Episode 51
Episode 25. Demon Cave Subjugation Team (3)
Even if you can operate an aura, not everyone can get the title of Sword Master.
It was possible only when martial arts skills worthy of the expression ‘master’ were supported.
Aquin was not a perfect sword master in that sense.
Her aura was still the same, but her skills were so rusty that she was barely maintaining the level of sword expert when looking at pure swordsmanship.
On the other hand, Zecca, along with her natural talent, did not neglect training after a recent trip with Yuma.
This result came about because I was far behind in my sense of talent and skill.
No matter how powerful Aura he was able to use, he had no choice but to lose his ability to handle weapons.
“Have your skills been verified?”
said Yuma. Geisel and the mercenaries nodded.
“You worked hard.”
“It was hard. Good luck in the future.”
Aquin nodded to Jeka and sat down among the mercenaries.
“There is probably no one of you who hasn’t rolled through a battlefield.
Subjugating demons will be much better than that, so don’t worry too much. Follow Zeka and A Queen’s command carefully.”
Yuma looked around the mercenaries once.
I felt like I could feel their lives rolling on the battlefield or solving difficult tasks for money. Wild and difficult to control.
At least Yuma was a disciple of Duran and a person who had gained fame through the battle of Ahmad Yonir, so he obeyed the control well.
Yuma knew what they needed.
A sense of belonging and pride.
Yuma thought that his Demon Cave Subjugation Unit should be a disciplined unit like the regular army, not a ragtag group.
“Before the first subjugation, I will provide new equipment to all of you. I can’t accept such unconventional treatment no matter what mercenary company rolls. And…
the mercenaries murmured.
“After the training, we will have a liberal arts class for an hour. We will provide new guidance, from eating a meal to talking etiquette and walking posture. That will be handled by me and Cindy.”
“Uh… even that kind of show?”
“Why do you think I spend so much money on you guys? With the salary equivalent to that of a first-class mercenary, and the proceeds from the sales of monster parts, too.”
The mercenaries did not answer.
“We are the only one in the world who subjugate demons. That means it gets a lot of attention. Everyone will laugh at us the moment you smell like mercenaries.”
Yuma said, emphasizing the words ‘unique’ and ‘attention’. There was not enough vocabulary to wrap up a sense of belonging and pride.
“Also, when the subjugation progresses and results begin to emerge, you will go to the Black Wolf Crew for exchange training. Those of you who have lived as mercenaries should know better how high the threshold for the Worgs is. There is no better opportunity for you than this.”
It was a story that somehow gave off the feeling of a drug dealer, but the mercenaries stared at Yuma.
It was because the boy who was finally born a man was already a verified person.
The view itself is a different person from mine. The mercenaries felt that way.
“Those who want to end a simple contractual relationship with me can pack up and go home when the contract period is over. But if you will keep following me, I will not leave you as mere mercenaries on the street.”
Yuma took out the things he had brought from the upper house from his bosom. It was a square, neatly folded flag.
A spider with an impressive glowing red compound eye was engraved on the flag.
The mercenaries who looked through the books related to the demon cave could find out what the pattern was.
“Selobe. It is the official name and symbol of the Demon Cave subjugation unit you will serve. Please be careful with every action. Even though it’s written in the contract.”
Yuma and Zecca hung a flag on one side of the training ground.
“Soon we will build a dedicated training ground and headquarters for the Sellove unit.”
The mercenaries were stunned and fixed their eyes on the flag.
In particular, Aquin, who is Mirjak, was so full of heart that his nose twitched.
When Zeka and Yuma left the training ground, the mercenaries teamed up and continued training.
“Hey, did you really have to sell Pidgin Carta’s name?”
“It’s a trick I’ve already used against Heize.”
Yuma told Zecca what happened with Heize. Zecca laughed happily while listening to it.
“Anyway, it’s more serious than I thought?”
“It’s a big deal, so of course you have to do it right.”
“Do monster parts really make money?”
“of course. But that’s not all. You should thoroughly investigate the devil’s cave. take them with you.”
“inspection?”
“There will be a big war between dragons and demons in the next ten years.”
“what?”
This was the first time Yuma had directly mentioned the Dragon Horse War. He only said to Marlon once, ‘There’s going to be a big war’.
“What are you talking about?”
“While you passed out, Kriesha-sama did that. Until then, prepare well. Perhaps the biggest battlefield will be the human world.”
It was a lie, of course. Krisha had never said such a thing to Yuma.
Yuma’s formation of the Demon Cave Subjugation Team wasn’t just to make money.
It was to find any clues to the Dragon Horse War that could be found.
Somehow, they needed to find a clue or something that could wrap up the dragon horse war in a plausible way.
No one would listen if I told Yuma, who had returned, that we should prepare for the Dragon Horse War.
Duran might believe it, but that was all.
Although Duran’s influence was strong, there was no way that the emperor would directly come forward to the groundless rumors of a war. Rather, it was highly probable that only Yuma would be beheaded for rebellion.
Zecca listened to Yuma’s story obediently. To him, Chrisa was never the one to make up a false story. Same with Yuma.
“We’re saying you have to do one or the other, either looking for a clue or looking for a nice wrapping paper.”
“hmm. I can’t believe it, but what if I can’t find anything?”
“Then you have to make a cause. It’s because I’ve been active as a demon subjugation.”
“Will the human world really be turned upside down? Because it became the best battleground. Why did they leave their land intact…
Yuma’s expression darkened for a moment at Zecca’s question.
Although Yuma was a eunuch at the time of the Ryongma War, the terrible horrors were still vivid in his eyes.
The images of the ruins I encountered whenever I happened to leave the imperial castle and attend the Empress. Human landscapes that have completely changed to black without even the warmth of life remaining.
The Dragon Demon War brought the world to the brink of destruction.
“Since it is their land, they will leave it.”
Yuma said with a wry smile.
It was clear that the situation would be far more overwhelming than the slaughter in the middle of the Hale by Zecca, who ran out of control.
“Only you know. Fortunately, there is still time.”
“Am I stupid?”
Yuma and Zecca chose one of Hale’s most popular restaurants, drank a glass of wine, and parted ways. Of course, by their standards, a drink meant a barrel.
All of the servants of the Jeka Merchant were incorporated into the Puang Merchant.
As the size of the company grew, Liz took on the role of second secretary along with Cindy.
Working for a good master was a blessing to the servants.
Zecca was a good master who treated his servants with respect, but until recently he had a mad temper and had no money after he was fine.
The servants of the Jeka Merchant quickly got used to the work of the Puang Merchant. It was just as satisfying to see the old owner diligently carrying out tasks related to the punitive force.
The cellove unit’s headquarters was built in the place where the headquarters of the Zeka Merchant Corps was demolished. The new building, built using high-quality stone, was a structure that felt classy and discerning.
The flag of the cellove unit was hung at the entrance.
Yuma took over the mansion right in front of the cellove unit headquarters and converted it into a dedicated training ground. Zecca now taught the crew members martial arts and how to deal with monsters there.
Around that time, the cellove crew’s customized equipment made by the capital’s first-class blacksmiths arrived.
For the first time in their lives, the members who used high-end equipment felt how undeservedly they were being treated.
After purchasing two small magic bombers through Adeline Woods, the cellove troops were now in a state where they could engage in subjugation at any time.
“Hmm… The picture is coming out soon.”
Yuma said while watching the members train.
“Everyone is at a much higher level than when I first saw them. Now his behavior is to the point where he looks like a former knight rather than a mercenary. Where did you decide on the first subjugation site?”
Jeka asked.
“The name of our unit is Cellov, right?”
“yes.”
“In that case, we should give the impression that we are a unit that chews monsters very well like Selov.”
The first subjugation site that Yuma chose was the 7th demon cave of the empire in the Anten region.
The land of Anten was barren and other natural conditions were not good. It was a land that had been abandoned since ancient times because it was teeming with monsters that had even protruded from demon dens.
A small, useless piece of land where only a few households of slash-and-burn farmers live in the outskirts.
It was a place where there was no reason for the empire to send subjugation troops to organize it.
“First of all, let’s clear up Anten’s demon cave.”
Yuma visited the Zach family to inform Catherine of the date of the departure.
Duran and Randel could not meet because they were participating in the battle of Suher Snowfield.
“Is Miss Catherine in the mansion?”
“Yes, please go in.”
The gatekeeper naturally opened the door. Now the Zach family could come and go freely without having to send a message.
While waiting for Catherine in the drawing room, Yuma remembered the teasing he had made the other day and smiled to himself.
After a while Catherine appeared and asked.
“Has the subjugation date been set?”
“Yes, lady. I plan to subdue demon cave number 7 in the Anten region in a week.”
Upon hearing the name Anten, Catherine’s expression changed. Catherine knew very well what kind of place Anten was.
“Why not?”
“Shouldn’t someone clean up the trash?”
It was an answer I hadn’t thought of at all.
The Yuma that Catherine saw was a commoner who was just lucky enough to be born with many talents.
“With Jecca and I, there is probably no danger to the young lady at all.”
Catherine’s eyebrows went down. Yuma thought that Catherine was a woman with many emotional changes.
“Among the people with the name of Zach, there is not a single person who can’t protect himself. Don’t look down on me.”
It was something I knew.
Yuma had heard from Duran that Catherine had ‘considerable’ swordsmanship skills.
For Duran to say that, it was clear that Katherine must be quite a skilled person as well.
“My lady, do you dare go all the way to the cave to find out what?”
Yuma asked. Catherine felt more proud to hear that question now.
“Aren’t you not very curious?”
“I’m just curious.”
Yuma said skillfully.
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