Chapter 75 - Renid (6)

“Room Chief Johan!”

The bearded guy called out to me with a dazed look in his eyes.

“That damn room chief title.”

“But Room Chief Johan, are you really not fazed by this sight?”

To be honest, it was a little surprising.

Upon entering the main gate of the Merwell Guild, a vibrant, colorful garden spread out widely.

The luxurious sculptures erected here and there and the classical-style buildings constructed with marble were enough to draw admiration even from someone like me who knew nothing about art.

But that was as far as it went.

Because the scenery of the Haewon Sword Family was in no way inferior in terms of scale or aesthetics.

Considering the marvels of cutting-edge scientific civilization, the Haewon Sword Family was, in fact, the overwhelming victor.

“It is quite magnificent.”

“Is that all? Always trying to act cool.”

The bearded guy stared at the magnificent Merwell Guild for a long time with his mouth wide open.

“Since you got your wish and came to the Merwell Guild in person, Beardo, you should head back to the guild office. The boss is waiting eagerly.”

The Red Fox Guild had become quite busy.

New members had signed mercenary contracts, and in the last two days, the number of customers coming to inquire about requests had been increasing.

In short, they were short-staffed.

“Room Chief Johan! Can’t I come along with the caravan too?”

“As if escorting the caravan isn’t enough, you want me to escort you too?”

“Hah! If I knew this would happen, I should have learned some martial arts beforehand.”

A good thought.

The bearded guy's innate physical frame was suitable for learning the sword.

Depending on his own will, he was a talent who could grow into a fine swordsman. But now.

“Just go already.”

As I drove the point home, the guy became thoroughly dejected.

“But I have a favor to ask. Please bring back some Merwell goods when you come back.”

It was absurd, but I nodded for now.

Only then would this guy willingly turn his feet back to the guild office.

After walking through the garden for about 5 minutes, I reached the guild’s main building, where Leira was waiting for me.

The scale of the caravan was as enormous as I had expected.

The long line of wagons and the dozens of soldiers to escort them were already prepared to depart.

“I was waiting for you. Johan.”

Leira’s attire was quite different from before.

Today, she wore simple clothes instead of a fancy dress.

“Don’t tell me you too……?”

“That’s right. I’m going too. To be precise, I’m the one in charge of this caravan.”

She had a bit of a commanding presence, which I thought was quite impressive.

In fact, I could also see mana from her.

It wasn't at a remarkable level, but enough to subdue some neighborhood thugs?

At her gesture, a man walked over to us.

“You called, miss?”

“Please introduce yourselves. Captain Tardel, this is the mercenary who will be escorting the caravan with us. The three of us will be sharing a wagon.”

“I am Tardel.”

He bowed his head slightly towards me.

As he did so, he subtly projected his presence. He was sneakily trying to gauge my strength.

Tardel’s expression immediately hardened.

And then, his gaze was as if he was looking at a swindler.

It was probably because the mana I possessed was too faint for a mercenary.

“I am Johan.”

For now, I gave him a smile.

***

The ride in the wagon was much better than I thought.

It couldn't compare to a car on Earth, but it was overwhelmingly superior to any other wagon I had ever ridden in.

This was because the mechanisms of magic engineering were at work in all the devices of the wagon, including the wheels.

The two white horses pulling the wagon from the front were merely playing a supporting role.

“Since we have a long way to go anyway, could you tell me a little about Earth?”

Leira smiled brightly at me.

“As you know, there are too many restrictions.”

“Hmph. I heard that’s how Earthlings always are. Isn’t it too unfair? The fact that only Earthlings can visit Lenad one-sidedly, and that you guys get to experience this place without any restrictions and then go back.”

“It’s no use complaining to me.”

“Then tell me something that isn’t subject to the restrictions.”

“That’s not something I can know in advance. It’s something that gets blocked the moment I try to speak.”

“Tsk. A convenient setting only for Earthlings.”

I didn't know the reason.

All I knew was that this too was a mystery of the Abyss.

“Then I’ll just ask random questions.”

“Go ahead.”

Leira clenched her fists as if she had made up her mind about something.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-four.”

“Is Earth bigger than Lenad?”

“Probably?”

“Are there companies there bigger than the Merwell Guild?”

“Yes.”

“Lies!”

“It’s up to you whether you believe it or not. I have no intention of forcing you to believe.”

“Hmph. Then by what principle do you come to Lenad from Earth?”

“That question is under restriction.”

“As expected.”

“I can’t help it.”

“That’s mean.”

Leira puffed out her cheeks with a pouty expression.

“Then you must answer this one thing. Do you think Earth’s swordsmanship is stronger than Lenad’s swordsmanship?”

“Yes.”

Since there was no restriction, I was able to answer immediately.

I didn't know much about Lenad, but from what I had seen so far, I thought Earth's side was better.

Tardel, who had been silent until now, reacted vehemently to this question.

“Miss. I apologize for interrupting so suddenly, but this man might be a swindler!”

“A swindler?”

“That’s right. Miss.”

“May I ask why. Captain Tardel?”

“For a typical mercenary, he is too pathetic. Moreover, he is ridiculously inadequate to escort our Merwell caravan.”

Seeing him spit out words like a machine gun, it seemed his mouth had been itching for a while.

For now, I decided to listen further.

“But Captain Tardel. I have personally verified this Earthling’s martial prowess with my own eyes. It was at a considerable level.”

“That must have been a trick.”

“A trick?”

“That’s right. Miss. We warriors have something called presence detection. My judgment of this man’s capabilities, based on my own presence detection, is that he is only at the level of a neighborhood ruffian. It seems you have been deceived by the sales tactics of the mercenary guild this man belongs to.”

As he said that, Tardel glared at me, looking ready to kick me out at any moment.

“Hey, Johan. What do you think about Captain Tardel’s words?”

“He’s noisy.”

It would have been better if he had just kept his mouth shut.

“What insolence!”

“I think the insolent one is you, who is babbling on and on in front of my face.”

At my words, Tardel’s expression turned even more grim.

His eyes were saying that if Leira wasn't here, he would have sliced me to pieces.

“In that case, prove your capabilities right now!”

“How? In this wagon?”

Now that I said it, that wasn't a bad idea.

It was the fastest and simplest way.

But Tardel made me a different offer.

“The wagon is just reaching Karella's Gorge. This is a place where orcs appear in large numbers. If you can hunt more than five orcs on your own, I will acknowledge you.”

“In this situation, just an acknowledgment doesn’t seem enough.”

“Then what more do you want?”

“An apology.”

“Fine.”

“And for the next two days, you will stay quiet in the wagon without even breathing loudly.”

Tardel made a dumbfounded expression, then opened his mouth.

“I accept. However, even if you are in danger, my soldiers and I will absolutely not save you.”

“I accept that as well.”

Leira was just listening to our conversation with interest.

***

The area around Karella's Gorge, with its rugged terrain and sparse human traffic, had long been a place where orcs formed settlements.

The creatures had smelled the scent of humans and had already rushed out, blocking the path of the wagon.

Chwiik—

Chwiiik—

The orcs' characteristic foul smell seeped into the wagon.

The number of individuals visible through the window was about sixty to seventy. It wasn't a very burdensome number, so both Leira and Tardel remained calm.

“Miss. I will go and take care of them.”

“I doubt anything will happen, but as always, be careful. Captain Tardel.”

“Understood. Miss.”

Tardel bowed his head to Leira, then signaled me with a jut of his chin.

“Come out.”

“Alright.”

“You are not my soldier, so you do not need to follow my command. Prove your ability independently.”

I nodded.

Tardel’s last statement was probably intended to push me to my death.

Giving me autonomy also meant not keeping me under the protection of the formation.

It seemed he was quite offended by the earlier comparison between Earth’s and Lenad’s swordsmanship.

“Johan, you be careful too. Actually, I’m hoping you’ll win this bet.”

“I think so too.”

Leira gave me a smiling glance.

I took out my Reapersword and trudged towards the horde of orcs.

Tardel had suggested five.

I planned to take care of just that many.

Because orcs didn't give me even a sliver of experience points.

“Everyone, quickly get into formation!”

Tardel’s voice echoed through the gorge, and dozens of soldiers began to move in perfect order.

While the soldiers were forming up, the one who unintentionally became the vanguard was none other than me.

Trudge, trudge.

Just like that, I walked leisurely forward.

Behind me, dozens of soldiers were forming a line and preparing for battle, so given the nature of orcs, not all individuals would rush at me at once.

Chwik!

Chwiik!

As expected, the orc pack also sent out its vanguard.

There were two of them. Those two started charging at me aggressively.

The monster’s instinct that it was a winnable fight must have kicked in, but such things are usually wrong.

Shwaaaak!

Shwaaaaak!

The Reapersword drew two arcs in the air, and the two orcs’ necks were cleanly severed and fell to the ground.

Seeing this, the orc horde let out angry roars.

But they didn't mindlessly charge in to avenge their kin.

If anything, their wariness of my martial prowess had only grown stronger.

I didn't stop and continued to walk leisurely forward.

From behind me, the soldiers who had formed a large formation finally began to advance, so the real battle was about to begin.

Chwik!

Chwik!

Chwiiik!

Following them, three more orcs rushed out.

Orcs’ combat styles tend to vary drastically depending on their chieftain’s disposition, and this tribe’s chieftain was an overly cautious type.

It would have been a tiny bit more advantageous for them if they had just rushed out like a flood.

In any case, a very efficient situation had been created for me.

With just three more sword swings, my business would be all done.

Crack!

Every time the Reapersword swung, an orc’s neck was invariably cut off, and thus, a fountain of blood spurted three times.

And immediately after, I turned my steps around.

Just then, the Merwell Guild’s private soldiers, led by Tardel, began their advance.

“Maintain formation and charge!!”

Tardel’s shout.

He was leading the soldiers from the very front.

But this was a clear violation of our agreement.

“Shh!”

I made a gesture of silence towards Tardel.

Because the fulfillment of the promise was about to begin.