Chapter 16

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 16

Chapter Title: Total Annihilation (2)

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Rin, submerged in the hot water, waved Tanya and Mika over to hurry in.

Tanya and Mika cautiously dipped their fingertips into the water to test the temperature before following Rin into the bath.

The bathhouse was nearly empty this early in the evening with no other customers yet, so the three of them had it all to themselves, as if they had rented it out.

"Huuu..."

After trudging through the underground sewers all day with her nerves on edge, Rin's stiffened body melted away in the steaming water.

It wasn't much of a challenge for Rin anymore—she was a higher level now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and used to running missions—but for the two newbies, the fatigue hit harder.

Suddenly recalling Ian's request to look after the recruits, Rin nodded to herself and swam over to them.

"You two aren't hurt anywhere, right?"

Rin grabbed the nearby Mika first and checked her over, making sure there were no injuries she might have missed.

As Mika raised her arm, a sharp twinge made her mutter softly.

"My arm hurts..."

"That's just from being tense. I felt the same at first, but it got better after a while."

Having swung her staff around all day while unnecessarily tensing up had left Mika's arms throbbing.

"It'll go away if you keep at it."

"Then why'd you even ask...?"

Mika grumbled at the "just wait it out" response and kneaded her sore arm.

Confirming Mika was fine aside from a bit of whining, Rin turned her attention to Tanya next. In terms of pure physical labor, the porter Tanya had worked the hardest of them all.

Tanya flinched and backed away under Rin's gaze.

"What about you, Tanya? That luggage must've been heavy."

"Y-Yeah... I'm okay."

Tanya nodded in a fluster.

True to her word, Tanya just looked a little worn out—physically, she was in even better shape than Mika.

But Rin frowned slightly at the answer.

"I told you to speak casually."

Tanya could at least drop the formalities with her fellow newbie Mika, but she still spoke politely to Rin.

"Yeah, Tanya. We're only a month apart. Don't worry about it."

"...You be the uncomfortable one for once."

In contrast, Mika had switched to casual speech the moment Rin suggested it.

Rin had meant it sincerely, wanting to be real friends, but watching Mika's attitude still irked her a little.

"Come on. Say 'Rin' already."

"Uh..."

Prodded by both of them, Tanya backed away in panic until she was cornered against the bath's edge.

Finally, she hesitantly parted her lips and whispered Rin's name.

"Rin..."

Only then did Rin nod in satisfaction.

"Yeah. Call me that from now on. Got it?"

"Yes..."

"Not like that!"

"Uh, y-yeah. Rin."

Tanya's face was even more tense than when she'd first encountered monsters in the sewers.

Seeing it, Rin turned to Mika with a serious expression.

"Do I look scary or something?"

"Nah. Your face just looks like a third-rate mercenary's."

"What'd you say?!"

Rin splashed water at Mika in outrage.

"Gack!"

Mika tried to escape, but with their level gap and her mage's weak strength, she couldn't shake Rin off.

She was caught in an instant.

"Ahh, eek, ow! It's ripping!"

"It won't rip from this."

Rin's fingers pinched and stretched Mika's cheeks.

Mika flailed like a fish in a net, sending sprays of water everywhere.

From the corner of the bath, Tanya watched and let out a small chuckle.

When Tanya had first started as a mercenary, she'd been afraid of them.

With so many looking rough and the rumors of strict hierarchies in mercenary groups, she'd worried every night if she could adapt.

But her worries proved unfounded—her new comrades were all kind and good people.

"Being a mercenary is so different from what I imagined..."

"Huh?"

Rin turned at Tanya's mutter and let go of Mika.

Mika groaned while rubbing her flushed cheeks.

"I thought it'd be way harder and more grueling..."

"Oh... yeah, same here."

Rin immediately knew what Tanya meant.

She herself had been the biggest victim of Ian shattering her preconceptions about mercenary life.

Rin had arrived in Labyrinth City dreaming of adventure and romance.

What awaited her instead was the leader Ian's meticulously calculated efficient training, efficient missions, efficient hunting, efficient growth...

Not that the beneficiary of all that efficiency should complain, but it was worlds away from the romantic mercenary life she'd envisioned.

"When I first joined, the leader..."

Rin realized this was the first time she'd ever voiced these thoughts aloud.

She'd never had this kind of conversation with Ian.

For one thing, it was an awkward topic to bring up with the man himself.

...But more than that, Ian seemed like someone you shouldn't pry into about personal stories or his past.

Even when Rin occasionally asked about his hometown, he'd brush it off without answering—his background felt suspicious.

Plus, while he knew all sorts of esoteric knowledge, he often acted clueless about everyday common sense, making conversations with him fizzle out.

Suddenly, a desire welled up in Rin to open up with people in the same boat.

Her eyes sparkled.

"Let's drink together tonight! My treat!"

Yeah. This kind of talk was meant for fellow mercenaries, not the boss.

It was romantic.

"Hey, mister! Three beers here!"

Down on the inn's first ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠floor, where the tavern had opened for the evening, Rin claimed a table and raised her hand to call the innkeeper.

"And six skewers, chicken legs, and..."

"Haha. Planning to blow all your remaining cash today?"

The chuckling innkeeper took Rin's order and headed off.

Three mugs of beer arrived, followed by a growing pile of dishes on the table.

They'd started earning decent pay lately, but Tanya and Mika still weren't used to spending, hoarding it all instead. This lavish spread was an irresistible temptation.

Tanya and Mika gulped down their drool as it trickled from their mouths.

"Alright, then... cheers!"

At Rin's cue to raise her glass, the three mugs clinked awkwardly in the center of the table.

After each took a swig, their hands naturally reached for the fresh food.

Skewers dripping hot oil and steaming enticingly.

Biting into the meat at the tip with her teeth pulled off a scorching chunk ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that spread intense flavor through her mouth along with the heat.

The beer went down smoothly, cooling the fiery warmth and washing the oily richness down her throat.

Rin slammed her empty mug down with a satisfying clunk. A slight delay later, Tanya and Mika's followed suit.

"Whew. I've never drunk like this before."

"Really? You've made good money by now, haven't you?"

"No one to drink with..."

Rin gazed warmly at Mika and Tanya across from her.

"With the leader, it's just... you know?"

"Yeah..."

"Mm."

Ian wasn't picky or authoritarian—he'd probably drink if asked.

But still. She wanted people she could relax with completely.

People to vent to about how crappy the sewers were, without meaning anything by it.

Not that she wanted anything done about it, but if she complained to Ian, he'd seriously line up a new mission the next day.

"Three more here!"

The food kept coming, and the mugs emptied just as fast.

Every time a glass ran dry, Rin ordered refills, diving deep into conversation with the two.

Rin grinned woozily, feeling a pleasant dizziness.

Likewise, neither Mika nor Tanya had ever pounded drinks like this before, and they quickly let go of their inhibitions.

"Huuu... so anyway... the guy says I've got talent, right? Offers to teach me magic for 50 gold coins. Or be his assistant for ten years..."

"I see..."

It was the fifth time hearing Mika's rant.

The same curses about her hometown's quack mage kept coming, but Rin nodded along with a fond smile.

Once Mika wrapped up and fell quiet, Rin's gaze shifted to Tanya.

Unlike Mika, Tanya had grown quieter as time passed.

"What about you, Tanya? Why'd you wanna become a mercenary?"

Rin asked the one who'd been silent for a while.

Tanya fiddled with her nearly empty mug before looking up at Rin with a gloomy expression.

"Me... because of my friends."

"Friends?"

Tanya stared down at her empty glass, then thunked her head onto the table and passed out.

"Mister. Three more..."

...The dead of night, when even the rowdy chatter had faded.

Ian was about to turn off the lamp and sleep, realizing the noisy mercenaries downstairs had quieted down, when someone knocked on his door.

"Leader Ian."

It was the innkeeper visiting Ian's room late at night.

"Your mercs are passed out downstairs."

"...Pardon?"

"......"

For the first time since starting this game, Ian used the "Discipline" function to fine the three of them.