Chapter 85: Monster (1)
The duel between Harang and Jeten, which had garnered the attention of all Marzen merchants, came to an end.
The result was, surprisingly, Harang’s victory.
The fact that a youth of twenty had defeated a mature, seasoned swordsman in his middle years, and a Graduate-level swordsman at that, left not only the Outer District but also the influential figures of the Inner District unable to contain their surprise.
“Harang? Isn’t he…… the leader of that gangster group? A mere gang boss defeated Guild Leader Jeten? Does that even make sense?”
“I heard he cleaned up his past life and became a Mercenary. Well, it’s not that important of a story though…….”
“Really? A Mercenary, huh. What’s his rank?”
“That’s what’s truly strange.”
“What is?”
“From what I’ve heard, he’s still at the Wooden Plate rank…….”
“What? Wooden Plate? Not Silver Plate, not even Bronze Plate, but Wooden Plate? Are you sure you looked into it properly?”
“It’s certain. I sent someone to the Mercenary Brokerage to confirm it.”
Similar conversations flowed throughout Marzen’s Inner District.
Therefore, everyone couldn't understand.
A fellow who was merely a Wooden Plate had achieved victory in a real sword duel against a Graduate-level swordsman?
“Perhaps, was he hiding his strength?”
“That possibility is high. However…… no matter how much strength he revealed, it still doesn't make sense for a young man in his early 20s to defeat Guild Leader Jeten.”
“That’s true. What on earth happened?”
People doubted, and doubted, and doubted again.
It couldn't be helped.
While it wasn't uncommon for people to reach the Expert level in their 20s, or even their teens, Graduate was a different class.
Even talented swordsmen usually saw the light only in their forties or fifties, and only the kingdom’s top geniuses could achieve that glory in their 30s.
Reaching Graduate-level in one’s 20s?
It had to be considered virtually impossible.
Even if you scoured the vast southern continent, there would barely be ten such individuals.
That meant it required an extraordinary talent that even the kingdom’s greatest genius would find hard to reach.
A few days passed with everyone harboring doubts about such an nonsensical situation.
Finally, the truth was revealed.
The head of the Charvaud Magic Family had directly questioned Philip Portville, who had been the notary of the duel.
What on earth had happened?
How could a fellow who, at best, was only at the upper Expert level, achieve victory against Guild Leader Jeten?
The answer to that was so clear that it made everyone nod their heads.
“It seems Guild Leader Jeten’s physical condition was very poor.”
“His physical condition was bad, you say?”
“That’s right. His sword tip seemed duller than usual, and he also seemed somewhat impatient. He was struggling to end it quickly, but his body didn't seem to follow…… Eventually, perhaps his condition worsened, he collapsed, spewing a fountain of blood on his own.”
“What? He wasn't struck by Harang’s attack?”
“Harang couldn't land a single attack on Jeten. He merely remained on the defensive, and you could say he snatched a free victory thanks to Guild Leader Jeten fainting. Ah, perhaps not free? Even though his condition was poor, he did endure the offensive of a Graduate for a considerable time.”
“Aah…….”
I see.
So that’s what happened.
The head of Charvaud retreated with an expression as if his head had finally cleared, and the information he heard spread throughout Marzen overnight.
Only then did people retract their suspicious gazes and show a gloating reaction towards Guild Leader Jeten.
While it was true he had suffered a regrettable defeat, no one expressed sympathy because his usual conduct was not good.
Rather, the reaction towards Harang was even hotter, because it was a remarkable feat to have stalled a Graduate-level swordsman, however briefly.
This was something only possible by reaching the upper Expert, no, the peak Expert level, and the prevailing opinion was that they now understood why the Portville family had been embarrassed by Harang in the past.
“Harang, huh…… I thought he was just a somewhat thick-headed gang boss, but he far surpassed that level. Peak Expert in his early 20s…… Perhaps, he’ll reach the Graduate level before he turns 30?”
“Wouldn’t that be too much? Haven’t we often seen cases where many of those hailed as geniuses fail to overcome the Graduate wall and waste twenty or thirty years?”
“That’s true. But it’s also true that his future is promising. I heard he’s an orphan and has no particular affiliation…….”
“Are you interested?”
“Yes. Let’s see if we can recruit him to our side if possible.”
“Ah, that is…… I heard a rumor that the Portville Sword Family is eyeing him…….”
“Damn it, that old man…… I wondered why he personally served as the duel notary even after being humiliated, but it seems he was planning to pull him into his family. Can’t be helped. I don’t want to recruit him to the point of quarreling with that old man.”
The powerful figures of Marzen, who had solved even past mysteries like fitting puzzle pieces.
They soon lost interest and turned their attention away from Harang, and this was precisely the atmosphere Philip Portville had intended.
Although he had given up on bringing Harang in as an adopted son-in-law, he couldn't give up on maintaining a close friendship with him from the closest distance, so he wanted to control the information for a little longer.
Of course, there was also someone for whom such information control did not work, and that was Sheratiya Viyan.
After the duel with Guild Leader Jeten ended, she quietly called Harang and asked.
“How did you do it?”
“What do you mean?”
“How did you beat Guild Leader Jeten without even lifting a finger?”
“Uh…… I’m also bewildered. Despite not making any particular attack, he self-destructed on his own…… Perhaps an internal Aura explosion occurred due to a sudden inner demon, but as for why, I’m not sure…….”
“So, you’re saying you didn’t intentionally induce it?”
“I swear, that’s right.”
A story that would have made Guild Leader Jeten cough up blood again if he had heard it.
However, Harang, knowing nothing, could only say this.
“Hmm.”
“…….”
Sheratiya observed him intently.
Watching while sitting.
Watching while standing.
Watching from the front, from the side, from the back.
Despite all such efforts, it was impossible to discern Harang’s inner thoughts.
Sheratiya cursed under her breath.
“Damn it.”
“Why the sudden cursing?”
“Because I can’t tell what you’re thinking.”
“If you just asked, I would tell you?”
“Shut up. Talking to you for a long time makes me feel like I’m becoming an idiot.”
“…….”
“No. I’m sorry. Just because I have a foul mouth, you can’t hate me, okay?”
“Yes? Uh…… Yes.”
‘She’s a peculiar person.’
A thought that would have made Sheratiya grab the back of her neck and collapse if she knew.
Of course, Harang did not voice this out loud.
He merely kept his mouth quietly shut and waited for Sheratiya’s next words.
After a short while, Sheratiya, who had taken a sip of tea, continued her questions.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“How strong are you?”
“……I don’t know for sure?”
“This frustrating…… Phew, no, no. It’s my fault for asking an abstract question. So…… Let’s compare with Guild Leader Jeten. You, if you fought Jeten in his best condition, could you win?”
“I can win.”
An immediate answer.
The first emotion that bloomed in Sheratiya’s chest upon hearing Harang’s answer was relief, and the second emotion that exploded was shock.
She already knew he was a strongman beyond common sense.
Hadn't he single-handedly annihilated a squad of Black Poison, and even defeated a member of the Black Hydra?
However, saying he could beat Guild Leader Jeten without hesitation was a new feeling.
It was even more so because she knew how great an influence he wielded.
Of course, that didn't mean the matter was completely resolved.
She spoke.
“For now…… it’s a relief. Guild Leader Jeten, that person has a very sinister disposition, so there’s a high chance he won’t back down like this. He’ll find some fault somehow and harass you again.”
“Yes?”
“Why?”
“He didn’t seem like that kind of person?”
“What are you talking about?”
“He seemed like a very good person.”
“……?”
“……?”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
“Uh, it’s true though.”
Harang muttered with a blank expression.
Sheratiya, watching him, felt so frustrated she was about to explode.
If it was something that made money, if it was something that could be solved with force, the Jeten Guild would get involved regardless of how dirty it was.
It meant that although they were called a swordsmanship guild, their actions were no different from those of gangsters.
And yet, he called the leader of such an organization a good person?
‘This guy, he has no eye for people.’
Sheratiya shook her head from side to side.
Of course, Harang didn't understand such a reaction, but he didn't take her subsequent warning lightly.
“I don’t know what on earth you saw in that bastard to think that, but Jeten is not a good person. He’s closer to an evil person, and if you let your guard down like that, you could get into big trouble. Perhaps it might happen not to you, but to those around you.”
“…….”
“So, don’t let your guard down. Even if you are stronger than Jeten. He’s deep-scheming, but he also has quite a network of connections…… You might get entangled with someone even more difficult to deal with. Understand?”
He didn't understand exactly.
However, the point that not ‘himself’ but ‘those around him’ could be in danger.
And the point that he might meet ‘someone stronger than Jeten.’
Considering these two things, he definitely felt that he shouldn't remain in such a dazed state.
“Thank you for the advice.”
“Alright. You understood properly, right?”
“Yes. I’ll be careful so that nothing unfortunate happens.”
“Good. Take care of the Eddy Mercenary Corps, and take good care of the Marzen merchants too…….”
“You be careful too, Lady Sheratiya.”
“What?”
“You said those around me could be harmed.”
Harang, who paused for a moment, looked intently at Sheratiya and opened his mouth again.
“Because you are also around me, Lady Sheratiya.”
“……Enough. I’ll take care of myself, so you can go now.”
“Understood.”
Harang, who bowed politely after those words, quietly exited the room.
Sheratiya, who had been staring at the direction he disappeared for a long time, lowered her head deeply and muttered quietly.
“……I’m also someone around him?”
* * *
Sheratiya’s warning became a reality shortly after.
Guild Leader Jeten had sent another invitation.
This time, without any particular rhetoric, only the place, date, and time were written.
It seemed he would have to go in person to hear the business.
“So, could you protect the mercenary corps and the merchants for a short while?”
“……3 times.”
“Yes?”
“……If you spar with me 3 times, I’ll grant that request.”
“…….”
“Are 3 times a bit much? Then 2 times!”
“……I will do it 3 times.”
“Good, just leave it to me. Huhuuhu!”
Leaving behind the seemingly pleased Head of Portville, Harang briskly left Marzen and headed for Buehren.
He did not let go of the thread of tension.
It was because Sheratiya Viyan’s advice still lingered in his ears.
The words that someone stronger than Jeten might be targeting him did not leave his mind.
However, that didn't mean he was scared.
Harang had crossed the line of death dozens, hundreds of times so far.
For him, an event of this magnitude was merely a good catalyst for growth.
Thus, he finally arrived at the Jeten Guild’s headquarters.
“……Please come this way.”
The same guild member guided him this time as well.
Unlike before, there was no delay, so Harang could head straight to the reception room where the Guild Leader was.
Thus, the third meeting with Jeten began.
Unexpectedly, it became an entirely unimportant matter for Harang.
A man was conversing with Jeten, who was smiling awkwardly beside him.
A moderately large build and a moderately fierce impression.
A middle-aged man who could be called the epitome of a rough Mercenary.
Harang stood at the door and looked at him for a long time, and he too stared at Harang with his deep-set eyes.
Neither of them took their eyes off each other for a moment.
10 seconds.
20 seconds.
1 minute.
In an atmosphere so quiet that even the sound of swallowing saliva would be noise, Harang spoke first.
“Who are you? You.”