Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: An Urgent Summons
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After safely finishing the application and wandering around the checkpoint for a while to gauge the level and scale of the volunteer mercenaries.
“Yoo Han.”
Someone suddenly called out to me from behind.
When I turned around, it was the knight who had handled my application earlier.
“Good thing you’re still here. I’ve got something urgent to pass along.”
The knight said as he handed me a tightly rolled document.
When I gave him a look asking what it was, he added an explanation.
“It’s a letter asking you to come to the war command post.”
“……The war command post? What for, at this hour?”
“No idea. I didn’t hear the details.”
The knight shrugged as if he knew nothing.
The scroll only said to come as quickly as possible—nothing else.
I was pondering the reason on my own when.
“But it seems like a pretty urgent matter.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I’ve never seen anything like this before. The command post asking us to call someone in. And you just applied not long ago, right?”
“Hmm.”
He had a point.
It had been just over three hours since I filled out the application.
For them to send a letter in that time meant something had definitely gone wrong at the war command post.
Or maybe they had something important to tell me.
‘Should I go?’
I hesitated over the letter with no clear reason given.
‘Thompson and Kayla are waiting…….’
I’d said I’d be right back, so vanishing without a word would definitely worry them.
Especially with Thompson’s personality.
He’d probably worry more about what trouble I might be getting into.
“Anyway, go see them quick. They said they’ve got a carriage waiting over there.”
But skipping it didn’t feel right either.
They’d even sent a carriage—how could I refuse?
Especially from the commander of the war command post, a very high-ranking figure.
In the end, after some thought, I came up with a solution.
“You’re here all day today, right?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Not just today—until recruitment ends, I’m stuck at the checkpoint.”
“Perfect. Hold on a sec.”
Scribble, scribble.
I grabbed some blank paper and a pen nearby and wrote something hurriedly.
It was a message for Thompson, in case he came rushing over here.
‘Yeah, that should do it.’
I handed the finished message to the knight.
“If a guy named Thompson shows up, could you give him this?”
“Thompson? Oh, the mage you applied for earlier?”
“Yeah, that’s him. Copper-skinned guy even bigger than most knights. You’ll know him the second you see him.”
“Bigger than most knights? He’s really a mage……?”
The knight looked doubtful, but the message would get delivered anyway.
Now I could head to the command post without too much worry.
I headed straight to the spot the knight had pointed out, and sure enough, a carriage was waiting.
Complete with a coachman.
“Are you Yoo Han, sir?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“This way, please. I’ll escort you.”
Unlike your average coachman, he was dressed quite sharply and bowed deeply with utmost courtesy as he guided me.
From the vibe, it didn’t seem like they’d called me for bad news.
I dismissed the worries I’d had and boarded the carriage.
Clop, clop.
The carriage began rolling forward slowly.
I sank into thought amid the jolts.
‘Why’d they call me?’
I’d brushed it off earlier as some urgent matter, but it was worth thinking about now.
That way, I could prepare for whatever came.
‘For starters, the coachman’s attitude suggests it’s not bad news.’
I viewed the situation from a third-party perspective.
‘A 4-circle mage volunteers right before the war, with less than two weeks to go. ……Could that cause issues?’
Not enough to go on.
Meaning I needed a broader view of things.
I retraced the situation step by step, building up evidence.
Fortunately, something came to mind.
‘……Come to think of it, the volunteer mercenaries were pretty pathetic, weren’t they?’
I’d only observed for a few hours, but that was enough.
To see that the applicants were all very low-level.
Sure, maybe it was just today.
But what if it wasn’t? What if it had been like this the whole time?
From the war command post’s perspective, that would be a real headache.
Facing a massive war with a horde of useless recruits.
Their forces would be sorely lacking.
‘……And that’s when I volunteered.’
To them, it must have been like rain in a drought.
And it wasn’t just me.
Kayla and Thompson too.
Three precious mages signing up at once—they’d be thrilled.
But that alone wouldn’t warrant calling me in separately.
There had to be more to it.
As I mulled it over.
‘……Aha?’
A thought flashed through my mind.
“I get it now.”
I had a pretty good idea why the command post wanted me.
***
About an hour after boarding the carriage?
Creak-.
“Yoo Han, sir, we’ve arrived.”
The carriage stopped abruptly, and the coachman knocked on the door.
Already here.
“Faster than I expected.”
“There’s a dedicated road between District 4 and District 3. This way, please.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“Then I’ll be off…….”
The coachman saw me to the building entrance, gave a quick bow, and returned to the carriage.
He seemed to be in a hurry to pick up someone else.
Not my concern, though.
I turned my gaze to the building ahead.
“So this is the war command post.”
I’d heard it was hastily set up to prepare for this [Prophecy of the Red Moon].
But for something like that, the building was surprisingly neat.
Maybe they repurposed an existing one.
Well, this was District 3, after all.
No shabby buildings around here.
The streets themselves were pristine, not a speck of trash in sight.
Anyway.
Step, step, step!
Shaking off my thoughts, I approached the entrance, where spear-wielding guards blocked my path.
One of them scanned me up and down and asked.
“What’s your business?”
“I received a letter asking me to come here.”
I replied and handed over the scroll I’d gotten earlier.
The guard captain checked it meticulously to ensure it wasn’t forged.
“Ah, yes, sir. We’ll verify your identity. Please present your ID.”
Beep.
I pressed my ID against the device at the entrance.
“If you’re carrying any weapons, please surrender them. Artifacts too.”
“Here you go.”
I removed the bracelet, necklace, gloves—everything I had on.
“Now, please wear this.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s an artifact to suppress mana. Just a precaution against accidents.”
Only after I put on the bizarre-looking wrist guard did they signal me to enter.
The security here was on a whole different level from the lax rear districts.
I made my way inside and soon found the room labeled ‘Strategy Room.’
I’d been told the one who summoned me was in there.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Come in.”
I knocked lightly and opened the door.
The first thing I saw was a man with a mustache curled neatly at the ends.
His presence here meant he was someone of very high rank, so I bowed politely.
“I’m Yoo Han.”
“Barus Garion.”
He introduced himself and gestured for me to sit.
I sat as instructed and waited a moment. Barus took the seat across from me.
He spoke first.
“So, you’re the 4-circle mage studying at Asion Academy?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Why volunteer as a war mercenary?”
“To gain real combat experience. There are limits to what you can learn at the academy.”
Half of it was a lie.
Truth be told, I wouldn’t have applied without the rewards.
But it sounded reasonable enough that Barus nodded approvingly.
“Hmm…… Now that’s a rare breed. Not like those bookworms who hang back and lob spells while raking in pay.”
“I’m honored you see it that way.”
“Like you a lot.”
Tap, tap. Barus tapped his chin, lost in thought.
Then, as if something occurred to him, he spoke again.
What he said next, though.
“So, how are your grades at the academy?”
Out-of-left-field talk about scores.
“Oh…… Yes. They’re satisfactory.”
“Good to hear.”
And then.
“You’re not short on money, are you? Asion Academy isn’t cheap…… Must be a burden, no?”
“……I’m on a full scholarship, so it’s fine.”
“What a tremendous talent!”
Sudden money talk.
Family questions, living situation, career plans…….
I had no clue what he was getting at.
It felt like talking to an NPC with a low affection meter toward the player.
At this rate, we’d be here all night, so I took the initiative.
“So, what did you call me here for……?”
Only then did Barus turn serious.
“Anything you want? Speak up—I’ll make it happen.”
The content was still nonsensical.
Suddenly asking what I wanted?
“……Pardon?”
“I’ll grant it all.”
Barus stared intently, no hint of joking.
Seemed like all the weird chatter was to figure this out……
First things first—hear what he wanted.
“What do you want from me?”
I asked, and Barus slid a single sheet of paper across the table.
It was the application I’d filled out earlier.
His finger pointed to the special notes section.
[Eligible for partial academy support.]
“Is this true?”
‘Knew it.’
This was the only reason they’d call me in.
Academy support.
From the war command post’s view, nothing could be better.
It’d fill their manpower gap perfectly.
“Yes, it’s true.”
“Then I’d like your help. What do you say?”
The key here was how much they wanted.
“What kind of support are you after?”
I’d already discussed it somewhat with the academy head.
They could provide supplies, food, and a few artifacts as welfare support.
If that’s what the command post wanted, I could swing it.
And get something better in return.
But.
“We need more mages. Can’t win a war with our current forces…… If you help, I’ll give you whatever you ask.”
Barus wasn’t asking for material goods—he wanted personnel.
He grabbed my hand, pleading earnestly.
I wanted to help, but this put me in a tough spot.
“Getting students to join the war would be difficult. Most avoid it, and it’s genuinely dangerous…….”
As I started to refuse.
Barus shook his head and cut me off.
“I’m not talking about students.”
“Pardon? Then…….”
“We have enough bodies already. What we need are high-ranking mages who can impact entire legions.”
High-ranking mages.
That meant 7-circle or above.
In other words, they wanted the academy’s elder-level mages.
‘Huh.’
Unbelievable.
Asking a mere academy student like me for that?
Shouldn’t they go straight to the academy?
‘Who am I supposed to drag over?’
As that ridiculous thought crossed my mind.
Barus continued.
“Asion Academy prioritizes student safety above all, right?”
At the same time.
Thump!
Thud thud thud!
Step. Step. Step!
My heart warned of danger as dozens of guards burst into the strategy room.
All of them aiming sharp spear tips at me.
“……So my choice was never the issue.”
“Sorry. I had no other way. It’s urgent.”
Barus Garion.
I’d thought him a fool unfit for his position.
But now he looked cunning and bold.
“Will you cooperate?”
Unpredictable.
You could never guess what went through people’s heads in this world.
How do you even think to hold academy students hostage?