Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 5: The First Expedition (1).

‘Ah.’

Allen snapped his eyes open. It was still dark all around.

As his blurred consciousness returned, he felt a tingling in his groin from the tension that coolly enveloped his body.

‘…Finally….’

A monumental first expedition. Not just the visual stimulation from beyond the monitor, but a real reality that stimulates the flesh and blood—.

Honestly, even Ji-hoo, who had taken on Allen’s role, couldn’t completely shake off the tension of his first expedition. He knew the theory better than anyone else, but there was no guarantee that the outcome would turn out as he claimed.

No, believe. I have to believe in myself. I’m the group leader. I have to lead them. If I can’t believe in myself, who will they believe in?

Though his only experiences of leading someone in real life were when he was a project team leader in college or at work… he didn’t think he lacked the ability.

He rubbed his face dry with both hands before getting up from the bed. Then he went to the bathhouse and relaxed his tense body with the hot water the servants had earlier prepared. After changing into comfortable clothes and having breakfast, he went to check each of the several carriages parked in front of the mansion. Whether the carriages were in good condition, or if any of the prepared luggage was missing.

“Oh my, young master. You should have asked us to do it….”

“No, it’s fine. I need to check these things thoroughly myself at the end.”

Although the drizzling rain wet his hair and shoulders, Allen didn’t mind.

After a while, when the porters and workers had finished preparing and gathered, Allen checked with them one last time for any problems before getting into the carriage.

“Let’s depart.”

– Departureㅡ.

As Allen, the highest decision-maker of the group, gave the signal to depart, four carriages began to move in unison, starting with a jolt.

The drizzling rain had stopped at some point, and a pale light began to spread over the faint dawn mist. …Dawn was breaking.

‘…Surely they haven’t run away…?’

Although he had assured Captain Aiden not to worry, he honestly couldn’t help but feel anxious. Everything was a first for him. The first employment, the first mission, the first expedition… It was as if he was nervously awaiting the announcement of university acceptances with his marginal scores.

The carriage continued towards the east gate. And slowly coming into view was the agreed meeting place.

‘Ah.’

All eight mercenaries were huddled together without a single one missing… Fortunately, it was a pass.

Allen had to work hard to suppress the emotions welling up inside him. As soon as the carriage stopped, he got down to greet them.

“You must have had a hard time waiting. Everyone, get on the carriage.”

“Yes, Group Leader.”

Captain Aiden skillfully gestured for his colleagues to board the carriage before approaching Allen.

“…Not a single person is missing, Group Leader.”

“That’s good to hear. …You’re going to have a hard time from now on.”

“Not at all. It’s only natural to do what needs to be done.”

“May I also ride along?”

“…Together, you mean?”

Aiden was momentarily taken aback by a request he had never received before. The idea of a noble joining the dirty compartment of mercenaries was—. It was certainly hard to understand.

“Ah, well, um…, yes…, there’s no reason you can’t.”

And so, Allen stepped into the compartment where the mercenaries were huddled together. The sound of them laughing and gossiping nastily ceased abruptly, as if on cue. They looked at the captain who followed in, with eyes demanding an explanation for what was going on.

With the captain momentarily at a loss for words behind him, Allen calmed his timid heart as much as he could and mustered the courage to speak.

“I’ve decided to ride together with you. Until the mission is over, I’m a comrade who’s on the same boat, aren’t I? Don’t feel too uncomfortable, and I’d appreciate it if you could think of me as a fellow mercenary.”

Naturally, an awkward silence enveloped the carriage. Unable to stand it any longer, the captain scolded them for not responding—, and then bald Dolkin laughed heartily.

“Welcome, Group Leader. It might smell a bit like dung here, but I hope that’s alright with you….”

“It’s the smell coming from your mouth, you bastard.”

Only then did the air, which had been frozen stiff, somewhat relaxed. Allen sat down among them and said,

“Just act like I’m not here. Really, it’s okay.”

Then, once again, the bald man was the first to shout. It seemed he was the mood maker here.

“Think of it as if our group leader isn’t here—!”

“Woohoo!”

As a few responded, the captain subtly rolled his eyes. It was a signal not to cross the line too much. …After all, the other party was a noble.

“Is it really okay to talk about anything?”

“Of course. Go ahead. No need to worry.”

“You heard him, we can talk about anything!”

And then, as if they had been waiting for it, the loud voices began to fiercely whip around….

There, Allen felt a new world.

The mercenaries’ stories were beyond imagination.

…Especially the sex stories.

The Allen Mercenary Group had traveled for a full day to reach the entrance to the demon lands by the mine. Right there was a fortress built of stone. For now, copper smelting was being temporarily conducted here, so acrid smoke was continuously billowing out like from a rice-cooking chimney. The amount mined had shrunk, so it was only this much, but originally, the smoke would have filled the entire fortress….

The guard captain in charge of this copper fortress, Malcolm, quickly recognized Allen as he was getting off the carriage and saluted him. He was a man with an impressively styled mustache, flaring out like butterfly antennae on both sides.

“I’ve been waiting for you, young master.”

“You’ve had a hard time, Captain Malcolm.”

“Hard time, you say. Not at all.”

Allen quickly scanned the surroundings. The absence of carriages bearing the lord’s insignia suggested that the Count’s family had not yet arrived. …Fortunately, it seemed they had avoided the misfortune of having to leave immediately upon arrival.

“Thank you for your hard work coming all this way, please take a good rest.”

The captain of the guard subtly indicated that the Count’s family had not arrived yet. He didn’t want to unnecessarily disturb the mood of the lord’s family. Allen also tactfully withdrew from asking any indiscreet questions about it.

“It seems we have some time, so you all should rest too. You must be tired from the journey.”

“Yes, Group Leader.”

“Let’s take a rest!”

The mercenaries, even with the demon lands right before their noses, casually chuckled and sauntered off somewhere. As for Allen, getting closer to the demon lands actually made him tense due to its terrifying oppressive aura… It appears that the saying about toughening up through harsh experiences holds true. Having weathered the ups and downs of life, they cultivated the courage to laugh off even the most menacing atmospheres.

And on the day Allen and his mercenary group arrived, before the sun had set, a mercenary group sent from the Count of Eibreheim household arrived at the fortress.

The unmatched scale and grandeur of their arrival compared to earlier mercenary groups didn’t surprise Allen. What caught him off guard, however, was Charlotte’s unexpected presence as the leader of the group.

‘…I knew she was a female warrior, but she’s even braver than I thought.’

Since Allen also came, he wasn’t in any position to say anything, but he couldn’t help but be surprised how delicate nobles would recklessly dive into this dangerous demon land where mercenaries could drop dead in droves if not careful.

Even if there’s an unwritten rule among mercenary groups to not touch the group leader during a confrontation, one can’t expect such consideration from the monsters of the demon lands.

Seeing that among the four mercenary groups gathered here, only Allen and Charlotte came as leaders themselves, it was clear how much the nobles of the southern regions value their own safety.

Anyway, he didn’t know why Charlotte came here, but honestly, he was somewhat glad. After all, she could be considered one of his peers.

“Why is the lady hereㅡ.”

Charlotte seemed to have never expected that coward Allen to have come here himself.

“…As the group leader, it’s only natural for me to come. It’s also an important matter for the family.”

“As expected of the Lady. You could be a role model for everyone.”

“And you…?”

“I also, well, accompanied as the group leader.”

“Ah…, yes….”

Though skeptical, it was hard not to believe. After all, they were seeing each other right here in the fortress.

After exchanging a few more words out of courtesy, they went their separate ways to their respective areas. Since the sun had almost set, the expedition was naturally postponed until the next day.

When Allen returned, he was met with the mercenaries’ subtle glances. There were even some murmurs of “Ohh—.”

The meeting of a handsome man and a beautiful woman… Naturally, it was bound to spark salacious rumors.

This was something bald Dolkin was particularly good at.

“What’s the relationship between you two? Could it possibly be this—?”

He, disproportionate to his size, smirked and twirled his pinky around his nose as if picking it.

Seeing this, the clueless youngest of the mercenary group, Karakul, blurted out an explicit word.

“Did you have sex?!”

“Damn brat, what’s with this talk about sex to our group leader.”

Captain Aiden smacked the foolish young one’s head with the palm of his hand. However, accustomed to being hit, the boy just laughed stupidly as if he didn’t mind.

Allen just smiled faintly and didn’t respond much. The mercenaries also didn’t tease any further.

He quietly lay down and closed his eyes. However, his mind was fiercely spinning.

…Sex.

As a man with a dick, imagining sex with a beauty seemed like an unavoidable fate.

Allen felt a heaviness in his groin.