Chapter 138 – Royal Capital Leodel

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The journey with the Murbach Mercenary Corps was incomparably more comfortable than before.

This was because the Murbach Mercenary Corps took care of various chores such as finding the way and keeping watch.

Among them, what Elbridge’s group was most satisfied with was, by far, the meals.

“Even the smell of the stew is on a different level.”

The cooking skills of Elbridge’s group were mediocre at best.

At least Marcus and Elbridge managed to make a decent stew out of miscellaneous ingredients.

However, if Rombel or Sonya prepared the meal, it was highly likely to result in a troubling outcome.

But the Murbach Mercenary Corps was different.

The stew made by the Murbach Mercenary Corps tasted much better than that of most inns.

This was thanks to their professional cooking skills and quality ingredients. Since the Murbach Mercenary Corps knew the geography inside out, they were able to travel while procuring fresh ingredients by passing through various villages.

“We will help prepare the meals too.”

“Do not worry about it. It is just a matter of setting a few more spoons.”

Even when Elbridge’s group tried to help with the meal preparation, the mercenaries of the Murbach Mercenary Corps would politely decline.

When was the last time they had traveled so comfortably?

After finishing another excellent meal today, Elbridge’s group sat by the campfire with Murbach.

Crackle, crackle.

Sparks flew up from the wood full of dry twigs. However, the sparks could not drive away the dusk of the evening sky.

Was it because they were fellow mercenaries? Marcus spoke more politely than usual.

“I did not expect you to accompany us so readily. It seemed like you went through a lot of trouble in the North…”

Unlike the other mercenary captains of Fort Hebron, Murbach used to attend the meetings hosted by Count Hebron.

The mercenary corps that had achieved the most distinguished services in Fort Hebron must have been the Murbach Mercenary Corps. Surely, the money they made was quite lucrative as well.

Had they stayed at Fort Hebron to expand their influence and make a name for themselves, the Murbach Mercenary Corps could have leaped to even greater heights.

However, Murbach headed west with Elbridge’s group without much hesitation.

“It was a somewhat sudden proposal. But I felt like this was the correct answer.”

“We are not in a position to promise you a large reward, though.”

“Money is not important. I have already made enough money to live on for the rest of my life.”

That was probably not an empty boast, as Murbach had made his decision before even discussing compensation.

“Then, for what purpose are you helping us?”

“What is important to me is staying near a grand flow. And it felt like the flow you guys would bring would be larger than Count Hebron’s.”

“A flow.”

Marcus glanced at Rombel, because Murbach’s intention felt similar to Rombel’s.

Rombel believed that Elbridge would stand at the center of a grand flow. Rombel was staying by Elbridge’s side in order to catch the Chief God’s attention and ascend.

“On what basis did you think so?”

“Because I saw Sir Elbridge fight last time. But even if I had not witnessed that scene, I would have helped you. I received an oracle a few days before you appeared.”

“An oracle?”

“He told me that if you guys showed up and asked for help, I should consider it seriously.”

A thought flashed through Marcus’s mind.

“Mr. Murbach. By any chance, which god do you believe in?”

“The God of the Sunshower.”

Just as expected.

The God of the Sunshower symbolized unexpected good luck.

However, from what Marcus had experienced and felt so far, the luck bestowed by the God of the Sunshower was not an authority granted by skipping cause and effect. No, he was not even sure if that could be called an authority.

Rather, the God of the Sunshower was closer to a wise advisor and a sincere broker.

A broker who helped numerous believers engage with and assist one another.

Sonya asked.

“If you have plenty of money, you do not need to do mercenary work, do you?”

Murbach laughed.

“Miss Sonya is from the East, right?”

“Yes. Though I also lived in the Central region for a long time.”

“You think that way because you are from the East. Eastern mercenaries and Western mercenaries are different.”

“How are they different?”

“Of course, Western mercenaries value money too. But generally, mercenary captains do not consider money the most important thing.”

“Really? Why is that?”

Elbridge answered that question.

“Because their origins are different. Most Eastern mercenaries are of commoner origin and active individually. However, Western mercenaries operate in units of mercenary corps. And most of their mercenary captains are of noble origin.”

“A noble acting as a mercenary captain?”

Sonya looked at Murbach in bewilderment.

A face tanned dark from receiving a lot of sunlight, and deep wrinkles. Bushy eyebrows like caterpillars, and a thick beard. A rugged appearance. No matter who looked at him, he did not look like a noble.

“Mr. Murbach. Were you a noble?”

“Only by birth.”

“Why do you do mercenary work if you are a noble? It is not like you are tight on money.”

Although she addressed Murbach, Sonya’s gaze was directed at Elbridge.

However, Elbridge only shrugged his shoulders. Elbridge did not know much about the West either. What little information he knew was merely what he had picked up two hundred years ago.

As autumn deepened, the night air was cold. Murbach threw some dry twigs into the campfire and spoke.

“Where should I start… Right. Each region of the continent has its own characteristics. The North is a cold and harsh land. The South is the Great Forest. The Central region is developed in magic and advanced technology. The East is a land revolving around temples and religious orders.”

“Then what about the West?”

“People from other regions describe the West as the land of kings and nobles. Westerners like me have lived thinking that is only natural… but it seems it was not so to others.”

As far as Elbridge knew, the region most similar to the West was the East.

The difference between the West and the East was single. To which side did the weight of power tilt between the nobles and the temples?

As could be seen from the name of the city, Holy City Solenion, the temples in the East held far stronger authority than the nobles. In the case of the West, however, the power of the nobles was higher than that of the temples.

“In the case of Western noble families, once a sibling succeeds the family, the other siblings must leave the West or operate in areas unrelated to power. It is a culture to prevent situations where a family falters because siblings fight over power.”

“Is it not better if siblings cooperate?”

“It would be so if things went ideally. However, there are more families ruined by siblings fighting than those revived by their cooperation.”

Murbach leaned forward and stared into the campfire. His face glowed red from the light.

“The choices given to a noble pushed out of the family are not many. One of them is organizing a mercenary corps.”

“Is there a reason why it has to be a mercenary corps of all things?”

“Western nobles learn how to handle swords as a necessity. When they leave the family, they can receive enough money to set up a small mercenary corps, and they can lead a group, even if small… plus, employers secretly prefer mercenary captains of noble origin…”

Murbach tilted his head slightly. The wrinkles carved on his face looked even deeper.

“At any rate, I began acting as a mercenary before I turned twenty. And this year is my thirty-fifth year living as a mercenary. The last time I visited my family was about twenty years ago.”

“Did the head of the family block you from returning, Mr. Murbach?”

“When I was young, yes. But now, it does not matter if I return. I am too old to fight over power, and I do not have anything that can be called a foundation within the family. When I was young, I wanted to return to the family, but once I actually became able to return, I did not go back. Why is that?”

Murbach said so, then shook his head as if realizing something.

“They say that when you get older, you start rambling about the old days. It seems I have indeed grown old.”

Sonya stared into Murbach’s eyes.

Murbach had aged, but his brown eyes were still deep and clear.

Just like a twenty-year-old youth full of dreams.

Hence, Sonya recalled a story she had heard before.

The story that a person does not change easily even if they grow older. That the mind and soul remain young, while only the body ages and grows weary.

“What is your dream, Mr. Murbach?”

“…It was the Mercenary King. I wanted to become the Mercenary King of this era.”

Murbach tried to say something more, but cut himself off.

“Anyway, my younger brother will help you, so do not worry and rest.”

Elbridge’s group settled down by the campfire and went to sleep.

Murbach stared at the campfire for a long time until everyone fell asleep.

*

The landscape of the West was not much different from the East.

Wild grass grown from knee to waist height, and wagon wheel tracks left between the wild grass.

Small forests situated here and there. Pathways naturally created by people and animals passing by.

As they drew closer to the city, they could see farmers absorbed in the autumn harvest.

And behind those farmers, a massive city could be seen. Murbach looked at the city wall with an emotion-filled expression.

“If the East has the Holy City Solenion, the West has the Royal Capital Leodel.”

Unlike Solenion, which did not control entry tightly, there were as many as six guards at the gates of the Royal Capital Leodel. The guards even received something from people and checked it.

Marcus was flustered.

“What is that?”

“To enter Leodel, you must present an identification card.”

“We do not have anything like that.”

But Sonya chuckled.

“What do you mean ‘we’? I have an identification card. The entry pass of the Central Mage Tower is recognized anywhere on the continent.”

“I am a dwarf, so I am fine.”

Dwarves were welcome talents in any city, so it was no exaggeration to say that their race was an identification card.

They would ask for a few personal details, but there was no fear of being kicked out.

Elbridge also spoke.

“I am also… after all, the Chief Paladin and Archbishop of the order. I do not have an identification card, but if worse comes to worst, the Goddess will send down a public oracle.”

Marcus felt a subtle sense of betrayal. It did not seem like the God of the Sunshower would send down an oracle for him.

Murbach chuckled.

“Do not worry. I will be your guarantor.”

And indeed, that was what happened.

As Murbach, who was leading the way, presented his identification card, the guards tensed up and opened the way. Even the mercenaries who followed Murbach did not need to pull out their identification cards.

Elbridge, Rombel, and Marcus let it go as if it were natural. But Sonya was different.

Sonya whispered to Elbridge.

“Mr. Murbach. It seems he is not from an ordinary family?”

“I told you. He is of noble origin.”

“That is not what I mean. I know because I am from a viscount family, but if the guards’ reaction is to that extent, it is not at the level of a common noble. Moreover, more than twenty armed men are being passed through without even having their names asked? This is, at the lowest estimate, Count-level or higher. And not just a Count with only a title, but an influential Count-level or higher.”

“Hmph.”

Murbach had clearly heard the whisper, but he did not bother to deny it.

Elbridge and Rombel went along with an “I see,” but Sonya and Marcus showed signs of subtle tension.

Unlike Holy City Solenion, where the center of the city was filled with temples, there were massive mansions in the center of Leodel. They were probably the mansions of high-ranking nobles.

On the other hand, the temples were located in the surrounding areas. To put it in words, one could say they were between minor nobles and wealthy commoners.

Although the location of the temples could not explain everything, it certainly had implications.

And the location of the temples was not the only thing that differed between the Royal Capital Leodel and Solenion.

“There are not as many temples as I thought.”

Murbach answered Elbridge’s remark.

“Now that I think about it, is it true that Holy City Solenion has temples for every god? I would like to visit it someday.”

However, Elbridge thought that the locations of the temples were quite decent.

This was because the temples were near the shopping district, making them easy for people to visit.

As they walked through the street, which was lively to the point of being noisy, all kinds of food smells wafted into their noses. Merchants at stalls were tempting passersby by making all sorts of food.

Suddenly, the Goddess’s oracle descended.

– Elbridge. I shall entrust you with an important mission.

Since it was an oracle he had easily anticipated, Elbridge replied without even hearing the mission.

“I shall unpack and come right out, offering it to you before the sun sets.”

– Excellent. Elbridge. Ah, and make it two of each. It is not that your Goddess wants to eat it all, but as you know, the Goddess of Spring Rain and Moss is by my side…

“Understood, Goddess.”

The truth of the last oracle was unknown. However, since Elbridge was a faithful paladin, he decided not to doubt the Goddess of the Rusty Shield.

While Elbridge was walking behind Murbach, searching for the most delicious-looking snack, something strange caught his eye. His steps stopped naturally.

‘That is…’

A little distance behind the street vendors.

There stood a temple of the Order of the Rusty Shield. A temple that even Elbridge, the Archbishop and Chief Paladin, was seeing for the first time.