Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Lyker
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'It's way too rundown...'
The Skywing Corps, returning under constant surveillance.
Just looking at the massive outer walls of the Skywing Corps, which occupied one side of Denfos City, made his face grimace.
It covered more land than an average university, yet it was in dire need of repairs.
'But we have no money.'
And every problem boiled down to money.
'Hm?'
With even Count Pabesh gone, the wide-open Skywing Corps had no lingering soldiers wandering about.
As he entered, he spotted quite a few people milling around.
'They're here. Heh heh heh.'
How could mercenaries—synonymous with simple-minded savagery—not salivate over such a tantalizing bait?
'One, two... oh! Already a hundred?'
A cluster of ruffians huddled together, buzzing instead of heading to the hangar where Bebeto was.
'Huh? That guy...'
Amid his pleased gaze at the mercenaries, one stood out sharply.
'Isn't that the guild master?'
The slick-faced guild master from the mercenary guild, who had answered so indifferently.
He was leading the mercenaries.
"Whoa! He's here!"
Rustle.
One of the mercenaries spotted him and shouted, and they all turned to look at once.
'Oh, my cute little meals.'
The mercenaries saw him as an easy mark, but to him, they looked like dinner.
Clop clop.
On the surface, though, he showed nothing.
He slowly urged his horse forward, pretending not to notice as he headed to the hangar.
"..."
He passed right by the mercenaries.
"Hold up."
Then came the guild master's quiet voice.
'Not an ordinary guy.'
A decent amount of mana, and a weighty tone that carried authority.
"Calling me?"
'Ugh, no matter what, this never gets easier.'
Back in Korea, he was just a loquacious noble with endless troubles.
With his ID barely dry, playing the part of a knight striking poses wasn't easy.
Just recently, he'd been pitifully begging his mom for a thousand won here and there, scraping by through his tough growth spurt.
Now here he was, a noble with a long sword at his side, commanding the masses.
Even he thought it was over-the-top.
"What do you want?"
"What do I want?"
He feigned ignorance at the guild master's question.
"You were bargaining for your life earlier, and now dementia too? Ha ha."
'Huh, this guy's got guts?'
The guild master was probing him openly in front of the mercenaries.
"Did you just insult me?"
He asked in an emotionless voice.
"Insult? How could a mere mercenary insult a Sky Knight with a baronet's title? I was just asking if you remember our agreement."
The guild master had clear blue eyes matching his hair.
Unlike his words, a faint mocking smile played on his lips.
Swish.
He dismounted.
Shing!
His sword slid out lightly.
"..."
The mercenaries tensed as he drew.
The atmosphere turned hostile in an instant, and they glanced at each other uncertainly.
"How much?"
"Let's start at 1,000 gold a month."
"I'll check the condition first."
"Ha ha. Be my guest."
He'd sensed from the guild days that the guild master was no ordinary fighter.
Time to give him a firm stomp.
'What's a guild master lack that he's coming under me?'
The nameless guild master had clearly brought the mercenaries himself.
No need for long talks.
Clang.
'A two-handed sword?'
Not a longsword or rapier, but two mid-sized blades.
"Every ten exchanges, hazard pay goes up 1,000 gold."
Whoosh.
His presence shifted sharply as he drew.
'Master?'
At an age under thirty, the guild master exuded near-master-level blade aura.
Unexpected.
"Here I come!"
Flash!
The moment the words ended, a blade sliced through space.
"Ha!"
No time to hesitate.
Two blades were already thrusting viciously at his heart and groin.
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Clang!
"Woooah!"
'My lord!'
Derbal, on edge from the horde of mercenaries, had been tense.
For some reason, they clustered in the central runway, not approaching the hangar.
With dispatched soldiers on alert because of them, Derbal sighed in relief at the sight of the awaited Kaiyer.
One knight and twenty soldiers were no match for a hundred mercenaries.
Unlike others, the Neruman mercenaries were rumored to be exceptionally skilled.
Whispers said they didn't shy from banditry, so he couldn't relax.
Then his reliable lord appeared.
"Danger!"
The mercenaries formed a circle, blocking the view.
But the clash of weapons meant his lord was in peril.
"Let's go!"
"Urgh... the mercenary guild master Lyker is here."
The knight Chase groaned at Derbal's words.
"Dangerous?"
Derbal asked urgently, sensing trouble.
"Not sure details, but a few months ago, he rose to guild master by force. Rumors say he's beyond first-class—a special-class mercenary."
"S-special class!"
A title for blade masters, six-circle mages, or high spiritists.
Warriors who could earn a kingdom title on merit alone.
"Let's go!"
Derbal bolted, fearing they might be assassins hired for his lord.
Ignoring the hesitating Chase, he charged.
"After him!"
As Derbal recklessly rushed the mercenaries, Knight Chase rallied the soldiers.
His orders from Baron Jenis: protect the young Sky Knight with all he had.
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Whoosh!
'Miss!'
His first time facing twin blades.
He couldn't focus.
One aimed at his head, the other snaking like a fox tail at his waist.
Clang! Clang!
'Full of power!'
Even with twin blades, power should disperse, but the guild master's showed none.
Slash with right, thrust with left.
Fast, precise, powerful.
Hard to endure.
Slice.
'Damn!'
In the frenzy of attack and defense, his chest plate was gashed.
The mithril alloy air plate sheared off effortlessly.
Blade-enhanced sharpness.
He could've died.
'.....!!'
He gritted his teeth.
Magic was an option, but he didn't want it.
Eye for eye, sword for sword.
He wanted to break this man with the blade.
Whirr.
Mana surged, sensing his will.
Flash!
His blade's blue glow blazed brighter.
"...Master!"
"Gasp! Master-level blade!"
The watching mercenaries gasped as blue engulfed his sword.
Smirk.
Unlike them, the guild master wore a strange smile.
Ssssh.
His blades took on a deep ocean blue.
'Hm?'
He stepped back slightly, crossing his swords.
'Master's secret technique!'
He felt it.
The guild master was unleashing his final move.
'Damn! Why always life-or-death? No life insurance here!'
Even in crisis, he hated this world's rule: might makes right.
Draw steel at a glare, a test, displeasure.
He missed Korea, guarded by Officer Podori.
'I need to make my own!'
His final sword art.
Not the Highness family's secret.
He wanted today as the last.
A man's pride—no begging with another's for his life.
"Hah!"
Short shout rang in his ears.
'Coming!'
Two blades closed distance.
Swoosh.
Aura preceded, shadowless.
Master-only sword.
Mana blade solidified, cleaving air.
"Blade Sword!"
"Ooh! Blade Sword!"
Mercenaries named it.
"Yap!"
Shout channels sharp mind, per his instructor.
Full clear-mind shout.
Rustle.
Steps advanced.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh.
Highness shadow swordplay, now his specialty.
Boom! Boom boom!
Shadow swords blocked incoming Blade Swords perfectly.
Clang!
"Gasp!"
Now perfect for three shadows.
Shattered the two Blade Swords, body slammed the last blade.
Shrieeeek.
One of the meshed gears faltered, gap clear.
Miss chance? Idiot.
Full-power slash diagonally across guild master's shoulder.
Clang!
Short sword cry.
"..."
Tremble.
Not life-death, yet merciless kills toward throat.
Guild master parried with scissors-like twins unnoticed.
Face flushed red as persimmon from his massive mana pour.
'Surrender?'
Shaking, blocking blade at face desperately.
Red to pale white.
"I... sur..."
Surrender about to spill.
But ending now felt wasteful.
Mercenaries watching hushed—imprint him clearly.
'Heh heh.'
Sinister inner laugh.
Ample mana left.
Right foot silently, swiftly toward guild master's precious spot.
Swoosh! Thud!
Heavy impact feel.
"Argh, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Guild master's agonized scream echoed through Skywing Corps.
Clatter.
Roll roll roll.
Dropped swords, rolling like home on floor.
"...Ugh."
"Ah...."
Mercenaries groaned, feeling his pain.
"Any brave mercenary wants to test my skill again?"
Victory's leisure smile, scanning encircled mercenaries.
But they averted eyes or bowed heads at his gaze.
'Brats, acting tough.'
Shower gold, they'd flock, but these bold souls challenged him.
Sweating, clutching, rolling guild master—fear returned.
"My lord!"
Derbal arrived.
"Derbal, rub some spit on that guy's nose."
"Pardon?"
'Not broken?'
Pretty hefty kick.
Seeing hell-tour face, slight worry.
'Damn... was exactly ten exchanges before kick.'
Not his eunuch-future, but his 1,000 gold.
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"Decent enough."
"100 isn't many, but two shifts can guard key Skywing areas."
Lyker, the guild master.
Recovered long after final blow, admitted defeat, signed year-long contract under him.
Guild master signed, followers eagerly inked theirs.
'Now it feels noble.'
Last night in hangar with Bebeto, but post-Count Pabesh, moved to commander's office.
'Rotten guy. Took all valuables.'
Count Pabesh stripped command office bare.
Empty, but hundred times better than hangar.
"Move Bebeto to nearest hangar, bring Lucia's family here."
"Already done."
'Really grows on you.'
Derbal's instincts sharp as train.
Reason CEOs get secretaries—no petty worries.
"All thanks to me. Special-class guild master rumor spreads—tomorrow, they'll swarm in droves."
Lyker, egg intact thankfully.
Slouched, boasting credit.
'Squash him? Pretty face suits eunuch.'
Lyker needed more discipline.
Today on, just his year-long hired soldier, not guild master.
"More please. Success, I treat big."
"Really?"
"Trust me. Raised honest in no-lie home. Ahem."
Embarrassed cough.
But true.
Family motto: honesty.
Conditions attached, though.
"Got it. I'll trust once."
Eyes said no faith.
Needed solid proof.
"Why under me? Your skill, Lukens Viscount or Jenis Baron would pamper."
Suspect openly.
Ask boldly if curious.
His way.
"Heh heh. Seemed fun."
Lyker's words startled him.
'This guy's...'
Mischief in bright blue eyes.
Familiar from first sight— this.
'Play, play, young and play! Carpe diem!'
Not complicate life—seek max fun in given world. Carpe diem man.
Fellow mind.
"Oh, money looked good too. Mysterious glow from Kaiyer. To me, reincarnation of divine Remiange."
'Whoa!'
Blunt heart-reader soul too—like him.
'Face like that...'
Sudden 21st-century Korea drama flash.
'F5 Song Woobi!'
Pre-isekai hit "Boys Over Flowers" lead.
Talented, handsome, carefree life rogue.
'Then I'm... Kang Junpyo? Heh heh!'
Once unlimited-card young master Kang Hyuk.
Baronet with wyvern great lord.
Nothing stopped Kang Junpyo here.
Dreams for dreamers.
He'd achieve his.
"Good. Thanks for rating. Anyway, your take on Neruman?"
Ex-mercenary guild master.
Expected cold assessment.
"Here? Ha ha. Total mess. First place this bad I've seen. Even chaotic East Continent not this. Strongest noble blood-eyed greedy, borders dark unknown foes, empire owner like deflowered fickle lover, people starving naked. Kyaa, evil god Kerma's fave spot."
Gruesome words mismatched bright laugh.
Lyker chatted casually.
"Then why come here?"
"Me? Woke drunk, dumped port... Rotten bastards! Paid to Ofern Empire! Grr! Catch 'em, burn ship!"
Mid-talk, murderous hot-blood surged.
'Sigh, should shut up.'
Handsome face, crazy mind.
Mental ward: half-year diagnosis min.
"Anyway, Kaiyer, mood good—drink?"
"Drink?"
"Heh heh. Secret spot, mine alone. Elf half-bloods, ice empire cold beauties. How's that?"
"..."
Sticky gaze, wet voice at employer him.
"Out."
"Heh heh. Awkward? Tab first... Today's pay-up day."
'Sigh...'
Pay-up sparked thought.
'Rotten! Here for tab?'
Handsome, skilled talent.
But brain: just that.
"No! Derbal, no tabs without my OK! Runaways? Bebeto chow—spread it!"
"Yes!"
Big plan could flop pre-start.
Eyes sharp now.
'Right, who trust in total mess?'
"Damn... today's dark Irakts empire girls too..."
Lyker lamented leaving, heartbroken.
'Rotten jerk!'
Curse at Lyker.
Should've shut up.
Pure curiosity blazed low: that place?
'Elf half-blood... ice beauties. Ugh.'
Hot-blooded teen missing reason.
Brain screened secret porns.
'Fool! Twice ask polite!'
Sudden rage at Lyker.
Rude bastard, no manners(?).