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Chapter 32: Mercenary Request from the West

—Late December.

In the Blumunt tribe’s main village where I live, snow had started to fall in flurries.

The various Barbar tribes were saying, 「Winter prep went well this year—we should make it through without trouble.」

Karanos’s agents visited our village twice.

They didn’t just buy rock salt and brandy—they also purchased Bloody Bear pelts.

According to Karanos’s agent, the brandy had officially made it into the Imperial court.

The Emperor of the Vaffancrow Empire was reportedly quite taken with it—demanding more be delivered.

We Barbars can’t win a head-on war with the Empire.

But even a small force like us can use alcohol to weaken the Emperor.

If we used actual poison, it’d be found out—and once they knew, they’d slaughter us all.

But with alcohol…

As I realized the first step of the plan had succeeded, I allowed myself a smug grin.

「Gaia! War’s on! We’ve got work!」

We received a mercenary job.

Uncle Athos was in high spirits.

This time, it came from a noble house in the west.

In the Kingdom of Ring, located west of the Vaffancrow Empire, a conflict had broken out between noble families.

We were being hired to join this conflict as mercenaries.

Once again, we were heading out with a hundred-man expedition.

Uncle Athos immediately sent word to the various Barbar tribes:

「There’s a war in the west! Let’s make another fat profit!」

By now, everyone was used to Uncle Athos’s… blunt invitations.

The response from the tribes was good.

Soldiers from across the Barbar tribes gathered in droves at the Blumunt village.

I greeted each of the tribal chiefs as they arrived.

「Gaia-dono! Let’s do this!」

「Help us win again!」

「Let’s make a killing!」

They all clapped me on the back.

In Barbar culture, being strong in battle is a virtue.

I’m still young, but because I’ve built up a solid record in war, the chiefs respect me.

Rosso, chieftain of the Great Lizard Tribe, arrived with his subordinates.

His right-hand man Drye was with him too.

「Yo, Gaia! Heading west, huh? Let’s win again!」

I joked back with the familiar Rosso.

「Yeah, let’s win. Though last time, it ended with a messy retreat.」

「But we made bank saving that idiot prince and those pampered noble brats! Gahahaha!」

Rosso, who looks like a giant lizard, threw his head back laughing.

He was more comical than intimidating, and I couldn’t help laughing along.

「Gaia!」

The Elves had arrived too.

My lover Jessica ran up and hugged me.

I hugged her back and caught a lovely whiff of lavender.

Switching from Barbar to Elvish, I asked her:

「Jessica, you’re coming this time too?」

「Of course! I’m going to protect you!」

Honestly, I’d prefer she stay safe in the Elven village.

But Jessica’s magic is a powerful asset.

If she’s willing to come, I’ll gratefully count her among our forces.

「My, my… you two are as close as ever.」

Elranief, chieftain of the Elves—and Jessica’s uncle and guardian—smiled as he watched us.

「When you get back, why don’t you marry already?」

「Yeah… Let’s have the wedding when it gets warmer.」

Everyone already knew Jessica and I would marry eventually.

Elranief looked pleased that his niece’s future was secure.

So… we’ll get married when we come back…

Wait—doesn’t that sound like a death flag!?

I pulled myself together, just in case.

*

Our journey to the warfront went smoothly.

From the Blumunt village, we headed south, briefly entered Imperial territory, then veered northwest along a coastal path.

The road along the coast was narrow—just wide enough for donkey carts.

According to the guide provided by our employer, the Kingdom of Ring borders the western edge of the Empire, but because the only route into the kingdom is this narrow coastal path, it had never been invaded.

Once we passed through the coastal path, we entered the territory of the Kingdom of Ring.

Vast plains spread out before us, covered in farmland as far as the eye could see.

The highways were broad, and street trees had been planted in places.

「Uncle Athos. Isn’t the Kingdom of Ring pretty wealthy?」

「Hmm… Seems so. We Barbars haven’t had dealings with the western lands before, so we didn’t know… but to see this much farmland…」

Even though it was winter, farmers were out working the fields.

I asked our guide about it—in Imperial tongue, which he understood.

「What are those farmers doing?」

「Planting vegetable seeds.」

「Seeds!? In winter!?」

「There are vegetables you plant in winter.」

「Whaaat!?」

I translated the guide’s explanation for the gathered tribal chiefs, and they all gasped in amazement.

Winter planting? Winter vegetables?

They’d never heard of such a thing.

I asked again:

「I thought seeds were only planted in spring. You mean some are planted in the cold?」

「Yes. I’m no farmer myself, but depending on the crop, there are spring, autumn, and winter sowing types.」

「Huh…」

I had no idea.

Even in my past life in Japan, I just bought vegetables from the store—never thought about how they were grown.

If crops could grow in winter, I should buy some seeds to take back.

It was worth testing whether they could grow in Barbar lands.

「You’ve taught me something. Thanks.」

I slipped the guide a few silver coins as a tip.

Pleased by the gesture, he offered more detailed intel.

I downloaded the Ring Kingdom’s language via my skill, and switched to speaking in it.

We were headed to the northwest of the Ring Kingdom—to the domain of Viscount Norman.

The Viscount’s household was in turmoil: the lord was gravely ill, and there was a dispute over succession.

By standard inheritance, the title would pass to the lord’s son—young Lord Rion, just eight years old.

But the lord’s younger brother, Rion’s uncle Bartlett, had stepped forward as a rival claimant.

He was backed by Count Jarna, a neighboring noble.

After I translated the story, Uncle Athos frowned.

「Hmm… No one mentioned a succession crisis. I thought it was just a noble feud…」

「Apparently the language barrier made it hard to explain.」

「I see… well, that happens. So we’re siding with Lord Rion?」

I translated for the guide.

「Yes. My master is Lord Rion. He is the legitimate heir—his mother is the rightful wife, and his lineage is pure.」

「Got it.」

To be honest, lineage and legitimacy don’t matter much to us Barbars.

What does matter is:

Do they have money?
Can they win?

Those are the only two questions that count.

I pressed the guide further.

「Hey—you’re paying us, right?」

「Of course! I already gave Athos-san the deposit!」

I confirmed with Uncle Athos, and yes, he had received it.

So they have payment ability, at least.

「What are Rion’s chances? When the Viscount dies, it’ll be Rion vs. Bartlett, right?」

「Yes. That’s why we hired you!」

「So? Odds?」

「Hmm… Fifty-fifty, I’d say…」

「Fifty-fifty, huh…」

If it’s 50-50 with our support, then Rion’s side is currently weaker.

Not a great sign.

When I translated this, Uncle Athos thought for a moment, then issued a command to accelerate the march.

「Uncle Athos, what’s the rush?」

「Gaia! The sooner we arrive, the better!」

Uncle Athos explained.

Most likely, young Rion was at a disadvantage.

That’s why we needed to arrive before the fighting started—to make a show of force, so everyone would think Rion had grown stronger.

「It’s a political move—to gain the upper hand before the battle begins?」

「Exactly. If we can resolve this politically, all the better.」

「True. If Count Jarna joins the fight, he’ll be a pain to deal with.」

If we can convince the enemy—Bartlett—that Rion has the upper hand, maybe they’ll settle it without a fight.

That way, we just collect our fee and go home—no bloodshed, no losses.

But for that to happen, we had to reach Viscount Norman’s domain before the war broke out.

「Let’s hurry, Uncle Athos!」

「Right!」

Viscount Norman’s land was far to the northwest of the Ring Kingdom.

Quite a journey.

Our 100-strong Barbar Mercenary Party picked up the pace.