The Owl Corps. A mercenary group of over a hundred, led by Captain Dan Russell. They were the ones who fled the battlefield without providing aid, prioritizing their own escape.
“I’ll kill them when I find them… What would I do if the person I wanted to punch appeared before me? By the way, human lives are very cheap in this world. And I have cheat abilities.
After reaching Makjuru’s Royal Capital, we had planned to get our reward from the Guild the same day, equip ourselves, and then relax at an inn. But upon finding Dan Russell, we slightly altered our plans.
“Alana, take this luggage back first.”
“Is there something urgent?”
“It’s nothing much. I’m going to say hello to an acquaintance. I’ll be back by night, so warm up the bed for me.”
It was Alana’s turn for guard duty today. I should finish my business and head back quickly. I wasn’t thinking of killing Dan, though I do want to punch him with all my might at least once.
I watched Dan enter the tavern attached to the inn with three mercenaries… What should I do now?
Should I confront him directly? This is an inn, and it’s possible the Owl Corps might be here. I doubt all hundred of them are, but in such a confined space, I might be crushed before I could even use my speed.
Should I give up? I don’t know when I’ll see him again, and I don’t want to let him escape. Besides, I need to get back quickly; Alana is waiting.
I opened the inn door and went towards the tavern. Dan Russell was drinking at the very back. Some of the people around looked armed, like mercenaries, but most seemed to be civilians. This meant they weren’t all enemies.
My plan for a surprise attack was foiled as Dan struck first. He was sitting in the back, perhaps to get a better view of his surroundings.
“Why, it’s Captain Mikael Sin of the White Lily Corps. Thank you for your service at the rear. I’m glad you are unharmed. Here, please, have a seat…”
He knew me well, despite having left earlier. I had intended to get close and look down on him, but that was out of the question.
“Long time no see, Lord Russell. Please, you don’t need to stand. You don’t have to worry about me.”
If he were sitting, it would be harder to slash and punch him. And harder to escape. Russell also stood by the table, so his companions stood up as well. The five of us standing around the table looked a bit strange.
“Excuse me.”
To put an end to this strange scene, I had no choice but to sit down. I shifted my sword to my right hand, showing no hostility, though I was brimming with it.
After some trivial pleasantries, I brought up the topic. For a while now, I’d been bothered by the Owl Corps member standing right behind me, seeming to stare at the crown of my head.
“Lord Russell, I have two questions for you. First, why did you retreat without providing support during the 7th Unit’s withdrawal? And second, why did you flee during the full army retreat?”
Did I speak a bit too strongly? The two mercenaries sitting down stood up, and Russell urged them to sit.
“That was a misunderstanding and a strategic decision. Regarding the former, I was merely following the orders of the 8th Unit commander. As for the latter, it was because we knew the Pomerian forces were about to attack.”
“If possible, I’d like a more detailed explanation.”
There was no way I could be satisfied with that. My life was on the line.
“Before that, Captain Mikael, what is your philosophy in leading your corps?”
“My philosophy…?”
“I strive to ensure that as few of my subordinates as possible die. It sounds strange to say ‘not die’ when at war.”
He gave a small laugh, a childlike smile with a flash of white teeth. Many women must fall for that, and it’s infuriating to see such a handsome face.
“About the explanation from earlier, when the 7th was retreating, we advised against providing support because if they advanced too far, the 7th and 8th Units would be caught by enemy catapults.”
It’s true, we might have pushed too far… I didn’t expect the enemy to be that fragile and our forward units to advance so slowly.
“As for the second point, we believed Pomeria and Harinnook had joined forces. We thought Pomeria feigned a retreat to then sandwich Makjuru between the two countries.”
“Knowing all that, did you report it to Makjuru!”
“We didn’t. Even if we had, nobles would never listen to mercenaries. We simply followed the Makjuru army and made money without losing our lives.”
“Th-that’s not being mercenaries!”
“We are mercenaries. Our philosophies differ from Captain Mikael’s, but we are mercenaries who earn money by fighting and killing. We just take measures to ensure our subordinates don’t die.”
“……”
“Captain Mikael, what do you think of your subordinates?”
“……”
“Subordinates are ‘pawns’. Valuable pawns. I don’t want anyone to die, and they are pawns who might have to die if necessary. We spend money to gather necessary information, and sometimes we have to abandon them to save others. Otherwise, survival is impossible.”
“……”
I couldn’t find a reply. What did I really think of the White Lily Corps? Mercenaries who enjoy fighting and don’t care about human lives. At night, on guard duty, they’d indulge in memories of bloodshed, doing as they pleased and suffering consequences.
I got up and left without saying anything. Perhaps it was better that I didn’t say anything. Pathetic.
I walked out of the inn’s door. It was already dark, and I could see a few streetlights lit by magic.
“Captain. Are you done?”
I knew it was Alana by her voice, even without turning around.
“It’s done. Shall we go back?”
I couldn’t turn around. I couldn’t face Alana right now. Was I, as their captain, wrong? Everyone’s life is more important than anything; that much is true. But I’ve never thought of them as mere pawns to be manipulated.Abandoning them is out of the question.
There was truth in what Dan Russell said. He, too, was likely thinking of his subordinates. Am I relying too much on the individual combat strength of my men? I thought they could handle an advance of that magnitude.
“Captain, are you thinking about something difficult?”
“Hmm? It’s fine. I just got some homework.”
I received homework. At my age. Difficult homework.
