine for now.
"The atmosphere isn't good."
"Everyone left for the north. All mercenary groups of 4-Knot rank or higher moved too. The 'Burning Rain' mercenary group was the last one four days ago. Other than that... Damn, mercenaries who've set foot in the guild lately are all quiet. The conscription officers have their eyes burning bright. Anyone with something attached to their neck gets dragged away."
"...Is the war situation that bad?"
The central branch's administrator, Kecha, continued speaking while wiping a cup with one hand. Though countless incidents had occurred over the past three months, the most recent hot topic was undoubtedly just one.
"The war situation is one thing, but the South is the problem."
"Why the south?"
"Last fall's harvest dropped sharply. You know, too, right? When those Niboria bastards will go back."
"Those bastards will leave if you give them plenty to eat, won't they?"
"Right. But people are starving to death in the south, the kingdom's largest granary."
"Did some anomaly occur?"
"No. I'd have understood if that were the case. The harvest just decreased. That's exactly the problem. To negotiate with the Niboria Empire by giving them food like before... We'd have to worry about civil unrest."
Royce let out a short groan. If they couldn't give the enemy nation what it wanted, this war wouldn't end easily.
"What about the other kingdoms? Are reinforcements still not here?"
"Gardia Mountain mercenaries have been pouring in early on. It's the kingdom of mercenaries, isn't it? When they smell money, they can't stay still. But other places are different. Kalahim seems busy with power struggles among the great chieftains, and the Viale Mountain Alliance has its eyes on the eastern continent. Like the Elvra Holy Empire, they seem to think the forces of darkness stirring is a bigger problem."
"Hmm..."
"Well, it's not all bad news. At least not for you folks. Anyway, the 'Mountain Rabbits' are the only large mercenary group in a position to move freely. That's why your next commission has been decided."
At this, Administrator Kecha suddenly brought up the main topic. He handed over a mission proposal, then gestured toward one side of the room with an added explanation.
Faint laughter spread from a table where eight men sat together. And among them, one person's appearance stood out particularly.
"Adrian Deconti, the First Prince of the Latia Republic. It's been about four days since he appeared in the capital. If things had gone as scheduled, he should've crossed over to the east already... I don't know if he's a terrible navigator or was scammed by his guide."
"Characteristics?"
"His personality isn't difficult. No, rather, he's closer to being a good person. He's been holed up in the guild building the whole time, but there's never been a problem with the mercenaries. He likes talking, and likes listening even more."
Indeed, that was the case.
His brown hair gleamed even in the shadowed interior, and his deep blue eyes were as deep as the ocean, exuding an unpredictable atmosphere. From the way he laughed heartily among commoners, he seemed like a sailor who'd lived freely, but at the same time, the bearing of royalty permeated his every action.
Needless to say, he was someone not to let one's guard down around.
"A prince from the republic..."
"You understand the key point well. He's called the last hope of the Deconti royal family. Conversely, the republican government is a person they deeply detest. Be careful not to get too distant or too close."
After nodding at the additional information, when he turned his head to the side, there was someone who'd made their assessment one step ahead of him as captain.
Calix was staring intently at the escort target.
"Are Latia women that beautiful?"
"Of course! My friend, you've never seen them in person! If you had seen them even once, you wouldn't be asking!"
"Not at all. When I went, there were only men?"
"Uhahaha! Latia women are as rough as men! They grew up facing sea winds, so what can you do! Well then, is Astria a bit different?"
Most of Adrian Deconti's words were frivolous jokes, but occasionally, there seemed to be signs of testing subtle boundaries. Questions that could infer Astria Kingdom's political situation were interspersed between his words.
As a prince of the republic, an existence walking a tightrope between monarchy and republic. And the one who knew that fact best was himself. At this, veteran mercenaries, including Volga, tried to act uninterested, but as exotic stories continued to pop up, they unknowingly became absorbed.
Calix's eyes were filled only with wariness.
'...A supreme-grade knight.'
What filled his vision was a golden hue. But it didn't shine like what he'd seen so far. Instead of leaping wildly like something unrefined and raw, it was well-polished and conveyed pressure just by existing. Balanced power, and even a solid central axis. The golden flame blazed while encroaching on a certain range toward the back of the neck.
However, this wasn't a simple warning. Not just an outwardly apparent threat, but an awareness reverberating from deep within.
'You're not there yet.'
Calix's body, his senses, his 'sixth sense' warned him.
He was one who wins before fighting—
If they fought right now, he would lose.
It was certain. Not a matter of strength but experience and flow, balance too. Even if he resolved to face him, a fight couldn't be established.
Thus, before the solid wall called overwhelming difference... He was blocked. Adrian Deconti was the first completed knight he'd encountered.
That's when it happened.
Thud thud thud—
"Hey, give me one more drink here. On credit."
"...Sure."
"Don't frown, I'll pay it all back. But before that... An unfamiliar face. Your features are clear."
"..."
"What's your name?"
He approached the Mountain Rabbits and gulped down the newly filled beer mug. In that brief moment, his gaze toward Calix flashed sharply.
Just as someone had observed him, he too had observed his counterpart.