episode_0019

“Is everyone ready?”

“”Yes, leader!””

“Good. There will be a risk that is different from previous requests. So that everyone can do their best.”

I spoke while watching the mercenary members respond with more determined expressions than before, and returned to my office to do one last inspection.

“Phew… I guess this will be the last time.”

Although we haven’t been together for a very long time, I look back at my office, which I have now become attached to.

‘Status window.’

[Name: Venice / Age: 29/ Male / Status: Indefinite.]

[Unique Ability (Magic Eye): This is an eye that can see magical power. You can see the trajectory of magic power and use magic power more smoothly.]

[Unique ability (talent identification): You can identify the other person’s talent. You can see your unique abilities and potential at a glance.]

[Unique ability (superior body): Your body is superior, as if it was created by God! Stamina, strength, situational judgment ability…. All other physical abilities are greatly improved!]

[Body Overload: Your alter ego is beyond its usable level. Your body will die at 23:48 on the 13th.]

It’s been 7 days since I was poisoned by the Vulture Spider’s poison and barely came back alive after being on the brink of death.

Miraculously, it seemed like everything was cured and I could continue living in my alter ego as before…

‘what. ‘Is it a miracle that only two weeks were given?’

A lot of things have happened so far. Both in the case of Nepenthes and the Vulture Spider, my body has been through a really hard time.

Since it was an alter ego, not my main body, a complete human body, I thought there would be no aftereffects.

I thought this clone would be easily treated and easily revived like a game character, as I thought. Until now, I have been controlling this body as if I were playing a game.

“It can’t be helped…”

However, this world was not a game world, and my alter ego was not as simple as a game character.

In the end, it had to end like this. If you ask me if I have any regrets, I would probably answer that I definitely do.

No matter how much it was an alter ego, it was infinitely real like the main body, and I went through the process of finding a way and a way to live in this world.

Because I wanted to know everything about this empire, explore places I had never imagined, and save them in my memory.

Should I stop with my meaningless complaints? Because I’m like this, it doesn’t make much of a difference.

I immediately lifted up the stylish request form placed on my desk and looked at it. It was a request that arrived at the base when I was lying sick from the Vulture Spider’s poison.

-Request: Request to subdue the monsters that appeared in the Valley of Death, south of the Imperial Territory.

A place at the southern end of the Imperial Territory where numerous strong and diverse monsters reside. We request the subjugation of the monsters that appeared in the so-called ‘Canyon of Death’.

The monster’s characteristic is that it can fly into the air, and ordinary attacks do not even cause scratches. It is said that it even spits fire from its mouth.

…The conclusion reached by combining the above characteristics and various information was that the above monster was designated as a ‘5-star monster’.

We ask the ‘Scar Mercenary Group’, which has recently shown excellent growth, to subdue the above monsters.

-Imperial Imperial Family-

This continent is called ‘Imperial Territory’. That means that every space on this earth is overflowing with the influence of the ‘empire.’

This request was a direct request from the imperial family that ruled the empire. Because it was a request to subdue a 5-star monster.

5-star monsters were individuals with strength that was on a different level from 4-star monsters. Each one had the power to annihilate a city, and the mere appearance of a 5-star monster was enough to cause an uproar throughout the empire.

No matter how strong and rapidly growing our ‘Scar Mercenaries’ were, the risk of being annihilated by 5-star monsters was very high. The same was true even with Seris, who was now beginning to make a name for herself in the empire.

In our case, honestly, it didn’t matter if we turned down that request. By now, we were in a situation where we were successfully completing numerous requests and receiving stable and enormous financial benefits.

There was no reason to accept that request and take a huge risk.

To put it bluntly, our mercenary group became more powerful and made more money than the nobles who were well-known in the empire. Even with money-making mercenary members and investments in bases, the money never ran out.

“I will ask you. If even one person refuses, I will not carry out this request.”

The night I received the request. He gathered all the mercenary members, including Seris, and asked quietly. As I said, I was planning on giving up if even one person refused.

-You can’t give up…!

-We are invincible!

-If the captain and vice-captain are here, there is nothing to be afraid of. Even if it is a 5-star monster!

The mercenary members took a moment to think about it, and then every single one of them suggested that they should accept the request.

There was no external pressure or coercion. Because the winning spirit and passion on their faces told me that it was the truth.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Seris showed a sign of approval with a cold expression, just like when they first met. So, we accepted a direct request from the imperial family.

A request to subdue a 5-star monster with enough power to put the entire empire in fear.

So we had a day to prepare. Everyone was talking loudly and shoveling food down their throats, as if they were going out on a simple request.

To forget the fears and fears vaguely blooming in my heart.

And today. The day of departure dawned. We will leave the base like this and embark on a long journey.

“I didn’t think there would be any criticism.”

I looked at my office with faint eyes for a moment, then took the fancy sword lying on the wall and left the office.

Like letting go of an office you can never return to, burying a close friend in your heart.

“…Goodbye.”

***

“Are you here?”

“That’s right. And… take this.”

“…..this.”

Seris accepted the gorgeous sword I gave her and was silent for a moment. It was the sword I got after defeating Nepenthes.

[Forgotten Hero’s Treasured Sword]

As for me now, not only can I not recognize the true value of this sword, but it is too sharp a sword to just be left in the office.

It would be more appropriate for Seris, who will become the Sword Master, to have it rather than me. If she uses this excellent sword, she will become incomparably stronger than before.

“It’s a sign of apology. Will you accept it?”

“……..”

Seris looked at the sword and my face for a moment, then left without saying a word.

‘Is this a failure again?’

Just like the day I first met Seris, Seris became cold again.

It’s worth it. Because you’ve had a hard time because of me. Of course, any human being will inevitably feel hateful feelings.

From the moment I freed myself from addiction and woke up, whenever Seris faced me, her expression suddenly hardened and she became cold as if she were dealing with others.

It still hurts a little. I thought I would never meet those cold gazes again.

Well, it’s my fault. I hope I can make up with Cerise just before I leave.

“We will set out on a journey to engrave our names and become a legend in history…!”

“”Oooo!

Let’s leave. To continue our legend. And to decorate my… final journey.

So we left the mercenary base and headed south.

‘hi. ‘Ska mercenaries.’

Even if I disappear, a leader better than me will definitely come. I’m sure the rest will do that.

***

“…….”

Seris was silent as she looked at Director Venice, who was silently walking in front of her.

‘Why on earth am I doing this?’

I shouldn’t be like this… Every time I see Director Venice, I feel anxious from deep inside.

Every time I looked at that face, I was afraid that the leader would leave my side again, so my heart grew cold.

Grumbling-

I lifted up the treasured sword that Director Venice had given me and looked at it. It was a sword that was incomparably sharper and stronger than any sword used before.

It was a sword so shiny that it reflected my face, and there was not even a scratch visible.

‘A sign of apology….’

Captain Venice clearly gave me this sword as an apology.

Apologizing is my duty. Why is the leader… apologizing to me?

It’s me who is ugly. Unable to suppress his emotions, he expresses his anger towards the leader.

As he accepted the sword and left without saying a word, I noticed a vague wavering in his eyes amidst that expressionless expression.

The leader was hurt because of me.

I want to run right now, get down on my knees, cry, and apologize. The leader said there was no need to do that, it was all his fault…

Crackling..!

“Damn…”

However, I couldn’t smile when I looked at the leader’s face. I couldn’t even dare to approach the brilliantly shining light.

When I stand in front of that beauty and splendor, I feel so shabby and pathetic.

After I apologized, I felt like I couldn’t bear the looks of disdain and criticism poured at me.

…Just imagining that the person I loved most in the world was looking at me with disgust made my heart sink into the abyss.

‘I must apologize unconditionally… but…’

Every time I made that decision and approached the leader, my body trembled and I couldn’t speak as if my throat was blocked.

“…Yes. A little later… Let’s tell it a little later.”

I said I was sorry. It was all my fault… I will kneel down, bow my head… even if I have to give up everything to tell you.

okay. Once this request is over… I will have to tell you.

…Even if the leader looks at me with disdain, even if he abandons me.