"A squire!? Me, sir?"
At the startled Felid's question, Eugene nodded.
"Yes. You're sixteen, and you've already gone through your coming-of-age ceremony. You can choose your own path even without a guardian's consent."
"Oh!"
Of course, children of noble families rarely went against their parents' wishes.
The thing young nobles feared most was being cast out of their family.
But until recently, Felid had lived alone in a remote mountain village without parents, and he hadn't even known that he was the illegitimate son of a lord.
Being expelled from Rose Castle was not something he particularly feared.
"If you become my squire, then as your master, I can order you to remain on standby in this castle. Your brothers won't be able to object to that. And if they dare touch a knight's squire while the knight is away, that's the same as openly challenging me to a fight."
"…!"
True to his sharp mind, Felid quickly recovered from his shock.
"I will do it."
As Felid nodded firmly with determined eyes, Eugene said,
"Good. But I'll tell you in advance—I have no intention of taking you around with me."
"I understand. You're not taking me as your squire because you like me or just to save me. You want something from me in return, don't you?"
"You're perceptive. Yes—whatever it may be, you'll have to do what I tell you."
"As long as it doesn't involve harming innocent people, I'll do anything."
"With your current strength, could you even kill anyone?"
"That's…"
The once-confident Felid blushed instantly.
"Anyway, it won't be a bad deal for you either."
"Yes!"
Felid replied energetically after wiping away his gloomy look, then soon made an awkward expression.
"Um, but… don't we need to perform some kind of ceremony? Or take an oath?"
"..."
Eugene hesitated for a moment.
And naturally, one person came to mind.
"Hahaha! This is quite the surprise! The illegitimate son of the Tiwyn family becoming your squire? Well, that's fine by me."
Laughing loudly, Galfredic cheerfully acted as the witness and presided over the oath between the two.
Then, in his excitement, he spread the news everywhere, and before long, the two Tiwyn brothers rushed over to Eugene.
"Sir! What on earth were you thinking!? Taking a member of our family as your squire without permission!"
"Well, it's not a bad thing, is it? He's already come of age, so whatever he does is his own choice anyway."
"Brother!"
Unlike the furious Bertel, Kamara seemed surprised but not particularly displeased.
'As expected—it's the second son.'
Seeing the brothers' contrasting reactions, Eugene became certain that Bertel was the one who wanted Felid eliminated.
"Just as I don't interfere with the affairs of the Tiwyn family, you also have no right to interfere with whom I choose as my squire, do you? Or did you perhaps already make Felid the squire of another knight?"
"…!"
Bertel's brow twitched.
But he had no rebuttal to Eugene's words.
By custom, he should be thanking Eugene for taking in a bastard son as a squire.
"Then, Sir—are you taking the youngest into the dungeon?"
"I may have taken him as a squire, but I can't take an untrained boy who doesn't even know the basics of swordsmanship into a newly opened dungeon. I intend to have him train here until we return."
"True. Taking someone who's only farmed and raised pigs into a dungeon-opening subjugation would be absurd. In any case, congratulations. And on behalf of the Tiwyn family, allow me to thank you."
Kamara was genuinely pleased.
'With this, isn't our family now connected to this knight? If the dungeon subjugation succeeds, not only Galfredic but our Tiwyn family will gain prestige as well.'
There was a big difference between succeeding with only outside knights and mercenaries, and succeeding with a force that included the master of the family's own bastard son.
Naturally, the latter was far more advantageous for Kamara, the future lord.
'Ha! Why didn't I think of this sooner? And just where did this lucky charm roll in from?'
Suppressing the grin trying to spread across his face, Kamara spoke with deliberate dignity.
"Even if you are half-brothers, my younger sibling has now gained a master. As the future leader of this territory, I can't simply let that pass."
"…?"
"…!"
Under Eugene's puzzled gaze and Bertel's stunned one, Kamara continued.
"Though I lacked talent and abandoned the path of the knight, my father prepared armor and a sword for me. The sword was my father's own and must remain a family heirloom, but the armor is fine. Please accept it, Sir Eugene."
"Brother!"
"I'll accept it with thanks."
A knight without words may exist, but a knight without armor does not. So regardless of Bertel's protests, Eugene promptly accepted.
"Haha! It's not plate armor but chainmail. Still, I paid thirty silver coins for it from a skilled artisan of Maren, so the quality is guaranteed."
"Just hearing that is reassuring."
Even though he had black scales, he could never reveal them in front of others. They must remain secret.
But wearing chainmail on the outside would give him an excuse if he survived an attack.
In the end, despite having had no prior discussion or coordination, Kamara and Eugene came to regard each other as lucky charms.
There was only one person who seethed with rage—Bertel.
'Yan Eugene… that damn unlucky bastard. After the subjugation is over, I'll have to drive him out somehow. Otherwise…'
He would have no choice but to eliminate him.
Bertel felt a powerful premonition that otherwise, his grand plan would suffer a fatal setback.
The morning of the dungeon's opening dawned.
Heavily armed, Eugene and Galfredic led the mercenaries and porters out of Rose Castle.
Kamara also accompanied them, but everyone knew that today's true protagonists were Yan Eugene and Crema Galfredic, the two knights.
Whether it was monster subjugation or territorial war, the spoils of victory went to lords and nobles—but the ones who climbed the trees and picked the fruit with bleeding hands were the knights.
That was why nobles, at least outwardly, treated knights with respect.
And that was precisely why knights were able to hold their heads high.
Entrusted with a mission that would determine the future of the Tiwyn territory, the warriors marched with confident strides.
Five hours later, they arrived at a dense oak forest thick with leaves.
It was a gloomy forest rumored to be prowled by ghosts and ghouls at night, a place even herb gatherers normally avoided.
"Whoa! This place has great vibes! Feels like one or two of our seniors used to be here long ago. I smell it, I smell it!"
Perhaps because it had been a while since she'd been in a real forest, Mirian flitted about everywhere—but never strayed more than four or five meters from Eugene.
"Oh, I will guide you."
With the serf who had first discovered the dungeon entrance leading the way, the forty-odd troops cut through the deep forest where no paths existed.
Perhaps because knights and mercenaries reeking openly of metal, leather, and oil had entered, even the forest's apex beasts did not approach.
After walking for about an hour like this, they came upon a low hill covered in primeval forest.
"Begin the search."
"Yes, sir!"
At Galfredic's command, the mercenaries split into teams and began scouring the area around the hill.
In most unopened dungeons, the monsters inside eventually burrow their way out. And those creatures become what are known as roamers.
"This way."
While the mercenaries were conducting their search, Eugene, Galfredic, and the Tiwyn brothers climbed the hill under the guidance of the serf.
"Oh ho."
Galfredic's eyes lit up when he discovered a deeply recessed spot halfway up the hill.
A thick, rusted iron door barred by a massive bolt stood there, engraved with strange characters and symbols.
Whether it was a dungeon, a labyrinth, or ancient ruins, any unopened demonic realm was sealed in this manner.
No one knew who had made them, when, or for what purpose—but demonic realms were both a threat and a blessing to humanity.
You kill monsters and gain by-products and magic stones.
Or you die at their hands.
It was a very simple equation.
"We found three burrows, but judging by their small size, they seem to have been used by only low-tier monsters."
"At least no mid-tier ones showed up—that's a relief. We'll rest briefly, then open it immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
The mercenaries gathered in small groups and took a short break.
Eugene wasn't particularly tired, and with nothing else to do, he approached Partek's group.
"How's your condition?"
"Excellent. It's just that this one's a little tense."
"I 'm fine!"
Raban replied stiffly to Partek's words.
"Relax, idiot. Sir Eugene's here, and so is Sir Galfredic. And even if we ignore the others, those guys over there look pretty strong."
At Partek's words, Eugene turned his gaze in the indicated direction.
Eight mercenaries, all carrying round shields on their backs and armed with short swords and battle axes, indeed looked like seasoned warriors.
"They're the Black Ram Mercenary Corps—men who split off from a famous mercenary group in the Kalsbeg region. You remember the bald guy who picked a fight with you yesterday? His name's Brin. He leads them."
Just then, the shaved-headed Brin's eyes met Eugene's.
"That bastard still hasn't come to his senses yet."
Partek frowned at Brin's defiant glare.
"It doesn't really matter. As long as he doesn't do anything stupid to me inside the dungeon."
"..."
Partek didn't need to hear what Eugene would do if he did—he already knew.
"Assemble! We're opening the dungeon!"
With that, the short rest ended, and the mercenaries gathered at the dungeon entrance.
"Shall we do it together?"
"Let's."
At Galfredic's suggestion, Eugene stood beside him and placed his hands on the massive bolt.
"Two, three—hnngh!"
"..."
Unlike Galfredic, who made a great show of straining, Eugene silently exerted his strength.
Kukukung!
As all the mercenaries' eyes widened, the two knights effortlessly lifted the three-meter-long, massive bolt and threw it aside.
Kuweong!
"Well then, take care until we return. We'll see you in four days."
"I pray for your success."
At this moment, acting as the lord's representative in place of Sir Tiwyn, Kamara nodded heavily at the two knights, feeling the full weight of responsibility.
Kreeeeak!
As if screaming in protest at the long years it had remained shut, the thick iron door slowly opened.
"Dungeon opening complete. We're going in."
Torches were lit throughout, and the subjugation force—two knights, twenty-six mercenaries, and eight porters—entered the dark dungeon one by one.
"May the gods' blessing be with you…"
Kamara and the territory's soldiers sent the warriors off with trembling voices.
"You fucking idiots! Keep the formation tight!"
Galfredic's thunderous voice exploded through the darkness.
But it was soon drowned out by the eerie howls of the kobolds, which sounded like rabid dogs.
Kyak-kyak! Kyaang! Kyang-kyang-kyang!
The mercenaries fell into a momentary panic when the kobolds launched a surprise attack from the shadows.
Wailing with their shrill cries and swinging their solid clubs, the kobolds—though low-tier monsters—were more than enough to inspire fear.
"Out of the way!"
Shoving aside two mercenaries who were struggling while blocking with their shields, Galfredic whirled the battle axes in both hands.
Shwish-shwish-shing!
In the instant the shrill sound of splitting air rang out—
Kyaaaaaang!
Two of them were decapitated at once, and four more collapsed with grievous injuries.
"Maintain formation and push in! Drive them against the wall!"
Roused by Galfredic's valor, the mercenaries regained their composure and charged with a roar.
Since each squad had its own formation, it looked chaotic from afar—but because they had fought together for a long time, their destructive power was immense.
Kyaaang! Keo-hung!
In moments, more than twenty kobolds fell, blood spraying everywhere.
Kobolds, with only parts of their bodies covered in leather and wielding crude wooden clubs, were no match for fully armed mercenaries.
But if that were all there was, why would one ever have to risk their life to clear a newly opened dungeon?
Kyak-kyak-kyak! Kyak-kyak!
"More are coming!"
"Damn it!"
The most dangerous aspect of a dungeon opening was that one never knew how many monsters lurked within, especially after it had remained sealed for so long.
And monsters never wait for mercenaries to rest.
"Reform the formation!"
Just as Galfredic's voice boomed—
Pabababak!
Someone kicked off the dungeon wall and launched themselves into the darkness toward the kobold horde.
When a nearly new steel-gray chainmail was revealed beneath the fluttering black robe in the torchlight, Galfredic shouted,
"Sir Eugeeeene!"
There were at least twenty kobolds visible at a glance.
In a dark dungeon less than five meters wide, leaping straight into the middle of a monster pack was tantamount to suicide—
Flash!
The sword-light formed by a short sword flared in the depths of the darkness.
Kyaaaaang! Kyang-kyang! Keuheong!
The screams of the monsters rang out without pause.
In the mercenaries' stunned eyes, streaks of light traced by the short sword flashed again and again.
After about twenty seconds had passed—
Even though the chilling cries of the kobolds had completely fallen silent, the mercenaries could not readily move.
Then, a knight with crimson eyes emerged from the darkness.
"I killed twenty-three. But when I rounded the corner up ahead, I saw some glowing grass. Is it valuable?"
At the words of this unmistakable "dungeon novice" knight—who didn't even recognize luminescent grass that only glows inside dungeons and withers the moment it's plucked—Galfredic and the mercenaries were left speechless.
(To be continued in the next chapter)