Even though the Blood Python was dead, the mercenaries, seized by fear, continued attacking.
"Enough! Stop! It's dead!"
Gillian shouted several times before the mercenaries finally dropped their weapons and stepped back.
By then, the sun had begun to set, casting a red glow across the surroundings.
The enormous snake's corpse lay sprawled with hundreds of weapons lodged in it, bathed in the sunset, making it look even darker and bloodier.
Everyone fell silent at the majestic and somber sight.
After waiting a while to confirm it wasn't moving, the mercenaries finally accepted the reality.
"Haha… We did it… We actually won!"
As one mercenary gasped, everyone began shouting in excitement.
"We killed it! We killed this monster!"
"Hahaha! This beast is actually dead!"
They had killed a monster they thought was unbeatable.
In truth, it was practically their employer who had defeated it alone.
"But is the employer okay?"
"Let's check on him!"
The mercenaries crowded around Ghislain.
Lying down, Ghislain weakly raised a hand and spoke with difficulty.
"Ah… everyone… you did well…"
At that, the mercenaries erupted in cheers.
"He's alive! The Captain is alive!"
"Yeah!"
Overjoyed at having survived an impossible battle, the mercenaries' cheering didn't seem to end.
The fact that Ghislain had performed so extraordinarily only added to their excitement.
"Haha, long live the Ghislain Mercenary Corps!"
"For now, let's just call ourselves the Ghislain Mercenary Corps!"
Caught up in the atmosphere, the mercenaries chanted Ghislain's name in joy.
Watching them laugh and cheer, Ghislain smiled faintly.
"Simple-minded fellows…"
And then he lost consciousness.
***
Ghislain slowly opened his eyes, as if waking from a long sleep.
Noticing him stir, Gillian, who had been watching over him, spoke in surprise.
"Young lord, are you awake? Are you alright?"
Lying down, Ghislain nodded slightly and asked in a hoarse voice.
"Where's Belinda?"
"She's not in danger. She's been given herbs for rest and is sleeping, so you needn't worry."
"What about the mercenaries' casualties?"
"Over half were killed… But, if it weren't for you, young lord, we would all be dead."
"…I see."
"But, young lord, please don't ever do that again. If you die, none of this matters," Gillian said in frustration.
A good employer would allow mercenaries to die rather than risk their own life. Where else could one find an employer willing to risk their life?
"…Understood. You're starting to sound more like Belinda."
Ghislain joked, and Gillian forced a small smile.
Kaor approached, grinning.
"I've seen a lot of crazy people in my life, but I've never seen anyone as insane as you, young lord. Never thought we'd take down that monster that way."
"I'm getting a little tired of hearing I'm insane," Ghislain replied, attempting to sit up, but was immediately overwhelmed by pain.
"Ah!"
"Careful. You're badly injured," Gillian said, quickly supporting him.
Ghislain looked over at himself slowly. His entire body was wrapped in bandages.
The lingering ache suggested that the poison hadn't fully left his body yet.
While he could use mana to purge the toxins, his shattered bones and torn muscles would take time to heal.
He had never used mana to this extent in his life.
With his current state, even short bursts of mana use would be challenging. Pushing himself until he lost consciousness had left his body in ruins.
'The time…'
He looked up at the sky in a daze, squinting at the bright sunlight.
They had slain the Blood Python at sunset, yet now the sun was high in the sky. He must have been unconscious for a long time.
Just then, the mercenaries, noticing he was awake, rushed over.
"The Captain is up!"
"Captain, are you alright?"
"We knew you'd pull through!"
They couldn't contain their joy and kept talking loudly around him.
Ghislain looked at each of them.
Unlike when they first met, their faces were now filled with confidence and ease.
And in their eyes, there was an unmistakable sense of trust.
After fighting for their lives together, their bond with Ghislain had grown remarkably strong.
Although their relationship had started as a contract, they were now comrades who had risked their lives for each other.
'This reminds me of the old days.'
He chuckled softly, feeling a surprising sense of nostalgia.
"Take another day to rest. Heal your wounds well. Monsters won't bother us now."
The mercenaries were hesitant, but they trusted Ghislain and settled down to rest.
Surprisingly, not a single monster appeared.
Thanks to this, the group recovered their strength and began moving in excellent condition.
After some time, Ghislain looked around and told the mercenaries,
"We're almost there. It's just up ahead."
The mercenaries, their eyes bright with anticipation, started talking excitedly.
"Do you think there's really something valuable there?"
"Maybe gold or silver!"
"At any rate, we're finally there."
Their excitement grew as they approached their final goal.
And soon, upon seeing what lay before them, they were rendered speechless.
"This… this is…"
"Is this real?"
"It's incredible!"
The mercenaries stared in shock, their eyes wide.
Gillian, barely able to contain his trembling, turned to Ghislain.
"Young lord… there's actually something valuable here. This… this is…"
Ghislain smiled as he met Gillian's gaze.
"Yes, it's something very valuable."
In front of them were fragments of crystal embedded in rock, glowing blue.
Each fragment cast a faint glow, and together, they lit up the dark forest.
There was only one mineral in the world that emitted light of its own.
It was the Rune Stone, a rare and precious resource.
The Rune Stone held magical power, used to create magic artifacts and barriers. Any mage would go mad over it.
It was so rare, both in where it could be mined and in the quantities that existed, that it was priceless.
And here, these Rune Stones lay scattered like common pebbles.
"Wow!"
"This is insane! They're all Rune Stones!"
"How much do you think this is worth?"
The mercenaries, giddy with excitement, danced around in joy. Even Ghislain couldn't hide his astonishment.
'There's more here than I ever imagined.'
Reading about it and seeing it firsthand were vastly different experiences.
Looking at the vast spread of Rune Stones before him, he felt a joy that erased the hardships he'd endured.
The mercenaries, after cheering, finally turned to Ghislain with excitement.
"There really was something valuable here, huh?"
"How did you know about this?"
"We weren't crazy to come here after all!"
The mercenaries couldn't calm down.
Anyone would lose their composure at the sight of so many Rune Stones.
Ghislain addressed them with a warm smile.
"All of you did a great job. I wouldn't have made it here without you."
The mercenaries fell silent, bowing their heads respectfully.
Many had died on this journey, and the survivors had fought beyond their limits.
Arriving at their destination despite all the hardships gave them a deep sense of fulfillment.
Ghislain continued, looking around at them.
"Since we made it here safely, I'll be giving you additional pay—triple the original amount. And for those who fell, the same bonus will be sent to their families."
"Wow! That's incredible!"
"Our Captain is the best!"
"This is amazing!"
The mercenaries cheered, throwing their weapons in the air.
They had fought hard and endured countless sacrifices to get here.
Not only were they alive, but their pay was tripled.
Their employer knew how to reward them generously.
Then, Gillian approached Ghislain and quietly asked,
"Young lord, we've already paid them a large sum. Is it really necessary to give them more? Providing for the families of the dead will cost quite a lot."
After all, which employer sends condolences to the families of deceased mercenaries?
Their wages were meant to cover such risks.
When they accepted payment, their duty was considered complete, whether they lived or died.
Sometimes an employer would give a bonus if things went well, but triple pay was unheard of.
"It's fine. If I'm going to spend money, I'd rather spend it meaningfully. These men risked their lives and worked hard; they deserve this reward."
Ghislain said it as though it were the most natural thing.
Gillian looked at Ghislain in silence.
There wasn't a hint of regret in his expression.
'He doesn't think twice about money?'
Gillian had observed that Ghislain, for a noble, was remarkably frugal.
Most nobles his age spent excessively due to vanity, but Ghislain had never indulged in extravagance.
Initially, he thought Ghislain was simply saving out of necessity, given the modest state of his estate.
But after seeing him in the Forest of Demonic Beasts, he realized that wasn't the case.
If Ghislain deemed something necessary, he spent money freely.
'For all his flaws, the young lord's character is exceptional.'
Having led mercenary groups himself, Gillian understood how rare such generosity was.
His young lord seemed to have a remarkably big heart, unconcerned with money.
Unable to help himself, Gillian smiled with satisfaction.
Belinda, who had been resting with strong medicinal herbs, also learned of the situation.
"Ah… so many Rune Stones… You really succeeded… It's unbelievable…"
Her face was pale from pain, yet she managed a faint smile.
Ghislain looked at her and smiled.
"It's thanks to you. If you hadn't blocked that blow for me, this would have failed. You're tougher than I thought; must be working out a lot."
Belinda twitched her lips, as if to say he was talking nonsense.
"Please… never do anything like that again. Why did you have to jump into a filthy monster's mouth…"
"Yes, yes. It's all resolved now, so you can rest easy. Once we get back, we'll start with your treatment. That shock probably caused mana to back flow internally. You're lucky none of your organs ruptured."
Even after a long rest, Belinda still couldn't move properly.
She had survived a tremendous impact, but her insides were a mess.
For disrupted mana flow, neither potions nor herbs would work. Rest was the only remedy.
"Hmm… I dodged it well, that's all… I only got hit because it was sudden. Wouldn't have happened normally…"
Even as she lay injured, she exuded pride, so Ghislain chuckled and pulled a blanket over her.
If he had left Belinda at the estate, this journey would have been far more difficult.
Looking back, he was glad to have brought her.
"Alright, rest up. We'll be heading back soon, so sleep a bit longer."
At Ghislain's words, Belinda closed her eyes and murmured softly.
"Don't just eat jerky… take out the spices… make some soup…"
"Alright, alright. Don't worry and rest."
She gave a faint smile at his words and soon fell asleep.
Once she was asleep, Ghislain looked around at the mercenaries and spoke.
"Now, let's start collecting our fortune."
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]