Chapter 545
My Villains Episode 545
68. To the capital(18)
Deep at night, a path with forests on both sides.
The narrow road went up and down repeatedly as the river to the north got closer. The road that started from Abidden was also the border dividing the two provinces, Odenloch and Alvivton, from east to west..
“……Damn it, it’s up in the wind. If you get any closer here, you'll get caught..”
The old hunter, who was lying down at the bottom of a shallow hill and looking around, muttered. A middle-aged man armed with a heavy brigandine and a two-handed sword snorted a few steps behind..
“What is wind? It's not like they have dogs..”
“Instead, there is a mule. There may be a dog or a wizard who is sensitive to the smell that comes from burning..”
“I have to get closer because of the wizard. Not even an arrow can reach here.”
“Do you leave the smell to luck and hope that your eyes are covered by the darkness of the new moon? Then what are you going to do with the sound of footsteps echoing through the valley below??”
“Old man, no need to worry.”
“It's a coincidence that something happens. And, it wasn't the lord who told you to be careful in the first place because they looked like they were just eating sesame seeds.?”
“Tsk.”
The middle-aged man called lord clicked his tongue in annoyance at the old man's firm words. But I couldn't ignore the advice of an experienced hunter..
He eventually raised his fist, and the branches around him that were rubbing their dry tips against each other stopped. Most of the noise from the booth has stopped..
“Everyone wait. Look ahead and come.”
The thirty or so people who followed him quietly nodded or winked in understanding..
It was a plundering gang made up of all kinds of miserable people, including thieves, thugs, bandits, and wanderers. Except for the few mercenaries who had been with the lord for a long time, they were rags that could not be expected to show military discipline, but fortunately, no one seemed to be stupid enough to make a fuss with the hunt ahead..
A lord, two veteran mercenaries, and an old hunter crawled up the hill..
On top of the hill, a large spruce tree was showing off its green color even in the cold late winter wind. When I reached the base, I saw a small light on the hill beyond. The four people lying face down on the frozen yellow grass looked intently..
“Those bastards look like they're sleeping..”
A henchman wearing a chain vest over quilted armor whispered..
The cautious lord looked near the light again. Thanks to his many years of training as a knight, his eyes were able to see long distances quite clearly..
There was a gently burning campfire, and six or seven people were sprawled out in blankets next to the fire. Three small, shabby tents, two carts with bulging middle tents, and two mules tied next to them..
It was a quiet campsite..
“……good." The lord smiled bitterly and looked back at another henchman and the hunter..
“Take the old man and go to the other side. Seth will be here.”
“What should I say to Seth??”
“Tell them to attack as soon as they are ready. I'll respond from here.”
The henchman, armed with a light doublet and crossbow, looked puzzled..
“Are you telling me to attack right away? What about the original plan??”
The original plan was that the moment the prey entered the single path along the riverbank, Seth's group would block the path and the lord's group would attack from behind..
In response to the henchman's question, the lord wrinkled his face as if he was frustrated..
“You idiot, what's important, your plan or your plans? This is a chance to attack them while they sleep..”
“That's right.”
“Don't be stupid and go away. Keep your mind straight. If you miss the opportunity while wandering around at night, you and the old man will be soaked in shit filled with a moat..”
“For no reason I got the impression... … . Hold on to your worries.”
As the two disappeared down the hill, the remaining henchman next to the lord complained, scratching the bottom of his iron helmet..
“But brother Nari, do we really have to go this far??”
“Those guys, there are at least 15 of them, and almost half of them are women..”
It was true. That was one of the many reasons why the cautious lord decided to attack a group of mercenaries, especially a group of more than ten people..
That group stayed at Yeongju Castle Village last night. As usual, the minions who spied on the guests of the territory came running towards the lord in droves..
The lord heard about a cart so full that the wheels creaked, a lavish spender who lavished silver coins, and women whose beauty could not be hidden. And after a short period of deliberation, we decided to open business..
“Since it's a night attack, you probably won't be able to react properly, but you can easily finish it off by just taking the kids with you. If Seth follows closely, he will be able to catch those who are running away..”
“Sounds cheeky. Those guys are mercenaries too. I think I can do something about it..”
“Ah, but there is still a difference in the number of pages... … The lord glared at him with an annoyed look at his henchman's complacent attitude..
“Don’t you remember that Crescent Moon Island gang from last year? Nineteen people tried to catch seven, but ended up falling behind five.?”
“I had very bad luck back then. Who would have guessed that there were two wizards hiding among those kites??”
“Are you sure it won't happen this time? What if those guys turned out to be guys who were famous in places like Eyland? What if there is a swordsman from the empire or a battle wizard from a great family mixed in?” “Hey, brother. That way, business
I can't.”
“I am where I am today because I lived that way. So shut up.”
The lord, Lantov's threats made the henchman keep his mouth shut..
Rantov was originally the youngest son of a baron, and as was typical for noblemen who were not the eldest, he had to leave the estate as soon as he was knighted..
Unlike his older brothers, who entrusted themselves to powerful families or nearby lords, he loved freedom and became a mercenary. He spent his youth enjoying self-indulgent adventures, debauchery, and secret plunder..
In the meantime, the reason he formed a small mercenary unit and had over two hundred men at one point was because Rantov always survived. And the secret to survival was caution..
Of course, a cautious attitude was not the key to success. His mercenary unit, which was thriving, quickly shrunk due to several failed requests, poor financial management, and petty extortion by the leader..
Rantov searched for a way out with less than thirty of his remaining men, and it was around that time that he heard the news of his eldest brother's death..
He immediately returned to his hometown, Gallemant, with his men, and helped his sick nephew run the estate. Afterwards, he became a baronet following his nephew who died in an unfortunate accident..
It was fortunate enough that the third son, not the second or third son, sat on the baronetcy, but Lantov, who belatedly discovered his desire for success, could not be satisfied with this much..
‘I'm Ruyan or something. There's nothing worse than that kid..’
Lujan was descended from a great family, but because his father was a traitor, he inherited only a dilapidated castle and a baronetcy in name only. Rantov thought that it was a complete fluke that he moved to the Mitergeland Empire and became a great lord covering two provinces..
‘But even that little guy has something to learn.’
The anecdote in which Ruyan led his reckless serfs to hunt down, or rather eliminate, the bandits who came to rob his weakened estate was a very famous one. The young dragon gathered his wealth and raised elite soldiers, and he participated in the Blademan War and hit the jackpot..
The 'business' that Rantov started as soon as he became Lord of Gallemant was also inspired by Rujan..
Of course, it wasn't exactly the same. Since a good imitation must surpass the original, Lantov's business benefited from a wider audience..
That was why the group camping on the hill across from there became Lantov's target..
“Well, move slowly..”
The lord, who was thinking about random things, nodded his head at the whisper of his confidant. And then he started going down the path with his men who were waiting at the bottom of the hill..
As they passed the bottom of the shallow valley, a commotion was heard from up the hill. Finally, Seth's group started their night raid. Rantov rushed out and screamed..
“Now is the time.!”
Mercenaries, thieves, thugs, bandits, and wanderers responded with vigorous shouts to the robber baron's loud voice. It was a fairly steep slope, but the gang, remembering the riches and beauties waiting for them up there, climbed up the hill in one go..
“Uh-back! It's in the back too!”
Rantov raised his head in the direction from which the young man's startled voice came..
And then I discovered a strange silhouette. A large shadow was holding something larger than itself above its head..
“Wow!”
Immediately after the unprecedented silhouette burst out in excitement, something black flew in this direction. To exaggerate a bit, it was a rock almost the size of a house..
“Ugh ugh-”
The two thieves were hit directly by the rock and exploded like rat guns. The rock, half of its surface covered with dead grass, rolled and rolled, crushing the three thieves even more..
“……Oh my, it's crazy.”
At that moment Rantov realized something was wrong. It was a realization too late.
“Rider of the sun-!”
At the shout of the woman flying with her back to the crescent moon, Rantov suddenly stopped running..
Sigh.
Thanks to this, the upper body was cut for the first time by the blade that was drawn along with the assault of 'Valkyrie'.
It was not the lord who was angry, but a mercenary with his mouth wide open..
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