The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations Chapter 802

Episode 802: The target is the imperial capital. (4)

Even after the battle with the Snobur Kingdom army, the Yulien Mercenaries encountered several other kingdom troops.
However, the battles didn’t unfold as they had the first time.
Viscount Horrento had awakened after his life-threatening experience.
“Get out of the way! It’s the Empire’s messenger! The Yulien Mercenaries have fled! We must inform the Empire!”
His angry voice and intimidating expression were exactly what the Empire usually did.
The kingdom troops easily gave way to his powerful demeanor.
Thanks to this, the Yulien Mercenaries were able to move quickly without further fighting.
Giselle chuckled behind Viscount Horrento.
“Wow, your acting skills have suddenly improved. You should’ve done this earlier.”
“Heh, heh… Is that so?”
Viscount Horrento smiled awkwardly. But tears welled up inside him.
The Snobur Kingdom troops would think he had betrayed them. He didn’t know when the Empire would hear this news.
Now, there was only one way for him to survive.
“I’ll get there first!”
Before the news spread, they guided the Yulien mercenary group and fled. That was Viscount Horrento’s only way to save his life.
That’s why Viscount Horrento had no choice but to put on a show with all his might.
Giselle unfolded a map from her horse.
“Hmm… At this rate, we’ll arrive soon. The encirclement is loosening.”
As they headed toward the Empire, the line of defenses began to weaken.
No one expected the Yulien mercenary group to flee toward the Empire.
Dududududududu!
After riding without rest for several days, the group was completely emaciated. Even this was because Erenes had summoned the water spirit to give them a quick wash.
Their unkempt appearance made them more convincing as messengers in a hurry.
Giselle briefly examined the map and said,
“Let’s move as stealthily as possible from now on. The road is rough, but it’s better to avoid encountering the army.”
The siege itself had loosened, but the closer they got to the Empire, the more alert the army became. Suspicion was growing.
The Yulien Mercenaries tried to avoid the kingdom’s forces they had helped whenever possible. Even with their disguises, a discerning eye could still spot them.
Furthermore, Giselle had another plan.
“It’s best to remain unseen until we reach the agreed-upon location.”
He planned to meet with several people before entering the capital. Dark had been on the move before departure, relaying news to them.
It would be best to approach the agreed-upon meeting point discreetly.
Viscount Horrento spoke with a worried expression.
“It won’t be easy. We’ve staggered the kingdom’s forces to ensure your evasion. And regardless of the kingdom’s forces, countless intelligence units and patrols patrol the Empire’s perimeter.”
“I know that much. We’ll have to keep acting then. If we get caught, we’ll have no choice but to fight.”
Viscount Horrento lowered his head and sighed.
“Haa… How could I possibly get captured by these crazy guys… … .’
The kingdom’s troops could be fooled by the name of the empire. But even the imperial troops would soon lose their sense of propaganda
. And yet, they had to somehow reach the imperial capital. The journey ahead was utterly bleak.
Doo doo doo doo doo doo!
The Yulien mercenary company rode their horses avoiding the army’s camps as much as possible.
Of course, circumventing them wasn’t easy. The army didn’t just wait in place.
They used mages to monitor from a considerable distance, and even operated reconnaissance teams beyond that, thoroughly monitoring their return and shift changes.
That’s how they were able to monitor such a wide area.
To avoid such places, they had to find a delicate path through rough terrain like mountains and swamps.
Jisel used Dark to easily find such a path. Since she knew the camps, she could roughly estimate the mages’ surveillance areas.
In areas where the reconnaissance areas of each garrison overlapped, they hid nearby and secretly passed through under the cover of darkness.
Thanks to Dark, the task was relatively easy.
One day, as always, Dark was sent out on a scouting mission first, and Dark brought unexpected news.
―Master, there’s an army?
‘What?’
― It’s not a scout or anything. There’s a large army stationed there.
Giselle frowned and asked Viscount Horento.
“Hey, why is there an army where there shouldn’t be?”
“I-I don’t know. I really don’t. I can’t possibly know all the Empire’s movements, can I?”
“Hmm…”
Giselle’s expression hardened. Even though she had moved so cautiously, there was an unexpected army waiting.
Rumors of the escape of the Yulien mercenary group must have already spread far and wide.
That means… … .
‘Did someone sense my plan?’ They
might have rearranged their positions with the intention of reaching the Empire. Perhaps they’d already sensed it and begun a siege at the regional level.
Indeed, the Empire. A genius capable of sensing this irrational and absurd strategy… … .
Before he could even finish his thought, Dark spoke again.
―Master! It’s him! That guy!
‘Who?’
―That strangely accented nobleman from the Kingdom of Flovitz! He’s here again!
‘… …The Marquis of Valesant?’
―Yes, that’s right! And the flag is right!
“…….”
The map didn’t indicate who exactly was leading the army. It only showed the name of the kingdom.
There was no way the Marquis of Valesant had anticipated his movements. He must have simply been playing tricks and ended up there.
Giselle snickered.
“What a coincidence. I wasn’t planning on meeting you now.”
Since it had come to this, it seemed best to change the plan.
“Let’s go at full speed. I need to see someone I haven’t seen in ages.”
With that, the Yulien mercenary company moved at full speed towards the Marquis de Valesant’s army.
Meanwhile, the Marquis de Valesant had moved his camp and was enjoying a lazy afternoon.
“Oh, what’s so nice about the weather today? Should I take a nice nap? Hey! Wake me up if anyone comes!”
He laid down lightly on his flower-patterned bed.
Of course, he wasn’t just playing around. The Imperial Inspector was there, so he was on high alert with magic.
The wizard, who had been using vision magic to monitor the surroundings for a while, reported,
“A small group is approaching. They’re dressed in Imperial military attire.”
“Oh my, this is what happens when you try to sleep. But what could it be? Are they coming to tell you some news?” The
Marquis de Valesant, stung by his idleness, adjusted his clothes and went out to greet them.
He smiled brightly at the approaching group and opened his arms.
“Oh my! Welcome!”
The Julian mercenary company stopped in front of the Marquis de Valesant, who had come out to greet them. The Marquis de
Valesant said, rubbing his hands together.
“Oh my, please come slowly. What’s so busy? So, what brings you here?”
Viscount Horento glanced back.
Soon, Giselle removed her mustache and removed her disguise, then said,
“It’s been a while, Marquis de Valesant.”
“Oh my, do you know me? I don’t know anyone in the Empire…”
The Marquis de Valesant, who was studying Giselle’s face, stopped talking.
His eyes widened, he trembled, and suddenly screamed.
“Gyaaaaak! Gyaaaaak! Gyaaaaak!”
“……”
“Kyaaaaak! Gyaaaaak! Gyaaaaak!”
Count de Valesant gestured and screamed wildly as if he had seen a ghost.
Naturally, all the knights and soldiers around him drew their weapons and surrounded the Julian mercenary company.
The Imperial Army inspector also came out in a hurry, wondering what was going on.
The adjutant grabbed the Marquis de Valesant, who was having a seizure, and said,
“Marquis! What is wrong with you?”
“Gyaaaaaaaah!”
The Marquis de Valesant only screamed and pointed at Giselle.
The adjutant turned his head and quietly looked at Giselle… … .
“Euaaaah! Aaaaah! Why why why why why!”
They shouted together.
I could see a face that shouldn’t be seen here. The two were so shocked that they kept screaming.
“……”
Giselle looked at the two with cold, cold eyes. The fuss was the same as before.
The adjutant grabbed the Count de Valesant and said,
“Marquis, take a deep breath! Breathe! Hoo! Ha! Hoo! Ha!”
“Ah, I see. Hoo! Ha! Hoo! Ha!”
“……”
As the two continued to fuss like that, the Imperial inspector approached and asked,
“You seem to be an Imperial messenger, but where did you come from? On whose orders did you come?”
The inspector, after quietly observing the Julian Mercenaries, was slightly surprised.
“No, aren’t you Viscount Horrento? What brings you here now?”
“…”
Viscount Horrento had no right to speak. He looked at Giselle.
Giselle, in turn, quietly looked at the Marquis de Valesant. It all depended on how the Marquis de Valesant would react.
The Marquis de Valesant looked at Giselle and then at the inspector.
He had already had a similar experience.
His thoughts were short. The Empire was far, and the Julian Mercenaries were close. Close proximity is always more frightening.
The Marquis de Valesant pointed to the inspector and said,
“Arrest him immediately!”
“……???”
The inspector looked bewildered. The Marquis de Valesant was the same.
However, as if the order was not wrong, the Marquis de Valesant shouted again loudly,
“Arrest him immediately!”
The knights immediately moved, tying up the inspector and forcing him to his knees. The inspector shouted with a look of injustice on his face,
“What are you doing! I am an official of the Empire!”
“Oh! Shut up! Do you really not know your crimes!”
“W-what crime?”
“Spying on me.”
“……”
The Marquis de Valesant immediately turned to Giselle and smiled.
“T-this will do, right?”
“Yes. As expected, our Marquis de Valesant has a remarkable ability to empathize.”
“Oh, what? If you pretend, you pretend.”
The inspector, hearing their conversation, trembled and said,
“S-you can’t possibly……”
Viscount Horrento nodded with a dark expression.
“These people… are the Yulien Mercenaries.”
“W-That’s ridiculous…”
“It’s true. The Imperial Army was defeated by these people.”
“…”
The inspector’s mouth fell open. As far as he knew, the Imperial Army that went to capture the Yulien Mercenaries numbered a whopping 10,000, including superhumans.
That such an army was defeated? He couldn’t believe it even as he heard it.
But seeing Viscount Horrento with them, it seemed they had indeed been defeated and taken hostage.
Giselle pulled out a hatchet and spoke to the inspector.
“You have two choices.”
“Wh-what choice?”
“Cooperation, or death.”
“I, I…”
Crunch!
“Kuaaaaak!”
The inspector screamed, his shoulder hit by the hatchet.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
Giselle didn’t say anything and just stabbed the inspector all over his body with the axe. His expression was as impassive as a butcher slaughtering meat.
“Aaaaah!”
Giselle muttered, looking at the inspector who only screamed.
“You have incredible spirit. At this rate, I have no choice but to acknowledge you. I will remember you as a great man.”
As Giselle raised the hatchet and prepared to cut off his neck, the inspector shouted,
“I will cooperate! I will cooperate! I will cooperate unconditionally!”
“Hmm… Really?”
“Yes! I have weak spirit! If I were tortured, I often imagined blowing it all up!”
“Good, listen carefully to the explanation from Viscount Horrento.”
“Ah, I understand.”
The released inspector immediately learned the code of conduct from Viscount Horrento. Of course, a mercenary was right by his side, ready to kill at any moment.
The Julien Mercenary Company greeted the Marquis de Valesant, whom they had not seen in a long time.
Everyone was happy to see him, but the Marquis de Valesant was more worried than happy.
After a few brief greetings, the Marquis de Valesant leaned in close to Giselle and asked,
“What, what is it? What brings you here?”
“What? We should do as we always do. I came because I don’t like the Pope.”
“…Are you going to have a quarrel with the Pope?”
“You started it, so there’s nothing you can do.”
“I see. Then I wish you good luck. I’m off…” The Marquis de
Valesant planned to lead his army back to the kingdom for now. He could think of an excuse for handing over the inspector when he got there.
For now, he had to get as far away from the Julien Mercenaries as possible.
Giselle laughed, grabbing the Marquis de Valesant’s shoulder as he turned back.
“Where are you going?”
“T-T-Turning back…”
“No. You know our style, don’t you? If it comes to this, we should see it through to the end.”
“Ha, hahaha… We’re together…”
It was just like when he went to capture the Marquis de Falkenheim. Common sense didn’t apply to the Julien Mercenaries.
In the end, the Marquis of Valesant, in a daze, moved with the Julian mercenary group.
Now that the army was ready, the situation changed a little.
Viscount Horrento and the imperial inspector confronted the other kingdoms’ forces under a new pretext.
“This is an army summoned by the empire! We’ve agreed to take care of the supplies heading to the Demon Realm, so get out of the way!”
With the imperial staff and inspector present, no one suspected anything. It would be more accurate to say that the other kingdoms hadn’t even paid attention to them in the first place.
The Julian mercenary group also washed and rested during the march. They were exhausted from the forced march and lack of rest.
And after several days of movement, they finally arrived at Giselle’s original destination.
The place Giselle had designated was a wide plain, large enough to accommodate an army. And the Empire was within striking distance.
The Marquis de Valesant grew increasingly anxious.
“What? Why have we come all this way? Isn’t this the perfect place for battle?”
The Imperial army could rush in at any moment. If a battle broke out here, it was clear that only his own army would be annihilated.
The Marquis de Valesant fidgeted, agonizing over the matter.
“What should I do, my lady? Flee? Betray?
I want to, but the problem was that the Yulien mercenaries were too terrifying to betray.
Finally, a few days passed, and as the Marquis de Valesant had predicted, another army appeared.
However, it wasn’t the Empire.
The Marquis de Valesant, once again stunned by the new arrivals, looked at them.
“W-what? Why are they here…”
Saaaaaaah… … .
They were warriors with pointy ears, elves wielding magnificent bows and elaborate swords.
They wore armor covered in leaf-like scales and rode enormous stags called “Elkorn.”
The elven army displayed a majestic presence, as if the forest itself had awakened and moved.
Everyone stared in awe at this mysterious force.
After a moment, the elf riding the most majestic and elegant Elkorn stepped forward.
The Yulien Mercenaries also stepped forward with a welcoming expression.
A soft yet authoritative voice rang out toward them.
“It’s been a long time. I’ve missed you all.”
The elven chieftain, Iraniel, greeted the Yulien Mercenaries with a serene smile.