Chapter 14: 14. Applying for the Subjugation Squad

Van was dead.

Though slightly bothersome at times, he was someone who had taught me many things.

We were close, in our own way.

That Van was dead.

Not dying before my eyes, nor was his corpse visible to me.

Everyone accepted the situation without doubt upon hearing the gruff-looking man’s words: “He’s dead.”

The cause was a bandit group’s ambush.

This wasn’t monster-related business but something the local nobles maintaining public order should handle by leading a subjugation squad.

Working as an adventurer had sharpened my situational awareness, and I clearly foresaw how events would unfold.

Subjugation squad recruitment notices would be plastered everywhere.

The nobles would lead their private soldiers at the forefront to build achievements, and the reward money would likely be substantial too.

Everyone seemed more excited about upcoming events than mourning Van’s death.

If this was what being an adventurer meant, I’d have no choice but to get used to it.

“Mister.”

I slowly approached the gruff-looking man resting in a corner after finishing his report.

“It’s Jack.”

“Yes, Mister Jack. Could you tell me about Van’s final moments?”

It might have been rude.

Asking about a comrade’s death could bring back unwanted memories.

But as Van’s comrade and friend, I believed I had the right to ask.

Jack looked down at me while taking a sip of beer.

I could feel his gaze even without seeing it directly.

“…Right, you’re the kid who hung around with him.”

“Yes.”

“At the guild, everyone pointed fingers saying it was childish play – same-rank adventurers pretending to be teacher and student.”

“Was that so?”

I hadn’t noticed any such signs.

If even someone as perceptive as me didn’t notice, they must have only talked behind my back.

“Nothing special. Just bad luck getting caught in the recent bandit outbreaks.”

“Recent…?”

“What, are you from another world? Even stray mutts know about this.”

Jack gave me a strange look before draining his mug.

“You asked about Van’s end? For someone like him, he went out decently. Surrounded by bandits, we thought he was done for, but he broke through the weakest spot before dying. Thanks to that, Cheshire and I escaped through that opening.”

“You escaped?”

“Yeah. After breaking through, Cheshire died from a poisoned arrow shot at our backs. I got hit in the arm too – had to cut it off.”

As I fell silent at the brutality of the fight, Jack tapped his empty mug on the table to get my attention.

“With my arm like this, I’m retiring from adventuring. If you value your life, you should quit too.”

“…Someone else said something similar.”

“Van?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not that Van and I are strange – it’s a common thought among losers who couldn’t even make Silver rank after all this time. Nothing special.”

Clutching his severed arm, Jack staggered drunkenly out of the guild.

Watching his retreating back, I heard tsk-tsking sounds around me.

“That one’ll be dead soon too.”

“Can’t be helped. Jack made plenty of enemies everywhere. Missions aren’t get-out-of-jail-free cards.”

“Honestly, everyone here except that kid has made enemies.”

“Hey, you listening?”

Ah, they were talking to me.

I nodded to show I heard, prompting their smirking replies.

“Well, they’re dead and soon-to-be-dead anyway. Van was hired as a gambling shill but got addicted himself. Jack dabbled in contract killings disguised as escort missions.”

“Why tell me this?”

“No reason. You’re annoying but seem to be working hard lately. Never take easy jobs with big payouts.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

“Show gratitude by buying us beers? Cheap stuff won’t break your bank.”

Ah, that was their goal.

“Sigh, fine.”

Their “beer” was just watered-down swill costing 1 Copper Coin per mug. After continuous missions, I could afford three rounds easily.

“Do you know where to apply for the subjugation squad?”

“Joining up? Well, even rear supply duty gets you some Silver Coins. Notices will go up on the request board – just register at the counter then.”

“Thanks.”

Time to leave this city soon.

No particular reason to go elsewhere, but this backwater town didn’t deal in the information I needed.

“To find Saint information, I need a city with a Temple.”

Temples are usually in more prosperous areas. Building and maintaining them requires money flow.

“One last big score before moving.”

I wouldn’t fight on the frontlines. Just support as supply personnel.

Despite my plans, Van’s death kept gnawing at me.

Not blindly kind like grandfather, but he treated me well. That alone was enough to unsettle me.

I left the guild.

No mood for work today.

Let the sword calm my mind.

Contributing to Van’s revenge through the subjugation would be some consolation.

The adventurer life never felt truly dangerous before. Today taught me clearly.

It’s a profession where people you recently laughed with wither away meaninglessly. No romantic packaging could hide its cruelty.

After a simple meal at the inn, I took my sword to the back alley.

Distracted thoughts made my blade feel duller than usual.

My stomach churned peculiarly today.

Why do all kind people leave me like this?

Frankly, I resented them all.

“Huu…”

Grandfather Leon treated me with blind kindness.

Though he said I reminded him of his granddaughter, his wise eyes showed he wasn’t weak or foolish enough to see me as just a replacement.

His warmth made me think this life might not be so bad.

Then the system mocked my hopes – suddenly presenting a choice to “Attack.”

Against my will, I drew my sword. Had I not screamed, it would’ve ended terribly.

Afterward, grandfather still treated me well but kept clear boundaries. He knew I’d die on the streets within a week if abandoned.

So he trained me harder until I could survive alone.

Then I left.

Started adventuring here. Without Van’s help, I’d still be doing odd jobs cluelessly.

Lonely without conversation. My gloomy aura keeps people away. Those who approach usually want trouble.

But Van was different.

Whatever his initial motives, he treated me well – the first since grandfather. I opened up to him.

Even after he choked and threw me down upon seeing my eyes, I dismissed it as an accident.

Now he was suddenly gone.

“Why do kind people always leave me?”

Not sad enough to sob, but tears blurred my vision. Roughly wiping with my sleeve changed nothing.

I didn’t cry aloud. Too shameful for a grown man.

“Hngk…”

More than sadness, I felt wronged. So wronged it drove me mad.

Why does this only happen to me? What did I do to deserve this suffering?

My body ached anew. What meaning was there in swinging a sword I’d never held before? Why was I thrown into this damned world?

I lived an ordinary life. Not praiseworthy, but not bad enough to deserve this.

I lowered my sword and slumped down.

Just for today, I wanted to cry and rest.

That one day became two.

I returned to routine with swollen eyes.

Emerging after two days, news awaited: Jack found beheaded in an alley, and subjugation squad recruitment beginning.

I immediately applied at the counter – not for rear supply, but frontline duty.