I Reincarnated As the Third Son of a Count’s Family, Only To Find a Series of Funerals

4 – The Mercenaries

“You can’t spit on a smiling face. You could say it’s exactly one of those situations.

“hahahaha. Welcome to the Silverwood Viscountcy. It must have been tiring to come all the way here, so even though it’s humble, we’ve prepared some food and drink, so eat and rest to your heart’s content for now. We can talk about the job later.”

“Wow, really? Thank you! Guys, let’s go eat a free meal!”

“Wow, this employer is really generous!”

“That’s right. The last employer secretly stole and drank a barrel of beer and pretended to scold people like a big shot!”

“Hey, that’s because you drank a whole barrel of beer yourself and got drunk!”

With laughter and excitement, the mercenary band moved to the banquet hall. I immediately whispered to the steward.

“Steward. Are you sure these guys are really mercenaries? Not just a bunch of beggars?”

“Um… Just from their appearance, I can understand why you would be suspicious…”

Our Silverwood Viscount had a sizable estate, so he usually had plenty of loyal soldiers and had no need for mercenaries except as foes.

Especially since I had never been to the battlefield, it was the first time I had actually seen mercenaries.

Maybe that’s why I was so shocked at the sight of them. I had my own romantic(?) ideas about mercenaries who sought the battlefield for a free life…

The shaggy, unkempt hair of the mercenaries, the terrible smell that made one wonder if they ever bathed, the filth on their clothes, and their vulgar behavior was a total reality check for me, a natural-born nobleman, Edric!

Moreover, in a place where such guys had gathered, it was even more discordant to see a well-kept, clean young lady who looked like a noblewoman. How is this combination even possible? How are you doing, considering your delicate state? (I’m genuinely concerned.)

In this situation, I thought that these guys were not professional mercenaries, but just a large-scale scam trying to get some money and run. If they weren’t armed with armor and weapons, who would think of them as mercenaries?

Thinking this way, the steward explained to me.

“Come to think of it, this is probably the first time the Viscount has seen the mercenaries in person. Except for a few special cases, most mercenaries are from humble backgrounds and often dress like that.”

“Um… really?”

“Yes. Except for a few special cases, that is usually the feeling you get. It’s understandable that the Viscount would be unaccustomed to seeing them, having only seen knights and peasants on his estate. But what you see will be quite helpful when fighting against Westberne.”

“Then, Steward…”

**

“I want to eat some chicken too. Are you going to eat it all by yourself?!”

“If you want, eat first. Why are you getting so worked up?”

“You’re getting so fat from eating so much! The reason everyone but you knows you’re so out of shape is that your fat body can’t handle it!”

“What did you say?! You little…!”

Bam! Clang!

“Mr. James! Don’t make a scene!!!”

“No, Captain. He started it first! Ahh!!!! Don’t touch my beard, you little brat!!!”

I looked at the chaotic mercenary band and once again called the steward outside the banquet hall and whispered to him.

“Are these guys really worth hiring?!”

The Viscount Robert seemed quite disconcerted by the commotion in the banquet hall, coughing a few times before speaking.

“I too sent my servants to propose hiring a mercenary group to assess their capabilities. I instructed them to gather information on the mercenary group from the local residents near their stationed area before making contact with the group.”

“Oh, really?”

“The investigation revealed that the residents did not seem to be so averse to the mercenary group. This means that the mercenary group hasn’t caused much harm to the residents, and that the leader, Patricia, seems to have earned respect and trust from her subordinates, despite being a woman. It’s not easy for a woman to lead a mercenary group, let alone as the leader, so she must be quite exceptional.”

Surprising, isn’t it? Even the ruffians who look like they’d start a fight among themselves over a passing woman had they seen her would respect a noblewoman like Patricia leading a mercenary group?

Information about Patricia is even more surprising. One might have thought she was just a noble lady dabbling in mercenary play, but apparently, she effectively commands the mercenaries.

“And although the mercenary group itself is relatively new, many of its members appear experienced, indicating that it might have branched off from a major mercenary group rather than being completely established from scratch.”

“Hmm. So their skill is genuine…”

“We cannot make an immediate assessment of their abilities, but there is a basis for assuming that they will fight well. And at present, there are no other mercenaries available. It would take at least a month to find and bring others here through the merchants.”

Damn. So we’re in a position where we have no choice but to employ them.

While I was contemplating this, Viscount suddenly said to me, “I have some matters to attend to…” and left my side.

So I found myself alone in the corner of the castle, struggling with inner conflicts, when Eileen suddenly approached me.

Eileen had been managing the servants in the banquet hall and always lent a hand in times of need.

“Eileen, what’s going on? The banquet hall?”

“When things in the banquet hall were settling down, I saw you standing alone in the corner, looking like a scolded puppy, so I came over.”

Indeed, the rowdy laughter and loud shouts that had filled the banquet hall were gone, and only the sound of drunken mercenaries snoring and the clattering of dishes being cleaned could be heard.

As I looked towards the banquet hall, Eileen glanced at my face and said, “Edric … no, Viscount, are you okay? You don’t look very good.”

“… It’s not a good situation, truly.”

I sighed, covering my face with both hands, and said, “As I said. The situation is not good at all.”

I’m not sure how I’m maintaining my sanity right now. Even if I manage to handle the current situation, there are still so many problems piled up waiting for me.

“I don’t know if I can get through this difficulty. I promised my mother that I would punish the West Byrne people, but I’m not sure if I can actually do that… And I don’t even know if the Silverwood loyalists, who just lost my father, will remain loyal to me.”

Oh. I spoke too softly.

One of the reasons I didn’t enjoy talking to Eileen was that, in front of her, I couldn’t help but spill my true feelings.

Eileen suddenly came closer to me, clutching my hands tightly.

“Viscount, you’ll be able to overcome this.”

“… I just appreciate your kind words.”

I tried to pull my hand away in surprise at her sudden show of affection, but Eileen held on even tighter and said excitedly.

“It is not an empty word. The young master can do it. Because the young master is a different existence from the Lord’s father and brothers.”

“What..? What are you talking about?”

I was surprised and looked at Eiren with my eyes wide open. Does Eiren know that I’m not a human in this world, but reincarnated?

But when Eiren stared at me through a hole, he stuttered, looking very flustered.

“Um…so, that is to say. The viscount has unique advantages compared to those who have passed away. Did I say something unnecessary?”

“…No. I think I’m too sensitive. Thanks for trying to comfort me, anyway.”

“Yeah….then I’ll go now.”

Eiren bowed to me and walked away quickly, eventually disappearing from my sight.

What does it mean that I am a different existence from my father and brothers?

“…I should go see the mercenary captain.”

Thinking about what Eiren said, I moved to the banquet hall to meet the mercenary captain. It was impossible to figure out immediately what Eiren meant, and there was no alternative to the ‘Red Rose’ mercenary group situation, so there was no point in delaying any further.

But as soon as I entered the banquet hall, I gave up on my original plan.

“Um…one more stew…”

“Mercenary captain. Are you okay?”

“Huh..? My stomach…is revolting….? Oh, it’s the Lord of the Viscount. Let’s talk about our contract…no. Let’s talk about work tomorrow morning. Uh, hey! Don’t throw up! This is an expensive carpet!”

Ugh.

Really.

**

“He showed poor behavior yesterday…”

The next morning. The mercenary captain came to his senses. Satrisa bowed her head and apologized to me.

“I’m glad you understand.”

“Usually, shouldn’t you say ‘hahahaha, don’t worry about it’ in these situations?”

“You should be grateful that I’m not asking you to pay for the carpet value that you had dirtied.”

“Uh…how much is it?”

I took out one Lemer gold coin and put it on the table. I spread out my fingers to show Satrisa that ‘that amount should be enough.’

Then Satrisa quickly apologized to me because she realized the value of the carpet that she had bought from the city craftsmen with great determination while my father was still alive for ten million won.

“But anyways, let’s talk about work. Here’s a down payment of 121 nets in advance with a gold Lemer coin.”

The ‘Red Rose’ mercenary group consisted of 241 people, including Satrisa, and one gold coin per month was the average employment fee, so they agreed to give an advance payment of about 50% of the contract price in gold coins (Satrisa being a captain, received one more).

“Huh? Are you hiring us?!”

“Then, what do you think about the meal you all ate yesterday?”

“Oh, no… We were so worried about showing various shortcomings and thought, ‘What if they don’t hire us?!’ So we couldn’t sleep at night…”

Satricia chuckled like a fool and scratched the back of her head. Suddenly, she asked me with a serious expression.

“Who will our mercenary group face as opponents, my lord?”

“The opponents you’ll face are the Westburn Viscount’s forces.”

Satricia reacted as if she had heard about a familiar family from my words.

“Westburn… Recently, they have gained a notorious reputation in our mercenary industry.”

“A notorious reputation?”

“Recently, they’ve been haphazardly bringing mercenaries from abroad to Westburn. Mercenary groups like ours can’t look upon them favorably.”

Indeed, the domestic mercenary industry wouldn’t view Westburn, who brings mercenaries from overseas, in a positive light. The rice bowl is shrinking.

“I’m glad you’re aware of their wickedness. Whenever I think of my late father and brothers who fell into their hands, I still tremble.”

“W-Wait a moment. Your lordship’s father and brothers passed away?”

“Yes. Those scoundrels cunningly set a trap and killed my father and brothers. They aren’t worthy of being called nobles. That’s why I am now the Silverwood Viscount.”

Satricia seemed shocked and exclaimed, “So that’s why you look different from what I heard!” as she held her head with her hands.

“Aren’t you stepping into a dangerous place more than you thought?!”

“That’s right. Are you saying you won’t take on the mercenary work?”

“Ugh…”

Satricia rolled her eyes and pondered, then made a determined expression and said, as if she had made up her mind, “Well… since we’ve already had a meal and you’ve forgiven our appearances, we can’t bite the hand that feeds us anymore.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’ll do it. The contract.”

When I extended my hand to Satricia, she smiled back at me and shook my hand gently.

Clang!

At that moment, the door to the reception room opened, and Sizongjang rushed towards me in a hurry.

“My lord, a messenger sent from Westburn has arrived at the Viscount’s estate!”

War was approaching.