episode_0015

[My proud son, Eugene Schneider, this mother is so proud of you. A few days ago, the nobles who attended the bazaar sent numerous letters. Their letters were filled with nothing but praise and admiration for you and Jeanne.]

A few days later, a letter arrived for Eugene Schneider from his adoptive mother, Grand Duchess Marianne D’Essel O’Blenain.

The letter was filled with her emotion and joy for her son, and endless admiration and amazement.

[I heard that you expressed your manly ambition with unwavering eyes and even showed the magnanimity to give all the glory to your sister. Hmm… Has this mother only thought of you, Eugene Schneider, as a child under her wing? To think that you have already developed sufficient qualities as the heir to the family. I am truly impressed, proud, and amazed. On the other hand, I feel that this mother has failed to fulfill her calling as someone who should see everything about you. I should have been the one to recognize and support that side of you. I feel sorry and even ashamed.]

Amazement towards a well-grown child,

The pride as a parent felt when others praise him,

Furthermore, the self-reproach and shame that seeped in when she learned about her child’s character through others, without knowing it beforehand, were beautifully described in the letter of Marianne, Grand Duchess of O’Blenain.

Letters from wizards or military messengers are usually delivered quickly using cutting-edge technology,

However, in the case of letters for social interaction among nobles, unless it is unnecessarily late,

it is meaningful only when it is delivered with sufficient formality and packaging.

Therefore, the news of Eugene and Jeanne’s performance at the O’Blenain Grand Duchy bazaar

took several days to reach his adoptive mother Marianne, and his older sister Charlotte.

This is because the nobles who were present at the scene at that time sent letters to the two with all due respect.

Some of them had deep connections with the Grand Duchess and Charlotte, the professor and nun, and conveyed the news,

and there were also quite a few who sent letters with the aim of getting in line in advance because they thought the two people who were in charge of the bazaar were promising.

In any case, it was an aspect created because Eugene and Jeanne performed their roles perfectly,

and the Grand Duchess also had a clear picture of her beloved adopted son’s performance in her head from their letters,

which is why she is conveying such dramatic emotions.

‘Wow… Did I do something good? Is this what children do for their parents? I didn’t even have a chance to be filial in my previous life. I’m being filial for the first time in 50 years, including my previous life.’

While reading the letter from his adoptive mother, Marianne D’Essel O’Blenain,

Eugene Schneider’s eyes slightly reddened.

He was certainly moved and felt good when he read the letter from his older sister Charlotte.

Her unique bright energy permeated every corner of the writing,

giving him a feeling of receiving endless energy.

But at this moment, reading the letter from his adoptive mother Marianne,

Eugene Schneider is enjoying another blessed energy.

It is endless elation,

the mutual communication with parents that Eugene had been lacking since his previous life.

Parents raise their children with love,

and the children who grow up through that love do honorable work as members of society and enhance their parents’ reputation.

Eugene wanted to live that kind of life in his previous life.

So, he lived righteously and faced death as a righteous person until the moment he died.

However, at the moment he faced death while saving a child, he

felt bitter that there were no parents who would feel sorry as a child even in the face of this death.

But now it is not.

Although they are not blood-related, he has parents who will cry with their hearts if he dies,

and parents who will be much more proud of his good deeds than his own name being elevated are showing their presence in the letter in front of him.

[I think I need to work even harder here. That way, I can go and meet our proud and beloved son soon, right? This mother’s heart seems to be already running to our son Eugene Schneider. I hope our son feels the same way? As a Grand Duchess who has to maintain dignity, I think it’s presumptuous, but this mother hopes that my beloved son will also be looking forward to the day we meet. I miss you so much. I love you with all my soul, Eugene. ㅡYour mother, Marianne D’Essel O’Blenain, who loves her grown-up sonㅡ]

‘I will grow into an even more wonderful son as a prosecutor and wait, Mother.’

Feeling such infinite love from his parents,

Eugene Schneider vowed with all his heart that he would never tarnish the honor of his beloved parents

on the path of prosecutor that he had decided to start with determination.

And the portrait of his adoptive mother Marianne in the family pendant placed next to his desk seemed to embrace Eugene’s figure with a smile.

“Don’t sweep your hair back??”

The first task placed in front of Eugene Schneider, who had a new mindset,

was Jeanne’s capricious tantrum.

“When I think about it, I wonder if it’s right for a mercenary to care about their appearance. It’s a sister’s duty to prevent her younger brother from being influenced by bad things. So, keep your hair long. No. That’s frustrating for me, so just trim your bangs appropriately.”

“You were the one who told me to sweep it back because it looked good.”

“….”

As night fell,

Eugene and Jeanne headed to the Pangaea outskirts mercenary residential district again.

While saying that he was thinking of ordering oil to fix his hairstyle,

Jeanne expressed a completely different opinion than a few days ago.

In fact, it was more of an order than an opinion.

‘It’s not because I’m jealous of Eugene and Mina’s appearance… It’s just that there’s no need to create an uncomfortable relationship with Mina. That’s right! Isn’t it better to block any possible situations! One of the top reasons for the downfall of a mercenary group is love affairs!’

Jeanne, who witnessed Eugene Schneider being touched by another woman other than his family for the first time in her life,

was greatly shocked.

At that time, Jeanne’s mentality was shaken to the point where curses like “you bitches” flew around in her head,

and she tried to fix it afterwards,

and the result was Eugene’s hairstyle restriction.

The reason for the restriction was superficially the sister’s guidance,

and the rationalization within was the peace of the mercenary group.

Since Jeanne is the type to give infinite trust when she considers someone to be her own person,

she can never tolerate being jealous of Mina, the head blacksmith of the Blacksmith Workshop.

Therefore, since Eugene did not sweep his hair up during the first meeting between the three people a few days ago due to his laziness,

she is immediately taking measures to prevent any further possibility of abnormal currents between Eugene and Mina.

“Well, I’m comfortable and happy just living like this. I don’t care.”

“Okay! My brother who listens to his sister is pretty and admirable.”

Smiling!

“Shut up with the cheesy talk. Let’s be like mercenaries.”

Eugene Schneider, who does not know the background, coolly accepted Jeanne’s change of heart.

Then Jeanne smiled so brightly and happily,

and Eugene shuddered and spoke sternly with a straight face.

“The Captain is here!!”

Compared to when they visited the mercenary residential district last time, Eugene and Jeanne went deeper into the mercenary street.

As a result, the surroundings became more noisy, and signs embroidered with magic stone lights began to appear here and there.

The entertainment district of the mercenary residential district unfolded.

Then, a brown-haired man standing under the sign of a pub there

shouted the title of Captain towards Jeanne.

“Okay, Thomas, is everyone gathered?”

“Of course! A new family is joining us!”

Thump, thump, thump!

The man’s name is Thomas,

a combat member of Jeanne’s mercenary group, the Red Fox Mercenary Group.

Jeanne smiled slightly at him and raised her hand,

and Thomas hurriedly ran over to greet his boss.

‘This friend is the Assassin-class administrative assistant, Thomas.’

For the past few days, Jeanne had been telling Eugene stories about the Red Fox Mercenary Group,

and had also given him information about the key figures in the mercenary group.

Thomas is one of those key figures.

As an Assassin-class, he is not only quick-witted and quick-thinking,

but also has a lot of social experience despite his young age, so he is playing the role of the mercenary group’s assistant housekeeper.

“This is Eugene D’Essel O’Blenain, who returned from the Pilgrim’s Road a few days ago.”

“I see! Nice to meet you, Young Master Eugene!”

“Just call me Eugene. Why are you adding the title of Young Master!”

“Haha! I naturally say it because I’m meeting two people from the Grand Duchy family, Captain!”

And he is the only person in the mercenary group who knows Jeanne’s identity.

The two became connected in the early days when Jeanne started creating the mercenary group.

At the time, Jeanne was much more clumsy than she is now, so Thomas, who was quick-witted, found out her identity not long after.

However, unlike the typical Assassin-class people who betray others as a daily routine, Thomas was quite sociable and loyal,

so he thoroughly kept the secret and fulfilled his role as a founding member of the Red Fox Mercenary Group.

“Nice to meet you, Thomas. I’m Eugene, a Great Swordsman class, and I haven’t brought my equipment because the scabbard hasn’t been completed yet.”

Clasp!

“I’m Thomas, an Assassin-class! Welcome to the Red Fox Mercenary Group!”

Eugene and Thomas shook hands.

Eugene is 21 years old, and Thomas is 20 years old.

“Did you distribute alcohol and meat to the other mercenary members?”

“Of course. The first meal must be over and the drinking party must have started.”

Soon, the three headed to their destination together.

The executives of the Red Fox Mercenary Group are waiting at their destination.

The Red Fox Mercenary Group consists of a total of twenty-nine people, including four dedicated porters.

Among them, there are six executives,

all of whom are Mana Awakened.

In the case of general newcomers, the meeting takes place in a place where the entire mercenary group is gathered,

but in the case of Awakened newcomers, a meeting with the executives is preceded,

and then a full meeting is followed.

Swish…!

Jeanne is in the middle,

and Thomas, who is talking to her about the mercenary group, is on the left on the same line,

and Eugene is positioned on the right of Jeanne half a step behind.

Eugene, who was looking around the entertainment district with a calm expression, suddenly turned his head to his right.

“I’m telling you, back in the day~~~! I was in a bronze-sized mercenary group~~??”

“What a load of crap~ Hey, old man! If you rolled around in bronze, you would have already left this industry at that age!”

The sounds of drunkards arguing were heard from the outdoor tables of the pub.

Judging from the grayness of their almost completely lost hair and beards, they appeared to be well over 50 years old.

Just as it is not easy for a prostitute to leave the red-light district,

people who have eaten with swords find it difficult to leave the mercenary residential area.

Even if they earn money, they tend to spend it all because they have lived a life without much planning,

and afterwards, all that remains are war stories and bluster.

“Those people are already drunk.”

“Is that man really from a bronze-sized mercenary group?”

“Haha! There’s no way. The bronze-sized ones are among the top ten in the Empire.”

Thomas, who had also turned his head in the same direction as Eugene, reacted to them.

Then, Eugene asked Thomas if he was curious about the truth of the retired mercenary’s heartfelt claims about his past specs.

In response, Thomas firmly nailed down that the retired mercenary’s words were complete nonsense.

“This is the place, Hyung. I managed to get a good spot by talking to the Madam.”

Not long after, the three arrived in front of their destination,

and Thomas took a few more steps to guide Eugene and Jeanne.

It was a decent-sized mercenary pub with alcohol, meat, and female entertainers.

The pub’s name is D’Gaulle Mercenary Pub.

Perhaps that’s why,

Thump!

The moment Eugene Schneider stepped on the wooden staircase shelf in front of the pub entrance with Thomas’s guidance,

Halt!

He came to a halt.

“Hmph! Haa! Hmmm! Haaah!”

Because the voluptuous and lustful moans of a woman were heard from the dark side wall of the mercenary pub.