Episode 130

The day after Hilde Bauman was captured, we set out for the siege as usual.

Even though we earn our bread by participating in war, it’s insane that we have to throw ourselves against those lofty walls with practically nothing.

Honestly, even though everyone’s faces should be grim…

There were smiles on the faces of our White Unit guys.

As we walked towards the walls, a rookie sang a little tune and said to a veteran next to him,

“Is it true that Hilde Bauman has been thrown in jail for treason?”

Then Baker, the veteran, shrugged and replied,

“Maybe our White Unit leader did something? Since he had a secret meeting with Count Canosa last time, just like during that beheading operation.”

It’s true that I played a significant role in capturing ‘Hilde Bauman’ and putting her in jail, but only a very few people know that I, Martin Meyer, was involved.

At most, only Dalton, Count Canosa, and the clerk who wrote the document under the count’s orders know about it on our side.

‘I’d like to boast about it, but the more people know, the easier it is for secrets to leak.’

I glanced at them but moved on, pretending not to hear and kept my eyes fixed on the walls.

“Beheading operation? What’s that?”

“That’s when we, the Whitebeard Mercenary Group, fought under Lord Estel, the Border Count. Our White Unit leader suggested attacking Count Beluga’s rear with a small force. His suggestion was accepted, and the White Unit leader personally captured Count Beluga, contributing decisively to our victory.”

“……Wow.”

“So, if we just follow the White Unit leader, things will somehow work out. Just like now.”

Baker bragging about my exploits is good for raising my reputation.

Not bad, having a capable subordinate like him could turn out to be quite helpful if raised properly.

‘It’s not bad, but if this guy spreads the word about the Hilde incident, that’s not good…’

I quickly approached him and put him in a headlock, squeezing his head with my left arm.

I adjusted my strength to avoid killing him, yet he screamed out in pain.

“Ah, please save me. White Unit leader, it hurts.”

I whispered quietly into his ear,

“Kid, it’s good you’re sharp, but shut your mouth. I know you’re not the type to betray and start fires, but you never know who might be listening.”

Despite the pain, Baker nodded,

“I’ll shut up, please just save me. Your strength is no joke, isn’t it?”

“If you’re aggrieved, awaken your Aura.”

“That’s easier said than done, you know how hard that is? Ah!”

About 30 seconds later, I released him.

And as we approached the gate, a loud bugle call came from the main force where Count Canosa was.

The sound of drums and bugles together signaled an advance, but just the bugle meant to stop.

Soon after, we heard Captain Dalton’s order to halt.

“Whitebeard Mercenary Group, halt in place! Form ranks!”

We followed the command, reorganized our formation, and waited for the next order.

Then, from around the besieged castle, loud voices could be heard proclaiming something.

“Count Giovanni von Canosa of the Medici Republic declares to you for the last time! Surrender!”

As the call to surrender was heard, those standing on the walls couldn’t hide their panic.

Some were visibly trembling with fear, worried about dying in the upcoming battle.

“Can we live if we surrender?”

Veteran soldiers should step up to scold and physically correct those who speak such cowardly words, but no one seemed to do so.

Only the knights and high-ranking individuals were swinging their swords in the air to scold.

“Do you really think you’ll live if you surrender? Don’t be fooled. They will capture you all and sell you as slaves!”

Indeed, some vicious nobles do sell captured serfs and mercenaries as slaves…

But such nobles fall in reputation and become hated by mercenaries, making it difficult to hire ‘mercenaries’ later on.

‘Only a madman or a fool desperate for money would sell their soul like that.’

Regardless, the reading of the surrender document drafted by Count Canosa continued.

“Those who surrender will be spared and allowed to return to their families, but those who do not will surely perish within the castle walls. Make a wise decision.”

As soon as the reading finished, the sound of bugles and drums began to ring out rapidly.

Soon after, Dalton’s booming voice spread through the air.

“Let’s take this damned castle today! Charge!”

At his command, all of us in the White Unit, including the Whitebeard Mercenary Group, shouted out loud.

“There are no cursed knights here! Today, we will bring down this castle!”

Someone standing next to me banged his sword against his shield and shouted.

“Let’s kill them all today and get promoted, no more being a forever senior mercenary, damn it!”

Eliminating Hilde Bauman and witnessing the morale boost like this is truly rewarding.

But I can’t be satisfied here…

I, too, grabbed a ladder and started running wildly towards the castle walls with the others.

“Go straight up the walls and set up the ladder first! There’s nothing stopping us now!”

Just because Hilde is gone doesn’t mean there are no expert swordsmen or competent mercenaries inside the walls.

But without her, the focal point of the soldiers’ morale, the atmosphere has become one of reluctant fighting.

“Morale is low among the soldiers; if one falls, the rest start to falter, don’t they?”

We started running towards the enemy lines like mad.

“Just make it up the walls!”

“The White Unit leader is leading the charge! It’s as good as won.”

“We’ll kill all those bastards today!”

Arrows began to fly towards us from the walls.

“Shoot, shoot! Don’t let those bastards get close!”

Several of my men were quickly killed by arrows aimed at us.

“Argh, damn it!”

Not long after the arrows flew, the chanting of magicians could be heard.

“Let the flames rain down upon the enemies like rain! Fire Drop!”

It was a type of magic I hadn’t encountered before, but witnessing the creation of 4-5 fireballs in the sky, it appeared to be of intermediate level.

As the magic descended near our mercenary group, a squad of ten was instantly halved.

“Argh, damn! Half of our squad is gone!”

Despite the enemy’s powerful long-range attacks, the faces of those running alongside me still bore smiles.

“Captain, without that woman Hilde… once we’re up on the walls, those guys are just trash, right?”

Losing Hilde doesn’t mean their actual strength diminishes, but…

“Their morale has dropped, so there will be quite a few who are faltering.”

Then, the sound of arrows slicing through the wind came from behind me.

As arrows flew towards the walls, I saw those struck by them looking around in panic.

The fact that they’re acting like this after days of battle shows they’re terrified, contemplating whether to flee or not.

“Shields! Shields!”

In the voice calling for shields, there was a hint of desperation.

‘The impact of Hilde’s loss is significant.’

As arrows and magic flew towards the walls, the soldiers atop could not avoid mass casualties.

“Ah, save me! Someone save a person!”

“Pull the arrow out of my arm!”

“Save me, damn it!”

Strictly speaking, not all were killed by the arrows or magic, but many were injured.

So now, the walls were almost as good as unguarded.

‘If we set up the ladders now, they’ll be completely defenseless against us.’

Seizing the opportunity, we in the White Unit hurried to attach our ladders to the walls more swiftly.

“Hurry! We must go up now! It’s over if we’re late.”

Finishing that sentence, I, along with the others, began climbing the ladders as quickly as we could.

Striding with all the strength I could muster, quickly, very quickly.

As I ascended the ladder like I was flying, the first two soldiers I encountered on the wall saw me and, frozen with terror,

Lifted their arms high to smash my head with a mace.

“Die, you wicked pizza fiends!”

Both were trying to crush my skull simultaneously, but, unfortunately for them, before they could strike…

“You’re talking nonsense.”

I swung my sword and beheaded them a bit quicker.

Shaking the blood off my sword, I smiled wickedly.

“Surrender, and you will be spared.”