Chapter 141

[Skill Effect — Incitement is weakened.]

*Incitement is most effective when the target remains an unknown entity! The opponent believes they have uncovered the truth of the rumor!

[Skill Effect — Fabrication is weakened.]

*Doubts have turned into certainties! Even the slightest anxiety in the opponent's mind has vanished!

[The progress of Quest: In Front of the Battlefield's Flag is reduced significantly!]

[The progress of Quest: With the Heart of a Peasant is reduced significantly!]

A series of negative messages bombarded in.

The Legendary Silver Mercenary.

The moment Reinhardt appeared in front of both armies, the situation changed. Welrose' morale plummeted, while Middleline's soared.

"Hahaha! That's the Legendary Seven Stars!?"

"Robron, you foolish child! Hahah!"

"He must have been duped by some nobody. If it were the real Reinhardt, even all of his family's wealth wouldn't have been enough to hire him."

Middleline's officers laughed and chattered among themselves. It was a plausible situation to any observer. The Silver Mercenary simply stood at the forefront, a sight far from legendary.

"Commander."

"It's fine."

"…Yes, sir."

Strategist Smith was right in the middle of this absurd situation. So was Robron. Surprisingly, the two had abandoned their post in the rear and joined the Silver Mercenary at the forefront of the army.

"One last check. Normally, wizards cannot intervene, but that's solely to minimize unnecessary casualties. Correct?"

"That's right."

"Good. Carry out your role, Sir Smith."

Smith silently nodded, standing ready, waiting for Seojin's command.

"Helix. You remember everything correctly, don't you?"

"Insolent kid… I mean, yes, sir"

The Silver Mercenary, Helix, responded in a low voice. His expression and posture was unmovable. Despite the lack of rehearsal, given Helix's proven skill, it was safe to trust him. But a little more was needed.

"Don't forget, Helix. You are…"

Skill — White Lie is applied.

"Reinhardt. A mercenary of legends, intelligent enough to remember all the devices deployed here."

"I am…"

"Yes, you are Reinhardt, one of the Seven Stars. When you swing your hammer, the earth splits, and just a glance makes your enemies tremble in fear. You are that legendary…"

"Brat."

Your intelligence far exceeds the target's! Effect significantly increased!

"Don't get smart with your tongue. You've paid, now shut up and wait for the results. I'll deliver the outcome you expect."

His gaze was terrifying. Heavy, with an indomitable force behind it. A stark contrast from his awkward acting back at the tent.

"…Understood, Reinhardt."

Seojin played along.

"But don't forget. The contract includes a clause that allows us to stop you at any time."

He conveyed the most crucial information to Helix inside Reinhardt. Reinhardt glanced back with a dry look.

"If I have to be reminded of the contract terms twice, then I'm not a mercenary, but merely worthless trash. Who do you see before you?"

"A legendary mercenary, with no need for such reminders. My apologies, Reinhardt. I misspoke."

"Hmph."

He snorted, embodying the undefeated veteran. His face bore wrinkles, weighted with the years.

After a brief silence,

"All troops!"

The Middleline commander's shout was heard.

"Charge!"

The earth trembled beneath their feet. Soldiers, their spirits lifted, surged ahead. On the faces of Welrose' centurions, the panic was clear, yet Seojin held back from ordering a charge. Instead,

"Now, Reinhardt."

The legendary mercenary stepped forward alone.

* * *

"Hah, look at him putting on such a show. This conman doesn't know he's marching towards his own demise."

"There's no way he'll find an escape. He's bound to turn around and run away soon."

"My only concern is that our excited soldiers might harm the precious young master."

The Middleline commander chuckled contentedly, conversing with his adjutant. The flow of battle was all too clear. This clumsy conman would soon back off, and the reckless Robron would pay the price for his impulsive actions. With a relaxed smile, he watched as the conman's hammer rose high in the air.

"Let's see how long this farce will la…"

Thud.

The moment the hammer hit the ground, a vibration was felt underfoot, causing the commander to snap his mouth shut.

"…?"

He narrowed his eyes. Beside him, the subordinate wore the same expression. They both looked back at the mercenary, and the hammer struck the ground again.

Rumble.

It was clear. The vibration was caused by the impact of that hammer.

"…Halt the advance."

"Yes, HAAALT!"

Whish! Thwack!

The standard-bearer signaled with flags.

The Midline army, which had been advancing forcefully, halted. The soldiers' morale was just as shaken as they were by the vibrations.

"What was that just now?"

"I don't know, sir. It's…"

The subordinate seemed equally bewildered.

Naturally. The tremor that reached them was mild, but the ground where the hammer struck looked almost as if it had been hit by a meteor.

"YOU BRATS, STILL WET BEHIND THE EARS-!"

The mercenary's voice boomed across the battlefield, amplified as if by magic.

"IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DIE, GO BACK AND TILL YOUR FIELDS-!"

He spoke with raw, blunt killing intent in his voice.

"…Tron. Call Tron! Quickly!"

The Middleline commander urgently ordered his subordinate.

Shortly after, Tron, the leader of the Grandis mercenaries, arrived.

"…Didn't I tell you? There was a hammer. I said he would bring Reinhardt."

He reminded the commander with a calm demeanor.

"So, does that mean that's the real…"

"I can't believe this is real myself. To think we would even get to see him from afar. What a momentous occasion."

"A momentous occasion, you say. This is insane. Is that man really Reinhardt?"

"Who else could exhibit such a presence if not him?"

Even as he spoke, Tron gazed at Reinhardt with admiration.

He handled the giant hammer with such ease. A hammer that seemed impossible for Tron to even lift, let alone wield.

"You called us, so I'll ask. Will you continue to fight?"

"What do you mean?"

"This is different from our contract. There was no mention of facing Reinhardt on the other side. Out of principle, we will return the money we received. Our mercenary group will withdraw from this battle."

"And you call yourselves mercenaries?"

"The Mercenary King once said, when the contract's terms and situation change, throw back the money and leave. If the original client insists, then join the opposite side."

"How dare you…"

"How dare us? Frankly, we're not in a position to be pushed around by a mere thousand-man commander, and once the contract ends, we should be addressing each other respectfully."

"Respect? To a mere mercenary?"

"A mere mercenary, you say… Well, understood."

Tron turned to leave, and the Middleline commander was struck with a terrifying thought.

"Tron! Wait!"

But no response came.

That's when he truly realized the value of the Grandis mercenaries.

And how much Robron had spent to recruit them.

And then…

"Sir! Leader of the Grandis Mercenaries!"

"Oh, did you call?"

"That was a mistake. The situation was unclear, and I got agitated. I formally apologize."

"An apology… Well, I'll take that. Anyway, we'll cancel the contract. The deposit will be left with the paymaster…"

"Do as you please."

"And one last sincere piece of advice for you, commander."

Tron checked Reinhardt's position, then faced the commander again.

"If I were you, I would retreat immediately. Surely the Marquis Middleline would understand once he hears the name Reinhardt, wouldn't he?"

* * *

The commotion within the ranks of the Middleline forces was clearly visible to Seojin as well. The existence of Reinhardt, as well as the lack of further instructions from the higher-ups clearly led to bigger anxiety.

-Wow, he's good. He's telling the commander to pull out.

-And what did the commander say?

-He can't say anything, can he? He should've considered this war a done job. He didn't sound like he was kidding when he said he was worried that you'll get hurt.

Seojin nodded in satisfaction at Flappy's report. Tron was doing a much better job than he had initially expected.

'Or maybe he believes we have the actual Reinhardt?'

That was a possibility as well. He did put a lot of effort into this showcase after all.

"Reinhardt. I think now's the time."

"Hmph."

He had to strike the final nail in the coffin.

The "legendary mercenary" walked forward with a hammer on his shoulder. Although his steps were slow, every step he took further paled the faces of the soldiers in the Middleline forces.

A few steps later,

Thud.

The hammer was struck into the ground. "Reinhardt" shouted with his arms crossed.

"ANYONE-!"

Everyone could hear him. The legendary mercenary's voice filled the entire battleground.

"WHO CROSSES THIS HAMMER WILL DIE IN MY HANDS!"

The firm declaration was enough to transmit the tyranny of the legendary king of mercenaries.

-They're having a meeting, and they got to the point where they're thinking that you are acting in consideration for them. They've practically set an answer and are heading towards it.

Now, it was a matter of time.

[White Lie: 4m 26s]

The problem was that the effective duration was short, but he could resolve that by hastening the war to an end.

"Sir Smith!"

"Yes! Raise the flags!"

The flags of the black rose were held up high. Excited, the Welrose forces got into formation. As soon as the flags went down, they would charge forward.

And eventually.

"I see a white flag!"

Middleline took out a slightly different flag.

* * *

"It's over."

"It has ended."

"Whoa…"

At Hailstorm's Strategic Planning Division, General Manager Kim Jeonsu and Team Leader Baek Chahyun stared blankly at the screen. It wasn't Reinhardt they were looking at. Of course they knew this, having watched from the beginning. But whether it was the real Reinhardt or not wasn't important.

"It must be a huge success, right?"

"…I think so."

The Middleline army had retreated without even engaging in battle, overwhelmed by the imposing presence of the fake Reinhardt. And this test was, after all, about intimidation.

"The magical trap he created… more of a special effect rather than a trap, really. It didn't cause even a bit of harm to the enemy troops. Heh, funny. This quest probably wasn't designed to be cleared like that."

"The game wasn't designed to be played this way."

That was what General Manager Kim always said when he talked about Seojin. Though it might have started as flattery, Team Leader Baek also shared this sentiment.

But Kim shook his head.

"…To be honest, these days, I'm not sure anymore. Considering what that man has shown us so far and the scenes the developers are presenting us."

"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand what you're saying."

"No, it's my fault for not being clear. What I mean is…"

Rub, rub, rub.

Kim ruffled his hair. As he watched Seojin talking to Smith, he opened up about his honest feelings.

"It's like… they're telling us to watch and learn. As if they want us to…"