However, the two young women were unaware of this and had no idea where they were. If they had known, they would never have come here.
Because this was Mercenary Street.
Although Ryuji had taken over this kingdom, abolished a series of exorbitant taxes and levies, reclaimed the lands of the major nobles, exempted current tenants from rent, and announced that they could apply for new land at the administrative offices next year...
The changes sweeping the world were irreversible. Many people still became mercenaries or displaced farmers, coming here to try their luck. While these people superficially obeyed Ryuji's laws, in private...
Everyone knew these guys were anything but honest.
Ryuji couldn't do much about it for now. After all, they weren't openly breaking the law, and his initial funding and personnel were recruited from among mercenaries, so he left them be for the time being.
After all, he didn't come here to change the world.
Because of this, this place had become a gathering spot for many opportunists, and the Black Dog Mercenary was currently the biggest among them.
However, from the Black Dog Mercenary's perspective, Ryuji probably wasn't very friendly.
The man with a black greatsword on his back couldn't help but stroke his chin. Just by looking at the two young women before him, he could tell they were definitely exceptional goods.
But his attention wasn't fully on these two top-quality items; much of his focus was on the new regulations in his hand.
Just as he was pondering, a man with two daggers hanging from his waist approached and spoke directly.
"Boss Walter, these two are definitely top-grade, right?"
The man with the greatsword nodded, agreeing with the other's assessment.
"Of course, Brother Hicks. The one with flaxen hair has no calluses on her hands, but has slight ones on her fingertips. She's fearful and anxious about her surroundings and seems unfamiliar with everything. Clearly a noble young lady accustomed to holding a pen and writing. And that white-haired one has no calluses at all, but moves with remarkable agility. Definitely a specially trained maid, the kind used as a bed partner. I'm guessing they're one of the few noble ladies and maids who managed to escape from Ryuji, whom the nobles call 'The Tyrant King'."
Walter casually voiced his speculation. Many nobles who had luckily survived were currently trying to flee the First and Second Fortresses.
Especially the Second Fortress. Since the Second and First Fortresses were connected and even shared an administrative system, Ryuji had taken advantage of this opportunity to take over the Second Fortress and eliminated its nobles as well.
This task didn't even require Ryuji's personal involvement; the army formed from former mercenaries under him had accomplished it, which truly made their mouths water.
Although Ryuji demanded that most assets from executed nobles go into the national treasury, it was still an unspoken rule for soldiers and officers to take a cut of five or ten percent. While Ryuji had explicitly prohibited no looting of commoners and even executed countless people to enforce this, he seemed to turn a blind eye to such conventions.
Of course, pretty women were naturally prioritized for him; that was unavoidable.
What Walter couldn't understand was why the other party didn't distribute the captured women among his subordinates. If he just had the two princesses... serviced by those who surrendered, then regardless of their previous allegiances, they would surely side with him now.
"What a shame we can't make a move, boss. When will Lord Ryuji start attacking the Dark Elf Queen? Although our brothers can still hold out for now, later..." Hicks hinted meaningfully.
The members of the Black Dog Mercenary were a lawless bunch. When short on money, they would kill, rob, and capture women. Upon reaching a city, they'd sell the captured women as slaves, then head to the taverns and purchase supplies.
Such a life was excessively good. So, having missed out on the spoils under Ryuji, and with their main employers, the nobles, mostly eliminated by Ryuji, they were now running short on both money and women.
Moreover, Ryuji was strongly opposed to massacring villages. Even some of his earliest followers had been executed for raiding villages. They didn't think the Black Dog Mercenary, known for robbing villages elsewhere, would receive any leniency from him.
Although they felt this kingdom, which Ryuji had overthrown using mercenaries, wasn't beyond their own ability to topple, honestly, unless pushed into a desperate situation, they didn't want to face Ryuji, who could conquer a country single-handedly.
"Don't worry. Let the brothers have their fun today. Also, from now on, just call him the Tyrant King. No need for 'Lord' or 'Your Majesty'."
Walter casually tossed aside the document in his hand. He had figured it out: although Ryuji started with mercenaries, he looked down on them just like the nobles did.
Almost every clause in these regulations targeted the Black Dog Mercenary Group!
No slave trading. No killing people unrelated to the mission. Must report after every completed task. Mercenaries can only accept tasks in designated areas. Earnings from tasks are taxable. All personnel changes in mercenary groups must be reported and registered. Large mercenary groups operating near cities must report to local lords and official authorities.
Goods being transported must be reported. Smuggling, regardless of scale, is punishable by death.
And if any regulation is violated, the mercenary group will be ordered to disband and sentenced according to the law. If a mercenary commits a crime, sentencing will consider aggravating circumstances.
Not only that, mercenaries are regarded as professional soldiers but do not enjoy any benefits of professional soldiers. When war breaks out, they are required to participate in combat, but they are only provided with pensions and basic rations; the remaining costs must be covered by the mercenary leader.
This series of decrees was reportedly conceived by Ryuji within ten minutes of having sex with the princess. But Walter felt the other party had racked his brains trying to destroy mercenaries like them.
So, he decided not to stay in Ryuji's kingdom anymore.
Plenty of countries disliked Ryuji anyway. When the time comes, Ryuji would realize how foolish it was to target them.
As for now...
"Boss, you mean... this way there won't be any problems, right?"
A lecherous smile spread across Hicks's face. Just seeing those two girls' bodies was enough to arouse him. Those who indulged their desires never considered restraining them.
"That's right. Gather everyone. After a wild party, we'll head to the Third and Fourth Fortresses to operate! And don't worry, these two are probably the children of fleeing nobles. Ryuji's attitude towards such people is execution; he won't care. As for future activities..."
Future activities referred to raiding villages. The Black Dog Mercenary had never purchased their own supplies.
Walter revealed a sinister, wicked smile. The next moment, Hicks understood.
It was nothing more than hit and run. After all, the First and Second Fortresses had essentially seceded from the Seven Shields Alliance. Other countries wouldn't care about any warrants issued by Ryuji's so-called Rome.
The thought of being able to freely kill and rape women again excited Hicks.
"I understand, boss! I'll go call the brothers now!"
His figure swiftly vanished. Walter also breathed a sigh of relief. Having decided not to work under Ryuji, he felt much more at ease.
So, he quietly began following Asuna and Origami.
However, Asuna and Origami remained unaware. Although Origami was a special forces soldier, fighting Spirits basically required no reconnaissance skills. So, while she had learned some, she wasn't proficient and couldn't compare to people like Walter, who had learned tracking techniques through life-and-death experience.
Therefore, although Walter quickly lost track of Origami and Asuna, they deployed their mages and insect users.
Thus, thirty minutes after the girls left the sight of the city guard patrols, Origami suddenly realized they were being followed.
"Not good!"
Seeing the group of men in the distance with their malicious smiles, Origami instantly drew her sword and hand crossbow. But the moment she assumed a combat stance, a sharp pain shot through her hand, blood spurting out as something pierced her palm.
The intense pain made it impossible to grip her hand crossbow and sword firmly, nearly causing her to collapse.
Gritting her teeth, Origami tried to pick up the sword from the ground again, but a sinister voice rang out.
"Hey, hey, hey! Jess, let me handle it from here. This little girl's hands are quite nice; I want to cut them off and play with them for a few days."
A man who looked like a fat middle-aged uncle spoke up, laughing.
But the man holding the slingshot, the one who had injured Origami's hand, preventing her from gripping her weapon, spoke.
"Hey, hey, did you forget? After we're done playing, we have to sell them."
He was speechless. His companion's hobby of collecting beautiful girls' hands and feet always left him baffled. Because every time this guy finished using them, he couldn't bear to throw them away and just tossed them to the cook.
Although a companion's hobby was their own business, he didn't like eating that stuff, especially when it was covered in the other's... fluids.
"Meh, this girl's temper is so fierce; she'll probably have her limbs chopped off and be sold as a cushion or something anyway, so it doesn't matter right?"
The fat uncle pointed at Origami, whose hand was bleeding but who remained silent, still trying to pick up the crossbow to fight. Asuna watched the people slowly emerging around them in terror, unsure what to do.
"You have a point... And she's small and cute, very suitable for making into a cushion."
Jess, holding the slingshot, nodded in agreement. Their conversation was so casual and ordinary, as if they weren't discussing horrifying things.
These people were completely different from the previous bandits.
Asuna keenly sensed this. If falling into the bandits' hands might only mean rape, then falling into these people's hands would undoubtedly lead to a more tragic fate!
"Taff is right. This white-haired girl is very alert; I even lost track of her."
Walter walked over at this point. He looked at Origami, his eyes somewhat displeased. This girl's alertness had made him a laughing stock among his subordinates.
"Well, what can you do, boss? You don't have good hunting dogs. And for tracking things, insects and mages are better, right, Shamuhaza? But it's also these girls' bad luck. If they had encountered any other mercenary group, they might have escaped."
Hicks also staggered out. Beside him was a person surrounded by many poisonous insects. It was thanks to this person's insects that they had managed to track Asuna and Origami again and outflank them.
He somewhat admired these two girls. Honestly, facing them after they had been pent up for so long, managing this far was quite impressive. If they had had two horses, they might not have caught them.
"Dammit..."
Origami bit her lip, enduring the severe pain as she tightly gripped her sword. Asuna did the same. Although her body still trembled with fear, she resolutely drew her sword as well.
She wasn't doing it to protect herself, but to protect Origami behind her.
Since arriving in this world, Origami had continuously protected her and even been injured several times because of her. Now, it was time to repay that kindness.
"Miss Tobiichi, you need to escape quickly. I'll do my best to buy some time."
Asuna took a deep breath, trying not to think about the tragic fate that awaited her.
Although she was a young lady from a wealthy family, her time in this world was enough for her to understand what her immediate future held.
"Don't waste your effort. We can't escape... Kill as many enemies as possible, and then..."
Origami bit her lip.
"...I'll try my best to end your suffering."
Although she gripped the sword in her hand tightly, Origami knew it was highly likely they could only kill each other to avoid prolonged torment.
At that moment, the man called Shamuhaza spoke.
"Alright, no need to be on guard. My insects have already bitten them. But I suggest cutting off both of their arms and legs. The girl with flaxen hair has a determined look; she won't stop resisting."
He paused for a moment after he finished speaking.
"However, before amputating, please allow me to cultivate some insects. Without fresh human flesh these past few days, many of my insects have died. Their qualifications are excellent; I can breed more useful insects."
His tone was as casual as if discussing what to eat for dinner.
But Asuna and Origami felt despair once again. They realized their hands and legs had gone numb and weak without them noticing. Both Asuna and Origami collapsed to the ground in terror, unable even to speak, and could only watch as the men approached with sinister laughs.
"Brother Shamuhaza, you're truly amazing! Your poisonous insects are getting stronger!"
Seeing that Asuna and Origami collapse, knowing it was the effect of Shamuhaza's anesthetic insects, the Black Dog mercenaries leered and approached, starting to remove their clothes, revealing their filthy bodies.
Origami closed her eyes. She deeply regretted not being able to commit suicide earlier. It wasn't because she feared defilement, but she felt the body saved by that person shouldn't be defiled by these scum!
Asuna watched everything in horror. But just as she reached utter despair, the sunlight before her eyes completely blocked by the filthy mercenaries....
"You guys are really bold!"
A cold voice rang out.
Accompanied by the sound of a sharp blade cutting through flesh.
~~~~~~~~~~
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