Chapter 125

Chapter 125

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 125: The Northern Region (1).

Although the Pesial-Mercenary Group newly became one of the Top 10, there wasn’t any significant change in the mercenary world. After all, the Dagon-Mercenary Group, which had been expelled from the Top 10, was wandering around the outskirts committing all sorts of illegal acts, so they didn’t have much influence in the mercenary world.

With such a bland outcome, the Viola-Mercenary Group and the Allen-Mercenary Group left the capital and headed back to Vermandois in almost half a month.

The members, who had thoroughly enjoyed their time in the capital, had mixed feelings. Especially Furball Geese and the youngest Kori, who had been roaming the entertainment district day after day, seemed quite regretful. The prices were similar in both Vermandois and the capital, but the quality and quantity in the capital were much better.

The Blind Saintess seemed to have enjoyed her outing in the capital, as she was now adorned with even more jewelry than before. Anyone who didn’t know her would undoubtedly think she was a corrupt cleric.

The trip to the capital was also rewarding for Allen. He made a decent impression, established some connections with the Sword Emperor, and gained a general understanding of the capital’s overall situation…

The return journey to Vermandois was uneventful. Given that they were traveling under the banner of the Top 10 Mercenary Group, the Viola-Mercenary Group, it was only natural that no one dared to attack. Indeed, traveling with the Top 10 made the journey quite comfortable. Even if there had been an ambush, the Top 10 wouldn’t have been easily defeated.

Thus, they arrived back in Vermandois after a month and ten days. It had been almost three and a half months since they left.

Of course, the power of the Top 10 who dominated Vermandois was solid, and despite their absence, there were no daring individuals who challenged their authority… In fact, even though they were absent, it wasn’t really felt. The forces of the 2nd and 3rd groups, including the Vice Group Leader, remained.

Anyway, by safely returning to Vermandois, the trip to the capital was successfully concluded.

Allen immediately opened his roadside office to make up for the losses during that time. After all, not being able to work for over three months and just wasting money was unbearable for a money demon… Now, he was ready to do anything that paid well, regardless of fatigue or anything else.

And on the very day he opened his office, a summons came from the Viola office. True to her workaholic nature, it seemed that Group Leader Viola, like Allen, had returned to work the day after coming back.

When Allen entered the Group Leader’s office, Viola, who was frantically handling the important business that had piled up during her absence, welcomed him. Her dry lips, without a trace of lipstick, looked even more parched today.

“Ah, you came right away. I hope I didn’t call you when you were busy.”

“No, I wasn’t busy at all. I was just sitting around doing nothing.”

“It’s a rather urgent matter. And Group Leader Allen is the perfect person for it…”

“Me?”

Allen was slightly puzzled, wondering what made him the perfect person for the job. Viola opened a drawer with a clatter, took out a document, and slid it across the desk to him.

“In the Northern Region, someone visited. They said they have been in Vermandois for about four days now.”

He politely accepted the paper she handed to him. And the moment he read it, he immediately understood why she had said he was the right person.

It was related to the ‘Demonic Disease’.

Moreover, the person afflicted with the Demonic Disease was someone Allen was well acquainted with. Although not one of the Top 10, he was a fairly famous figure in the mercenary world. Known as the Tiger of the North, he was a very brave mercenary group leader.

Ingmar Garbo.

True to the Demonic Disease, which chooses neither time, place, nor person, it was an unexpected named character for Allen.

It seemed that because the Northern Region was a barren land for magic and they had no solution for the Demonic Disease, they hurriedly dispatched people to various places.

It just so happened that word reached Allen, who had a precedent of curing the Demonic Disease.

“They said they would reward you handsomely.”

Of course, expecting the same thousands of gold coins from the Northern Region, known as the poorest among the four regions, as from Marcas in the past would be unreasonable. However, being that it was the Ingmar-Mercenary Group, a substantial reward would surely be attainable. Allen was confident he could extract that much. Northerners were prideful fools, after all.

“There’s no one better than you in Vermandois when it comes to the Demonic Disease… What do you think? Ah, I’m not trying to force you. The choice is entirely yours.”

Allen then smiled broadly.

“You know I won’t refuse.”

Hearing this, Viola, the Group Leader, smiled slightly. It seemed a bit awkward.

“…I was worried that you would think I was giving you another burdensome request.”

“No, it’s fine. I do need some money. We’ve been resting quite a lot. The kids need to work their bones off now.”

“Thank you for thinking that way… Still, people from the North have loyalty. If you cure the Demonic Disease, they won’t forget the favor.”

Allen just smiled faintly.

Unfortunately, the loyalty that Northerners boast about didn’t work on Allen, who was from the South. For him, a mercenary was about money, not loyalty.

Anyway, Allen received the documents and withdrew. Group Leader Viola said she would soon send the representative from the North to his hideout.

As soon as he entered the inn building, almost simultaneously, a young man from the North wearing a thick fur coat arrived at the hideout.

“Aidar Skarsgård.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Group Leader Allen.”

With a light handshake, the two immediately set up a negotiation table and sat down.

Allen didn’t want to hear the same story he’d already heard. They needed to move quickly past that and get straight to the point.

“I have already heard the general story. However, whether or not we can cure the Demonic Disease, we will have to see for ourselves.”

“Then let’s go together.”

When Allen didn’t answer immediately and hesitated, the young northern man Aidar quickly caught on to his thoughts.

“I will compensate you sufficiently.”

“It’s difficult with just words like that. I also lead a mercenary group, and it’s a bit hard to move just hoping for vague compensation, don’t you think?”

“How much do you want?”

“First of all, aside from the treatment, during the coming and going time, you must guarantee at least eight hundred gold coins.”

At the mention of eight hundred gold coins, Aidar naturally jumped up.

“No matter how capable you may be, that’s too much! Eight hundred gold coins. Just for the simple coming and going!”

However, Allen did not back down an inch.

“The travel time alone is well over two months. Our mercenary group can’t just sit around doing nothing, can we? At the very least, we need to cover the cost of employment during that time. Aren’t you part of a mercenary group too? Then I think you should understand such circumstances.”

Of course, that made sense, but it was still the first time being asked to pay eight hundred gold coins for simple accompaniment.

“If you don’t like it, don’t take it. It’s not a demand. This is a negotiation, not a favor. There are plenty of other capable people besides me, anyway.”

Allen showed a relaxed demeanor. And it was true. Honestly, there were many other things to do besides this. There was no particular reason to go all the way to the distant North. It was surprising that Group Leader Ingmar had contracted the Demonic Disease, but that had nothing to do with Allen anyway.

However, the Northern youth had already heard from Group Leader Viola that Allen had a precedent of curing the Demonic Disease, so he didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

“Is your Group Leader’s life worth comparing to eight hundred gold coins?”

Those words were decisive. The Northern youth did not want to lose his respected Group Leader to the Demonic Disease.

Compared to the Group Leader’s life, eight hundred gold coins were a pittance.

“…Alright. Let’s do that. Since the Group Leader said you cured the Demonic Disease before, I will trust you. If you can cure my Group Leader, I will give you double that amount.”

“You’ve made a wise decision. This is my specialty, after all.”

“But time is pressing. My Group Leader doesn’t have much time left.”

“I understand. I will hurry as much as possible. Still, it will take two days. We just arrived from the capital yesterday.”

The young man from the North, Aidar, wanted to depart immediately, but he considered the other party’s circumstances.

“Understood. Then, we’ll depart early at dawn in two days… It might be a bit of a hard march, so please take that into account.”

“I will consider it as long as it’s not too much of a strain.”

Thus, the two successfully concluded their negotiation.

Eight hundred gold coins for travel expenses. The treatment cost would be negotiated again after assessing the situation upon arrival.

Honestly, for the poor Northern Region, it was an above-expectation outcome. It meant that the situation of the Group Leader Ingmar, was that urgent. Well, no matter how strong and brave Ingmar was, he would be helpless against the Demonic Disease.

In a way, it was the price of despising magic. The North revered martial prowess too much and shunned magic.

…This is my first time in the North.

The region on the continent where one could properly see snow. And the place where the unfading ice flowers existed.

Allen gently suppressed the strange excitement rising in his chest.