Chapter 7

A full-time healer gradually becomes stronger.

(6)

The conflict between the mercenaries and the knights escalated. Both sides were armed, and it was a situation where one side had to die for the other to survive.

Of course, the side that was going to die was already decided.

It was the Red Fox Mercenary Company.

Conventionally, it was known that one knight could easily handle ten ordinary mercenaries.

However, seasoned mercenaries knew that they could do even more.

The only one capable of matching the knights here was Eila, the silver-ranked mercenary.

“Damn it, is this going to be our grave!”

“Even if we die, we’ll die swinging our swords in anger!”

“All of us, attack together and kill them! Even if we die, we’ll leave a mark of shame on them!”

Indeed, they were worthy of their long experience in the field; they had a fierce determination.

Their fierce cries carried a wish.

If the knights were scared by these words, if only their trembling legs would stop.

Anyone who could maintain composure in the face of death wouldn’t have been an ordinary mercenary.

However, Eila, the silver-ranked mercenary, lost her composure for a different reason: self-reproach.

‘It’s all my fault. Blinded by greed, I dragged my family into this cliff. I’m so sorry to everyone.’

“Captain, there’s no need to be so sad. It’s not your fault but everyone’s for being too complacent.”

Despite Gaston’s comfort, Eila couldn’t easily regain her composure.

In contrast, the knights were in high spirits.

“Well, shall we taste some blood?”

“Sir, once we deal with them, there won’t be any ‘meat shields’ left.”

“Haha, Sir Lamont! Did you just say ‘meat shields’? When I first proposed this plan, you opposed it, saying it was against chivalry. Now your word choice is so cheap, hahaha!”

“Anyway, the water is already spilled, and we need to bring the results of our success to the lord. We must cooperate with this young master as much as possible.”

“Well, fine! Here’s my plan. We’ll dismember their arms, legs, and torsos and load them onto the pack horses. Even if the monsters in the Forest of Grievance are strong, they’re still just monsters. They’ll be driven mad by the taste of meat, so we can throw them one by one and move quickly.”

It was a plan that only a psychopath would think of. But in this era, a high-ranking noble might applaud, saying, “Hmm, you’re quite a wellspring of ideas!”

In such a world, human life had a class system. And with a noble who was naturally bloodthirsty, it was like a fish in water.

“Moreover, upon careful consideration, the village population is quite substantial. Since the first plan has failed, let’s secure as much meat as possible and enter the forest!”

“Hmm, wouldn’t it be better to capture them all? Monsters surely prefer fresh meat, so they’ll enjoy it more if we slice them on the spot.”

“Hahaha! Sir Lamont, this is the first time our cooperation has been so seamless!”

It was a conversation that would make even the devil cry.

Ereb deliberately shouted these bloodless and tearless words to create an effect. Already, sniffles were heard among the mercenaries, who were relatively young and inexperienced.

Even if a new recruit sniffled and cried next to them, the veteran mercenaries couldn’t say anything. They were trembling themselves.

The knights’ formation became even more aggressive, while the mercenaries’ formation was now silent, filled only with the sound of sniffles.

The tension reached its peak.

Even the flutter of a bird in a tree could trigger the knights to attack.

“Pfft!”

...Someone laughed.

At first, everyone thought it was one of the mercenaries. Sometimes, in such intense situations, people really do lose their minds.

But as the laughter continued, everyone’s gaze turned to the source.

“...M-Messi. You, are you crazy? Why are you laughing, you bastard!”

Only the village chief, who was nearby, clung to Messi, his face pale. But Messi, still laughing, pushed him away.

Messi subtly glanced at Retho, and when their eyes met, Retho seemed to understand and burst out laughing.

“Hahaha!”

“Pahaha!”

“No... Retho, you too? Are you both mad? What’s wrong with you?”

While the village chief was at a loss, neither the knights nor the mercenaries fully grasped the situation.

The laughter sounded so unreal. It was an unfamiliar experience.

Everyone was confused, but Ereb quickly regained his composure.

“...Are you crazy? Is this situation funny?”

In fact, Ereb had been the one laughing the most just a moment ago.

Of course, it was all for show; he wasn’t genuinely amused.

But they were genuinely laughing. It felt strangely insulting.

“Haha, isn’t it funny? Both sides are going to die in the forest, yet they’re bickering and playing. It’s impossible not to laugh.”

“You... You understand our language!”

Ereb’s eyes widened at the fluent central language coming from the non-human.

“I pretended not to understand to avoid answering your questions. I knew you’d ask specific questions and kill me if you didn’t like my answers. I’m sorry.”

“What?”

To Ereb, Messi was just a dog-like existence. Worse than a commoner. A beast. Perhaps even an inanimate object. Just a pebble on the road.

But now, the pebble had flown and struck him arrogantly.

It hurt, and it was humiliating.

That decided the creature’s fate.

He would definitely kill him.

Just as he was about to announce this, Lamont grabbed his arm.

“Young master, can you calm down for a moment?”

This guy is trying to interfere, Ereb thought. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stopped him.

‘I thought we were on the same page, but it was a mistake. Yes, he’s always been like this.’

“Think about our goal.”

“Goal? What goal? The goal is important, but isn’t the honor of a noble also important?”

“Your honor is important, but isn’t there something more important? Even if you proposed this plan, since the head of the house approved it, it’s now the head’s matter. It must succeed, and for that, a guide is essential. Do you plan to retreat and find a new guide?”

Ereb gritted his teeth.

‘This fool... If he says that in front of the knights, what will happen! If I kill the non-human now, it will seem like I’m ignoring my father’s honor. But if I don’t, I’ll look like a foolish young master who can’t handle a non-human because of a subordinate’s words.’

A noble’s power comes from their honor and authority.

If a noble’s honor and authority are damaged, they will surely pay the price. If this fact is certain, no one can ignore a noble.

But if it’s not certain, they lose their authority. At first, it might seem like a small crack, but after countless commoners and slaves spread the word, the crack becomes a fissure, the fissure becomes a gap, and eventually, it will bring down the great castle.

Knight Lamont lacked political sense. He believed that loyalty was all a knight needed.

If he had any political skills, he would have suggested a way out for Ereb, and Ereb would have pretended to back down.

But with only two choices, both of which were difficult, Ereb was in a bind.

At that moment, a lifeline was thrown from an unexpected place.

“Haha, you can kill me anytime. But young master, think about what I said. I clearly stated that both sides will die in the forest. It will be quite a spectacle without a guide.”

‘Hmm? Could it be...?’

He could neither kill nor spare Messi. But if he had to choose one without damaging his honor, he needed a strong reason.

Seeing the possibility in the lifeline Messi threw, Ereb caught it beautifully, a bit exaggeratedly.

“What, is that true? What do you mean!”

“Yes, young master. As I said, the knights are underestimating the ‘Forest of Grievance’.”

Although Messi spoke indirectly, his message was simple.

‘You’re weak.’

“Underestimating...? From what we know, the Forest of Grievance is rated as a high-risk A-level area.”

Ereb’s words made Eila’s face tremble with anger. The difficulty level was three steps higher than the information she had received from Deputy Leader Noas.

At that level, it would require dozens of gold-ranked mercenaries to handle. They were really planning to use them as mere meat shields.

“I may not know much about the risk levels, but I’ll speak based on my standards. Whether knights or mercenaries, in that forest, you’re nothing more than friendly meat. So, don’t waste your energy fighting over who dies first.”

“And I apologize for laughing at such a serious situation. But from my perspective, it’s funny. The chickens in the coop are making a fuss about who dies first. Wouldn’t you laugh and sigh?”

Because the surroundings had become quiet, Messi’s words were especially clear.

Friendly meat... chickens in a coop... that’s how we look to this non-human?

It could be true.

But there’s a condition.

If everything Messi said is true.

If so, all this conflict becomes meaningless.

“Young master, do you believe this non-human now? This is information from the ‘Sky Castle’ guild. If Sky Castle says it, it’s true, isn’t it? Isn’t that what we’re often told as we grow up?”

‘Lamont is right... We’re told to believe Sky Castle even if we don’t believe our parents. But why? Why am I so bothered by this non-human’s words?’

Ereb fell into deep thought. Then, he noticed the healer Boil.

‘Right, he has skills that surpass human magic. And he speaks central language fluently, so he’s not a barbarian. He’s not stupid... He’s not a fool who would tell an easily exposed lie. So, where did I go wrong?’

‘Lamont is right; Sky Castle’s information is never false. Then...’

Ereb’s eyes moved restlessly, then fixed on one point.

Eila. The moment he saw her, a strong suspicion began to grow.

Perhaps, it’s just an overactive imagination...

But if I’m in the same position as that woman...

A hypothesis flashed in his mind.

‘Who provided me with the Sky Castle information?’

Finally, Ereb’s head slowly turned to Lamont.

A vassal his father had assigned to him.

But someone who followed his father, not him.

And a knight who blindly believed his master’s words.

‘Could it be you... No, is this my father’s will? Has he already decided to make my brother the successor?’

As Ereb’s head grew cold, a hypothesis formed in his mind. It was extremely unfavorable and a hellish scenario he didn’t want to believe.

But he had grown up in the world of nobles, where all kinds of political machinations were common. It was entirely possible, and he had seen worse.

‘If this is true, retreating now will only give a reason for severe punishment in the succession competition. But entering the forest means certain death. In this situation, what is my best, or at least second-best, option?’

‘...To ensure the success of this expedition and return safely.’

He saw Messi.

A lowly non-human. But now, the most useful existence. The only key to resolving his current situation.

“Non-human, or... Messi, was it?”

“...!!!”

Everyone was surprised and looked at Ereb.

The cruel noble had called the lowly non-human by name.

The meaning was clear.

It was an acknowledgment.

“Yes, the non-human from the Forest of Grievance. ‘Forest Clan’ Messi.”

“You seem to be trying to convince me of your value... Is that right? It doesn’t seem like you’re trying to persuade me to retreat... It sounds like you’re saying that if I follow your advice, I can achieve my goal.”

‘That’s it.’

A satisfied smile appeared on Messi’s face.

“Indeed, you are wise, young master.”

The End

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