The silhouette of the Count of Vinni's fortress walls could be seen flickering behind the distant treetops, just a few miles from here.
"You're lucky, Hades."
Randor, a mercenary, has just sobered up. He crosses his arms, leans back against the vehicle and stares ahead with sluggish eyes.
"You've only just joined my team, and already you've come across such a good deal!"
His current mercenary team is also called Randor. In the past, he and his sister Claire were the only diamond-ranked team in the city of Clitus.
"As you were once a diamond-ranked adventurer, Randor, did you participate in many investigations?"
"Of course. But actually, Claire did everything - I just helped." He smiled faintly, but his eyes looked more distant than usual. "I left the profession and became a mercenary because of all those investigations piling up information."
I inquired about the canyon.
"Is Matterhorn again ?"
I nodded.
Randor turned his face outwards. The trees lining the road are gradually becoming denser, and now only patches of light filter through.
"I don't really know much.. About six years ago, a village near the canyon suddenly disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
"Yes, nothing was left behind." He lowered his voice, as though he were telling a horror story. "A few days later, the whole area had been swallowed up by the forest. The trees grew densely, as if no one had ever lived there."
As the car entered the lowlands, darkness engulfed it, and the sound of hooves echoed more hollowly.
"Have you heard of Waterfall Valley?"
"Yes, I have"
"It's about two miles from the village. It used to be very clear there, but there has been thick fog ever since the event. There have even been earthquakes occasionally."
"Some investigation teams have also mysteriously disappeared there."
The wheels rattled lightly, causing Randor to pause. He glanced at me, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. For a moment, I thought he was going to say more, but then he changed his mind.
"Do you want to hear the details?"
"Yes..."
"It's tough... I didn't take part in this. I only heard Claire talk about it."
Then he suddenly got up and stretched, as though the previous conversation had never happened.
"Hey, guys! Are you still asleep?" he shouted to his friend.
The serious attitude from earlier has disappeared, having been replaced by the usual noisy behaviour.
"Get moving!"
"It's almost time to start making money!"
As the car drove through the dense foliage, the light started to spread.
The cool air of earlier gave way to the hot, stuffy atmosphere of the crowded ground.
In the distance, tents and soldiers can be seen gathering. Gradually, the space begins to look completely different.
…
"Everyone, this match is of the utmost importance to the Blade Family."
The knight in silver armour spoke powerfully, but to me, it's nothing more than mediocre imitations of old calls to arms from a bygone era.
"You are now the Blade Family's knights. I hope you will fight with all your might to help the Duchess secure victory."
He looked at the mercenaries and said something encouraging.
"If you perform well, you will receive a bonus."
"Knight... Sounds good!"
There were a few whistles and bursts of laughter. The crowd was noisy and excited, and everyone's faces shone.
"Everyone, now I will talk about the strategy."
He began to present the strategy. His voice was steady and decisive — he had clearly memorised every word. However, I wasn't sure how many people were really listening, particularly Randor and his friends, who were whispering about where they would go for drinks afterwards.
'Sir Gray, they...' Another knight lowered his voice to remind him.
"Tsk."
Gray glanced at the mercenaries, his eyes heavy. Despite doing exactly what the duchess had told him to do, every one of his gestures exuded a sense of repressed discomfort.
"If I am permitted to participate, I will not permit the Duchess to put her faith in such people."
He took a deep breath, turned away and left. The clanging of his silver armour echoed across the courtyard in the wind. He didn't look back, as if there were nothing left to say.
I just observed. The mercenaries spread out towards the weapon rack. I could hear blades being drawn from their sheaths and the clang of hammers and shields colliding.
Randor lifted a heavy battle axe and swung it a few times, almost hitting his friend's shoulder as he did so. The others just laughed boisterously. Meanwhile, a few other men rummaged through the pile of armour, selecting the least dented pieces. They put these on while laughing and cursing. Most didn't bother to check the blades, simply choosing the ones that 'looked cooler'. One man tried to wear two crossed swords on his back, which looked impressive until he tried to draw them and almost cut himself.
That scene is ...really ridiculous!
I leaned against the wooden column. In front of me, they resembled a group of children diving into a toy shop more than a team of knights — albeit temporarily. The laughter and clamour of steel weighed down my mood. If this were a real battle, we would certainly need more than luck.
My gaze fell unconsciously upon a corner of the yard. Standing alone there was a small figure dressed in full armour. He stood perfectly still, intently observing the old sword in his hand as though it were the only thing in existence. Suddenly, he looked up and our eyes met. Before I could react, he had already blended into the crowd.
"Hades, you look great with this axe!"
The sound of Randor's voice brought me back to the present. He threw the axe he had just tested at me; its blade gleamed in the light.
"..not too heavy, but it's sharp."
He turned back to his friends and mocked them"
"Guys, remember not to pick up a shovel instead of a weapon!"
The sound of laughter echoed out again, drowning out the clanging of metal.
After choosing their weapons, everyone started moving towards the arena. The sound of blades being drawn and sheathed could be heard everywhere. Gradually, a space opened up in the centre of the arena, ready for the first match.
The group of knights took up their positions. On Vinni's side, they stood in a straight line, their armour lending them a majestic air. Our side, meanwhile, was more chaotic, which was understandable given that we were not formally trained knights.
I'm not sure if this is a genuine duel of honour or just another display by the nobility. Either way, a lot of blood will probably be spilled.
"The match..."
"Begins!"
The sound of the trumpet pierced the air.
Two knights stepped into the arena. Their silver armour shone in the bright sunlight.
The Knight of the Blade Family stands on one side. He is tall and wears a large shield that covers almost half of his body. In contrast, the Knight of the Vinni Family is slimmer and wears compact armour, carrying a long sword.
From the moment of impact, the sound of clashing steel echoed through the air. Vinni's knight swung his sword swiftly, searching for a gap in the shield. However, his attack was blocked with great force. Dirt flew up from the ground as they exchanged blow after blow, each one strong enough to break bones if it connected.
The Knight of Vinni took a half-step back after being hit by a powerful slash. He immediately turned to counterattack, but his opponent's blade was already close. The crowd cheered as he lost their balance and fell to the ground.
"The Blade Family wins the first match!" cried the announcer, his voice echoing throughout the stands.
The next few matches were over just as quickly: one win, one loss and then a draw. The atmosphere became tenser than ever.
"Until now, it's been all knights."
"It would be more intense if there were horsemen... but it's also reasonable for the knights to go first."
Leaning against the greatsword he had just chosen, Randor spoke as though it were merely a performance.
"Then it will be our turn. Everyone, get ready."
I glanced at him without responding. The sound of the trumpet rang out across the arena, signalling the start of the next match.
Two horsemen, one from each side, urged their horses forward at the same time.
The sound of hooves striking the ground echoed like battle drums beating to the rhythm of war. The steel blades of the spears glinted brightly, but were instantly hidden by the speed of the initial charge.
"Damn, too fast!" someone in the group of mercenaries exclaimed.
The collision happened in the blink of an eye. The lance of the horseman of the Blade Family slipped off the opponent's shield, leaving a fatal gap exposed. The opposing horseman immediately turned his spears, knocking the horseman off his horse.
The sound of cheering erupted from the stands. Meanwhile, fear hung in the air over the group of mercenaries.
The horseman of the Blade was dragged along the ground. His shield rolled several times before coming to rest on the edge of the arena. The judge quickly signalled the end of the match.
Shortly afterwards, the second cavalry battle began, but it was no better. Although the Blade faction won, they paid the price in severe injuries to man and horse, leaving them unable to fight again.
The third match ended in a draw. At almost the same time, both horsemen were thrown from their horse, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The atmosphere in the arena is at its most intense. The entire audience seems to be holding its breath, waiting to see which side will gain the upper hand first. The horsemen battle back-to-back, closing the gap between the two factions. However, the balance has yet to tip completely in either direction.
Randor suddenly looked at me. It was hard to read his smile, but it seemed to suggest either confidence or eagerness to engage in combat.
"It seems the most interesting part is about to begin, Hades."
As soon as the judge had finished speaking, a Blade Family knight quickly approached the preparation area and spoke loudly:
"It's your turn now, mercenaries!"
The atmosphere changed instantly. The earlier laughter, jokes and whistling disappeared completely, replaced by scrutinising looks and a silence as tight as a string. Nobody seems willing to be the pioneer.
No one moved.
Then Randor stirred. Adjusting his greatsword, he strode into the courtyard as though it were a stage reserved just for him.
On the opposite side, the opponent is ready.
An imposing horseman in black armour grips a spear tightly. The horse beneath him also wears armour on its head.
Randor turned to us:
"Look at me, everyone!"
I still didn't respond. Cheers erupted from one corner of the stands. Then the trumpet sounded again.
The horseman in black armour urged his horse forward. For a moment, it seemed as if everyone's breathing had slowed and synchronised with the sound of the hooves.
Randor leapt to one side and swung his sword in a wide arc. The blade of his greatsword swept across, slicing off a lock of his opponent's horsehair. The black-armoured horseman pulled on the reins, trying to keep his distance. However, Randor closed in on him, forcing he to raise his spear in defence with each heavy slash.
The sound of steel clashing with steel echoed sharply. Every time Randor swung his sword, I could see the muscles in his shoulders and back flexing. His blade seemed ready to break his opponent's spear.
"You're not bad." Randor smirked, then tensed his entire body and swung his greatsword. There was a loud 'boom', followed by a painful grunt from beneath the helmet. The black-armoured horseman staggered, his spear hanging loosely in his hand.
Randor didn't miss.
A spin — 'The Dance of Steel'.
The greatsword slashed down.
The blow was so powerful that it shattered the opponent's armour. The horse neighed loudly, took a few steps back and caused the rider to lose their balance and fall heavily from the saddle.
The trumpet signal sounded.
"Blade Family - Victory!"
The cheers exploded. Randor slammed his greatsword into the ground, sweat rolling down his forehead, and wore a victorious smile. Gray was still standing in the stands, watching. His eyes were filled with disbelief, but deep down he was praising that mercenary.
"Angelie, that man?" Vinni gritted his teeth.
"I can't believe you hired those barbarians!"
"Your Blade Family... is no longer what it used to be."
He mocked her, but she just replied coldly:
"Just wait and see what the Vinni family is like now."
The trumpets rang repeatedly. Time and time again, the Vinni Family horsemen were defeated.
The Blade stands erupted into cheers while the Vinni side began to panic. The Vinni Family supporters were worried and confused, and there were quiet murmurs among them.
"Sir, if this situation continues, we will lose our entire horsemen."
"Don't talk to me as if I'm blind!" Vinni Duke shouted angrily.
He angrily slammed the armrest.
"Damn it! Who is that man?"
"He has defeated ten of our horsemen."
"According to the investigation, he is Randos, the leader of the Level Emerald-rank Randos mercenary group, sir"
"Just an arrogant mercenary..."
Vinni squinted, his voice as sharp as a knife:
"Put that guy up for me.."
"That bastard needs to know the consequences of angering the Count."