Golden Cross: Chapter 3
Chapter 3. The Beginning of All Stories (3)
The city of Wolfenbuthel was bustling with congregated mercenaries. Not just from this empire, but many fearless mercenaries from Caspin Empire, Ramtan Empire, and Agner Principality all came running to claim their share of the opportunity. As a result, the camp area was filled with animated noises of the mercenaries.
“Kaaaahh. We meet again here!”
“Gosh, you are not dead yet, but still alive!”
They were of all different types of mercenaries, including riflemen, long spearmen, heavy cavalry, double-paid mercenaries, gunners, and sorcerers. With the exception of the sorcerers which were a small number to begin with, the double-paid mercenaries, in the likes of Eugene, had the smallest number of men. Considering that the double-paid mercenaries were not the main battle force, so that made a perfect sense. They were swordsmen of great capabilities, but they were mainly utilized in supporting duties in battles. As soon as Eugene arrived, he showed his recommendation letter, and having been assigned to the ‘black regiment’, he was on standby. The black regiment was the elitist team, so it made sense that Eugene was assigned to it as he was a Provost.
In return, Eugene was guaranteed the 5 times the salary of a regular mercenary. This was a very high pay scale as the pay was higher than most of the officers. Despite the fact that there were tens of thousands of men and he was young, Eugene was someone worthy of the special treatment.
Eugene did not, on purpose, go pay a visit to Duke Myrus after having settled in the camp. He knew well that whoever initiated the first contact would be on the submissive end of the relationship.
‘I can certainly draw his attention to me.’
Eugene was confident of his own capabilities. When the battle commenced, he would make notable accomplishments, and have the duke come find him. By that time, Eugene’s value would be sufficiently been risen. He conditioned himself in preparation for battles, and many mercenaries congregated from every direction during that time.
According to the information, there were over 10 feudal lords, commanding about 15,000 military forces in the city of Wolfenbuthel. They have made the final preparations for the war, and on May 12, they went to the battlefield which was in the city of Meiphonestark.
There were 1,700 troops in the black regiment to which Fiore belonged. Among them were about 1,000 long swordsmen, about 500 heavy musket men. The remaining troops were composed of officers and non-commissioned officers, messengers, military band, sorcerers, and about 100 double-paid mercenaries. Although it was a small number, there were more double-paid mercenaries compared to the other regiments since the elitist black regiment was supposed to make the first contact with the enemies.
“Are you really a Provost?”
Causing a disturbance, Leon was asking this and that, as Eugene walked quietly. Being in the similar age group at 18, Leon and Eugene recently became close. The double-paid mercenaries and long spearmen did not normally get along, but as they were both young, such dynamics weren’t familiar to them. During active battle, the double-paid mercenaries would also be positioned next or behind long spearmen, as supervisory units. They would hold the two-hand-held swords in terrifying ways and would severe the heads of the abandoning long spearmen. Hence, they did not have good feelings towards each other. However, as the double-paid mercenaries would also provide protection to the long spearmen, they didn’t necessarily showed visible disrespect to each other.
“I’ve become a Provost somehow, but have much to learn compared to my master. Although the same provost level. Totally on a different class level, if I may say so.”
Eugene thought about what his master would be doing after he headed to the war. And he also thought about the head of the Brotherhood who would be going berserk after finding out that he was missing.
‘That man’s character is like fire. Hehe.’
Unconsciously, he laughed.
“What is it? Why do you laugh all by yourself, and stuff.”
“Quiet. It’s nothing.”
Soon, there was going to be bloody battle, yet the march has been peaceful. Only the beautiful surrounding sceneries were passing by. The troops were marching following cumulus clouds then wetting their shoes at a streamlet, they entered the forest via a narrow path. And in the same evening, they had to camp out in the open fields in close proximity of Damasen Village.
“Everyone stay put only around here! The commander has ordered that no one goes down near the village. Causing troubles to the citizens will be punished by military codes, so adhere to it!”
A non-commissioned officer, holding a halberd in one hand, was screaming loud out of his lungs to the troops, nearby. Currently, their battle was the quarrel for power. As it did not help to be causing any harm to the citizens, the troops’ commanders were paying especially close attention to that. Certainly, the character of war has changed quite a bit, from the indiscrete pillaging that had rampaged before.
Of course this was possible only because it was just the beginning of the holy cross war.
“Ah, tired.”
Plopping down by the campfire, Eugene wiped his two-hand-held sword with an oily cloth. Since the two-hand-held sword was not normally kept inside a hoister, it had to be tended to often. Besides, the blade must be kept in great shape as it was used to cut off, or bend the enemy’s long spears. Attacking the enemy’s long spearmen was the most important task of the double-paid mercenaries.
“It is really difficult to carry around the long spear.”
Leon complained as he sat down by Eugene. Eugene kind of understood what he was saying.
“You must be. To be carrying something that is 5 meters long, all the time. In fact, I even get tired of carrying my two-hand-held sword around.”
As Eugene’s two-hand-held sword weighed at 2.8 Kg, carrying this on his back every day was not an easy thing, either. Then from the other side of the campfire, there came some sarcastic remarks.
“That little kid is being too loud, just because he is a double-paid mercenary.”
“Waahahaha.”
“You’re right. Elder brother.”
They were Maxen, Harrison, and Kunadal. They were all rough mercenaries in their 40’s, and they were involved in a quarrel with Eugene a few days ago. A few days ago, they had abandoned the line, and when Eugene pointed that out, the situation had turned sour. In fact, Eugene did not point that out because he enjoyed meddling in other people’s business. That, too, was one of the duties of a double-paid mercenary. They were also in charge of maintaining orderly marches, and keeping troops in line according to the military rules during ordinary times. Usually, the double-paid mercenaries were very experienced swordsmen, in their 30’s or 40’s, but Eugene was only 16 years old. As a result, when they were cited, Maxen and his group felt offended and a quarrel ensued. Of course it was settled in Eugene’s favor as a commissioned officer who was passing by sided with Eugene, but their feelings have not yet been reconciled.
“What are you looking at? You look like you want to take a shot?”
Looking at Eugene, Maxen amplified his sarcastic remarks. However, even in his passionate young age, Eugne kept his cool and showed incredibly patience.
“If you are offended by the incidence a few days ago, I’d like to apologize. However, I do not think I was in the wrong. Should similar occurrence take place in the future, I’d react the same way.”
As Eugene responded calmly without getting angry, Maxen did not have much to say. He just stood up from where he was sitting as he spat, and thought that Eugene was just a little jerk.
“Ah, s**t! Little bastard. Let’s move to another spot. Looking at that kid’s face makes me sick. He looks like a kid without a mother.”
With their swords swaying on their waists, Maxen, Harrison, and Kunadal moved to another campfire spot. Then that’s when Eugene stopped them.
“Everyone stop.”
Along with a callous tone, he even talked informally. However, as Eugene was yet to draw his sword, they kept their bluffing.
“Even if you are a great fighter, there are three of us. If you keep it up, we can even draw our swords!”
Maxen purposefully threatened, but Eugene took another big step forward. At that moment, he looked as if he has moved several meters in an instant. It was the ‘lion’s walk’ which was one of the four walking skills of the Brotherhood, and if a Provost executes it then it was something that could not be even seen by an ordinary person.
Puck!
With a single blow, Maxen’s nose was flattened and he fell, rolling back a few meters. As it was an instantaneous offensive maneuver, Maxen could not even scream as he could not even defend with his abilities. Puck!