Chapter 15

Chapter 2: Crisis is an Opportunity (6)

***

"Specialist... specialist..."

Kwaak!

Waldorf, who had stepped out of the formation and walked up to me, suddenly grabbed my collar.

"Hey, old man. Just because we say you're good, does that make you something special? What did I say when I dragged you this morning?"

"I know, I remember that..."

"Do you? Oh~ So you're saying this even though you understood? If you're going to gamble, you should only risk your own money. Don't use others' money as stakes. Got it?"

'...It seems the first battle was more intense than I thought. Everyone looks like they want to go back.'

Gambling... I'm sorry, but in this game, which is so messed up, you have to scrape together every last bit of capital, including borrowed money, to go all-in just to have a chance of winning.

"Gambling has its own rules, doesn't it? I'm a person too, not just going to throw myself at those crazy monsters..."

Swoosh!

Waldorf's sword cut off my words and pressed against my neck.

"The stakes are our lives."

"And we're mercenaries, aren't we?"

This guy, though he seems to have a lot of experience as a mercenary, I've also had a fair bit of experience as a mercenary in World 2.

I know what it takes to persuade mercenaries.

"Isn't it our life to risk everything for treasure? Just now, we were all in the same position, fighting the Mute guys, but now the situation is different, right? Can't you see the knights literally 'mowing down' those Mute brats over there? If the battlefield was a casino just now, the battlefield we're standing on now is a rigged casino! A sure win! Everyone knows that the rewards for those who stay at the front until the end of the battle and those who retreat are vastly different, right?"

First. Gold, which can be defined as the life of a mercenary.

"But those knights won't stay on our side forever..."

"Look around. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but I can see all the faces of the friends I saw yesterday, right? No one died, did they?"

"...Just lucky."

"Really? In a battlefield where not a single comrade died, and the knights came down to our side, so we survived without any crisis? Does that all seem like just luck to you? Isn't it because the eyes of Gundar-Pasa, the god of mercenaries and wanderers, were upon us? Are you just going to run away in such a situation?"

"Ugh...."

Swish, swish

Swish, swish

When the name of Gundar-Pasa, the god of mercenaries and wanderers, was mentioned, the mercenaries standing nearby turned their hands behind their backs and began to stroke their thumbs with their left hands. It's a common abbreviated prayer for mercenaries to seek Gundar's protection.

Second. Superstition, which can make even the strongest mercenaries tremble.

"...Maybe you're right, old man. But I'm the head of the Turan Mercenary Guild. We're being treated well by the lord's side because we have troops, but if we get a little weaker, they'll offer us an even more unfair contract. It's too risky..."

"Ah, really! Is your tail so long it's dragging on the ground? Look at the dust on it! Just admit you're scared! Why, did the Mute brats scare your balls off so you can't walk?"

Thud-

"...What is this guy?"

"Anyway, since everyone is a mercenary risking their lives to make money, why are you nitpicking so much? The situation is good, the profit is good, and it's not a dirty job."

"...Ha! Your body is a mess, but your mouth is running wild."

"You didn't drink enough last night."

The mercenaries, who were preparing to retreat, began to loosen up, their necks cracking one by one.

Mercenaries, due to the negative perception that they'll do anything for money, are people with pride and self-esteem that are full of scars and wounds.

"Damn. Fine! I'll do it! I don't know what you're planning, but if it doesn't work out, I'll drag you by the neck, got it?"

Third. Provocation, which mercenaries with pride and self-esteem can't ignore.

"Tsk. I'll listen to you because you seem to have some skill, having survived a situation where you were supposed to die. But what are you planning to do here?"

Ding!

[Information Update: 'Silver Shout Mercenary Guild' is temporarily under your control.]

The professor's lips curved into a smile at the message that appeared with the familiar system notification sound.

'Finally. I have a small pawn to move the battlefield.'

"Oh, that. Actually, it's not that special. We might not even need to fight, you know?"

The professor walked forward, drew a line on the ground with the shield he was holding, and then looked at the approaching second wave.

"Break the circular formation, form a straight defensive line here, and make as much noise as possible."

***

GG has many negative traits. No, it's not just many; most of the traits are negative.

But negative traits aren't entirely useless. For example, [Aging], a trait that all characters over 60 have, reduces all physical abilities by 30%, but provides the special skill [Wisdom of the Elder].

[Pyromaniac] increases fire affinity and resistance, [Cannibal] adds attack power against human-type enemies, and my [Mental Fatigue] allows for broad information acquisition, though I can't control it.

Usually, the information that covers my thoughts and causes headaches is useless, but in a battlefield where information is needed from all angles, it turned out to be quite useful, except for the headache.

Maybe it's because of the adrenaline from the injury, but it seems easier to distinguish now.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

The professor, holding his throbbing head, quickly scanned the information flooding his vision.

'...As expected, there's nothing. No orders from the command are being communicated, not even a flag, a horn, or a shout.'

Since the battle was hastily organized, there probably isn't a precise strategy. At best, the knight acting as the commander is making decisions on the fly based on the situation.

But the central army, where the command is located, is already being attacked from two sides by the Mutes from the collapsed right flank and the original central line, causing chaos. They are likely focusing on the battle and leaving the decisions to the centurions in each unit.

'And the lack of control on our side means... the centurion who was supposed to give orders is dead.'

The knights of Charlotte de Agate didn't push into our side for no reason. A hero unit like Charlotte has stats that are incredibly strong. She's powerful, has high defense, and a wide field of vision.

Seeing that our commander on the hill was eliminated, she came here to prevent the soldiers from losing control and retreating into a chaotic battle. Even our mercenary friends were trying to take care of their own and run away. If that happened, the central army would be left with no left or right flank, facing attacks from three sides.

And being stuck in one place is incredibly frustrating for someone with her combat power.

'If it were 9th to 7th-grade Mutes, a single charge from Charlotte and her knights would knock them down like bowling pins, but they can't do that now, so they must be frustrated.'

Here, there's a chance for our mercenary friends and me to step in.

"Hey, hey! Is this really true?"

"It is! Stop talking and start making noise!!"

"But how many of us are there to form a straight line? Can't you see the flank is wide open? If we charge in, we'll all die! What are you trying to do by drawing more attention?"

"Just trust me! Hurry! Louder! Let's make some noise!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Over here!!"

"Hey!! You monster brats!!"

The professor, whose words weren't trustworthy, was already making the mercenaries follow his lead, even though the system had decided they would follow him until significant damage was done.

"Kaaahhhh!!!"

"Kraaah! Kyaahh!"

"Ughhhhhh!!!"

"Hey, hey! Old man! They're all coming this way! What do we do now?"

The professor glanced at the main force of the left flank, which was quite far from the mercenaries. The first wave of Mutes was almost completely dealt with.

'Let's trust him. He's not just any hero but the sun of the battlefield. He must have a better grasp of the situation than I do.'

"Stop! Stop the noise! From now on, ten steps to the left for the left line, ten steps to the right for the right line! Clear the center!"

"What? A straight line? You want to create a gap? Are you crazy-"

"Hurry!"

The professor, while moving, kept an eye on the approaching Mutes.

They have to come... they definitely have to come...

...Thud, thud, thud

Finally, the sound the professor had been waiting for began to reach his ears.

"They're coming! Everyone, five steps to the left, no, just run in the direction you were going!"

"What the hell is going on?"

"Hehehe! Look behind you! I told you, we don't need to fight!"

The professor's laughter made Waldorf and the mercenaries turn their heads, and-

Neigh!!!

"Out of the way!!"

Clatter, clatter, clatter!!!

"Knights of the Wing! Charge!!"

Clang!

"Whoa!"

"Out of the way! Move to the side quickly!"

"Hehehe! With those guys, why would we need to fight? We just need to set the stage!"

The professor, who was appointed as a temporary centurion, looked at the main force of the left flank, which was quite far away. The first wave of Mutes was almost completely dealt with.

'Let's trust him. He's not just any hero but the sun of the battlefield. He must have a better grasp of the situation than I do.'

"Stop! Stop the noise! From now on, ten steps to the left for the left line, ten steps to the right for the right line! Clear the center!"

"Got it."

"Good."

Charlotte, looking awkwardly at the professor, who was nervously nodding, raised her sword high and-

Thud. Thud.

Struck the professor's shoulders with the flat of her blade.

"Sin is redeemed by merit. By the authority of Charlotte de Agate, I hereby appoint you as the temporary centurion of the left flank."

"I accept."

"Hmm. Good. Nalik, bring what you set aside earlier."

At Charlotte's command, the knight who had been blocking the mercenaries threw a horn to the professor.

Ding!

[Item Obtained - Turan Army Horn: A horn provided to each unit's commander. It is used primarily during deployments and symbolizes the commander's authority. / + It is cracked and broken, likely due to a strong impact. / + It is covered in blood, suggesting the previous owner did not return it properly.]

"This is the horn. This should be enough to prove you're their commander."

"It's sufficient."

"Good. I and the knights will now clear the Mutes stuck to the defensive line."

"Then we'll cover the rear and open the flank."

The smooth response brought a smile to Charlotte's face.

"Hehehe. Professor... I'll remember that name."

"Thank you."

"Alright. I'll leave it to you."

With that, Charlotte and the knights turned their horses and charged towards the center.

The mercenaries, who had been staring blankly at the scene, slowly turned their heads towards the professor.

"What... what just happened?"

"You, what did you just say..."

"Hehehe. What happened is what happened."

Ah, I shouldn't be laughing like this. As a centurion, which is like a captain in modern terms, I shouldn't be laughing so tastelessly-

"Hehehe! What do you mean! The morale gamble was a huge success! Come on, we don't have time! I'm not the only one holding the horn! Help set the mood!"

There's no time to bask in the success. The professor immediately picked up the horn and blew it with all his might.

"Attention!!! From now on, I control the left flank! All units! Follow the leftmost line and make a wide turn to reverse! From now on, we'll attack the Mutes fighting the central army from behind!"

The soldiers on the left flank, who had been standing awkwardly after the first wave, began to murmur at the professor's command, which he delivered with all his might.

"Waldorf! What are you doing! Get to the far left quickly!"

"Huh?"

"Usually, when you start at the front, everyone follows! Over there, line up with our uncles and slowly make a wide turn!"

"Uh, uh. Got it."

Waldorf quickly led the mercenaries to the far left of the murmuring formation, following the professor's instructions.

"Hey, are you ready?"

"Brother, are you serious?"

"Stop talking and follow the youngest. Match your steps. One, two!"

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud

The sound of the mercenaries matching their steps caught the soldiers' attention.

"Pay attention!!! Those who disobey my orders will be dealt with by military law! While you're hesitating, the central army is being killed by the monsters! Get your act together and follow!"

One by one, the mercenaries began to match their steps, and soon the awkward sound of the soldiers' murmurs was overtaken by the clumsy but determined steps of the mercenaries.

***