61 – Side Effects (3)
The red-eyed are a group of mutants.
And such groups of mutants are generally not very intelligent.
In other words, they have a lot of single cells.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that mutants’ intelligence is significantly lower.
Mutants’ intelligence is similar to that of humans.
But the reason why mutant groups tend to behave in a single-celled manner is precisely because of their instincts.
Mutants prefer to act with their bodies rather than think, and they prefer to throw themselves directly into danger rather than plan ahead.
So, it turns out that the Suin people, except for the long battle between life and death, did not have a habit of thinking deeply. In such a group, Giral was quite good at fighting, but he was a Suin who also thought, so they listened carefully.
“In the end, if we kill, won’t we gain notoriety? After all, the leader is interested in the Lord of Lartania… Well, even if notoriety is gained, it’s still not a good thing.”
“Right.”
In response to Giral’s words, Merilda nodded her head.
As he said, even if the people here quietly disposed of the person in the carriage without anyone knowing, it would be normal for no one to know about it in the first place.
In fact, even if they were to attack the carriage here and kill the person inside, there would be no one to know.
Unfortunately, the Lords of the territory knew that even if heroes secretly committed murder without anyone knowing, there existed ‘eyes’ that could see it.
No, in fact, they had to know.
The reason being that, as it turned out, because of their notoriety, the Lords would issue warrants for all the heroes and soldiers who were constantly active in the territory.
However, the important thing here was that even if Merilda killed the person without anyone knowing, her notoriety would rise.
“On the other hand, even if we defeat and spare the person, they will return to the territory and spread rumors, so notoriety will definitely spread.”
In other words, sparing the person would also spread notoriety.
In short, no matter how they acted, notoriety would rise.
“…So, what do you suggest?”
Gram frowned as if wondering why the introduction was taking so long.
In response to his gaze, Giral lightly shrugged, then took a mask out of his pocket.
“In other words, if we can dispose of the person without being found out, notoriety won’t rise.”
With a swift motion, he raised the mask and continued speaking.
Listening to his words, Rieu, who had been silent, nodded her head with a slightly impressed expression.
“Surely, as long as we don’t steal or kill, our notoriety won’t increase, right?”
“That’s right.”
Gyral nodded in agreement after hearing Ryu’s words.
“That’s what I mean.”
Seemingly convinced that there was nothing more to ponder, Merilda accepted Gyral’s masked appearance and put on a lively smile.
Feeling the energy almost bursting from within her, Gyral spoke.
“The leader? Did you hear me properly?”
“I did.”
“Just in case, let me say this: It’s fine to hit hard, but don’t kill.”
“I know. I’ll be gentle.”
With a confident smile on her lips, Merilda leaped towards a carriage quite far from the Lartania territory.
Ryu, who had been silently observing Merilda, involuntarily opened his mouth.
“To be honest, I couldn’t imagine it, so it’s really amazing to see it in person.”
“I agree. I never thought the leader could make such a female expression.”
“Please say that when the leader is around.”
“Hmph, it’s not like I hide my words when the leader is present. It’s just that there’s never a right time for such comments.”
“Really? Then I’ll tell the leader everything.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Ryu and Gram muttered to each other.
However, even as they bickered, both of them watched Merilda leaping towards the carriage in the distance.
Since meeting Merilda, they had never seen her express any emotions other than a blank expression.
Especially in all situations, including fights, the leader never showed a hint of emotion, so it was incredibly fascinating to see him express emotions like this, and they couldn’t take their eyes off of him.
Giral also noticed that Merilda’s emotions seemed to have become slightly richer compared to before, and he wore an amazed expression as he recalled the reason why the leader gradually regained his emotions.
Then, Merilda jumped again, breaking through the roof of the carriage with a lively and exciting expression, and disappeared for five minutes.
“…Is there someone who can save her?!”
“…”
Giral, Liyu, and Gram could see Merilda, who had been in deep thought, climb onto the carriage with the pig she had been leading and open her mouth.
“…I told you not to kill her, Leader…”
“I didn’t try to kill her?! It was just a light blow to the head, and she died on her own!”
Merilda shouted out in protest, feeling unjust.
However, none of the Four Heavenly Kings sympathized with her expression of injustice.
And that was because the human’s neck that she had brought with her was already broken.
“Well, her neck is already broken to the point where she can’t be revived, Leader.”
Liyu cautiously informed Merilda of the tragic reality.
“She’s not dead, it’s just a little twisted! Don’t people sometimes come back when they’re guessed correctly?! The members of the Jo’in tribe sometimes come back even if their necks are twisted once!”
“They can turn their necks completely around by default…”
“Hey, hey! Get up, please! Don’t die!!”
Merilda, refusing to accept reality, grabbed Merilda by the collar and shook her, wearing a pensive expression.
However,
Thump!
As if announcing the end of the pig’s lifeline, the sound of breaking bones echoed.
“…Ah.”
“…”
“…”
Merilda and the Four Heavenly Kings could only remain silent, their faces expressionless.
####
One day after the envoy from the Randon Territory of Lartania had left.
“Hello! Nice to see you again!”
Having finished his work in his own way, Kim Hyunwoo greeted the dwarf Gwyne and behind him, with a satisfied smile while looking at the resources stacked up.
“I will keep the payment as before.”
“Yes! Please sign here as well.”
“I already did it here in advance.”
“Oh, thank you! Well then, I will be on my way! Please use our services again next time!”
With a bright smile, Gwyne left only the resources and disappeared in an instant, without entering the warehouse that Kim Hyunwoo had set up on one side.
“As expected, resources are quite scarce.”
Upon reflection, it was obvious that resources were scarce.
Because most of the labor force in Kim Hyunwoo’s territory was practically invested in the development of the territory itself, leaving little for resource production.
“In fact, if we allocate more gold coins towards the other resources, the resource supply itself could increase quickly. However…”
Ultimately, except for the blacksmith, the workshops were unable to process the resources that were still being plundered, so there was no need to invest manpower in resources right now.
After all, buying resources can’t last forever, so after organizing things appropriately, I should gradually increase the resource production.
With such thoughts, Kim Hyun-woo casually shrugged his shoulders, and in no time, he had left the area where resources were disappearing.
—-
In the territory, the ★★★ hero ‘Subjugator’ has entered.
—-
[A messenger from the ‘Mercenary Guild’ has visited the territory!]
[The ‘Subjugator’ can temporarily stop by the tavern to check the information window. Would you like to check it?]
As soon as this notification window appeared in front of Kim Hyun-woo, he immediately moved to his office, opened the information window out of curiosity, and found himself smiling as he could meet the Subjugator.
“Hello. My lord, I am Mila from the Mercenary Guild.”
Mila, wearing thick armor but with a face that didn’t quite match the title of a subjugator, politely bowed her head as soon as she saw Kim Hyun-woo.
“I’m also pleased to meet you. I am Kim Hyun-woo, the lord of Lartania.”
Kim Hyun-woo greeted her with a bow, showing courtesy that was far more polite than the messenger from another territory the day before.
Seeing this, Mila, with an expression of renewed surprise, looked at Kim Hyun-woo.
“Why are you like that?”
“Oh, I apologize. In fact, other lords don’t usually use formalities with mercenaries, so I was a bit surprised.”
“I think it’s common courtesy for the first meeting, but surprisingly, many don’t adhere to it.”
“It would be great if all lords were like Lord of Lartania.”
From Noble mtl dot com
After laughing and chatting for a while with Mila, Kim Hyun-woo proceeded to discuss business matters with her.
Naturally, the topic of conversation was about the distribution of the Mercenary Guild’s branches that would arise in Lartania.
“The establishment of the Mercenary Guild is not a bad thing for my lord either. First, when the Mercenary Guild is established, the residents of the territory can entrust small requests, making life a bit more comfortable for them.”
“I definitely agree with that part.”
The story flowed like water.
Milah made a reasonable request to Kim Hyunwoo, and he, in turn, had reasonable demands for her as the leader of the mercenary guild, so there was no need for any awkwardness.
Thus, the discussion about the distribution point naturally reached its conclusion.
“Um, may I ask a question?”
“A question? Of course, go ahead. Speak.”
“Um, do you have any thoughts about working as an instructor in the Larthania Territory?”
Kim Hyunwoo brought up the main topic with a casual smile.
And just as he was offering Milah the position of an instructor.
Inside a massive cave hidden in a forest far south of Larthania, near the border.
“The offerings are all here-“
Adria checked numerous offerings once.
“Hoo-“
Right after exhaling a small sigh, the guardian at the top opened the door without hesitation.
In fact, until recently, each act of opening the door was extremely cautious and tense, but in the past few days, the upper guardian, who had gotten to know her character a bit while being tormented, opened the door a bit faster.
Soon, she found herself in the room that was always filled with treasures-
“…Huh?”
– No, instead of the accumulated treasures, there were pictures of Kim Hyunwoo plastered all over one side of the wall.
“hehehe, hehehe… collection… complete… hee.”
The majesty she had maintained for the past few years had already disappeared, and there she was, smiling darkly with blood dripping from both wrists.
It somehow reminded me of Yuri from DDLC