HBWnovel Chapter 85 : Chapter 85
Chapter 85 : Chapter 85
Chapter 085 : A Lie Greater Than Truth (3)* * *
When Maserin, having crossed through the Spatial Transfer Gate, brought the news that Bihen Benkou had finally slain the Blood Mage, the atmosphere split sharply.
Some cheered.
It was mostly the mercenaries who, due to the aftereffects of dark magic, couldn’t join the final battle and had been waiting in the rear.
Amid their cheers, there were those who could only lower their heads in silence.
Eugene had perished, and Bihen had not returned.
Many imperial sailors had also lost their lives in that foreign land.
Thus, the return journey of the Talrug Canyon subjugation force…was a mix of elation and heavy silence.
It was neither a triumphant victory nor a crushing defeat.
“To think we’re returning alive like this. I can hardly believe it.”
“When the mandrake got me, I lost consciousness, only to wake up ages later. It’s like I died and came back to life.”
“I was found collapsed on the way to the rendezvous point. They say I fought desperately to escape the mandrake, but I don’t remember a thing. Gives me chills just thinking about it.”
“We’re alive, aren’t we? That’s what matters. Heh.”
The members of the Black Rose Mercenaries, gathered in a circle, whispered among themselves.
They knew better than to laugh openly.
A glance around revealed countless faces either in tears or steeped in silence.
‘Tch.’
The mercenaries, smacking their lips, soon turned their gazes to one spot.
It was none other than their leader, Kendrick Coleman, captain of the Black Rose Mercenaries.
“…”
The mercenaries exchanged cautious glances.
Why was the captain acting like that, when no one else seemed to know?
At that moment, one mercenary mustered the courage to speak.
“Captain, you’ve been looking down all this time. Something wrong?”
Kendrick raised his eyes, one eyebrow arching.
“Something wrong? Can’t you tell?”
“Uh, no, I can’t. We don’t need to be all mopey too, do we? We did as we were told, fought for our lives. Isn’t that enough?”
“…”
“Captain, don’t get it twisted. We’re just mercenaries.”
It was a fair point, every word of it.
Kendrick, unable to retort, lowered his head again.
“Mercenaries or not, you’re human first.”
It was Bonnie, passing by.
Fierce glares shot toward her like a barrage of arrows, but Bonnie didn’t flinch.
Neither did Clyde, standing beside her.
For once, he had no intention of stopping his meddlesome wife.
“I’m not asking for mourning. But if you know who you owe your lives to, you should at least act grateful and keep your mouths shut. If you’re human, that is.”
As expected, Kendrick stood up.
He’d never liked Bonnie to begin with.
As a captain, he had his pride to maintain.
In this world, showing weakness meant the end.
“Hey, don’t fan the flames and get lost.”
“Fan the flames? Ha! Aren’t you the one gawking at a burning house?”
“We kill people even if it doesn’t pay. Didn’t you know?”
With Clyde’s sword drawn, the sound of metal echoed from all directions.
It was Roland who quelled the imminent clash.
“What are you all doing!”
Roland stormed over, glaring alternately at the two.
Bonnie and Kendrick averted their eyes like scolded dogs.
“Useless fools, can’t even read the room.”
“…”hing.
Archduke Callence and his followers were undoubtedly deranged.
I’d seen the atrocities they committed in Easton and Ludglen with my own eyes.
And from what they said, Sylphiroa’s strategic value in Conwell was significant.
If Adeline were here, she’d have insisted on protecting Sylphiroa at all costs.
‘Well, even if that weren’t the case…’
Meeting the gazes fixed on me, I spoke.
“Having learned of this, I can’t just overlook it.”
“Sir Bihen! You should reconsider. Sylphiroa’s terrain makes it an isolated village. If these men were recruited by the Archduke to lure us…”
“Hey, Young Lord! Aren’t you going too far? You’re saying that even after seeing us fight those bastards with our lives on the line?”
“Ahem! Is that enough to prove your innocence?”
Hmm, Declan Theodore.
Though a greenhorn, he wasn’t entirely clueless.
I decided to raise my evaluation of him a notch.
“Of course, we can’t completely rule out that possibility. But if, as they claim, Sylphiroa holds the means to break the Solari Order’s magical formation, we can’t hesitate. Leaving an enemy at our back is risky too.”
“Hmm, that’s not entirely baseless. Fine. If that’s your decision, Sir Bihen…”
“I’ll move separately. You, Young Lord, lead the Theodore forces and meet Viscount Mosfield as planned. Since Sylphiroa’s nearby, I’ll hurry to avoid being too late.”
As the matter seemed settled…
Linda, glancing back and forth, suddenly raised her hand.
“I-I’ll go with you! It’s too dangerous for you alone, Sir Bihen!”
Declan’s calm facade crumpled instantly.