chapter 16
“Master, a message came from the mercenary guild.”
The young man sitting on the chair listened to the words of the old man with white hair.
Shiruen Kizane frowned and threw the paper he was reading on the table.
“Haah… It hasn’t even been a week and you already want to give up on the mission. Did you even try to look for it?”
“No, master.”
“I thought so. If you had that kind of perseverance, you wouldn’t be known as a useless fellow. Fine. I also threw a line to the merchants.”
With a cold tongue, Kizane unfolded the crumpled paper and tried to read it again.
“That’s not it, master. They contacted me to inform that the mission has been completed.”
“… Hm? It’s done already? So soon?”
“Yes.”
“The Guardian Fruit? The mercenaries?”
“The goods have been confirmed. We will go to the guild to receive them.”
Upon hearing the old man’s words, Kizane stood up abruptly from his chair.
“Since it’s an item for the Tower Lord, I should also verify it. If it’s a scam… you mercenaries. Prepare to die.”
“We will prepare the carriage.”
Shortly after, a carriage adorned with a yellow lightning bolt and a magic wand arrived in front of the mercenaries’ guild.
“Oh? That carriage, could it be?”
“The Lightning Kizane? What’s this yangban doing here?”
Despite the murmurs around him, the white-haired old man calmly knocked on the closed door of the carriage, seemingly familiar with it.
“We have arrived, my lord.”
As the door opened with those words, Sirruen Kizane, whose blond hair perfectly complemented her expressionless face, came out.
“Well then, please wait for a moment. Let go of the carriage.”
“It’s fine. I will verify the goods and come up right away, so wait.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As the old man nodded, Kizane entered the mercenaries’ guild.
“Hahaha! That’s what I’m talking about!”
“Oh no, here we go again.”
“Hiring party members for a level 2 dungeon! We have two warriors!”
“We have plenty of potions! If only an archer would come, we can depart!”
Amidst the bustling interior like a market, Kizane’s forehead involuntarily furrowed.
Ignoring everything, he headed straight for the counter.
Unbeknownst to himself, his gaze was stolen by a certain place.
A table where two adults and a child were sitting.
One of them was covered in a large robe, while the child was a mere insignificant brat without any magical power.
Yet, the reason Kizane’s gaze was taken away was only one.
“That ignorant idiot must have talked nonsense and got expelled again.”
It was because he recognized the face of the region lord of the Sabahdan Matap, and also the faces of all the members of the Shadow Knights.
The Shadow Knights were, to put it positively, a knight order specialized in escorting, and to put it negatively, they were the lackeys who cleaned up the nobles’ urine and feces.
A wealthy noble causing an irreparable incident and facing a life-threatening situation?
At that time, he buys the Huyeong Knights with that vast wealth.
Legitimate slaves that can also be used as concubines, skilled and exceptional.
That’s the Huyeong Knights.
Of course, not everyone is like that, but there are many fools who are blinded by money and live a decadent life.
“Eli? Would it be okay to use what the child brought for the next mission?”
“If you’re a little careful, it seems suitable for Young Master.”
“Oh, our child~ How did she bring something so perfect~ Impressive, impressive~”
“…”
Ignoring the conversation, Shinn stood in front of the counter, and the old lady, who looked easily over ninety, frowned and raised her eyebrows, ignoring her.
“Who… in the world! K-Kijane, how did you come here…”
“I came to receive the goods.”
“G-Goods, you say… Aha!! You mean the Guardram fruit! I-I’ll fetch it right away! Please wait a moment!”
With the sound of her hurried footsteps, Kijane closed his eyes, no longer wanting to witness the pathetic and disgusting scene of this lowly mercenary guild.
A moment later, along with a clattering sound, he heard the woman’s labored breathing.
“Oh, thank you for waiting so long, Kijane-nim! Here! The Guardram fruit you mentioned!”
Kijane didn’t expect much.
After all, they were mercenaries.
And the amount wasn’t that great.
He thought it would be Guardram, a magician with nothing else to do, making it hastily.
‘…Huh?’
Contrary to his expectations, it was perfectly cut.
The first time he saw it.
Guardram, as bright yellow as the sun, greeted Kijane.
“Uh, hey… bring him right now…”
“Yes, yes? Ah! Yes! I’ll bring Guild Master right away!”
As the woman hurriedly turned around, Kijane slammed the counter down with a bang!
“That’s not it!! Bring the person who brought this fruit!! No! I’ll go myself! Who is it!”
“Uh… well…”
When the hesitant woman finally spoke up, the closed door swung open and an old man with white hair entered.
“What is the matter, sir?”
“Flat! You’re here! Take this! It’s more precious than your life!”
“I will cherish it.”
The old man carefully closed the lid of a colorful box he took out from his pocket, which contained a fruit.
Kizane stretched out his liberated hand and grabbed the woman by the collar.
“So, who is it! Who supplied this fruit?”
“Kyaaah! Master Kizane! Please calm down!!”
This time, a bulky man walked out as the inner door opened.
“What is this commotion… Master Kizane?”
“Ah! You came at the right time! Right now!”
“Please calm down first. There are many watchful eyes around. I will escort you inside.”
“Right now, that’s not important!”
***
“Please calm down first. There are many watchful eyes around. I will escort you inside.”
“Right now, that’s not important!”
The guildmaster shouted angrily while trying to maintain a poker face, bringing the enraged Kizane to his room.
And we, who were watching the scene unfold.
“Oh my. There are people with such lack of common sense. Is it okay for a child to be like that?”
“He seems like quite an important person. Looks like he’s not well-educated. Lord Doyeon shouldn’t be like that.”
“…haha.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the two people who get involved in everything.
By the way.
“The Guardam fruit… didn’t I give it to him?”
I wondered if there was some problem, scratching my cheek in curiosity. Just then, the counter lady who was grabbed by the collar by the enraged man came back, her face turning pale, wandering around inside the guild.
“Um, did you supply the Guardam fruit yesterday?”
“The person who supplied the Guardam fruit yesterday!”
“Please! Come forward! Please!”
Olivia and Ellie looked at me as the lady desperately cried out.
And at the same time.
“Hey? Shh.”
“Young master? Please be quiet.”
They were quick to catch on, as expected.
Our family immediately withdrew from what seemed like a troublesome situation.
Nodding in agreement, we both stood up from our seats.
“Please!! Please!! I’ll give you money!! So, please!!”
With a loud crash and a bang!
“Bring them here!! Find them!!!”
“Lady Kizane! Please calm down!”
We left the chaotic mercenary guild behind.
Why is the word spreading so fast?
“Hey! They say Lady Kizane is causing a scene in the mercenary guild.”
“Isn’t she that refined lady? Why?”
“I don’t know! Let’s go see!”
“This should be some good entertainment!”
More people heading towards us than leaving the guild.
We pushed through the crowd and entered a quiet alley.
“That person earlier. Why did they do that?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but I speculate it might be because the guardram fruits supplied by the young master were of exceptional quality.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. As you know, guardram fruits are usually heated to peel off the skin before using the contents.”
“Right.”
“However, no matter how well the temperature is controlled, the contents are affected when heated. But the guardram fruits supplied by the young master were… opened without any heat applied.”
“So, they were in perfect condition?”
“Yes, they were. Previously, there were people who tried to peel them without heat, but they found the fruits too hard to peel by physical strength and couldn’t use magic to peel them either. Moreover, forcing them open would damage the contents.”
“Wow…”
With amazement, Olivia knelt down and met my gaze.
Reaching out my hand to softly stroke her hair is a bonus.
“Darling, let’s keep this as our secret. Okay?”
“Madam, since the young master cannot speak, we just need to be cautious.”
“That’s right. I’ll leave it to you, Ellie.”
“I will keep it with me until the grave.”
I can speak too, you know…
Putting aside the slight commotion, we returned to the inn to prepare for a new mission.
As soon as we entered the room, Olivia took off the robe that covered her head.
“Phew… This robe is really hot. I’m sweating.”
“It’s a fantastic magical item that enhances perception, concealment, and detection defense. It’s designed for winter, but…”
“Is there no summer version?”
As she spoke, she wiped her body with her hands, and I couldn’t help but turn my head to the slightly visible pink flesh and the wonderful chest that swayed gently.
If there is a problem…
“I will request additional support from the palace. Please bear with it for now. It’s all for your safety, Madam.”
Speaking calmly, Ellie, who changed her clothes for going out, stood by the door…
“Damn it… She treated her like a child, for real?”
I’m fifteen, you know?!
I might even get married quickly?!
My mental age is an unbelievably mature thirty?!
In front of such a splendid wolf, don’t you feel like taking off your clothes and showing off your sweaty body?!
“Darling? Darling should also get ready~”
“Young master? It’s time for real. Please bring a real sword instead of a wooden one.”
Neither of them was interested in my situation…
Somehow, we finished preparing and when we came out, the sun was already high in the sky.
Originally, the rule for going on an adventure was to leave the village early in the morning to avoid homelessness and return before the sun sets.
But now it doesn’t matter if we leave.
“I will confirm once again. Our mission is to exterminate slimes that have appeared in large numbers in the garbage landfill outside the city. Although they are F-rank monsters and have no lethal abilities, they can spit acid that can dissolve clothing, so let’s be careful.”
“Got it, darling? Fighting!”
The weakest monsters that appeared right next to the village.
Since it’s an extermination of slimes…