Ch.133133. You can call me Levan.

“Potato dumplings.”

“…What kind of potato dumplings would you like?”

“Do you have potatoes grown in Eden Valley?”

“Yes, we do. I’ll bring them right away.”

As potato dumplings were placed on the table and I ate a few, men gradually began to surround me.

‘This place hasn’t changed,’ I thought with a smirk, when one of the men rushed over urgently.

“W-we didn’t expect you to come without notice.”

“Your name was Teio, wasn’t it?”

“…It’s Theo.”

“Ah, right. Where is the Poison Lady?”

I merely said ‘Poison Lady,’ but the men surrounding me began murmuring with shocked expressions.

Theo quieted everyone down, then immediately bowed to me.

“Let’s go up to the third floor.”

“Let’s do that.”

After putting one more dumpling in my mouth with my chopsticks, I went up to the third floor.

There, the Poison Lady bowed to me, still wearing clothes harmoniously blended with hanbok elements.

Her appearance exuded a peculiar aura, befitting someone who had made her mark in “The Youngest Son of the Illustrious Family.”

“I-I didn’t expect you to come so suddenly.”

“I forgot to send a letter ahead because I was in a hurry.”

“Please, sit here.”

Fragrant tea cups were placed on the table.

I immediately took a cup and savored the taste, which made the Poison Lady flinch.

“What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

“No… it’s just that most people are visibly uncomfortable drinking tea with me. As you know, because I’m the ‘Poison Lady.'”

Well, I have immunity to all poisons, but from her perspective, it might seem strange.

Should I offer some kind of reassurance?

“Even if we’re close, you wouldn’t kill me, right?”

“…Selden Alphonse, you really haven’t changed. But why are you here without notice?”

“I need you to make some mercenary badges with fake identities.”

“Mercenary badges?”

“Yes, three B-grade mercenary badges and three transformation leathers.”

The Poison Lady tilted her head at my words.

“You could easily make mercenary badges yourself without seeking me out…”

“I need proper mercenary badges to enter a territory with strict security.”

“Hmm, if it’s such a territory, are you referring to Lumestia?”

“No, Parseche.”

“Parseche? That’s the territory currently at war with the Cardrian family!?”

“Yep, you know it well.”

The Poison Lady gives me a look of incomprehension.

“Do you really need to go there right now?”

“I have personal business.”

“You certainly don’t have to answer, but I’m worried.”

To think that the infamous Poison Lady would worry about me.

Indeed, she seemed to be a woman who remembered the favor of saving her brother.

“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything dangerous.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

“By the way, thank you. Riden often reports that he’s receiving a lot of help from you.”

When I curled up the corners of my mouth, the once haughty Poison Lady smiled faintly with slightly reddened cheeks.

“I owe Selden Alphonse a debt I can never repay in my lifetime, so it’s only natural.”

“How is Ariella doing?”

“She’s doing well. Thanks to you, she can even run around now.”

“Between us, just call me ‘Selden.'”

“S-should I?”

“Anyway, when can you have the mercenary badges ready? It’s an urgent situation.”

“Half a day should be enough.”

“Half a day? Wow, that’s the Hong Hwa Pavilion for you.”

As I exclaimed in admiration, the Poison Lady’s face turned bright red again.

“Is Riden handling his work well?”

“Haha, it’s strange to hear you asking about Riden… Weren’t you two enemies?”

“I can’t be disrespectful to someone who serves you, Selden.”

“Riden is currently serving as a mercenary captain, you could say.”

“M-mercenary captain?”

“I didn’t have anyone else I could trust. He’s doing a decent job.”

The Poison Lady pressed her finger firmly on the teacup and continued speaking.

“I heard you stopped a monster wave.”

At that, Theo, who had been silently listening behind us, flinched.

I tilted my head with a puzzled expression.

“Theo, what is it?”

“N-nothing.”

“Sigh… I know you can’t contain your curiosity.”

“Well…”

Theo’s pupils darted around as if there was really something bothering him.

Seeing this, the Poison Lady rubbed her forehead and sighed.

“Sigh… Actually, I went to Lake Territory.”

“…What?”

“When I heard about the monster wave, I went to help. But it was already over when I arrived.”

“You went to help with a monster wave… Were you trying to commit suicide?”

“No. Sometimes I act from the heart rather than the head.”

As the Poison Lady, she might have obtained information faster than the imperial family.

Besides, every territory hit by monster waves had been completely devastated, so offering help was practically going to die.

‘The treatment of Ariella must have really meant a lot to her.’

I cleared my throat and expressed my gratitude to the Poison Lady.

“Thank you, but you should have at least said hello when you came.”

“No need. You must have been busy restoring your territory, and I would have just been a disturbance.”

“You could have taken credit for it.”

“As I said before, I owe you a debt I can never repay in my lifetime. Taking credit would be unthinkable.”

“Well, I’m glad you think that way.”

The Poison Lady stroked her hair and leaned forward.

“So Riden isn’t properly fulfilling his role as an informant then?”

“That’s right, since he’s managing the mercenary group now.”

“Then please assign any information-related tasks to me. Of course, free of charge.”

Honestly, I felt somewhat burdened and was about to decline, but the Poison Lady’s eyes sparkled.

It seemed impossible to refuse.

I sighed briefly and nodded.

“Alright, I’ll rely on you for a while.”

“Understood! I’ll prepare the mercenary badges right away!”

As I quietly rested and drank tea at the Hong Hwa Pavilion, the mercenary badges and transformation leathers were ready even faster than half a day.

After a brief farewell, I entrusted two of each back to the Poison Lady and immediately set off.

Soon I arrived at Parseche Territory.

Unlike my previous visit, security was indeed strict due to the impending war.

“What is your purpose for coming here?”

“I’ve come to offer my services as a mercenary.”

The guard gave me a strange look, perhaps because no one had volunteered as a mercenary for Parseche Territory, then extended his hand.

“I’ll need to see your mercenary badge, please.”

“Here it is.”

After checking my badge, the guard gulped nervously.

“Are you certain you’re here to offer mercenary services?”

“Yes, that’s right. Is there a problem?”

“N-no. Please come this way.”

I boarded a prepared carriage and was transported.

When I got off, a man who appeared to be the Knight Commander greeted me.

“Welcome, I am Ellix, the Knight Commander. You’ve volunteered as a mercenary?”

Wait, the Knight Commander himself comes to greet a single mercenary?

How desperate must they be for volunteers?

Hiding my bewilderment, I bowed respectfully.

“Please call me Levan.”

“But why did you volunteer for our side?”

“…Pardon?”

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m just curious since we have so few mercenary volunteers.”

“Just how many have volunteered?”

“Less than ten, including yourself.”

Sigh…

They say mercenaries are all about money, but life comes first.

Besides, with the Cardrian family planning to end the war before imperial approval, a massacre is inevitable.

It’s natural to question my motives.

Anyone can see it’s practically suicide.

“I once received help from the Parseche family. I volunteered hoping to be of some assistance.”

At my words, Ellix stroked his chin and slowly nodded.

“Indeed, you wouldn’t volunteer as a mercenary just for money. And a B-grade mercenary is quite a valuable resource.”

“…Haha, my skills are still lacking.”

“I wish some knights who abandoned their families and fled would learn from you, despite knighthood being a profession that upholds honor.”

I understood those fleeing knights to some extent.

I too would have given up immediately if there was no chance of survival.

Honor doesn’t put food on the table, after all.

“Have many knights deserted?”

“No, not that many. They are knights who inherited the pride of the Parseche family, after all.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“And don’t worry, we won’t do something as disgraceful as placing you, a mercenary, on the front lines.”

“…Thank you.”

Ellix looked at me intently and continued.

“I’d like you to lead the mercenary members.”

“…Pardon?”

“Most of the volunteers are C-grade to D-grade mercenaries, so you, as a B-grade, would be most suitable, don’t you think?”

I made a B-grade mercenary badge to avoid troublesome responsibilities, but now I have to lead a ragtag group?

However.

There’s an upside.

Being given a position means freedom of movement.

When I need to conceal my identity, there’s no better advantage.

I grinned at Ellix and extended my hand.

“Then I look forward to working with you.”