Chapter 12
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 012
Chapter Title: Cryptic Advice
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Sometimes, there are drinking parties you just can't turn down.
The next evening, Woojin accepted Jonathan's invitation and ended up joining the mercenaries for their feast.
The mercenaries clinked their beer mugs amid raucous laughter. It was so lively and chaotic that it was a bit overwhelming. It had been ages since he'd joined a bash like this, making it tough to adjust at first, but he had to admit the upbeat vibe was right up his alley.
Suddenly, Jonathan spoke up.
"How's the food treating you?"
"It's great. Honestly, better than I expected."
Woojin took a sip of his beer as he replied. The beer's taste here was surprisingly good. The barley aroma lingered in his mouth long after he swallowed.
"Mind if I borrow your mug for a sec?"
Claire had slipped into the seat next to him and made the request. Wondering what she was up to, Woojin handed it over with a puzzled look.
Claire extended her hand over the beer mug. A sky-blue light shimmered in her palm, followed by a stream of chilling cold that seeped into the beer.
"Here, give it a try."
Claire handed the mug back. Woojin took a swig and couldn't help but be impressed.
The lukewarm beer had turned ice-cold, straight out of a fridge. The pleasant bitterness washed over him with a refreshing chill. He never imagined tasting something like this in a world without refrigerators.
"...Think you could do one more?"
"Of course!"
Claire grinned amiably and took the mug again. Jonathan, watching her, smacked his lips.
"Claire, how about one for me too..."
"Why should I?"
"..."
Claire's smile vanished like a mirage. Her attitude felt even chillier than the spell she'd just cast. Faced with it, Jonathan let out a groan.
It was only natural that she was upset.
During the wild boar charge, the mercenaries nearby had abandoned her and fled. The situation had been so frantic that everyone was just looking out for themselves.
Of course, that excuse wouldn't fly with someone who'd nearly died. Jonathan kept stealing glances at Claire while nursing his drink.
"...Be that as it may, there's something we need to discuss."
Jonathan hurriedly changed the subject.
"I invited you to this feast today to split the bounty on that beast's head."
With that, Jonathan plunked a heavy pouch of gold coins on the table.
"Take a look at the amount. We can't have any loose ends or gossip, so let's tally it carefully."
"Got it."
Woojin opened the pouch and inspected the contents. A heap of gleaming gold coins. He roughly counted them with his eyes.
...Right after, a question arose in Woojin's mind.
"Why's there so much in here?"
The bounty on the Mad Skull's head was seventy gold coins. Split 50-50, Woojin's share should have been thirty-five...
Yet the pouch held far more than that by his estimate. When he pointed it out, Jonathan grinned.
"Thanks to protesting with the Pioneer Group and squeezing extra out of them. The request mentioned one Mad Skull, but there were two paired up when we got there."
"You got additional pay?"
"Exactly. They provided bad intel, so they owed us compensation."
The Pioneer Group had refused to pay more than specified, but Jonathan carried weight in the mercenary world.
There weren't many outfits skilled enough to hunt beasts in the first place. Falling out with one like that was no small burden.
For that reason, the Pioneer Group tacked on forty more gold coins, making the total bounty 110. Woojin received half: fifty-five coins.
'...Suddenly sitting on a fortune.'
Woojin blinked at the gold.
Staring at the shiny treasure stirred strange feelings. He'd known a big payout was on the line all along, but actually holding it in his hands? That was another story.
What to spend it on? As he pondered, an item he'd had his eye on came to mind.
"That net you used to bind the beast was incredibly tough and sturdy. Where do you get something like that?"
"It's a family heirloom passed down generations. No idea where my ancestors got it. I'd love a few more myself."
"Fair enough, then."
Far more valuable than he'd thought, Woojin dropped it cleanly. His attention shifted elsewhere soon after.
He turned to Claire beside him.
"How does one go about learning magic?"
With this much cash, he figured he could snag a spellbook or something, so he asked.
"I taught myself. Why? Thinking of dipping into magic yourself, Jin?"
"If possible."
"Then... want to learn from me? Not sure how good a teacher I'd be, but..."
Oh.
"You sure that's okay?"
"No reason it shouldn't be."
Jonathan, who'd been quiet, piped up.
"It's tough, though... Magic isn't something you pick up in a day or two. We're leaving town this week anyway."
"Then Jin can just come with us."
"Easier said than done. Why would a beast hunter as skilled as him tag along with second-rate mercs like us?"
Jonathan scoffed. Claire made a pouty face, unable to counter.
Why were they talking like he wasn't even there?
'...Not that I mind.'
He had nothing better to do anyway. The group vibe made it awkward to say outright, though.
Woojin spoke up after a moment's thought.
"Where's your next stop?"
"4th Pioneer City. Guild chatter says there's a big job waiting there."
Jonathan replied, and Woojin nodded as if it worked out perfectly.
"I've got business there too. Mind if I tag along?"
"Whoa, really?!"
"If you're in, we're thrilled!"
Claire practically jumped for joy. Jonathan beamed and welcomed Woojin aboard.
...Naturally, the "business" in 4th Pioneer City was a total fib. He'd never even laid eyes on the place.
But if one white lie saved face and made them happy, wasn't that fine?
'...Starting to take after Rex's slyness.'
He'd need to watch himself.
The Mercenary Guild was one of the organizations in partnership with the Pioneer Group. They needed seasoned blades to protect cities from beasts.
Of course, mercenaries paled in comparison to well-trained regulars. But you don't use a cattle butcher's cleaver on a chicken—lowly or not, they had their uses.
That's why the Pioneer Group offered perks to reputable merc bands. Woojin witnessed one such benefit.
'Lending out a Tarasque... They've got guts.'
A massive six-legged lizard beast. He hadn't expected them to loan out their lifeline transport so readily.
Woojin observed the lizard up close. His wolf stood nearby, eyeing the Tarasque too.
...Rex's gaze looked suspiciously mischievous.
"Just so we're clear, messing with this guy will end badly for you."
Woojin warned, gripping the wolf's scruff. His tone was deadly serious. Only an idiot would miss the sincerity.
Rex nodded vigorously several times. Satisfied, Woojin released him.
"Wow... He really understands people."
Claire murmured in awe. Like Woojin with the Tarasque, she'd been closely watching the wolf beast.
"What kind of food does he like?"
"Most meats are fine. Especially loves turkey."
Woojin replied casually. They'd grown closer at the feast last night and agreed to drop formalities.
Claire stuck to polite speech. She said it felt more natural than bantering informally.
"Good thing I brought something just in case..."
Claire rummaged in her pack and pulled out a smoked turkey leg. The meat clinging to the bone looked mouthwatering.
"Think Rex would like this?"
"Just look at him."
Woojin nodded toward Rex. The wolf's eyes were locked on the meat like lasers.
Feeling the intensity, Claire shrank back a step. The wolf's sheer size must've spooked her.
"Scared to get close? Just toss it. He'll catch it smartly."
"Really? Okay, then..."
Claire lobbed the meat gingerly, and Rex snapped it up in a flash. Tail wagging nonstop, he clearly savored it.
Claire smiled, relieved.
"Glad he likes it. I heard wolf-type beasts are super wary. But Rex seems kinda..."
"Dog-like?"
"...Saying it like that makes it sound a bit insulting."
She didn't argue, though, so Claire seemed to agree.
As the two bantered about the wolf, the prone Tarasque rose. That meant the mercs had finished loading supplies.
"Alright, let's move out—!"
Jonathan bellowed from the front. The mercenaries followed suit.
It'd be a long slog to 4th Pioneer City, feet aching the whole way. But with the Tarasque hauling gear, their loads were light.
Still, silent marching got boring fast. Woojin used the time to try mana basics.
"Walk me through sensing mana again. I heard you yesterday, but it's not clicking."
"Imagine breathing through the top of your head. Inhale, exhale. Like a relaxed whale... Rushing it makes it harder."
Claire's advice was pretty cryptic.
Breathe through your crown.
Not literally, of course—just the feel. But no matter how he tried, it eluded him.
And telling him not to rush while he was already frustrated? Maddening.
'Should've asked Hector.'
He'd heard Hector coated arrows with light using mana too.
Didn't want to be rude prying for tips, but now he regretted it. Hector probably would've shared freely...
"...Jin, focus."
"Sorry."
Somehow spotting his wandering mind, Claire chided him. Woojin refocused on his breathing. In... out...
He kept at it for over half a day.
"Short break—!"
Jonathan called, and the mercs echoed him. Woojin flopped onto the dirt. Walking alone had worn him out.
"Still not getting it, huh?"
"Not easy."
Claire suddenly seemed impressive.
"How'd you pull this off?"
"I had insomnia as a kid. Nights when sleep wouldn't come, nothing to do... Flipped through a magic primer for kicks. Turns out it was doable."
Tried it for fun, and it stuck.
'...Like asking the top student their study secrets.'
Felt like high school all over again. Those kids who claimed studying was fun. Every class had at least one.
Then or now, Woojin couldn't relate. He was the type who studied grudgingly, out of necessity.
'Well... Got into college that way. Keep at magic, and it'll happen.'
Thinking positive helped.