Chapter 50: Sheratiya Viyan (2)
Sheratiya Viyan was beautiful.
She wasn't among the top beauties in the kingdom, but she was born with enough charm to capture the gazes of many men.
Adding to that her brilliant mind, she was practically leading the Viyan Merchant Guild, so it was correct to say she had enough qualifications to be loved by many.
However, the public's perception of her was not good.
A personality so bad it made one forget all the aforementioned merits.
To put it more bluntly, the fact that she was ill-mannered was her biggest flaw.
“Basically, people have no intention of listening to others. Especially a lowly Wooden Plate Mercenary like you.”
It was the same even now.
Even though it was a topic that could have been discussed moderately gently, Sheratiya deliberately added words that would provoke the other person.
Her slightly twisted lips were like proof that she had intentionally brought up the words ‘Wooden Plate Mercenary’.
With eyes that seemed to look down on people, Lady Viyan continued her story.
“Don’t get the wrong idea just because, very occasionally, a few people were influenced by your words. Most people wouldn’t care if you took a dump in the street, did foolish things, or spouted nonsense. Who knows, maybe it’s also a delusion to think you influenced them. Those guys might have just been people who would have ended up like that anyway. No, that’s probably much more likely, you know?”
It was truly a tone that seemed to crush a person's self-esteem.
At this, the attendant secretary standing behind Sheratiya frowned.
The thought that this was rude, even if it was the person she served, and the thought that it was strange to point it out now since the young lady had always been like that, seemed to be fiercely battling, her gaze flickering here and there.
What was surprising was Harang.
Rather, he, the one who had heard the abusive remarks, replied to Lady Viyan’s words with a perfectly calm face, showing no sign of being bothered.
“Ah, that could be true.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Certainly, it seems there were far more people who didn’t care what I said.”
Harang, nodding, recalled the past connections that had brushed by.
The first ones that came to mind were the beggars.
They harbored great dissatisfaction with their current lives, yet they didn't try to escape them.
It was the same even after he defeated the one who had been oppressing the beggars with violence.
Only Glen was living a different life, but there were many things that made it difficult to say it was thanks to his own influence.
The feeling that someone who was originally meant to be that way had simply found their own path was stronger.
“Hmm.”
Having thought this far, Harang looked ahead.
Not even a hint of anger or irritation. Black eyes shining brightly only with curiosity.
At this, just as Sheratiya was startled, a question flowed from Harang’s lips.
“Then, do people live without being influenced by anyone at all? That’s not right, is it?”
“……Hmm.”
“Even for me, it’s not always like that, but I often gain enlightenment from others. Thanks to that, my swordsmanship has improved, and my thoughts have broadened…… In a way, I think I’m being influenced by your words right now, Lady Sheratiya.”
“Really? You’re being influenced by my words?”
“Yes. Actually, there were hardly any people around me with whom I could discuss such topics. Well…… this time is, in a sense, a learning experience for me now.”
Harang’s words were true.
Currently, his acquaintances were mostly the thugs in Marzen, no, those who had now become mercenaries.
And frankly, their intellectual level was abysmal.
It was correct to see them as unsuitable partners for discussing the current topic, which could be considered philosophical in a way.
‘The guys in the village had many smart ones, but I wasn't in a position to have leisurely conversations with them.’
Because of that, the current time was very precious to Harang.
For him, who was still surrounded by things he didn't know, meeting a being with knowledge and experience who could offer some teaching was always welcome.
Indeed, a faint smile was even spreading across his lips now.
“……Of course, people aren’t always uninterested in the words of others.”
Sheratiya also sensed this.
That the person before her, far from being displeased by her words, was enjoying the present moment.
That made her uncomfortable, but she couldn't ignore the question she had received.
Ahem, ahem. Clearing her throat with a cough, the young lady put strength in her eyes and looked at Harang.
Finally, an answer flowed from her lips.
“The words and actions of a few special people can sufficiently move, change, and alter others.”
“What kind of people are they?”
“People with power.”
“Power, you say.”
“Yes. Politicians with authority, knights with high martial prowess, merchants with lots of money…… these are the kinds of people who can exert influence on others.”
The attendant secretary Unt, listening from behind, nodded.
That was right. Her words were something most people could agree with.
No matter how good the message, if the messenger delivering it was insignificant, people were likely to ignore his words.
For example, let’s say the words ‘you must work hard to succeed’ came from the mouth of a neighborhood beggar.
No one would take it seriously.
Rather, he might even be ridiculed, asking why he couldn't escape his beggar state if he knew that so well.
However, if a self-made commoner merchant said the same thing with a voice full of passion and confidence, how would people react?
Even if not everyone, probably far more people would show themselves to be inspired by him.
“Hmph, do you get it now?”
Sheratiya, who had continued her explanation up to this point, glared at Harang with wide eyes.
The reason was unknown, but she seemed more irritated than before.
There was even a slight feeling of deliberately pressuring him, and the words pouring out were sharper than before.
“Let me say it again, you are not great enough to influence others. You probably don’t have the experience or skills for that in the first place, and even if you said something worth listening to, it wouldn’t reach anyone’s ears. Why? Because you’re a newbie mercenary. A fledgling mercenary who just got a Wooden Plate, struggling with the worst skills in our merchant guild.”
“…….”
“So, instead of worrying about useless things like ‘what if my words and actions have a bad influence on others?’, worry about how to get promoted to Bronze Plate first. Got it?”
Truly a feast of harsh words that seemed to trample on a person's pride.
The atmosphere became so hostile that the attendant secretary Unt's expression contorted once more, but Sheratiya, the one who had uttered the words, merely stared at the person before her with an unfazed expression.
The surprising fact was that Harang also nodded with a completely unfazed expression.
“I see.”
“…….”
“…….”
“I don’t completely agree, but it seems somewhat true. Certainly, I’ve had such experiences myself…… Hmm…… But it doesn’t seem entirely correct either……”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. Still, it’s nice.”
“What is?”
“Talking about things like this. As I said earlier, there aren’t many people around me I can talk to about such things. So it’s interesting. So much so that I’d like to do it a bit more if possible. So……”
Could you tell me various stories like this in the future?
Or, could you answer the various questions I ask?
It was the moment Harang was opening his mouth to bring up such a topic.
Sheratiya’s sharp voice cut him off.
“No.”
“……Uh, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”
“Weren’t you about to ask for something?”
“That’s right.”
“That’s why I said no. I have no intention of listening to whatever it is.”
“Why?”
Harang asked innocently.
“Because you’re not interesting anymore. So get lost. Talking more seems like a waste of time.”
Sheratiya replied rudely.
“Ah……”
“Of course, I might call you later if I change my mind. It goes without saying, but unlike me, you have no right to refuse. I am the employer, and you are the mercenary. Well, did you understand what I said?”
“Hmm, I understand.”
“Good. It’s annoying to talk more, so can you really just leave now? I have to work now.”
With those last words, Sheratiya once again buried her head in the pile of documents.
Harang watched her, looking disappointed.
However, there was nothing he could really do.
As she said, he was a mercenary, not an employer.
He smacked his lips as if disappointed and left the tent, and Sheratiya, who was secretly glancing at him, sighed, haah, and thought.
‘What on earth is he?’
She hadn't called Harang because she wanted to engage in trivial banter.
It was because she had heard something from the Marzen branch manager of the Mercenary Brokerage.
‘Due to procedural issues, he’s still a Wooden Plate, but his skills are far superior.’
‘Superior, you say? Bronze Plate? Or Silver Plate?’
‘……Perhaps it might not even end at Silver Plate.’
It was truly a story that couldn't help but pique her interest.
As a merchant, it was only natural to pay attention to competent talent.
Therefore, Sheratiya deliberately poured out provoking words to Harang and stimulated his competitive spirit.
It was to grasp his true skills, general disposition, and temperament, and then devise a strategy suitable for him.
However…….
‘He’s too different from what I thought?’
To sum it up in one word, Harang was an ‘utterly inscrutable’ fellow.
He showed almost no outward expression, nor any of the naivety or hot-bloodedness typical of his age.
Nor did it feel like he was hiding something like a cunning old man.
Rather, the appearance he showed when he repeatedly asked questions was like that of an innocent child, so it was difficult for Sheratiya to easily make a judgment about Harang.
Is he an interesting person?
The answer to that was yes.
To what extent is he an interesting person?
If asked that, there were still quite a few puzzling aspects.
Having thought this far, she frowned and turned her head back.
Feeling as if she had received an unsolvable riddle, she was about to seek advice from her attendant secretary, Unt.
Into Sheratiya’s eyes.
The sight of Harang standing behind Unt came into view.
“……?”
Before the thought ‘Since when?’ could even cross her mind.
Thwack, Harang, who had knocked Unt unconscious with a chop, laid him on the floor.
Then, looking at Sheratiya, he spoke.
“I’m sorry for surprising you.”
“Ah, uh……”
“However, there’s something a little strange. I think I need to check it out.”
“……Wha-what’s strange? Ahem. You’re going to check? What?”
Her voice trembled unknowingly.
Sheratiya, embarrassed by that, cleared her throat and feigned composure.
She was also firmly preparing in her mind to unleash a torrent of rebuke depending on his answer.
But she couldn't.
Because Harang, who had placed his hand under the chin of the unconscious Unt, ripped off his facial skin with a tearing sound.
“Kyaaaaaak! Y-you! What did you just…….”
“Calm down.”
“Calm down? You, you just, what, ripping off someone’s facial skin with your bare hands, and that’s, that’s what you have to say…… Huh?”
Sheratiya Viyan, who was stuttering in utter shock.
She clamped her mouth shut and stared at Unt’s face.
No, to be precise, she stared at the face of ‘someone’ she had thought was Unt.
And she gazed at the facial skin in Harang’s hand…… no, an elaborate mask.
“This is……”
“Yes. It’s a disguise. This person also seems to be someone other than the attendant secretary. I was unsure at first, but I felt something was off whenever he made an expression, so I decided to check.”
“That means……”
“Yes.”
Harang paused for a breath and then opened his mouth as if convinced.
“This person is an infiltrated assassin.”