Tell Them to Come in Person (3)
The executives of the Ironclad Lion Mercenaries were all flustered.
They were supposed to be preparing for Count Crest's territorial war, and this should have been a simple job of handling some arrogant fools, yet it had grown out of control.
Tyrann growled and repeatedly questioned Zark.
"The others didn't even move? Just three of them? And those three took down all our mercenaries?"
"Yes... that's correct."
"Are you saying those bastards are at least high-level knights?"
A few of the mercenaries they had sent were capable of using mana. Yet, even they had been defeated. Such a feat should have been impossible unless the opponents were high-level knights.
Zark described exactly what he had witnessed without exaggeration.
"That mage... he didn't even use magic. He simply swung his staff and knocked us all down."
"A mage... didn't use magic?"
"Yes. It seems the rumors were wrong. He didn't use magic at all."
Ghislain had, in fact, used plenty of magic. His entire body was practically drenched in various spells.
Unfortunately, no one had noticed.
Upon hearing Zark's confident answer, Tyrann nodded.
"I see. I don't know what their strategy is, but it looks like Baron Nordhill and those guys spread some nonsense rumors."
He trusted Zark, who had been his vice-captain for several years now, and relied on his judgment.
Regardless, if there were at least three high-level knights, they couldn't be taken lightly. Tyrann was genuinely surprised by this unexpected power.
"I didn't think they'd be that strong. I see now why they've grown so quickly."
In most small territories, having even one high-level knight was rare. High-level knights were incredibly powerful and highly valuable.
Of course, Tyrann didn't believe he would lose even if he fought those three. He had recently stepped into the realm of high-level mastery.
This wasn't something he had made public yet. He was waiting for the right moment to reveal it, planning to use it to significantly increase the value of the mercenary group.
Although he wasn't worried about losing, it wasn't wise to take on three high-level opponents at once. Even if he won, there was a high probability of sustaining serious injuries.
"Prepare thoroughly, as if it were a war."
Tyrann was a mercenary, not a knight. If necessary, he would abandon any notion of honor and overwhelm them with sheer numbers.
Zark cautiously tried to dissuade him.
"They are indeed strong. While we'll win in the end... the damage on our side will be severe. Given the upcoming territorial war, suffering losses now wouldn't be beneficial."
Initially, they had only gone in with clubs, intending to give the others a lesson. But this time, if a fight broke out, it would inevitably lead to a bloodbath.
With the capabilities of the Yulian Mercenaries, at least half of the Ironclad Lion members would lose their lives.
Still, Tyrann had no intention of backing down.
"So? After getting beaten, you want me to stay put?"
"Why don't we make peace and recruit them instead? With their level of skill, they could be of great benefit to us."
Zark swallowed his pride. Although he was angry, he was more impressed by the opponents' abilities.
Since they didn't have any deep-seated grudge from the start, Zark suggested building up the Yulian Mercenaries instead.
But Tyrann shook his head.
"You're not entirely wrong, but that's not how you lead people."
"..."
"We started the conflict and got beaten. This news will spread soon enough. If we let this slide, people will laugh at us."
" ... But—"
"Practical gains? Sure, they're good. But regaining lost dignity is incredibly difficult. We have to show everyone that those who fight us must die."
Why did so many nobles want to hire Tyrann? It wasn't just because he was strong but also due to his formidable reputation.
If he compromised and conceded now, he would eventually lose even his current position.
Zark understood Tyrann's principles, so he let out a sigh and nodded.
Soon, the entire Ironclad Lion Mercenaries armed themselves and headed toward Nordhill Territory.
When they arrived at the checkpoint at the territory's border, chaos broke out.
"Halt... What's the meaning of this?"
Hundreds of armed soldiers had suddenly appeared without any prior notice. The guards at the checkpoint couldn't help but be on edge.
Tyrann stepped forward and spoke.
"We're the Ironclad Lion Mercenaries. We have business in Nordhill Territory, so open the gate."
The guards couldn't handle such a force alone, so a knight in charge of the checkpoint stepped forward.
"What brings you here?"
The knight knew all about Tyrann and the Ironclad Lion Mercenaries' reputation, so he addressed them with courtesy despite them being mercenaries.
Tyrann casually replied to the knight's question.
"When mercenaries move, it's usually to find work. We heard there's a job worth doing in Nordhill Territory."
The "job" Tyrann was referring to was dealing with the Yulian Mercenaries, and the knight understood the implication.
"A few days ago, about 100 mercenaries caused some trouble and were locked up in jail."
"Conflicts between mercenaries are common. You see them everywhere, and they're not worth overanalyzing. Besides, the Yulian Mercenaries invited us."
Tyrann didn't bother to ask for the release of the imprisoned mercenaries.
He knew that once the Yulian Mercenaries were taken care of, the lord would naturally release them.
"..."
The knight hesitated briefly, pondering what to do.
The news that the Yulian Mercenaries had beaten up the Ironclad Lion mercenaries had already spread throughout the territory.
These men were undoubtedly here for revenge. If he tried to block them, Tyrann would likely retaliate against the checkpoint itself.
'They'll request assistance from Count Crest.'
The count would certainly comply with Tyrann's request, given their close relationship. If that happened, the territory would be doomed.
As someone responsible for defending Nordhill, the knight had no choice.
'There's no other way.'
Just as Tyrann mentioned, the Yulian Mercenaries had invited them. So technically, there wasn't an issue with letting them pass.
The knight was merely frustrated that, as a defender of the territory, he couldn't stop a mere mercenary group.
"Understood. I hope no unfortunate incidents occur within the territory."
"Don't worry. Nordhill won't suffer any damage."
If the Yulian Mercenaries were wiped out, that would actually be detrimental to Nordhill, as the lord, Andrew, heavily relied on them.
But in the end, the knight couldn't oppose them and let them pass. That was how overwhelming the Ironclad Lion Mercenaries' presence was.
Without any delay, the Ironclad Lion Mercenaries headed straight for the Yulian Mercenaries' base.
Tyrann, who had swiftly surrounded the area, called out loudly.
"I am Tyrann, the captain of the Ironclad Lion Mercenaries! Yulian Mercenaries, come out at once!"
He no longer hid his imposing aura. The mercenaries guarding the building were visibly terrified by his menacing appearance.
'W-Wow, Tyrann actually came.'
'He really brought everyone. Are we all going to die today?'
The other mercenaries felt the same way. They had come out armed after hearing the commotion, but upon seeing Tyrann and the Ironclad Lion Mercenaries, their spirits deflated.
'Damn it, what do we do?'
'Why did they get here so quickly?'
'Well, we did beat up a hundred of their men. It's not like they'd just let that slide.'
The mercenaries began glancing at each other, seeking answers.
Not long ago, they had seen their leaders' strength and decided to follow them. That's how strong the Yulian Mercenaries were.
But now, standing face to face with Tyrann, the most powerful mercenary in the region, and his forces, fear began to seep into their hearts.
Such is the fickle nature of human beings. These men lacked firm belief and resolve.
Amidst the tense atmosphere, Ghislain casually strolled out and spoke.
"Wow, you got here quickly. Did you bring a gift?"
"…"
Tyrann glared at Ghislain with a dangerous look in his eyes and spoke.
"You must have a death wish."
"What's this? Didn't the message get through properly? When you come to greet someone, isn't it polite to bring a gift?"
When it came to provoking people, Ghislain was just as good as Claude. The difference was that Ghislain only did it to those he fought, while Claude did it indiscriminately.
Thud!
Tyrann dismounted from his horse, the ground shaking under his heavy frame.
He drew a sword much larger than an ordinary one and pointed it at Ghislain.
"I hear that Baron Nordhill values your mercenary group quite highly. I don't want a bloodbath, so I'm giving you one last chance."
"One last chance?"
"Yes, kneel before us and apologize. If you do, I'll forgive you and welcome you into the Ironclad Lion Mercenaries."
Tyrann presented a plan that both maintained his dignity and achieved practical gain.
By completely subjugating the Yulian Mercenaries, he would strengthen his forces. It would be an impressive display, no matter how one looked at it.
Of course, it required the other side to swallow their pride.
Naturally, Ghislain refused.
"I refuse. But if you kneel, I might consider letting you go."
As if expecting this response, Tyrann raised his hand.
Clang!
At his signal, the Ironclad Lion Mercenaries drew their weapons, releasing an overwhelming pressure.
This wasn't like before when they had only carried clubs. Now that they had drawn their blades, casualties were inevitable.
Ghislain chuckled and looked back.
The dumbfounded members of the Yulian Mercenaries still wore anxious expressions. It seemed they hadn't fully grasped the lesson from the last fight.
Ghislain turned his gaze to Osval, who stood awkwardly at the front, and spoke.
"Hey, Osval. What are you doing? Aren't you getting ready to fight?"
"Hyung-nik, Osval here... I think I ate something bad this morning. My stomach—"
"Tsk."
This time, Ghislain wasn't letting it slide. When he glared, Osval grimaced and reluctantly took a step forward.
The former bandits were still visibly scared as they moved.
Despite the situation being even scarier than before, their fear of Ghislain had already been deeply ingrained.
"Hmm..."
Ghislain glanced around at the remaining mercenaries who hadn't stepped forward yet.
"Still lacking trust, huh?"
He could force them to fight by beating them or threatening them.
But leadership wasn't just about intimidation.
A true leader had to show that they were worth following.
Ghislain addressed the Yulian Mercenaries.
"It's true that we haven't been together long enough to build trust and loyalty, and I know you didn't join this group willingly."
A few mercenaries unconsciously nodded.
They had been forcibly disbanded from their previous groups and made to join the Yulian Mercenaries. They hadn't been happy about it, even if they had instigated the conflict themselves.
However, their resentment had largely faded after witnessing the previous fight. The problem now was whether they had enough trust and loyalty to stand together.
Given the short amount of time they had spent together and the overwhelming strength of their enemies, it was understandable that they hesitated.
Ghislain, fully aware of their inner conflict, decided to give them one last chance.
"You know, it's kind of frustrating being called a non-mage. I'm not just good at fighting."
He twirled his staff through the air a few times, smirking.
"I've gotten pretty good at magic too."
Fwoom!
A fireball materialized in midair.
The fireball slowly split in two. The two became four, the four became eight, and the eight became sixteen.
Still smiling calmly, Ghislain continued to rearrange the mana in the air.
"The principle of magic is simple. You twist the laws of the world, imbue them with your will, and create what you want. That means, as long as your will is strong enough, you can manifest magic in many ways."
The fireballs multiplied endlessly, filling the sky. Soon, their number exceeded dozens and then hundreds.
The watching mercenaries' jaws dropped. Even Tyrann's eyes widened in shock.
"W-What is that?"
"What kind of magic is that?"
"Does a spell like this even exist?"
Over five hundred fireballs now swirled through the air.
And they continued to multiply, leaving the onlookers completely mesmerized.
Ghislain's voice echoed softly.
"This is the magic I created: Fire Swarm."
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