The Founding Monarch Became the Mastermind

Chapter 79

“Are you ready?”

“Hmm! What about you?”

“I’ve already analyzed the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. Timing is crucial—strike and retreat at just the right moment. The enemy’s defense is incredibly strong.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Now then, may the radiant courage of the Twin-headed Eagle’s wings—”

“Be with us.”

Blaho, the respected Swordmaster of the Si-on Duchy, and his direct superior, Baron Walter, the Minister of Military Affairs, recited the creed of the Duchy’s knights with firm resolve and gravity.

Their fierce momentum, as if they were headed into a life-or-death battle, caused the lackeys in their path to scatter without even thinking of blocking them, either fleeing or pressing themselves against the walls, begging for mercy.

The two warriors, magnanimous as they were, paid no attention to the lackeys.

Their goal was the evil overlord who commanded these minions with cruelty.

Overflowing with courage drawn from the depths of their hearts and a sense of exhilaration as if they had surpassed their limits, they pressed forward, step by step.

Step. Step. Step.

At last, a massive door loomed before them.

Whoooosh!

A black ebony door emanating an evil and ominous dark aura seemed to whirl around it.

“Hah, hah.”

After catching their breath, they exchanged a determined look, filled with resolution.

“Let’s go.”

“Founding Patriarch, watch over us.”

Knock knock.

Creak—

“Come in, you two.”

“Great De—no, greetings to the Hender.”

“Oh, hello. But why have you both come together? And why do you look like that? Are you hurt?”

“Uh, it’s not that we’re hurt. It’s just… we need to talk about something…”

*Bang!*

The ebony door closed, trapping the two warriors inside the lair of the evil overlord—no, the office of the Hender of the Si-on Duchy.

“Aaargh! What is that—!”

“Wait! This wasn’t part of our plan—!”

“Please, Hender! Lord Yonas! Don’t get angry so quickly, let us explain—!”

“Ugh! We’re already short on budget, and now you want to create a new unit?!”

“No, it’s just that there will be some initial costs, but later on…”

The shouts and cries of a life-or-death struggle between the evil overlord and the two warriors echoed through the ebony door.

Terrified minions—no, administrators—were too petrified to approach, not even daring to breathe near that area, let alone look in that direction.

After all, they were destined to work overtime yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

The summer was growing warmer.

* * *

The outcome of the life-or-death battle ultimately ended in victory for the warriors.

Even the sturdy shield of Hender Yonas couldn’t withstand the sudden ambush from “Double-Axe Murderer” Sminov, whose skill with words was as sharp and cunning as the axes he once swung in his youth.

However, Blaho and the Minister of Military Affairs didn’t win an absolute victory.

The “Monster Hunting Unit” would only initially recruit from the Black Eagle Regiment and the Janstrick Mercenary Group, and the exact budget would be decided after the results of the first hunt.

Still, the two warriors were satisfied.

They understood Yonas’s irritation and frustration, but as born soldiers and knights, they saw this as the perfect opportunity to give the Duchy’s elite troops valuable real combat experience.

It was also an ideal chance to provide all the forces of the Duchy with superior weapons and equipment.

Thus, even though they felt like their ears were bleeding from the scolding they received from the evil overlord, they exchanged a thumbs-up, smiling toward each other in solidarity.

And so, amidst this clamor, the Monster Hunting Unit of the Si-on Duchy was established, and recruitment began.

“Huh? You too?”

“Oh! You too, sir?”

Piotr and Miska, the youngest of the Janstrick Mercenaries, exchanged grins as they met in front of a tent set up at the Black Eagle Regiment’s camp.

“Of course, I’m Master Blaho’s apprentice, so I had to apply.”

“Captain Stelman’s going, so naturally I’ll follow. But what about your younger cousin?”

Miska looked around, searching for Sirvan, and Piotr gave a bitter smile.

“Sirvan’s not doing too well these days. You know how things went with my father and brother.”

“Well, yeah. He didn’t know anything about it, but the heart’s a tricky thing. Still, this is exactly when he should be keeping himself busy.”

“I know. I suggested it, but he seems pretty worn out. He said he’d stick close to Brother Yonas and gain more experience in that area instead.”

“Oh, right! In a few years, he’s supposed to take the position of Duke. Isn’t this a good thing then? If he works hard, he’ll regain his honor.”

“Yeah, it’ll work out. Even though he’s struggling now, I’m sure he’ll do fine. By the way…”

Piotr glanced around the camp, puzzled.

“I thought most of the Janstrick Mercenaries were signing up, but I don’t see that many?”

Miska’s face soured at his words.

“Tch! Those traitors have been seduced by the maids at the Twin-headed Eagle Castle. They’re planning to settle in Sionia.”

“It’s not Twin-headed Tails; it’s Twin-headed Eagles. Anyway, is that so? Well, I guess they’ll switch to castle guards then. That should boost the strength of the current guard force.”

“Bah! They’re not real warriors, just pathetic losers. Seeing them giggle every day with skirts around them is disgusting. I hope they choke on it.”

“Didn’t you say your dream was to die in bed, seducing an elf woman…?”

“Aaagh!”

Miska suddenly let out a gasp, startling Piotr.

“Speaking of which, I heard our Mountain Ranger Elves are joining the hunting unit too!?”

“…The Founding Patriarch granted them land in the mountains, but they’re not rangers. Besides, I doubt many elves will sign up. Their main job is driving monsters out of the Forest Without Echoes and the Brandin Mountain Range.”

“What!? No way! Say it’s not true! I have to go hunting with those gorgeous elf ladies…”

“…You really haven’t changed at all, have you? Ah, I think those are the elves over there.”

At Piotr’s nod, the downcast Miska turned his head quickly.

Indeed, a group of slender and muscular figures, distinct from the burly mercenaries and Black Eagle Regiment soldiers, was approaching.

“Huh?”

“Hey, look over there.”

“Oh wow… is that…?”

The mercenaries and Black Eagle Regiment soldiers waiting in small groups near the tent began murmuring.

Neither the Janstrick Mercenaries nor the Black Eagle Regiment soldiers had any reason to be particularly fascinated by elves anymore.

However, the sight of the elves in their warrior gear, marching in perfect formation toward the tent, naturally drew everyone’s attention.

“It… it’s the ladies!”

Miska’s expression went slack, eyes wide in awe.

Indeed, among the group of elf warriors approaching Piotr and Miska were several female warriors.

“Sir, sir. Say something to them.”

Miska whispered urgently in a low voice, but Piotr had no intention of doing so.

Having spent time with Friel and several other elf warriors, Piotr had learned a thing or two about elven customs.

And one of the differences from human society was…

Whistle!

“Wow, check her out! The chest’s a bit lacking, but man, those thighs and hips are to die for. Hey, girl! How about we spar later, just the two of us? My sword’s long and thick, but I’ve got nowhere to show it off.”

One of the senior Black Eagle soldiers placed his hands on his hips and thrust them forward in a vulgar motion.

Hahaha!

The men around him burst into laughter.

Among soldiers and mercenaries who lived by the sword, this kind of banter and teasing was just part of everyday life.

Step.

The elf warrior caught in the soldier’s gaze suddenly stopped walking.

Her companions hesitated briefly but didn’t seem too bothered and continued on, standing near the tent.

One of them was Friel, so Piotr gave him a brief nod in greeting.

However, all eyes were now fixed on the lone elf female warrior standing apart from her group.

Meanwhile, the soldier kept repeating his obscene thrusting motion, and the elf warrior took a few large steps toward him.

“Oh, you mean right now? Man, my boy, you’re lucky to have such a great dad. If you weren’t my son, you wouldn’t be getting this kind of luxury!”

The soldier, now patting his crotch as he spoke, had the men around him laughing even harder.

The distance between the elf female warrior and the soldier closed quickly.

Finally, standing face-to-face with him, the elf woman opened her red lips.

“What did you just say to me?”

Piotr was surprised at how fluent her Obla Kingdom language was.

Most of the elves in the Duchy spoke the language well, but their melodic accents and occasionally awkward choice of words always gave them away as different.

But this elf female warrior was different.

“Huh? Oh, I said my sword is long and thick, didn’t I? I swear on the honor of the Black Eagle Regiment, it’s true!”

The soldier even saluted, but the elf warrior’s expression remained blank.

“Not that. Repeat the first thing you said to me.”

“Uh… what did I say again? I don’t really remember…”

It was something he’d just said, so it was hard to believe he didn’t remember.

But the idea of repeating such a vulgar appraisal of her body right in front of her was probably too much, even for this shameless man.

Especially since the woman in question was a warrior from the elven tribe, which had a blood pact with the Duchy.

“Repeat what you said to me first.”

“Uh, well…”

Realizing he was in deep trouble, the soldier hesitated, looking around nervously before finally blurting out in desperation.

“I said your chest is a bit lacking, but your thighs and hips are to die for! Hey, I was complimenting you, alright? I swear, I’ve never seen a woman with a body like yours in my life… uh… ugh!?”

As the soldier babbled his excuses, his eyes suddenly went wide in shock.

“Huh?!”

“Wha—?!”

Everyone else had the same reaction.

Piotr and Miska, too, widened their eyes in disbelief, their jaws dropping.

The elf female warrior, with short platinum hair, had casually slipped off her leather-armored brigandine.

“A… ah…”

The soldier stammered, unable to tear his eyes away from the elf woman’s upper body, now only covered by a thin sleeveless shirt.

“Thank you for complimenting my figure. However, as you can see, there’s an error in your assessment. My chest is not lacking.”

Her words were true.

Though not large, the elf female warrior’s chest, clearly outlined under the thin shirt, had a shape that anyone could agree was quite pleasing.

“Stella Gosan. Stop doing unnecessary things and come here.”

“Yes, Friel of North Mountain.”

Though the exterior was made of leather, the brigandine itself was reinforced with metal plates, making it quite heavy.

Yet Stella, as the female warrior was called, held it effortlessly in one hand, then swiftly donned it again before walking over to her comrades as if nothing had happened.

Step. Step. Step.

With her platinum short hair shimmering like scattered gold dust under the midday sun, Stella strode confidently, looking like a goddess.