WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Order

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Chapter 138: Royal Capital Leodel

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Traveling with the Murvach Mercenary Company was incomparably more comfortable than before.

The company took care of all the minor tasks, such as finding the way and standing Watch Duty.

What Elbridge's group appreciated most, though, was the food.

"The stew smells a whole lot better already."

Elbridge's group wasn't particularly skilled at cooking.

Marcus and Elbridge could at least make a passable stew from whatever ingredients they had on hand.

Whenever Rombel or Sonia prepared a meal, though, the results were often troubling.

The Murvach Mercenary Company was different.

Their stew tasted far better than the food at most inns. That was thanks to their professional cooking skills and high-quality ingredients. Since the company knew the region inside out, they could travel through various villages while keeping themselves supplied with fresh ingredients.

"We'll help prepare the meal too."

"Don't worry about it. We just need to set out a few more spoons."

Whenever Elbridge's group tried to help with the cooking, the Mercenaries of the Murvach Mercenary Company politely turned them down.

When had they last traveled this comfortably?

After another excellent meal, Elbridge's group sat beside the campfire with Murvach.

Crackle, crackle.

Sparks rose from the dry wood, but they couldn't drive away the dusk hanging over the evening sky.

Perhaps because they were both Mercenaries, Marcus spoke more politely than usual.

"I didn't expect you to agree to accompany us so readily. It seemed like you'd gone through quite a lot in the north..."

Unlike the other Mercenary Company captains at Hebron Fortress, Murvach regularly attended meetings hosted by Count Hebron.

The Murvach Mercenary Company had likely achieved the most at Hebron Fortress. They must have made a fair amount of money as well.

If Murvach had remained at Hebron Fortress, expanding his influence and making a name for himself, the Murvach Mercenary Company could have risen even higher.

Yet Murvach had headed west with Elbridge's group without much hesitation.

"It was a sudden proposal, sure. Still, it felt like this was the right answer."

"We aren't in a position to promise you much compensation."

"Money isn't important. I've already earned enough to live on for the rest of my life."

That probably wasn't an empty boast. Murvach had made his decision before discussing payment.

"Then why are you helping us?"

"What's important to me is staying near a great flow. And I thought the flow you all would bring would be greater than Count Hebron's."

"A flow..."

Marcus glanced at Rombel. Murvach's intentions felt similar to Rombel's.

Rombel believed Elbridge would stand at the center of a great flow. He remained by Elbridge's side to draw the Chief God's attention and achieve Ascension.

"What makes you think that?"

"I saw Sir Elbridge fight last time. But even if I hadn't seen it, I would've helped you all. A few days before you appeared, I received an oracle."

"An oracle?"

"The God of Fox Rain told me that if you appeared and asked for help, I should consider it seriously."

A thought flashed through Marcus's mind.

"Murvach, which god do you believe in?"

"The God of Fox Rain."

Just as expected.

The God of Fox Rain symbolized unexpected good fortune.

Yet from what Marcus had experienced so far, the luck bestowed by the God of Fox Rain wasn't divine power that bypassed cause and effect. No, Marcus wasn't even sure it was divine power at all.

The God of Fox Rain was closer to a wise adviser and a diligent mediator.

A mediator who helped countless devotees connect and aid one another.

Sonia asked, "If you have plenty of money, you don't need to work as a Mercenary, do you?"

Murvach smiled.

"Miss Sonia, you're from the east, aren't you?"

"That's right. Though I spent a long time in the central region too."

"That's why you think that way. Mercenaries in the east and west are different."

"How are they different?"

"Western Mercenaries value money too, of course. But Mercenary Company captains don't usually consider money their highest priority."

"Really? Why not?"

Elbridge answered.

"Because their backgrounds are different. Most eastern Mercenaries are commoners, and they work individually. Western Mercenaries work in companies, and most company captains come from noble families."

"Nobles become Mercenary Company captains?"

Sonia looked at Murvach in surprise.

His face was darkened by the sun and marked with deep wrinkles. He had bushy, caterpillar-like eyebrows, a thick beard, and a rough appearance. No one would have thought he looked like a noble.

"Murvach, you were a noble?"

"That's only where I came from."

"If you're a noble, why work as a Mercenary? It's not as if you're short on money."

Though she addressed Murvach, Sonia's gaze turned toward Elbridge.

Elbridge only shrugged. He didn't know much about the west either. The little information he had came from things he'd heard two hundred years ago.

The deep autumn night air was cold. Murvach tossed a dry branch into the campfire as he spoke.

"Where should I begin...? Right. Every region of the continent has its own characteristics. The north is cold and harsh. The south has the Great Forest. The central region has developed magic and advanced technology. The east revolves around temples and churches."

"Then what about the west?"

"People from other regions describe the west as a land of kings and nobles. Those of us from the west have always considered that natural... but I suppose other people don't see it that way."

As far as Elbridge knew, the east was the region most similar to the west.

There was one difference between them: whether the balance of power leaned toward nobles or temples.

As the name Holy City Solenion suggested, temples held far greater authority than nobles in the east. In the west, however, nobles held more power than temples.

"In western noble houses, when one sibling inherits the family, the other siblings must leave the west or work in fields unrelated to power. It's a custom meant to prevent a family from collapsing because siblings fight over authority."

"Wouldn't it be better if the siblings worked together?"

"In an ideal situation, perhaps. But more families have fallen because siblings fought than have prospered because siblings cooperated."

Murvach leaned forward and stared into the campfire. The light painted his face red.

"Nobles pushed out of their families don't have many options. One of them is forming a Mercenary Company."

"Why a Mercenary Company specifically?"

"Western nobles are required to learn how to wield a sword. When they leave their families, they can receive enough money to form a small Mercenary Company. They can lead a group, at least on a small scale... and employers tend to prefer Mercenary Company captains of noble birth."

Murvach tilted his head slightly. The wrinkles carved into his face looked even deeper.

"Anyway, I began working as a Mercenary before I turned twenty. This year marks thirty-five years of living that way. The last time I visited my family was about twenty years ago."

"Does the family head stop you from going back?"

"When I was young, yes. But it wouldn't matter if I returned now. I'm too old to fight over power, and I have no foundation within the family. When I was young, I wanted to go back. Now that I can, I don't want to. Why is that, I wonder?"

Murvach spoke, then shook his head as if he'd realized something.

"They say that when people grow old, they start telling stories about the past. Looks like I've gotten old too."

Sonia stared into Murvach's eyes.

Murvach had aged, but his brown eyes were still deep and clear.

Like those of a twenty-year-old man full of dreams.

That reminded Sonia of something she had once heard.

People didn't change easily, even as they grew older. Their minds and souls remained young, while only their bodies aged and grew tired.

"What's your dream, Murvach?"

"...It was to become the Mercenary King. I wanted to become the Mercenary King of this age."

Murvach seemed about to say more, but he cut himself off.

"Anyway, my younger brother will help you all, so don't worry and get some rest."

Elbridge's group settled down beside the campfire and tried to sleep.

Murvach stared into the fire for a long time, until everyone had fallen asleep.

* * *

The western landscape wasn't much different from the east.

Wild grass grew from knee height to waist height, with wagon tracks running between it.

Small forests stood here and there. Footpaths had naturally formed as people and animals traveled through them.

Closer to the city, farmers busy with the autumn harvest came into view.

Beyond them stood a massive city. Murvach looked at its walls with deep emotion.

"If the east has Holy City Solenion, the west has Royal Capital Leodel."

Unlike Solenion, which didn't strictly control entry, Royal Capital Leodel had six guards at its gates. The guards even took documents from people and inspected them.

Marcus looked startled.

"What's that?"

"You need to show an identity card to enter Leodel."

"We don't have anything like that."

Sonia gave a quiet snort.

"What do you mean, we? I have an identity card. An entry pass from the Central Magic Tower is recognized anywhere on the continent."

"I'm a dwarf, so I'll be fine."

Dwarves were welcomed in every city as valuable talent. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that their race served as an identity card.

They might be asked for a few personal details, but there was no danger of being turned away.

Elbridge spoke as well.

"As for me... I'm the High Paladin and Archbishop of the Order. I don't have an identity card, but if necessary, the Goddess will send down a public oracle."

Marcus felt vaguely betrayed. It didn't seem likely that the God of Fox Rain would send down an oracle for him.

Murvach chuckled.

"Don't worry. I'll vouch for you."

And that was exactly what happened.

When Murvach stepped forward and presented his identity card, the guards immediately stiffened and opened the way. Even the Mercenaries following Murvach didn't need to show their identity cards.

Elbridge, Rombel, and Marcus accepted it without much thought. Sonia was different.

She whispered to Elbridge.

"Murvach doesn't seem to be from an ordinary family, does he?"

"I told you. He's from a noble family."

"That's not what I mean. I come from a viscount's family, and if the guards reacted like that, he's not some ordinary noble. More than twenty people are carrying weapons, yet they let every one of them through without even asking their names? Even if I set the bar low, he's at least the equivalent of a count. Not a count with only a title, but one with real power."

"Ahem."

Murvach had clearly heard the whisper, but he didn't bother denying it.

Elbridge and Rombel simply accepted it, but Sonia and Marcus seemed quietly tense.

Unlike Holy City Solenion, where temples filled the center of the city, Leodel's center was occupied by massive estates. They likely belonged to high-ranking nobles.

The temples, on the other hand, stood around them. If one had to put it into words, they were located between the minor nobles and wealthy commoners.

The position of the temples couldn't explain everything, but it certainly suggested something.

Royal Capital Leodel differed from Solenion in more than just the location of its temples.

"There aren't as many temples as I expected."

Murvach answered Elbridge.

"Come to think of it, they say Holy City Solenion has temples for every god. I'd like to visit someday."

Still, Elbridge thought the temples were in fairly good locations.

They stood close to the shopping districts, in places people could easily visit.

As they walked through streets so lively they were almost noisy, the scent of all kinds of food filled their noses. Merchants prepared food at their stalls, tempting passersby.

Then the Goddess suddenly sent down an oracle.

- Elbridge. I have an important task for you.

Elbridge had expected the oracle, so he answered without even hearing the task.

"I'll unpack my things and come out immediately. I'll make the offering before sunset."

- Excellent, Elbridge. Oh, and get two of each. It isn't that your Goddess plans to eat them all. As you know, the Goddess of Spring Rain and Moss is with me...

"I understand, Goddess."

There was no way to know whether that final oracle was true.

But Elbridge was a faithful Paladin, so he chose not to doubt the Goddess of the Rusted Shield.

As Elbridge followed Murvach and searched for the most appetizing snacks, something strange caught his eye.

His steps naturally came to a stop.

'That's...'

A little behind the food stalls stood a temple of the Order of the Rusted Shield.

It was a temple that even Elbridge, the Archbishop and High Paladin, had never seen before.

Footnotes:

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