Chapter 4: An Unexpected Offer (1)
rcenary ranks are largely divided into five.
The Wooden Plate received when first registering at the brokerage.
The Bronze Plate obtained after accumulating experience through repeated successful requests and receiving recomndations from three mid-level rchants.
The Silver Plate, requiring significant achievents, above-average martial prowess, and a recomndation from soone equivalent to a noble.
The Gold Plate, which can only be obtained by those qualified for Silver Plate who have achieved 'level' and reached the stage of a Graduate.
Finally, the Platinum Plate, which only a Master can attain.
Looking at it listed like this, a Silver Plate rcenary, rely in the middle, doesn't seem like such a remarkable figure.
But that's not the case.
They absolutely cannot be dismissed like that.
In the eyes of Jack and Matthew, who were still struggling with Wooden Plates, Carlson of the Twin Swords felt like sothing as imnse as a great mountain.
‘He’s not just any Silver Plate either.
To lead a rcenary corps of that size, he must be among the top tier.’
‘I heard the vice-captain and the 3rd seat under him are also Silver Plates…… Just how amazing must a person be to command such strong individuals?’
It was so distant that they couldn't even imagine it.
Although they casually talked about Platinum Plates and whatnot, facing him this closely made the two realize anew the imnse gap between even a Silver Plate rcenary and their current selves.
However.
“Well, I don't really know.”
“Huk!”
“……!”
To the question from such a big shot, the newbie gave an answer far too easily.
A careless tone, as if blurted out without much thought, the kind one might use with them.
Jack was aghast and glared at Harang.
‘Can’t you speak more carefully!’
Of course, his inner thoughts weren't conveyed.
Harang remained the sa.
Still looking at Carlson without any tension, and when Carlson said nothing, he lowered his head and scooped up stew.
Matthew trembled violently.
Because the Bronze Plate rcenaries he had seen so far strongly disliked being ignored.
Therefore, the master of a Silver Plate rcenary Corps, who made even those Bronze Plates grovel, would surely not tolerate it.
He would surely wear that eerie smile, rise from his seat, and then, with threatening cracking sounds from his bones…….
“Is that so? Was it difficult content to sympathize with?”
‘……It’s not like that?’
Matthew wore a dumbfounded expression.
Jack was the sa.
The two stared blankly at Carlson, then at the newbie, as if asking what on earth was happening.
They couldn't understand it at all.
In the first place, the two didn't even know why a big shot like Carlson would take an interest in Harang.
Although he had so peculiar aspects, he wasn't even a rcenary, was he?
But Carlson himself was showing interest?
And even showing such a mild reaction?
‘What on earth is this…… Is there sothing between them that I don’t know about?’
Of course, being re greenhorns, the two couldn't possibly know.
Perhaps Harang himself didn't know either.
But regardless, the person in question still maintained a calm deanor.
To the point where it felt beyond bold, almost foolish.
A short while later, Harang, having completely finished his al, put down his stew bowl and spoke.
“I guess so. I don’t really know what’s so good about it.”
“Which part?”
“Earning lots of money? Becoming famous? A pretty lady? Marriage? I don't really know about that either…… I just don't know about any of it.”
At his speech, slightly mixing informal and formal tones, Jack and Matthew trembled again.
They weren't the only ones.
Three or four mbers belonging to the Carlson rcenary Corps frowned uncomfortably, and a few Bronze Plate rcenaries, sensing the awkward atmosphere, showed slight signs of shrinking back.
Only Harang and Carlson remained serene.
The leader of the Silver Plate rcenary Corps nodded and opened his mouth.
“I see. You don’t know much, do you?”
“Yes.”
“Since you don’t know much, you don’t really know what you like either?”
“Seems like it.”
“A unique young man.”
“Am I?”
“That’s why I like you. Well, setting aside my preferences…… I think I can explain it for you?”
“Why do people keep working as rcenaries even when they say they hate it?”
“That’s right.”
“Why is that?”
The uncomfortable atmosphere among the Carlson rcenary Corps eased slightly.
His tone still wasn't to their liking, but if the leader was okay with it, what more could they say?
Added to that, curiosity arose.
Money, won, fa.
These are things every man desires.
It ant that the words those brats babbled on about weren't particularly wrong.
What on earth would the leader say to that black-haired fellow who couldn't even understand such perfectly obvious things?
A mont later, Carlson's mouth opened.
“It’s to escape a situation they hate even more.”
“A situation they hate more?”
“Yes. A life harder, more miserable, more squalid than the present. To escape that, they endure patiently and continue the unpleasant rcenary work.”
People without money suffer.
Unable to procure food, they must fill their hungry stomachs with water, and lacking clothes to wear, they must walk around clad in rags.
At night, without a roof to block the cold wind, countless people freeze to death every winter.
To escape such suffering, people knock on the doors of rcenary brokerages and swing their swords to raise their rank.
“It’s the sa for people without power, people without fa, and people without won.”
“…….”
“……People who have had sothing taken by the strong, people who have received contempt and ridicule from those higher up, people who have felt sorrow for lacking a woman to care for them…… People who can’t endure such things knock on the doors of rcenary brokerages with a single sword in hand.”
“……I see, indeed.”
Harang paused for a mont before nodding.
Now he understood a bit better.
Though he didn't know what he liked because he knew nothing, he clearly knew what he disliked.
‘I was like that too.
I endured hardship to escape the village.’
From that perspective, he could fully understand why rcenaries stuck to requests, however difficult, pushing themselves through.
However, not all his questions were resolved.
Organizing his thoughts, Harang looked at Carlson again and asked.
“But, can you obtain those things by working as a rcenary?”
“Hmm? Which ones?”
“Money, won, honor? Can you just get them automatically by doing rcenary work?”
“Of course not. Of course, if you endure, your skills improve to so extent. Then you might earn enough money for a woman’s embrace and gain a tiny bit of reputation, but…… there’s a limit. Let’s call it the limit of swordsmanship built up by swinging wildly.”
“…….”
“…….”
At Carlson’s impassive voice, a few rcenaries looked choked up.
It was because his words felt like they were targeting them.
Matthew and Jack felt the sa way.
‘Damn it.’
Jack cursed inwardly.
He had vaguely known.
He had been drawn in, tempted by the words that opportunity was given equally to everyone, but he knew this place was also the sa.
Whether one had outstanding talent, outstanding connections, or even just outstanding luck, one needed it to receive teachings from a skilled rcenary and advance on a faster, more solid path.
Of course, he had none of those.
He now faced squarely the truth he had been avoiding.
……Just as he slowly lowered his head, feeling indescribably wretched.
Carlson’s following words jolted his mind awake.
“You said your na was Harang?”
“Yes.”
“Join our rcenary corps.”
“Hmm?”
“So that you won’t suffer from lacking strength, lacking money, or lacking fa…… I an that I will nurture you with utmost sincerity.”
“……!”
“……!”
“Heo…….”
Everyone wore surprised expressions.
An offer to recruit?
The leader of a Silver Plate rcenary Corps himself, to an odd-job worker who hadn't even registered as a rcenary yet?
Why?
What did he see?
‘This is ridiculous…….’
It was baffling.
Beyond that, jealousy arose, and malice welled up.
Most rcenaries felt this way, especially those who had knocked around the industry for a long ti.
Because they knew what incredible luck this was.
Of course, being born as a child of a prestigious swordsmanship family or catching the eye of a large swordsmanship guild from a young age and becoming a disciple is the best path.
But this is impossible for most.
In other words, that odd-job worker fellow had encountered the greatest possible fortune within the realm of feasibility.
So it was a situation where they couldn't help but feel their insides churn, even beyond bitterness.
However, another figure appeared, once again capturing the attention of those rcenaries.
“A similar offer, may I make one too?”
“Pardon?”
“An offer of recruitnt. Our rchant guild would like to formally hire you…… Ah, my introduction was late.”
A young woman with a pleasant smile approached and spoke.
“I’m Bianca. I hold the position of Vice-Leader of the Barjean rchant Guild.”
“…….”
“…….”
They didn't even have the energy to be more surprised.
The rcenaries stared blankly at the three figures, with expressions unsure if this was a dream or reality.
Of course, the three were Bianca, Carlson, and Harang.
Matthew and Jack, who originally occupied the spot, were thoroughly excluded from this situation.
No one paid any attention to the two, and they too thought this was natural.
That's why it hurt more.
That's why it was more pathetic.
Amidst the emotions welling up stiflingly, Matthew and Jack blankly listened to their words.
“……I didn’t expect the employer to take an interest in this fellow.”
“The employer is my father, though. Ah, is that not important? That's right, I’m interested in this person.”
“What on earth did you see? Of course, he seems to handle work quite skillfully, but I don’t think it’s enough for the Vice-Leader herself to step forward…….”
“No. I believed it was sufficient for to step forward personally, which is why I am here.”
“Ahem.”
Listening with bitter expressions to the ardent words of courtship directed at Harang.
“You, think carefully. Of course, the pay might be better with the Barjean rchant Guild, but considering the future, coming to our rcenary corps would be better. You have talent, and I have sufficient experience to make that talent bloom. It’s not just . Our rcenary corps also has other skilled individuals……”
“The Barjean rchant Guild isn’t just about having a lot of money, you know?”
“…….”
“We too are investing in your future, not just your present. The swordsmanship masters our rchant guild can provide are likely no less capable than Mr. Carlson.”
Listening with envy as they rattled off their respective points of pride.
“Ahem. Vice-Leader, I was the one talking first, suddenly interrupting like this is…….”
“You should focus solely on the request during the request. Besides, even if it's a short-term contract, you are currently strictly affiliated with the rchant guild, so trying to secretly poach talent like this also goes against business ethics, doesn't it?”
“What, no business ethics? Now that I look closely, you…….”
Slightly bowing their heads as sharp words flew between them.
Of course, their ears remained open, catching every word the two big shots exchanged, listening with complicated feelings.
Just then.
The person who had been silent until now suddenly cut into their conversation.
And that remark, contained the most surprising and unexpected content Matthew and Jack had heard all day.
“I don’t want to.”
Thud
Everyone froze.
Carlson, Bianca, and the onlookers who had been focused on their words.
All stared at Harang’s face with expressions of disbelief.
Of course, the most flustered were the two who had been engaged in the fiery argunt.
As if they had suddenly beco friends, the Vice-Leader and the rcenary Corps Leader asked simultaneously.
“……Pardon?”
“……You, what did you just say?”
But the answer that ca back was the sa.
“I said I don’t want to.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Ah! What I an is, neither the rcenary corps nor the rchant guild seems appealing…….”
“No, I understood your words. I wasn’t silent because I didn’t understand. So, uh uh…….”
‘What is this?’
Bianca, the rchant Guild Leader's daughter, was at a loss for words.
It couldn't be helped.
Harang worked diligently even for ager pay, so she hadn't even considered that such a firm refusal would co while implying a much better situation.
This was the sa for Carlson, the master of the Silver Plate rcenary Corps.
However, unlike Vice-Leader Bianca, he didn't stamr.
Quickly regaining his composure thanks to his age and experience, he organized his thoughts and opened his mouth.
“Hmm, right. It might be sudden. I was too hasty as well. Yes, I should explain slowly. What kind of place our rcenary corps is, what advantages co with belonging to our rcenary corps, and how inconvenient it is to start from the bottom without the support of a decent rcenary corps……”
“It’s alright.”
“…….”
“I’m not really interested. Not in this side, nor that side.”
“…….”
“Well then, there’s nothing else to talk about, right? I need to go return these dishes.”
“Right now, are my words amusing to you?”
“Pardon?”
“The conversation isn’t over yet. Sit down again. Until it’s finished.”
“…….”
“Can’t you hear ?”
Gulp, the surrounding rcenaries swallowed dryly.
It was because of Carlson.
When he first sat next to Harang, he had worn a relatively gentle expression.
But not now.
His appearance, with the smile gone and shooting a gaze full of regret, was nacing enough to clearly show why he was the master of a mid-level rcenary corps.
“…….”
The atmosphere instantly turned cold.
mbers of the Carlson rcenary Corps, other rcenaries.
Even Bianca, who had maintained a bold attitude, looked at Carlson with palpable tension.
Matthew and Jack were visibly trembling.
But Harang was an exception.
His expression, his gaze.
Everything else about him was as serene as when the conversation first began.
Therefore, his presence felt sowhat alien to Carlson.
Because it was a reaction different from anyone he had seen so far.
“……Hmm.”
The black-haired young man, who was about to get up, sat down again, planting his bottom firmly.
And he looked at Carlson.
It was a strangely slow movent, one that could have been perceived as insolent.
But no one said anything about it.
Rather, amidst the deepening silence, so people had to struggle hard just to suppress the coughs that threatened to escape.
……It was a few seconds after that when Harang’s mouth opened.
“This, is it coercion?”
“…….”
Carlson suddenly felt his mouth was completely dry.
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