Mercenary industry (1)
“A stupid bastard.”
Master called me that.
When you make mistakes, when you collapse from exhaustion, even when you do well.
Then, without fail, he added this.
“My sister says, but you have no talent. When others swing the sword once, you should swing it two or three times. Didn’t you say you wanted to be stronger than anyone else?”
It really touched me even now when I think about it.
I was well aware of what Master had said, and without the ability to return, it would have been difficult to surpass even a C-class mercenary.
No, there were times when he died in vain before he even became a C-class mercenary.
If they could easily defeat monsters with just one sword, people wouldn’t be afraid of monsters.
After dying so many times, I realized one thing.
It means that a bumjae like me desperately needs a good teacher.
However, it was not easy for me, who had no talent, to find a teacher, and I was really lucky to have a relationship with Douglas as a priest.
No, I was the only one who thought I was lucky.
“Do you know why I took you as a disciple?”
Master once said such a thing.
It was a story at a small drinking party arranged to congratulate me on my success in being promoted to an A-class mercenary after a long time had passed since I became a disciple.
“Did you say it because you could see sprouts?”
“Did you already become arrogant because you only became an A-class? It’s like he’s not cheap.”
Oh yeah. I’ve heard that word a lot.
Still, I didn’t feel bad, but when I filled the empty glass, I smiled briefly and opened my mouth again.
“You are not entirely wrong. Yes, when I first saw you, I saw buds.”
What else is this old man going to say?
Even the glass I had heard in a sense of anxiety stopped and I waited quietly for the story.
At that time, I also wondered why Master, who was called the best mercenary in the empire, had taken me, who was nothing, as a disciple.
I didn’t dare to ask, though.
The old man tore up his favorite duck meat and ate it all while smearing the sauce on his now graying beard before continuing his conversation.
“You stupid disciple, what kind of person do you think is really strong?”
“He must be a talented person. It is the overwhelming talent that Master emphasized.”
“Yes, it is.”
I knew the wall of talent well enough to have seen the case up close than anyone else.
Master nodded calmly before asking another question.
“Then who do you think is good to teach, no, wants to teach?”
“Well, you must be a talented person after all, right?”
Master gave me a rare smile at my answer.
I realized that I had completely given the wrong answer without even saying it.
Then, Master gulped down the drink, put down the glass, and exposed it.
“An obsession with strength.”
I stopped breathing involuntarily at those eyes that seemed to pierce me.
“The tenacity to become stronger no matter what, no matter what you do, even risking your life!”
thud!
Master’s thick fist pounded heavily on the table.
He raised his hand and thrust out his index finger toward me.
“You had that at the time. I thought you were an idiot who recklessly asked me to be your disciple, but I changed my mind the moment I saw your eyes. I was ready to do anything to become stronger. Even if he died, it wouldn’t matter. I couldn’t feel any talent in you… … That one obsession was enough to overwhelm me.”
Maybe it’s because he’s a nobleman that’s hard to hear a compliment on a regular basis.
Such honest words felt very strange.
“In the end, you never gave up no matter how tough your training was, and you were able to claim yourself as an A-class mercenary with almost no talent. It honestly exceeded my expectations.”
Master paused for a moment, then smiled once more before adding another word.
“If it’s you, even S-class is possible.”
Then, perhaps embarrassed, he averted his gaze and tore off the duck meat for no reason.
As I was about to bring it to my mouth, I remembered something and turned my face to me.
“Don’t mistake me for complimenting you today.”
Ah, come to think of it, there was one little-known fact about Master.
“No matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to follow my daughter’s toes.”
“Would you mind?”
Contrary to what it looked like, it was a huge daughter-in-law.
* * *
The morning before the sun rises properly.
Standing in front of the inn where I was staying, I was suddenly thinking about the past when Douglas, who had been away for a while, returned.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting. The bathroom is pretty crowded.”
“No, no. But are you really going to guide me directly?”
“It doesn’t matter which way you go. It’s been a while since I met a junior like you, so I have to hang out with her until the end.”
As he said that, he patted me on the shoulder and took the lead.
Walking down the still-dark street, Douglas spoke again as I pulled closer.
“Irvine, you are very special. No, I have to say it’s weird. It must be the first time we’ve met, but you’re the first person we can talk to so well. Would you laugh if I said it felt like meeting an old friend?”
“No, I am honored. I never thought I would be able to talk to a senior who is called a living legend here, but I am grateful that he looked at me so well.”
Douglas became strangely familiar with me between dinners.
To be honest, it was like a foul play.
Having lived together for more than ten years, I know very well what that nobleman likes.
In addition, even my current personality was greatly influenced by Master.
So if it’s natural to feel that kind of familiarity, it’s natural. Crucially, there was one more thing in common between the two of us now.
“hahahaha, don’t be too modest. Because I think you can have a fun match with my daughter.”
“If you’re my daughter, wouldn’t you be called a genius swordsman? They say the S-level screening is coming soon, but I don’t know if I will be the opponent.”
“Did you know that? I never thought it would be that bright.”
“When I was talking about my daughter, I was reminded of what you said. I would like to meet you once since you are also my senior’s disciple.”
“I also want to see Rize once. I want to see with my own eyes if you really think that you have such a talent for swords because you are a father. Needless to say, my daughter is more of a genius than I am, hahahaha.”
As Douglas said, he always added bragging about his daughter.
I didn’t understand that before, but now I understand enough.
I also wanted to talk more about Rize, so my mouth was itching, but I was trying to restrain myself as much as possible.
It’s not that I don’t do it at all.
“You, too, are having a really hard time raising your daughter by yourself. Right now she looks very cute, but in a few years you will have to be firm.”
“… … I hope that doesn’t happen, but can I?”
“Ha ha, I pray that doesn’t happen.”
“Thank you, senior… … .”
A father raising his daughter alone.
A daughter with a talent for swords.
A mercenary with a sword.
Thanks to our many similarities, we were able to use the title senior without hesitation.
It was a rather startling sight to those who knew Douglas’ usual appearance, which suited his stern face, but I was more familiar with it.
It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten used to it, but it was a sight.
“Come to think of it, I forgot to ask yesterday… … .”
Douglas said it as if he had just remembered it, and slowed his steps slightly.
“Seeing that you are an A-class mercenary at that age, I think you must have a great teacher. If you don’t mind me, can I know your name?”
The question I wanted to avoid the most approached.
But I wasn’t taken aback, and I opened my mouth really casually, with a faint smile as I always did in situations like this.
“You’re in a place where I can’t meet you anymore.”
“… … is it. I’m sorry.”
The atmosphere calmed down a bit, but soon the conversation continued casually.
It’s because I and the old man have gone through too many prenatal battles to be awkward with things like this.
How long have you continued the topic that ends with the story of your daughter?
“Ah, it’s already arrived.”
Before I knew it, the mercenary guild was right in front of me.
After tying up the horses brought to the place where the horses were gathered in front of a building slightly smaller than the Findel branch, they followed Douglas in the front and went inside.
“… … .”
Scary to enter, cold eyes greeted us.
It’s been a long time since there was such a bloody atmosphere.
From noble mtl dot com
The eyes of the dozen or so people sitting at the table were all looking this way.
I was glad to see many faces I hadn’t seen in a long time with him.
“Hmm, I managed to keep everyone from dying.”
Douglas said that while looking around at a few familiar people, and several people jumped up from their seats and politely greeted the top of the S-rank mercenary.
While there were people like that, there were also people who took completely different actions.
“Youngsaeng, haven’t you died yet?”
A man boasting a very tall stature approached this place.
I never thought I’d see you here.
The man with impressive sharp eyes bent down to make eye contact with Douglas and added a word.
“Why don’t you retire soon?”
“You’re still being cocky, Isaac.”
At those words, Isaac, the S-class mercenary, grinned, baring his teeth.
“If you’re so dissatisfied, where should I join you? I was just coveting the position of the strongest.”
“Looks like you’re still doing something stupid. I’m sorry, but I don’t have a hobby of fighting kids.”
The atmosphere in the guild subsided even more chilly after a sudden war of nerves.
In the end, they won’t even fight, but how can those nobles always repeat the same thing like that?
Even Isaac was a human being who was no different from an idiot in what he did, but in reality he was a sincere human being.
Didn’t he calmly respond to the call of the nation even now?
Originally, an S-class mercenary was something that could not be received unless the request was properly resolved.
“ok?”
At that moment, Isaac’s eyes met.
I was hiding my presence as much as possible, but I wonder if it was rather that I was hiding it too much to attract attention.
But his gaze returned to Douglas.
“what? Didn’t I hear that you brought in a disciple?”
“I am not a disciple. My name is Irvin, an A-class mercenary.”
At my introduction, he glanced at me, and I could feel the gazes of the others as well.
He didn’t want to attract too much attention, but since he had come in with a celebrity named Douglas, he couldn’t help it.
However, Isaac soon clicked his tongue briefly and turned his head away.
“Tch, he’s not funny.”
A spear swayed on his back as he returned to his seat.
Just thinking about the numerous trajectories drawn by that window made me feel terrified.
He was one of the opponents I never wanted to fight again.
“Irvine, sit down for a moment.”
“Yes, senior.”
After confirming that not all the people were gathered yet, I answered Douglas’s call inadvertently, and then my eyes turned to me once again.
Isaac, of course, even those who don’t want to be involved very much.
I should have been careful with my words, but I couldn’t help what had already happened.
I hadn’t even heard of this much, so I calmly walked over and took a seat next to Douglas.
After waiting for a while, mercenaries entered the guild one after another and filled the seats.
Roughly, there are about thirty people.
There were some familiar faces, but there were also many unknown faces.
And soon, a chubby middle-aged man came out from the inside of the guild and stood in the center.
“Uh, how are you? First of all, thank you for gathering here. This is Citran Branch Manager Hermen, who is in charge of this new dungeon exploration. Uh, first, let me tell you the team composition along with the number confirmation.”
After a light greeting, he looked at the document he was holding and opened his mouth again.
“S-Class Douglas?”
“hmm.”
“Yes, Mr. Douglas has been decided as the team leader of Team 1 and the captain of the advance team.”
“I thought it would be easy to defeat monsters, so are you asking me to take on that position?”
“Oh, it’s something we can’t help either. Apparently, Douglas-sama is the most… … .”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. that’s just what i did If there is any problem, tell me I will take responsibility.”
At Douglas’s words, the branch manager bowed down saying thank you several times.
Even while the names of the mercenaries continued to be called and the organization was finished, my order did not return.
I was expecting it, so I waited quietly, and in the meantime, some mercenaries’ eyes turned to me.
I really wish he would have paid less attention, but it didn’t look easy.
“A-rank Irvin?”
“Yes, here it is.”
And lastly, my name was mentioned in the mouth of the branch manager.
“Uh, the low-level detailed exploration and mapping team.”
“Puff.”
A mocking laugh was heard from somewhere.
“What did you just say? Exploring the lower floors?”
“Why are you skipping map making? I’m sorry for nothing, hehehe.”
I said that in a small whisper, but there was no way I could miss it.
The three people sitting in the corner were staring at me with blatant mocking glances.
I don’t know about them, but at least I knew what they were like.
On the downside, of course.
“If you’re not confident in your skills, you’ll only want to stay on the lower floors.”
“Seeing that you’re still attached to S-class, you must be confident in your personal connections.”
“Aha, are you trying to find something and pay a bribe? That suits you so well, Poohup.”
For a moment, I couldn’t understand what was going on.
It’s been a long time since I’ve heard such words, so I thought it was rather fresh.
To be honest, ignoring people didn’t matter much, but in the end, I liked the dungeon, but I didn’t like it, but we had to move together.
That is to say, I might have to keep listening to their nonsense.
“ha.”
With a short sigh, I got up and went straight to the trio.
I try to be a good father in front of Rize, but if I have to say, my personality wasn’t that good.
To put it mildly, when I was in my prime, my teacher told me to kill my temper.
Of course, it is true that it has become harmful to some extent as I have lived my life over and over again, but that does not mean that the root is going anywhere.
And in this mercenary world, my damn personality suited me perfectly. This is a place where actions speak louder than words.
As they stood in front of their seats, I could feel their eyes staring at me as if they were laughing.
I replied with a sneering smile.
“Ha, what… … ?!”
Without hesitation, he drew his sword in an instant and brought it to the eyes of the first man who opened his mouth.