Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Mercenary Application
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After Kayla's training wrapped up, on the way to the cafeteria.
"Top Ranker, you're really gonna do it...?"
Thompson asked in a worried tone.
"Have to. They say it can untangle my knotted mana circuits in one shot."
"What if you get stuck? You'd be lost in space or something."
"Still, what can we do? No other options..."
I got his concern, but there really wasn't much choice.
How could I pass up an opportunity like this?
It could multiply my growth speed several times over.
"Aren't you scared? Talking like it's someone else's problem."
Kayla seemed anxious too.
I patted their shoulders reassuringly.
"Don't worry so much, everyone. It'll be fine. And it's not happening right now anyway."
From what the chairman said, we couldn't attempt it immediately.
Since it was risky, we needed a thorough understanding of mana circuits first.
So we'd postpone it until after the war, once preparations were complete.
Worrying now was just a waste of time.
"...Fine. If the Top Ranker says it's okay, it probably is."
With that, we calmed the group down and arrived at the student cafeteria.
"...Whoa, what's all this?"
"A cafeteria like this...?"
It was our first time here, and the facilities were insanely impressive.
Shiny pearl-white marble floors, bright lighting, gleaming tables, spotless dishware.
And as the crowning touch, rows of mouthwatering food lined up along the walls.
'...A buffet?'
It felt just like stepping into a five-star hotel buffet.
Juicy meats bursting with flavor, reddish crab dishes, springy noodle plates, sweet desserts—everything imaginable.
"L-Let's dig in quick...!"
Thompson, sniffing the air, bolted off like someone was chasing him.
Clack, clack, roll, clack!
He swept food onto his plate like he was looting the place.
Kayla was no different.
"This too, this too, oh... this looks tasty!"
Despite their size difference, Kayla's food tower was just as towering as Thompson's.
'Does all that even fit in their stomachs?'
Maybe it was from chowing down on tasteless demon meat during the hunt, but everyone had gone food-crazy.
Not that I was any different.
We grabbed a spot and shoveled in whatever caught our eye.
Nom nom!
Honestly, I thought Barundel's food was decent, but compared to this, it was downright shabby.
My mouth was in bliss before I even finished chewing.
The others kept marveling throughout the meal.
"Whoa, Asion Academy lives up to the hype! Never tasted anything like this in my life! Way better than Aldeon party food."
"Coming out of District 7 was the best choice I ever made..."
We ate until our stomachs felt ready to burst, finally starting to chat a bit.
"Ugh... Ow, my gut. Top Ranker, what's next on the agenda?"
"Oh, gotta head out soon. Time to sign up as war mercenaries."
"Okay, let's get moving then?"
Thud.
I stopped Thompson as he started to stand.
"Nah, you guys rest up a bit longer."
"Huh? Why?"
"No need to come along. It'll be more efficient if I go solo this time. Keep working on what you were doing, or if you're out of stuff, just tour the academy."
Kayla had special training with Professor Zairen, and Thompson needed to master the chairman's body modification spell.
I had no fixed schedule, so going alone made sense.
"No trouble, right?"
"What trouble? It's right around the corner."
Thompson nodded, convinced.
"Got it. If anything happens, bolt straight back here."
"Haha, sure thing."
Late afternoon, with the sun starting to set.
I left the academy before it got too late and headed to the guard post.
***
After asking passing pedestrians for directions, I reached the guard post.
More volunteers than expected—quite the crowd out front.
I joined the long line and waited my turn.
"Name."
"Aban."
"Specialty."
"Uh, well... good with a sword."
Click!
"Good, next."
From the voices ahead, the process seemed straightforward.
Name, specialty, snap a photo—done.
They weren't even verifying identities properly, so the royals must be desperate.
How long did I wait?
"Name."
Finally my turn.
"Yoo Hanus."
"Specialty."
"Before that, could you tell me about the participation rewards and merit rewards?"
"What?"
"They said I'd hear about it here."
"Sigh..."
The knight handling applications let out a massive sigh.
He seemed seriously pissed about his job, whatever the reason.
He waved his hand in my face.
"Hey, figure that out yourself. If you're not signing up, scram. I'm busy."
"..."
What was the big deal about explaining it once?
"I'll do it."
I decided to apply anyway.
I could look up the rewards later and withdraw if I didn't like them.
Or just ghost without a word—no biggie.
Plenty of people did that.
The royals couldn't track everyone.
"Specialty."
"Magic."
"Hm?"
The knight, who'd been staring at his paperwork, finally looked up.
"A mage?"
He scanned me top to bottom.
No need to tense up.
I'd geared up fresh and reborn as a full-fledged mage.
"Yes."
"What circle?"
"Fourth circle."
Technically a fourth-circle mage who could stably wield fifth-circle power.
Thanks to the [Holy Staff].
But I kept that part quiet.
No point drawing attention here.
Fourth circle wasn't elite treatment, but it wasn't dismissed either—just right in the middle.
Proving it:
"Participation reward: 500 gold coins. Merit: 1,000 per star. Three stars and up is at the commander's discretion."
His attitude flipped instantly.
Answering my earlier question without me even asking again.
Murmurs rose from behind.
Hit me again how this was a world where power ruled.
Anyway.
'Not bad.'
The rewards he listed were solid.
Big war meant big spending, even on volunteer mercs.
Of course, the real value wasn't the gold.
'Special rewards.'
Commander discretion for three stars and above—that was the prize.
War merits were rated in stars.
One star for standout performance.
Two for taking down staff-officer level foes.
Three for beheading a legion commander or major involvement.
Four for turning the tide of battle...
'Three stars, huh.'
If he was right, major contribution to killing a legion commander.
'Doable.'
Totally worth aiming for.
Especially since I wasn't solo.
I had the academy's solid backing and reliable comrades.
"How about it? Not bad, right?"
"Yeah, pretty good."
"So you're in?"
"Yes."
"Great, see you on the battlefield."
Now the knight was grinning like we were buddies.
He asked a few more questions—main attribute, affiliation, etc.—then extended his hand.
"Let's make it official, friend."
About to wrap up the signup.
But he was missing one thing.
"Three people."
"...What?"
Who said solo?
***
In a hastily built war command post in Asteron District 3.
Commander Barus Girian was racking his brain.
Flip, flip!
"How did this happen...?"
An interim report from the District 4 guard post.
The mercenary list was full of total duds—that was the problem.
No proper identities, just thugs who'd swung a sword once or twice, delivery boys who'd never held a real weapon, scrawny passersby claiming battle experience...
Not a strong one in the bunch.
Had any of these even faced a demon before?
"Throw 'em some gold and they swarm like dogs. Hoo..."
Normally he'd curse it off and move on, but not this time.
This war was on another scale.
As is, Asteron risked collapse.
Less than two weeks to go.
He needed a solution now.
"...Request reinforcements from Vulcan Kingdom?"
First idea: beg the neighboring country.
Simple and reliable.
But.
"...They won't approve."
They'd already gotten one batch.
Asking for more after that?
The fallout made his head shake.
Politics.
Not just heaps of gold, but rare artifacts, manpower, maybe even territory...
Vulcan would demand it all.
No way the royals greenlit that kind of loss.
The higher-ups always prioritized their own gains over national stability.
"...There has to be a way."
Flip. Flip.
Barus kept scanning papers, mind racing.
If even he gave up, the war's outlook was too grim.
Mass casualties, losing District 6. Maybe even 5.
Demons occupying them.
Like District 7 now.
He couldn't repeat that cursed history.
"There has to be some way..."
Then.
"Hm?"
One name jumped out from the list.
A man in a pitch-black robe, black hair, black eyes, expressionless face.
"...Yoo Hanus."
Unlike the riffraff, boldly listed as a fourth-circle mage.
Mages were precious assets in large-scale battles, each worth a hundred men.
But if that was it, Barus wouldn't be poring over the sheets like this.
"Thompson, Kayla..."
Three of them.
Three fourth-circle mages volunteering as war mercs.
That alone was over three hundred troops' worth.
And it didn't stop there.
"Affiliated with Asion Academy?"
Among countless magic academies, the one founded by the council itself—most prestigious.
These three mages were from there.
Special notes even said 'Partial academy support possible.'
Suddenly, Barus glimpsed hope.
His mind spun fast.
"If I play these guys right..."
Asion Council: Asteron's top magic authorities gathered.
Maybe he could pull in some big shots.