The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations Novel - Chapter 784

Chapter 784
“Hey! Tasks like this are strictly for the newcomer!”

Lionel was relentless, constantly pestering Marika with petty bullying rooted in seniority. No matter how insignificant the chore, he would slap the “rookie” label on her and try to offload his responsibilities.

Every single time, Marika handled the work without a word of protest. For someone with her level of endurance, the daily labors of the Julien Mercenary Corps were honestly trivial. She harbored a sincere desire to be useful to the group, so she never shied away from cooking, scrubbing, or any other manual labor.

As Lionel continued to put on airs, the other members of the Julien Mercenary Corps clicked their tongues in disapproval.

‘Look at that seniority power trip. He’s worse than we are.’
‘He used to act so dignified, like a refined imperial knight.’
‘Now he’s turned into a complete mercenary.’

Despite the judgmental looks and muttered insults, Lionel remained unfazed. In truth, he had accumulated a fair amount of bitterness during his own stint as the low man on the totem pole. Consequently, he took every opportunity to push Marika to her limits. Marika, however, wasn’t particularly bothered; none of his antics were severe enough to truly upset her.

Observing the interaction, Ghislain found himself letting out a soft, unintentional laugh.

‘To think those two are the future founders of the Kingdom of Ruthania.’

He wasn’t privy to the exact details of how it happened, but seeing them now made the reality feel strangely dreamlike. It was a perspective perhaps only accessible to someone who held knowledge of what was to come. As his mind drifted toward the birth of Ruthania, another recollection surfaced.

— The first king, the commander of the Shadow Knights, and the scion of the Duke of Delphine—together, they established this realm!

Those were Berhem’s final words. Given everything Ghislain had witnessed thus far, the probability of that statement being accurate was incredibly high.

‘Hmph…’

The true identity of the Duke of Delphine remained a total enigma. Even in his dreams, no clues appeared. Despite having lived in this past era for a significant amount of time, Ghislain had yet to encounter anyone who looked like the Duke’s forebear.

However, one fact was undeniable—the House of Delphine was intricately woven into the foundation of Ruthania.

— That is why the rank of Duke was reserved exclusively for the House of Delphine in this land. And that Duke possessed the power to topple the monarchy if necessary!

‘Who could it possibly be…’

Being involved in the founding suggested a bond of extreme closeness. Whether that individual was already hidden within the Julien Mercenary Corps or was someone yet to be met remained a mystery.

‘Tch, I suppose I’ll just have to be patient.’

During his travels with the Julien Mercenary Corps, Ghislain had managed to encounter everyone he was destined to meet. He assumed he would eventually cross paths with the ancestor of the Delphine House as well.

‘Though when I do, my first instinct might be to kill them…’

Ghislain shook his head with a cynical smile at the thought. The people of this era weren’t responsible for the future. Furthermore, if he eliminated the Duke’s ancestor now, the resulting butterfly effect on the future was unpredictable. Unlike when he first regressed, his essence was still anchored to the timeline ahead. He was the bridge between the two eras. Therefore, he had to refrain from any actions that might drastically reshape his established future.

‘Wait a second?’

Reflecting on his situation, he realized someone else shared his predicament. Ghislain turned his gaze toward Ereneth. She remained perched atop the wagon, nonchalantly snacking on fruit. When she noticed him looking, she gave him a playful wink.

‘…Huh.’

What were her intentions for when they reunited in the future?

‘Come to think of it…’

Did she even possess memories of these current events? She had recognized the name “Ghislain” from the very beginning—had she been feigning ignorance? Or perhaps… perhaps the events unfolding now were actively rewriting the future and altering her recollections.

There was no definitive answer, but since the future involving “Duke of Fenris, Ghislain Ferdium” seemed set in stone, the latter theory felt more plausible. If the past was changing and subsequently transforming the future Ereneth—

‘Well, that would certainly be interesting.’

He couldn’t guess if she would be delighted to see him or too embarrassed to face him. Lost in thought, Ghislain abruptly came to a halt.

“Hm…”

The rest of the mercenaries stopped as well. They drew their blades slowly, the air thick with sudden hostility. A man stood in the center of the narrow path, blocking their way. He was dressed in simple traveler’s clothes, much like Marika’s attire. To a casual observer, he looked like a typical middle-aged man—the sort of face that vanishes in a crowd.

However, more figures soon materialized, encircling the Julien Mercenary Corps. They didn’t radiate an immediate intent to kill, but their focus was clearly locked on Marika and her companions. Having already deduced who they were, Ghislain smiled and spoke up.

“Identify yourselves and your organization. And do it politely.”

“……”

The man in the path remained silent, his lips twitching. Ghislain rapped his staff against the ground and repeated the demand.

“I said, give me an answer.”

“…I am Darentz, leader of the Crips.”

“Very well, Darentz. What is the meaning of this? You were supposed to be guarding her from the shadows, yet here you are revealing yourselves.”

Darentz bit his lip in frustration. Exposing oneself to a protection target was a fundamental failure. However, it was glaringly obvious that Marika had already disclosed their secrets, making further concealment pointless. From Ghislain’s tone, it was clear he was fully informed. Darentz’s thoughts were racing.

‘Damn it… That girl actually went through with it.’

The moment the contract was signed, every ranking member had been deployed. It was a task vital to their group’s survival. But then, the chaos of dark sorcerers and beasts erupted everywhere. They couldn’t risk sending their less capable members through high-danger zones; they would never make it. Thus, the lower-ranked squads were sent through supposedly safer routes just to track the target first.

They hadn’t realized that the “safe route” was only clear because the Julien Mercenary Corps had already purged the area. Eventually, word reached Darentz that a junior squad had located the target, and the rest of the force moved in with everything they had.

But then—

— What? Marika made a move against the target?

Darentz had been stunned by the news. It wasn’t just a breach of protocol; she had actually attacked. He couldn’t fathom why she would commit such a reckless act. Then, a chilling thought struck him.

‘Could she… have discovered I was the one who killed her kin?’

If she didn’t know, she wouldn’t have risked this. If her actions provoked the Pope’s fury, their entire organization could be extinguished in a heartbeat. Still, he needed confirmation. Since things were already falling apart, Darentz stepped forward with resolve.

“I need a word with Marika.”

“Oh? You mean our newest recruit?”

“…She truly enlisted in your company?”

“I told you she did. So you should probably show her some respect—unless you fancy a lecture from the Pope himself.”

“……”

Darentz let out a sharp, frustrated breath. In all honesty, he wanted to end her life right there. But now that she was under the protection of the Julien Mercenary Corps, he was powerless to act. It was infuriating. Regardless, he had to know the reason for her betrayal.

“Marika, what was the point of that stunt? If you had a grievance, you should have come to me.”

Marika met Darentz’s gaze with a long, freezing stare before answering with a voice like ice.

“How long did you expect me to serve the man who slaughtered my family?”

Darentz closed his eyes briefly. That was the confirmation he needed.

‘So, she did know.’

A wave of regret washed over him. He should have finished her off years ago. Bringing her in on a whim had been a grave error. Just as Marika claimed—it was Darentz and his officers who had massacred her family. They had spared only the young Marika and raised her as one of their own. They assumed her memories would have faded due to her age, but somehow, the truth had surfaced.

Ghislain, witnessing the confrontation, gave a slight nod of understanding.

‘So it’s the truth. He’s the culprit.’

Darentz hadn’t even attempted a denial, which was proof enough. Ghislain was intrigued by the specifics but kept his questions to himself. Those tales usually revealed themselves in time. Regardless, Darentz had nothing left to say; he simply clicked his tongue in annoyance.

‘Tch… This makes things difficult.’

His instinct was to kill her immediately. He certainly possessed the strength to do it. With his entire organization nearby, Darentz felt he could likely wipe out the Julien Mercenary Corps as well. Despite their reputation, they were currently few in number. But the real obstacle was the Pope.

‘If it weren’t for His Holiness…’

The Pope was the ultimate authority on the continent. Disobeying him was a death sentence. After a moment of internal debate, Darentz finally spoke.

“I wish to speak with your leader.”

“Be my guest.”

Ghislain made a grand, sweeping gesture, and Julien stepped to the front.

“I am Julien, the commander. What do you want?”

“I don’t know your reasons for taking Marika in, but return her to us now. This was our oversight. We will provide ample payment and a formal apology.”

Julien glanced back at Marika. She was beginning to circulate her mana, a hint of terror in her eyes as she prepared for the possibility of having to run. The odds of a successful escape were nearly zero, but she was ready to try. In that tense moment, Julien offered her a gentle smile before looking back at Darentz.

“I decline.”

“…She isn’t worth the trouble of protecting.”

“That is for us to decide. Marika is one of ours now. We do not abandon our people.”

“…Even if it brings danger to your doorstep?”

Julien stared directly into Darentz’s eyes.

“That is the essence of being comrades. Once someone is accepted, we share their burdens and the consequences—no matter what they are.”

“……”

Julien’s voice remained steady and firm.

“A person’s past is irrelevant. What matters is that they are our brother-in-arms today.”

Kyle looked at the surrounding assassins and let out a mocking grin.

“Attack whenever you feel like it. We aren’t exactly the sort to run from a scrap.”

Simultaneously, the other mercenaries released their killing intent. Osvald, looking to redeem himself for previous blunders, was particularly enthusiastic.

“I, Osvald the Man, shall demolish anyone who dares to advance—revolutionarily!”

Marika began to shake as she heard their words. The paralyzing tension that had gripped her body finally began to dissolve. In the assassin guild, her value was tied strictly to her utility; failure was synonymous with death. She had been forced to suppress every emotion, enduring everything for the sake of her vengeance—but it had been a heavy burden. She had lived in constant fear of being discarded the moment she was no longer useful.

But now.

Even though her joining had started like a mere transaction, the Julien Mercenary Corps was treating her as a genuine equal. It wasn’t a common thing. They had accepted her fully, despite the immense risk. Marika, who had spent her life balanced on a knife’s edge, finally felt a sense of safety. This wasn’t just a place to survive; it was a place where she could actually live. It felt as though she had finally found dry land after being lost in a storm for years.

Seeing Marika’s eyes well up and her nose turn red, Ghislain clicked his tongue.

‘Is she really an assassin? Why is she so quick to cry?’

Then again, Belinda had been surprisingly emotional too. Perhaps the precision required for assassination led to a heightened emotional sensitivity. Ghislain’s mind began to wander, the surrounding tension completely forgotten. That was how little he valued Darentz as a threat.

Darentz narrowed his eyes, glaring at Julien.

‘So this upstart mercenary group gets a little fame and suddenly they think they’re untouchable?’

As far as he was aware, the only superhuman in their ranks was Astion. Julien and Kyle were merely elite-tier—he was confident he could take them out. Just not at this moment. He had to wait until the Pope’s task was fulfilled. Of course, he didn’t need to wait to deal with Marika.

‘I’ll just wait for the right opening.’

The biggest hurdle would be avoiding detection, but an opportunity would eventually present itself. No one could maintain perfect vigilance forever. He wasn’t targeting a superhuman or even a top-tier fighter. Thus, the probability of successfully assassinating Marika was high. As long as the outcome was certain, he could be patient. Assassins were, by nature, patient people.

He also had another card to play. Darentz looked toward Lionel.

‘That one is on our side.’

A knight of the imperial temple and a devoted servant of the Pope. All the intelligence he had gathered so far had come from Lionel’s correspondence with the Pope. With his cooperation, neutralizing Marika might be simpler than he thought.

Oblivious to Darentz’s internal monologue, Lionel simply let out a yawn.

‘What’s for dinner tonight? I’m sick of dried meat. The rookie actually knows her way around a kitchen. Must be those assassin hands—she’s got a good touch.’

Lionel had become increasingly simple-minded since joining the Julien Mercenary Corps. It was a side effect of the mercenary lifestyle. Darentz found Lionel’s vacant expression confusing. Then, as if solving a puzzle, he gave a knowing nod.

‘I see. He’s masking his true nature. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike.’

Lionel had no such plan. But Darentz’s logic was bound by his own expectations. It wasn’t entirely his fault; the Julien Mercenary Corps was a group that even its own members struggled to fully comprehend.

Having made his decision, Darentz finally spoke.

“Very well. If that is your choice, so be it. However, Marika and the mission are distinct matters. The contract remains paramount, so we will follow you.”

Julien looked to Ghislain, who stepped forward to give the final word.

“That really isn’t necessary.”

“It is the directive of His Holiness. We cannot ignore it. We will ensure our presence does not obstruct your path.”

“Hmph…”

“Ever since the Salvation Order surfaced again, things have become dangerous everywhere. Please understand—we cannot retreat.”

Darentz’s tone was as unyielding as his posture. Ghislain gave a small nod of dismissal. They were going to trail them regardless of what he said. Since a fight wasn’t breaking out now, there was no point in wasting further energy on it.

“Fine. Just try to stay out of sight. Marika finds your presence unpleasant.”

“…Understood.”

Darentz’s jaw tightened in annoyance, but he said nothing more and backed away. Within moments, the surrounding assassins had all disappeared. However, everyone was aware—they were still there, watching from the shadows.

And so, the uneasy and silent trek of the mercenaries and the assassins began.