The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations Novel - Chapter 802

Chapter 802
Even after the violent encounter with the military of the Snowbur Kingdom, the Julien Mercenary Corps crossed paths with various other regiments.
However, unlike their previous experience, no skirmishes broke out.
The change was entirely due to Viscount Horento’s newfound “enlightenment” following his narrow escape from the grave.
“Clear the path immediately! An envoy of the Empire is passing! The Julien Mercenary Corps has broken through! We must deliver this intelligence to the Empire at once!”
With a blistering tone and a condescending gaze, he perfectly embodied the arrogance of the Empire.
The sheer intensity of his delivery compelled the soldiers of the surrounding kingdoms to retreat without a second thought.
Because of his performance, the Julien Mercenary Corps maintained a rapid pace without the need for further bloodshed.
Riding behind him, Ghislain flashed a smirk.
“I must say, your theatrical abilities have improved significantly. Why didn’t you display this talent from the beginning?”
“He-heh… do you think so?”
Viscount Horento offered a weak, sheepish grin. On the inside, he was essentially mourning.
The military of the Snowbur Kingdom undoubtedly viewed him as a turncoat now. Reports of his behavior could reach the Imperial capital at any moment.
He was left with only one path to survival.
‘I must arrive before the news does!’
His plan was to lead the Julien Mercenary Corps to their destination and vanish before the word of his betrayal spread. It was the only way to keep his head.
Consequently, he had no choice but to commit to his role with everything he had.
Reviewing a map while in the saddle, Ghislain spoke to himself.
“Hmm… looking at our speed, we should arrive shortly. The blockade is growing thin.”
It was true; the closer they moved toward the Empire’s heart, the more sparse the interception lines became.
No one had anticipated that the Julien Mercenary Corps would flee directly toward the Empire itself.
Thududududu!
Following several days of non-stop riding, the group looked like a pack of beggars.
If Ereneth hadn’t been calling upon water spirits to occasionally wash away the grime, they would have looked even more wretched.
Yet, their disheveled appearance only served to make their act as frantic Imperial messengers more believable.
After analyzing the topography, Ghislain gave an order.
“Starting now, we’ll stick to the shadows. The path is difficult, but it’s better than running into another battalion.”
Though the perimeter was loose, the vigilance increased as they neared Imperial soil. Suspicion was a constant threat.
They deliberately avoided the armies of the kingdoms they had once assisted. While their costumes were effective, an observant veteran might still see through the ruse.
Ghislain was also keeping a separate objective in mind.
“We need to remain undetected until we reach the rendezvous point.”
He had coordinated a meeting with specific allies before entering the capital. Dark had already been dispatched to deliver the message.
It was vital that they reached that location without being spotted.
Viscount Horento’s brow furrowed with anxiety.
“That won’t be a simple task. The Empire predicted you would try to hide, so the kingdom armies were stationed in overlapping grids. Beyond that, the border of the Empire is thick with scouting parties and secret service units.”
“I am aware. In those moments, we continue the charade. If we are discovered, we draw blades.”
Horento dropped his gaze and let out a heavy breath.
‘Haah… how did I fall into the company of such lunatics…’
One could trick the kingdom soldiers using the Empire’s prestige, but Imperial divisions wouldn’t be so easily misled.
Despite this, these madmen were intent on charging straight into the Imperial capital. The path ahead looked like a nightmare.
Thududududu!
The Julien Mercenary Corps surged forward, bypassing military camps whenever possible.
Of course, this was a complex endeavor. The opposing armies weren’t just sitting still.
They utilized mages to monitor massive territories and scouts to fill the gaps, all while maintaining strict patrol rotations.
This was how they successfully kept watch over such vast regions.
To bypass them, the mercenaries had to navigate mountain peaks, treacherous marshes, and narrow canyons, slipping through the tiny gaps in the patrol lines.
With the guidance of Dark, Ghislain identified these routes with ease.
By knowing where the camps were located, he could estimate the range of the mages’ sensory spells.
When they reached areas where patrol zones crossed, they would take cover nearby and wait for nightfall to move.
The infiltration was progressing perfectly thanks to Dark’s surveillance.
As was his habit, Dark flew ahead to scout, but one day he returned with startling information.
— Master, there is an entire army stationed here.
‘What?’
— It isn’t just a patrol. It’s a full military encampment.
Ghislain’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Viscount Horento.
“Why is there a standing army in a place that should be empty?”
“I-I have no idea! Honestly! I can’t keep track of every single movement of the Imperial forces!”
“…I see.”
Ghislain’s face grew grim.
Despite their stealth, a large force was waiting in their path.
Perhaps the news of their escape had already traveled further than he thought.
This suggested—
‘Has someone figured out my objective?’
It was possible the Empire had guessed he was heading for the capital and shifted their forces to intercept. They might be closing a regional trap.
It was a move worthy of the Empire—a strategist capable of reading even such an insane maneuver…
But before he could finish his thought, Dark spoke up again.
— Master! It’s him! It’s that guy!
‘Who?’
— That strange nobleman from Flovitz! He’s back again!
‘…Marquis Valesant?’
— Yes, that’s the one! The coat of arms is the same!
“……”
The map only indicated which kingdoms were present, not the specific commanders.
There was no way Marquis Valesant had predicted his path. The man must have been neglecting his duties again, moving his camp wherever he felt like resting.
Ghislain let out a short laugh.
“Well, that is quite the twist of fate. I hadn’t planned on seeing him just yet.”
But since the universe had brought them together, he decided to pivot.
“Increase the pace. Let’s go say hello to an old friend.”
The Julien Mercenary Corps began a hard charge toward the camp of Marquis Valesant.
At that moment, Valesant was enjoying a quiet afternoon at his unauthorized campsite.
“Good heavens, the weather is far too nice. I think I’ll take a pleasant nap. You there! Wake me if anyone arrives!”
He stretched out on his luxury floral-print linens.
He wasn’t entirely reckless, however. Since an Imperial inspector was on-site, they had established magical wards around the perimeter.
Soon, a mage who was monitoring the scrying spells reported in.
“A small detachment is approaching. They are clad in the uniforms of the Empire.”
“Ugh, I can never get any rest. What is it now? Do they have some news?”
Feeling a prickle of guilt for his laziness, Marquis Valesant straightened his attire and went out to meet the newcomers.
He spread his arms wide, a bright smile on his face as the riders drew near.
“Oh, welcome! A warm welcome to you!”
The Julien Mercenary Corps pulled their horses to a stop in front of him.
Valesant rubbed his hands together eagerly.
“Now, there’s no need for such haste! What brings you all the way out here?”
Viscount Horento looked over his shoulder nervously.
Then, Ghislain reached up, tore off his prosthetic mustache, and discarded his disguise.
“It has been quite some time, Marquis Valesant.”
“Eh? Do I know you? I don’t remember anyone in the Emp—…”
Valesant stared at the face before him. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. His limbs began to shake violently, and then he let out a piercing wail.
“KYAAAAAH! AAAAH! AAAAAH!”
“……”
“GYAAAAAH! AAAAH! AAHHH!”
Marquis Valesant thrashed around as if he were staring at a demon.
Immediately, the surrounding soldiers and knights drew their steel and surrounded the mercenaries.
The Imperial inspector ran out to see what the commotion was.
The marquis’s personal aide grabbed his flailing master and yelled,
“My lord! What is happening?!”
“KYAAAAAH!”
Continuing to scream, Marquis Valesant pointed a shaking finger at Ghislain.
The aide turned, squinted at the target… and then—
“AAAAH! AAAAAH! WH-WHY-WHY-WHY?!”
He joined in the screaming.
A man who should never have appeared here was standing right in front of them. The two of them were frozen in a state of absolute terror.
“……”
Ghislain watched the spectacle with a cold, unimpressed gaze. Their tendency to overreact hadn’t changed at all.
The aide gripped Marquis Valesant’s shoulders and shouted,
“My lord, you must breathe! Just breathe! In! Out! In! Out!”
“Ah, yes—in! Out! In! Out!”
“……”
As the two continued their frantic breathing exercises, the Imperial inspector stepped forward and demanded,
“You look like envoys of the Empire. Which division are you from? Who issued your orders?”
He scrutinized the mercenaries more closely, then paused in shock.
“Wait—is that Viscount Horento? What are you doing here?”
“……”
Viscount Horento remained silent, looking toward Ghislain for direction.
Ghislain, in turn, focused his attention on Marquis Valesant. The outcome of this meeting rested on the marquis’s next move.
Valesant looked back and forth between Ghislain and the inspector.
He had found himself in a very similar predicament once before.
The conclusion was reached instantly. The Empire was far away; the Julien Mercenary Corps was right here. And a present threat was always scarier than a distant one.
Marquis Valesant pointed a finger at the inspector and roared,
“Arrest this man at once!”
“…???”
The inspector’s face went blank with bewilderment. The soldiers were equally confused.
But Valesant repeated himself with even more vigor.
“Tie him up, right now!”
The knights moved quickly, binding the inspector and forcing him to the ground.
Furious, the official yelled,
“What is the meaning of this?! I am a representative of the Empire!”
“Be quiet! Do you not realize your own offense?”
“Wh-what offense?!”
“For attempting to spy on me.”
“……”
Valesant immediately turned to Ghislain with a beaming smile.
“There. Is that to your satisfaction?”
“Indeed. It seems the Marquis has an incredible sense of situational awareness.”
“Oh, it was nothing. I knew what to do the moment I saw you.”
Watching the interaction, the inspector began to tremble as he stammered,
“Y-you don’t mean… are you—?”
Viscount Horento, his expression heavy, gave a solemn nod.
“These are… the members of the Julien Mercenary Corps.”
“N-no… it can’t be…”
“It is the truth. The Imperial legion was defeated by them.”
“……”
The inspector’s mouth hung open.
He knew that the force sent to capture these mercenaries numbered ten thousand and included a master-level warrior.
The idea that such a force had been routed was inconceivable.
But seeing Horento standing there with them made it undeniable. They had lost, and he had been captured.
Ghislain drew his hand axe and spoke calmly to the inspector.
“You have two options.”
“W-what are they?”
“Work with us—or die.”
“I… I—”
Crunch!
“Gaaahhh!”
The axe bit into his shoulder, forcing a scream from his throat.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
Without saying another word, Ghislain continued to strike him with a blank expression, looking like a butcher at work.
“Uwaaagh!”
As the man wailed, Ghislain whispered,
“You have a strong will. I have to respect that. I’ll make sure to remember you as a man of honor.”
When he raised the blade toward the man’s throat, the inspector shrieked,
“I’ll work with you! I’ll do it! Anything you say!”
“Oh? Are you sure?”
“Yes! I am a coward! I always knew that if I were ever tortured, I’d give up everything instantly!”
“Excellent. Then you will follow every instruction from Viscount Horento.”
“Y-yes!”
Once released, the inspector immediately began taking orders from Horento, though a mercenary stayed within arm’s reach, ready to end him if he faltered.
Meanwhile, the Julien Mercenary Corps caught up with Marquis Valesant.
The mercenaries were genuinely happy to see him again, while Valesant looked like he wanted to be anywhere else.
After the formalities, he leaned toward Ghislain and asked in a low, panicked voice,
“W-what is going on? Why are you here?”
“The usual. I’m here because the Pope has annoyed me.”
“…You intend to challenge the Pope?”
“He started this. I’m simply finishing it.”
“I see… then I wish you the best of luck. As for me, I’ll just take my leave…”
Marquis Valesant planned to retreat to his own lands immediately. He could figure out an excuse for the inspector later.
His priority was putting distance between himself and the mercenaries.
But Ghislain placed a heavy hand on his shoulder and smiled.
“Are you leaving so soon?”
“I-I was just thinking about heading home…”
“No, no. You know how we operate. You’re staying with us until the end.”
“H-hahaha… I suppose we’re together, then…”
It was a repeat of their campaign against Marquis Falkenheim. The Julien Mercenary Corps ignored all conventional logic.
And so, with his spirit broken, Marquis Valesant began the march once more.
With an actual army now masking them, the dynamic changed completely.
Viscount Horento and the Imperial inspector used their combined authority to handle any other kingdom forces they encountered.
“By the will of the Empire! This is a conscripted legion! We are transporting vital supplies for the war against the Demonic Realm—out of our way!”
With both a ranking officer and an official inspector present, no one questioned the order.
In reality, most of the other kingdoms had no personal stake in the matter anyway.
During the journey, the mercenaries finally had the opportunity to wash and get some sleep, recovering from the exhaustion of their initial push.
After several more days, they arrived at Ghislain’s intended target.
It was a vast, open plain, large enough to hold a massive host, located just outside the borders of the Empire.
Marquis Valesant was filled with a sense of impending doom.
‘Why this place? Why come here? Isn’t this the perfect spot for a massacre?’
Imperial legions could strike them here with ease. If a battle started, his men would be wiped out.
He spent his days in a state of nervous agitation.
‘What should I do? Should I run away? Should I betray them?’
But betrayal wasn’t an option. The mercenaries were simply too terrifying to cross.
Sure enough, after a few days, another military force appeared on the horizon—exactly as Valesant had feared.
However, they were not the soldiers of the Empire.
When he saw them, his jaw dropped in disbelief.
“Wh-what? Why are they here…?”
Shhhhhh…
The new arrivals were warriors with elongated ears, dressed in armor crafted like layered leaves, carrying elegant longbows and masterfully forged swords.
They were mounted on massive stags known as Elcorns.
The elven legion moved forward with the grace and power of a forest in motion.
Everyone watched in silence, mesmerized by the incredible sight.
After a few moments, the most majestic figure among them rode forward on the most impressive Elcorn of the group.
The Julien Mercenary Corps stepped forward as well, their faces lit with happiness.
A soft yet authoritative voice echoed out to greet them.
“It has been far too long. I have missed all of you dearly.”
High Chief Iralniel, with a peaceful smile, welcomed the Julien Mercenary Corps.