Chapter 26: Baptism (2)

Chapter 26 – Baptism (2)

Creak.

Urich and the mercenaries followed the attendant into the drawing room.

“So you’re here.”

Two men were standing in the room. One of them was Earl Havirond, and the other was the city marshal.

Earl Havirond was wearing a red coat with gold embroidery, and his hands were adorned with rings that sparkled in various colors.

The city marshal was blind in one eye, and a scar ran horizontally across it. The mercenaries looked at his single eye.

“Hello, Your Lordship,” greeted Urich as he sat in front of the earl.

Urich, who was covered in a wolf pelt, looked like a vicious beast.

“I’ve heard that you are the mercenaries with the most prestigious achievement recently. Urich’s Brothers,” said Earl Havirond with a calm voice.

“I heard that there was a job to do, so I came to accept it.”

Urich took a bite of an apple that was on the table.

“How impertinent. You are in front of His Lordship, mercenary.”

The marshal spoke coldly, looking as if he was ready to pull out his sword.

“Earl Havirond, you should change your marshal. He’s a very rude person. He has such a scowl on his face even though it’s our first time meeting.”

Shiiing.

After hearing that, the marshal pulled out his sword halfway.

“If you pull out the rest, your wrists will get cut off,” warned Urich.

“Stop it! Sir Seton!” admonished Earl Havirond.

Marshal Seton turned his head askew and sheathed his sword.

“I wasn’t impertinent. Is it rude to take a bite of an apple in front of you? Or was calling you in a friendly manner the issue? I was being respectful in my own way. If it isn’t to your liking, we’ll take our leave. We’ll just make some change while working as escorts for merchants.”

Urich tried to stand up.

“I apologize for Sir Seton’s rudeness. But in our perspective, your actions were enough to be considered rude.”

Earl Havirond spoke while seated. Urich sat back down.

“I am Urich the Barbarian. It’s also in the lyrics of that song. You took that into consideration when you called us.”

There was only one reason to use a barbarian mercenary. A mercenary group that was centered around a barbarian had excellent combat skills. In fact, groups that used Northern barbarians as mercenaries were peerless in their strength. The fact that a barbarian was able to go throughout the imperial territory as a free individual was enough evidence of their ‘strength’.

Urich and Sven already displayed the strength of barbarians in multiple battles. The reasons that the barbarians were pushed back by the imperial army were their tactics and difference in equipment. In terms of pure physical ability, barbarians were leagues ahead.

Their most advanced equipment, like imperial steel and full plate armor, was only handed out to individuals in the imperial army. Even only a handful of nobles had a full set of full plate armor.

In the mercenary world where barbarians and the civilized had similar levels of equipment, the barbarians’ abilities stood out.

‘In the mercenary world, ‘barbarian’ is not a bad tag to have.’

Earl Havirond nodded and started getting into the real conversation.

“…The reward is 80 million cil. If you are able to make a decisive contribution, I am willing to pay up to 100 million cil. If it’s these rewards for the 28 of you, it isn’t too bad, correct?”

Urich’s mercenary group currently had 28 members. During their travels, a passionate young man, a drifting mercenary, a bandit, and a defeated soldier joined them.

They wanted to increase their numbers by a lot in one go. However, if too many newcomers came in at once, there could be trouble assimilating with the existing mercenaries. Eventually, there would be conflicts and hierarchies between them. They decided to increase their members little by little so that their newcomers could get assimilated. It was like mixing a drop of ink into a cup of water one by one.

“It’s not bad, Urich. Since it’s just cleaning up some bandits, there probably won’t be anyone getting hurt,” Bakman whispered to Urich while covering his mouth.

The mercenaries that followed Urich also read the mood of the room. No one was opposed to it.

It was quite a big job.

Donovan thought for a second and spoke.

“If it’s 80 million cil, it won’t be a bad idea to change out the old equipment. There are some still using the same equipment they used back when we were gladiators. My chainmail armor is also getting thin and rusty.”

The rewards this time wouldn’t be used to waste on extravagance but as a launching pad for the future.

‘If we want to be able to respond to multiple situations, at least half of the mercenaries will need to be heavily armed.’

Donovan was a soldier. He knew the importance of being fully armed. No matter what situation it was, if they had heavily armed soldiers, they would be able to take control of the battle. Warriors that wore iron armor and raised their shields became a sturdy wall.

“Alright, we’ll prepare for it.”

Urich smiled as he stood up.

All of the mercenaries left, and Marshal Seton looked at his lord with a face laden with worry.

“They are insolent people. Even if we don’t use mercenaries—”

“Quiet, Seton.”

“Some bandits won’t even be a match for us! Havirond’s proud soldiers don’t need help from mercenaries like them! Especially damned barbarians!”

Seton said his piece. Earl Havirond took a long, deep breath.

“Those proud soldiers are people that were born and grew up in my city. They are someone’s father! Someone’s son! And someone’s husband as well! If even one of our soldiers’ deaths could be prevented by hiring those mercenaries, I wouldn’t consider it a waste to spend whatever money I have.”

Seton couldn’t respond.

Subjugating bandits was not a dangerous job. Even if it was a gang of bandits, they were just some ragtag group. However, those missions weren’t completely free of casualties. If they embarked on a mission, some soldiers would forever be unable to return. How many nobles and lords out there thought about that as well?

‘He is Havirond’s true lord.’

Seton couldn’t say anything more after that.

“As Your Lordship commands.”

* * *

* * *

Marshal Seton and 85 members of Havirond’s militia. All 28 members of Urich’s Brothers. The hundred-some armed men left Havirond’s through the city gates. Their destination was a mountain that apparently had a bandit’s hideout.

“Who is that person?”

Urich spoke after finding a man who didn’t fit in with the other soldiers. The man wore clothing that had a sun on his chest. Even though he was going to battle, he had no weapons.

“He’s a clergyman from Sol. There are sometimes clergymen that serve in the army like that too,” said Bakman.

“Clergyman? Ahh, like a ‘shaman’. Why do they follow the army?”

“They give blessings before battle and conduct funerals for the fallen. If you aren’t properly led to Ru’s arms, you’d have to stay in this world for a while before you go up.”

Bakman also pulled out his sun pendant and grasped it tight. Mercenaries and gladiators were both occupations that were close to death. They had more interest in the afterlife than anyone else did.

‘Where do we go when we die?’

Urich carefully looked at the clergyman.

“Then they must know a lot.”

“Clergymen are no different from scholars,” answered Bakman. Urich walked straight toward the clergyman.

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“Hey.”

Urich stretched his coarse hand toward the clergyman. He flinched.

“Ahh, you are the leader of the mercenary group. I am Gotval.”

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Clergyman Gotval spoke while looking at Urich.

Urich carefully observed him. He looked at his clothes and kept an eye even on his hand movements. The clergyman looked like he was in his early twenties, but even Marshal Seton was careful around him—as if he were higher-ranked.

“I am Urich. I don’t think I’ll need to introduce anything else.”

“Greetings, Urich. Thank you on behalf of all of the faithful in the city.”

“For what?”

“For facing the bandits on behalf of good people.”

Urich laughed like it was absurd.

“We’re doing this because it’s a job that we receive money for. We get something in return. There’s nothing to be thankful for.”

“Fighting with your life on the line isn’t something anyone can easily do even if they receive money for it.”

Gotval’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. Urich flinched and called over Bakman who was next to him.

“Bakman, are clergies all filled with psychos like him?”

Bakman was shocked and blocked Urich’s mouth.

“Haha, Monk Gotval. It’s because it’s the first time our leader has seen a monk.”

“It’s quite alright. I am already aware that his customs, way of speaking, and behavior are different from ours.”

Gotval laughed lightly. Urich didn’t know why, but he felt uncomfortable.

‘What is this?’

Urich stared at the clergyman as if he were trying to look through him. It was the first time in his life that he felt like this.

‘Why is this fucking guy being kind to me?’

The words Gotval spoke were a warm kindness without reason. To Urich, who was only familiar with relationships that were comparable to a pack of wolves, it was an unfamiliar kindness.

“Urich, I don’t want to roam around this world when I die. Don’t say anything that will provoke the Sun God. Those people devote their bodies and souls to god.”

“I know. You’re saying that they’re like shamans.”

“I’m saying it because I don’t think you understood a thing.”

“You look down on me and think I don’t know anything because I’m a barbarian, right? Yeah? You’ve been like that since we talked about the sea before. You keep lying and yapping about how the sea is stupidly big…”

Urich and Bakman bickered with each other. Gotval just laughed and passed by them.

“Stop! We will set up camp here!”

Marshal Seton spoke after leading the march for half a day.

It would take them three days to reach the mountain where the bandits’ hideout was. Thus, they would have to camp outdoors multiple times.

As soon as the order was given, the soldiers prepared to camp. The soldiers who were cooks for the army lit the campfire and pulled out their cooking pots.

“Hey, which idiot put their used leather glove in the pot?”

The mercenaries swore at each other because of their cooking pot.

“It was getting ripped and worn out, so I put it in there. It’s raw leather, though. Shouldn’t we be able to eat it if we cook it?”

“Do you have an arrow in your head? I bet it’ll come out black because of the grime from your fingers.”

The group meal that they were eating was ‘everything stew’. The mercenaries would each put in whatever ingredient in the stew and cook it. Oftentimes, strange ingredients would go inside. Most of the time, however, they were edible ingredients.

“If it has sweat from the gloves, it’ll probably be salty and will be seasoned properly. So it’ll be fine.”

The mercenary that put the leather glove in spoke calmly.

“Grab that bitch and hang him upside down. Let’s try human meat today. Fucking bastard.”

The mercenary that was in charge of the cooking pot shouted while pulling out a knife. Enraged mercenaries were charging in.

Urich quietly watched the mercenaries fight while laying down. He let out a big yawn.

“Clergyman.”

“You can just call me Gotval, Urich.”

Gotval turned toward him after being called.

“What’s that in your hands?”

“It’s the bread that I will eat for dinner—Ahhh!”

Urich stole the bread that was in Gotval’s hands and took a big bite.

CRUNCH.

The tough barbarian’s teeth were on the verge of breaking. The surprised Urich touched his chin while looking at Gotval.

“I-It looks like you have tougher teeth than I thought, Gotval. I’ve heard that there are people that are different from how they look.”

“No, you eat that bread by slicing a bite-sized piece then slowly melting it in your mouth. It’s not good to eat until you’re full just because you are a bit hungry. It’s good for teaching you patience.”

Gotval demonstrated it. He took a small piece of the sliced bread and passed it over to Urich.

Urich moved the bread around his mouth to slowly melt it down and swallow it. He didn’t have a good expression.

“You live in such a tiring way. Blegh. It doesn’t taste like anything.”

“If you eat delicious food, your body will be joyous, but your soul will be sad.”

Monk Gotval had a tranquil smile.

“Is that the life of a clergyman?”

“We take on the role of guiding the souls of the faithful, who live materialistic lives, to Ru’s side. Therefore, we must not be corrupted by worldly desires. Because a tainted soul will not be able to guide other souls down the right path.”

Urich’s eyes sparkled. He was curious about Gotval’s life. It was a lifestyle he had never heard of or seen before.

“Then do you know how to write as well?”

“Of course.”

“Teach me how. I know this much.”

Urich snapped off a tree branch and wrote down all of the characters that he knew of.

‘A barbarian knows how to write?’

Most barbarians weren’t interested in writing. Some of them couldn’t even understand why they had to record things.

“The writing that you guys use is amazing. You leave something behind without being bound by time and location. The writings that get left as texts are conveyed without any lies or distortion, right?” asked Urich.

Gotval’s eyes widened. Urich understood the importance of writing and recording.

‘Even the majority of these men who called themselves civilized don’t understand the importance of writing. But this pagan barbarian is…’

One of the lifelong duties of the clergy was to write and record. They would write books with sincerity in each letter they wrote. Scholars and clergymen were people who loved documents and books the most.

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‘It must have taken a long time for a barbarian to learn this many letters! I did not expect to meet an individual with such an enthusiasm for learning here! This must be Ru’s will as well.’

Gotval delightedly grabbed Urich’s other hand. He felt as if he had received a holy revelation and mission.

“Every day after meals, come find me. I will arrange a time for learning.”

—————

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