Chapter 378
Chapter 378
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.79 – Remarkable Growth (2)
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Mercenary King.
He was a legend.
Not just a legend in the south, but a figure whose fame echoed across the entire continent.
He had battled the Emperor of the Skies, the [Sky Whale], who raged against humanity day and night for a hundred days, ultimately soothing its fury.
He had been hired by the sultan of the weakest nation in the west, transforming that sultanate into one of the top three powers in the region.
Along with his mercenary band, the 34 Wolves of the Wilderness, he had repelled an army of a hundred thousand monsters...
These were just a few of the countless tales, each one so outrageous that they sounded like lies at first glance—no surprise there.
But one thing was certain: no matter how skeptically people viewed his stories, no one ever doubted his 'strength'.
The man who had gathered the continent's scattered mercenaries—like a ragtag mob—and forged them into the massive Mercenary Union, revolutionizing the mercenary market and becoming its first leader.
Just the fact that he had tamed these savage wolves spoke volumes of his prowess.
If he had wanted, he could have claimed a throne anywhere on the continent and founded a new nation without anyone batting an eye.
- [Mercenary King Kaisar de Wolf.]
That was the man he was.
And now, that legendary figure stood right before him.
A heart-pounding moment, one might think...
"-The parent-teacher conference ended a while ago, you know?"
"?"
...Lee Han simply stared at him like any tardy parent showing up to gripe after the fact—not some legend.
'I've met too many legends already.'
Not that he meant to, but Lee Han had crossed paths with quite a few legend-tier folks by now. So,
'Even if it's the Mercenary King.'
It felt a bit late in the game, and there was no real thrill.
To surprise him, the man should've shown up around this time last year at the earliest.
Thus, Lee Han wasn't all that shocked. He treated him not as a legend, but as a guardian.
"Still, since you came all this way, let's talk about your student. Overall, he's doing excellent. Very enthusiastic about learning. But while he aces physical classes like swordsmanship, he fails liberal arts and academics. Seems he spent his time dating girls instead of studying..."
"Ahem!"
"Oh, and next time you see him, tell him to stick with just one girl. Jerking around two is basic for him, but he went full octopus legs, and the girls nearly stabbed each other over it. Our rookies dodged that bullet since he didn't mess with them, but come on—what did those girls do wrong? They're all daddies' precious daughters at home. Tsk tsk."
"...I'll break all three of that punk's legs."
"Three?"
"A man's got one extra leg, you see."
"Oh..."
Lee Han caught the meaning right away and knew it wasn't empty talk.
And why not?
"Smearing the mercenary band's reputation is bad enough..., and failing? The punk who thinks he can half-ass his studies and still pass? Sigh, I should've known better than to trust him."
The Mercenary King's face darkened ferociously as he thought of his student.
Utterly mortified.
...That day, some guy in the capital reportedly felt a bone-chilling chill.
"But you're really the Mercenary King, right?"
On the way home.
Lee Han was walking with him to drop off some fish for Leira as well, and voiced a casual doubt.
"Hm? You think I'm lying?"
"Not that, but the rumors say the Mercenary King is in his late seventies. You look no older than late thirties or early forties."
"Haha! Flattery."
"Flattery? No..."
He meant it sincerely.
Lee Han's doubt was natural—Kaisar de Wolf looked astonishingly young and handsome, like a fine young man.
He claimed late thirties, but that was only due to the shrewd glint in his eyes; otherwise, twenties wouldn't be a stretch.
His hair and brows were impeccably groomed, his clothes neat and quite luxurious.
Hell, he could've passed for a noble without issue.
"Haha! Is that how it is? Heh, praise like that makes me shy."
"Did that sound like praise?"
It was basically saying he didn't look the mercenary type, yet he took it that way. Bizarre.
But Kaisar de Wolf was serious.
"Of course it is. Why do you think mercenaries do what we do? To rake in massive cash and succeed. Looking noble-like? That's a compliment for a merc—it means I've succeeded that much."
"...Makes sense when you put it like that."
"Plus, I'm the head of the Mercenary Union. My face represents it, a symbol of success. I need to show the mercs how far I've come. Wealth, fame, power, strength! Prove I've got it all, so they'll hustle too—hoping to end up like me. Haha."
"I see."
"One more thing: this is me toned down. Some big-shot mercs paint their teeth gold or embed gems. Skin gems too. Overdo it, though, and you become a battlefield bullseye. Only possible if you're that confident in your skills. Otherwise? Dead."
"......"
...Listening, Lee Han couldn't help thinking of his past life.
Plenty of famous overseas rappers or influencers flaunted their success just like that.
Not that it was bad.
Everyone wants to show off their wealth.
If anything, Lee Han's mercenary image was just too narrow-minded.
"My bad for picturing mercs as grubby guys in ragged leather armor, unwashed for a month."
"Not wrong. Most mid-to-low tier mercs are like that."
"Then why's that Garand guy like that? He struts around looking mid-to-low tier."
"...I'll deal with that bastard next time I see him. He's ruining the merc image."
Kaisar was piling up anger toward his student again, but as a disciplined man, he hid it in a blink.
Instead,
"By the way."
"?"
"No other questions?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean, I revealed myself all dramatically, but your reaction's so lukewarm."
"What else is there to react to?"
"...Can't argue that, but still. Ahem."
Kaisar scratched his cheek.
He'd gone all out unveiling his identity, yet no curiosity from this guy. Felt kinda empty.
He thought he was pretty famous.
"Not curious why a Mercenary King like me came to see you?"
"You said it was about the guy who beat your king."
"Sure, but..."
"Yeah, there's probably more. You're not that idle. But... not really curious."
"Why?"
"Feels like it'd drag me into something annoying. Just a hunch."
"......"
"Why stare like that?"
"Nah, just... you're nothing like Baltar."
"?"
"Figured his student would be similar, but totally different. Heh."
"...Who's whose student now?"
Lee Han was genuinely pissed.
Then,
"Not his student, then. Hypothetically speaking..."
Kaisar flashed a meaningful smile, his eyes gleaming like a wolf spotting prey.
"-Even if I said I was gonna kill that punk, you'd be fine with it?"
"......"
"Haha, don't take it so seriously. Just a joke."
"Doesn't sound like one..."
......Lee Han wasn't dumb enough to miss the line between joke and real.
"...Huh?"
Blink-.
Ortos opened his eyes.
No idea how long he'd been out, but the sundial pointed to noon, and he was still dazed.
His head throbbed like a hangover, and he planned to stay down, but.
"Mutt, if you're up, quit slacking and get to work. How long you gonna laze around?"
"Huh?!"
Ortos sprang up like he'd been wrongly accused, but soon freaked out in horror.
"Woof!?"
"Ah, yesterday's rude mutt. Slept well?"
"Grrr!"
Ortos hadn't seen the face, but he remembered the scent of the one who'd clobbered his head—and bared his teeth threateningly.
But...
Smack!
"I said help out, not threaten people, you cheeky mutt."
"...Whine."
"Don't play pitiful."
No, this is legit unfair?
Another knuckle-rap, and Ortus grumbled in protest.
That guy's the one who started it—why me?
"Quit whining. ...No need to hold a grudge. I'll sort it out for you."
"...?"
"Can't see what we're doing?"
"......"
Ortos followed his human master's words and saw what the two humans were up to.
A square stage about 16 feet wide.
Calling it a stage was a stretch—just some lines drawn on the ground. Ortus tilted his head, wondering what they were doing.
"We're about to do some 'Mercenary Q&A'."
"Woof?"
What's that?
Ortos cocked his head curiously, and his understanding human master explained while bandaging one hand.
"Simple: how mercenaries settle arguments. One fist only—no kicks, no biting. No weapons either. A perfectly 'rational dialogue method' and 'reconciliation tool'."
"Couldn't agree more. What smoother convo method exists?"
"Can get intense, though—one side's jaw might shatter. But that's minor."
"Totally minor. Not like paralysis or death, haha!"
"......"
...Ortos shot a look screaming 'that ain't minor!', but ignoring him, an hourglass was placed at his paws.
"You're the ref. Signal every 3 minutes."
"...Woof."
"Got it? Good."
"Woof!?"
Ortos hadn't 'got it'—he was asking what the hell this was—but no dice this time. The human master had already stepped into the 16-foot square.
Watching in utter confusion, Ortus considered grabbing the chalkboard, but.
"Oho, southpaw?"
"Both hands work fine. You?"
"Same here. Oh, block well—I might shatter your jaw."
"Hm, think your fist might shatter instead..."
"?"
"Whatever. ─Begin."
"......Woof."
Ortos lacked the guts to stop those ready 'monsters', and so.