"You're serious?"
"I am."
At Partek's startled question, Eugene nodded.
"Forgive me for asking, but you are referring to the dungeon discovered here in the Tiwyn territory, correct?"
"Correct."
"You can't possibly be unaware of what it means to open a new dungeon. Are you truly… confident?"
Partek knew how rude it was to ask a knight such a question, but he had no choice.
Moreover, after observing this knight for several days, he was confident Eugene wouldn't get angry at a question like this.
"I'll be fine. You're the ones at risk I was the one who made the offer."
"Yes, but…"
After taking a brief breath to gather his thoughts, Partek continued.
"The Tiwyn family lacks manpower, and it's doubtful they can prepare properly. Even if you participate, Sir Eugene…"
"Then why do you think Sir Galfredic came?"
"…!"
"Didn't you say he's a fairly well-known knight in this region? Ambitious too. I doubt he came here without a plan."
Partek nearly smacked his own forehead in realization.
Just as Eugene said, Galfredic must have come to this castle after negotiating compensation befitting his reputation.
And if Galfredic became the core of the dungeon-opening subjugation force, then simply due to his name alone, gathering twenty or thirty mercenaries would be easy.
No given that he was already here, preparations were likely already underway.
"So, are you in or not?"
"…Please give me some time to think."
"Fine. But don't take too long. Let me know your decision by tomorrow morning."
"Understood."
At Partek's reply, Eugene rose from his seat.
The mercenaries who stood up with him immediately crowded around Partek the moment Eugene left the room.
"Are you really going to do it?"
"Captain! This is crazy. No amount of pay is worth opening a dungeon."
"No one knows the route or what might jump out. Even if the first expedition succeeds, half of us won't make it back alive."
"…."
Though his comrades his subordinates spoke anxiously, Partek said nothing and sank into thought. After a moment, he looked up.
"You may all think differently, but I believe this is the last opportunity I'll ever get."
"…!"
Looking around at the stunned mercenaries, Partek continued.
"I'll be thirty-four next year. I've avoided major injuries, and for a mercenary, that's a long career—but you all know that's nothing to brag about. If I'd served in a large mercenary corps instead of here, I'd probably be a vice-captain by now. Of course, I might've died long ago too."
The mercenaries who knew Partek's skills and judgment believed the former was far more likely than the latter, but they simply nodded in silence.
"We no, I have become stagnant. But at this age, I can't exactly join a major mercenary company as a rookie either. If I continue like this for another three or four years and then retire, I could probably open a small pub in Maren. But I don't want to live that kind of life."
"Then…"
"Until now, I've prioritized everyone's stability. But this time, I'm going to gamble for myself. I won't force you. Choose for yourselves—whether to bet on Sir Eugene with me, or return to Maren."
"…."
The mercenaries fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances. It was the most important decision of their lives, and for a long while, no one spoke.
The first to break the silence was Glad, who had been with Partek the longest.
"I'll go with you, Captain no, big brother. Let's give it a shot."
"I see. And the rest of you?"
"I can't do this. I'm sorry, Captain."
"Me too…"
"Captain, I'm sorry…"
Three of them lowered their heads.
"You fools, what's there to apologize for? This is a matter of life and death of course it's natural. I'm the one who's sorry you won't be with me till the end. Then take Bilmor back to Maren. As for the remainder of the reward from this job, you divide it among yourselves. Think of it as your severance pay."
"Captain…"
The three mercenaries' eyes reddened.
After comforting them, Partek turned his gaze to the final remaining person.
"Raban, you should stick with these guys for now. You won't make big money, but you won't go hungry either. After struggling for a year or two, you can join a larger mercenary group…"
"I'm staying too!"
"What?"
Partek was startled at the words of Raban—still a greenhorn, though quick on his feet and full of promise.
"It's only been a month, but I trust the Captain's instinct. You're following your gut again this time, aren't you?"
"That's true, but if luck turns bad, you could actually die."
"I don't care! I want to make it big too! I joined in the first place because I admired Captain Partek, so I'll see it through to the end. Hey what's life anyway?"
"Well, that's"
Partek was about to say more, but instead let out a small laugh.
At that age, would anyone listen to advice? He himself had stolen money from his family and run away from home at just about that same age.
"Fine. A reckless brat like you is probably safer staying by my side anyway."
"Hey, the way you put it!"
As Raban flared up, the mercenaries who were returning to Mirian ruffled his hair.
"He's right, you idiot. We don't want to deal with a wild colt like you anyway. Who knows where you'd bolt off to?"
"I'd rather raise a goblin than have to lecture that kid."
"Hahaha."
The heavy mood lifted quickly, and the mercenaries burst into laughter once more.
"Sir Kamara Tiwyn is looking for me?"
At the servant's words when he came to the room, Eugene tilted his head.
"Yes, Sir Knight. He said he has something urgent to discuss and asked to see you."
"Now?"
"Yes."
After a brief moment of thought, Eugene nodded.
"Very well."
"Yes, I will guide you."
Eugene followed behind the servant carrying an oil lamp.
"Kamara—that's the elder brother from earlier, right? Why would he be looking for you, my lord?"
Mirian whispered from his shoulder, but Eugene didn't know either.
Soon, Eugene arrived at a room on the second floor of the main building and entered.
"Oh, Sir. Welcome."
Kamara, who had been sitting by the wide-open window sipping from a wineglass, brightened and approached him.
"I heard you were looking for me."
"Haha! I wanted to apologize for not recognizing you as a knight earlier. And, well, I also had a few things to discuss."
At Kamara's clap, the two maidservants who had been attending him quickly exited the room.
"Have a drink."
"Thank you."
Filling a gray metal goblet with wine as red as blood, Kamara grinned.
"I'm sorry about earlier. You weren't wearing a surcoat, and you didn't speak much either, so I couldn't tell you were a knight."
"I understand."
Once again resolving to buy a proper horse as soon as he got enough money, Eugene nodded.
"By the way, from what I heard from Felid, your past seems rather… complicated."
It seemed he had already spoken privately with Felid.
Well, even if they were half-brothers, it was their first meeting—it was only natural they'd share dinner.
"Just as Felid said. Our family fell when I was young. I was poisoned and became gravely ill, though I've fully recovered now, and I eventually drifted to Broadwin. I regret not informing Lord Tiwyn beforehand."
"Haha! At such a young age, when enemies might be everywhere, that was only natural. And my father isn't the sort to punish someone over such a trivial matter. On the contrary, he'll likely reward you for bringing Felid back safely."
"So I'll be able to meet Lord Tiwyn?"
"I'd like that too, but Bertel is stubborn beyond measure. Even I can't talk sense into him. That said are you going to keep that helmet on? And not drink any wine?"
Eugene removed his helmet.
Kamara's eyes widened.
"Oh! So that's why you kept your helmet on. Hardly anything left for me to feel jealous about at this point. Hahaha! Now then let's have a drink."
After making a toast, Kamara took a long gulp of wine and then spoke.
"By the way, Sir do you wish to meet my father in person because you want your status to be officially certified?"
Perhaps because he was the heir, Kamara was sharper than expected. At his perceptive words, Eugene nodded.
"That's right."
"I thought so. By now, the ones who ruined your family must be long forgotten, and naturally, you wouldn't have any property left either. Oh are you planning to have your status certified and then properly set out on the path of knighthood?"
"I have to earn a living."
"Mm! Truly impressive."
"…?"
Not understanding why Kamara was suddenly admiring him, Eugene furrowed his brow.
"Isn't it? Felid told me you cut down five bandits near Brahms—using nothing but a shortsword."
"That's true."
"Then that alone proves your skill is quite formidable. And yet, you still intend to go through the proper process, have your status recognized, and prove your worth through knighthood. That's not something just anyone can do."
"I'm just doing what I was taught as a child."
"That's exactly what makes it admirable. In any case, Sir—this is why I brought it up."
Kamara's voice softened.
Eugene sensed that Kamara was finally about to reveal his true reason for summoning him.
"You're probably aware that a dungeon has been discovered in our territory. Do you know anything about my family's current situation?"
"I don't know the details, but I've heard some things in passing."
"Then this will be easier to explain. Sir—would you care to participate in the opening of the dungeon?"
"..."
It was the situation Eugene had been hoping for, but he still pretended to be surprised.
Kamara immediately began speaking excitedly.
"We don't have much money right now, but as you well know, once the dungeon is properly opened, what problem would money be? Hundreds of magic stones will pour in every month. Once the opening and first subjugation succeed, the rest is nothing. So I'd like you to participate and lead the forces."
"Hm."
"Oh, of course, I'm not asking you to do this for nothing. It won't be much, but we'll pay a signing fee. If you bring back fifty low-tier monsters and two or so mid-tier ones, we'll give you a success reward of twenty percent of all byproducts and magic stones."
Being allowed into the dungeon was appealing.
But Eugene couldn't tell whether these were truly good terms or bad ones, and he also wondered why Kamara had approached him first. He fell into brief thought.
Mistaking this for Eugene calculating his profits, Kamara hurriedly added,
"If you accept, I'll have your status officially certified. With our family's seal, you won't have any trouble in this region, at least. It's a chance to gain wealth, fame, and even legal status. What do you say?"
He still wasn't completely certain, but it did seem like very favorable terms.
However, Eugene wasn't naïve enough to blindly accept the goodwill of a noble he'd only met a few hours ago.
"It's not a bad offer. But let me ask one thing. Why me? You have no reason to trust me."
"..."
Kamara's expression stiffened slightly.
Damn it. I had a feeling from his looks that he wouldn't be easy to deal with.
It seemed he wasn't a muscle-brained knight like Galfredic after all.
Kamara had praised him, dangled conditions that any free knight who hadn't yet been formally commissioned would accept without hesitation—and yet Eugene still hadn't agreed.
Left with no choice, Kamara had to reveal a bit of his true intentions.
"Sir, do you happen to know Sir Galfredic?"
"I saw him in the castle earlier. He seemed quite close to your younger brother."
"Hmph! Of course. Bertel brought Sir Galfredic here. They became acquainted during His Excellency Evergrow's tournament last year, so I'm told. But that's not what matters. At this rate, Sir Galfredic will be the one leading the dungeon-opening subjugation force."
"Either way, if the subjugation succeeds, isn't the result the same?"
"That's exactly why I'm saying this it won't be the same! If Sir Galfredic swore loyalty to me and stayed in our territory, I wouldn't be saying any of this. But from what I can tell, the moment the subjugation ends, he'll"
Growing more agitated, Kamara spoke rapidly, even spitting as he talked.
His explanation was long and repetitive, but the core was simple.
He didn't want to see Galfredic succeed in the dungeon opening and make his younger brother Bertel swagger with pride.
But he also couldn't delay opening the dungeon any longer, and because Bertel was the territory's only knight, he couldn't drive him out either.
So he wanted Eugene's cooperation so that he could take the lead in opening the dungeon. As the next lord, he at least needed to maintain a minimum level of dignity.
The neighboring nobles weren't on friendly terms and were only looking for chances to swallow up his territory, so he couldn't rely on them either.
That was the situation.
In the end, to Kamara, Eugene was an unexpectedly convenient card that had fallen into his hands at present, the only usable card he had.
"I understand the situation for now. May I give you my answer by tomorrow?"
"Of course. Then I'll look forward to good news."
With a grin, Kamara proposed another toast.
Lightly clinking their glasses together, Eugene smiled to himself.
Not only would he achieve his goal of entering the dungeon, but if things went well, he might even get a small measure of revenge against Bertel—who had played a part in his death before his regression.
"Oh, our Lord Eugene! As the days pass, you're really regaining the slyness befitting one of the Night Clan, aren't you? Magnificent, isn't it? You'll rise to power in no time! Kehehe!"
Mirian's overly excited chatter as she flew around him didn't bother Eugene at all today.
(To be continued in the next episode)