Chapter 111

A week later.

The Black Company stood in formation in the outskirts of Fasa. The troops, with their flags and blades held high, were orderly and their discipline was strict. They were elite soldiers that Theo had refined with all his soul.

I was filled with a new sense of emotion as I looked at them. How much time had it taken to come this far from nothing? How much humiliation did I have to endure to raise such a force?

Rhom, having finished the inspection, rode over on his horse and reported.

“Report! The Black Company, both the Fasa and Urdino Regiments, have completed their assembly.”

“Good work. I’m not usually one to cry, but for some reason, I feel like tearing up.”

“Isn’t it just some dust in your eye, Young Master?”

“It is not.”

Separately, I thought I understood why dictators loved war and military parades so much.

It felt like dopamine was being supplied directly to my brain just by looking at them. It felt like I had become a god, knowing that thousands of people moved at a single gesture from me. That must be why they all lost their minds, unable to control themselves.

「Trait Activated: Heart of Iron and Blood Always maintain an ice-like composure.」

It was the first time the trait had activated in a long while.

But the timing was terrible.

The heat that had been boiling throughout my body drained away in an instant, and I quickly regained my composure.

Not even letting me enjoy it as I pleased. This is too much.

Feeling a bit sullen, I turned my head to the side.

The purpose of a military review was to boast, ‘We’re this great. What do you think? Scary, right? Aren’t we amazing?’ It was a kind of showcase.

This review was also arranged for the Holy See, which had expressed a desire to hire the Black Company. Naturally, it would be useless without an audience to appreciate it.

However, the people from the Holy See were not in a state to fully appreciate the review.

Ceras had a dark bruise on her eye as if she had been beaten up somewhere, and the deacons were also a mess, with some having broken arms, some in splints, and others on crutches.

“Are you alright?”

“Haha. I fell down the stairs.”

“Everyone else as well?”

“The stairs were very slippery. It just so happened that everyone did.”

“Oh my. That’s never happened before. My apologies.”

Ceras desperately made excuses, but since I knew what had happened, I found it rather cute.

The noise last night from her fight with Selvi was no joke. I thought a thunderbolt had struck while they were brawling.

Because of the commotion last night, there were probably quite a few people in Fasa, besides me, who couldn’t sleep.

Thanks to that, the Fasa Thieves' Guild, which had gotten caught in the fight, was completely shattered. I wouldn't have to worry about keeping them in check for a while.

Of course, Selvi, who had faced a group of inquisitors, wasn’t completely unscathed either.

Even if it wasn't a blessed silver weapon, it made no sense for a person to be stabbed with a sword and be fine.

Eleonor relayed that he had been quite seriously injured and would need to recuperate for some time.

I will not forget your sacrifice, Selvi Murray. Thanks to you, my life was saved. Perhaps due to the monster commotion, Ceras seemed to have completely dispelled her suspicions about me.

“Bishop. What are your impressions after seeing the Black Company?”

“I am very satisfied. There are few nations in Apennia that possess such elite soldiers. His Holiness will also be pleased with the sincerity shown by Duke Gryph.”

“Of course, the Black Company will gladly serve its employer.”

We exchanged words with dignity.

In reality, it was closer to ‘You’re going to pay up properly, right?’ and ‘Yes. We’ll see how you do.’

Of course, I didn't think the Holy See would skip out on the payment, given its reputation.

If they had the guts to do that even after seeing this many troops gathered, the Pope would be a swindler, not a pontiff.

Moreover, not all of our troops had been assembled. If a large force were to leave, there would surely be those who would aim to raid our empty house.

Therefore, we had assembled them, excluding the troops needed to defend the Southern Alliance.

Even so, the assembled forces numbered over two thousand. A number sufficient to give the Holy See nightmares. I made this clear to Ceras, and Ceras agreed.

“But how do you plan to transport such a large force? By Fasa’s ships?”

“No. We plan to use the land route.”

I wanted to use ships too, but the cost of transporting the troops was too expensive.

It was an amount that would make even the Pope shake his head and ask to nullify the contract if I were to bill the Holy See.

Besides, if we were to borrow the ships, the Southern Alliance would suffer losses from being unable to trade. That couldn't happen.

Ceras was skeptical about whether it was possible for such a large force to move by land.

“But other nations won’t just stand by and watch armed troops pass through. Why not at least fly the flag of the Holy See? Then they won’t dare to attack recklessly.”

Of course, that was true. But I had a plan.

“Don’t worry. I’ve prepared a countermeasure for that. You need not worry, Bishop.”

“Is that so. Then I will trust you with that matter.”

It was time to head to Ratio.

***

As the Black Company began its march north from Fasa, the surrounding cities and nations were in an uproar.

The sudden appearance of several thousand mercenaries was far too threatening.

What if the mercenaries suddenly laid siege to a city or began pillaging the outskirts? It was a grave disaster that no one wanted to imagine.

The problem was that mercenaries were the kind of people who would do just that. As their profession involved violently taking the lives of others, public perception of them was not good.

Thus, the sudden march north of the Black Company was enough to change the lax atmosphere of southern Apennia that had settled in after the pirates disappeared.

The rulers of the various Apennine nations had nightmares every night or felt the temptation to test the sharpness of a razor blade while shaving in the morning.

“Those bastards are finally showing their true colors! They must be going to invade another country!”

“So where is the Southern Alliance invading? Us? Or them? Or Savoy?”

“Uh, well?”

Neither the one asking nor the one being asked could figure out where the mercenaries were headed.

Since the defeat of the coalition army that had opposed Fasa last time, no nation had been on bad terms with the Southern Alliance. If anything, they were treading carefully.

That was why the Black Company's sudden move was even more unexpected for the various nations of Apennia.

“Could it be a show of force to make us join their so-called alliance?”

“If that were the case, they would have done it long ago. Why now?”

Arguments and shouts went back and forth.

While everyone was worried about why the Black Company was on the move, a messenger arrived in every town along the Black Company's path.

“The Black Company is on a pilgrimage to Ratio. The discipline of the troops is being properly maintained, and we wish to purchase necessary supplies locally.”

In short, it meant that they were just passing through and had no intention of invading or pillaging.

A majority of people breathed a sigh of relief at this short sentence. But there were also quite a few who protested.

“You expect us to believe this? Are you kidding me? Anyone can see it’s an army!”

“Who goes on a pilgrimage heavily armed? There must be some other hidden motive.”

“Doesn’t that mean they’ll attack if things go wrong?”

Ratio was the place where the Pope resided and where miracles had occurred.

Therefore, the pretext of going on a pilgrimage was not strange from an external perspective.

However, it was common sense that it was absurd for all the pilgrims to be heavily armed. Everyone couldn't help but suspect a hidden meaning.

“But we can’t exactly block their way when they’ve put forth the pretext of a pilgrimage, can we?”

“Ugh.”

A pilgrimage was the lifelong wish of the followers of the Western Church. Many people set out to see Ratio, where the Pope resided, before they died. This was because completing a pilgrimage acknowledged them as devout believers. The fear of the afterlife was the same everywhere.

So, as long as the Black Company put forth the pretext of a pilgrimage, blocking their path to Ratio would not look good.

It could not only anger the populace but also incur the wrath of the Pope.

It was a well-known fact that pilgrims were one of the Holy See's main sources of income.

The Pope would not stand by and let a precedent be set for obstructing that.

Though he had been treated like a toothless wolf lately, his authority had not completely disappeared.

Even without excommunication, there would be more than one way to cause trouble.

“So you’re saying we should just let them be?”

“In the first place, how are we supposed to stop a force that large? I heard the Black Company is the most elite unit in Apennia.”

“...Well, that’s true.”

“Then the answer is clear. Messing with them is a loss. Ignoring them is the answer.”

Whether they feared or disliked the Black Company, its reputation was acknowledged by everyone in Apennia.

Weren’t they the ones who had sent the infamous pirate Tospol, whom no nation could touch, to a watery grave?

Not long ago, they had even faced and defeated a three-nation alliance on their own.

— Can we win a fight against the Black Company?

— No.

— Then can we ignore the Pope’s wrath?

— No.

In the end, each nation, having concluded that there was nothing to be gained from obstructing the Black Company's passage, opened the way.

It was a hundred times better to sell them supplies and make some money. Messing with them would only get them beaten up by an infernal combo.

It was the moment Leon Gryph’s scheme succeeded.

“What can they do when we say we’re going on a pilgrimage?”

“Young Master, you definitely have a reservation in hell.”

“Why me? It’s not like I lied. We are actually going on a pilgrimage.”

“Is it okay to deceive people by staking your faith?”

“What does it matter? Bishop Ceras has already approved it.”

It was action before report, post-facto consent, and post-facto approval, but in any case, Ceras was satisfied with Leon Gryph’s cunning.

Since they had used the pretext of a pilgrimage, they were not obstructed on their way, and since the mercenaries caused no trouble, there was no problem.

It was the way of the world that as long as no serious problems arose in the eyes of the higher-ups, everything was fine.

But what was bound to happen, happened.

When they reached the vicinity of Ratio, a problem finally arose.

A cavalryman who had gone out to scout the main road returned in a hurry and reported.

“Duke Gryph! An unidentified army is blocking the road ahead and waiting for us!”

***

“That’s the army of the Treno Family.”

“The Treno Family?”

“They are a noble family in Ratio that is hostile to the Holy See and supports Elance.”

“I see.”

Ceras identified the banner of the army blocking the road.

I hadn’t recognized it when I saw the banner, but I remembered upon hearing the name.

The Treno Family was one of the minor powers in central Apennia.

I remembered them being noted as an opponent to be wary of in the report on the state of affairs in Ratio that Selvi had submitted before our departure. They were said to be a headache for the Pope, leading the pro-Elance faction.

Ceras' eyes wrinkled. She looked extremely displeased with the situation.

“Seeing the Treno Family on the move, it seems they’ve figured out the real reason the Black Company is marching north.”

“To prevent us from joining the Holy See? But they’ve brought too few troops for that.”

“Perhaps they didn’t expect the mercenaries to arrive so quickly.”

That was true. Thanks to no one blocking our path along the way, we had arrived earlier than Eleonor had planned.

Ceras advised.

“The Treno Family is a prestigious family in Ratio. There’s no need to clash with them now. Let’s take a detour.”

“That would take several more days. In that time, the Treno Family will receive support and grow stronger. It would just be a waste of time.”

I was lost in thought for a moment.

Although I had made a contract with the Pope, I wasn’t keen on going to the Holy See empty-handed.

Wasn’t bringing a gift when visiting a heartwarming custom of the Korean people?

“Bishop Ceras. I heard the Treno Family is a thorn in His Holiness' side. Would the Pope be pleased if we brought a member of the Treno Family as a prisoner?”

Ceras' eyes widened in surprise, and then she smiled.

“Of course, he would be more than pleased.”

“Excellent. I’m glad I have a chance to show you the strength of the Black Company.”

From the moment I received the Pope’s offer of a contract, it was already destined that I would become involved in the politics of Ratio.

I wasn’t afraid of confronting the Treno Family at all.

In the first place, compared to the enemies I had faced so far, the Treno Family was nothing but small fry.

If anything, I should be grateful to the Treno Family. They had provided an opportunity to make the Black Company's name known in Ratio.

“Theo. Prepare for battle.”

“Unit, prepare for battle!”

Theo shouted in a booming voice. The command was repeated down the line.