Chapter 11
A nobleman sat with an annoyed expression on his face.
Surrounded by numerous soldiers stationed on either side and guarded by knights in black uniforms, he sat on a luxurious chair and spoke in a haughty voice.
“It’s truly disappointing. Even though today is the deadline, to arrive this late? Do you not even know the courtesy of arriving early to wait when hosting an esteemed person?”
“My apologies, Duke Oaklean. How could these lowly beings possibly understand courtesy? Please forgive them with your boundless generosity.”
“Tch… Fine. This magnanimous figure shall endure.”
Beside him, a servant with a bandaged shoulder—whom Magellan had seen before—spoke, fawning over the Duke.
The Duke, clicking his tongue in disapproval, gestured toward Magellan’s party, resembling a pig slumped arrogantly in his chair.
At that moment…
“Duke Oaklean is here! Kneel and show proper respect!”
The servant raised his voice.
Magellan and the Demanes crew all knelt immediately.
Though they were reluctant, their opponent was a nobleman.
Even if his authority wasn’t what it used to be, it was still significant enough that offering respect at close range was natural, especially given their current position of failing their mission.
Thus, kneeling at a slight distance, Duke Oaklean spoke to them in a condescending tone.
“Where is that girl? I don’t see her anywhere. Bring her here immediately!”
“…My deepest apologies. I wish to offer my sincerest regrets for this matter.”
“What?”
At Magellan’s words, the Duke’s already displeased face twisted further.
“We are sorry. We did everything in our power to secure the girl, but the one protecting her turned out to be none other than the Pirate King. It was impossible for us to overcome the Lord of the Sea. In the end, we had no choice but to retreat, suffering injuries in the process.”
“…”
“Since we failed the mission, we will refund the fee. We deeply regret not fulfilling the entrusted task. If you wish, I will personally offer additional compensation to assuage your anger.”
There was much Magellan wanted to say.
The fact that the Duke had known their target was under the Pirate King’s protection yet still issued the mission was essentially throwing them into the jaws of death.
Though they accepted the job for money, asking them to jump into a raging inferno was beyond excessive.
However, arguing this with a high-ranking noble would be futile. Magellan decided to apologize quietly and offer compensation to resolve the situation.
But then…
“…Did you just say you failed? You dare to fail a mission entrusted by me, Duke Oaklean?”
“Yes. As I mentioned, the opponent was the Pirate King. There was no way we could possibly—”
-Bang!
“…!?”
Suddenly, a chilling pain pierced through Magellan’s shoulder.
Blood began to pour from the wound.
“Wha… What is…?”
In the midst of this incomprehensible situation, Magellan saw a figure standing next to the Duke—a knight in a black uniform holding a smoking pistol aimed at him.
“Ugh!”
“Captain!”
“Magellan!”
His subordinates, caught off guard by the sudden situation, surrounded him in a panic, with Elkana hurriedly shielding him.
Normally, Magellan, as a high-ranking warrior, would have blocked an incoming bullet with a magic barrier.
As an experienced combatant, it was routine for him to cut down enemies even amidst a hail of bullets.
However, Magellan was not in peak condition, and he had not anticipated such an ambush.
Despite the ominous feeling he had sensed, who could have imagined that a mere client, not an enemy, would launch such a sudden attack?
“Useless scum. Just die already.”
“D… Duke? What is… What is the meaning of this…?”
The servant, equally taken aback, stammered.
Then—
-Bang!
-Thud!
Before he could finish his words, a bullet pierced through the servant’s head.
The servant fell to the ground, dead instantly.
Watching this, the Duke spoke in a voice brimming with cold anger.
“You are just as worthless. Twice now, you have dared to disappoint me. Scum like you deserves to die alongside them.”
Before his words even ended, the Duke’s soldiers began preparing for combat.
As guns and magic were aimed at them, Elkana shouted desperately.
“What… What is the meaning of this? Why are you—”
“Do you really need to ask? You failed the mission I gave you, causing me unnecessary trouble! You, a lowly commoner, dared to offend the noble sentiments of a Duke of the Franz Kingdom!”
“Are you saying you’re going to kill us over something so trivial? I told you I would compensate for the mistake! Why are you trying to kill us?”
Magellan’s furious outburst filled the air.
But the Duke, appearing annoyed, nonchalantly dug his ear with his finger.
“A commoner who offends a noble deserves death. That is the natural order. How can someone as uneducated as you not understand such a basic truth? Dealing with trash like you is exhausting.”
“Such… utter nonsense…”
Magellan had encountered many nobles and clients over the years, including plenty of difficult and unreasonable individuals.
Some refused to pay after receiving services, others canceled missions after finding fault with the results.
While such incidents diminished after Magellan gained his reputation, troublesome clients still occasionally appeared.
But never had he encountered someone as utterly insane as this.
To execute them merely for failing a mission and souring his mood?
In today’s world, where the authority of nobles was not what it once was, such tyranny was unthinkable.
In recent times, even the nobles and the king had been wary, fearing the increasingly turbulent public sentiment, avoiding bold actions whenever possible.
Considering Magellan’s reputation, such an act could potentially cause a significant ripple in the kingdom’s public opinion—especially among the mercenaries and hunters active in this land.
Despite this, Duke Oaklean gave the command without hesitation.
Whether he had no regard for the aftermath or simply didn’t see them as people,
Whatever the case, it was clear: Magellan had found himself entangled with the worst kind of scum, and once again, he regretted his foolish decision to take on this mission.
“As much as I’d love to conduct a public execution, I am a generous nobleman. I will mercifully handle this quietly here. Now, die obediently.”
“I refuse! No matter how noble you are, such tyranny is unacceptable! If this becomes known, even you—”
“What are you standing around for? Get rid of these lowlifes at once.”
Without even acknowledging Elkana’s protest, the Duke issued his command, as though he were ordering flies to be swatted.
Immediately, the soldiers who had been in shooting positions opened fire, their guns and staves unleashing bursts of flame.
“Damn it! Everyone, run!”
Countless bullets and spells flew toward them.
In response, Magellan hastily conjured a magic barrier.
Wounded and exhausted, with the added burden of the recent gunshot,
The barrier was far from his usual strength, less than half of its normal potency, but it was the best he could manage.
At the very least, he hoped to protect the others—
Elkana and the subordinates behind him.
Then…
“Gahh!!”
“Ugh!”
“!!”
The sharp cries of pain echoed.
Instead of the impact and pain from bullets and spells,
The sounds of their voices filled Magellan with confusion.
“What… what are you doing!?”
Magellan shouted in a voice trembling with anger.
Standing before him, blocking his view,
His subordinates—hunters from Demanes—grinned, their faces pale.
“Haha… That stings quite a bit, huh?”
“Cough! Ugh… Looks like I still have a long way to go before I can be like you, Captain. Once this is over, I’ll have to train harder.”
Speaking through bloodied lips, his subordinates stood their ground.
Seeing them shield him, Magellan shouted urgently.
“Get back immediately! Don’t worry about me—just run!”
“That’s not happening, Captain. If you die here, who’s going to buy us drinks?”
“You promised, didn’t you? Once this mission was over, you’d treat us to a feast. Go ahead, secure the best seats at the tavern for us.”
“You… you can’t mean…”
Realizing what their words meant, Magellan’s face turned ashen.
This could not be.
It was unacceptable.
He would rather be killed himself than let this happen.
To sacrifice his subordinates,
His comrades,
His cherished family? That was unthinkable.
“Cut the nonsense! I’m the captain! Why should I, of all people, be protected by the likes of you? I’ll hold them off here, so retreat immediately! That’s an order—”
As he forced himself to rise, a sudden blow struck the back of his head.
Unable to continue speaking, Magellan’s vision blurred.
“El…Elka…na… W-What… is this…”
“I’m sorry, Magellan… but we have to save you.”
With those words, Elkana lifted the fading Magellan over her shoulder.
As she turned to leave, the heavily injured subordinates, smiles etched on their faces, said,
“Take care of the Captain for us.”
“Guess I owe you one, Sis. Sorry to trouble you even at the very end.”
“Sorry… everyone… Thank you for everything.”
Elkana’s voice was heavy with guilt as she bid her final goodbye.
The hunters, without looking back at her, focused their gazes forward, toward the Duke’s soldiers.
“None of that. Just buy us a drink in the afterlife.”
“Thanks for everything! See you soon, Lieutenant!”
“…Ugh…”
A short yet unbearably painful farewell.
Suppressing her sorrow, Elkana forced her trembling legs to move, fleeing with all her might.
“Charge!”
“Let’s see how great you so-called noble lapdogs really are!”
The familiar voices of her comrades roared behind her, followed by the sound of gunfire and explosions.
The dreadful cacophony of steel clashing against steel struck her ears one final time as she fled toward the port.
“Capture them!”
“The Duke’s orders! Don’t let a single one escape!”
The soldiers pursued Elkana.
Yet, possessing the fleetest feet among her party, she managed to elude them and reached the port.
Desperately leaping aboard the moored ship, she severed the anchor line and set sail.
‘If I can just escape like this…’
-Bang!
—
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