Chapter 35

The gangsters and mercenaries guarding the alley returned to Bradley's shack when the agreed time arrived.

"Master. Have you finished...?"

Patten, who had entered the room, stiffened.

The same went for Yaksuni and the gangsters who followed.

It was because of the gruesome scene that lay before them, accompanied by the pungent smell of blood.

A massive, dismembered corpse. Blood, entrails, and flesh were splattered everywhere.

There was no need to guess who had created this scene.

After all, among the three in the room, only Ian was covered in blood.

Declan turned to look at them.

"Good timing. Could you clean this up a bit?"

His complexion was somewhat pale, but his tone was not much different from usual.

Patten, who quickly closed the door, approached him and said,

"What is all this? ...Where is Sir Bradley?"

"This corpse is Bradley."

At Declan's answer, Patten and the mercenaries looked at the body in confusion.

"Is this... Sir Bradley?"

The bloated and twisted muscles, the grotesque growths, and the massive size.

It looked more like the corpse of a monster than a human.

"...A Fallen One."

Yaksuni blurted out.

He added, trembling,

"Sir Bradley was a Fallen One. Is that true?"

Declan, who had glanced at Ian, nodded.

A sigh escaped the mercenaries.

While almost no one knew the exact nature of the Fallen Ones, it was inevitable to hear rumors about them if you lived by the sword.

Rumors like how they spread the madness of the Black Wall, or how they could become immortal.

If they caught the Empire's eye, the Holy Knights or the Inquisition would be dispatched to annihilate everything around them—terrifying rumors, all of them.

And now, in Ordell, one of their commanders was a Fallen One.

"Then I'll be on my way."

Ian said this then.

There was no reason for him to stay now that the mercenaries had arrived.

He had also just finished interrogating Declan.

Most importantly, his entire body felt disgusting.

"Hold on."

Declan quickly stopped him.

"Can you spare a little more time?"

"Is there still something you're curious about?"

"You said you wouldn't doubt me anymore."

"For now, that's true."

"Then will you tell me what you plan to do from now on?"

"You heard what that thing said. There are more Fallen Ones to deal with."

The mercenaries, who had been murmuring, froze.

There was no way the words of someone who had killed both the monsters in the underground sewers and the Fallen Ones could be false.

"Your father and brother, both of them?"

"......?!"

The next words from Declan left everyone breathless.

Their instincts were warning them.

They were hearing something they shouldn't.

Someone's gaze turned toward the door.

Philip was already standing in front of it, his eyes filled with distrust.

"But then."

"Then... could you give me a few days?"

Regardless, Ian and Declan continued their conversation calmly.

"A few days?"

"I'm not trying to stop you. However, if the lord and his heir were to die suddenly, it would cause great chaos in the fief."

"That's not my concern, but..."

"If it makes your job a little easier, would you consider it?"

"Hmm…."

Ian, who had been pondering, nodded slightly.

"I'll listen."

"Infiltrating the inner castle won't be easy. Of course, with your skills, you can certainly do it. But there's no need to act like a thief or an assassin when doing the right thing. There's no need to bear a bad name."

"Then what?"

"Let's go through the main gate. Boldly."

"…Are you planning a rebellion?"

"A rebellion?"

Declan smiled.

"How can judging a Fallen One be called a rebellion? It's about upholding justice."

"Will you take the lord's seat?"

"If that's the natural order, then I must. I have no intention of reaching into the darkness or raising a banner against the kingdom. It might not be a bad choice for the kingdom's future."

You're deluding yourself.

Ian, smirking, said,

"I don't care about the kingdom's future. What matters is what I get by helping you. I'm only killing them because it's a commission."

"Ah, I see. You want something practical. You wouldn't be interested in a position I offer...?"

After a moment's thought, Declan said,

"Your weapons are already excellent, so how about a matching set of armor? I'm sure there's something good in the castle. Of course, I'll give you money too. Not a fortune, but a fair amount."

Ian blinked for a moment.

A quest window had appeared.

The Bastard's Revenge.

Ian chose to accept it but said without showing any emotion,

"What do you think, Philip? Is this a reasonable offer?"

Philip nodded.

"A fief must have a lord. If we can prove that Viscount Burcard and his heir were Fallen Ones, His Majesty the King will recognize the legitimacy."

"If that's the case, will you hand over the heads of the viscount and the heir?"

"At least one of them, I want to kill with my own hands. It has great personal and public significance."

While speaking of killing his kin, there was no sign of hesitation in Declan's eyes.

Instead, they shone with the excitement of a long-awaited moment.

Of course, Ian had no interest in the details.

"The deal is done. However, you must prepare perfectly. If things get messy, I'll leave at the first opportunity."

"That won't happen. By the way, now that this friend is helping me..."

Declan's gaze turned to the mercenaries, who were holding their breath.

"Will you join me? To judge the corrupted lord and his vassals of Ordell, and to earn a place for your efforts."

He spoke softly, smiling.

But his eyes, fixed on the mercenaries, were filled with a strange coldness.

Some of them swallowed hard.

"Isn't it obvious? The moment I decided to serve you, I've always dreamed of such a future."

"It'll be fun. An opportunity to become a noble with six fingers."

Patten and Yaksuni spoke in turn.

Patten, laughing, looked at his gangsters.

"What are you afraid of? A man who can kill a Fallen One alone is fighting with us. Are you going to throw away a chance to rise?"

"Of course not! Let's do it."

"Damn, let's do it!"

The mercenaries finally roared in response.

They all knew, of course.

If they didn't join after hearing this, they would die without anyone knowing.

Declan, nodding, looked at Ian.

"Good. Ian, rest well. My friends and I will prepare. You just need to do your job. Don't forget the terms of the contract."

Ian, nodding, added,

"Prepare thoroughly. You won't get a second chance."

Declan's smile deepened.

"Don't worry. I've never had a second chance in my life."

***

Two days passed.

Changes were quietly taking place.

Nearly 30% of the mercenaries had silently disappeared from the city, and a strange tension hung over the faces of the shack village residents.

Of course, it was a change that was hard to notice unless you lived with them.

There were still many mercenaries.

On the surface, everything seemed normal.

Ian's routine was the same.

During the day, he handled small commissions, and at night, he spent time eating and drinking.

The difference from others was that his calm was not an act.

He really had no reason to rush or be nervous.

Of course, the situation was different for the bastard.

"Master is nowhere to be seen again."

Philip grumbled.

"No news is good news."

Ian, nonchalantly, bit into a sausage.

Surprisingly, he was getting used to the taste.

"I understand that a bastard needs recognition and legitimacy, but a frontal assault is impossible. Even if the lord can deal with the Fallen Ones, it will be a significant blow to both the lord's army and the mercenaries."

"He must have a plan. Master wouldn't be unaware of this."

"Do you have any idea what it is?"

"What's the point of guessing? We'll know when the time comes. And it's not important to us."

Ian raised his beer mug.

"We just need to finish our job. Whatever Master's plan is, it will be easier and more convenient than what we originally intended."

"Speaking of which, I've never asked. What was the original plan?"

"One was to climb the outer wall and infiltrate the inner castle, avoiding the guards and other residents."

"…And the other?"

"There's a path we've been to before."

Philip's brow furrowed.

"You don't mean the underground sewers?"

"Exactly. It leads to the inner castle. The smell... was unavoidable."

Philip, making a face, added resolutely,

"I have to trust Master's plan."

"You should. If things go wrong, I'll act according to my plan tonight."

"Rusolar, please…."

As Philip murmured,

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Declan emerged from the crowd.

Ian nodded.

Declan, sitting in an empty seat, smiled.

"You didn't think our contract was null and void, did you?"

"Not yet. It depends on what news you bring."

"Good. All preparations are complete."

A strange smile appeared on Ian's lips.

"You're quick. It's as if you were prepared from the start."

Declan shrugged.

"I just prepared for the worst. Fortunately, it helped this time."

"So, when do you start?"

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow night? Midnight?"

Philip, eyes wide, asked.

"No. Not at night, but during the day. Tomorrow at noon. The bell will be the signal."

"Huh...? Not at night, but during the day?"

"Yes. It's a righteous cause, so it should be done under the watch of Rusolar."

"Wow…."

Philip's sigh grew longer.

A rebellion in broad daylight. It was hard to imagine.

Ian, smirking, asked,

"What's our role?"

"Just stay close to me until it's time for you to act."

"Is that all we need to do?"

"Yes. Even if things don't go as planned...,"

Declan, with a lively look in his eyes, smiled.

"We'll end up entering the inner castle through the main gate."

***

Ding-

The noon bell rang.

Ian, who had completed all preparations, exchanged a glance with Philip and left the room.

As he entered the dining hall, the armed mercenaries stood up.

Their eyes, suppressing excitement and fear, were gleaming.

Ian ignored their salutes and nods as he passed by.

But the mercenaries naturally followed him.

Philip, who ran ahead, opened the inn door.

Why are they all so serious?

Ian chuckled inwardly as he stepped out.

"Ah, right on time."

Declan's voice came immediately after.

He was approaching with Patten and his confidants.

Unlike usual, he was wearing chainmail, a round shield, and a sword.

Ian, nodding, looked at the supply cart at the back of the group, driven by Yaksuni, and stood beside Declan.

"…Is this all of it?"

Philip asked quietly.

The number of people who followed Declan and the mercenaries from the inn was barely thirty.

A smaller number than usual.

Declan, without turning his head, answered.

"Of course not. More reinforcements will join soon. A lot more."

After passing through the alley of the shack village, he stepped onto the main road leading to the outer gate.

"…!"

Philip's eyes widened at that moment.

People were pouring out of almost every alley leading to the main road.

They were the residents of the shack village, led by mercenaries acting as guides.

"These people... are the reinforcements?"

Declan smiled.

"Yes. Impressive, right?"

"You must have worked hard. It wasn't easy to get them to join."

Ian said.

As a modern person, he was not bound by status.

But the people of this world were.

Status was taken for granted. Nobles, especially lords, were considered blessed and protected by the gods.

Naturally, opposing them was tantamount to blasphemy.

If the instigator wasn't Declan, this wouldn't have been possible.

"It wasn't as difficult as I thought. Most of them were forcibly relocated here. They lost friends and family in the process. I just provided the opportunity."

Declan, speaking calmly, continued walking.

The numerous procession followed him to Ordell Castle.

As they approached the castle walls, more people who were originally residents of Ordell joined.

It was a significant number.

Of course, there were those who lived inside the castle walls or who had locked their doors and hidden.

Still, it was clear that more than half of Ordell's citizens were in agreement.

"You've revealed what Bradley did."

"They have the right to know the truth. Especially about what happened to my brother and friends."

Ian nodded.

Now he understood Declan's plan.

"You've really gone all out."

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"That also means this is their only chance."

It would be impossible to gather such a large number of people again.

A bloodbath would come first.

"That won't happen. Because you're here. Even if my plan fails, you'll do what you have to do, right?"

"That's true, but..."

"That's why I've prepared for your success to be my success. So, I just need to set the perfect stage for you."

"Hmm."

A smile appeared on Ian's lips.

Highlighting that point.

It was an excellent shift in thinking.

"Besides, this wouldn't have been possible without you."

As Declan smiled, looking at him,

"Stop! Halt!"

A shout echoed from the castle walls.