Chương 252: Chapter 250 – Blending In With The Mercenaries.

"These men don't look too trustworthy. I wouldn't be surprised if they deserted the moment the walls are breached…" The disappointed voice of Alexander echoed within Rusty as he watched the new mercenaries standing before them. None of them looked fit for combat, and some were using what little strength they had just to stay awake.

"You think so?"

"I'm certain. They have no honor or discipline to speak of."

"Honor just gets you killed. If that wall falls, we're running too, Rusty." Aburdon replied. The demon lord did not think the mercenaries were entirely wrong in their logic.

"If the outer walls fall, the guards and knights will just retreat to the noble district anyway. They will use us as shields so they can hold out longer."

"That's true…" Rusty nodded, as he more or less understood what the nobles were planning. If the inner stronghold fell, they would not help the people living inside, nor the merchants. Instead, they would barricade themselves behind the higher inner walls and turn it into a war of attrition. While the orcs caused chaos outside, the leader would likely send for aid from another settlement and wait for a relief force to arrive.

'In the meantime, everyone within the settlement would likely die and be eaten by the orcs.' It was a possibility he would not have considered in the past, but things were different now. Humanoids had once meant nothing to him, yet after interacting with some of them, he had grown closer. He was not sure what to call it. The people here called it "emotions," but he was uncertain whether that was truly it or simply an instinct to protect what was his.

If the city were overrun, he would likely retreat to his lair, where Gleam and the children were waiting. Through the tunnel they had created, they could attempt to escape. It was small, but so were the children. There was just enough space for them to squeeze through, while orcs and larger creatures would likely become stuck. It was a perfect escape route, one Gleam was meant to use if their lair was ever overrun. However, he had no intention of letting that happen.

"We lost some mercenaries, but I'm stronger than Varkas, and I doubt he even took part in the last siege." Rusty commented as Galiena continued to shout at her new group of mercenaries. It seemed she took this position seriously. When the time came to fight, he knew he would at least have one competent fighter watching his back, but he could not say the same about the rest.

"That's true. I just hope nothing goes wrong."

"Worried about something specific, Alexander?"

"Yes. I don't think we will be stationed on the same side as last time. I hope they can hold it without us."

"They would have been fine last time. It just would have meant more of those worthless adventurers dying." Aburdon commented. Previously, Rusty had been defending the western gate near the slums along with several F-rank adventurers who would have died if he had not helped them. They likely would have perished, and some orcs might have climbed over the wall, but they probably would not have made it far into the city before the guards or other adventurers stopped them.

The adventurers were treated as disposable meat shields, expected to take the brunt of the attack on that side. Still, there had been a few competent fighters among them. What Rusty really needed to worry about now was where he would be stationed, either south or east, where the fortifications were stronger, but the monsters attacking were stronger as well.

"Not all of them are worthless." Rusty said, but his conversation with his guide was interrupted as a few knights arrived. It was the same Knight Lieutenant as before, the man called Hamund. His armor was unchanged, and he looked just as annoyed. It was clear he did not want to deal with mercenaries he considered beneath him, but he had little choice.

"Good. You managed to gather them without tearing the place apart. Mostly." Hamund let his gaze sweep across the yard, pausing briefly on a few groaning mercenaries still clutching their stomachs. His lip curled slightly, though whether in disgust or approval was hard to tell. Galiena planted her hands on her hips and grinned.

"Had to wake them up somehow. They sleep like corpses."

"Corpses are usually quieter." A few of the mercenaries snorted, then quickly stiffened when Galiena snapped her head in their direction. Silence returned just as quickly. Hamund exhaled slowly, clearly restraining himself. It was obvious he had no real choice, as their forces had dwindled since the last siege. Not in raw strength, but in coordination and teamwork. Even with multiple D-ranks present, they were not trained to fight effectively as a larger unit.

"Listen carefully. The scouting reports have returned. The orc warband is approaching, and in greater numbers than before." Whispers spread through the group. Even those who had been half asleep seemed to regain some awareness at those words.

"How large?" Their new mercenary leader immediately asked the question on everyone's mind. The knight looked slightly dejected, likely because she spoke without first seeking permission from the knight lieutenant.

"Large enough to be a problem. We are not expecting them to break through, but you should be ready for heavy fighting. You will be sent to the southern gate in one day, so prepare yourselves." The man remained vague, either because he did not care to share the full truth with expendable mercenaries or because he did not want to lower morale.

'Southern gate. That likely means the main force this time, not the grunts I faced before.' The last time he faced the orcs, he had still been an E-rank monster. He could barely defeat a lesser D-rank opponent and had to flee just to survive. Things were different now. He could not imagine losing to anything below C-rank. Even Varkas, who stood at the peak of that rank, was beneath him. Still, he could not afford to grow overconfident. In battle, nothing ever unfolded exactly as planned.

"Finally, a real battle. I hope I get to kill plenty of orcs!" While he felt excited, the mercenaries and knights were far less enthusiastic. To his surprise, his new leader seemed pleased as well. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

"Haha, they said we will get a bonus if we kill enough orcs. This is going to be great!" She laughed, and once money was mentioned, some of the other mercenaries perked up. Their motivations differed, but they all had a reason to fight. The knights, on the other hand, showed clear distaste at the mention of money, though they said nothing.

"Is there any siege equipment we can use?" Rusty raised his hand, since his new boss did not seem interested in asking many questions.

"You… the second in command?" Hamund raised an eyebrow at Rusty's question and, after a brief pause, finally replied,"Yes. We have some ballistae and a few aging catapults positioned along the southern wall." He continued, making it clear that those weapons were not intended for their use.

"Do not expect to mount any of them. They will be used by the city guardsmen, not by you. Your job will be to protect them from orcs that might scale the walls."

"I see. What are your expectations of this mercenary unit, Sir Knight?" Although he had no true permission to speak, he quickly asked another question. He wanted to understand the limits of his new position. One had already been mentioned, but he wanted to hear the rest. Hamund's gaze lingered on him a moment longer this time. He was clearly measuring this new second in command of the mercenary unit. The knight then glanced at the woman in charge.

She said nothing, but gave a small nod, as if she also wished to hear the answer.

"Our expectations are simple. Hold the wall. Kill anything that tries to climb it or manages to get over."

"And if the line breaks?" A few mercenaries shifted at the question. It was one they all wanted answered, and Hamund did not hesitate.

"Then you die buying time for the guards or the knight unit. You will hold the line at all costs." Many of the mercenaries already knew their lives were expendable, but hearing it stated so plainly left them without a response. It was clear they were there to die if the orcs broke through. As before, the knights and guards would stand behind them, ready to drive their spears into anyone who tried to flee.

"For now. But if you prove yourselves, then when the time comes again, you will stand with the knights and help protect the lord."

"Oh, is this the carrot now?" Aburdon chuckled as the knight offered them something to look forward to. It was not an unusual tactic. If they held the line and proved themselves to the lord, they would be treated better. In the future, their forces might not be the first line of defense.

"That is enough of your questions. Get yourselves outfitted with what remains of the Black Hounds. I will leave that to your new leader and sub-leader." The knight turned on his heel without waiting for a reply, his cloak swaying as he left the yard. For a moment, everyone remained silent. Once the group of armored men was gone, the mercenaries began to talk.

"Die buying time, huh…"

"Just like last time…"

"Bastards do not even hide it…" Some laughed bitterly. Others spat to the side. A few glanced toward the gates, already weighing their chances of escape. Rusty watched them carefully. Alexander had not been wrong. Discipline was thin here, and loyalty even thinner. Galiena, however, did not allow the mood to sink too far.

"Enough whining!" Her voice was as loud as ever, but without eardrums, Rusty was unaffected.

"You signed up for this. You get paid, you fight. That's how it works!" She stepped forward, cracking her knuckles as her grin returned.

"And if any of you try to run…" Her gaze swept across them like a predator sizing up its prey.

"I'll break your legs before the knights get the chance to stab you in the back." That settled it. Any thoughts of desertion were quickly buried under the very real threat standing in front of them. Rusty had to admit it, the woman knew how to make threats and look intimidating while doing it. He was not sure what kind of arrangement she had with the knights, but she seemed ready to risk her life in the coming orc raid.

"Now listen up! We have one day. That means we train, we gear up, and we stop looking like a pile of trash!" She pointed at Rusty, lifting her chin as she gave the order.

"Second, take half of them and check the armory. Whatever is left of the Black Hounds' gear, we are using it. Bring everything to the training ground." Then she turned to the rest.

"The rest of you, with me! If you cannot even stand straight, I will beat it into you!" A few groans slipped out, but no one dared refuse. Rusty gave a small nod and headed for the armory. About half an hour later, they gathered the best remaining gear and carried it to the training grounds. Their new leader was already shouting orders at her mercenaries.

"Surprising."

"What is?"

"This woman. She seems simple, but she clearly has some military training. Those formations are crude, but effective." Even if Galiena did not seem particularly sharp, she was at least knowledgeable in warfare. Alexander pointed it out, suggesting she might have served in an army and retained some of her training.

"The formation still needs work. I think we should help her. Otherwise, it will only hold us back." Leading alone was not enough. In Alexander's eyes, shaped by his experience as a hero in the war against demons, she was still green. Rusty, as second in command, could handle this part while taking guidance from Alexander.

"Boss, we have the weapons here, and I have a proposition."

"Oh? What is it, Second? I am a bit busy at the moment." Galiena did not stop shouting as she answered, but her eyes shifted toward him with clear interest.

"Well, make it quick. If it is good, I will hear it." Rusty glanced at the scattered formation before speaking. The mercenaries stood in uneven lines, some too close, others too far apart, with no clear spacing or structure. A few held their weapons incorrectly, and more than one looked ready to collapse again.

"This will not hold against a real push. Not against orcs."

"Oh, do you know something about battle formations?"

"Yes, I do. How about you leave this to me instead, boss?" The woman thought for a moment. The mercenaries looked at her with fear, and while they were all convinced of her strength, when it came to strategy they seemed to prefer their second in command, who had shown other skills during the short time they had known him.

"You are pretty confident. Fine, let us see what you can do, Second."

"Thank you, boss." He replied, and it did not take her long to answer. Even though he was not the leader, for some reason she trusted him greatly. Now that he had the reins of the mercenary group, he needed to make some adjustments. Rusty nodded once and stepped forward. The chatter among the mercenaries died down as he moved into the center of the training ground. For a moment, he said nothing. He simply looked at them.

'Quite a position I have gained for myself here.' It all felt strange. He was a living suit of armor, controlling a dead head within it to speak to these people. Everyone was fooled by his act, and no one seemed to notice his true motives, which were simply to grow stronger. For a moment, he wondered what would happen if his identity were revealed and what would follow. He would likely have to kill them all, then flee soon after.

For now, though, he was their second in command, and their lives rested in his metallic hands.

"Listen carefully. What I will show you are the basics of battlefield formations and tactics. If you remember them, they may save your life, or at least delay your death long enough for someone to help you." This time, no one dared to speak. His tone was serious, and everyone present knew their lives could be over within a few days.

"You do not need to be heroes. You do not need honor. You only need to stand where you are told and hold the formation. First, I will show you how to use your shields in group combat." The lesson began. He handed control over to Alexander. Fighting in tight groups was different. People had to rely on one another not to break formation or strike their allies in panic. They needed to learn how to block as a unit and attack together, yet mastering that in a day or two was likely impossible.

Still, it was valuable practice for Rusty as well, as he could use this knowledge in future summonings, so he listened. Soon, the second defense of the settlement would be upon them, and only a few days remained until the Orcs attacked.