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“M-My lord, I’ve committed no crime! I received permission from the priest to go on a pilgrimage. . .”
“Calm down. I’m not blaming you.”
Marco soothed the traveler. On a journey, not only rogues and monsters were formidable enemies, but knights were also not to be underestimated.
Even a regular knight, not a rogue one, was a frightening adversary for travelers. Being mistaken for a runaway serf or slave could lead to a lot of trouble.
“Why are so many people gathered on the road?”
“Ah, well. . . some crazy mercenaries have occupied the bridge. That’s what everyone’s been discussing, about what to do.”
To cross the river ahead, they needed to cross the bridge, which was currently occupied by mercenaries who wouldn’t let anyone pass.
The weather was cold, and the water too chilled, and the river was not shallow enough to swim across.
“With so many of you here, why don’t you pool your money and pay them a toll?”
“The mercenaries refuse! They’re completely mad!”
Voices of agreement erupted from all around.
Although tolls were usually paid to the local lord, there was a rule even among rogues to let people pass for a certain fee.
But these rogues, perhaps having eaten something wrong, were refusing money and stubbornly occupying the bridge, causing much frustration for travelers.
“We outnumber them; let’s attack at nightfall! There are mercenaries guarding those merchants over there!”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Did you see how many mercenaries were on that bridge? We wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“Now that Sir Knight is here, maybe he can resolve this? Why don’t you talk to him?”
“Are you crazy? This guy is looking for trouble. . .”
The murmuring crowd parted as Johan made way.
Dozens of well-armed men with flags approached, and the crowd split, creating a path. They held their breath and bowed their heads as Johan and his party passed.
“What are these madmen doing on the bridge. . . Let’s just sweep them away!”
Johan fell into thought at Stephen’s words.
Attacking without knowing who the opponent was wasn’t Johan’s style, even if it was something a knight would do.
Shouldn’t they know who they’re fighting against first?
“Sir, if you permit, I’ll go and fight first.”
“No. Let’s find out who we’re dealing with first.”
To Johan, it wasn’t the situation but the opponent that mattered. Even in a humiliating situation, one shouldn’t fight against a stronger opponent.
Suetlg nodded as if he had thought well. In this regard, Johan was really agreeable.
“Listen! We are an embassy from the Jarpen and Abner families. What kind of people are you to dare block the bridge and obstruct the path of good people?”
Marco shouted valiantly. At his cry, the mercenaries on the wide stone bridge reacted abruptly.
The names of the Jarpen and Abner families were well-known enough for the experienced mercenaries.
Even the mercenaries who had rudely told the travelers to get lost were cautious around nobility, hurrying over to respond.
“We are the County Mercenary Group!”
“Watch your mouth, scoundrel! Remember who stands before you and choose your words wisely.”
At Marco’s words, the three mercenaries who had run over twitched their faces.
Being noble didn’t mean they couldn’t get angry. But they quickly assessed the situation and bowed their heads.
“S-Sorry, sir knight. We deal with rough stuff. . . This head of mine doesn’t always listen well. Please forgive us generously!”
“Please forgive us!”
Johan, who was listening from behind, asked.
“Do you know the County Mercenary Group?”
“They’re quite famous.”
A mercenary group that numbers in the hundreds and survives several years inevitably becomes famous. There weren’t many that made it that far.
An experienced mercenary Khan cautiously asked.
“May I say something?”
“Of course. And feel free to speak your mind anytime.”
“Thank you. The leader of the County Mercenary Group is a bit peculiar. He’s nicknamed ‘the Prophet’. . .”
“Hmm?”
Suetlg also showed curiosity. A mere mercenary having the nickname of a prophet.
Prophecy was among the most difficult and complex fields of magic, not something just anyone could do.
“Ah, that’s not to say he can prophesize like wizard-nim!”
Khan, embarrassed, stuttered.
“It’s just that Mahreet himself is so uncanny in his work, he got the nickname of a prophet.”
Avoiding dangerous assignments, participating in profitable battles, and evading formidable enemies. . .
After doing such things a few times, a mercenary leader naturally earns a nickname. This also builds trust among mercenaries.
Although the life of mercenaries was marked by sword and blood, they tended to be superstitious. In this regard, the leader of the County Mercenary Group more than qualified as a leader.
“Are we going to fight?”
“If they don’t clear the way, we might have to.”
For Johan, waiting or turning back was easy, but now he was carrying several flags and names. Yielding to mere mercenaries would be too great a loss.
“If we catch the leader, give me a chance to ask him some questions.”
“Don’t worry. I was planning to ask as well.”
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
“Captain! Captain!!”
“What’s the commotion?”
A man adorned with ornaments on his arms and neck frowned as he stepped out of the tent.
He was Mahreet, the leader of the County Mercenary Group.
“I told you to block the bridge, why are you crossing? Do you miss the taste of the whip?”
“It’s not that! The nobles have come!”
“Nobles?!”
Mahreet was taken aback, so much that his stern voice faltered.
It was a problem on a different level than mere travelers.
“What should we do? Shall we give way?”
𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐩!
Mahreet struck the cheek of the mercenary who spoke.
“Don’t talk nonsense! Go and block them by any means. Persuade, coax, or threaten. . .”
“How can we threaten them?!”
“If they try to pass, tell them even if they are nobles, we will fight! Just make some excuse, you fools! Say we’re following the orders of a noble whose name we cannot reveal. Just make them back off.”
Mahreet fiddled nervously with a ring on his finger.
He had a bad feeling about the dream he had last night!
━𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬. 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐁𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫!
Mahreet believed in the prophecy, which had never been wrong before.
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
“Wait. Isn’t that Caenerna?”
“You must be joking. . . Oh.”
Suetlg was also surprised. Among the mercenaries on the bridge, there was a red-haired wizard.
“Looks like they hired her. She’s quite skilled.”
“With such abilities, it wouldn’t be difficult.”
“. . .But why is she tied up?”
“. . . . . .”
Johan and Suetlg were agape.
Caenerna was captured as a prisoner!
“Is that woman really the wizard Caenerna?”
“Even wizards are human! Wait, why am I defending Caenerna?”
They checked again in disbelief. No matter how many times they looked, Caenerna was indeed captured. The mercenaries were circling around, shouting things like ‘𝘞𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩!’ ‘𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩!’.