episode_0017

“Hehe… I think it’s almost done…”

Seris sat in the lobby of the empty mercenary base and smiled grimly.

‘If I follow this book, things are going smoothly!’

I did my best to study something called ‘Push and Dang’ according to the book I got from a mysterious old man a few days ago.

The book clearly states that you don’t just give blind love, but you push it away to a certain extent and when the other person is confused, you pull them back in and gain even greater favor!

And when I followed the process, the leader also seemed very confused.

It was heartbreaking and bitter to push out my leader, but…

If this is for future glory, I will endure even this pain!

“By the way, Captain. When will you come…”

Because it was a ska mercenary group that had recently grown explosively, there were many more cases where everyone split up and carried out requests rather than moving together.

The mercenary members, including Captain Venice and Hans, went on a mysterious dungeon exploration that had been requested this time.

Seris returned after completing a request to exterminate a 4-star lower level monster in just one day and was waiting for the leader.

‘That’s why I was able to grow like this. It’s all thanks to the leader…’

If the leader had not come as the leader of the Scar mercenaries. If another incompetent person other than the leader came as the leader…

He would have already massacred everyone and committed suicide. I could never have imagined feeling the glory and growth I am experiencing now.

“No.”

If I hadn’t met the leader. If the leader leaves…

As gloomy thoughts and meaningless delusions suddenly appeared, Seris struggled with a feeling of despair welling up from deep within her heart.

‘That won’t happen. huh.’

I won’t let that happen. No matter what happens… I will protect the leader.

The rosy future with the leader that will come in the future… I never get tired of thinking about it every day, and in fact, I feel like I’m becoming addicted to it.

“Hehe..”

In this way, Seris was consumed by happiness in her fantasy without noticing the passage of time.

Crack, clap, clap!

As I was immersed in happiness that seemed to melt my brain, I suddenly heard footsteps coming from the direction of the parade ground.

It was a distance that an ordinary person would not even be able to perceive, but Seris could hear it clearly. Because he himself was getting stronger every day, and he felt like he was losing himself as a human.

“Are you the leader?”

When I listened closely, it seemed like it wasn’t the leader. The leader’s footsteps are a little heavier… and full of dignity.

Probably not the leader but a member of a mercenary group.

Seris felt sad, but she was sure someone had arrived, so she left the lobby and went to meet them.

Tadadadadak-!

“Gasp…Gasp…”

“……Hans?”

“Vice-captain Seris…! Wow…huh…”

As I went out to meet the sound of urgent footsteps, I saw Hans out of breath and sweating as if he was about to get exhausted.

Clearly, Hans went out with the leader to request a mysterious dungeon. But why is Hans in such a hurry…

“What’s going on, Hans?”

Cerys asked Hans, trying to ignore the anxiety that was starting to creep in.

“Ugh…huh… Vice…Vice-captain…! The leader…!”

please. Please tell me I’m just imagining things. Please tell me it was nothing.

“The leader was seriously injured…! Hurry to the treatment center…!”

“…..Ah.”

Why are unfortunate premonitions never wrong? The words that she had hoped would never come out of that mouth were clearly heard in Cerise’s ears.

There’s no way you heard it wrong. A body that has surpassed human limitations has made it possible to recognize accurate sounds and reproduce them multiple times in less than a second.

Ride, ride, hit!

As soon as she decided that the information she had heard was true, Seris began sprinting towards the treatment center.

So that I can squeeze out all the strength I had from breastfeeding and run faster than anyone else.

I love you so much!

-Wow! what..!

-What was that just now..?

-Did I see something wrong…?

It ran at a speed that was invisible to ordinary, untrained villagers.

Let all this overflowing mana reside in your feet and legs, so that you can overcome even your limits.

As a result of the combination of God-given talent and hard work, he was able to cover the distance of several kilometers from the mercenary group’s base to the treatment center in less than a minute.

Rattling – squeak…

“Vice leader of the Scar mercenaries…?”

As she opened the door and entered, a familiar therapist welcomed Ceris. He was the healer who saved Captain Venice’s life during the last Nepenthes.

“Wow…huh… Where is the leader?!”

“Please come this way.”

When Ceris asked the question despite the pain squeezing her lungs, the therapist hardened her expression and led her at a fast pace.

“Please…Please be safe…Please…”

“……”

Seris prayed earnestly to this world and to their fate. Please allow me to see the leader safely.

Please don’t take away the last ray of light that came to me.

” is inside.”

“Please…please…”

Sigh-

Following the therapist’s guidance, Cerise did not stop praying even until the door was opened.

I hope that I can look at my leader, who supports me reassuringly as always.

“Captain… No…!”

“Please open your eyes…Jebaal…”

“Ugh….damn…damn..!!”

As soon as she opened the door to the hospital room and entered, the screams and sobbing sounds of the mercenary members were heard in Seris’ brain.

“………….”

Trup, trudge.

no. It has to be no. It can’t be like this. It shouldn’t be like this…

In that bed, the leader will welcome you with a warm expression, as always.

Seris tried to ignore the reality before her eyes and walked towards the bed surrounded by mercenary members.

“…..Ah.”

dump.

As soon as she approached the bed and checked Director Venice’s condition, Cerise’s legs gave out and she collapsed on the spot.

His complexion was beyond pale to the point of purple, and his body was covered in bandages that had turned red as they tried to stop the gushing blood.

Even if anyone saw it, it looked like a person who would soon end his life.

“Da…leader…”

Even if I stretch out my trembling hands towards the leader. As always, the hand that held me warmly never left.

The warmth in that expressionless expression that had never been released was not visible.

All I could see in the leader’s expression right now was the pain of someone experiencing the crossroads of life and death.

“Keuheuk….bu…leader…leader…”

“………….”

Seris looked at the face of Birong, who was sobbing next to her, with sunken eyes that shed only tears.

“The place we headed to was… a trap dungeon. The arrow that suddenly popped out… Instead of me, the leader…”

“It looks like you were hit by the Vulture Spider’s poisoned arrow. We did our best, but after that, it was up to the patient.”

The therapist continued speaking with a somber expression.

Vulture Spider. As a 4-star monster, it is a monster with strong poison.

If exposed to even a small amount of this deadly poison, an ordinary person can die within seconds, and there were many cases of famous mercenaries in the past dying from this poison.

It was said that even veterans fighting powerful monsters over 4 stars could die from just a few drops of poison.

It was said that such poison had even been applied to the arrow and lodged in the body.

Thump-

“Yes…you…!”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…!”

Cerys couldn’t hold back her rising anger and grabbed Birong’s collar.

If it wasn’t for you. If only you were a little more careful. The leader… the leader has gone this far…!

“I’m sorry….I apologize.”

“Sorry… I’m sorry… Vice-captain… Captain…”

However, he soon let go. This behavior itself was just a meaningless expression of anger, and it was something the leader chose.

The action she was just about to make would have been an act of ignoring even the leader’s choice, so Seris just sat down again and shed tears.

“Sorry. I’m telling you this… maybe… you should prepare your mind.”

“…….Aaaah-!”

How can this be? The times I struggled and was dragged around in the darkness and lived in agony and pain…

After all that pain, the only ray of light that finally came to me… Is it so easy to take away the last light of my life?

I finally found my own goal, not my father’s request, and did my best for him…

Do you not even like this?

“No…no…. I’m the leader…!”

The screams filled with despair and curses toward the world were just scattered in the air.

“It’s not that there is no possibility, but… it would be a good idea to be prepared though.”

I was scolded and hated the therapist who left after saying only harsh words. I knew it shouldn’t be like this, but I couldn’t help it.

“No. No… the leader must…”

You will wake up. I’m sure the leader will stand up and lead me like always.

As always, you will be the light that shines in the darkness.

It has to be that way.

A day has passed.

“Not yet… Because he will definitely come back.”

Seris still did not give up hope and stayed by Director Venice’s side, neither sleeping nor eating.

Two days.

“No… no… don’t give up. Yeah… I won’t give up…”

I rationalize myself and hug the leader who is becoming increasingly weak.

three days.

“Chief…”

“The fact that you lasted for 3 days… is unusual.”

Seeing her complexion becoming even paler than when she first saw it, Seris became more and more shaken.

The strong rain and wind blowing against the faint candlelight blows as if it will trample even the small embers.

Four days.

“……………..”

Four days have passed without sleeping or eating.

My daily life with the leader dominates my mind. The moment we first met, the first time we drank alcohol.

A wonderful sight that fulfilled his promise to raise up a ska mercenary group. And like a hero in a fairy tale, he saved himself from Nepenthes.

Recalling the times I spent with the leader, I could only shed tears with empty eyes and hugging my heart.

And five days.

Around the time everyone gave up. Just when Ceris was about to be defeated, a strange event occurred.