19 – The Sandworm Mayhem

“I’m Johnson, and this friend is Carlson. Haha, a humble place, but come in, come in. This is our temporary abode. Raymond! Bring some coffee for our guests!”

Johnson and Carlson invited Esther’s party to the dilapidated building the mercenary group used as a common base.

They sat facing each other across the table, steam rising from the coffees set between them.

“So, what brings a noble young master like yourself to a dangerous place like Daebo Village…?”

Johnson cautiously gauged Esther’s reaction.

Ester was a boy of striking height and handsome features.

The star-shaped mole beneath his eye was a physical mark, a signet of Tristi, one might say.

“I heard that two mercenary companies in this vicinity are joining forces to subjugate the Mazoku.”

Carlson nodded at Ester’s words.

“Aye. That is so. Among the mercenaries active in Daebo Village, we are the most… vigorous, you could say.”

Daebo Village was home to many mercenaries.

This area was infamous within the Tristi Domain for the intensity of the Insane Curse.

As Ester’s party had encountered a pack of Chainsaw Wolves on their way here, it was a perilous region where such threats constantly arose.

“We have come to observe the Mazoku subjugation by the Carlson and Johnson mercenary companies. Is that possible?”

“O-Observe?”

Johnson and Carlson blinked.

This was no ordinary request.

Especially considering the timing.

In the not-so-distant future, the Insane Curse would reach its apex.

The Mazoku would overflow like a flood, and blood would stain the lands.

They were mercenaries who had weathered many storms.

Understanding the young lord’s intentions was not difficult.

‘Could it be that the young lord has come to assess our abilities at this juncture…?’

Perhaps to test how useful their mercenary companies would be against the Insane Curse.

“Anything is possible.”

This was an opportunity.

A chance to make a good impression on the next head of the Tristi clan.

Perhaps this Insane Curse was linked to the heir’s trials.

Just moments ago, in the tavern, Johnson had suggested to Carlson that Ester Tristi might not become the head of the clan, but that wasn’t due to a lack of skill, but rather a lack of ambition.

A man who could thrive independently wouldn’t necessarily cling to the position of clan head.

However, from a purely skill-based perspective, Ester was the closest contender to the position.

Even if he didn’t become the head, it was a foregone conclusion that he would occupy a significant position in the Kingdom of Justina.

“You’ve arrived at an opportune moment. As it happens, our mercenary company is planning to head to the Sand Dunes the day after tomorrow. We will take this opportunity to showcase our true abilities to you, young lord. Join us tomorrow.”

A mercenary needed confidence and boldness.

They earned their keep with their blades, and couldn’t afford to show fear.

“Yes. Then, I shall see you tomorrow. What time should we arrive?”

“Come to this location by 10:00 AM sharp.”

Ester and her party rose from their seats.

“Safe travels!!”

Johnson and Carlson bid them farewell with polite bows, then.

“Hoo, I was planning on taking it easy with this subjugation, but it seems that’s not possible. Ready, Cal?”

“Of course, John. Let’s gather the strategists. We’ll take this opportunity to eradicate even the large demons and really show our skills to the Young Lord.”

He clenched his fist, burning with fervent ambition.

*

I followed the mercenary band along with Dalpi and Ian.

『Learned the data of White Cobra.』

『Learned the data of White Horn Cobra.』

『Learned the data of Sand Scorpion.』

『…….』

『…….』

The Carlson Mercenary Group and the Johnson Mercenary Group were mercenaries accustomed to fighting demons.

“Team 1 and Team 3, charge in from the left!!”

“You blockheads!! Don’t just stand there dumbfounded!! If you’ve drawn their attention, quickly fall back!!”

“That’s right!! Raymond, very well done!! Show those mutts what you’re made of!!”

The scale of the two mercenary groups was considerable.

Each group had well over fifty members, easily.

Their training was thorough, and they weren’t cowed by the demons.

The mercenary groups’ strategy was simple.

Bravely establish a formation and subjugate a large number of demons at once.

As the sword-wielding mercenaries felled the demons, the retrieval teams, who had prepared in advance, expertly harvested the valuable parts from the corpses.

“Move out, you b*stards!!”

And they moved on, repeating the process.

The mercenary groups seemed to be generating quite a lot of profit.

The spoils piled up like mountains on the baggage carts.

There was a reason they could maintain such a large force.

“Young Master.”

“Hm?”

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

I told him he was welcome to ask anything.

“Young Master, are you planning on relying on the power of the mercenary band for this succession trial?”

“Why do you ask?”

“From my perspective, it seems unnecessary. And watching them any further won’t reveal anything more.”

Dalpi was saying that the performance they were currently displaying was the mercenary band’s true skill.

They couldn’t show me any more potential than what I was seeing now.

He assessed their abilities as average – neither above nor below.

“Unless there’s another reason, I thought it would be best to speak to the Captain and head back. That’s why I brought it up.”

Ah.

We weren’t actually hunting down demons with the mercenaries right now.

We were merely following behind in the carriage, enjoying the ride.

It seemed Dalpi wanted to save some time.

“The preparation period for the succession trial is limited, after all.”

“There’s another reason. You don’t need to worry.”

Dalpi acknowledged it.

“Understood.”

My objective was the learning process of Nob AI.

The mercenaries currently here were knowledgeable about the geography of the Tristy Autonomous Territory, and experts who directly faced demons in the field.

I figured following the most famous mercenary band in Daebo Village would lead to encountering many demons, and I was right.

After about three days of trailing the Carlson Johnson Mercenary Band…

『I have now learned data on a total of 84 types of demons.』

『Based on the learned data, and considering the strength of the curse and various environmental conditions affecting the Tristy Autonomous Territory, I can now deduce information about demons that existed in the past, or are likely to appear in the territory in the future!!』

Nob AI had finished learning about the demons of the Tristy Autonomous Territory.

I intended to use this to directly break through the upcoming succession trial.

Of course, I wasn’t aiming for a high score.

But considering Haniel’s potential high score, preparation was necessary.

My other siblings wouldn’t be idle, either.

“You little pups!! Can’t even hold your swords right!?”

“I told you, if I see any slacking, I’ll come back and kill you all!!”

“S-Sorry, sir!!”

‘Seriously, what’s got them so fired up…?’

Even when they weren’t fighting, the way they carried themselves, their whole vibe… more disciplined than soldiers, almost.

“Excellent form. Your mindset is admirable, even outside of battle.”

Ian said, looking pleased.

Guess he likes seeing that military discipline ingrained in these knights.

Ah, speaking of Ian, there was something I wanted to ask him.

“Ian.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Before we return to the estate, would you be willing to spar with me?”

Ian looked taken aback.

It’s not every day a newbie who gets thrashed by beginners asks a knight for a sparring match.

I figured he’d be surprised.

“A sparring match… what kind of sparring match are you referring to?”

“I’d like to request a match, as close to real combat as possible.”

“Uh, well, I don’t mind, but all right.”

There was something I wanted to test out on Ian.

I needed to know how effective my automatic defense program was against a skilled opponent.

I always have Dalphy, my dependable bodyguard, by my side, but situations arise, and there’s always the chance of something unforeseen happening.

Besides, I’m a publicly known figure in the kingdom.

There are plenty of dangerous people in this world.

Just look at Felix, sweating it out in the army.

And then there was that letter from those strange people called Wonderland the other day. Can’t be too careful, you know?

“Battle’s over!! Everyone did great!!”

And with that, the subjugation ended without incident.

Johnson and Carlson rushed over to me like lightning.

“Young Master, you worked hard!!”

“Thank you for accompanying us to a potentially dangerous battlefield. You’ve really gone through a lot!!”

“The hardship wasn’t mine to bear, but yours, after all.”

“Thank you for indulging my request. It was quite the spectacle. You’ve all worked hard.”

“Yes, sir!!”

Carlson and Johnson’s eyes gleamed.

As they lingered, refusing to leave my presence even as time wore on, I spoke.

“Is there something else you require of me?”

“Huh…?”

“I believe I’ve settled the tab for the food and the camping fee, haven’t I, Dalphy?”

“Yes. All due payments have been made to the mercenaries.”

For some reason, Carlson and Johnson stared at me with expressions as if the world itself had crumbled.

“Well, if there’s an issue, feel free to speak your mind.”

“Ah, no. It’s nothing….”

Carlson and Johnson, crestfallen, returned to their comrades.

‘Did I make some sort of mistake?’

I thought I’d behaved with utmost decorum, avoiding any disruption, hmm.

It was then, as Dalphy, Ian, and I were preparing to return to the manor, that it happened.

The ground began to tremble.

A feeling like something immense was crawling beneath our feet.

An ominous sensation, indeed.

“Young Master.”

“Young Lord. Stay close to me!”

Dalphy and Ian pressed uncomfortably close to my side.

Suffocating, you dolts…!!

The mercenaries’ expressions were grave.

“Goddamn it!! Everyone!! Prepare for battle!!”

“Shit!! Out of nowhere!?”

They roared, gripping their weapons tight.

And then, right where the mercenaries were most densely packed, a colossal being burst forth from the earth, jaws agape.

KWA-aaaNG-!!

“KREEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!!”

For a heartbeat, a cacophony erupted – screams tangled with a grinding roar.

As the dust devils settled, revealing the storm’s source, the enigmatic assailant was finally made bare.

“Why… a sandworm here?”

What a visage, a truly monstrous worm glared back at us.