That evening, the rules of the contest were announced.

As expected, it was a mercenary war.

However, one of the third-generation heirs could be chosen as an aide.

The search for mercenaries began. I burst out laughing when I saw the list Conrad had compiled.

“Are you kidding me?”

“That’s right.”

The contest was only five days away.

The schedule was rushed to settle the matter swiftly without affecting the Reserve Wonhwa battle.

Conrad sighed.

“To have a Tier 1 large mercenary group, they must possess a Gaho stone of swiftness.”

“So you’re saying only a group like Eilin’s Ideal has a swiftness Gaho stone to arrive at our manor on time?”

“Yes.”

“There are Tier 2 mercenary groups near our manor. How can none of them be available for contract?”

“It seems someone has interfered.”

I frowned.

‘It’s not Aunt Bastina.’

Everyone knew she was struggling financially.

“Then what about Uncle Silvan or Uncle Hernan?”

“Yes. It seems even Lord Balderic has his hand in it.”

I scoffed.

‘No wonder he’s been lending money around usury rates.’

They apparently colluded with the lords of the mercenary garrisons.

Even mercenary groups pay taxes if they live on a noble’s land.

They have to watch the lord’s mood.

Han Ji-hyuk, who arrived at the manor this morning, frowned.

“They’re really bad.”

“Have they ever been any different?”

“Why don’t you just contract with Eilin’s Ideal?”

“They probably already have a contract with Selene. Right, Conrad?”

“That’s right.”

I shrugged, and Han Ji-hyuk’s eyes widened.

“Why?!”

“Because Eilin’s Ideal is run by Selene’s grandfather, Marquis Carlinro.”

“That’s bad news if they’ve already made a deal.”

Exactly.

‘If the marquis ordered Eilin’s Ideal to back Selene, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything during the battle.’

Besides, there were other reasons why choosing Eilin’s Ideal wasn’t an option.

In the end, there was no choice.

“I guess I’ll have to contract with a Tier 3 mercenary group.”

“That makes no sense! It’s like an adult armed with a war hammer fighting a bare-handed child.”

“Can’t be helped. The Tier 2 groups refuse to sign with me.”

I sighed deeply and picked up the list.

Then I read the mercenary group descriptions Conrad added and circled one name.

“This is the one.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes. And Han Ji-hyuk.”

He nodded when I spoke.

I gave him a Gaho stone of teleportation.

“Go to Lagon’s Nest.”

“You want to deploy the dragon...?”

“Just in case.”

“You could lose more than you gain. If it’s known you used the dragon for selfish reasons, the royal family might classify you as a threat—”

“I know that too.”

But I couldn’t lose here.

‘I can’t let them take the manor in District 1.’

If that happened, I wouldn’t be able to enter the Central Tower.

The Central Tower is where power begins.

Once inside, one’s influence expands frighteningly.

So the second generations might have formed an alliance to take the Second Count’s Manor, fearing my father would enter the Central Tower.

‘Neither Uncle Grimier nor Uncle Balderic should get into the Central Tower.’

Conrad eyed me and asked,

“Who will you choose as your third-generation aide?”

“I have someone in mind.”

I stared coldly out the window.

Five days passed.

The day of the contest arrived.

Five days later, at the training grounds.

The battle between Selene and me was much larger in scale than I had expected.

The mercenary war was held in the so-called ‘Forsaken Land’ and broadcast through a magical viewing sphere.

Not only close and distant relatives, but also nobles from other houses were invited to watch.

Han Ji-hyuk grimaced while checking the map of the Forsaken Land.

“We’re fighting in a forest swarming with monsters? Aren’t we going to die...?”

Just then, Han Ji-hyuk noticed some approaching people and flinched.

They were other third-generation heirs.

At the center was Loreina, daughter of Uncle Balderic.

“Hello, Erilot?”

“...Hello.”

“Do your best.”

Loreina smiled broadly.

She brushed her hair back and glanced at me.

“What room did you use in the Second Count’s Manor?”

A strange question.

When I stared at her, she shrugged.

“My father said to prepare to move into the Second Count’s Manor soon.”

“...”

“You need to know what room to buy furniture for, right?”

“Well, I think it’s better to wait until the battle ends instead of wasting money.”

“What? Ahaha...!”

Loreina laughed, and the other third gens started giggling.

“They say your mercenary group is Tier 3.”

“...”

“Yeah. Good luck winning with that. Want some cheering?”

Dionera and Liantin looked worried, but the others were mocking me.

Loreina added,

“Oh, by the way, my father said that if you enter the Central Tower, you’ll be the first to bring up ‘your dragon’.”

“What?”

“Dragons are too dangerous. How much damage would one tail swipe do to nearby houses?”

“...”

“Such great power needs regulation. My father said he would put a restraint collar on you for the people’s sake.”

Milan, ranked seventh generation, chuckled.

I stared at Loreina expressionlessly.

Then Liantin grabbed her skirt hem tightly and shouted.

“If you care about the people, shouldn’t you stop usury?”

“Liantin.”

“Y-Yeah. A great noble engaged in cheap usury!”

Loreina chuckled bitterly.

She tapped Liantin’s shoulder.

Startled, Liantin held the shoulder where she was pushed.

Loreina twisted her lips and said,

“Please know your place, Liantin.”

“...”

“Who do you think you’re talking to with such a pathetic Gaho?”

Joffrey activated his Gaho Beast’s Jaw.

His jaw turned into a beast’s mouth and let out a loud roar.

Liantin paled and backed away toward me but tripped on a stone and fell.

The third gens alternated looking at Liantin and me, snickering.

Loreina said to Liantin,

“Please realize you’re less than a bug.”

I shielded Liantin with one arm and stepped in front of Loreina.

“Loreina, if I really got mad and crushed you like a bug, what would you do?”

I lightly tapped her shoulder.

“You should also realize your place.”

“...!”

Loreina’s face flushed deep red.

“You foul-mouthed brat... without your dragon, you’re nothing!”

Magic flickered around Loreina.

Beast hair sprouted on her skin.

“Everyone, return to your seats! The duke is arriving!”

Marquis Debussy shouted.

Loreina glared at me as if wanting to tear me apart.

“No matter how much you struggle, the outcome is set.”

“...”

“Look, you couldn’t even contract a Tier 2 mercenary group. That’s how much influence Daymond’s and Balderic’s territories have.”

“...”

“No matter how much money you make selling herbs, the difference will be made here.”

Loreina tapped her head and left with the other third gens toward the audience seats.

Grandfather stepped onto the podium.

He raised his hand, and the drums thundered.

I stepped forward.

From the opposite side came a figure.

Silver hair shining luxuriously.

Straight bangs.

Noble red eyes.

She was the granddaughter of the duke who had held the top rank the most times.

Selene Astra—the strongest third-generation heir, possessing a divine Gaho rare in the country.

“Hello, Erilot.”

“Hello, Sister Selene.”

“Let’s do our best.”

We shook hands and knelt before grandfather.

“To the greatest Astra, a thousand years of glory!”

“To the greatest Astra, a thousand years of glory!”

We bowed deeply to grandfather.

The battle began.

Selene and I each led our mercenaries into the forsaken forest.

The magical viewing sphere showed Selene with her hair tied high.

She cast a Gaho before departure.

A strange pattern appeared on the mercenaries’ foreheads.

The audience gasped.

“Is that Selene Astra’s Gaho ?”

Selene’s mother Bastina looked proudly around the crowd.

Then she spoke playfully to the duke, who watched the viewing sphere expressionlessly.

“Father, Selene developed her Gaho to level two, allowing her to simultaneously strengthen and protect~”

“...”

“Not only does her strength and speed improve, but a barrier that protects allies activates when under attack.”

The crowd gasped.

“As expected of divine Gaho...”

“The one who becomes Wonhwa will surely be Selene Astra—”

While everyone murmured, Daymond approached the seats of the direct heirs.

“You’re late.”

“Did you finish your business in Hwangdo?”

“Yes.”

Daymond sat, and Bastina covered her mouth, saying,

“Brother, no matter how busy you are, you should have supported your daughter. Erilot’s mercenaries don’t even have a chariot of swiftness.”

Selene moved with her mercenaries in a swift chariot.

But I...

Inside the magical viewing sphere, one of my mercenaries looked confused and raised his hand.

“Um... how do we move?”

“Ride horses.”

“Excuse me? They have a swift chariot over there? Getting there first means you get the best camp...”

“I’ll teleport with the Gaho stone. You come by horse.”

My mercenaries looked bewildered.

Daymond frowned.

He asked the three brothers watching the viewing sphere nearby,

“Why didn’t you give her the swift chariot?”

Lismund shook his head.

“She said no even though we offered.”

“Why?”

Balzac shrugged.

“We asked several times, but she said it was okay.”

‘Why...?’

Daymond looked at his daughter, confused.

Bastina, Balderic, Silvan, Hernan, Loreina, and other supporters of Selene smirked.

Loreina asked,

“Father, does Erilot have no guests?”

Selene’s seats were packed.

Not only close relatives but also ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ nearby nobles filled the stands.

Meanwhile, my seats were empty.

Balderic snickered.

“Do you think Erilot is the same as you?”

No matter how influential Daymond was, Erilot was still the girl with common blood.

The noble elites wouldn’t tolerate dirty blood.

Moreover, Daymond cared only about land, not about forging noble relations.

‘Daymond’s territory is an empty shell.’

Balderic raised a champagne glass, and everyone except Daymond’s faction raised theirs.

“To the glory of Astra!”

“To glory!”

This contest was like a festival for Astra.

Within an hour, Selene took the highest ground in the forsaken forest.

She already held a meeting with her mercenaries.

Bastina chuckled.

“That one really works hard. Even if it’s a battle she can’t win, she doesn’t hold back.”

“She’s diligent because it’s her talent.”

The distant relatives and nobles all praised her in unison, boosting Bastina’s confidence.

[Aren’t there so many spiders?]

One of Selene’s mercenaries frowned and brushed off a spider climbing his shoulder.

[There’s a huge number.]

[Don’t they have bug spray in the carriage?]

[Hey! Who told you to go get bug spray—]

Then—

A face appeared inside the viewing sphere where it shouldn’t have.

Someone who shouldn’t be at Selene’s camp.

That is, me.

[...!]

[...!]

“Erilot?”

Selene jumped up.

A massive swarm of spiders suddenly flooded into the camp.

Robed Erilot spoke.

“I recommend staying still as much as possible. These are poison spiders.”

A tennis ball-sized spider crawled from beneath Erilot’s robe and settled on her shoulder.

“I’ll introduce you to my new monster.”

The huge tarantula Alexis saved me from.

Still a juvenile, but capable enough to control the poison spiders.

Erilot smiled.

“Her name is Minky.”

At that moment—

“Ahhh!”

“Graaah!”

Mercenaries bitten by poison spiders screamed.

Erilot had spent five days investigating Selene over and over.

While barriers block physical attacks, poison cannot be stopped.

The crowd froze.

Bastina jumped up.

“N-No way!”

Her husband Mistro’s mouth dropped open.

“No matter what, how dare you go alone so boldly...”

“Selene!”

Before Bastina could shout, Selene moved in the viewing sphere.

“Retreat!”

Blue lights swarmed around Selene’s hand.

She placed her palm on the ground, and a huge pattern spread from the camp.

The poison spiders began dropping from the mercenaries’ bodies.

The divine Gaho .

It was like a mother protecting her child.

It removed everything harmful to allies.

As the poison spiders fell off, color returned to Bastina’s face.

Balderic clenched his fist.

“That’s Selene!”

The strongest third generation who had held the top rank for a long time.

“Now just Erilot to take down...!”

Silvan chuckled.

“This will be the fastest victory ever!”

Just as Hernan burst into loud laughter—

Balzac looked at Daymond and said, “Erilot didn’t bring a swift chariot, but borrowed other things.”

“What things?”

“My King-God-Ultra-Generation-Sprinting...”

Joshua cut Balzac off.

“The Snowfield Mare, Gen.”

The Snowfield Mare.

A horse-shaped monster boasting the highest speed.

In other words, it can move much faster than a swift chariot.

Then—

Kwah kwa kwa kwang!

With a tremendous noise, the camp collapsed.

What appeared was a man who looked like a bandit leader.

“We’ve come for our captain.”

A noble watching the sphere narrowed his eyes.

‘Where have I seen this man before...?’

Bastina shouted,

“Even if you’re just a Tier 3 mercenary group! If Eilin’s Ideal pushes hard...!”

“Kalida!”

“What?”

The noble screamed.

“Kalida Muso! The former Central Knights Commander from the previous generation!”

Robed Erilot said.

“I forgot to introduce my mercenary group.”

She looked at the viewing sphere and spoke with force.

“They’re called the Egritz Mercenaries.”

Once knights of the Central Army.

The strongest mercenary group that even Tier 1 groups cannot match.