Chapter 56: To Marzen (1)
“This is……”
What is this?
Muttering to himself, Harang quickly snatched the things that popped out of the dagger.
A smooth texture.
It wasn't hard, nor was it soft.
It felt like it could be crushed if he applied even a little force to his hand.
However, he couldn't do so because he instinctively felt he shouldn't.
“This… looks like medicine. Or is it? Poison?”
Harang narrowed his eyes and examined what he presumed to be pills.
The darkish things, with a slight sheen, exuded a sweet yet refreshing scent.
He felt an urge to pop them into his mouth right away.
Suppressing that urge, he sealed the two pills back into the handle of the ornate dagger.
‘It could be poison.’
Even if it was medicine, there was no need to take it.
Not only was he not in any problematic condition, but medicine should only be used for its appropriate symptoms.
Of course, he was curious.
How precious could it be that it was hidden in the deepest part of the robe, even disguised as a dagger?
‘I’ll have to ask the Viyan Merchant Guild about this too.’
Still, since he had perfectly completed the escort mission, he thought they might grant this small request.
Harang, nodding, drew his sword with a sreureung sound.
Seogeok
Seogeok
As proof of completing the mission, he cut off the heads of the Black Snake and the Black Hydra.
Just in case, he also cut out the tattoos from the napes of the Black Scorpions.
It was a judgment that the client might feel anxious if he didn't go this far, but for Sheratiya Viyan, it was an act so gruesome it would make her shudder.
Of course, Harang’s social skills weren't good enough to be considerate of even that.
“Hmmhmm, hmmhmmhmm.”
It was just the thought that he had perfectly completed the assigned request.
And Harang was in a good mood at the thought that he had found even a small clue about the village.
* * *
A place about half a day's walk from where Black Poison had been.
The Viyan Merchant Guild was stuck, unable to move either way, like a ship docked at a pier.
It couldn't be helped.
Since Harang had boasted that he would go and deal with the assassins himself, it was right to wait for him for at least three days.
‘It’s a ridiculous thing. Even if it’s a special case, for the fate of the entire merchant guild to depend on a single Wooden Plate Mercenary.’
Sheratiya Viyan gave a self-deprecating smile.
No matter how formidable Black Poison was, the Viyan Merchant Guild was also not a pushover.
Adding their own forces, including the Head of Security, and the Silver Plate Mercenaries, there were a whopping seven Experts, and the Bronze Plate Mercenaries supporting them also numbered over twenty.
Even if she wasn't certain of victory, her judgment was that they had enough power to resist.
However, Lady Viyan’s judgment crumbled just 30 minutes after Harang set out on the extermination mission.
‘I’m sorry, but we’ll stop here.’
‘What? What do you mean by that?’
‘I mean we’re abandoning the request. Here, here’s the penalty fee. Well then, goodbye.’
‘Ha! Do you think this is the right choice now? Don’t you care about the rumors that will spread in the industry? It’s not like you encountered a disaster-level talent like a Red Magician or a Sword Demon, nor was there any information hidden by the merchant guild… Do you want to quit working as of today? Are you really thinking that?’
‘If no more requests come in because of this incident… it can’t be helped. I’ll have no choice but to quit.’
‘What? Such…….’
‘However, if Black Poison is the opponent, anyone would have made this choice. No matter how important money and trust are, they wouldn’t be more important than life.’
The Silver Plate Mercenary and his subordinates, leaving the merchant guild as if they had been waiting.
That was the beginning.
Those who heard the rumor that the merchant guild had become Black Poison’s target all showed clear signs of worry, and as soon as the first deserter appeared, they declared their abandonment of the request one after another.
Among them, there were even those who secretly fled without even paying the penalty fee.
The problem was that even the merchant guild’s own security forces, who should have been policing this, were in despair and couldn't do so.
‘This is ridiculous…….’
Sheratiya Viyan was dumbfounded.
No matter how frightening Black Poison was, they weren't fighting the entire group.
Not even the entire merchant guild was the target.
It was herself, not the mercenaries, who should have been trembling in fear.
Despite that, the mercenaries couldn't unite.
No, not just the mercenaries, but even the merchant guild personnel were exuding an atmosphere of having half given up.
At this rate, she had no choice but to hope that the utterly eccentric Wooden Plate Mercenary would really wipe out the assassins.
“……Still, not all the mercenaries have left, so should I call it a relief.”
Sheratiya muttered with a self-deprecating smile.
It was as she said.
Although many had left the merchant guild, about a third still remained in their positions.
It was inevitable that their expressions were dark and their demeanor was extremely anxious.
Just the fact that they had maintained their loyalty to the merchant guild, just the fact that they had displayed their professional spirit, was something to be immensely grateful for.
Having thought this far, she looked at two individuals.
Jack, and Matthew.
They were the ones who had persuaded the departing mercenaries to stay, beings for whom the merchant guild was incredibly grateful.
Sheratiya’s face filled with a smile.
It hadn't been an easy task, but she couldn't wear a frown when facing benefactors like them.
Soon, approaching them, she showed her respects politely and spoke.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, our Viyan Merchant Guild has gained the strength to move forward.”
“Ah! Merchant Guild Leader!”
“Not at all, Merchant Guild Leader! How could we, as mercenaries, abandon the request we’ve undertaken?”
“That’s right. Mercenaries also have honor!”
“I see. You two are like role models for all mercenaries.”
She didn't bother to say that she wasn't the Merchant Guild Leader but merely the general manager of this trade journey.
Making the two of them her own people was far more important than such things.
Despite being merely a passing connection, they were individuals with a sense of duty to complete the request, risking their lives.
Moreover, she had heard their skills weren't bad.
She recalled the Head of Security’s story that although they were currently only Bronze Plates, if they trained consistently, they had a high chance of reaching Expert level within a few years.
‘Such talents must be recruited unconditionally. They are individuals to keep close and use importantly.’
For a merchant like herself, there was no asset as important as ‘talent’, so Sheratiya continued to wear a gentle expression and melt the two with her eloquence.
I heard you are promising individuals.
Since you have not only skill but also a strong professional spirit, once this request is completed, your path will be smooth. I will also speak well of you to the branch managers of the Mercenary Brokerages in Marzen and Kilken.
Perhaps the other mercenaries who are with you now will also praise you.
Besides that, she focused on raising their favorability by offering all sorts of compliments.
Since they weren't fabricated words but words from her heart, the effect was even better, and when her beauty was added to it, Matthew’s face slackened into a silly grin.
It seemed that if she worked on them a little more like this, she could establish a good relationship.
Then, Jack, who had been silent until now, opened his mouth.
“Thank you for the undeserved praise.”
“Undeserved? It’s all true.”
“Of course, I don’t think you said things you didn’t mean at all. We actually do this work with pride, and we strive every day to become people worthy of that pride. Right, Matthew?”
“Huh? Ah, of course.”
“However, the biggest reason we decided to complete this request to the end… is because of Harang.”
“Harang?”
“Yes. I’ll be honest. When we heard that Black Poison was targeting the merchant guild, it’s embarrassing to say, but… we also briefly considered abandoning the request.”
“…….”
Sheratiya listened to Jack’s story without saying anything.
She wasn't offended.
Hadn't two-thirds of the mercenaries already left?
Amidst that, the one who had rallied the other mercenaries and prevented their departure was speaking his honest feelings, so rather, thoughts of surprise and interest came first.
However, there was another, more surprising fact.
It was precisely the faith they had in Harang.
“……You’re saying we should unconditionally trust Harang?”
“That’s right.”
“That’s right… If Harang said he would take care of all the assassins, it will definitely happen. Even if all the mercenaries leave, as long as Harang remains, we can safely reach Kilken.”
“I apologize for saying this, but we too were able to remain here because we had such faith. Later, our goal is to act with faith in our own skills, without Harang’s help, but… Ah, anyway, I didn’t mean to say this… I wanted to tell you not to worry too much. And if you’re going to praise someone for their contribution, please do so to Harang, who will be back soon, not us.”
With those words, Jack and Matthew politely bowed and returned to their places.
Sheratiya, who was staring blankly at them, muttered to herself.
“What kind of fellow is he, that bastard?”
She couldn't understand.
She couldn't grasp him either.
What on earth kind of fellow was he, to have gained the trust of such talented individuals at such a young age?
Of course, she had vaguely realized when he handled Black Scorpion that he wasn't at the Wooden Plate level, but no matter what, winning people’s hearts was a completely different story.
They weren't just acknowledging Harang; they trusted and respected him.
So she was curious.
At the same time, she was also expectant.
Really, if that 20-year-old fellow really dealt with all of Black Poison and returned… how should she react?
It was when she was having such thoughts.
Dagadak dagadak
Deolkeongdeolkeong
“……?”
A carriage approaching from afar.
It was a strange sight.
Without any escort troops or porters, only a coachman and a carriage were racing across the plain.
Yet, the scene was so peaceful, and not even a hint of crisis could be felt.
Feeling as if her brain was itchy, Sheratiya narrowed her eyes and looked towards the coachman.
“……!”
It was Harang.
Surprisingly, less than a day after he said he would be back, he had returned.
‘Why? Did he fail the mission? Or… no way, did he come back to say he’s abandoning the request?’
She was confused.
It was commendable that he didn't just run away and at least came to tell her, but thinking she was being betrayed by the one who had just received a storm of praise from Jack and Matthew, the blow was even greater.
However, such thoughts were only momentary.
As her thoughts reached where he had obtained the carriage and why he had dragged it all the way here, Sheratiya’s mind began to fill with question marks once again.
‘What is it? What on earth is it?’
‘What’s going on?’
‘What’s with that carriage?’
‘What has he done and come back?’
It wasn't just her.
The merchant guild employees, including the Head of Security, and the mercenaries who had remained out of loyalty, also surrounded the stopped carriage with expressions full of questions, and Harang, who had lightly jumped off the horse, greeted them.
“Hello.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Hmm, why is the reaction like this. Ah, I should show you this first.”
Nodding, he went into the carriage’s cargo bed and rummaged for something.
And carefully placed it on the ground.
The head of the Black Snake.
The head of the Black Hydra.
And pieces of skin from the napes of necks, engraved with Black Scorpions.
Harang’s expression, as he laid these out in a row, was awkward yet expectant, and his eyes, shining brightly, created an even more bizarre atmosphere.
“Escort mission, completed.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“……These aren’t the reactions I expected?”
It couldn't be helped.
Several merchant guild employees, who had confirmed the gruesome items, vomited what they had eaten on the spot.
The mercenaries also looked at Harang with disgusted expressions, and only Konjinyu stared at the head of the Black Hydra with surprised eyes.
What was fortunate was that Sheratiya was not among the group spewing vomit.
A moment later, she, who had desperately managed her expression, spoke to Harang.
“Come to my tent. Let’s talk for a moment, just the two of us.”