Episode 162: The Plague (2)
As they entered the castle, the stench of death was unmistakable.
Everywhere they looked, the townsfolk had their mouths covered with cloth. Some were carrying bodies on stretchers.
“The plague seems to be quite severe,” Damian remarked.
“The entire eastern region is like this,” the lord replied with a grim expression. “Our castle is relatively better off. It’s much worse further inside.”
Damian’s question had clearly struck a nerve.
“People call this the ‘Three Night Plague.’ Once infected, they suffer from intense fever and nightmares for three days before succumbing.”
Damian gazed into the distance, where people were digging pits and burning bodies.
“At times like this, I envy knights. They say knights rarely fall ill, don’t they?”
The lord’s comment was only half true. Knights could indeed get sick, but their advanced training often made them appear more resilient to common folk. For high-class individuals like Damian and Athena, they were practically immune.
This was precisely why the Mercenary King had sent them here without much concern.
“Can you tell me about that undead creature we encountered earlier?”
“Oh, you mean the wolf monster? It started appearing about a month ago. They say it emerged from a pile of corpses.”
From its beast-like appearance, it seemed the wolf’s spirit, unable to let go of its past, had fused with nearby bodies to become undead.
“Initially, the eastern nobles banded together to hunt it down… but all they got were dozens of injured. More than ten knights couldn’t even scratch it.”
The lord shivered at the memory.
“Even after His Majesty sent Sir Office and Sir Valet, both high-class knights, they couldn’t defeat the creature.”
A newly risen undead should have been weak, unaware of its own state. Yet, the eastern nobles failed to subdue Fenrir, a beast destined to be called the harbinger of doom.
“You’ve come to slay that monster, haven’t you? With the plague already causing chaos, that creature is making life unbearable. Please, deal with it swiftly.”
The lord’s plea was earnest when a voice called out from beyond the castle walls.
“Is Baron Burrow here?”
The lord turned towards the voice, excusing himself as he approached the gate, instructing the guards to open it.
As the gate lifted, a group of armored knights came into view. The lord, Baron Burrow, was taken aback by the sight of the two leading knights.
“Sir Office? And Sir Valet?”
“Hahaha! Baron Burrow! How have you been?”
“Baron Burrow, it’s good to see you again.”
Office and Valet—none other than the high-class knights of the Grape Kingdom who had previously failed to defeat Fenrir—had returned.
Athena muttered under her breath, “I have a bad feeling about this.” Damian silently agreed.
“What brings you here? I thought you were recovering.”
“How could we rest after such a disgrace from that wolf?”
“Exactly. We’ve come to finish what we started.”
Their faces were etched with determination, the defeat by Fenrir a bitter humiliation.
“We need a base before confronting the creature, so we’ve come here.”
“We apologize for the imposition, but we’ll be staying for a while.”
The lord looked troubled by their request.
“Is there a problem?”
“We intend to compensate you, so don’t worry…”
At that moment, the two high-class knights noticed Damian and Athena.
“Who are they?” Office inquired.
“They’re mercenaries from the Fafnir Mercenary Company, hired by His Majesty to deal with the undead,” the lord explained hesitantly. The knights’ expressions soured.
“Fafnir Mercenary Company, you say? Ah, yes, I recall His Majesty mentioning that decision.”
“We didn’t expect them to arrive so soon.”
The knights approached Damian and Athena, ignoring the lord’s attempt to intervene.
“I’m Jim Office, and this is Richard Valet.”
Athena whispered to Damian, “Office is a duke, and Valet is a marquis.”
Both were high-class and influential nobles in the Grape Kingdom.
“Damian Haxen. This is Athena Hopper,” Damian introduced them.
Athena, beside him, was thrilled that Damian had mentioned her name but he paid her no mind.
“Damian Haxen?” “Athena Hopper?”
The knights were visibly surprised.
“Are you the prodigy from the Apple Kingdom, Damian Haxen? Why is a knight of the Apple Kingdom with the Fafnir Mercenary Company?”
“And Hopper… that’s the surname of the Mercenary King. Are you of the royal bloodline?”
They quickly recognized Damian and Athena’s identities, though their demeanor remained unchanged.
“Whatever your reasons, we appreciate your help with the kingdom’s troubles. But now that we’re here, your services are no longer needed. You should leave.”
Office spoke with arrogance, and Valet added, “We’ve come to reclaim our honor from that undead. If you interfere… we won’t be gentle.”
Valet’s hand drifted towards his sword hilt.
Damian clicked his tongue internally. He hadn’t expected such interference.
Of course, he had no intention of complying with their demands.
‘I don’t like this one bit.’
Their overbearing attitude stirred a rebellious streak within him.
‘The problem is, these two are high-ranking nobles…’
There’s an old saying that even a mongrel has the upper hand in its own yard.
In the Grape Kingdom, he couldn’t simply ignore their demands without consequences.
Their knowledge of Damian and Athena’s status, yet their insistence, was precisely because of this.
While Damian pondered, Athena spoke up.
“That’s not going to happen.”
The two men looked at her incredulously.
“You must not understand, child. I am a high-class duke of the Grape Kingdom. If you don’t comply with our demands…”
“Our Fafnir Mercenary Company was officially commissioned by your king. If you want us gone, take it up with him. Tell him to cancel the contract and pay the penalty.”
Athena’s tone was sharp.
“Otherwise, you have no authority over us.”
“You insolent girl…”
“Our principle is to complete every mission we accept, no matter what. If you don’t like it…”
A menacing aura emanated from Athena.
“Do you want to take on the Fafnir Mercenary Company?”
The two high-class knights were left speechless.
Aside from the Empire and the Holy Order, no one dared to challenge the Fafnir Mercenary Company.
But these two were dukes of the Grape Kingdom, and this was their domain.
“If you won’t back down, then we’ll have to persuade you with force.”
Office and Valet gripped their weapons. Athena’s aura intensified.
“Damian, don’t worry. I’ll handle this…”
She turned to Damian, only to be startled by his expression.
Damian was smiling brightly.
“Ah, I hadn’t thought of that.”
Behind Damian stood the Fafnir Mercenary Company.
There was no stronger backing, save for the Empire and the Holy Order.
In other words, he could vent his frustrations on these two without repercussions.
“This is why it’s good to have support.”
Damian opened a spatial pocket and pulled out something long.
Seeing the object, Office and Valet’s faces fell.
“W-what is that?”
“Oh, this?”
Damian tapped his palm with a hexagonal club.
“Meet your new teacher, here to correct your arrogance.”
“What nonsense is this?”
“You don’t need to understand now. You’ll get it once you’ve been hit enough.”
“Hit us? You dare lay a hand on us? You must be mad!”
“Sir Office, there’s no need to watch any longer. Let’s teach him a lesson!”
Valet shouted, drawing his sword. But that was as far as he got.
Before the sword was fully drawn, Damian swung the club. Valet was struck and slammed into the ground.
“R-Richard Valet!”
Office shouted in shock, glaring at Damian.
“What is the meaning of this…”
His vision was suddenly filled with something shiny.
Before he could comprehend, a dull thud struck his head.
The office, much like Valet, found itself with its head buried in the ground.
“Ugh, argh!”
“Ahhh!”
The two high-class individuals clutched their heads and scrambled to their feet almost simultaneously.
“You, you madman! A mere mercenary dares to lay a hand on a duke?”
“This won’t be the end of it!”
Athena, standing nearby, looked at Damian with a face full of shock.
“Da-Damian… no matter what, this is just…”
Even though the Fafnir Mercenary Corps was stronger than the Grape Kingdom, there were limits to what was acceptable.
A mercenary attacking a duke first? It was unheard of.
That’s why Athena had stopped at merely threatening the two.
“You will pay for this!”
“Pay? What kind of payment?”
“For our heads… our heads… huh?”
Opheus, feeling around his head, realized something strange.
There was no wound.
He was sure his head had been cracked open and blood would be flowing, but his hair was dry and there wasn’t even any swelling.
“How… how is this possible…”
Opheus looked at Damian with a bewildered expression. Damian tapped his palm with his club and spoke.
“Now, listen carefully. Don’t try to snatch someone else’s meal after failing once.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Opheus and Valet swung their swords at Damian. They seemed to have practiced together, as their coordinated attack was quite skillful.
Damian deflected their swords with his club, sending each blade in a different direction.
“Huh?”
“What?”
As the two stood there, confused, Damian brought his club down on their heads.
Twice each.
A crisp sound echoed four times.