Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: The Royal Commander Route
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Watching Elbert gradually walk away, I sank into thought.
I knew exactly what kind of event had just occurred with me.
If this were a game, a message like this probably would have popped up.
[Job Event!]
-NPC 'Elbert' has proposed a new job route to player 'Yoo Han'. If you accept, you can change jobs to [Royal Commander].
(※Note: Your existing [Mage] job will be replaced by [Royal Commander], and some of your current traits may not apply. Proceed with caution.)
The Royal Commander route.
Among the commander trees, it was the ultimate endgame path.
That was what Elbert had just offered me.
'...It's strangely surprising. The Royal Commander route opens like this?'
Having played [Devil Fantasy] for over ten years, I'd tried various commander builds multiple times.
Naturally, I'd changed jobs to [Royal Commander] several times as well.
But I'd never received a [Royal Commander] job change event through war like this.
A basic [Commander] maybe, but not this.
'Is it the difference with the Mythic trait?'
That seemed to be the case.
Back then, I hadn't walked the commander route with a Mythic trait.
Of course, it was unlikely to catch the eye of surrounding NPCs, so I never unlocked an event like this.
Anyway.
'...It's a bit regrettable.'
I'd firmly refused, but honestly, a little lingering attachment remained.
I knew how convenient and perfect the [Royal Commander] position was.
'Wealth, honor, and power all at once. Oh, and a rise in status too.'
As the name implied, [Royal Commander] was one of the sweetest jobs around.
Just changing jobs would solve most of my current problems.
Above all, it offered relative safety in this world—the biggest perk.
After all, wasn't the main role of a Royal Commander, naturally, commanding troops?
It was a position where you usually stayed in the back issuing orders instead of fighting on the front lines.
And after the war, you'd reside exclusively in District 1.
That meant far less exposure to danger than other jobs.
In other words, higher survival odds.
However, it didn't fit my current situation.
Changing to [Royal Commander] would tie me to Asteron District 1 for life, and no matter how strong it got, it couldn't defeat Baal.
Just like my old zombie swordsman.
'Fine if your goal is to endure forever... but no reason for someone like me aiming for the final content.'
Defeat Baal and return to my original world.
To achieve that goal, I had to turn down even a sweet job like [Royal Commander].
The bitterness in my mouth was unavoidable, but...
'Forget it.'
Pushing aside the unattainable pie in the sky, I wandered around as per my original plan.
Before long, I spotted Kayla, Thompson, and Barundel.
"You must be tired, miss..."
"You too, sir."
"Ahem, somehow my chest feels tight."
Seeing them gathered, patting each other's shoulders, was somehow cute.
I pushed through the crowd toward them.
Then.
"Oh, the number one guy!"
"Heh heh, today's star has arrived!"
"Where the hell were you? We looked everywhere."
They waved enthusiastically, clearly delighted to see me.
"Ah, I was just talking with Commander Elbert for a bit."
"Talking? About what?"
"He asked if I had any interest in becoming a Royal Commander."
"...What?"
Gulp.
Did my words make them tense?
I could hear the dry swallows from here.
"...So what did you say?"
"...You said yes?"
"Of course not. What do you take me for, a commander?"
"Whew!"
Only then did they exhale in relief.
They must have been worried I'd defect to the royal side.
Understandable, given such a position was on offer.
Anyway.
I changed the subject to what I'd originally planned to say.
"Anyway, that's done with. The war's over today, so how about a celebratory drink to mark the occasion? What do you all think..."
Before I could finish.
"Woooo! Sounds good!"
Thompson jumped up with an enthusiastic cheer.
A bit over the top in his gestures.
"I'm in too."
"Such gatherings are a must."
Kayla and Barundel nodded, signaling their agreement.
"Alright, then the spot will be that tavern in District 6 we used to go to. Time is..."
That was when.
"Um..."
Someone suddenly spoke up from behind.
Turning around, it was none other than Elbert.
"What, back to persuade me? I told you, no interest."
"No, it's not that."
"Then what?"
"I heard you're having celebratory drinks. Mind if I join...?"
"Huh?"
He unexpectedly expressed a desire to join the drinking party.
Honestly, it threw me off.
'Elbert at our drinking party? ...A knight commander?'
Just imagining the awkward atmosphere made it clear.
Moreover.
'Absolutely not.'
Kayla was in this group.
Yes, Kayla, the mage from District 7.
Recalling how Elbert treated District 7 residents as less than human, there was no way I could let him in.
Who knew what trouble it might cause?
I was about to refuse when.
"Ah, if you let me join, I'll cover the tab. We can move to a better spot too. On a day like this, shouldn't we splurge at a nice place?"
Elbert made a bold offer, and among our group, there was one—no, two—who couldn't possibly refuse.
"Ooooh! That's the spirit! I'm good with it, Sir Knight Commander."
"D-Does that mean we can drink expensive liquor to our hearts' content today...?"
"Absolutely."
"Awesome!"
"Heh heh, then I'm in favor too."
Thompson and Barundel bounced around, declaring their approval on their own.
These simpleminded old guys... they go crazy for pricey booze.
I glanced at Kayla to gauge her reaction.
She surely knew how Elbert treated District 7 folk.
"..."
Expressionless.
Unable to read her thoughts, I sidled up and quietly asked.
"You okay with it?"
Kayla glanced at the bouncing Thompson and Barundel, then said.
"...Do as you like."
She nodded along with the words.
It meant go ahead.
Likely because of Thompson and Barundel.
"Sigh..."
Somehow, my chest felt stuffy.
Resolving to mediate if anything went wrong, I told Elbert.
"Fine. But since it's our party, don't ruin the vibe."
"Heh, don't worry. I know how to party when it's time."
"...That's not what I meant."
It was then.
Tap tap.
"...?"
Someone tapped me from behind again.
Turning around this time.
"President?"
It was none other than Athis Guild President Asion Gail.
Professor Jairen and the committee heads were with him too.
A bad premonition hit me instantly, and as always.
It proved spot on.
"...Yoo Han. Mind if we tag along there too?"
Somehow, the scale of this casual drinking party kept expanding.
***
An ultra-luxurious tavern in Asteron District 2.
Less formal than others, but still a place for nobles only—today, it hosted a motley crew.
Me, Kayla, Thompson, Barundel, Elbert, Asion Gail, Jairen, the guild committee heads.
...And Roan and Shuhan too.
Asion Gail had insisted, 'They stood out in this war too, so isn't it right to include them?'
Naturally, the atmosphere was extremely awkward.
"Your ordered Asigatan beer. Enjoy."
"..."
"..."
Even after the drinks arrived, no one spoke first.
It was questionable why they'd even suggested partying together.
"...Let's toast first."
I finally lifted my glass and broke the silence.
"Y-Yeah! Everyone, glasses up!"
Clink!
We exchanged awkward toasts in the awkward air.
The stiffness persisted afterward, and after repeating the process a few times?
Perhaps the alcohol was kicking in, as people started opening up one by one.
Thompson was the first to break the ice.
"This beer... Asigatan beer, right?"
"That's right. Fermented from the Asigatan herb, called the herb of life."
"It's killer! Knight Commander, sir. Expensive booze really is different! Right, number one guy?"
"Yeah, sure. It's good. Deep flavor."
"Glad you like it."
"Guh!"
Clunk!
Thompson set down his glass with a satisfied face and asked Elbert.
"Knight Commander, sir. How much is one of these?"
"About five gold coins."
"F-F-Five gold coins...? For just one beer?"
Five gold coins.
Ten times the price of the beer at our usual dive bars.
Even I was shocked.
'Back then, it was less than half a gold. It's risen this much?'
Of course, it wasn't my first time.
Back when I topped the rankings as a zombie swordsman, I'd downed booze like this more than meals.
...In the game, that is.
Anyway.
"You're covering the tab today, right, Knight Commander?"
"Once I say it, it's law."
"Nice."
With Elbert's firm confirmation, I poured the Asigatan beer down my throat without restraint.
Gulp, gulp, gulp!
Even as the stimulating carbonation burned my throat, I didn't stop.
Because this wasn't ordinary beer.
Noble liquors usually had special effects.
This Asigatan beer was no exception.
If memory served, Asigatan beer...
'Relieves physical and mental fatigue, reduces stress.'
Its effects rivaled the potion I'd had during training with Barundel.
'It's basically medicine.'
Sure enough, after downing the second glass.
Surge!
The accumulated fatigue melted away, strength welling up.
I felt like I wouldn't need separate rest.
'Expensive stuff really delivers.'
Only then did I look back at the table.
The awkwardness had vanished, the surroundings now lively.
"Wahahaha! President, really? No mane when you first succeeded in transformation magic?"
"...True story."
"Pfft, what, like a lady lion?"
"...Want to try getting mauled by one?"
Stories of the president's past, of course.
"Sir Roan, I hear there's someone here you dislike...?"
"Ah, not dislike exactly. Just one annoying mage."
"The one sitting over there?"
"Yes, that's him."
"Finally, a mage I click with."
Even Roan and Shuhan's open gossip about me drifted over.
What the hell were these guys doing...?
'Whatever.'
It was much better than before.
Nothing broke awkward vibes like booze.