The hideout of the ‘Lion's Mane Mercenary Corps’ located in the central Continent. Muscular men, drunk and staggering, were nonetheless constantly pouring liquor down their throats.
“Here! More liquor!”
“Me too! Liquor!!”
“Let’s drink and die today!”
“You idiot! If we drink and die, what about the mission!”
“The Commander and Vice-commander will handle it!”
Wahahahahaha!
‘It feels like coming back home. I must be getting old.’
I chuckled to myself as I took in the scene of the rowdy tavern.
“Brother, have another glass!”
Not content with just pouring it for himself, he even went around filling the empty glasses of those nearby.
“Thanks.”
I looked at the filled glass with a pleasant smile.
‘At this rate, I’ll use up all my mana just dispersing the intoxication.’
When a mission ends, mercenary corps usually soothe their fatigue with liquor.
Today was such a day.
Gulp.
Gulp.
The liquor flowing down my throat soaked my clothes.
Since they were clothes I hadn't washed in a few days, I didn't particularly feel bothered.
This was because, fundamentally, my essence was that of a mercenary.
While active as a low-rank mercenary, I had refined a Mana Heart and was lucky enough to build a career that caught the eye of Emma Eurasia.
Afterward, I became a Guest Instructor for the Blue Knight Order, which was practically like a mercenary corps, and I thought I would end my life satisfied with that level of success.
If I hadn't met Killian Eurasia, it certainly would have been so.
The incompetent Fourth Young Master of Eurasia.
That Fourth Young Master took control of the Blue Knight Order, had his merits recognized in subjugation battles, became the Annihilation Squad Leader, and then scouted me.
Eurasia had been on a roll ever since, seemingly succeeding in stabilizing the territories they occupied.
‘The day for me to return isn't far off either.’
My mission.
No, Killian Eurasia's ‘favor’ was for me to approach Mercenary King Babato, build trust, and arrange a meeting for them later.
I had worked tirelessly to fulfill that favor, and gradually having my skills recognized, I had risen to about 15th in the rankings of the ‘Lion's Mane Mercenary Corps.’
‘If I set my mind to it, I could push up to 10th.’
Within the mercenary corps, there were about nine people practically stronger than me.
Even as a 6-star knight who had trained in the Ke and Shik, being in the top ten was the limit, and I wasn't even a Vice-commander.
With strength and scale exceeding that of most kingdoms, the ‘Lion's Mane Mercenary Corps’ wasn't called the best in the industry for nothing.
Ssssh.
While sipping the liquor in my glass, I quietly rotated my Mana Heart.
The 6-star mana, which I had been training intermittently but hadn't yet fully stabilized, circulated through my body and cleared the intoxication.
‘It would be troublesome to forget the mission while caught up in the atmosphere… I’ll likely exhaust all my mana today just clearing the intoxication.’
My gaze turned toward the stairs leading to the second floor.
Babato and the other executives would be spending time among themselves there.
Clack.
Having emptied my glass, I stood up.
The atmosphere there should be in full swing by now, so I planned to go up and make my presence known.
“Brother Miller.”
“Nul. Did you come to offer a drink as well?”
I raised my glass toward the young man with impressive snaggleteeth.
Contrary to his naive face, he was a talent who had mastered 3-star.
“The Commander is looking for you.”
“The Commander?”
“Yes. He wants you to come to the third floor.”
The third floor was where Babato's office was located.
Though called an office, it was a space used for his private affairs.
‘He hasn't called me even once since I joined the mercenary corps….’
Gulp.
I unintentionally swallowed hard.
“Didn't you play a big part in this mission too? He probably called you separately to treat you to some good liquor.”
“Is that so?”
Since it was the Commander's summons, there was no excuse to refuse.
Having completely cleared the intoxication, I climbed the stairs.
“Commander. It’s Miller.”
“Come in.”
Creak.
As I opened the door and entered, the hot scent of liquor wafted out.
It was so strong that my body momentarily staggered.
“I heard you worked hard again this time?”
I looked at my commander, Babato.
A giant of a man with an impressive, well-trained body that made his age of over forty seem irrelevant.
His shaggy brown hair continued down to his beard, making him look like a lion.
The name of his mercenary corps, ‘Lion's Mane,’ also originated from those physical characteristics.
Soon, my gaze turned toward the bottle held in Babato's hand.
It wasn't hard to tell that the source of the liquor scent filling the office was that bottle.
“Want a drink?”
“Please.”
Pour.
Liquor was poured into a glass about three times the size of those used on the first floor.
Just smelling the aroma made me feel dizzy.
“Drink it down.”
“…….”
The atmosphere was somehow awkward, but I emptied the glass without showing it.
The intoxication surged up instantly, but this time, I couldn't even use mana to clear it.
Babato was not so unobservant that he wouldn't notice me using mana.
“Heh. You drink well.”
“It’s strong.”
“It tends to be that way for greenhorns.”
“You’re probably the only commander who would call someone who refined a 6-star Mana Heart a greenhorn.”
“Are you done?”
“My head is spinning.”
I caught my actually spinning consciousness and locked eyes with Babato.
“It should be. That’s a poisonous liquor that’s difficult for even most superhumans to detoxify.”
“……!”
If those words were true, it meant no matter how much I rotated my mana, I couldn't return to my original state.
Babato burst into laughter at my seemingly speechless appearance.
“I think that's enough for a celebratory toast. Now, let’s talk business.”
Babato's face, which had been laughing heartily, turned cold in an instant.
“Miller. Aren't you hiding something from me?”
“…….”
“You'd better speak honestly instead of trying to use your head.”
It seemed my tail had been caught somehow.
“There’s nothing special, but did you perhaps get some good information?”
“Good grief. I told you not to use your head.”
Rumble.
“……!!”
In an instant, I felt a crushing pressure weigh down my entire body, so I hurriedly tried to wrap mana around myself.
No, I tried to, but the mana didn't operate as intended.
It seemed to be because of the liquor I had just drunk.
“Ugh….”
I let out a groan as I took the Haki being emitted by Babato with my whole body.
“I don't like lies. That's for nobles with their silver tongues.”
Rumble.
As he intensified his Haki.
“Miller. Which side are you on?”
Babato asked.
Thump.
One of my knees buckled, unable to withstand the pressure.
Propping myself up with both hands on the floor, I locked eyes with Babato, who was looking down at me.
What dwelled in Babato's eyes was not his usual heartiness, but the chill he showed when looking at an enemy.
‘Is there no choice?’
At this rate, I’ll be branded a traitor and die.
Since I can't achieve anything if I'm dead, it was time to reveal the real purpose for which I joined the mercenary corps.
The moment I was about to open my mouth.
Swoosh.
Brown mana enveloped my body.
With just that, the crushing pressure on my whole body lightened considerably.
“That's enough, Brother.”
I turned my head at the relaxed voice and saw a woman covered in armor.
Bibi, the Vice-commander of the Lion's Mane Mercenary Corps.
An Arch Mage who had stabilized 7-star in her late thirties, and Babato's younger sister.
She had appeared out of nowhere and was protecting me from Babato's Haki.
“Bibi. I believe I told you not to enter my room without permission.”
“It’s not like it's mating season, so what does it matter?”
“What? Ha, haha! Hahaha!”
Babato burst into boisterous laughter at his sister's mockery.
“It's not my fault you missed your chance to marry. Don't take it out on me.”
“If you hadn't glared at everyone with your eyes wide open, I would've had children by now. And it's annoying, so please don't bring up marriage.”
“How insolent.”
Contrary to his words, Babato's eyes were laughing.
He had already settled the Haki he was releasing.
“Miller. I apologize on behalf of my brother's rudeness.”
“……It’s fine.”
“Don't take it too hard; he likely fed you that poisonous liquor because he was afraid you'd cause a mana reflux if you put up a futile resistance. My brother cherishes you in his own way.”
“Naturally. If it wasn't for my careful consideration, you'd be vomiting blood and rolling on the floor by now.”
“My joints ache as if every bone in my body is broken, but for now, I’ll thank the Commander for his consideration.”
“Hahaha. Look at that pride.”
Babato kept laughing, as if wondering where that previous chill had gone.
He looked no different from his usual self.
“I think that's enough warning. So, do you feel like talking now?”
“You wouldn't be doing this for no reason; you must have heard something.”
“The information guild reported something.”
Bibi replied on behalf of Babato, who had started gulping down liquor alone.
“I see.”
“I can cover for you once, but a second time is hard for me too.”
Bibi asked with a determined look in her eyes.
“What is the reason you joined the mercenary corps?”
“Because there is someone I want to introduce to both of you.”
Clack.
Babato set his glass down on the table.
“In the end, the information was true. Miller, I hate nobles. I hate people who approach me by getting involved with nobles even more.”
His growling was no different from that of a lion.
“I know.”
“If so, you must also know how I dealt with such people.”
‘You crushed their heads.’
He, too, was a mercenary who had risen from commoner status and ended up in the Sepia Merchant Guild.
He knew better than anyone the vanity of nobles and the jackal-like nature of those who clung to them.
He also knew that the reason Babato loathed nobles was because of the family that fell due to their framing.
Miller looked straight back at Babato and Bibi, who had their eyes fixed on him.
The Mercenary King, who had mastered 7-star and was on the verge of 8-star, and the Arch Mage, who had stabilized 7-star.
If he couldn't change their minds here.
‘Will I die?’
He was likely still alive because of his contributions to the mercenary corps so far.
Since joining the mercenary corps, he had seen more than a few people who had their heads crushed for approaching the Commander for personal reasons.
“I was part of Eurasia's Annihilation Squad. I even received a knighthood.”
“Eurasia… damn, I knew it.”
A clear anger dwelled in Babato's voice.
“However, I have never served two commanders.”
“You said with your own mouth that you're part of the Annihilation Squad.”
“I said I was part of it; I didn't say I still am.”
“Are you playing word games with me? Do you want to die?”
“I’m telling you because I don't want to die. My previous Annihilation Squad Leader was Killian Eurasia. He is the Fourth Prince of Eurasia, which was a family then but is now a kingdom. Also, the Leader knew that Mercenary King Babato hates nobles.”
After taking a moment to catch his breath, Miller continued.
“That’s why he expelled me from the Annihilation Squad.”
Whistle—.
Bibi whistled as if she found it interesting.
“He expected that since you're from a mercenary background, there would be no problem adapting, but if it was ever revealed that you belonged to the Annihilation Squad, a situation like today would occur.”
It was wisdom unbefitting his young age.
[“Gain the trust of Mercenary King Babato. From today, you are no longer part of the Annihilation Squad, so on the surface, it's a personal favor. If it's easier to think of it as a mission, then that's fine too.”]
“Interesting. What will you do?”
“Killian Eurasia…. He’s a guy who knows how to use his head quite a bit.”
Babato, who roughly wiped the liquor from his beard, poured the rest of the spirit.
“I’ll meet him.”
“……!”
A look of joy spread across Miller's face.
But that was a misconception caused by his failure to properly understand a man like Babato.
“I’ll meet him, and as payment for playing such a pathetic trick on me, I’ll crush his head personally.”
“There’s going to be trouble.”
Bibi let out a sigh, shaking her head.
At her gaze, which seemed to ask if he'd be okay, Miller nodded slightly.
‘Leader Killian will handle it somehow.’
What he wanted was only for him to arrange a place to meet the Mercenary King.
The state of the opponent likely wouldn't matter.
‘……Probably.’
Chapter 224: Chapter 224
10 min read