episode_0005

“No, really? Because I’m strong?”

“I’m sorry… please leave.”

“But I really…”

Treated like a criminal, I was kicked out of the mercenary guild.

But I was truly unjustly treated.

“No, how am I supposed to earn money with the lowest rank?”

In the mercenary guild, there were ranks.

And the missions you could receive varied depending on your rank.

Now, as a new mercenary, I was an Iron, the lowest rank.

The missions Iron could receive were the same as Iron.

“How am I supposed to earn money with a mission that only gives five copper coins?”

In my past life, five copper coins were like the pocket money of a kindergarten student worth a few hundred won.

At least it should have been a Silver mission to earn money for travel expenses.

So, I splurged a little at the reception.

And as a result, I was treated like a criminal and kicked out.

“At least they left me with a mercenary license.”

What should I do…

“Hmm…”

In my sight, an old lady was holding out a famous sword.

“Should I pawn this sword as collateral?”

Even at a glance, it was a famous sword.

I could definitely get enough value for it as collateral.

After arriving at the Marquis’s place, selling the magic stones, repaying the collateral, and getting it back…

I shook my head immediately.

“Phew… I must have been out of my mind for a moment.”

If the old lady caught me doing that, she might try to kill me.

If the old lady really tried to kill me, someone like me would disappear without a trace.

“Sigh… what should I do…”

“Do you have any concerns?”

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice rang out.

Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw a strange man standing there.

He seemed like a merchant.

His eyes were sharp as if he could see through things.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t even introduce myself. I’m Vedi. As you can see, I’m a merchant.”

“What can I help you with?”

Merchant Vedi.

That’s how I defined him.

“A wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Starting from his sharp eyes, he suddenly struck up a conversation.

The peak of suspicion.

And what’s more…

“His energy doesn’t feel good?”

I felt a instinctual aversion.

“I thought you might have some concerns, so I took the liberty of approaching you.”

Still, I decided to go along with it for now.

“I do have some concerns… I need money right now…”

“Money… you say?”

“Well, that’s fortunate. We happen to need someone at the moment…!”

What a coincidence.

Truly a strange situation where we both needed each other.

It became even more suspicious.

“Oh, that’s an interesting thing to say. What exactly do you need someone for?”

“Escort. Escort for the upper class. To be more specific… I’m planning to go to the south.”

“The south… that’s fortunate. I also have business in the south…”

“…Why are you going to the south?”

He suddenly asked me a question.

The atmosphere changed slightly.

I couldn’t immediately figure out his purpose, but I sensed his ulterior motive.

“He’s asking why I’m going to the south.”

Honestly, that was true, but I decided to hide some information and talk about my business.

“I have something to sell.”

“Ahaha, you have something to sell in the south. It seems like quite a valuable item.”

“…Yes.”

“So, what do you say? Will you come with us?”

I hesitated for a moment.

And then I found my answer.

“So that’s what it is.”

I also realized his purpose.

It was a good opportunity to go to the outskirts of the south for free.

It was only natural to take advantage of it.

“It’s good! It’s really fortunate.”

Truly… it was fortunate.

I understood their purpose.

And I had a way to go to the south for free.

It was only natural to take advantage of it.

“It might be a bit troublesome, but…”

“By the way, what’s this valuable item you’re talking about?”

“…It’s a secret. It’s quite precious…”

I dismissed it as a secret.

It would seem natural for Vedi to dismiss it as a secret.

“And besides, he probably already knows.”

Vedi probably already knew that I had magic stones.

And the fact that I’m going to the south to sell the maeseok.

Suddenly, Bedi interjected.

With a demeanor that seemed to be trying to uncover the existence of the maeseok by riding his luck to the south.

There was only one answer.

“Bedi must have been involved with those guys ten years ago.”

It was obvious.

If there was someone with impure intentions towards me, it would be them.

And logically speaking, the answer was simple.

How did those five guys plan to sell a valuable maeseok?

There must have been more sellers or partners.

And Bedi must be one of those sellers or partners.

“Anyway, he’s persistent.”

The events of ten years ago had finally caught up to me.

It was true that the maeseok was valuable.

But I didn’t think it was worth clinging to for ten years.

“So when do you plan to leave?”

After thinking for a moment, I replied to Bedi’s question.

“Tomorrow morning would be good.”

At my response, Bedi narrowed his eyes even further and smiled.

“Great! Then I’ll see you in front of the fountain.”

***

Bedi, with his eyes wide open.

Bedi gathered his subordinates.

Among them was the gatekeeper, Las.

“He’s definitely sure. Well done, Las.”

“…It’s only natural.”

Gatekeeper Las.

Las had revered the man with scars as his master.

That’s why, upon hearing of his master’s death, he had been searching for his enemy.

For ten years, he had been searching for his enemy, even after joining Bedi.

And finally, after ten years, a clue to his enemy appeared before Las.

Las humbly asked Bedi.

“May I make one request?”

“A request? What request is it?”

“I don’t wish to finish him off with my own hands. I just…”

Las was weak.

He had no talent for combat.

That’s why he couldn’t seek revenge by himself.

But he finally found a lead on the culprit.

“Surely, ten years ago, that guy was just a kid. So there must be someone else who killed my master.”

Las’s enemy.

Las still didn’t know.

That his enemy was the Hans Messiah of the Gumsung.

“You want me to identify the real culprit…”

The deal that went sour ten years ago.

Bedi was endlessly bothered by it.

But he had forgotten about it.

However, he couldn’t help but be happy at the reappearance of the maeseok.

“Do as you wish.”

Feeling good, Bedi readily accepted Las’s request.

***

Trying to recall, the memories were hazy.

I remember there were five of them.

But…

“I can’t remember their faces.”

It was an event that happened ten years ago.

Anyway, it was clear that I was involved with them.

“Lucky, I guess?”

They said they were heading south.

It was as if they were tempting me.

I played along.

Thanks to that, I could go to the south relatively comfortably.

Of course, they would probably try something.

“In truth, I didn’t have a choice.”

It was just a matter of whether they would try something in front of me or behind my back.

Nothing changed.

So, I chose to go along with them and let them try something in front of me.

Honestly, it was more convenient that way.

“Besides, my mercenary rank is Iron.”

They would probably let their guard down when they saw my mercenary rank.

Let their guard down.

In other words, they would relax.

“They’ll probably move slowly and leisurely. In other words… go to a place where their crimes won’t be exposed and kill me?”

Until that time comes, I just have to go along with them comfortably.

Well, as long as I play the fool properly, they’ll be fooled.

But if there’s one thing that worries me…

“I might end up committing murder for the first time.”

I have no intention of sparing those who try to kill me.

I’m not a pushover, so why would I spare them?

That’s the problem.

I’ve never killed anyone before.

The five guys who attacked me were killed by an old man.

My first murder.

“I need to be prepared.”

This is a fantasy world.

Someday, I must stain my hands with blood.

It’s just a matter of whether it’s now or later.

I’ve been prepared for this ever since five people died in front of me ten years ago.

Prepared to have blood on my hands.

“…I just hope the first kill isn’t a mass murder.”

I fervently wished that Bedi would only bring a small number of people.

***

What would be the worst first impression?

Being slapped as soon as you meet?

Witnessing someone urinating on the street?

Or… an inexplicable, endless sense of aversion?

Well, all of them seemed plausible.

But none of the above seemed as bad as this moment right now.

I checked my condition.

Clothes soaked in blood.

My face probably covered in blood as well.

“T-this is a misunderstanding.”

Bodies scattered around.

I killed them, but there was a reason for it.

“Please listen to my story.”

To anyone watching, I would be a criminal who committed a mass murder.

A criminal surrounded by knights and led by a lady knight.

I could explain the current situation without any issues.

But…

“That sword… where did you get it?”

That’s where the problem lies.

The emblem on their flags bore the crest of the Messiah family.

The beautiful lady leading the knights.

She was the granddaughter of the sword saint, who was supposed to be my fiancée.

“This is the worst.”

I sighed involuntarily.

I looked at the sword saint’s granddaughter with a look of injustice.

The sword saint’s granddaughter seemed unimpressed.

No, it was clear from the slight twitch of her eyebrow that she was angry.

“Even if I clear up the misunderstanding, the first impression will remain the worst.”

And so, the first meeting with the sword saint’s granddaughter ended in the worst possible way.