Blacksmithing Is Child’s Play for a Dark Mage - Chapter 72

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 72
Tay made his way to the Silver Shield Guild.
The headquarters of the Silver Shield Guild, situated near Harundel Harbor—a place where he’d formed connections during the Territorial War some time ago. When Tay arrived, Mark, one of the Sub Masters, came out personally to receive him.
Once they were seated across from each other in the reception hall, Tay got straight to the point.
“You’re aware, I’m sure, that in the war between nobles currently raging within the Salkartna Countdom next door, there are those hiring outside mercenaries?”
Tay spoke in a casual tone unlike before, but Mark didn’t mind in the slightest.
Of course not. His station had changed, so it was only natural.
What truly caught Mark’s attention was where Tay had obtained such information—his eyes widened slightly.
“Where did you come by such information…?”
“I bought it from the Information Guild.”
“Ah, I see.”
Mark nodded and produced some documents.
“We’ve received official notices about this as well.”
Mark’s explanation went like this.
Currently, there were three locations within the Salkartna Countdom that had descended into war.
Two involved lords within the Salkartna Countdom fighting amongst themselves, while the third was a dispute between the Salkartna Countdom and the neighboring Colando Countdom.
Tay focused his interest on the conflict between the retainers of two of the countdoms.
“Baron Haldun, a retainer of the Salkartna Count, and Baron Balbon, a retainer of the Colando Count. This is a Territorial War between the two of them.”
“Is it a proxy war between the two counts?”
“It doesn’t appear so. We’ve only received official notices, so the details are unclear, but apparently a Dungeon has appeared on the border between Baron Haldun’s and Baron Balbon’s territories. They’re fighting over its ownership.”
“A lucrative Dungeon, then?”
“So it seems.”
Tay rested his chin on his hand and fell silent for a moment, thinking.
“Which side do you recommend?”
“Well… we don’t have enough information to say… The conditions offered by both sides are similar.”
“Then I’ll participate on the side of Baron Haldun, retainer of the Salkartna Count.”
Tay made his decision, primarily because Baron Haldun’s territory was somewhat closer in distance.
“I’ll entrust the negotiations to the Silver Shield Guild. That’s precisely why I came here.”
Mark’s eyes lit up as he bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Lord Tay. Now, what size force are you planning to commit?”
“Three thousand Medium Skeleton Soldiers, plus myself.”
“Did you say three thousand!?”
Mark’s voice cracked.
Three thousand Medium Skeleton Soldiers.
It was an staggering number by any measure.
The typical mobilization force of an average baron amounted to two or three hundred soldiers. Of those, less than half were elite troops; the rest were conscripted levies.
But three thousand.
This was no baron’s force—it was the mobilization capacity of a count.
Mark stammered as he spoke.
“I don’t believe Baron Haldun will have the means to pay for a force of that magnitude… that’s ten times larger than his entire army.”
“Hmm… so that’s the gap.”
Tay thought for a moment before responding.
“Negotiate for whatever payment they can afford.”
“Then please wait a few days.”
“Very well.”
* * *
In this age,
communication technology had developed surprisingly far.
How?
Through the power of the Goldmanta Bank.
Long-distance magical messaging was something that required at least a Class 3 mage to accomplish.
A count, or wealthy viscounts among their peers, could manage long-distance communication on their own, but for those of baron rank, it was an impossible dream.
But the Goldmanta Bank was different.
Every branch of the Goldmanta Bank could exchange messages via magic.
Due to the nature of banking, rapid communication between branches was essential, so they had constructed a magical communications network long ago.
And building on that insight,
the Goldmanta Bank operated a paid message service.
Think of it as similar to nineteenth-century Earth telegraph service.
Pay a fee, and through a Goldmanta Bank branch, your message could be sent to another branch.
Territories with Goldmanta Bank branches, or neighboring lands, could exchange news quite rapidly through this system.
The Silver Shield Guild also made use of this service.
And a few days later.
Baron Haldun received news.
“Pfft!!”
Wine sprayed across the documents on the table.
Baron Haldun had been holding a wine glass while reading the telegram he’d just received when he spat out the entire mouthful of wine.
“Am I hallucinating from war stress lately?”
Baron Haldun muttered in a dazed voice. He was a mustachioed man in his mid-forties, hardened by years of warfare, so such an expression on his face was a rare sight.
He thrust the document toward the knight standing beside him.
“Read this for me.”
The knight took the document.
“Wh-what!?”
The knight let out a sound like a cry of alarm.
The document read as follows:
Baron Tay, independent lord of the Harundel Marquisate, declares intention to join Baron Haldun’s forces.
Troop strength: 3,000 Medium Skeleton Soldiers. Personal direct participation. Guaranteed by the Silver Shield Guild.
Postscript: Medium Skeleton Soldiers exceed elite troops in combat capability.
The knight’s expression became one of disbelief.
“Three thousand elite-level troops… can this be real?”
“With the Silver Shield Guild’s guarantee, it must be true.”
The Silver Shield Guild.
Though based at Harundel Harbor, its operational range was not limited to the Harundel Marquisate alone.
It was a large-scale Mercenary guild active across all four neighboring major territories. That this guild vouched for the content meant it was factual.
Baron Haldun wiped the wet table as he spoke.
“If it’s true… we’ve won this war.”
Three thousand skeleton soldiers. Baron Haldun’s own force numbered barely three hundred, so reinforcements ten times that size were coming.
Baron Balbon’s troop strength was similar in scale, so with three thousand joining their ranks, the war was effectively over.
“But…”
Baron Haldun’s expression grew complicated.
“What must I give in return?”
The knight spoke carefully.
“My lord. Perhaps sharing some of the profits from the Dungeon would be…”
“Hmm.”
Baron Haldun let out a groan.
The problem was that refusal would not be easy either.
When war broke out, both sides typically hired Mercenaries. Baron Haldun had also posted notices seeking Mercenaries in various places.
If the opponent was merely a Mercenary company, you could brush them off if the terms didn’t suit you.
But if the opponent was a nobleman, the situation was different.
If a nobleman said “I will help you, I will join your cause,” refusing them became a matter of honor and propriety.
What would happen if he refused?
He might take offense and say, “Are you insulting me?” and turn hostile—and that would hardly be surprising. Especially if the opponent was a lord who could mobilize three thousand skeleton soldiers, refusal became far more difficult.
“Refusing at this point would also be… problematic, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Damn it!”
Baron Haldun struck the table. Wine splattered again.
“I suppose there’s no choice… I’ll have to give up half the Dungeon profits…”
Baron Haldun gazed up at the ceiling with an aching expression.
He was waging war over Dungeon ownership, and even if he won, he’d have to hand over half the profits. No wonder he was displeased.
But there were no other options.
It was better to secure half than to lose everything.
* * *
A few days later.
Tay was traveling aboard the Undead Palanquin.
A palanquin crafted from Medium Skeleton Soldiers!
Four skeleton soldiers gripped the corners and held aloft a seat upon which Tay reclined at an angle. There was no swaying—it was perfectly comfortable.
The skeleton soldiers’ pace was perfectly uniform, like clockwork.
Moreover, the palanquin had a roof constructed over it, blocking out the sunlight and making it quite pleasant.
Behind it, three thousand Medium Skeleton Soldiers advanced in formation.
It was a sight to behold—an endless line of skulls filling the road.
And all of them were armed with heavy armor and various weapons.
The way they marched in perfect intervals, maintaining their formation with mechanical precision, defied belief that they were not living beings.
And it was not just the Skeleton Soldiers that accompanied him.
A cart moved among the ranks of Skeleton Soldiers, keeping pace with them.
The cart was laden with provisions, and carried two cooks to assist Tay, along with three servants to handle miscellaneous tasks.
In truth, an ordinary nobleman would never travel in such a manner—sparse, perhaps, but unconventional nonetheless.
Leading three thousand Skeleton Soldiers with only five attendants in tow.
A typical lord would bring at least dozens of retainers, but Tay had no need for such an entourage.
The Skeleton Soldiers served as guards, porters, and camp builders all at once.
Tay lay reclined in the Undead Palanquin and let out a yawn.
“Huh. I never expected Baron Haldun to offer half the Dungeon profits….”
Tay murmured to himself, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Half the Dungeon profits.
The condition was simple: should they win the Territorial War, Baron Haldun would grant Tay half of the Dungeon income he would gain.
It was the result of negotiations conducted through the Silver Shield Guild—far more generous than he’d anticipated.
‘Well, even if he wanted to refuse, my forces outnumber his ten to one. He had no choice but to accept.’
Not that he was complaining.
Tay gazed up at the sky and smiled.
“This time I’ll level up, earn some coin, and see what happens.”
The palanquin glided forward without a tremor.
Toward the Salkartna Countdom.
Three thousand Skeleton Soldiers at his back.
* * *
Baron Balbon’s face drained of all color.
“Wh-what in blazes is that?!”
In this age, Territorial Wars followed a set protocol.
One reported to a higher lord or the king before waging war.
Observers were sent, and both sides met on agreed ground to do battle.
Yet Baron Balbon had been unaware that Tay had come as a mercenary in Baron Haldun’s service.
And so.
Upon witnessing the overwhelming difference in troop strength, his complexion shifted.
The Black Mage Is Too Overpowered as a Blacksmith
Author |
Automaton G
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Editorial Department
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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