Chapter 382
Chapter 382
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.79 – A Man's Growth is Remarkable (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"-If there's anything you want to ask, feel free to do so."
"?"
...Lee Han wondered what this guy was suddenly talking about.
"...Out of nowhere?"
The two of them were facing each other, sipping the herbal tea the maid had brought.
They hadn't really had much of a conversation since the sparring ended—just silence—but it wasn't because things felt awkward between them.
Lee Han needed time to get used to the newly awakened [Domain], and Caesar knew Lee Han's current state, so he had simply stayed quiet.
But just as Lee Han was starting to get a feel for the Domain, Caesar suddenly spoke up,
with a tone that felt somehow like he was toying with him.
"Telling the guy who lost all 26 rounds to ask questions—what am I supposed to make of that? No, I mean, sir."
"Oh? Back to polite speech already?"
"Earlier, my head was hot, and you seemed like this super suspicious, weird, grumpy old man, so I dropped the formalities... but now you look kinda normal."
"......Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"That's why I'm being polite again, isn't it?"
"...Not even giving medicine after the wound..."
Caesar grumbled, but in truth, he didn't seem all that bothered by Lee Han's attitude.
Lee Han knew that much.
How did he know?
'He's brutally straightforward, but talking with fists really builds trust, huh.'
Trust had built up between Lee Han and Caesar.
By clashing bodies, they had come to understand each other, and at some point, respect and trust had formed toward one another.
If it had just been punching and insulting with killing intent, these feelings probably wouldn't have arisen.
'Dogo hyung said it right. The depth of a relationship isn't about how many times you meet—it's about how sincerely you treat each other.'
Exactly as he said.
Their "conversation" was intense but followed rules, and neither broke them.
Thanks to that, trust formed between them, and respect sprouted from the weight carried in those honest fists.
So even though they'd only met less than half a day ago, Lee Han and Caesar could now exchange idle banter while facing each other.
Because they had treated each other sincerely. Because they had learned each other's inner selves and histories through physical clashes.
And because of that...
"Fine. What questions? Mercenary-style Q&A is pointless now anyway."
"True enough. But I proposed the mercenary Q&A because there was no trust between us yet. Now, though, don't you and I trust each other to some extent?"
"......"
"The Q&A was just a process. A step two unrelated men needed to get close. Isn't that right?"
"...Kinda hard to agree when I was the one getting one-sidedly beaten."
"Ahaha!"
So yeah, he had no choice but to agree.
...Except.
"But honestly, I don't have anything I'm curious about?"
"?"
Lee Han truly had nothing to ask, which was the problem—or not really.
The mercenary-style Q&A—no, the root of their conflict—
was Caesar's provocative question:
-Can I kill Baltar?
But that hadn't rubbed Lee Han the wrong way.
On the contrary.
"It was you showing up out of nowhere, acting all confrontational like some stranger picking a fight. Nothing really piques my curiosity."
"...So my saying I'd kill Baltar didn't bother you much?"
"Nope, not really."
"He's your m-master, isn't he?"
"No, he's not."
"......"
"You really weren't listening. That guy's not my master. Acquaintance? Sure, but more like an enemy acquaintance."
People kept getting this one thing wrong: Lee Han and Baltar weren't particularly close or respectful of each other.
Sure, they'd fought countless times and talked a lot, but even so...
"We've never truly opened up to each other."
"......"
"Just fights and idle chit-chat. That's all we ever were."
Putting it into words made it feel solid somehow.
Yeah, no one was as ambiguous to Lee Han as Baltar.
Close? Sort of, but not really.
If invited to eat, he'd go, but he wouldn't invite Baltar home for a meal.
If asked for help, he'd help, but not from the heart.
And even if.
"If that guy died? I'd feel a bit bitter—acquaintance dead and all. But not sad. Probably eat fine after an hour or two once I knew."
"...Harsh coming from me, but isn't that too cold?"
"Cold? Nah, just honest. You're misunderstanding our relationship, so I'm correcting it. Do whatever with him—roast or fry. It's outside my interest."
"......This must be one-sided love..."
"Pardon?"
"Nah, not about you."
"?"
"For the first time, I feel a bit sorry for Baltar."
"??"
Lee Han wasn't particularly curious, but Caesar couldn't just let it go.
He wondered how the man called Mercenary King ended up in this regrettable spot, but what could he do?
"I came all the way to Vulcan because I accepted a commission."
The regretful one had to speak.
"You don't have to tell me."
"Even if you're fine with it, I have business with you, so oh well."
"You live such a tiring life. Someone like the Mercenary King should be living easy."
"I'd like that too. But this client is someone I can't defy."
"...Defy?"
Defy—a word used for superiors. Lee Han blinked in surprise.
It was too polite for the Mercenary King.
'This guy has someone above him?'
His age aside, he was a legendary mercenary whom even emperors and kings couldn't touch lightly.
Not just his personal strength, but leading the massive military force of the Mercenary Union, and even gathering just those who respected him could topple two or three kingdoms.
So it was baffling.
What kind of big shot could command the Mercenary King?
"Some war god or something?"
"Hah, war god? He's long dead. And anyway, I don't respect the previous king much. Never swore loyalty to begin with."
"...Heard you were from the White Dragon Knights?"
"Still a disgusting past."
"......"
Caesar snorted as if it was absurd.
Almost with disgust.
"Of those who joined that White Dragon whatever Knights, less than half did so willingly. All forced in."
"Pardon?"
"White Dragon Knights—over half, including me, lost to Baltar and were dragged in."
"......"
"Ridiculous. Never wanted to be a knight, forced into it, slapped with 'strongest' titles. No clown like that."
"......"
...In a way, it solved a mystery.
Exceptional people tend to have strong egos and hate belonging to organizations.
So how did they gather such extraordinary strong-willed folks into the White Dragon Knights...?
'...By force?'
What an unromantic founding story.
"Even funnier? The only way out is to subdue Baltar and become commander yourself. ...Utterly repulsive."
"...That guy's a real piece of work."
...Didn't feel like someone else's problem.
Lee Han felt his situation with Caesar was eerily similar.
He'd joined the White Silver Lion Knights after losing to Baltar, right?
Even the exit conditions were the same...
"After the previous king died, the White Dragon Knights were forcibly disbanded, everything fell apart. But to ex-members, Baltar's still the archenemy. He slapped a 'collar' on our necks by force, and even after disbandment, the humiliation lingers."
"...Is that why you want to kill that uncle?"
Sounded plausible enough.
But.
"That's part of it. But not the only reason."
"......"
Caesar's eyes held a firm resolve.
An unshakeable conviction—not too much to call it determination.
"Curious now why I want to kill him?"
"Nah."
"...No fun."
"Hope old grudges sort themselves out between the parties. More importantly, who's the client?"
Who has business with him and can commission the Mercenary King?
When asked that,
"Hm, not entirely unrelated to you. You can use this technique, right?"
Ting-.
He lightly flicked the teacup with his finger, and the tea inside shot up like a fountain.
Whoosh!
A miniaturized version of the method he'd used to smash the rock while grilling fish—exquisite control.
"My Heavy Water Technique..."
"That's what you call it? The original name is 'Raging Bear Paw'."
"...The name's kinda..."
"I know it's corny. Anyway, did you learn it from Baltar?"
"...Just mimicked it roughly by watching."
"Good—he didn't claim it as his own."
"Was it originally yours?"
"No, I learned it too. From my 'brothers', precisely."
"?"
Brothers?
Lee Han knew mercenaries called comrades brothers, but this was different.
The ring he pulled from his pocket gave a hint.
...The ring bore an engraving symbolizing the 'Light of Glory'.
"The world calls my brothers this: The Shield of Light, holy warriors who crush evil with their fists. Or another name..."
—Monks.