The Regression Of A Grand Mercenary - 80 - Unexpected but Simple Days in the Spring Season

After a few days, things were starting to settle in the spring season.

The seeds were finally planted in Evelyn’s plot, and from here on out she only had to wait as she tends to the land…making sure that it was going to be a successful harvest.

Other than that, things in the village and in my life were simply going about as usual.

All except for the fact that the reputation of my company’s name was slowly starting to grow.

With how I had asked the village to try and spread the name of our company, it didn’t take long before we were asked to deal with all sorts of problems.

The first one to come to us was a village that was quite close to ours. In their trouble, a few bandits were seen lurking around the village trying to seize their resources and capture their women. It was the typical characteristics of a bandit’s agenda.

So without giving it a second thought, I had asked the boys to take on this mission. Knowing that what they were going up against were bandits, it was going to be their first time taking a life…

I thought it was going to be a hurdle for them, but after sending thirty of them to handle the situation, I was surprised to find that nothing about them changed. In fact, they looked fulfilled coming back to the village with a perfect score.

They killed all 20 bandits, grabbed their loot, rescued a few women who were imprisoned in a cave and even gained a few more information regarding the locations of other bandits that were spread out and close to the other villages.

With this, the village who asked for our helped not only let us keep the looted items, but also they rewarded us with about 15 gold. In the success of this mission, the boys were able to grow our name.

Not only that, but the boys gained experience in dealing with actual bandits. Their efforts in training with an actual sword technique was showing. I was told in their report that they were able to handle the bandits easily despite not having a core. With Mario leading this attack, I was confident that they would succeed, but they came back with better news than I had expected.

After the first success of that mission, it was then that other groups were starting to look to us with respect.

One particular group was a known rich merchant who was impressed with the boy’s work with the bandits, that he was convinced in having to hire the company to escort them on their journey to a city that was about a week’s worth of travel from going forth and going back home.

Although I was hesitant in taking this job, he convinced me through the fact that he was willing to pay 50 gold coins. Not only that, he was also willing to provide food and water for the boys on their journey.

Seeing as how he was this desperate to hire us, we accepted. But this time, I had to join in on the job.

Something about his request felt oddly mischievous.

And my hunch was right.

When we travelled, I took with me thirty of the boys on the journey. This time, Astin was the one who I assigned to manage the boys in their work.

And surprisingly, the merchant brought with him about 15 carts full of resources…mostly rice. I thought it was nothing suspicious, but…

On our third day…when we were reaching our destination, all of a sudden, about a hundred bandits came out from the side of the road and ambushed us.

Thankfully, I was there that day and we killed all of them. Although some of the boys were injured, they lived…barely.

When we finally finished the task given to us, the merchant apologized and explained to me that the reason why so many bandits came and attacked them was due to the fact that the Merchant has made a bad name for himself against the bandits near the city. He offended those bandits, because he wasn’t willing to trade with them due to the fact that his wife was killed in an incident caused by the bandits.

Simply put, the merchant made us handle his enemies in the end.

Because after we killed those bandits who confronted us on the road, he told me that he would even add a hundred more gold into our pay if we kill all of the bandits that were affiliated with the incident around his wife.

There were still a hundred more bandits found in different locations around and within the city.  To be more specific, there were five bandit groups involved, all allotting up to a hundred bandits.

But because of how much more time we would have to spend solving this issue, I had to change the agreement and said that I had to handle it by myself. It was easier and faster that way…

So in just under an hour, I killed a hundred more bandits around the city. Each camp that I went to, I simply took the coin they gathered and freed the people they kidnapped. The rest of their things would have to be handled by the merchant himself.

After that, I came back with over a hundred gold’s worth of coin from five camps he pointed me to.

So in the end, in just under a week, we made around 250 gold coins. This was a lot…but knowing that I have to pay the boys a single gold coin each week, this much would only last me 5 weeks at most.

Still, this mission made us even more reputable. Because after we returned, about five more people were waiting at the village asking about having their problems solved by us.

One mission led to us finding a murderer that was hiding deep in a forest. I sent five of my boys into that mission and in just two days, they returned with the murderer captured. In a few days, he would be hanged for his crimes.

Another mission we were involved in was about a monster that was terrorizing a farm near a village. When I came with ten of the boys, we saw that this monster in particular was a common herbivore-type that was eating all of the leaves that were growing on an apple tree. This monster in particular had a thick armor surrounding its body, making it impossible for simple swords to penetrate it. So I had to take action myself and kill the monster cleanly.

Using its thick hide, I was able to create a dozen shields capable of stopping attacks that were infused with Core-coated weapons.

Usually these kinds of request would normally be handled by either the military of the kingdom, the soldiers of the ruling noble, or more commonly the adventurers and the mercenaries.

But sadly, the people who come to us were simple villagers without any ruling authority or security.

They had a lot of reasons for coming to the company and having us solve their issues. Some didn’t have enough coin to hire adventurers or mercenaries. At times, their problems wouldn’t catch the attention of some nobles with the power to solve the issue. And the villages who didn’t have any power to take action, they find it more convenient to reach out to someone who was willing to actually help…that being this company of mine.

The village defense company.

For some poor folks who wants their problems solved but don’t have the money to pay…we take on those problems.

With this set of vision we placed on our name, it didn’t take long before the company grabbed the attention of some parasite.

***

The boys were training that day, sweat dripping, wooden blades clashing, when all of a sudden—

CRASH!

The gates of our barracks exploded inward, the wood splintering like twigs. Dust and smoke filled the air as ten figures walked out from the rubble as if they owned the place.

They weren’t villagers. That much was obvious.

Each of them wore mismatched armor, carried weapons too flashy to belong to common thugs. The way they moved—the confidence, the arrogance—made it clear who they were.

Adventurers.

“Hmm… so this is the famous ‘Village Defense Company,’ huh?” sneered a man in shoddy armor with two swords at his waist. He looked around with a mocking grin. “What a dump. Hahaha!”

“It really is! It looks like a chicken coop!” howled another—short, round, and fat, his entire body shaped like a barrel.

The boys tensed, hands tightening around their weapons.

Then a towering figure stepped forward. A woman, nearly eight feet tall, her curved blade gleaming in the sunlight. She looked down at the boys like they were ants.

“Oy. Who’s the leader here?”

The air grew heavy.

Despite the pressure, Mario swallowed hard, steadied himself, and stepped forward. His voice shook at first, but he forced it out.

“Who are you people?”

The man with the two swords squinted at him, then burst into laughter.

“Hah!? You’re the leader? You’re the shortest one here! That’s hilarious!”

Mario’s eyes narrowed, his fists trembling. “…Are you bastards bandits?”

The words landed like an insult.

“…What did you say?”

The towering woman didn’t wait for an answer. Her fist swung like a boulder. BAM!

Mario was launched off his feet, but instead of crashing down, he twisted midair and landed in a crouch, his boots skidding against the dirt. The ground where he had stood cracked from the force of her punch.

The boys erupted in anger, weapons raised.

“You bastards!!” Garon roared, his bow already drawn and aimed straight at the woman’s head.

“What the hell are you here for?!” Relin shouted, sword gleaming.

The man with the two swords grinned, licking his lips. “Looks like these small-fries want to die. Oh well. Guess we’ll just have to sacrifice some of them.”

“Then let’s get this over with!” laughed the barrel of a man, cracking his knuckles.

But before they could move, another voice cut through the chaos.

“Stop.”

The crowd of adventurers parted as a man walked forward.

He didn’t wear the flashiest armor. He didn’t wield the biggest sword. But the moment he stepped into view, his presence silenced even his own companions. His hair shone like gold under the sun, his eyes were as clear and blue as the sea. His rugged face carried a dangerous calm. He looked like some noble prince who had decided to walk among ruffians.

With a charming smile, he raised a hand.

“Easy, everyone. Let’s not make this messier than it needs to be.”

The boys stiffened, their grip on their weapons tightening.

The man’s voice was smooth, confident, but behind it lay an undeniable weight.

“Listen well, boys. Before you do anything rash, you should know who you’re dealing with. Allow me to introduce ourselves…” He spread his arms dramatically, like an actor on stage. “We are Silverfish. A registered adventurer party. And we’re here to issue a challenge.”

The word hung in the air.

Mario scowled. “…A challenge? That sounds like complete bullshit.”

The golden-haired man chuckled. “Oh, it’s no joke. Adventurers have the right to issue formal challenges against other adventurers or even groups like yours. Whoever accepts decides the stakes. Whoever wins claims them. It’s an old tradition—bloody, but binding.”

Malvoy stepped forward then, his expression grim.

“He’s not lying,” he said. “This… this kind of thing happens. Adventurers challenging each other for job quest all the time, and at times like this…for territory. Sometimes even guilds clash over it. When it comes to guilds, those ‘challenges’ have led to small-scale wars.”

Relin’s face paled. “…Seriously? Then what the hell do we do?”

“The only person who can decide that,” Astin said, walking back from his training, his gaze sharp, “is the Captain.”

At that moment, silence fell over the yard.

The boys looked at me.

The intruders looked at me.

And the man called Silverfish smiled like a wolf waiting for blood.

All the while, I was just there—leaning under a tree, arms crossed, watching it all play out like some theater staged for me.

But when things finally reached their boiling point, I stepped in.

“…Silverfish, huh? Never heard of that name.” My voice cut through the chatter as I walked toward them, calm and unhurried.

The man with two swords hanging from his waist tilted his head, sizing me up. “You look a little young to be the captain of this place.”

“That may be,” I replied casually, “but facts don’t change. Whatever the case, I built this place with my own hands. So tell me, Silverfish… where did you crawl out from? Because I’ve never once heard your name.” My words dripped with mockery.

“…We’re new.” The blonde man—obviously their leader—spoke up.

“Really? Hmm. I see.”

“If you’re truly the captain,” he continued smoothly, “then this camp follows your word. So how about it? Do you accept our challenge?”

I tilted my head, my expression unreadable. “Before that, let me ask you something. Who sent you here?”

His brows furrowed. “What? What do you mean?”

“Think about it.” I narrowed my eyes. “A group of adventurers suddenly shows up, demanding a challenge. And it just so happens to be right when our name is beginning to spread? That doesn’t smell like coincidence. When forces start to grow, people often move to crush them—or control them. Sometimes it’s politics, sometimes it’s power. So I’ll ask again: who’s pulling your strings?”

“Tch, don’t be so serious.” The blonde man chuckled, though there was a flicker of unease behind his grin. “No one’s backing us. Your company’s name is just on the rise, and we thought… why not take it? If we crush you, we get your reputation, your jobs, your connections. You might not see it yet, but this little stronghold of yours is a goldmine for adventurers like us.”

“Hmm. Fine then.” I stepped forward, my tone cooling. “If you won’t tell me the truth, then I’ll just have to drag it out of you.”

“Oh?” His smirk widened. “And what does that mean?”

“It means,” I said, lips curling faintly, “that I accept.”

“Good. That’s what I wanted to hear.” His grin was all teeth.

“Hold on, though,” I raised a finger. “Challenges have weight. Balance. You can’t just come here, make demands, and expect me to play for scraps. If you want this stupid game of yours accepted, then you’d better offer me something of equal value. Otherwise, you should walk away now—before I get offended.”

I let a sliver of my bloodlust slip into the air, and the effect was immediate. The man with two swords stiffened, his hand twitching toward his hilt.

“Cocky little brat—” he started, but the blonde man cut him off with a sharp hand and a sudden shift to a formal tone.

“We’re willing to wager five hundred gold,” he declared, “in exchange for everything here.”

“Everything?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” he said firmly. “The land, the barracks, the reputation you’ve built… your armors, your swords… and your men. We take them all.”

A silence fell.

“…That doesn’t sound very fair,” I finally said with a dry chuckle. “But fine. I’ll accept.”

“W-what?!” Astin’s voice cracked from behind me. He stumbled forward, eyes wide. “Captain, what do you mean?! Are we… are we part of the wager?!”

I turned my head slightly toward him, my tone calm but sharp. “Astin. The moment you graduated was the moment you truly joined this company. That means one thing—you entrusted yourself to me. It means my word directs you. My orders guide you. And in return, I carry the responsibility for all of you.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “Y-yes, Captain!”

“Good.” My gaze shifted back to Silverfish. “And Astin—don’t panic. At some point, challenges like this were bound to come knocking, whether we wanted them or not. That’s the world we live in. So stand tall.”

I smirked faintly. “Besides… do you really think they can beat me?”

Astin lowered his head, a faint, nervous smile creeping onto his face. “…No, sir.”

“Good.”

The barrel-bodied man snorted, wiping his greasy hands on his belt. “Huh. You look pretty confident for someone leading a weak little group. You really think you stand a chance against us?”

“That depends,” I said, folding my arms. “On what kind of challenge you want.”

The swordsman with the two blades laughed, spinning a knife on his finger. “Heh, look at you acting ever so confident. Hahah, Its usually custom but since we issued the challenge, you—being the challenged—get to pick the terms. So? What do you want to play?”

I let the question hang in the air, watching their faces as my smile spread slow and deliberate. “Play? No. A duel is not a game, you rats. It’s a fight. One where lives get settled.”

The swordsman’s grin faltered. The fat man blinked. Around us, a hush fell—one of those silences that tastes like storm.

“W-what?” the twin-sworded man stammered, confusion and a sourness edging his voice.

I didn’t loosen my smile. “Like I said. A fight to the death.”

The color drained from the barrel-man’s round face. “But—” He swallowed. “Challenges don’t usually… take lives. There are rules, traditions—”

“Traditions don’t matter when you come to take everything someone built,” I cut in quietly. “You came to steal our name, our barracks, our people. You wanted to put a price on men’s lives as if they were livestock. Fine. I’ll give you the full picture of who I am, front and center.”

The words landed like a stone. The two-swords man’s hand twitched toward his hilt, but the blonde leader raised a hand to stop him, jaw hardening. For a moment, their swagger looked very small.

“Captain—” Astin started from behind me, voice tight. The boys clustered closer, fists white on wooden hilts.

I glanced at them, then back at Silverfish. “So either you back down right now and leave this place in peace… or you accept those terms. A life for a life. Everything on the line. No second chances.”

The blonde’s smile was a practiced thing, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He looked at his companions, weighing the sudden shift. After a breath, he laughed—too loud, too forced. “You really are bold… Fine. Death it is, then. But know this; if you lose, everything here becomes ours. We take your land, your barracks, your men—everything.”

“Agreed.” I nodded. “If you lose… you die. If I lose… I die. Is that clear enough for you?”

They stared for a long, heavy beat. The fat man’s grin had wholly disappeared; the tall woman’s curved blade hummed as she shifted her weight, eager to make a move. The two-sworded man’s fingers were gone from his knife; his jaw worked.

“Very well,” the blonde said at last, voice colder now. “We’ll start at dawn. One-on-one. You and me.”

A ripple ran through the yard. A low, dangerous energy hummed—an entire company holding its breath.

I looked at the boys—at Mario, at Garon, at Astin. Then I turned back to the blonde, letting the quiet settle like in. “No, we don’t have to wait until dawn…one hour. You have one hour to prepare. Don’t come with tricks…I’ll simply be waiting here.”

He bowed slightly, as if accepting a gentleman’s duel. “An hour…fine.”

When they left, the camp didn’t relax. They’d come for a feast and left with a guillotine over all our heads. The men of Silverfish had expected an easy show of dominance. Instead, they’d signed a contract written in blood.

And now in an hour, it would tell whose name would be carved into the field and whose would be buried beneath it.

***

“Captain, is it true what you said?” Astin asked, his brows drawn tight.

“What do you mean?”

“About them not working on their own. Were they… hired by someone?”

“It is,” I replied after a pause. “Although I don’t know who it is yet, I can tell those men weren’t acting on their own.”

“W-why do you say that?” Astin’s voice carried a mix of worry and disbelief.

“They didn’t look ready to die when they accepted the duel,” I explained. “They were too calm—too confident. That means they already had something prepared. A trick waiting in the shadows.”

“Does that mean…”

“Yes.” I cut him off, my tone sharp. “It means someone is pulling their strings. Either way, by the time this day ends, a man will be buried deep in the woods. One way or another.”

Astin’s face stiffened. He nodded quietly, as if the weight of my words had settled on his shoulders.

I turned to Mario, who was still dusting himself off. “Mario, are you alright?”

“I-I’m fine, Captain,” he said quickly, though his voice wavered. “When she attacked, I twisted my body and dodged as best as I could. My side feels a little numb, but it’s nothing serious.”

I studied him carefully. His stance was steady, but his complexion was pale. “That woman had developed her core to the second stage. Her strike could’ve shattered a boulder. Have yourself examined at the clinic—don’t assume you’re fine just because you’re standing.”

“O-of course, Captain!” Mario bowed his head, almost tripping over himself as he hurried to obey.

I watched him go, then let out a slow breath. For a moment, I thought things would proceed as they should—that I’d have time to prepare for dawn. But just as the thought crossed my mind, movement at the edge of the yard caught my eye.

Desmond was walking into the barracks. Alone, his expression grim, as though carrying news he’d rather not speak. When our eyes met, he gave a short bow before approaching.

“…What is it?” I asked, my voice dropping.

“Forgive the intrusion, Sir Thill,” Desmond said, his tone low and deliberate. “But there is a visitor at the house. Miss Evelyn has requested your presence.”

The air seemed to shift. A visitor—at a time like this? That was no coincidence.

“…Understood.” I straightened immediately, no further words needed. Without wasting another moment, I left the barracks and headed for the house.