Chapter 39
Barbarian Quest
Chapter 39 – Wild Horse (3)
Margrave, a title of nobility that permitted an individual to protect the neutral terrain between the borders of fiefs with great military power. A margrave was exempt from taxes and had the authority to toll merchants and travelers that passed through the gates. Based on their financial strength, margraves were able to maintain a large militia compared to the size of their fief and the scale of the overall economy.
Margrave Orkel, like other margraves, had around two hundred gate defense guards and around fifty border surveillance guards under his command. Not only that, but he was also such a powerful lord that he would be able to gather over five hundred soldiers within a week if he gave the draft order.
“It’s finally starting. The battle for the future king,” muttered Margrave Orkel.
All of the nobles knew it. It was easily predictable to everyone that Prince Varca anu Forlcana and Duke Harmati would soon fight for the throne.
‘So the Prince chose to borrow the hand of the Empire?’
Margrave Orkel clicked his tongue. He had received a letter two days ago that Prince Varca had gone missing. It was obvious that he would seek asylum in the Empire.
“Even if this is a peaceful era without war, a brat that has no experience commanding in a war becoming king? That would be absurd.”
Margrave Orkel was a military man. Even though his hair was already half-white, he had the experience of participating in both the conquest and subjugation of barbarians ever since he was young.
“The King has raised his successor weakly. ‘From now on it will be an era where we won’t need military men’? What bullshit.”
Margrave Orkel did not like Prince Varca. He was a weak prince that received an education understanding the academic spirit rather than martial arts.
‘A king must be strong. Like Duke Harmati.’
Margrave Orkel was firm in his beliefs. Duke Harmati did not succeed to the throne, but he was an accomplished military man. The margrave also had experience charging into battle side by side with the regent.
“The border surveillance guards have discovered a mercenary group.”
His aide-de-camp reported to him.
Margrave Orkel did not know that the prince was with that mercenary group yet. That news had yet to reach the border.
‘If they did not escape on a ship, they might have mixed themselves in with mercenaries to escape.’
Margrave Orkel donned his armor and rode his horse. His chainmail armor clanged with the horse’s movements.
Clip, clop.
He led the cavalry, where each horse carried two soldiers.
“Were there any mercenary groups that passed through the other gates recently?”
There were no mercenary groups that passed through the Orkel Gate. A secretary on horseback checked some parchments before answering.
“There was a mercenary group called ‘Urich’s Brothers’ that passed through the Larman Gate. The scale of their group seems to be similar too. There is a high chance that they are the same group.”
“Urich’s Brothers?” asked Margrave Orkel.
“I have heard rumors about them before. They say that they were able to fight the Silver Lion Mercenaries on equal footing,” responded one of his aides.
“If that’s true, then we can’t ignore them,” muttered Margrave Orkel to himself.
“Hiyaa!”
The cavalry, who had finished preparing, stormed out of the gates. Margrave Orkel was leading at the front.
They arrived at the mercenaries’ camp just as dawn was breaking.
‘It might look like it’s messily spread around, but all of their weapons and shields are within arm’s reach. They are prepared to fight whenever,’ thought Margrave Orkel while scanning the mercenaries.
“I am Margrave Orkel. Who is in charge here?”
The margrave pulled on his reins as he spoke. Amongst the mercenaries, one person stepped forward.
“I am the mercenary leader.”
It was Sven. His disheveled appearance and rough accent made it obvious that he was a barbarian.
‘So it’s a barbarian.’
Margrave Orkel confirmed Sven then looked at his subordinate.
“I have heard that the leader of Urich’s Brothers is a barbarian. He is most likely their leader,” whispered the aide-de-camp into Margrave Orkel’s ears.
“And the mercenary group’s name?”
“Urich’s Brothers. I am Urich.”
Sven spoke naturally. A few of the mercenaries either looked at the ground or covered their faces with their helmets to hide their laughter.
“As the person in charge of the Orkel Gate, I have the obligation and authority to monitor and inspect those who cross the border. Do you have any complaints about this?”
“No.”
Sven shrugged and opened a path.
“Confirm them.”
Margrave Orkel signalled the men with his hands. Five soldiers, who had good eyes, went between the mercenaries.
“What? What are you gonna do after looking at my face? Want me to take my pants off or something?”
“Don’t touch me. If you do, you’ll lose your hand.”
The mercenaries snickered while being inspected. The soldiers examined all of the mercenaries one by one with blank faces. The gate defense guards were used to unruly groups like them.
Clip, clop.
Margrave Orkel glared at the surroundings with his fierce eyes while taking a lap around.
“There was no young man with blue eyes.”
The soldiers reported after checking the entire camp.
“Check the surroundings as well. They could be hiding somewhere around here.”
The soldiers split up to check the surrounding area. The mercenaries yawned from boredom.
“We’re also people who have a long journey ahead of us.”
Sven spoke as if he were nitpicking. Margrave Orkel also couldn’t keep them for long without a good reason.
‘Fifty people are also too many to arrest at once. How straining.’
Margrave Orkel brought nearly one hundred soldiers. Because they had the cavalry as well, they would certainly win the battle. However, the gate defense guards would also face considerable casualties.
“You over there. Raise your head.”
Margrave Orkel was pointing at Phillion as he spoke.
‘Phillion.’
The mercenaries exchanged glances.
“Margrave Orkel and I have met before. Only twice, though.”
Phillion said this beforehand.
“This person isn’t a mercenary but a thief. We cut his fingers off after he tried stealing our stuff. He’s a slave that will attend to us for the rest of his life,” said Sven from the side.
Phillion’s face was covered in dirt. He even had four missing fingers and traces of torture on his back. He didn’t look like a knight to anyone.
“I see. Please hide that disgusting hand from me, then.”
Margrave Orkel clicked his tongue after looking at Phillion’s right hand.
‘Phew.’
Phillion lowered his head and breathed a sigh of relief. He had a smile with mixed feelings of self-deprecation.
‘Who would think that I’m a knight when I look like this?’
Margrave Orkel took another lap around the camp.
“It seems like the Prince isn’t here,” said his aide-de-camp. Orkel nodded in agreement.
“Hm?”
Just as Margrave Orkel was about to leave, he tilted his head. He looked at the base of a tree near the camp.
‘Horse manure. It still hasn’t dried yet.’
He saw horse manure. He looked around the camp again.
‘But there are no horses here.’
He had an unsettling thought. He called over his aide then whispered into his ears.
“Split up the cavalry into five groups and send them out on a search. It looks like there was a horse here.”
His aide-de-camp nodded. There were ten cavalrymen in each group.
“Should we arrest the mercenaries?”
“No, just let them go. But instead, make three or four of our fastest soldiers follow them. So that they will be able to report where the mercenary group is traveling.”
Margrave Orkel expertly commanded his soldiers. He was speculating about the current situation.
‘If the Prince was traveling with these mercenaries, he would have escaped separately. While riding a horse, of course. Prince Varca might not be skilled in swordsmanship, but his horse riding skills are excellent.’
Margrave Orkel touched his chin. The mercenaries, who finished their inspection, prepared to tear down the camp.
‘Even if we lose the Prince here, he will eventually rendezvous with the mercenaries…’
He even thought of their next move.
“Hiyaa!”
Margrave Orkel led ten of his cavalrymen and continued forward.
“Did they notice?”
Phillion asked the mercenaries that were clearing up.
“Even if they did notice, half a day has already passed. They won’t get caught.”
“Probably so… Please stay safe, Your Royal Highness.”
Phillion closed his eyes and prayed.
* * *
* * *
Urich and Fahel only tried to climb on the horse after creating a large distance between them and the camp.
“Kilios, it’s okay. It will be fine if he climbs on your back, right?”
Fahel pet Kilios as he spoke.
“Then I’ll be getting on.”
Urich placed his hand on the stallion’s back.
Neeeeigh!
Kilios pulled its body away in shock. Fahel almost fell off as well.
“Damn it!”
As Urich cursed, Kilios grew more wary.
‘He’s rejecting Urich more than I thought he would.’
Fahel was also surprised. He initially believed that there would be no problems if Urich rode behind him, but Kilios was rejecting that as well.
“This stupid fucking beast!”
Urich raged, and Fahel glared at him.
“Don’t curse. That’s why Kilios is rejecting you even more. Hide that terrifying aura of yours! He doesn’t think of you as a human but as a terrifying predator who came to hunt him!”
Fahel scowled as he talked.
“What do you want me to do, then? Huh? When I look like this? What kind of dumb animal discriminates between people? Wait… You said I was a predator?”
Urich suddenly went into deep thought.
“Stop acting like such a barbarian. Keep walking. We have to keep going even if we have to walk.”
Fahel rode the horse. Urich trailed behind Kilios with quick steps.
“It’s already morning,” Urich muttered as he watched the sun rise.
“Urich, if you want to ride Kilios, you have to get rid of your terrifying atmosphere. He’s still young, and since he had only lived in the wild, he’s even more sensitive. You’re listening to me, right?”
“Yeah, I’m listening. Keep talking.”
Urich half-heartedly responded. He had been looking at the horse’s tail since a while ago.
“If you want to really ride a horse, it’ll be best for you to buy one that has been tamed for a long time instead of Kilios. The majority of those kinds of horses rarely reject people.”
“I don’t want that, though? I want to ride a horse like Kilios.”
Urich was adamant.
“You don’t want this or that? Hah. Then spend the rest of your life lumbering around on your feet like that. I mean, it suits bastards like you to walk on the ground.”
Fahel clicked his tongue. Urich ignored him and followed behind Kilios.
BPPPFFT, BPPPFFT.
Kilios’s butt was twitching. Horses pooped as they walked.
“That’s it! Stop for a second, Fahel!”
Urich shouted, as if he was waiting for this moment.
“Suddenly? Why? Wha—What are you doing?! You lunatic!”
Fahel turned around and cursed at Urich.
“What do you mean, what am I doing? I’m preparing to ride the horse.”
Urich was rubbing horse manure all over his body.
“S-Stop it!”
“What do you mean, ‘stop’? Is this enough?”
Urich, body covered all over with horse manure, carefully approached the stallion.
Neigh.
Kilios’s reaction was different from before. It didn’t wildly reject Urich’s touch.
“Poop is the best for removing body odor. Why didn’t I think of this sooner?”
“Don’t even think about sitting behind me like that!”
“What are you going to do if there’s a pursuit party? You won’t die just by getting a little bit of shit on you, punk.”
Urich patted his manure-covered hands on Fahel’s legs.
“H-HIEEEEK!”
The prince quickly wiped the manure off his legs and furrowed his eyebrows.
“Kilios, my name is Urich.”
Urich climbed up on the horse’s back.
‘Did I do it?’
He was constantly prepared to fall off. Kilios’s hind legs were constantly twitching and trembling.
Neeeeigh.
Kilios finally became comfortable with Urich and blew air out of its nose. It was the first time it accepted Urich.
“Ohhhh, this is awesome. So this is what it looks like from up here!”
The barbarian spread his arms wide as he spoke. His eyes were wide open.
‘It feels better than I thought it would.’
The only thing that changed was that he was a little higher up, but it felt as if his chest cleared up. His field of vision also got wider. It even felt as if the air was fresher.
“Amazing,” said Urich.
Fahel pinched the bridge of his nose while holding onto the reins.
“It smells.”
“Now, why don’t we speed up a little, Young Master?”
Urich grabbed Fahel’s shoulders with his manure-covered hands. The young prince recited Ru’s name with an expression that screamed ‘I give up on everything.’
“WOOHOOO! Go! Faster!”
As Kilios galloped, Urich shouted with excitement.
‘Was this really the best you could do, Sir Phillion?’
A fly was buzzing near Fahel’s ears.
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