Chapter 45: Reunion (1)
Three days after the Eddy Family visited the Mercenary Brokerage, the evaluation results finally came out.
Bronze Plate for the five Experts, including Eddy and Pale.
Wooden Plate for everyone else.
In a way, it could have been a slightly disappointing result, but Eddy accepted it.
No matter how much they possessed Silver Plate-level skills, they were rookies in the Mercenary world.
He was sufficiently satisfied with just skipping one rank despite having no track record or credibility.
“Perhaps, Branch Manager Bailey took care of us.”
“It’s also thanks to you gathering letters of recommendation from local Merchants. You worked hard.”
“Thank you. Well, if we work hard from now on, we’ll quickly reach Silver Plate too.”
“That’s right, isn’t it? Some of the guys below aren’t meant to be at Wooden Plate either, so let’s work hard and quickly get to our rightful places.”
The Eddy Family, having completed their transition to Mercenaries in such a friendly atmosphere.
However, Harang, who could be called their actual leader, was facing a problem.
“It’s difficult to issue a Mercenary plate right now, you say?”
“That’s right. If you really want to receive one right now, I can give you a Wooden Plate at my discretion…… but anything more is difficult due to the Brokerage’s procedures. I’m sorry. But originally, even this isn't allowed.”
“Why did it turn out like that?”
“Your case is so special that we couldn’t evaluate it precisely according to our criteria at our level…… I reported it to headquarters. We’ll only know what the result will be after sufficient discussion has taken place above. Perhaps a new evaluator might even visit here.”
“Then, can I not take the request I was planning to take?”
Harang asked, frowning slightly.
The request he wanted to take required at least a Bronze Plate qualification, so he couldn't participate with a Wooden Plate status.
It was a pity.
The excitement of being able to leave Marzen and see the outside world after a long time was one thing, but it was even more so because he thought it was an opportunity to learn about assassins from the outside world.
‘Perhaps those people might be related to the village.’
Of course, just because he was disappointed didn't mean he was going to throw a tantrum.
It wasn't like it was impossible forever; the day would come when he would receive a Mercenary plate appropriate for his skills.
If it took longer than expected, he didn't particularly want to, but briefly showing a completed Aura Sword could also be a way.
As he was thinking about various future plans like this, Bailey opened his mouth with an expression telling him not to worry.
“No, don’t worry about that part.”
“Can I take the request? But, you said only Bronze Plate or higher……”
“I’ve already spoken to the client, or more precisely, their representative. I told them that things got complicated and you still have a Wooden Plate, but your actual skill surpasses Silver Plate. I figured you’d find troublesome things tiring, so I’ve already taken care of everything. Four days from now, you just need to gather at the east gate of Marzen’s Outer District by seven o’clock.”
“Ah, thank you!”
Harang showed a bright smile, as if he had never frowned.
Branch Manager Bailey, seeing that, also responded with a warm smile.
It was a relief.
No matter what the rules said, it would have been a blow to his pride for a young man with such skills to start from a Wooden Plate, but he showed no such signs.
‘He’s not someone who cares much about appearances.
He’s a person who cares much more about practical benefits.’
Another piece of information about Harang was added to Bailey’s mind.
Since he was a monster rookie who had appeared at the Austin Mercenary Brokerage for the first time in a long while, no, for the very first time, it was right to gather all the information he could.
Only then could he bind him more tightly.
At least until headquarters sent someone, he needed to hold onto him by any means necessary.
‘Did he say he’s closest to the Eddy Family members?
I’ll need to improve relations with those fellows too.’
Having thought this far, Bailey showed an even brighter smile and shook Harang’s hand.
“I’m sorry. The treatment is a bit lacking right now, but if you get a proper re-evaluation and receive a Mercenary plate befitting your skills, appropriate treatment will surely follow. I promise, staking my position as branch manager!”
“I don’t particularly have any complaints right now. Truthfully, I’m a beginner in the Mercenary industry, aren’t I?”
“Hoho, humble too! A great talent has joined our Austin Mercenary Brokerage, the Marzen branch!”
The branch manager spoke with sincerity.
Of course, Harang didn’t care.
He had become a Mercenary because he was interested in Mercenary work, not because he hoped for good treatment.
He was sufficiently satisfied with his current life.
Harang was someone who could be satisfied even if he slept outdoors and ate rough food, as long as no one coerced him.
“Then, I’ll be going now.”
“Alright. Four days from now, Marzen Outer District east gate, seven o’clock! Don’t forget!”
“I’ll be sure to remember.”
Harang, having left the Brokerage after such a smooth handling of matters.
Eddy, Pale, the Fist brothers, and Glen were waiting for him.
Eddy said.
“Seeing your expression, it seems things went well.”
“They went okay. No problems on your side, Eddy?”
“Of course, no problems at all! The work we do is essentially the same, we just borrowed the Brokerage’s name to lessen the violent and coercive feel, didn’t we! Whether it’s Wooden Plate, Bronze Plate, or Silver Plate, it’s not particularly important. What’s important is that we became Mercenaries.”
“Boss, that’s not right. We need to get a higher rank so that other guys will be intimidated by our prestige and won’t dare to challenge us.”
“Ah, is that so? That makes sense too. A territory managed by Wooden Plate or Bronze Plate guys versus a place where five or six Silver Plates are firmly established as executives! Huh? That kind of place would look tougher.”
Eddy, hearing Pale’s point, readily nodded his head.
This was a changed part.
He wasn't a rigid type before either, but after associating with Harang, Eddy’s personality had softened, and so had the former thugs.
“Now then, since the work has been properly resolved, let’s go grab a drink!”
“Where are we going, Big Brother?”
“To the Honey Fairy Inn, of course. Their beer is amazing!”
“Eh? Honey Fairy Inn? Not the Red Moon?”
Bbeok!
“Keuk! Suddenly, why……?”
“You brat, Harang Big Brother is with us too! Glen is here too! Read the room a little!”
“Aah! Right!”
This too was a change, if you could call it that.
Whatever their inherent nature, they were originally thugs, a breed that couldn’t exclude women and gambling from a drinking session.
It wasn't that their disposition had particularly changed now, but they were enduring it because their Big Brother, himself, disliked it.
Even the simple, instinct-driven Bloody Fist and Iron Fist brothers.
‘Are they being…… considerate?’
Consideration.
A strange word.
Of course, it wasn't that he didn't know what it meant.
Didn't it mean to be mindful in order to help or care for someone?
He knew because he had learned the basics of reading and writing in the village.
However, because it was the first time he had actually felt it around him, Harang found this moment with the Eddy Family quite unfamiliar.
Of course.
‘Not bad.’
He didn’t dislike the feeling.
“So, at that time! I……”
“No, Eddy Big Brother, are you still talking about that time?”
“Exactly. Every time we have a drinking session, it’s always…… I must have heard it more than twenty times…… Oh, what? Glen! You can’t drink that!”
“Oh, I can’t? I’m a Mercenary now too, so just one beer……”
“Even so, you can’t! You’re not even fifteen! There’s juice here, drink this. Or drink milk!”
“Exactly! Harang Big Brother is so dumbfounded he can’t even say anything! Isn’t that right, Big Brother?”
“……Haha.”
The Mercenaries, formerly thugs of the Eddy Family, who were boisterously chatting, fueled by alcohol, while also consistently paying attention to him so that he, being quiet, wouldn't feel left out.
Looking at them, he felt truly glad that he had left the village.
‘Of course, it’s not like I can be bound by such good ties with everyone…….’
Harang recalled the various types of people he had met since leaving the village, one by one.
It was by no means only good people.
There were those like Carlson who betrayed the Mercenary’s code of honor, and there were not a few like highway robbers who didn't hesitate to harm people for a few coins.
However, to Harang, even that all felt interesting.
Isn't that so?
Unlike the village, which was 100% full of people who could absolutely not be trusted, absolutely not be let one’s guard down around, the outside world overflowed with people of various personalities.
It meant that one couldn't tell at all whether the person in front of them was a good guy, a bad guy, or a strange guy.
‘What will it be like this time?’
Harang thought of the request he would have in a few days.
Perhaps because he had stayed only in Marzen for a long time.
This upcoming schedule, which would be entirely new, felt extremely intriguing.
New work, new region, new relationships with new people.
As he imagined what forms they would take when they came to him, Harang pleasantly enjoyed the slightly bitter wheat beer.
* * *
“Hmm.”
Four days later.
The caravan escort leader frowned upon seeing Harang, who had arrived on time at the eastern gate of Marzen’s outskirts.
‘A Wooden Plate…….’
Of course, he had heard the story.
That he was actually a great talent who might possess Silver Plate skills, or perhaps even higher.
That he just hadn’t received a proper Mercenary plate yet due to procedural issues.
However, he didn't believe it at all.
Because he was too young.
‘Silver Plate skills or higher at an age barely twenty?
A passing dog would laugh.’
He suspected he had probably joined the request through connections.
Likely a relative of the Marzen branch manager.
After all, there was nothing like a caravan escort for gaining experience.
Of course, he didn't voice these thoughts.
There was no need to deliberately pick a fight with that fellow and stir up trouble, was there?
Considering his relationship with Marzen Branch Manager Bailey, it would be better to just let him join the caravan smoothly.
‘Of course, surviving among the tenacious Mercenaries is another matter entirely…….’
His thoughts ended there.
The caravan escort leader, who handed Harang’s wooden Mercenary plate with a smiling face, said this.
“I’ll be counting on you from now on.”
“I’ll be counting on you too. But, may I ask one question?”
“Hmm? Ask away.”
“I heard from the Mercenary Brokerage that the young lady, the client, is receiving assassination threats……”
“Ah, that? Don’t worry about it. It happens often.”
“It happens often?”
“That’s right.”
This fellow is annoying, he thought, but the escort leader briefly explained.
Lady Sheratiya Viyan of the Viyan family, who usually received many professions of love from men due to her beautiful appearance, but also had many enemies thanks to her considerably bitchy personality.
His story was that there were so many young ladies from other families who were jealous of her that she consistently received such death threats.
“I see. Still, by any chance, isn’t there a possibility that it might be real this time?”
“Hoo, let’s stop here. Are you, right now, really hoping that Lady Sheratiya Viyan will be exposed to assassination?”
“Ah…… That’s not it. I’m sorry.”
Harang made a gesture of apology.
In the past, he would have shown an expression of ‘What on earth is the problem?’, but thanks to having become much more socialized, he knew how to match the mood.
Leaving another word of apology, he moved to where the Mercenaries were gathered.
He sat down on a suitable tree stump, intending to rest until the caravan departed.
And a short while later.
A large Mercenary approached and spoke to Harang.
“Hey.”
“Yes.”
“Get lost.”
“?”