The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations Chapter 696

Episode 696 Listen carefully. In the future, you will… … (2)

Giselle spoke bitterly to Astion, who seemed to have lost his mind.

‘Unfortunately, that’s the reality. So don’t be so obsessed with fame. Ha, it’s so pointless.’

– That’s a lie, right?

‘I don’t lie.’

Even though Giselle was a bit wild and eccentric, she never lied. Still, Astion didn’t want to believe it.

― You said I was going to join the 9th Circle? You said you were going to save the world with your friends? Why would someone like that live in hiding?

‘Well… … I don’t know the exact reason. But it’s true that I lived in hiding.’

Maybe it was because of the notoriety he had built up from now on. But there was no need to say a hypothesis that was disadvantageous to him. There could be another reason.

Astion asked with a trembling voice.

– So, then I live alone? Can’t I date like you?

Jiselle said with a pitiful, yet determined look in her eyes.

‘I can’t do it.’

― … … .

‘And the descendants of your magic tower… … can’t date. I don’t know what will happen later, but that’s how it is for now.’

― … … .

Dark intervened from the side.

– That’s right! The descendants of your magic tower are a bit idiotic!

– You think I’m being silly?

– Hey! Just like you!

In Dark’s narrow-minded way of thinking, Jerome’s kind heart could only seem foolish. However, Astion did not know what kind of person Jerome was, so he took Dark’s words at face value.

He spoke with a determined tone, as if he could never do that.

– Oh, don’t make me laugh. I won’t accept a stupid disciple to my magic tower. I will make sure to strictly follow their character and only accept smart ones.

– But then a silly kid came!

– Shut up! I won’t pick a kid like that!

– That’s not up to you! It’s the future, what can you do about it?

– Shut up!

Astion was so absorbed in the shocking future that he forgot that he was now gaining notoriety. He just fought Dark and fought.

Astion, who had expended all his mental power, fell asleep without even being able to find his principal.

After easily subduing Astion, Giselle continued her hellish training.

There was no need to harass the captured wizards. Wizards were not truly loyal servants anyway.

They were now trembling with fear that they too might be involved in the training, and were listening very carefully. Originally, there were hardly any magicians in the territory, so that much was enough.

The mercenaries who had been squabbling snickered as they watched the hellish training. It was someone else’s business to them anyway.

“Oh my, if I got it wrong, I got it really wrong.”

“Our vice-captain must have a bit of a dirty temper.”

“Wouldn’t that be the way to become close with someone like that?”

The mercenaries who had been bandits sympathized more deeply with the feelings of the soldiers who cursed Jisel. They had been rehabilitated by being beaten to the point of being harpooned by Jisel.

Jiselle said to the giggling mercenaries.

“Now you too will participate in the training.”

“… … Why, why?”

“You guys are too weak. Let’s use this opportunity to work on our mental strength.”

“… … .”

It was horrible just to hear about. Hell training was only fun to watch.

Osvald said in a trembling voice.

“Isn’t mental strength… something you’re born with? I’m a man, but I’m mentally weak… … . When I get stressed, I die quickly.”

“Everything can be cured through training.”

So the mercenaries also took part in the hellish training. No one was exempt.

“Ugh! Why do I have to do this kind of training!”

“We’re mercenaries! Why don’t we just fight for money?”

“Osval, man! I think I’m going to die!”

Now, in this place, one’s origin or status had no meaning. Only warriors filled with venom through training existed.

Feeling that the time had come, Giselle gathered everyone together and declared:

“Now let’s add a new training!”

The knights, soldiers, and mercenaries glared at Giselle, gritting their teeth. If a person could be killed with just a look, they would have killed Giselle several times already.

Everyone was very angry. Jiselle liked the sight.

The more all the resentment was focused on oneself, the deeper the bond between them became.

It was enough to just roll with it simply(?). Now, we had to increase our cooperation with each other and build a deeper relationship.

“I’ll give you a team starting today, so take turns attacking me! This is real combat training!”

You shouldn’t just let your anger build up. You should also give yourself a chance to let it out.

Everyone frowned at Jiselle’s words. What’s the use of attacking that monster when it won’t work?

Jiselle also knows what they are thinking. That’s why she set a condition.

“I will suppress my mana and not use magic! So feel free to attack. Oh, and of course, knights are also prohibited from using mana.”

Then everyone’s eyes lit up with menace. If they didn’t use mana, they could just push through with numbers.

From that day on, the selected group fought a battle that was like a real battle with Jiselle. As many as 100 people were assigned to each group.

They were so venomous from their hellish training that they tried to catch and beat Giselle by any means necessary.

“Catch him and kill him!”

“I will definitely get revenge!”

“Hey man… you little bastard! Dieeeeeeeee!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Jiselle swung a club made of straw and beat everyone down.

Even without using mana, his skills were already at their peak. What’s more, he was able to naturally align with the will of the world.

No one could hit him as he moved like the wind.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Keeeek! Shit Astion!”

“Astion! You are a demon!”

“Astion! You son of a bitch!”

Every time they were hit by Giselle’s club, they all cursed and fell down. But Giselle didn’t feel like being cursed at all.

That’s because he’s really participating in this training… …probably.

Jiselle found herself admiring the teamwork training without realizing it.

“The effect is amazing.”

Everyone, regardless of where their opponents come from, sits down every night to discuss tactics and devise ways to defeat Jiselle.

Since everyone was working towards the same goal, we couldn’t help but become close to each other.

In the end, I got beaten by Jiselle, but running around and swinging my club around to my heart’s content also had the effect of relieving stress.

When I got tired, Andrew and Leo came out and gave me drinks and meat and let me rest. It was a perfect division of roles.

It was time to end the training, but Jiselle didn’t stop. She still had time before the next task.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Kuaaaaah! Astion is XXX!”

“Astion! I will definitely kill you!”

“This XXXX! Astion XXXXX!”

Every time we had real combat training with Jiselle, everyone would spit out similar curses. But Jiselle would laugh heartily and accept all of their anger.

That was… … his own way of being considerate, accustomed to being a villain.

“Yes! I am Astion! Everyone, come at me!”

As the hellish training continued, Astion’s notoriety grew even more.

* * *

As Andrew and Leo had thought, Count Swipel and his retainers had difficulty finding a way to defeat the Yulien mercenary group.

“What about poisoning?”

“It seems difficult. If you are that strong, you won’t get addicted easily, and even if you do get addicted, you will be able to suppress the poison and run away.”

“Once we get all of his gang addicted, can’t we chase them down and catch them?”

“It won’t be easy if you hide your body. If you recover before we catch you, I’ll definitely get revenge. Besides, there’s no way Baron Nordhill and Baron Lax wouldn’t test for poison.”

No matter how small the territory was, both of them were the owners of the same territory. There was no way the attendants wouldn’t check the food for poison.

“Then how about hiding the knights and launching a surprise attack? Invite only the executives of the mercenary group to the banquet, excluding everyone else.”

“That too… … doesn’t seem like it will be easy.”

“Why? Is it hard to win even if all the knights attack?”

That’s obvious. How can you catch them with just knights when there’s a surprise attack and superhuman strength involved?

But the messengers spoke as indirectly as possible.

“Except for that wizard, the skills of the mercenary officers are said to be at least upper-level to top-level. Even if we fight to the end, I can’t guarantee that we will win.”

“Umm… … .”

“Besides… …they are mercenaries. There’s no way they’ll fight to the end, right? They’ll flee the moment they’re ambushed. No, if you invite only executives to the banquet in the first place, they’ll be suspicious and refuse.”

“Ugh… … .”

“If we’re going to invite them, we have to invite them all, and there’s no way they won’t bring troops. If there’s even the slightest commotion, the troops on standby will move.”

“Ugh… … .”

“To succeed, we need to be able to subdue them in one fell swoop before their troops can move… … but it’s still too much for our knights.”

The knights around them showed signs of displeasure at the words of the vassals.

This is because it is said that a few executives of a mere mercenary group surpass the power of the entire knightly order.

But they couldn’t openly question him, because even the known history was like that.

It is said that Tyran’s skills are comparable to those of the Knight Commander of Swipel. However, it is said that there are several others who are as strong or stronger than him.

Even one of them is rated as superhuman. So the knights only expressed their displeasure and could not confidently come forward and say that they could do it.

Count Swipel was annoyed by the stuffiness.

“Then what are you saying we should do! Since we can’t touch you, should we just quietly offer up our money and territory? We don’t even have the money to pay now! We’re about to have to sell the territory we worked so hard to obtain!”

In fact, there wasn’t a single part that Count Swipel found difficult. Rather, he should be thankful that he was able to escape the threat of Count Crest.

But, as befitting a nobleman of this era, he thought thoroughly selfishly.

“Find a way! A way!”

He continued to lose his temper. He couldn’t contain his anger at the fact that he, a high-ranking noble, could not handle a mercenary corps.

One of the men glanced at him and said.

“There is a way… … but it’s not like there isn’t one.”

“What is it?”

“I ask you a favor, Margrave Falkenheim.”

“What? What?”

Count Swipel opened his mouth in bewilderment.

He had been fighting against Count Crest, a vassal of Margrave Falkenheim, and as a result, Count Crest was destroyed.

Rather, we should be fearing the retaliation of Margrave Falkenheim. So how can we ask Margrave Falkenheim for something?

Gasin continued speaking quickly.

“The reason we couldn’t join the Margrave Falkenheim faction was because of Count Crest’s greed. But now that Count Crest is gone, there’s no one who can stop us.”

“Oh… … .”

To be exact, the problem was that Count Swipel did not want to be under anyone, but after being threatened by Count Crest, he tried to join the faction.

However, it failed due to interference from Count Crest, who wanted to seize the Swipel territory by any means necessary.

“Margrave Falkenheim must retaliate for the damage done to his vassal. He must place the blame on the Julien Mercenaries and Baron Nordhill.”

“Hmm, keep talking.”

“Isn’t it true that that mercenary came and threatened you? All you have to do is give Margrave Falkenheim a reason to attack you. We just have to offer him some of the territory we acquired this time and an oath of loyalty.”

“Ugh… … .”

“Margrave Falkenheim has many excellent knights. If we can get their support and eliminate the mercenary group leaders… … We can easily take over Nordhill and Lax with our own strength.”

Count Swipel nodded. He may not know about Nordhill, but the gold mines of Lax were very desirable.

If he offered to give half of the Crest County and pay more taxes, there was no way Margrave Falkenheim would refuse.

It was heartbreaking to have to give up some of the hard-earned territory, but if I did this, I could easily take over Lax’s gold mine and eliminate the Yulien mercenary group.

There, he could also avoid the Marquis’s revenge, which was his biggest worry. It was the best option for Count Swipel.

He soon made a decision.

“Good! Send someone to Margrave Falkenheim and inform him of our intentions. I will pledge my loyalty.”

Count Swipel smiled sinisterly.

Anyway, in these troubled times, words like loyalty and such have no meaning. It was a world where people just used each other when they needed to.

That is a well-known fact. Margrave Falkenheim must know it too.

But for now, he would be fooled by those empty words. It would be to Margrave Falkenheim’s advantage.

Count Swiefel hurriedly packed expensive gifts and sent them to Margrave Falkenheim.

And among the gifts was a letter from Count Swiefel, carefully written with an utterly ugly proposal.