Ch.33Red-Eyed Mercenaries (1)

Dieta Albania.

She appeared before Najin pretending it was a chance meeting, but the reality was somewhat different.

She knew that Najin had accepted a request from Middle Priest Volkman, the content of the request, and even the execution date. She had many informants planted in the guild. All that remained was waiting for Najin’s return.

And when Najin returned…

“What a coincidence.”

Dieta approached Najin, saying she had “coincidentally” stopped by the guild on business and “coincidentally” ran into him. He was worth the effort.

“You won’t refuse this time, right?”

She removed her glove and extended her bare hand.

Last time he had refused her handshake, but this time would be different.

“From what I can see, don’t you want to take on requests above your rank? I think I might be able to help you with that.”

Because I have what you need.

Dieta smiled. Najin looked back and forth between Dieta’s hand and face with a dubious expression before finally reaching out to shake her hand.

2.

In the private reception room of Dieta’s trading company.

Najin took a sip of the coffee in the cup before him and frowned.

‘Disgustingly bitter.’

Come to think of it, Ivan used to brew coffee occasionally, didn’t he? It was an incredible luxury in the underground city. But what taste did people find in this? With such thoughts, Najin put down his cup.

“What do you mean you can help me?”

“Exactly what I said. I introduced myself last time, remember?”

She pointed to her nameplate.

“I’m the head of Dieta Trading Company, and my company plays quite an important role in this city. We’re quite large too.”

Najin knew this. The basic information he had gathered during his ten days in the city included details about Dieta Trading Company.

‘Dieta Trading Company.’

One of the top three largest trading companies in the city, responsible for exchanges with the outside world. They were in charge of exporting monster materials sold by adventurers.

“Our company has formed a partnership with the Central Guild. And an organization credible enough to partner with the Guild…”

She pulled out a paper from inside her garment.

“Can provide something like this.”

A paper bearing the emblem of Dieta Trading Company.

Pointing at the paper, Dieta said:

“The most important factor in accepting requests is the rank assigned by the Guild. However, a credible organization can write a letter of introduction saying ‘this person is trustworthy.'”

Simply put.

“You could call it a guarantee?”

Dieta smiled.

It was common for certain organizations to lend their name to individuals who, despite lacking achievements, possessed the skills to advance.

“In this case, Dieta Trading Company vouches for your abilities. This would allow you to accept requests of much higher rank than Black.”

She waved the paper in front of Najin.

“Quite an attractive offer, isn’t it?”

“It is attractive, but…”

Najin looked at Dieta.

“Why would you go this far for me?”

The same question as last time.

Previously, Dieta had avoided answering Najin’s question, but this time was different. She answered plainly, as if the answer was obvious.

“Well, because I think you’ll be profitable.”

“…Pardon?”

“Why would a merchant treat someone well? Because they see gold coins coming. You’re not someone who should remain at Black rank for long.”

Dieta knew.

The boy sitting before her had skills far beyond the Black rank. Though she hadn’t yet seen Najin fight to be certain, he clearly possessed abilities approaching Blue rank.

‘And…’

He would rise even higher soon. Despite limited evidence, her instinct told her so. The man before her was worth investing in.

“Lending the company’s name is quite a gamble for me too. Your failure could lead to a decline in the company’s credibility.”

Yet she was still offering her guarantee.

“It’s to earn your favor. Like buttering up someone who’s bound to rise high.”

“…Are you allowed to say that so openly?”

“Why not? You’d figure it out anyway.”

Dieta shrugged.

What’s wrong with revealing desire? Rather, clear intentions and purposes inspire more trust. Nothing is as clear as pure desire.

“Isn’t approaching with pure goodwill more suspicious? That’s more questionable.”

“I can’t deny that.”

“Of course, if I give you all this and you ignore me later, there’s nothing I can do, but I can at least leave the impression in the market that I ‘invested early’ in outstanding talent, which is profitable enough.”

Dieta took a sip of her tea.

“Either way, I’m investing in you. The more achievements you accumulate, the more I’m willing to invest.”

She narrowed her eyes.

Her yellow eyes glanced at Najin.

“An adventurer who quickly rises in rank shortly after arriving in the city, receiving support from Dieta Trading Company. Using the company’s equipment, potions, and funds… that alone is quite good advertising.”

Adventurers admire special individuals.

Admiration leads to imitation, and imitation leads to consuming the same items as the object of admiration. Dieta knew this could create tremendous advertising effects.

“You benefit from the support, and I can use you as an advertising model. Win-win, isn’t it?”

Dieta revealed all her intentions.

Because there was no need to hide them.

“I’ll use you, and you can use me. What other reason do we need?”

After listening carefully to Dieta’s words, Najin couldn’t help but laugh. Dieta tilted her head at his laughter.

“Why are you laughing?”

“It’s just refreshing.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ve never met someone who lays out their objectives so clearly.”

Najin exhaled deeply.

“Well, that’s fine. I don’t know what exactly you see in me, but… if you want to invest, I’m grateful.”

Najin pointed at the guarantee letter Dieta had produced.

“That letter, what rank can you vouch for?”

“I could write up to Blue rank, but I’m hesitant. I haven’t confirmed your abilities yet.”

Hmm, Najin rubbed his chin.

‘Should I show her?’

-Your cover age is 28, right? Then showing a fragment should be fine. You were planning to reveal yourself gradually anyway, weren’t you?

‘That’s true.’

Najin made his decision.

The moment Najin placed his hand on the sword at his waist, Dieta’s guard knight Passion reacted. Anticipating that Passion might charge the moment he drew his sword, Najin spoke first.

“I’m just going to show you.”

Najin pointed the drawn blade toward the floor, not at Dieta. Then he firmly gripped the hilt.

Fsssh…

Unlike usual, he didn’t draw in external mana.

Using a small amount of mana accumulated in his body through Merlin’s training method, Najin created sword energy. A white radiance flowed down the blade.

It was a fragment of sword energy.

Najin carefully limited his power to prevent the complete sword energy from manifesting as platinum light. Since he wasn’t drawing large amounts of mana from outside, controlling the power wasn’t difficult.

Nevertheless.

The white light forming on Najin’s sword was enough to make the onlookers’ eyes widen. Passion and Dieta stared at Najin’s sword with wide eyes.

“Is this enough for Blue rank?”

* * *

Shortly after Najin left with the trading company’s guarantee letter allowing him to perform Blue rank requests, Dieta, who remained in the reception room, spoke.

“Sir Passion.”

“…Yes, ma’am.”

“That was sword energy, wasn’t it? Definitely.”

“To be precise, it was a fragment of sword energy.”

The white radiance.

Though not yet a complete sword energy, it was incredibly close. In other words, the boy’s level was approaching that of a Sword Expert.

“His registered age is 28, but… honestly, he doesn’t look it, does he?”

“At best he looks early twenties. At a glance, he could pass for your age, Lady Dieta.”

“I think so too.”

A fragment of sword energy in his early twenties.

Dieta let out a hollow laugh at this level of achievement. Of course, it was possible that the man’s name really was “Ivan” and he was a young man in his late twenties.

Even so, it was fast.

Even promising talents from good families with proper support typically manifested sword energy in their early thirties at the earliest. Even Passion, who was discovered as a genius by the Albania family, manifested sword energy at 31.

“That man earlier, how long do you think it will take for his sword energy to be completed?”

“…With the right catalyst, it will be completed. I think within a month or two at the latest.”

Dieta let out another hollow laugh.

“What could it be? Do the rangers of the Tetzel Mountains produce sword energy too? I remember they trained in different areas rather than sword energy…”

“I’m not sure either.”

Passion hid his confusion as he answered.

He had seen the sword energy Najin demonstrated up close. Dieta, who didn’t know much about swords, wouldn’t have noticed, but Passion could tell.

The strangeness of the boy’s sword energy.

Though not yet fully formed, the white light flowing along the blade was incredibly dense. Passion had never seen a fragment of sword energy with such density.

‘I’d have to clash with it to know for sure, but…’

Despite being just a fragment, it didn’t seem like it would be overwhelmed when clashing with properly manifested sword energy.

3.

Dieta Trading Company’s guarantee letter.

When Najin showed the letter at the counter, he was able to view Blue rank requests. Looking at the papers densely posted on the bulletin board, Najin inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘Blue rank definitely gets more complicated.’

While Black rank mostly consisted of monster subjugation or material collection requests…

[Escort Mission.]

[Capture Special Entity ‘One-eyed Orc’ Alive.]

[Capture Wanted Criminal ‘Wyman’ Alive.]

Blue rank featured escort missions, capturing special monsters alive, hunting wanted criminals, and so on. As Najin scanned through the increasingly specialized request forms, his gaze stopped at one particular notice.

‘This one looks good, doesn’t it?’

-Not bad. Good for gaining experience and also for making a proper debut.

Making a debut.

A request suitable for building a proper track record.

‘Let’s go with this one then.’

Najin and Merlin’s opinions aligned.

With a snap, Najin tore off the request form.

* * *

“Captain.”

“What is it, Barger? Got something to report?”

“The request you accepted earlier has completed recruitment. I’ve brought the personnel list if you’d like to review it.”

“Oh. Good work.”

The woman flipped through the stack of documents her subordinate handed her. She frowned as she scanned them. With a scowl, she jabbed at one of the papers.

“What’s this? Why is there a blackie here?”

“Blackie” was a derogatory term for the common Black rank adventurers. She was pointing at information about a man named Ivan.

“Wasn’t the minimum requirement Blue rank? How did a blackie accept the request? Are those guild bastards not doing their job properly?”

“Please check the special notes.”

“Special notes?”

She frowned as she continued checking the document.

“…Dieta Trading Company vouched for him? That Dieta Trading Company I know?”

“Yes.”

“The one with that crazy woman who swallows gold coins? Why would she vouch for someone else?”

“I was going to filter him out, but that detail caught my attention. What would you like to do?”

The woman crossed her arms and tapped her forearm with her fingers in response to her subordinate’s question.

“That snake-like woman Dieta wouldn’t just vouch for someone without reason. She must have something she believes in.”

This is getting interesting.

Muttering this, she rose from her seat. Her black hair swayed with her movement. Tying her long hair that flowed down her back with a rubber band, she said:

“Let’s leave him be for now. Let’s see what kind of guy he is.”

She selected one of the swords hanging on the wall and attached it to her waist, then put her arm around her subordinate’s shoulder.

“If he seems good, I might just snatch him up. What do you think, Barger?”

“I don’t think the Snake that Swallows the Gold Coins will stay quiet, but…”

“Who cares? In this business, whoever offers better conditions gets to take.”

The woman’s red eyes gleamed.

“Well then, let’s go see his face.”

The captain of the Red-Eyes Mercenary Group.

One of only five White Horns in the city.

Sword Seeker Roseline Askarlo licked her lips in anticipation.