Barbarian in a Failed Game

Chapter 030: Wagner (4)

Before coming to the west, Maya was a mercenary who had taken on the role of handling the Union’s errands in the north, primarily cleaning up the messes caused by other mercenaries. Her encounters had spanned from famous mercenary groups to the private soldiers and knights of nobles, and ultimately, even the nobles themselves. It was in line with such duties that she clashed with a ruthless barbarian who split the heads of all adversaries indiscriminately with his axe, regardless of their status.

“You were definitely sent by the branch manager on a mission to the east…!” The aftermath of such encounters was apparent in Maya’s current state. Her eyes trembled pitifully, and her legs instinctively stepped back, a clear sign of fear.

“What are you?”

The executioner. No, Khan’s gray eyes were now fixated on her. A hint of perplexity and irritation in his glare felt to Maya like the boredom of a predator. Naturally, her shoulders shrank meekly.

“Ma, Maya…”

“Huh? Maya? Isn’t she the recently appointed branch manager? You know her, boss?”

“No. It’s my first time seeing her.”

Maya felt a mix of relief and shame at his indifferent response, though relief was the predominant emotion.

“It doesn’t look like it’s your first time meeting, what are you talking about? She called you the executioner. Isn’t that a name well-known in the north?”

“I don’t know. Damn brat.”

“Don’t you see? The lady is terrified. A typical reaction of someone who knows you.”

“I said I don’t know. Hey, you, do you know me?”

As Khan glared at her menacingly, Maya shrank like a squashed can. The existence known as the executioner entrenched a fear in her far deeper than a mere moment of shame could cover.

“Khan, we shouldn’t be doing this here. Let’s go inside and talk. This lady would likely be well-informed about the affairs of the city.”

“Hmm…”

Khan glanced around, contemplating. The attention of those nearby was already beginning to drift towards them. The barbarian group, standing out just by being present, and the presence of the branch manager, trembling at the sight of them like a frightened mouse.

‘Better than letting the chatter about executioners and whatnot continue here.’

“Hey.”

“Yes…?”

“You know a place out of sight?”

“Of, of course. I’ll lead you to my office…!”

*

*

*

Passing through the city gates went without any notable issues. Given the current turmoil within the city, it seemed unlikely that such dangerous barbarian would be allowed entry…

“My guests. No need for separate inspections…”

“Yes, yes…! If they are Maya’s guests!”

The guard at the gate was utterly captivated by Maya’s words. Who was this girl, exactly?

And it didn’t stop there.

“Branch manager! Good work!”

“Thank you. You’re all doing a great job.”

“Ah, Maya! Thanks for last time!”

“Don’t mention it. If there’s another problem, just come to me. I’ll handle it personally next time.”

‘One might think this woman runs the place.’

Indeed, her popularity was astounding, especially the goodwill shown by the citizens, not just the mercenaries.

Observing this scene as if watching a political rally during the election season, Khan’s eyebrows twitched slightly when Maya turned towards him and sent a certain look.

It was as if her gaze was saying, ‘See? I’m this influential!’

“What are you looking at?”

“Eep…!”

To Khan, who barely remembered who she was, it seemed like a challenge.

It felt somewhat familiar seeing her so terrified and recalling the derogatory mention of “executioner”…

“Ah. Now I remember. You’re that one. Bragging about being the best spearman in the north…”

Maya flinched.

In a flurry of hurried steps, she rushed towards Khan, desperately shaking her head. A clear plea for him to drop the subject.

‘Kid. Embarrassed, aren’t you?’

Khan smirked, halting his words as per Maya’s silent plea. After all, knowing such things were often more useful kept to oneself.

“Perhaps we should hurry! You must be tired from your journey to Wagner!”

“Sounds good.”

Maya, with a tense face, quickened her pace, followed by Khan, who observed her from behind with a mischievous smile. “Huh. Seems like there’s something going on, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed. Looks like it.”

Jan and Ron, observing the situation, expressed their curiosity while Diego, unsure why he was even involved, wiped off his sweat and trudged along.

*

*

*

Maya led the group into her office, the most secretive location within the guild branch. After sending out a staff member who was glancing around as if to fetch something, a conversation unfolded among Khan and his party, including Diego, who was puzzled about his presence, and a gloomy Maya.

“Why on earth are you here with Diego…?”

“We met on the way here.”

Maya muttered under her breath about the sincerity of the response.

‘As if the city wasn’t chaotic enough…’

To her, it was an addition of a troublemaker or rather a killing machine walking the streets. Given her role in maintaining the city’s peace in place of Count Hefeldt, she couldn’t be less pleased.

“So, what brings you to Wagner?”

“To buy weapons. The most durable ones.”

This was somewhat of good news to Maya. If that brute of a monster had come to involve himself in the conflict between Wagner and Picard, Maya could have fainted from agony. Real agony.

“What kind of goods are you looking for? Just give me an estimate, and I’ll arrange for it. Despite how it may seem, I am the branch manager here after all.”

Though it sounded like bragging, she was merely stating a fact. Moreover, hoping that Khan wouldn’t stay in the city any longer than necessary, she was determined to procure the weapons for him. However, Khan’s next request caused Maya’s face to harden.

“Was it called ‘The Broken Anvil’? I think that was the name. I came to buy goods made by that workshop.”

“…The Broken Anvil?”

As Maya’s face stiffened, Khan was sure that complications were about to ensue.

“Why? Is it difficult? You are the manager, after all.”

“No, it’s not that… Sigh.” After a couple of frustrated sighs, Maya eventually hung her head and explained, clearly displeased.

“Are you aware of the current situation in Wagner?”

“Roughly. Just that Count Hefeldt has locked himself in his mansion.”

“Regrettably, it’s not just the count who’s locked in. The servants, administrative staff, and even his private soldiers at his mansion are all confined… ”

“Confined?” Khan looked puzzled.

“Without any given reason, they suddenly locked the mansion’s doors. While it might seem like the count imprisoned himself, those who were trapped with him were effectively detained.”

If Maya’s words were true, it was no small matter. Given the ongoing conflict with Picard and the large number of mercenaries gathered for battle, not inferior to the city’s population, a prolonged situation would result in Count Hefeldt losing control over the city. And if Picard’s forces were to invade, the city would inevitably fall.

“Hmm. But it’s not entirely sealed, right? The deputy priest from the Nordic Monastery was allowed into the mansion not long ago.”

“And you are?”

“I’m Ron, Ron Ironhammer. You might have heard of me, branch manager.”

Maya nodded in acknowledgment. Ron was a veteran mercenary well-known among Argon’s mercenaries, a name familiar to her.

“Yes, that’s right. You were the one who escorted that priest.”

“Indeed. And wasn’t it your branch that mediated the request? You should have an idea of what the problem was…”

“I wish that were the case. All we know is that there was a problem needing a priest from your end. Ah, and one more thing.”

Maya’s eyes brightened as if recalling something.

“After the priest left, there was an incident. The estate’s knights had all left their posts simultaneously. Apparently, they broke through the disputed area with Picard and headed somewhere… Their exact whereabouts unknown from that point.”

Maya pulled a map from her drawer. A crudely drawn map, likely secretly produced by the mercenary guild, which showed the surrounding terrain.

“Here. Ermon, bordering Picard’s territory. Knights who defeated twenty of Picard’s soldiers there continued northward…” As her finger pointed northward from Ermon, Khan and his companions showed a spark of interest.

“Towards the Western Great Mountains. What’s there?”

“The Shivering Woods. Wagner’s largest logging area. Also, there’s an abandoned mine there. For estate knights to head there suggests…” “That something capable of resolving this issue might be found there.” Khan concluded the lengthy discussion.***

Everyone in the hall took a brief rest after sharing their circumstances. Khan remained silent, lost in thought, while Ron and Jan, not wanting to disrupt him, carefully observed him.

“It’s clear there’s something going on, but should we intervene or not?”

For Khan, Wagner’s problem wasn’t of much importance. He wasn’t some detective from a mystery comic… If a problem arose, it wasn’t necessary for Khan to step in to solve it.

Though he did need the equipment from the ‘Broken Anvil’ forge, it wasn’t like his combat effectiveness would plummet without a weapon immediately. His greatest weapon was his robust physique. Yet, something was on his mind.

Jerome’s report on the anomalies in the north, and the strange happenings at Count Wagner’s estate. Given the physical distance, it seemed right to view the two incidents as unrelated. However, it was too suspicious to simply ignore. The fact that someone in Argon had acquired the scale fragment from the Western Great Mountains before Khan and given a piece to Darkin Perayas, now held particular significance.

“I think we need to enter the count’s estate after all.”

“Huh? Is that really necessary… We don’t even have a way in, Khan.”

“Why wouldn’t we have a way? If Norman, that fallen priest, could get in, there’s no reason we can’t.”

Maya muttered, “A fallen priest?” but Khan didn’t bother answering. That wasn’t the important point right now.

“Maya, could you send a message on our behalf?”

“They might ignore it, but if it’s just passing along a message…”

“Then tell the knight this. A disciple of a magus is willing to offer assistance.”

“Me?” Jan, who had been silent, asked in shock, but his question was drowned out by Maya’s more surprised exclamation, “A disciple of magus?!”

***

Knock. Knock.

“Count Hefeldt, it’s Feneth.”

“Come in…”

A voice, rasping like the scraping of metal, was interspersed with sounds that resembled the howling of a beast. The owner of that eerie voice, after a bout of coughing, granted permission in response to the knock. The door creaked open, and a knight clad in full plate armor entered. Sworn to the Hefeldt family through an ‘Oath of Loyalty’, he was one of the count’s most trusted servants, even more so than his own kin.

“How is your lordship faring?”

“Overflowing with power. To the point of being uncontrollable…!”

“My lord…”

Through the visor, Feneth’s eyes trembled slightly. Even Feneth, the only person who could directly approach the count, couldn’t hide his fear before his vastly changed lord.

“Your mind can no longer endure this. Perhaps it’s time to consider their offer…”

“We cannot compromise with such insignificants. Why should we even consider compromising?”

“My lord…!”

Crack! The armrest of the chair the count was leaning on was crushed, a display of inhuman strength. The count, looking curiously at his own hand, then smiled smoothly.

“With such remarkable power granted to me, why would I think of disposing of it? Feneth. With this power, we could solve any problem…! *Cough*”

“My lord!”

It was only after the count had coughed up a considerable amount of blood and lost consciousness that Feneth could sigh in relief. He wiped up the soaked floor himself before casting a fleeting glance at the count. Externally, he still resembled the lord Feneth knew, seemingly even healthier than before, unbelievable for someone who had just expelled so much blood.

‘No. It’s a pointless thought.’ His body was bound by the oath of loyalty. Now, all he could do was his best to save his lord.

“Take care.”

Feneth bowed respectfully to the unconscious count and left the room.

“Guard, how is the lord’s condition? It seemed quite tumultuous inside…”

“Young lord.”

Stepping outside, Feneth was immediately met by a young man to whom he nodded briefly in greeting, then casually replied.

“The lord is fine.”