“Mina, is there anything you would like to say to me?”
While Eugene was telling Mina the story of his mission, he noticed that her expression had changed slightly from before.
“Hmm... I think it’s right to do it for Eugene.”
Mina opened her mouth carefully.
"You trusted me and told me about this quest. If there's anything I can do to be of any help, I should actively contribute."
Eugene also knows that Mina is a barbarian.
But she doesn't know that she is a member of the Mohican tribe, which is virtually extinct.
The Tribe's Extinction Process Although Mina was very young, she had her own memories.
And that can never be a good memory.
My family died, my neighbors died, my friends died right before my eyes, how could that be a good memory?
But if it would help Eugene, she would like to share her unspoken memories.
“Mr. Eugene, do you know the Mohawks?”
So Mina mentioned the Mohawks.
"The Mohawks? You mean the Mohawks, a minority tribe within the Barbarian tribe? They're no longer found, but I've read about them in books, Mina."
Eugene responded immediately.
While on the pilgrimage, I heard various stories about the tribes of the western desert.
I never had the opportunity to hear the story of the Mohicans.
However, I had only briefly encountered the Mohawks when I was young and reading an encyclopedia with Charlotte.
"Yes, they're a small tribe of Barbarians who disappeared about 20 years ago. They vanished from the continent in an incident not widely known to the outside world."
However, since Eugene Schneider was aware of the Mohawks, Mina was able to immediately tell him more specific details about the Mohawks' extinction.
‘An incident unknown to the outside world?’
Eugene Schneider, who was silent for a moment and focused on Mina's words,
Even at first glance, it was an unusual introduction.
"The Mohicans settled in a very remote part of the Western Desert. They didn't have much contact with other tribes."
The Mohicans are a tribe that is ostracized even among the same Mohicans.
Of course, the Barbarian tribes did not live in large groups with other tribes.
The Mohawks survived in a uniquely isolated environment.
“But one day, a monster of a different species, Drake, appeared where the Mohawks lived. The Mohawks were annihilated by Drake.”
Getting to the point, what Mina told Eugene was quite shocking.
“Does that mean Drake already appeared in the Western Desert about 20 years ago???”
20 years ago, the number of monsters would not have increased as much as it does now.
Still, Eugene couldn't help but react so bewildered when Mina said that Drake had appeared in a remote part of the western desert and annihilated the Mohican tribe.
"Yes, that's true. But, as I said before, it wasn't known. Truth isn't something that exists in and of itself, but rather depends on whether people believe it or not. Not only the Empire, but even the barbarians themselves didn't believe the story that the Mohawks were wiped out by Drake's arrival. They simply began to rumour that they were wiped out by another tribe, perhaps due to a disease that had spread, or because the Mohawks had a grudge against them."
Eugene reacted with disbelief,
Mina nailed down her story with a firm gaze and tone that was completely unwavering.
However, contrary to Mina's wishes, the Mohawks were forgotten in reality, and the last recorded story of the Mohawks is different from what Mina said.
It was simply said that they were shunned among the barbarians for being a tribe that inherited the blood of the demon tribe.
"Hmm... Honestly, it feels so absurd... But since it's Mina's words, then that's what I'm saying. There's no way Mina would lie to me about something like this. I think she brought it up because she wanted to help me."
Even Eugene, who is very friendly towards Mina, thinks this is a bit...
However, Eugene can't help but think that there is absolutely no reason for Mina to lie to him.
The moment when two such contradictory thoughts were crossing Eugene's mind.
‘Is this...?’
Something suddenly flashed through Eugene's mind.
“Excuse me, is Mina here...”
And he immediately opened his mouth.
“Is Mina a survivor of the Mohican tribe who was annihilated in Drake’s attack?”
What crossed Eugene's mind was, if Mina's words were not a lie,
How does Mina know that?
Because if you think about it like Mina said, it's a fact that not only the Empire but also other barbarian tribes do not recognize.
So where did Mina get her information and why is she so sure?
What Eugene's instinct suggested was the keyword that Mina was a survivor of the Mohican tribe.
“That’s right. I’m the sole survivor of the Mohican tribe that was annihilated by Drake’s attack. I was five years old at the time.”
And Eugene Schneider's instinct was right.
**********
“Hahahahaha! Our assault leader is truly amazing!”
The empty lot behind the Red Fox Mercenary Corps headquarters warehouse,
There, the hearty laughter of Ivan, the advisor of the Red Fox Mercenaries, echoed.
The one who caused his hearty laughter was none other than the storm trooper, Eugene Schneider.
"The mana conductivity is so good that every movement feels so natural. I wanted to show it off to Advisor Ivan more than anyone else."
He was creating a new suit of armor.
Eugene wanted to show off his new armor to his colleagues.
Ivan happened to be the first to arrive, so he was showing off at the back of the warehouse, swinging his greatsword.
“Well, I don’t think I have any other advice to give.”
I told Ivan, who was very experienced, to point out anything unusual.
This is why you must be as prepared as possible before embarking on a quest.
"As far as I know, the higher your skill level, the more powerful the high-purity Baramion armor becomes. This is especially true for Sword Expert and above. So, our assault team leader, who is a Sword Expert, is essentially just getting started."
Ivan, a Blunt Weapon X-user, was more knowledgeable about Blunt Weapon related equipment than others.
Ivan gives his own advice based on that knowledge.
He then mentioned the fact that Eugene was a sword expert.
After it was decided that the quest target was Drake, Eugene and Jeanne discussed it and made a decision.
It is none other than telling the Red Fox Mercenary Corps comrades about Eugene's sword expert fact.
Since you have to go all out against Drake, it is difficult to achieve synergy of over 200% by hiding your power.
So Ivan is giving the same advice now.
“Oh... I see! Mina-san also said that it would feel different depending on my abilities.”
Fidget, fidget, fidget,
Eugene looked satisfied as he fiddled with the Baramion Grand Inspector's armor.
"Captain! Advisor Ivan! The commander is here! Come on in!"
At that moment, Thomas's shout was heard, saying that Jeanne had arrived.
Jeanne, who had called the meeting,
She is on her way back from stopping by the Mercenary Association.
“A formal request for collaboration with the Imperial Knights has arrived from the Mercenary Association.”
With all the fine tuning done, the special Drake quest collaboration with the Imperial Knights has finally begun.
"Wow...! This quest's payout ratio is 9 to 1!! Plus, if you succeed, you'll even receive a special reward from the Pangea Mercenary Association!!!!"
As the secular priest Sophia began to examine the commission and the related contracts, she was astonished by the higher settlement rates and bonuses than during the Alexandria collaboration.
At first, only the possibility of collaboration with the Imperial Knights was mentioned.
A request arrived that was very specific and nailed down.
"I heard that in the past two and a half years, we're the first mercenary group in Pangea to have a direct partnership with the Imperial Knights. That's why they're offering such generous bonuses. They're trying to keep them from going to any of the four major cities."
Thomas looked at her and told her a story that was as good as any information source.
The Pangea Mercenary Association wanted to give 100% of the settlement money to the Red Fox Mercenary Group, but the legal system did not allow that, so they decided to set the bonus higher than the settlement money.
This is to avoid missing the mercenary group that will become Pangea's signboard after a long time.
"Besides that, there's also support and compensation related to the Imperial Knights' security pledge. See the bottom for details."
“Oh! That’s right, Captain.”
Because it was a large-scale and special quest, it was completed through an extremely complex process.
That's why, even though it's been quite some time since Eugene visited the Helios Empire Knights Arena, the official contract was only made now.
"Thanks to you, we were able to upgrade all of our mercenary members' equipment at once. It was amazing when we collaborated with Captain Antonio's Knights of the Iron Cross, but this time, it feels completely different, Captain."
Advisor Ivan also looked at the contract and stuck out his tongue.
The support of the Imperial Knights was not limited to what was written in the contract.
There was a need to reinforce the Red Fox Mercenary Corps' strategy in time.
With the help of the Imperial Knights' exclusive large blacksmith shop, all the equipment of the Red Fox Mercenaries' regular soldiers was upgraded.
Although I had worked with the Imperial Knights during my time as a member of the Black Eagle Mercenaries, the special quest for non-standard monsters was something else entirely.
"We'll be heading to the Enklema Desert in the western desert in two days. This quest is clearly on a completely different level from the ones we've cleared before."
Jeanne, who had just given me a rough idea of the situation,
"But the mercenary village is being built, and we're gradually gaining ground in the Pangea Mercenary Zone. To keep that wheel rolling, we must not turn our backs on adventure. And I will be the first to lead the way."
She made a practical declaration of war.
“Guys! Girls! Be sure to be careful on your way back!!”
After two days,
The Red Fox Mercenary Corps' expedition to the western desert of Enklema Cliff took place in a mercenary village near Jebodang Village.
So, the slum children who had moved in under the leadership of Mina and her fellow blacksmiths saw off the Red Fox mercenaries who were preparing to leave.
“Okay! When you get back, let’s have a barbecue party and have fun, guys!”
Eugene, wearing the armor of the Baramion Grand Inspector and carrying a greatsword on his back, rode on horseback to see the children off.
His smile is so bright, and seeing the children gives him even more motivation.
So Eugene Schneider and the Red Fox Mercenaries set off for the western desert.
‘I hope everyone is safe...’
Mina, who had told Eugene that her tribe had been annihilated by Drake, watched them walk away with a worried expression.
“A mercenary from Pangea.”
Victoria's side of the Imperial Knights also finished preparing for battle.
And before leaving, Victoria was having an interview with someone.
“You made a very interesting choice, Saber Victoria.”
It was none other than Kaiser Antoine de Celebres Oblain, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Knights.