The Third-Rate Academy Villain Who Refuses to Become a Beggar

"We march!"

Waaaaaaa—

Please succeed and return safely!

Long live the Kingdom of Pragia!

The subjugation force of nearly eight hundred departed from Ginchef amid the people's passionate cheers.

The kingdom's regular army and mercenaries moved separately, keeping some distance, and Aint joined the Gray Spear Mercenary Band with Barosu.

"So this is the famous descendant of the Armian family?"

"The one who defeated our young master with one hand?"

"But can such a noble person adapt to mercenary life?"

"Maybe? Being an Armian, even a hundred years ago, they were foot... urk!"

"We're talking about a great family, show some respect. Pleased to meet you. I'm Hector."

The mercenaries approached one by one to greet him. Each had hands full of scars and calluses.

The one who practically managed the rough Gray Spear Mercenary Band was a mercenary named Hector. A huge 2-meter tall figure with a muscular build, covered in scars.

"I'm Aint."

"Huhu, I really wanted to meet you after hearing that our young master couldn't even put up a fight."

"Don't fabricate stories, Hector. It was a close call."

"Young master tends to downplay things when they're unfavorable to him."

"It's the truth, I tell you."

Barosu, who grumbled with a hollow laugh, whispered softly.

"Don't worry. They're a bit rough, but they keep their mouths shut. Your identity as an Armian won't leak outside."

"Thanks."

"Come with me for a moment."

Barosu struck the side of his horse and galloped lightly forward. Aint followed.

"Have you heard the operation plan?"

"Yes."

It wasn't a particularly elaborate plan. The subjugation force would enter Abelar as is and sweep away all the monsters in the area.

Furthermore, they would subjugate the gorgon that was acting as the leader at the center of Abelar.

To do this, they planned to systematically annihilate the monsters from the outskirts inward.

At least, that was the plan until just now.

Wooooo—

Boom boom boom—

"Emergency! Emergency!"

"Multiple monsters appearing at the front!"

"Gnoll, Dire Wolf, Grizzly Bear, Griffin, and two other types of monsters spotted!"

"Prepare for battle!"

Along with the urgent battle horn, shouts could be heard from here and there.

As if the previous sloppiness had been a lie, the atmosphere among the Gray Spear Mercenary Band members changed dramatically.

"Captain!"

Even their way of speaking changed. Barosu gripped his weapon and led the mercenaries.

"We'll cut through the enemy formation from the front."

"Yes! Prepare to advance!"

"Yes!"

The Gray Spear mercenaries, all mounted, moved forward. The distance to the group of a hundred monsters was rapidly closing.

"Aint, you stay at the rear. Since you're not yet in sync with us, that would be better."

"Okay."

Aint obediently followed behind them, riding the horse he had purchased separately.

"Split their formation in half, wheel around, and tear them apart."

"Yes."

"Prepare to charge."

"Prepare to charge!"

They were only about 30 mercenaries, but there wasn't an ounce of fear in their eyes.

"Charge!"

"Chaaaaarge!"

Thump thump thump—

The horses began to gallop wildly.

"It's the Gray Spear Mercenary Band!"

"Follow them!"

"Crush the monsters!"

Mounted mercenaries recognized the Gray Spear Mercenary Band and followed behind. The spears, which were only thirty in number, quickly doubled.

"Charge!"

"Charge!"

Thirty-one black spears sharpened their edges toward the enemies.

Black aura bloomed at the tips of the spears.

And then.

———!

Crack—

Bang!

Clang—

Kyeeeek!

Neeeigh!

The two groups collided. A chilling roar shook the battlefield.

Dire Wolves with holes all over their bodies flew through the air, turned into bloody pulp. Red droplets of blood scattered in all directions.

The cavalrymen, momentarily hesitant, spurred on as they trampled the ground mixed with corpses.

The gray spears chased after the blood of new enemies.

"Don't stop!"

"Don't fall behind!"

It was like a storm. They pushed, pierced, and tore apart everything that stood in their way as they advanced.

Kroaar!

The monsters charged without concern, not knowing fear.

But that only hastened their deaths.

In front of the thirty-one spears charging as one, all monsters met the same fate.

The path they had taken was left as a bloody road, mangled with the blood and corpses of monsters.

***

<These guys aren't mercenaries, I'd believe it if they were called knights. Trusting their comrades and jumping into the midst of monsters without the slightest hesitation. This is the perfect example of a charge.>

<I'd like to show this to those pretentious so-called knights.>

Gardner's admiration was no different from predicting the outcome of the battle.

The enemy formation was split in half by the Gray Spear Mercenary Band, and when the monsters' attention was focused on them, other mercenaries attacked from behind.

The entire field was filled with corpses, and the disgusting smell of mixed human and monster blood assaulted the nose.

"...Urgh!"

At that horrific scene, Aint unconsciously gagged.

He thought he had experienced quite a lot of real battles, but this was his first time witnessing a fight where dozens or hundreds of creatures died.

"Hehehe, you can really tell he was raised nobly."

"True. During the fight, he beheaded enemies without hesitation, but now?"

The mercenaries snickered, and Barosu handed over a towel.

"Wipe your mouth."

"Thanks... Isn't this a rag?"

It was too dirty and smelly to be called a towel.

"I used it to wipe off some blood while dismantling monsters."

While Aint was vomiting, most of the mercenaries were dismantling the monsters' corpses to claim their share.

Barosu was doing the same.

The completely dismantled corpses were being gathered and burned in one place by the kingdom's soldiers who arrived late.

"Urgh. I feel like vomiting more."

"Bear with it. Isn't this the kind of experience you became a mercenary for?"

"That's true, but..."

Is there really a need to wipe my mouth with a rag used to wipe monster blood?

Anyway, compared to a war with demons, this would be a drop in the bucket. Thinking that he couldn't be weak over just this much, Aint forced himself to get up.

"Captain Barosu. The commander summons you."

At that moment, a messenger approached.

The subjugation commander referred to Count Passen of the Kingdom of Pragia, who was currently leading the subjugation force.

"I'll go."

Barosu followed the messenger into the command tent and only came out about two hours later.

"According to the scouts, the monsters are scattered in small groups in all directions. Therefore, the forces will be divided accordingly."

"That means mercenaries should move autonomously by mercenary band, right?"

"Yes. The rights to the corpses will belong to the subjugators, and additional compensation will be provided based on the evidence of subjugation."

Having the rights to the monsters killed was a basic aspect.

The other mercenary bands seemed to have received the message as well, as they were preparing to leave the camp one by one.

"What about the kingdom's soldiers?"

"They'll also be divided into small units and scattered."

"What if the monsters regroup?"

"That's why they distributed maps marking the main gathering places within the domain."

A total of 12 places.

Originally villages and cities where citizens would have been living, the idea was that if the monsters regrouped and became large-scale, forces should gather at the nearest meeting place to join forces.

There were also flares to be fired in emergency situations.

"Good. Then let's go hunt the gorgon."

"Indeed, that's our request. Aint, what are your plans?"

"...Hmm. If it's not rude, can I continue to follow you?"

With this first battle, Aint profoundly realized.

Thanks to his swordsmanship and aura characteristics, he was optimized for facing magic beasts, but apart from that, he still lacked in many areas.

He judged that it would be better to learn about reality by piggybacking on a veteran mercenary band than wandering alone and dying a lonely death.

"By all means, if that's what you want."

"Thanks."

"Then you should pay us."

The vice-captain abruptly extended his hand.

"Money?"

"If you think about it, isn't this an escort request? Shouldn't there be compensation?"

"Hector."

"I'm joking. Since you're a friend of our young master, of course we'll do it for free."

He chuckled while brushing his unkempt beard.

"Thank you."

"Who knows? Maybe someday we'll receive a favor from the imperial family."