Chapter 57: To Marzen (2)
“…….”
“…….”
Inside the tent of the trade journey’s general manager, Sheratiya Viyan.
There, Harang and Sheratiya sat across a single table, maintaining a long silence.
The atmosphere was peculiar.
What Harang had accomplished was so great it wouldn't have been an exaggeration to call it an achievement.
After all, hadn't he single-handedly annihilated a group feared enough to make two-thirds of the contracted mercenaries desert just by its name alone, and returned?
Despite that, Lady Viyan, the assassination target, remained silent, staring at the black-haired young man with sharp, almost angry-looking eyes.
‘Perhaps, does she think I’m lying?’
It seemed plausible.
Even he thought he had returned too quickly.
If the assassins hadn't charged head-on and had fled here and there, or if the interrogated Black Scorpion had given false information, it would have taken much longer.
Harang, having thought this far, cleared his throat, keumheum, and carefully opened his mouth.
“Excuse me……”
“Please speak.”
“Why the sudden formal speech……”
“Is that what you wanted to say?”
“Hmm… That’s one of the things I wanted to ask, but to address the more important matter first… I think you’re misunderstanding something. I didn’t just waste time and come back. I really eliminated all the Black Poison members who were tailing the Viyan Merchant Guild. That carriage, and the heads of the Black Snake and Black Hydra I took out of the carriage, are proof of that. Ah! Come to think of it, I thought the Black Snake was the highest rank, but there was also a fellow with a Black Hydra tattooed on his neck. Of course, he might not be related to Black Poison, but seeing as he also had a tattoo right in the middle of his nape, it seems they are closely related… Are you listening to me?”
“I am listening.”
Sheratiya, who spoke calmly, took a sip of tea and then continued in an even more subdued voice.
“I also know that your words are not lies.”
“Ah… Is that so.”
“Yes. Hearing the story of the ‘Black Hydra’ made it even clearer. I’ve heard rumors. That in fact, the highest rank in Black Poison isn't the snake, but the hydra. Most people don’t know this… but anyway, thanks to that, it’s become clearer. You’ve completed the mission splendidly.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
“I should be thanking you more.”
“…….”
“…….”
‘Why do the words keep getting cut off?’
Harang wore an expression of incomprehension.
It definitely wasn't like this when they first met.
The conversation flowed naturally without him having to think about what to say.
It couldn't be helped, as Sheratiya had constantly asked him various questions.
But now it was different.
Lady Viyan, who was just staring intently at him as if she had no will to converse… was strangely difficult to deal with.
It reached the point where he thought it would be better if she just got annoyed and threw a tantrum as usual.
‘If it was going to be like this, she shouldn’t have called me. Why on earth did she call me separately?’
If he had his way, he wanted to leave.
Of course, he couldn't let his guard down as remnants of Black Poison might still be around, but wasn't it true that he had finished a big task?
He wanted to chat with Jack & Matthew, and he also wanted to ask various questions to Mr. Konjinyu, with whom he had newly formed a connection this time.
Rather than spending such uncomfortable time.
But there was a decisive reason why he couldn't.
Precisely…….
‘……I need to sell the spoils of war.’
That was right.
Harang, who had packed the Black Hydra’s equipment into a bundle after finishing the battle, had come to the conclusion that it would be better to just drag the abandoned carriage.
And rightly so, as the equipment used by the Black Scorpions was also of pretty good quality.
If the Viyan Merchant Guild bought these items at an appropriate price, he could earn a side income far exceeding the request fee, so he had no choice but to humor Sheratiya.
“…….”
Of course, Harang had never done such a thing in his life.
Therefore, he didn't know how to smoothly lead the opponent into the desired atmosphere.
Nor did he know how to bring up the topic at the right time.
In the end, unable to bear the awkward silence any longer, he opened his mouth with a serious expression.
“Excuse me……”
“Yes, please speak.”
“I don’t know what I did wrong, but… if I made a mistake, I apologize. And that… um, well……”
“?”
“I, uh, packed the equipment that the Black Poison assassins had in the carriage… Hmm… Ah! I don’t think you need to worry. I checked, and there aren’t any particular distinguishing features, so I don’t think there will be any problems selling them on the market. So, um, I don’t know where to sell things like this, and I’m not good at bargaining, so, well……”
“So?”
“Hmm… It would be really great if the Viyan Merchant Guild bought those things at a reasonable price……”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“Is it not possible?”
Harang’s last words were considerably softer and more pathetic than usual.
It couldn't be helped.
For him, who had never once been in a subservient position to achieve what he wanted, there was nothing as awkward and uncomfortable as the current situation.
A drop of sweat trickled down his forehead.
It gathered on his eyebrow…….
Grew larger…….
And until it succumbed to gravity and fell onto his knee, Sheratiya said nothing.
It was quite a long time after that when she finally opened her mouth.
“Hoooooo……”
With a very deep sigh, Lady Viyan bowed her head deeply.
And spoke. Her voice was filled with exhaustion.
“You’re a really, really unpredictable person.”
“Yes? What is?”
“You, you. Mr. Harang over there, what on earth kind of person are you?”
“Huh? Back to informal speech……”
“Is that important right now? No, I’m dumbfounded. What is this, a person who just single-handedly dealt with Black Poison’s Black Snake, no, even the Black Hydra… was fidgeting and watching my expression because he was worried I wouldn’t buy his spoils of war?”
“Uh, that’s right, but… why? Isn’t that normal?”
“Normal? Normaaaal? Haaaa……”
Sheratiya Viyan’s sigh grew louder.
Clutching her forehead, she closed her eyes and shook her head from side to side.
What on earth kind of person was that fellow?
What was his identity that he possessed skills worthy of easily grasping not just a Silver Plate, but even a Gold Plate?
And what kind of life had he lived that despite such skills, not even a hint of pride or arrogance could be seen?
‘Perhaps, is all of that an act? But is there any reason to do so?’
Sheratiya shook her head once more.
There was absolutely no reason.
There was also no reason for a great person with such skills to wear a Wooden Plate and accept a completely useless request to show off his skills.
That meant.
‘With my paltry brain, I can never figure this person out.’
Of course, that didn't mean she had any intention of distancing herself from Harang.
Shaking her head vigorously one last time, Sheratiya Viyan’s eyes widened.
Then, she saw the black-haired young man staring at her with a blank expression.
She felt somewhat deflated by that sight, but without showing any sign of it, she opened her mouth.
“Harang.”
“Yes.”
“The spoils of war you brought, I’ll buy them all.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. I won’t try to rip you off just because you don’t know the ways of the world. I’ll also give you double, no, triple the request fee. Two-thirds of the mercenaries left, and they also paid penalty fees, so I have a lot of money now.”
“Thank you. But why the formal speech again……”
“Instead!”
Kwang!
Sheratiya slammed her palm on the table, kwang, and stood up.
And brought her upper body closer to Harang.
The distance between their eyes became much closer than before.
If the eyes were the windows to the soul, it was a distance close enough to thoroughly scrutinize what the other person was thinking.
However.
‘Fuck, I don’t know.’
I don't know.
What kind of thoughts does this fellow live with…….
Muttering so inwardly, she proposed to Harang in a powerful voice.
“Will you quit being a freelance mercenary and come work under me? No, will you partner with me?”
“Yes? Partner with you?”
Harang asked, flustered, and Sheratiya continued speaking.
“Yes. A partnership. I get 7, you get 3. I’ll handle everything related to the trade journey, so all you have to do is protect me and the merchant guild. How about it? Ah, you don’t have to worry about me not being the Merchant Guild Leader. Practically speaking, I pretty much am. You seem to like money, so you won’t find many opportunities like this.”
“Uh, that is……”
“You also said that. That it was cool how Jack and Matthew found what they truly wanted to do, found their dream. I’ll help with that too. I can’t tell you exactly what you like, but I’m confident I can show you various options. That’s what a merchant is. Someone who helps you meet a wider world, more diverse people. How about it? Isn’t it extremely tempting?”
“Uh, hmm……”
Harang, with a flustered face, mulled over Sheratiya’s words.
Some of it was right, and some of it was wrong.
He didn't particularly like money.
He just hated losing out.
The only things he cared about among his possessions were his weapons.
On the other hand, the story about ‘helping him gain diverse experiences’ was extremely appealing.
His heart pounded for a moment, and a similar thrumming to when he first set foot in Marzen pricked his chest.
However.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for the offer, but I must decline.”
Strangely, the words that popped out of his mouth were completely different from his thoughts.
A surprisingly firm expression of refusal.
Sheratiya was surprised by this, but Harang himself was even more surprised.
‘What is it? Why did I refuse?’
He had resolved to leave the narrow and suffocating village and extend himself into a wider world.
He was someone who had wanted to get away from his tiresome peers and administrators and meet more, and more diverse, people.
And the offer Sheratiya had just made felt perfect for achieving such a dream of his.
But, why.
Why had he expressed his refusal without even thinking deeply about it?
“Uh… Really? Why? No, I won’t ask for the reason. Can’t you just reconsider?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think my mind will change.”
“Even if I add other conditions?”
“Even if you add other conditions.”
“Even if I change the ratio? Si-six to four! No, even if I make it five to five?”
“Still no. And I’m saying this because you seem to misunderstand, but I don’t really like money.”
“You’re lying… No, no. That was a slip of the tongue just now. No, I don’t understand. Aren’t you not really doing anything particular right now?”
“That’s true, but… Hmm… Can’t we just stop now?”
Harang asked in a polite voice.
Of course, Sheratiya couldn't refuse that request.
Though it was phrased as a request, considering the power difference between the two, it wouldn't have been strange to call it an order.
It was natural.
If it were Sheratiya Viyan, a noble young lady with power comparable to a Merchant Guild Leader, versus a Wooden Plate Mercenary, the former’s words would have been law, but the current Harang was no ordinary Wooden Plate Mercenary.
An unidentified hidden master.
Perhaps someone who might have had a master-level expert as a teacher, a being with such immense power that normally, one wouldn't even be able to have a private audience like this… He was clearly such an existence.
“Alright. I’m sorry for pushing you too hard.”
“Not at all. The offer itself was appreciated.”
Therefore, Sheratiya Viyan had no choice but to sit down in her chair, unable to pressure Harang any more strongly.
What was fortunate was that Harang felt no dissatisfaction with her actions, which could have been seen as rude at first glance.
Thinking so, as she drank the tea that had completely cooled down, Harang, who had been staring blankly for a moment, suddenly took something out from his bosom.
It was a dagger.
The moment the startled Sheratiya was about to harden her expression, the opponent pressed the bottom of the handle, and two pills rolled, ttegureureu, onto the table.
“This is?”
“Ah! I’m sorry, but I wanted to ask one more question.”
“……Go ahead.”
‘So that’s it. He was still being polite because he had more questions.’
‘Or not? Is he just naturally dull in this regard?’
‘I don’t know. Does that person have any awareness of what kind of existence he is?’
As she was thinking such thoughts, Harang’s question finally followed.
It wasn't a big deal.
It was about what these pills were used for, and Sheratiya had only one thing to tell him.
“What else could they be, they’re elixirs.”
“Elixirs?”
“Yes. Necessary when accumulating aura with an Aura Cultivation Method… I don’t know it well, but judging by the refreshing smell, they seem quite precious. Congratulations.”
She was sincere.
Elixirs that aided in accumulation were treasures among treasures, crafted by renowned alchemists over long periods, so even a low-grade one guaranteed an enormous value.
The strange thing was that there was no way Harang wouldn't know this.
‘I haven’t seen an Aura Sword directly, but looking at the situation, this fellow is definitely a Graduate. That means he has mastered a formidable Aura Cultivation Method, and in the process of training it, he must have consumed quite a few elixirs. But… why doesn’t he recognize that these are elixirs?’
Perhaps, is he boasting?
That he obtained such precious elixirs as a side income?
It was when she was making a puzzled expression with such thoughts.
Harang’s subsequent words jolted her senses.
“Aura Cultivation Method? What’s that?”
“Pardon?”
“Pardon?”
“……?”
“What’s wrong?”
Harang asked again with an utterly innocent gaze.
However, Sheratiya couldn't answer him immediately.
Because thanks to the few words that came out of the opponent’s mouth, she had approached a truth that was unacceptable by common sense.
“Perhaps……”
“Yes.”
“The Aura Cultivation Method, you haven’t learned it?”
“I told you I don’t even know what that is.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“Excuse me, Client?”
“…….”
Even after Harang spoke to her several more times, Sheratiya Viyan couldn't come to her senses.
‘Was it… realistically possible for someone who hadn’t learned an Aura Cultivation Method to reach the Graduate realm?’