Book 13 Chapter 17

Mercenary Request (1)

"Wow, look at that."

"How much of a bumpkin is he?"

"He's 100% going to fail the written exam."

The North and South, divided by the Great River Eleanore, have completely different clothing cultures.

The North, where cold dominates even in summer, wears hanbok (寒服).

It means clothes worn in a cold (寒) land; the sleeves and body are wide so that inner layers can be filled, and mages wear a traditional overcoat called a do-po (道袍) instead of robes.

Of course, this only applies to the upper echelons of society where the benefits of civilization are concentrated, in the society of mages.

Rural residents like us are well-dressed simply by wrapping ourselves in fur.

The Dean had always made sure we were warmly dressed, so everyone was wearing fur.

However, being amidst mages, I felt like not just a country bumpkin, but a barbarian.

Of course, I don't care at all.

Only snobs who dream of becoming the [Greatest Mage] bother with clothes.

The [Strongest Mage] doesn't fuss over clothes. They explain themselves only through their skill.

"……"

I saw Giselle's face turn crimson.

The Senior Disciple and the Dean weren't as concerned about others' gazes as I was, but Giselle seemed to be different.

Still, perhaps not wanting to worry the Dean, she didn't show any emotion amidst the whispers.

This isn't good…

If that gorilla fails here, I'll be dragged back into the contract with the nightmare and suffer half a year of forced labor.

"Dean."

The written exam for the Bandoran (1-star) rank test is conducted in private.

Guardians could observe the practical exam in public, which meant that if an applicant was allowed into the test site, they had passed the written exam.

I spoke after Giselle entered the test site for the written exam.

"Yes?"

"I'm going to run away from home for a bit."

Coming to the city, I realized how meaningless my previous worry, '[I might be abandoned again],' had been. Now I can run wild even in the city.

"Yes, do that."

"H-Dean?"

The Senior Disciple said, his eyes wide.

"You should stop him, what do you mean by that…?"

"What's wrong with it? At that age, it's normal to run away from home."

"But Rin is only twelve years old right now."

The Dean knelt in front of me, meeting my eye level, and said.

"Rin, can you promise me that you'll keep everything you've promised me so far, no matter where you go?"

"Yes, sure."

"Then go. Since you're running away, stay out as long as you can endure, then come back. Until I become anxious and start looking for you. A man should know how to make a woman anxious, you know."

I bowed to the Dean and ran down the familiar, almost too familiar, street.

I will become the [Strongest Mage].

To do that, I first need to end the contract with the nightmare.

Money, I need money.

That's why I'm now going to a place where I can earn a large sum.

A mage's mental state greatly affects them because composure is important when using magic.

A pathetic mage like Giselle could lose her composure due to the embarrassment of her clothes not being hanbok.

The reason I came here is absolutely not for Giselle. It's to be freed from that unfair contract as soon as possible.

The Mercenary Guild.

A signboard, hung by a large chain, creaked eerily in the wind.

The Mercenary Guild is the predecessor (前身) of the Adventurer Guild.

Since the Hero's party hadn't yet been formed, adventurers also hadn't appeared. 'Adventurer' is a respectful term for those who 'venture into dangerous places for the sake of the world.'

In contrast, mercenaries are a group that fights only for their own benefit. Just like me.

As it was the nest of those who live by the sword, it's best to avoid looking foolish. I learned that the hard way during my orphan days.

I pulled my fur hood as far down as possible, casting a shadow over my face, and covered my entire face below my eyes with a cold-weather mask before entering the guild building.

A boy concealing his identity.

But in reality, he's the [Strongest Mage]? Ha~ isn't that just too cool?

The old hinges creaked, and for a moment, the indoor noise subsided, and all eyes focused on me.

Tension, wariness, interest.

No one laughed, asking if I was just a kid. Being short, they were confusing me with an A-in (兒人; Dwarf).

The reception desk even had a stepping stool for A-in.

Stepping onto it, the receptionist, covered in thick fur on his face, chest, and arms, lifted his chin.

"What can I get you?"

"The fastest, most expensive request."

"So, you don't need a drink. Then show me your mercenary badge."

"I don't have one."

"What?"

"I said I don't have a mercenary badge."

"Are you kidding me right now? Dwarf jokes don't usually go over well with humans."

Thinking it would provide an interesting argument, the mercenaries began to chuckle.

In response, I held out my palm.

A powerful波動 (vibration\/wave) emanated from my palm, light arose and took shape, weaving together. One, two, three.

"What, he's a mage."

"Then is he a child?"

"No, crazy, but isn't that 3-star magic?"

"Isn't he a promising talent from the Seven Great Schools?"

"Not just promising, isn't he Dean-level? I've worked with mages before, and they said 3-star magic could defend a small city alone."

"He might be from a family of mages."

"Insane. The wind pressure is strong enough just from building the magic circle."

Mages are highly skilled individuals, so they don't often frequent these back alleys. They earn enough money without engaging in such dangerous work.

Most mages who worked as mercenaries were, at best, Bandoran (1-star), or simply those who had learned a few spells without proper ranking.

Of course, exceptions exist; incredibly powerful mages sometimes act as mercenaries, but they are very few.

"Uh… I understand you're a great mage… but without a mercenary badge, we can't assign you a request. This is like an employment agency, we can't just give requests to strange people."

Mages, especially high-ranking ones, are often of noble blood, so the receptionist's attitude naturally became more deferential.

"Then I can just make one immediately?"

"It's not that simple just because you make one. The requests you can receive are determined by your rank…"

"What's the reward level for requests any mercenary can take? How many sets of hanbok suits can I buy?"

Let's buy Giselle a hanbok, and also buy some for Senior Disciple and the Dean. Let's just buy them all before the guys in the magic tower bother me, saying 'buy me one too.'

This is also for my own benefit.

To become the [Strongest Mage], I need a suitable punching bag. Requests with high rewards will likely have such a punching bag.

"Hmm, if you rough it for about a week, you might be able to afford one set, wouldn't you say? But why would a noble person like yourself want to buy hanbok with blood money… I'm sure your home is overflowing with hanbok."

One set a week… That's troublesome.

It takes too long, and the reward is too stingy. The price of a suit must be quite high, but still.

In the North, people move at a leisurely pace wherever they go.

For example, if there's an exam in January, they schedule their arrival at the exam hall for early 13th month. Because they never know when and how roads might be blocked by heavy snow…

I wondered how I could force the schedule, but it seemed that even among a group that lived by the sword, rules were firmly established.

"Receptionist, I'll buy that Manuki (Manuki; meaning monkey, used by A-in to belittle humans) kid a glass of milk."

Just then, a gruff voice was heard.

It wasn't a confrontational tone.

It sounded like a joke, but it was a voice filled with goodwill. The receptionist then answered in a much more deferential manner.

"We don't sell milk."

"If you twist those plump nipples of yours hard enough, surely a few drops will come out. I'll pay handsomely."

Hahaha hahahaha!

The rough mercenaries pounded the tables with their fists and roared with laughter, and the receptionist, knowing it was a joke, also chuckled.

Turning around, I saw an A-in beckoning me over with a flick of his finger from the best window seat.

There are two types of A-in.

One type does not age, and their childhood appearance persists until the day they die.

Many of the handsome boys and beautiful girls of the A-in race fall into this category.

The other type has thick limbs like an ox or horse and is covered in a thick beard all over their body; this A-in was the latter.

"Why did you call me?"

"Manuki boy, you have incredible skill, don't you? Enough guts to just show magic to the Mercenary Guild receptionist and threaten him."

"I didn't exactly threaten him. So, are you strong?"

At that question, for a moment, a knife-sharp silence fell.

Then the mercenaries sitting at the table burst into insane laughter. The laughter spread throughout the entire guild.

The A-in, who had been laughing more heartily than anyone, tears streaming down his face, rummaged through his pocket and pulled out some gold, throwing it onto the table.

It was a metal I had never seen before.

To think there was such beautiful iron.

"I am Nils Blantz, the Master Tinker. I am ranked 3rd in Platinum tier. To explain it to you, who has a brain like a monkey, I am the fourth strongest mercenary in the whole world. Above me are only Platinum 1st and 2nd, and the Adamantine tier."

"!"

"And this giant next to me, who is testing whether his belly will burst first or my wallet will, is a fellow called Rink. He has a cute name, unsuitable for his massive size."

The giant, who was ravenously chewing on a pig's hind leg, bone and all, thumped his chest with both hands and laughed brightly.

"Rink, Rink, Rink!"

"?"

"He says he's glad to meet you. Rink can only say 'Rink,' so please understand. But he uses his strength appropriately for his size, making him 4th in Platinum tier. It's a shame he didn't aim for Adamantine tier, if only he were smarter than a monkey."

He was the fifth strongest mercenary in the entire world. It was said that only the top mercenary received an Adamantine tier badge.

"I like to speak frankly. You need a request that will earn you a lot of money quickly, and I need personnel to succeed at that request. How about it, would you like to work on something with us?"

That was their first meeting.

A meeting with two friends who would go to the ends of the earth with the Hero's party during the period of unrest, and be called 'the first five adventurers.'

Ah, my friends… Master Tinker Nils Blantz, Demon Slayer Cassel Rinkan.

"My name is Rin, and I aim to become the [Strongest Mage]."

"Hahahaha! That's cool! Yes, a man should always aim for the strongest!"

"Rink, Rink, Rink, Rink!"

Their first impression was 100 points, not for ridiculing my sincere goal, but for empathizing with it.

"I'll hear you out. But my worth is a bit high. I'd like a hanbok set as a down payment, how about it?"