Chapter 100
Chapter 100
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Chapter 3. Flag Tournament
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Afterward, Judah went to check on Arhil's condition. Seeing that she had fully recovered, he decided to head back to Kaora Castle with Jeanne. Before leaving the village, the village chief and several others came by to thank him, packing food for the journey. Among them was the hunter who had saved Judah and Jeanne from the wraiths.
Just before departing amid their farewells, her former comrade showed up again, trying to change Arhil's mind one last time, but he failed. They could only watch in dazed expressions as Arhil left.
"Ugh, seriously. I have no idea why he keeps clinging like that."
Once the village was out of sight, Arhil kicked a roadside rock with a thud and grumbled.
"Clinging? Has he been doing that the whole time?"
When Jeanne asked, puzzled, Arhil nodded vigorously.
"Yeah! I even told him I was leaving. But he kept coming back every few hours, asking me to rethink it. Even when I said my mind was made up, he acted like he didn't hear me. Really."
"How awful. Should I go scold him for you?"
"You'd do that? But if Judah says to head back, he might get annoyed, so I'll ask you next time he shows up."
"Understood."
Arhil beamed at Jeanne, who smiled brightly back. Judah turned to look, and Arhil smoothly composed her expression. Chuckling softly, Judah took the lead. Having a priestess in the party definitely put his mind at ease. Her lively energy even changed the atmosphere.
"Don't hold back on my account. Say whatever you want, Arhil. Jeanne probably prefers it that way too."
"Heh, really?"
"Indeed. Judah's too stoic for his age. It's been terribly boring until now."
*Have I really been that dull?* Judah's shoulders slumped slightly at Jeanne's words, as if wounded. Arhil noticed and sidled up, patting his shoulder encouragingly while nodding slowly.
"What's that? That 'I totally get it' look..."
"It's fine. Now that I'm here, don't worry. I'll keep things fun and entertaining on the road."
Arhil replied confidently and started humming a tune. For some reason, she seemed in high spirits.
+ + +
Thanks to the lack of rain, they arrived at Kaora Castle much faster than when heading to Cheriu Village. More people were coming and going than before—likely the adventurers and mercenaries hired from Langritsa Magic Tower were still around. Without detouring, they headed straight for the Adventurer's Guild.
The guild hall looked as quiet as it had been on the rainy day. Judah went to the counter, submitting the certificate from the branch chief along with his copper badge. It would take a little time to issue the silver badge, so they decided to wait inside. They sat at a clean table, and drinks were brought over.
While Jeanne and Arhil chatted, Judah pondered their next plans. In the less than two months since leaving Serenia Castle after his coming-of-age ceremony, he had already acquired two fragments.
[Tenth Fragment, Altemia the One yet Ten]
[Twenty-Fourth Fragment, Karpediem of Subjugation]
But these two fragments had no owners, making them relatively easy to obtain. The ones ahead all had owners or were in places he couldn't reach with his current strength.
Glancing at Arhil and Jeanne, who were deep in conversation, Judah pretended to look out the window and pulled up <Memo> to check info on the next fragment.
*The next place to go... Rigen, huh.*
It wasn't revealed on the yet, but the illustrated info made confirming its location and details easy.
Rigen was a country surrounded by the knightly nation of Phloria, the pleasure land of Urun, the Magic Kingdom of Calypso, and the Slave Kingdom of Silan. It was famous as a tribal nation or the land of mercenaries.
Rigen's mercenaries were renowned for their exceptional skill, and there was a reason for that.
Unlike Phloria, with its abundant minerals and emphasis on skill and honor among knights, Rigen had no such riches. It lacked Urun's breathtaking landscapes or developed gambling and entertainment culture. It wasn't a mana-rich land like Calypso, nor did it have skilled magic swordsmen.
Filled with large and small mountain ranges, its food came solely from mountain fruits and beasts. The plains were too few for large-scale farming, yielding meager harvests. All they had was one thing: a larger population than other nations. That was it.
Born in the mountains, raised there, fighting monsters to survive—they lived in a harsh environment where death could come at any moment. Naturally, they bred quickly, believing they needed to leave heirs before dying. Sex was a frequent pastime.
In a place where skill mattered more than gender, one could have multiple spouses if capable enough. Of course, women being stronger was rare without innate talent. Children born in the mountains grew up running the peaks, battling monsters and savage beasts from a young age.
Many died young, but many survived. Those who did grew strong and claimed much. That's how they endured for decades, even centuries.
One day, Rigen's tribes united into a confederation. Unable to sustain their growing population, they sent skilled warriors to neighboring countries to work as mercenaries.
Rigen mercenaries boasted superior stamina and combat prowess over others, excelling in missions and raising their value. As long as treated fairly, they honored contracts without slacking—even unto death. Naturally, Rigen became synonymous with mercenaries.
Hiring them cost a fortune due to their fame, but everyone who did gave a thumbs-up. They had a rough edge but caused no trouble, sticking to even deadly contracts without flinching. Not once had a Rigen mercenary breached a contract mid-mission.
They thrilled at life-risking battles, feared no death, and saw sex as the ultimate pleasure. Judah had to go to their land for the third fragment.
*...Yakal.*
Thirteenth Fragment, Greatsword of Fury.
Forged from minerals extracted from a fallen meteor, legend said Perlnirn wielded it to slay countless demonic beasts, monsters, and demons.
Absorbing blood and souls like Altemia, it healed the user's life force with each kill. Spirits of the slain empowered the wielder. A sword made for mad battle.
*Haa.*
Its owner was in Rigen. Judah sighed involuntarily and closed his eyes.
*No wonder.* He clicked his tongue, eyes shut. Yakal's possessor was the incredibly skilled [Hero Sword Possessor]. How to wrest the fragment away? Judah's head throbbed.
In Viscount Jinmu's case, the lore justified a level drop, but healthy foes weren't game-balanced. Killing and taking was impossible.
*And with Arhil and Jeanne, executing it would be tough anyway.*
Per <Memo>'s lore, it wasn't impossible—but could it really work?
"Isn't that too unfair?"
Judah startled at the voice directed his way and turned. He stared at Jeanne with wide eyes.
"Pardon? What's unfair?"
Having missed their entire conversation, he had no clue.
"You weren't listening at all."
"Ah, well... You two were having such a good time. What's unfair?"
Instead of answering, Jeanne pointed at the counter. It was empty.
"It's about promoting from copper to silver badge. I fulfilled the requirements by grinding all those minor quests, thinking I'd finally made it. But you got silver with just a handful of missions."
Jeanne's cheeks puffed out.
"Just lucky, I guess. You know the saying: 'The chosen succeed.'"
"'The chosen succeed'?"
Jeanne looked puzzled at Arhil, who giggled.
"It's simple. The chosen succeed at anything. Shortened to 'chosen succeed.' Like our Judah here."
"I see... That makes me like you even less. I was going to tease you a bit once I got silver."
Judah gave a wry smile at her disappointed tone. His reverie broken, he joined their talk. Rigen's thirteenth fragment could wait. Soon, Judah and Jeanne received their badges: copper for her upgrade memento (with an X on the back), and silver for both.
Jeanne, Judah, and Arhil hired a carriage to Aslan and left Kaora Castle that very day.
* * *
──────────────────────
Tip 21. Methods and conditions for adventurers or mercenaries to promote from copper to silver badge, silver to white-silver badge, white-silver to gold badge are all different.
To go from copper to silver, you must complete a set number of various missions like escort duties, errands, and monster hunts.
For silver to white-silver, you need to handle mana and have the skill to match—plus a major mission or two. Upon achieving white-silver, "expert" becomes "elite" before your name: elite adventurer, elite mercenary, and so on.
White-silver to gold requires many conditions. Gold is top-tier. By then, mission count and type matter less—you've done plenty. After 10+ years of activity, the guild conducts an internal review: leadership, character, honor, mission history, performance, etc. They confirm your interest, then test you. Only passers get gold badges and the right to form mercenary bands.
Gold to platinum is simple.
If you become a [Hero Sword Possessor], either guild will gift you a platinum badge. Easy, right?
========== Author's Note ==========
...Ugh, sorry for the lateness.
Sounds like an excuse, but school eats up time naturally ;
Gotta go to school, exercise, do homework, friends wanna hang out ㅠ
Especially all-nighters are killer.
Can't just bail saying "Gotta get home to post by midnight!"
Anyway, messing around got me home writing till it's nearly 3 AM.
Whew.
Sucks not being able to proudly say I'm writing.
P.S. Oh yeah, it's chapter 100. Good night, everyone!