WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: HidingTurtle
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Wandering Knight and the Moving Castle ◈
Chapter 31: First Subjugation Campaign (2)
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The trial by combat had barely ended, and now they had to subjugate the bandits settled in the northern forest.
Despite one crisis following another, the city leadership remained calm. Unlike the trial by combat, this was a problem they could solve by throwing money at it.
“Once we deal with them, everything will return to normal.”
“Return to normal? It’ll be even better than before. For at least the next ten years, no riffraff will dare look down on this city.”
“They aren’t to be taken lightly. Their numbers have kept growing and already exceed several hundred. I heard deserters and mercenaries heading for Roman were tempted into joining them.”
As a prime trading hub where several countries met, Bonyard City had always been crawling with bandits.
Every so often, a large group formed under a charismatic leader. It was the sort of event that occurred just often enough to be forgotten, like an earthquake or typhoon.
“They even say there are bandit knights among them.”
Their numbers were unusually high, and bandit knights had joined them, yet no one seemed worried.
“Are there no knights here?”
“If anything, this worked out well. It’ll be the best remedy for those knights who’ve been complaining.”
Even after excluding those who had left for various reasons, five knights remained.
“All the knights have expressed their willingness to join the subjugation.”
“Of course they have. It’s the perfect chance to earn money and build honor.”
The remaining knights were desperate to catch the eye of an influential noble. Naturally, they would not let an opportunity like this pass them by.
“It’s good to gather as much strength as possible, but we can’t let the losses grow any larger.”
When the Chief Magistrate spoke as if to bring the discussion under control, everyone introduced the mercenary companies they had prepared.
“I’ve secured five ten-member squads from the Hammer Brotherhood.”
“The Hawk Talon Mercenary Company will arrive tomorrow as well.”
Their size and quality differed, but they had enough strength to defeat an equal number of bandits.
“What people has the Chief Constable prepared?”
At the Chief Magistrate’s question, everyone looked toward Fannis.
‘If he earns more merit, he’ll become troublesome in the next election.’
To those seeking high office, Fannis was gradually becoming someone they had to keep in check.
“The Black Hand Mercenary Company.”
“Black Hand? There are dark elves in the city?”
“You called those sinister bastards?”
Unlike dwarf mercenaries, who were welcomed everywhere, dark elves divided opinion because of their particular viciousness and cruelty.
The Black Hand Mercenary Company had been formed by a tribe that once made its living as assassins before washing its hands of that trade. It was only natural for people to find them unsettling.
“Still, their skill is unmatched, isn’t it? There are only twenty of them. I plan to assign them scouting and support duties.”
“Well, they are perfectly suited to that sort of role.”
“As long as they aren’t sent to the front.”
Even those wary of Fannis relaxed. With only twenty members, they would not be able to earn any meaningful merit. The leadership returned to discussing the mercenary formations.
“Chief Constable.”
Solin approached and whispered into Fannis’s ear.
Fannis’s expression changed at once. After offering his farewells, he left the meeting room. He had already done what he came to do, so there was no reason to remain.
“Sorry for interrupting you.”
“It’s fine. Attending to Sir Eugene is more important than a predictable meeting.”
“You stayed longer than expected. It seems the Lady of the Forest welcomed you warmly.”
“He got along well with Sir Karas, so why would a mage be any different? From now on, report anything concerning her regardless of the time or place.”
“Understood.”
* * *
When the two who had gone to meet them saw the group, their jaws dropped.
Two people had left and returned as three, but the third person was far beyond anything they had expected.
The woman riding an ivory-colored horse carried herself with effortless elegance. Golden waves of hair fluttered above the hood she had taken off, drawing the gaze of everyone who passed by.
“L-Lady of the Forest!”
The knight who had left after receiving an invitation had returned with a distinguished guest none of them had imagined.
“You may call me Varda. Now that I have left the forest, I have so many epithets that it has become confusing.”
“Then I shall do so, Lady Varda!”
Fannis bowed deeply, looking honored beyond measure.
“Could you prepare a place for Lady Varda to stay?”
“Of course! It would be our honor.”
Snap! Snap!
Fannis snapped his fingers behind him, and the waiting maids hurried over.
“Please tell us if there is anything you need.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Though she could handle most things on her own, Varda was just as comfortable being attended to, as one would expect of a mage.
As soon as Varda disappeared, Fannis rushed over.
“What in the world happened?”
“When I accepted her invitation and visited, she said she intended to end her secluded life. I thought this was fate as well, so I brought her here.”
“You make difficult things sound so simple, Sir Eugene.”
Fannis laughed helplessly. He, his predecessor, and the city’s influential figures had all tried countless times to invite her, only to fail every time.
“I feel awkward saying this after asking for hospitality, but I can’t guarantee that she’ll take part in battle or help the city.”
Varda was nominally part of Eugene’s group, but she was independent. He could not give her orders as he did Homi.
“Of course. Having her stay in the city is already wonderful. If luck is with us, we may receive a small spell, or at least some advice.”
“That puts my mind at ease.”
“This is how cities treat mages.”
Just as knights stayed as honored guests and received hospitality, mages often resided in cities or noble houses in this manner.
Unlike knights, whose only way to repay hospitality was by swinging a sword, mages could earn their keep in many different ways, so they were welcomed even more eagerly.
“A subjugation force will soon depart north. The city guard will form the core, along with mercenaries each member of the Grand Council has hired and the knights invited to the city.”
Fannis also introduced the Black Hand Mercenary Company he had hired.
“Would Sir Eugene be willing to participate in the subjugation as well?”
“Of course I intend to.”
He had already received payment for the Champion duel, but the more money he had, the better. The difference in strength between the two sides was so great that simply following along would earn him a day’s pay.
“Excellent! Please take command of my mercenary company.”
“Are you sure? I’m a guest, not someone employed by the city.”
Unless it was a knight formally contracted with the city, it was rare to entrust command authority to someone staying as a guest.
“I cannot place a great knight under a mercenary company. That is why I recruited a small group of elites.”
Fannis was honestly concerned about the Black Hand Mercenary Company’s notoriety.
Still, he needed people who were skilled, available at once, and few enough in number that the Chief Magistrate would overlook handing their command to Eugene. The Black Hand Mercenary Company was the only choice.
“Understood. I’ll lead them well enough to be of help to the subjugation force.”
Apart from his personal combat ability, Eugene had received thorough training from Gopri as a commander. Leading a small unit of around twenty people would not be a problem.
“That is truly reassuring. With you joining us, victory is already ours.”
“By the way, the Black Hand Mercenary Company is composed of dark elves, correct?”
Gopri had not cared much about mercenary companies that rose and vanished by the dozen, but he had taught Eugene in detail about assassins.
“No matter how strong you are, you won’t wear armor all day. I will not tolerate my disciple getting his crotch slit open and dying while relieving himself in a privy instead of on a battlefield.”
The Black Hand Tribe was famous for both martial prowess and assassin techniques. Since Gopri had mentioned them several times, Eugene knew them well.
“Would it make you uncomfortable to lead them?”
Fannis asked cautiously.
Noble knights treated mercenaries as lowly disposable tools. These were former assassins, the sort of people knights despised most. Even generous Eugene might have found them distasteful.
“I’m saddened, Chief Constable. Do you not know me well enough by now?”
“Of course! I know you very well!”
Fannis lowered his head when Eugene said he did not care.
‘What a terrifying knight.’
A man draped in shining honor should have begun choosing his associates carefully by now, yet Eugene always judged matters coolly by their benefit.
“The people of Gord pride themselves on being flexible warriors. They claim to possess equal measures of merchant’s blood and warrior’s blood.”
“Watching Count Andar suggest drawing lots, I could certainly smell the merchant in him.”
“But compared to Sir Eugene’s balance, they are nothing.”
The knight before him possessed both a knight’s courage and a merchant’s cool-headedness.
“I’m embarrassed, so please stop there. More importantly, there is something I wish to ask. Did the Black Hand Mercenary Company truly stab a noble employer?”
That was another reason their notoriety had grown so great.
“There were circumstances behind that.”
Fannis was about to entrust those very mercenaries to Eugene, and sweat began rolling down his face.
“What sort of circumstances could justify stabbing a noble lord?”
“The employer did not pay them.”
In this world, delayed wages were common. It made no difference whether one won or lost.
The cycle of unpaid wages followed by looting had become as established as tipping culture on Earth. The boss paid too little, so workers made up the difference with tips from customers.
The Black Hand Mercenary Company, however, stabbed its employers whenever they were not paid, and some of those employers had even been noble lords.
The house in question had been wiped out in a territorial war, so there had been no retaliation, but the company earned an infamous reputation.
“Just because their wages were delayed, how dare lowly mercenaries raise blades against the nobles who employed them?”
Such outrageous behavior was utterly unacceptable by noble standards, so every noble condemned them with one voice.
The only reason they could still work as mercenaries was their exceptional skill. Free cities also tended not to care much about such matters.
“Their ability may be recognized, but they are still such barbaric people. Wages can be delayed when circumstances are poor, so how could they raise blades against noble lords? Tsk, tsk. I apologize for assigning such people to you. Circumstances left me with no choice.”
Worried about how Eugene, a noble, might react, Fannis insulted the mercenaries he had hired.
“If you cheat people who risk their lives fighting for you out of their pay, it’s only natural to get stabbed. They sound like spirited fellows. I look forward to meeting them soon.”
“???”
Fannis was left bewildered by Eugene’s eyes, which gleamed with interest. This knight always found new ways to surprise him in a good way.
* * *
“Have you been comfortable during your stay?”
“It feels as though I’m surrounded by several livelier Graces. The maids tried to take care of every little thing.”
With a sigh, Varda pointed to her own head.
Instead of the neat, straight hair typical of elves, her hair had been woven into elaborate braids. It was the result of four maids working on it with great care.
“They must be excited to have such a renowned forest mage staying here.”
“I don’t think they had much interest in me being a mage.”
Varda’s delicate fingers moved her knight and captured Eugene’s bishop. The two were playing chess.
Holding a pawn, Eugene considered several moves before returning it to its original position. It was against the rules, but Varda generously overlooked it.
Gopri had taught Eugene only the rules of chess as part of his general education, but Varda had played with Grace since childhood.
Her keen intellect only made the difference worse. Eugene was thoroughly crushed. He was confident with a sword and shield, but terribly clumsy when it came to moving pieces across a board.
“You are a man who learns quickly. You will soon master chess as well. You are good at everything else, so once you have this, you will lack nothing.”
Varda seemed determined to turn Eugene from a ninety-nine-percent knight into a complete one.
“I lost.”
When he was placed in checkmate, Eugene admitted defeat by knocking over his king. Varda stared at the chessboard for a moment before speaking.
“I will accompany you on the subjugation.”
“A mage accompanying us would be more than welcome. But what made you decide to...”
“Do people not say that those who do not work should not eat? I do not intend to hold you back. I will surely be of help.”
It was good news, but it also gave Eugene something to worry about.
‘Do elves and dark elves not get along?’
He was certain he had heard something like that. The hired mercenaries would not dare cause trouble, of course.
“And one more thing.”
“Yes?”
Varda stood Eugene’s fallen king upright again.
“From now on, when you play chess with me, do not knock over your king even if you lose. Saying that you have lost is enough.”
“That is proper etiquette in a checkmate situation.”
“I do not wish to see it. Your king must always stand tall.”
“...Understood.”
Gopri’s lessons had been strict, but there was something strangely fluttery about Varda’s lessons.
His first war fought with weapons of blade and bow! It would be a battlefield on an entirely different scale from duels and small skirmishes.
Still, an excellent mage and elite mercenaries would support him. Having decided to live as a knight, Eugene could only trust in his strength and move forward.
Footnotes:
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