Chapter 88: Proposal (1)
The confrontation was over.
The desolate, ruined landscape of the grand training ground was the only evidence that the two monsters had crossed swords.
Jeten considered, just in case, claiming damages from the middle-aged man, but soon gave up.
There were many things that made him feel uneasy about being assertive in front of him.
‘There are things that happened in the past, and even if not for that, well…… if I fall out of favor with the Mercenary Brokerage Head, it could cause setbacks in the guild’s business.’
He thought it would be better for the future to generously overlook this much, and thereby strengthen their future relationship.
“I hope you have a comfortable conversation…….”
Therefore, despite them being the ones who created that mess, Jeten once again provided them with a good room.
His exit, along with the words that no one, including himself, would come near for two hours, was a bonus.
The middle-aged man, Austin, Head of the Mercenary Brokerage, who was watching him, smirked and spoke.
“He’s a quick-witted friend. To put it badly, he has a cunning side.”
“It’s really strange. I think he’s a good person, but everyone speaks ill of Guild Leader Jeten…….”
“…….”
“Ah, this wasn’t what was important.”
That’s right.
This wasn't what was important.
Harang, shaking his head to clear his distracting thoughts, looked at the Head of the Austin Mercenary Brokerage.
A moderately angular face with a moderate number of scars, and a moderately rugged appearance.
He was truly the epitome of a Mercenary.
‘If he’s the Head of the Mercenary Brokerage, isn’t he the best among mercenaries?
I think he’s also called the Mercenary King.
For someone like that, he seems too ordinary…….’
That was only a story confined to his appearance.
To Harang, who knew his true self, it seemed there was no one more fitting to be the Mercenary King.
A man like a military sword, long forged in the smithy of a battlefield.
That was Austin, the Mercenary King.
However, this too was not important.
The most important thing now was that he had noticed his peculiar disposition.
“How did you find out?”
“Corrosion? That’s not difficult. I heard reports that you didn’t manifest an Aura Sword when you took the mercenary plate test. Despite that, you severed the sword of a mid-level Expert…… Doesn’t that defy common sense? If you possessed such skill, you must have reached the Graduate level, so why don’t you show a completed Aura Sword? Isn’t that the easiest way to reveal your true skill?”
“You deduced all this just from that?”
“Not just that. Actually, there are a few more people like you.”
“…….”
“Ah, you don’t know? Then you wouldn’t know this fact either. People with unusual Aura attributes like yours…… are not well-liked in the Holy Kingdom. To the extent that they try to capture and eliminate them all if possible.”
“Hmm.”
Harang wore a serious expression.
Even he, with his limited knowledge, knew what kind of place the Holy Kingdom was.
A place where those who act as proxies for God’s miracles gather, and the group possessing the strongest military power on the continent.
The fact that they possessed as many as seven Sword Masters showed that their military strength was on a different level from other countries.
‘Perhaps it’s a group even more powerful than the village.
No, it’s almost certain.’
However, such beings were trying to exterminate those like him?
It was the most ominous story he had ever heard in his life.
Harang threw a question at Austin.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“…….”
“Really. Well…… I could make a guess. Religious reasons, or perhaps someone with a similar disposition caused irreparable damage to the Holy Kingdom in the past.”
“Even so, they capture and kill everyone like me? Even if they’re innocent?”
“Guilt can just be pinned on them. And they don’t really kill everyone. There are often cases like this among swordsmen from renowned swordsmanship families or swordsmanship halls, and they live without any particular trouble.”
“Then I…….”
“With an unclear origin, using an Aura that unpleasantly corrodes swords, and mixing dark attributes that assassins would use into your swordsmanship, you’re a prime case to be caught and killed.”
“…….”
“…….”
“There must be a reason you’re telling me this, and not the Holy Kingdom?”
“Of course. I’m a Mercenary who is as sensitive to profit as any Merchant.nI wanted to see a much greater profit than the option of reporting you to the Holy Kingdom, and that’s why I borrowed Guild Leader Jeten’s name to invite you…… My, my, I’ve caught a much bigger fish than I thought.”
“A big fish? Why a fish all of a sudden?”
“……I’m talking about you. It’s a kind of metaphor.”
“Ah, a metaphor.”
Harang wore a blank expression, and Austin, looking at him, wore a subtle expression.
A moment later, he spoke.
“Never mind. I didn’t ask to get an answer. I’m not curious about your past…… Ah, as long as this one thing is certain. Are you, by any chance, a demon worshipper?”
“I am not.”
“You’re not currently involved in any organization related to Black Magic or anything like that, are you?”
“I am not.”
“Good. That’s enough.”
“Do you believe my words?”
“I do. Do you not believe my judgment?”
“…….”
“I’ve dealt with and contracted with countless people so far. I can sufficiently distinguish whether someone is lying or not.”
“I see.”
He couldn't believe it, nor could he not believe it.
In any case, the other party had to view him favorably for him to overcome the current unfavorable situation, so Harang could only remain silent.
Of course, even amidst that, his mind was working busily.
Why was the Holy Kingdom trying to exterminate those like him?
Why was Austin talking to him even though he knew that fact?
Did he want something from him?
If so, what was it?
As such questions continued to tail one another, Austin threw another question.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“What do you think is the biggest weakness of the Southern Mercenary Brokerage?”
“I’ve never thought about it.”
“I knew you’d say that, but that’s a bit much. Can’t you at least pretend to think?”
“Hmm…….”
Harang closed his eyes and continued to think.
Although it was a topic he wasn't particularly interested in, as Austin said, he needed to make a good impression on him, so he tried his best to ponder it.
Then, a few thoughts came to mind, and he picked the most plausible one among them and voiced it out.
“A lack of strong people?”
“Correct. Our Mercenary Brokerage, despite boasting the largest influence in the south…… doesn’t receive a good evaluation. Why? Because there are no strong individuals. At least, strong individuals of Graduate-level.”
Austin’s words were true.
There were quite a few Experts, or Silver Plate level mercenaries, in the industry, but it was true that the number drastically decreased from Gold Plate, which was above that.
With 0 Platinum Plate Mercenaries, the symbol of a Master, and only 4 Gold Plate Mercenaries even after scouring thoroughly, it was correct to view the Mercenary Brokerage as essentially a motley crew with only numbers.
And…….
“I am extremely ashamed of that fact.”
“Why?”
“My ambition is great. Do you have ambition?”
“Um…… I don’t really know the word ambition itself.”
“Peculiar.”
“I do hear that a lot.”
“It seems I won’t be able to make you understand.”
“Then…….”
“Still, just listen.”
“Yes?”
“I quite enjoy talking to someone about my aspirations and ambitions. So…… just listen.”
"The story that unfolded from that point on felt like a summary of Austin’s life, and also resembled a soliloquy... it carried a complex and subtle tone that was hard to capture in a single sentence."
However, while listening to the story for over 30 minutes, Harang came to vaguely understand his heart.
Austin, Head of the Mercenary Brokerage, loves the profession of a Mercenary more than anyone.
Austin, Head of the Mercenary Brokerage, wants to elevate the value of the Mercenary profession more than anyone.
Therefore…….
“Therefore, someone like you is needed.”
“Someone like me?”
“Yes. ‘Even someone as skilled as him is a Mercenary!’…… It’s a kind of role model. Thousands of gold coins exchange hands with your every move, an incredibly beautiful woman follows you, honor greater than that of a knight follows you…… I desire a future where countless people who see that, talented individuals who would have originally become knights or entered swordsmanship halls, jump into the mercenary industry.”
“…….”
“How about it, can you understand what my ambition is now?”
“To some extent.”
“Good, good.”
“So, what Sir Austin ultimately wants is…….”
“Yes, what I want isn’t much. For you to continue to remain a Mercenary. To be active as a Mercenary. I don’t want anything else besides that.”
“…….”
“What’s wrong? You seem to dislike something.”
“Isn’t that obvious.”
Harang showed a look of discomfort.
Of course, what Austin, the Mercenary King, wanted wasn't a big deal in itself.
Since he had no intention of joining another swordsmanship hall or belonging to the kingdom in the first place, and since he was satisfied with his mercenary life, his life wouldn't change much in reality.
However, two things bothered him.
The fact that he had to be ‘active’ as a Mercenary.
And the fact that he was currently being ‘threatened’ by Austin.
Of course, it wasn't that there was no room for agreement at all.
Harang, having organized these thoughts, made a counter-proposal to Austin.
“I do not want a relationship based on threats.”
“Confident. Despite having a weakness.”
“It can’t be helped if it looks that way. What I dislike, I dislike. However…….”
“However?”
“If it’s a relationship based on a deal, then I am also fine with it. If I remain a Mercenary, and am active as a Mercenary, in return…… if you provide something corresponding to that, I will positively consider Sir Austin’s proposal.”
“……For example?”
Austin leaned his upper body forward slightly and asked back.
Harang was the same.
Leaning his center of gravity forward, he recalled Sheratiya’s words.
‘When bargaining…… she said to start high first.’
It was a near-standard saying.
The basics of negotiation were to first name a high price and then gradually lower the amount to find a compromise.
Harang, having thought this far, licked his lips with his tongue.
It was strange.
What was this, that he was more nervous now than when they were ferociously swinging swords at each other.
Of course, he couldn't maintain the current silence forever.
Finally making a decision, he stated his condition.
“Aura Cultivation Method.”
“What?”
“A way to quickly accumulate Aura. I want that method.”
“…….”
“How about it, would it be possible?”
“…….”
“……?”
Silence.
More silence.
At this, Harang wore a puzzled expression.
However, despite that, Austin did not open his mouth.
Sparing his words to the utmost, he made various expressions.
He looked up at the sky with a complex, as-if-knowing-something-yet-not-quite face, then looked down, then looked at Harang again.
And he asked in a hesitant voice.
“Perhaps…….”
“Yes. I have not yet learned an Aura Cultivation Method.”
“…….”
A silence as heavy as death descended around Austin.