Ch.22The Mercenary Captain Who Dislikes Women (3)

“Phew…”

The administrator wiped the dripping potion with her sleeve and let out a long sigh.

“Thank you, Mr. Jack…. You’re the only hope in my life….”

“Excuse me?”

“Without your potions, I would have continued to despair about life and probably would have hanged myself from a beam someday….”

“Haha…. Please don’t say such creepy things.”

“I’m sorry…. You find me repulsive too, don’t you…?”

The administrator hunched her shoulders and lowered her gaze.

Rather than repulsive, I’d say she’s like a glass cup that could shatter at any moment.

The slightest misstep and her mind collapses, plunging her into self-loathing.

“Administrator. Let’s continue our conversation for now.”

“Ah, yes, yes…. About that Remugen mercenary group….”

The administrator slowly nodded.

“There’s definitely something suspicious…. Those unruly Remugen mercenaries actually paying full price for potions….”

“Right? And they bought an entire shelf’s worth.”

The Remugen mercenary group.

A hostile band of fearless mercenaries who’ll do anything for money.

They’re so formidable and love fighting so much that not only ordinary territories but even kingdoms are reluctant to provoke these war-crazed individuals.

Sometimes when they’re short on supplies, they raid nearby villages, and as long as the damage isn’t too severe, most people turn a blind eye.

They’re like a hornet’s nest—disturb them and you’re dead.

And these Remugen mercenaries came all the way to our shop to buy potions.

“What could their intention be?”

“Umm, well…. Maybe they really needed Healing Potions…. After all, they’re mercenaries, mostly swordsmen, so they probably get injured or die frequently….”

She has a point.

Maybe they really needed Healing Potions urgently.

“But still, it’s puzzling. Considering their usual behavior, wouldn’t they just steal what they need?”

“That’s true…. I’m sorry…. Honestly, I have no idea….”

The administrator’s eyes welled up with tears.

“If our village had a proper security force, we wouldn’t have to worry about this…. An administrator who can’t even protect the villagers…. I should just quit and get married to have children….”

“Excuse me?”

“Having lots of babies to increase the village birth rate is the only thing a stupid, lowly woman like me can do….”

“You’re not stupid, Administrator. Please don’t put yourself down so much.”

“But it’s true…. I can’t even solve your concerns…. If I’m not smart, I should at least have a good body, but I’m just fat and vulgar….”

Leaving the administrator to continue muttering self-deprecating comments, I fell into thought.

It was both the Remugen mercenaries’ visit and what the administrator just said.

A proper security force.

We definitely need something like that.

Currently, our village’s security force consists of five amateurs with mismatched weapons who can’t even properly handle goblins.

With no practical experience and too few members, they spend their entire day just patrolling the village.

Meanwhile, the village continues to develop, and recently we even established a farm with fifteen pigs.

Honestly, if someone like me wanted to, I could sneak in and steal those pigs.

It might be different in a city like Odelin City with dozens of security personnel.

If the Remugen mercenaries decided to raid the village in the middle of the night, we absolutely couldn’t stop them.

But we can’t increase the number of security personnel either.

Our village is currently classified as a “hamlet” under administrative law.

Legally, it’s not a place that requires security forces, so we can’t secure a budget for it.

The current five security members are serving almost without pay out of their desire to protect the village.

Even if we wanted more security personnel, we don’t have money to pay them.

It seems like we should organize a proper vigilante group.

I should discuss this with Sir Hostante.

“A vigilante corps… We need one.”

Sir Hostante nodded at my words.

“You’re right. Our village is far too vulnerable to external threats right now.”

“Is there a way?”

“There is a way. We could train the young people of the knights. But there’s one problem.”

“We don’t have equipment.”

The essential armor and weapons for security forces.

They need at least leather breastplates that can prevent fatal wounds, along with swords or spears, if not heavy armor.

But we don’t even have leather armor, and the only iron in the village is mostly in farming tools.

Even if we had iron, we lack the facilities and skilled workers to refine it.

A medieval village without a blacksmith or forge.

Even for a starting village, this is too much.

In this case, we’ll have to go to places like Odelin City to buy weapons….

It can’t be helped.

I’ll have to think of it as an investment rather than an expense and send people to purchase equipment.

By the way, I wonder if there’s a mine nearby.

In typical territory management stories, there’s always something like a mythril mine in the mountains behind the village, but somehow there’s nothing like that here.

A starting village with nothing for an NPC with 100 health points.

I wonder if there’s ever been such an unusual possession.

* * * * *

Late at night.

Mirella went upstairs to sleep, and I stayed alone making potions.

This was about the twentieth recipe for the pig estrus and pregnancy accelerator that kept failing.

I hope this one succeeds.

Just then, I heard the door opening.

Who could it be at this hour?

No one should be coming.

Wait, didn’t I lock the door?

Intruders armed with axes and swords entered one after another, surrounding me.

Looking at their faces, I recognized them as the Remugen mercenaries who visited the shop a few days ago.

Armed mercenaries visiting at this hour probably aren’t here to buy potions.

“Potion shop owner Jack. Right?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Come with us.”

An abduction, huh.

Are they planning to take me away and force me to make potions because they don’t want to pay for them?

I quickly thought it through.

Resisting now would be pointless with my physical condition.

Especially with Mirella upstairs, causing a commotion would be counterproductive.

Mirella would fearlessly charge at the mercenaries and might end up dead.

For now, I’ll go along quietly.

That’s the best way to protect myself and ensure Mirella’s safety.

And Mirella needs to stay alive to notice I’m gone and ask the villagers for help.

“We’re going to the mercenary camp, right?”

“Yes.”

“Do I need to bring anything? Personal toiletries or spare clothes?”

“We’ll provide everything. Just grab your coat.”

“Understood.”

As I stood up, the mercenaries opened the storage room door and began removing boxes of materials.

The boxes were loaded onto a small cart waiting outside.

They even brought a cart—they really came prepared.

Still, it’s concerning that there was nothing to stop outsiders bringing a cart in, even in the middle of the night.

We really need to develop that vigilante corps quickly.

If I can make it back alive, that is.

“Take that too.”

The mercenaries swept up even the clinical potions for the pigs from the desk.

“Ah, those are…”

“Stop talking and get in the cart.”

“Understood…”

* * * * *

Despite the late hour, the cart moved ridiculously fast.

I was afraid we might fall into a ditch or crash into a tree.

I hugged the boxes with my whole body to prevent the precious Healing Potions from spilling and breaking, which made the mercenaries snicker.

After a long, wild, bumpy ride, the cart’s shaking subsided.

We had entered the flat area where the mercenary camp was located.

The camp was a small but seemingly sturdy castle.

It originally belonged to some baron, but Remugen invaded at the instigation of hostile forces, drove him out, and took it over.

Those who live by the sword die by the sword.

Typically, such people eventually get used by more vicious powers or employers before being stabbed in the back.

In the game, they were actually annihilated by players who progressed through a sub-quest given by the fallen baron who had been driven out.

The reason these guys are still alive is because I advised Alreina not to get involved with them.

It wasn’t part of the main story, and the rewards were stingy compared to the effort required, so there was no need to clear it.

But I never thought it would lead to this.

After getting off the cart, I was dragged into the castle and forced to kneel before an arrogant-looking woman.

Sharp, fierce eyes, a sneering mouth, and a face covered in scars.

And a small earring glittering on her earlobe.

Adelheid Remugen, leader of the Remugen mercenaries.

The very same Adelheid I knew from the game.

“Greetings, Commander.”

Adelheid showed a curious expression at my greeting.

“You seem to know me.”

“Of course. Rumors about you are widespread.”

“Oh? And what might these rumors be?”

“That you’re a very beautiful and charming person. I thought it was just a false rumor, but seeing you in person, I see it’s true.”

Adelheid stared at me for a moment, then burst into laughter.

“You’re amusing.”

Well, at least I’ve lightened the mood a bit.

“If you knew about our Remugen, you wouldn’t be so relaxed. You’re certainly an unusual one.”

“To be honest, I am scared. But now that I’m actually meeting you, Commander, I feel emotions other than fear coming to the fore—ack!”

One of the men listening nearby kicked me in the back.

“How dare you run your mouth like that!”

“No, leave him be.”

The mercenary commander raised her hand to stop him.

“What emotion came to the fore?”

“Affection, of course. It’s only natural for people to be drawn to beauty.”

An awkward silence descended.

Adelheid’s fierce eyes stared down at me.

Meeting her gaze, I gave a faint smile.

“I apologize, Commander. Please just throw me in prison.”

“Why?”

“If I continue to receive your gaze, I fear my heart might melt and I’ll die. I’d rather be in prison.”

Generally, no one dislikes being flattered.

Let’s start by creating a friendly atmosphere.

If my knowledge of the original work is correct, Adelheid should like this.

Adelheid stared at me silently.

“You seem to have lost your ability to judge properly due to the long journey.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than the mercenaries hit me again.

Ouch, damn it.