Raising the Princess to Overcome Death Chapter 108
108. Childhood Friend - Merchant Leader
- Snort. Snort.
The horse Rev was riding snorted and complained.
The horse he had bought from a merchant in Torito was a brown one with black spots near its rear, a horse with many desires.
Whenever it saw the wide fields in early autumn, it would shake its mane, wanting to graze, and when climbing a hill, it would subtly pull back, walking slowly. It seemed to remember the terrain well, for whenever it slowed down without reason, there was surely a body of water nearby.
“A sly fellow, born as a horse…”
- Neigh!
Still, as long as its desires were satisfied, it would run diligently, so Rev stopped by a stream to let 'Bante' drink.
He named the male horse after the first letter of 'Audi,' a female horse with short front legs.
Trying to cool down the overheated horse...
Bante looked at his owner pitifully and turned around, indicating he wanted water on the other side as well.
Who was the master here, anyway...
While he was splashing water, the sound of hoofbeats approached, and a merchant caravan arrived at the stream.
Rev was not surprised.
He had seen a mercenary arrive earlier to scout the area for bandits.
‘I should get going.’
Soon, the caravan’s drivers would bring their horses to the stream, so Rev pulled away the water-bloated Bante and glanced at the arriving caravan.
The drivers were releasing the horses tied to the carriages and bringing their water buckets. The mercenaries gathered leisurely, chatting, and the merchants, stretching after getting off the carriages, took a moment to loosen their stiff bodies.
Somehow, they looked familiar.
‘Where have I seen these people before? Ah!’
Just then, Rev's eyes lit up.
“Oh, my back is killing me like I spent the night with a new bride. Am I getting old? Hahaha.”
A stout merchant with a twisted beard and a belly full of fat stepped out of the carriage. He lit his cigarette and made his usual lewd jokes.
‘So that guy is here!’
He was the merchant leader who had sold Rev and Lena in the past. Pretending ignorance, he had taken their travel money and handed them over to another merchant leader to be sold as slaves.
Back then, they had met him in a large town (Torito) and traveled west together. Judging by the timing, they must be returning from that trip now.
- Grit.
Rev ground his teeth.
The memory of Lena being kidnapped and tied to a stable post, struggling all night, was vivid. Lena had tearfully begged to at least save Leo.
And Lena, dressed in easily removable clothes, her eyes darkened and lifeless, used as a plaything by princes... How could I forget that image?
‘You are dead today.’
Rev approached the merchant leader, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. But then he reconsidered.
There were mercenaries around. If he killed the merchant leader, the mercenaries guarding the caravan would not stand idle.
‘I can win the fight, but...’
The mercenaries were likely unaware of the merchant leader's misdeeds. They were merely paid to protect the caravan, and it was probably the merchant leader's solo crime, meaning they were innocent.
After a moment of hesitation, Rev mounted Bante. He trotted past the merchant leader, who had noticed him.
He wasn’t forgiving him or postponing his revenge.
It was now or never.
He had to get to Nevis quickly, and this guy was headed to Torito, so they wouldn't meet again.
As much as he wanted to kill him painfully... he decided to be merciful. After all, this guy technically ‘did nothing’ to them.
“What the...! Hey, watch where you’re going with that horse...”
- Slash!
The merchant leader’s head flew off. Rev’s sword made a clean arc, severing the man’s neck.
[Achievement: Civilian Murder - You have killed '3' civilians. You become slightly unlucky.]
“Gasp! What... what is this!”
The merchants smoking with him screamed in horror. The midday eruption of blood left them stunned.
One merchant, who reflexively caught the flying head, dropped it and fell back in terror.
“Who?! Stop right there!”
The mercenaries shouted in shock, but Rev was already fleeing on his horse.
Far off, the drivers at the stream were unaware, still focused on watering their horses.
Rev believed this was the best way.
To avenge himself on the merchant leader without harming the innocent...
But the mercenaries quickly mounted and pursued him. Their riding skills far outmatched Rev's.
[Achievement: First Ride - Leo's riding skills improve slightly.]
Rev’s riding skills were not great. In the previous childhood friend and engagement scenarios, he had some experience riding, but rarely at full speed.
Ultimately, the mercenaries caught up to him, and Rev clicked his tongue.
“Stop! Shoot that bastard’s horse! That son of a...??”
The mercenaries were surprised. The fleeing man had stopped his horse and dismounted.
“What... what is this?”
‘A guy who stops when told to?’
Perplexed, they dismounted and drew their weapons, while Rev, surrounded by about twenty mercenaries, calmly spoke.
“I had a grudge against that man. I’ve resolved my grudge, so don’t interfere.”
“A grudge? What grudge does a little guy like you have against the merchant leader?”
“That man deceived innocent travelers and sold them into slavery. Didn’t you know?”
“Bullshit! We’re a trading caravan, not slave traders...”
The mercenary captain raised his hand to stop the angry mercenary. He had heard stories of merchants selling travelers into slavery, so he had an inkling. The fat, vulgar merchant leader could have done such a thing.
The mercenary captain asked,
“Do you have any proof? If a commoner, not sold for debt or a barbarian, became a slave, it's clearly illegal.”
“...”
“If you have proof, I can help you report it to the authorities. That might mitigate your crime of killing the merchant leader.”
Although his words were reasonable, Rev merely averted his eyes.
There was no evidence or witnesses for events that happened in a previous scenario, events that never truly occurred.
“I have nothing to say.”
Rev insisted.
He could charm all of them, but several were wearing wedding rings, which would require significant divine power.
He didn’t want to waste divine power on something like this. He was already worried about having enough to charm the king...
The mercenary captain's face darkened.
“Without proof, you're just a murderer. You seem like a reasonable young man, so I thought there must be a reason... Drop your weapon now, and I’ll ensure you get a trial in the village.”
Despite the captain's goodwill, the young man did not drop his sword, and the mercenaries began to close in.
“You should back off. I don’t want to see blood...”
“Drop your sword! Now!”
“Captain! What trial for a murderer like this? Our employer is dead, if we let him go, we will lose our jobs!”
The earlier mercenary complained, thrusting his spear impulsively. Our captain is too soft.
“Wait! He's just a young man; there might be some reason... Ah!”
The captain expected the young man to be brutally impaled, but instead, the youth deflected the spear with his sword, then used the tilted spear shaft to pivot and strike the mercenary's temple with the flat of his blade.
“Argh!”
“Joshen! That bastard!”
As the atmosphere grew tense, Rev issued a stern warning.
“I could kill you all and leave. But I don’t want to, so back off.”
However, the mercenaries didn’t back down. Their eyes turned to the mercenary captain.
The captain, surprised but slightly angry, frowned.
“A young guy with some sword skills... If you think you can take on a mercenary company with that fancy swordsmanship, you’ll regret it.”
He drew his sword, a two-handed one.
It was rare for anyone other than knights to use a two-handed sword due to its difficulty in handling, despite its tremendous attack power.
Chances were high that this man was a former knight...
- Clang!
The mercenary captain charged. His fierce attack struck Rev's sword.
This mercenary captain, named ‘Brender,’ had been a knight of Count Amus’s household just a few years ago. The count he served was an unremarkable noble without significant flaws.
But when the ‘Trash Princes’ took power, the count quickly changed, and Brender, unable to tolerate it, threw his awarded sword at the steward's feet and left the household.
Setting up a small mercenary company, he lived a contented life, ensuring the safety of the people. He thought it wasn’t a bad way to live.
This young man must have his reasons; he intended to subdue him and help if possible...
- Clang!
The mercenary captain’s expression hardened. This reckless youth’s swordsmanship was exceptional.
“Damn...!”
“The captain is in danger!”
Startled, he deflected the opponent’s sword, but mercenaries without swordsmanship knowledge rushed in, thinking their captain was being overwhelmed.
“No! Stay back! This guy is dangerous...!”
“Die!”
The mercenary who had been struck on the head earlier rushed in with his spear again.
‘Ugh!’
Rev could no longer afford to hold back.
Despite his superior swordsmanship, Rev was a young man with an ordinary physique, with only a somewhat sturdy lower body. He wasn’t a formidable warrior like Leo Dexter, so he couldn’t be leisurely facing a knight.
Rev sidestepped quickly to avoid the spear, stepping into the mercenary’s range.
“Ah!”
“Joshen! Watch out!”
Another mercenary charged, this one wielding a one-handed sword and a round shield. He aimed to strike Rev’s back to help his friend...
“Ugh!”
Rev’s sword was faster. As soon as Rev finished the mercenary named Joshen, he grabbed the corpse with its pierced throat. Spinning around, the attacking mercenary's sword cut through his dead friend’s chest.
“You bastard!”
“No! Everyone back! Now!”
The mercenary whose friend's corpse he had just sliced through snapped, disregarding the captain's order, and charged at Rev again.
However, this mercenary was no match for Rev.
When Rev swung his sword upward from a peculiar angle, the mercenary was taken aback. Despite holding a shield in his left hand, his right hand was struck by the sword.
The pinky and ring finger spun away, falling to the ground alongside the sword.
Realizing he had no choice as the enraged mercenaries joined the fray, the mercenary captain shouted.
“Be careful! He's a tough opponent! Don’t rush him alone. Attack from behind while I hold him off!”
The twenty armed mercenaries formed a formation and charged at the young man.
Some stabbed from a distance with spears, others pushed with shields. One even drew a bowstring from behind.
Rev realized the situation was dire.
Facing twenty ordinary mercenaries might have been manageable, but there was a knight-Revel fighter among them. This could cost him his life.
While blocking the mercenary captain’s attacks, Rev didn’t neglect to sidestep continuously.
One moment of distraction could mean a stab in the back.
He also had to move aggressively. Being defensive wouldn’t allow him to take on multiple opponents alone.
- Clang!
As Rev parried the captain’s strike, he let go of his sword with one hand. He grabbed the spear thrusting from behind and yanked it.
{Swordsmanship Revel 3: Bart's Style}
“What the...?!”
He then pushed the mercenary’s body into the captain’s incoming thrust. But Brender, the captain, was no easy knight. He shouted at his subordinate, who had been pushed in front of him, “Stay still!” and then kicked.
Aimed at the young man’s waist behind him.
At that moment, Rev’s eyes glimmered.
The mercenary captain hesitated and withdrew his kick, giving Rev the opportunity to strike with his left hand wielding the two-handed sword.
Due to its weight, it was more of a downward swing using centrifugal force rather than an actual strike, but the mercenary hit in the groin collapsed.
“You bastard!”
The mercenary captain chastised himself for hesitating and aimed to strike down with his sword, but hesitated once more.
Rev had stabbed a mercenary in the thigh. It was the one who had lost fingers and a friend earlier. He tried to retreat behind his shield, but...
“Grr!”
The mercenary glared with malice, but Rev turned his back on him. That one had lost his combat effectiveness and could be left behind, as an axe was coming down on Rev’s head.
“Die!”
A mercenary swung down with all his might. The opening was so large that Rev was unsure where to counterattack first.
With another charging from the front, a right diagonal slash seemed best.
Untrained fighters like mercenaries or thugs usually couldn’t handle upward strikes well. They simply tried to block with their weapons, but their balance and stance were poor, so,
“Hup!”
They were pushed back, leaving them open to counterattacks. It was rare for them to have faced a powerful two-handed sword before.
Rev’s diagonal upward slash first sliced through the chest of the mercenary with the axe and then continued to cut across the forehead of the one charging from the front.
Simultaneously, Rev leaped to avoid the falling axe. Following the momentum of his swing, he spun in the air and slashed upward again.
The axe-wielding mercenary’s face was split open. His shattered cheekbone exposed to the air.
“Kill him!”
“Shoot him quickly!”
The bloody battle continued. Shouts rang out, and cold steel clashed.
Rev was in real danger when an arrow struck his shoulder. The mercenaries, seeing the young man’s injured right shoulder, pushed forward with renewed courage.
However, thanks to Bart’s swordsmanship, which was ambidextrous, Rev eventually triumphed.
The occasional flashes in Rev’s eyes and the mercenaries' momentary hesitations also played a significant role.
“Grrrr...!”
The mercenary captain died a brutal death.
He kept wavering, thinking about subduing the young man rather than killing him.
While pressing against the young man with their swords locked, the youth’s blade moved fluidly.
Stepping in close, he leaned his weight into his shoulder.
What is he doing? The captain was bewildered, retreating, but stumbled over a corpse.
Pinned under the young man, Brender’s neck was slowly severed as his strength ebbed away.
“Run away!”
With the captain dead, the remaining mercenaries lost their will to fight and fled.
Covered in blood, Rev staggered up and looked around.
“Gasp... Gasp...”
The ground was a scene of carnage. Bodies lay strewn about, and blood soaked the grass.
This was his doing.
Yet, Rev felt no guilt. Even though he had killed those who weren’t his primary targets, he felt only a sense of inevitability.
‘It must be because of the first murder achievement...’
As he watched the fleeing mercenaries, he calmly assessed his mental state. Perhaps due to the thrill of battle, his heart urged him to chase them.
And then,
[Target Hunting]
Barbatos’s ability was unlocked.
Rev instantly understood that this was far superior to {Tracking}.
It seemed to have a range limit, but unlike {Tracking}, which only indicated direction, [Target Hunting] pinpointed the exact location of the ‘prey.’
Rev hesitated before raising his hand.
- Kill them.
As he pointed at the fleeing mercenaries, the symbol proving he was Barbatos’s apostle glowed on his right palm, and trumpets appeared over their heads one by one.
“What... What is this?!”
A mercenary, trying to mount his horse, started bleeding profusely. Shocked by the nosebleed, he wiped his nose, but it wouldn’t stop.
It was a debuff. The bleeding would never stop. Unless treated by a priest, he would die from excessive blood loss.
Rev knew the debuff time was ample. A mere nosebleed would be enough to kill within the ‘years’ he had.
Seeing other mercenaries staggering on their horses from their wounds, Rev decided he didn’t need to kill them directly.
He debuffed the mercenary’s horse that was bleeding from the nose, then mounted Bante and chased, stabbing the mercenary in the back.
Silence fell. Only the occasional whinny of a horse without its rider broke the quiet, as all the mercenaries who had pursued him lay dead.
Even those who had fled on horseback had fallen, unable to withstand the bleeding.
Rev shook the blood off his sword. As he sheathed it, he looked around at the dead mercenaries and thought.
Sorry, but not that sorry. If you had just let me go, you wouldn't have died. If you draw your weapon, you must accept the consequences of defeat.
I’m worried things will get complicated if you escape and report this...
‘I’m dizzy.’
Rev felt a wave of dizziness. He searched the dead mercenaries' bodies.
Apart from the arrow wound, he had no major injuries, but minor cuts were bleeding profusely.
He found some medicine and bandaged his wounds before climbing back onto Bante.
‘I need to get out of here...’
Leaving the countless corpses behind, he headed again toward Nevis. The brown horse, Bante, which had so many desires, was calmer than before.