Chapter 123 - Operation White Line

People hurriedly came and went; screams and shouts were heard here and there. The scene was truly close to a state of panic.

Harold looked down on such turmoil from a sparsely populated hill. There were mainly two reasons why the town of Baston had fallen into such a situation.

One was that the concentration of gas in the mine had increased rapidly, and the Knights were issuing evacuation warnings, as it was an emergency situation where a major explosion could occur at any moment. As expected of the Knights, who were known throughout the land, even the residents who had been hesitant to evacuate were finally beginning to do so.

This efficiency was probably due to having prepared to flee beforehand

Second, there are rumors circulating that Harold, who has become fed up with the residents who refuse to evacuate, is trying to kill the townspeople indiscriminately. Or rather, it is more accurate to say that Harold himself intentionally spread these rumors.

The purpose, of course, is to incite the evacuation. Just the other day, he was seen by many residents trying to eliminate the leader of the anti-evacuation faction, and naturally, the news spread throughout the town. Thus, the current rumors have taken on a certain degree of credibility.

And because of that, Harold waited in a location that provided an overview of the situation and was easy to survey, as there was a risk of causing unnecessary confusion if he was in a conspicuous location. He crossed his arms and gazed at the town while waiting for the report to arrive. Shortly thereafter, Keith appeared and succinctly conveyed the situation.

【”Looks like ’Operation White Line’ is a bust. The monsters ain’t stoppin’.”】

The contents were spoken nonchalantly, just as Harold had expected. In the original, the 『White Bottle』 was an item that reduced the encounter rate with monsters. The contents were a liquid that emitted an odor that monsters disliked. The operation was intended to scatter it in the tunnels and stop the monsters in the underground cavern, or at least turn them back partially.

If it went well, it would have been a strategy that was safe and required less effort, but that plan failed.

Well, it seemed to be controlled in some way, and I had a feeling that the White Bottles wouldn’t work if it was rampaging like in the original. The monsters will overflow into the town in less than half a day now.

【”I see. Then, as planned, follow the instructions on the list and evacuate the residents quickly.”】

【”…Sir, are you really plannin’ on stayin’ here?”】

【”Of course. Allow me to enjoy the sight of the foolish ones running around.”】

Harold’s turn will come when the monsters reach the ground. That’s why he wanted to complete the evacuation as soon as possible.

【”I’m ready for the next preparations, but are you really gonna do this? The opponent is thousands of monsters, ya’ know?”】

【”So what?”】

【”I just wouldn’t expect a damn nobleman to go and fight those things, and even if you did, it would only result in you throwing your life away. There ain’t a reason to take risks like that.”】

【”Hmph, don’t make baseless assumptions. I fight because these monsters are in the way, not because I have any intention of being a noble.”】

【”…Is that so? It’d be great if we can end this without havin’ to use the final plan.”】

【”If you don’t want to use it, finish up the evacuation quickly, even if you have to drag them.”】

【”Gotcha, I wish ya’ luck, sir.”】

Although Keith didn’t seem fully convinced, he left and went back to the town as instructed.

Keith’s argument was reasonable and Harold knew he genuinely cared. If the residents were all able to be evacuated to safety, Harold didn’t plan on taking any risks as well.

However, Harold couldn’t believe in such a convenient future.

So he had no choice but to do it and was prepared to do so. To make sure his resolve didn’t falter, even if it was just for show, he ridiculed Keith’s concern as misguided.

The time had already passed noon, and the sun was slowly starting to set.

With the report that even the White Bottle was unable to stop them, in a few more hours, the monsters would reach the surface.

【”… I’m gonna do it”】

Without even knowing who he was saying it to or why, Harold muttered to himself.

◇

Harold Stokes was a peculiar young man. It had been nearly two years since Keith met him.

Keith lived his life as a mercenary without any particular goals or prospects for the future. He had no drive to change his current situation, even though he knew that eventually, he would no longer be able to sustain this lifestyle.

Being a mercenary was a profession that inevitably led to a dead end unless you were employed exclusively by a noble or wealthy client. Keith understood that only a handful of mercenaries would succeed in such a way.

Therefore, Keith believed that he would either die on the battlefield as a mercenary or grow old and wither away without being able to wield a sword. He lived his life indulging in momentary pleasures, trying to avoid facing the future that he knew was coming.

One day, something happened.

【”There’s a man named Keith Wingate here, right? Which one is he?”】

Within a run-down bar where mercenaries and thugs gathered, a teenager with inappropriate attire for the surroundings had appeared.

His condescending tone and attitude exuded a sense of nobility, a type that was typically disliked by the common people.

That being said, Keith was an adult who was experienced in the ways of the world. Naturally, he understood the difference between his own position and that of the other person, and he was not so immature as to express any resentment he might have felt inwardly.

To be honest, he wanted to ignore it and let it go, but being known by name meant that his face might also be known. If that were the case, it would be difficult to back out, and if he were caught ignoring it, it could become troublesome.

Although he didn’t know what he was needed for, Keith decided to volunteer while praying that it wouldn’t be something troublesome.

【”Keith, that’s me, you need somethin’?”】

The noble-looking boy who Keith had volunteered to approach scrutinized him with narrowed eyes.

He felt a strange sense of pressure as if he was being appraised. After staring at him, the boy said:

【”I will give you a job counting on your ability.”】

These were the words of a brazen youth.

However, rather than just irritation at such a well-worn phrase, he felt some sort of peculiar sensation. That would be Keith and Harold’s first meeting.

Feeling overwhelmed, Harold listened to the proposition. It was an invitation to join an organization that did odd jobs, similar to what Harold had started on his own.

At first, he thought it was just a ploy for an aristocrat to gain some worldly experience, so he only half-listened. But he was shocked by the amount of money offered. It wasn’t outrageous for what a dedicated mercenary would receive, but it was clearly head and shoulders above what was normal.

In addition, he was offered a fixed salary regardless of the nature of the work, which is usually paid on a commission basis.

【”What kinda’ joke is this? Even a bad scam woulda’ been more careful of not bein’ found out.”】

Keith couldn’t help but let out a careless comment at the offer, which was too good to be true.

Harold’s response to that was this.

【”I told you that this is a job where you might risk your life. That’s the value of your life.”】

he said without mincing words, but Keith could only laugh.

Being a mercenary is a profession where you live and die in battles. Risking one’s life was a given.

Despite that, Harold speaks as if it is cruel treatment when he invests a large sum of money every month in his own life, which seems to be worth less than ten gold coins.

In the course of their conversation, Keith quickly realized that Harold, despite being a teenager, was unusually mature and intelligent. The contrast between his intelligence and ignorance was simply delightful.

【”Hahaha, that’s right, that’s right. You gotta be serious.”】Keith replied.

【”Make sure you don’t die. By the way, do you have a wife and children?”】 Harold asked.

【Unfortunately, I’m single,】 Keith answered.

【”Then you won’t need any family allowances. As for overtime pay and worker’s compensation…”】Harold continued

【”Overtime pay“? “Worker’s compensation?“】

Keith was taken aback by the repeated use of words he had never heard before, but Harold continued to explain the contract without paying attention to him.

It was surprising enough that a contract was being used for something like hiring a mercenary, but the contents were so far from common sense that Keith went from being shocked to bursting into laughter as the meeting progressed. In the end, he was left stunned and could only listen.

Looking back, the conditions seemed suspicious, but for some reason, he had chosen to believe in them. And ultimately, that choice proved to be correct.

Where else could you find a nobleman who would provide a fixed amount of money every month regardless of the job or an employer who would increase the amount just by working more than the predetermined hours, if you had a wife and children? Who else but Harold would compensate for injuries or death on the job? He is definitely the only person who talks about employee benefits like paid leave or social events in the world.

【”Despite that, he never lets us risk our lives as much as possible. Always bein’ in the most dangerous positions…”】

That was the only thing he was dissatisfied with as a member of Frieri.

【”Did you say something, Keith?”】

【”Nah, it’s nothing.”】

【”Is that so?”】

【”Yeah. Hey, what do you think of Boss?”】

【”Harold? At first, I was scared, but he’s been incredibly kind to me, so I’m really grateful.”】

【”That so? Well, guess that’s right.”】

Surely, everyone in Frieri would say the same thing. That’s why…

【”Anyway, I wish they would rely on me a little more… I know that from the boss’s perspective, my strength is insignificant and even if I were to stay it would be useless, but…”】

【”But even if you aren’t useful, you don’t wanna only the Boss to be the one in danger, right?”】

【”…Yeah. ‘Specially since the last strategy is basically a suicide mission.”】

Everyone should have been wanting to speak up against Harold’s third plan this time.

【”To prevent that, you gotta hurry up and take the refugees to the foot of the mountain.”】

【”Uh, what about you, Aniki?”】

【”If you and the Knights are there, there ain’t gonna be any problems with evacuation guidance. I’ll stay as close to Boss as possible.”】

If the last plan were to be put into action, they would have to activate that.

For anyone from Frieri, it would be a painful task. So at least, Keith thought he would like to shoulder that much.

Sensing his feelings, the man gave a slightly lonely smile and said thus

【”Please come back alive, together with the Boss”】

【”Yeah.”】

And the moment Keith turned on his heel, the ground began to shake. The sound of rumbling progressively growing larger and larger.

【”Is this, by any chance…”】

【”Damn it, they’re already here…!”】

In a jump, Keith ran back down the road he had just come. The sun had already tilted and the mountain road that connected the town and the foothills was already dim. Though his footing was unsteady and he almost fell, he ran as if it didn’t matter.

The monsters’ terrifying screams echoed in the orange-tinted sky, stained by the setting sun.