Chaos at the Mercenary Guild

"That sensitive bastard…."

The man who'd hastily hidden himself spat out a curse.

Even though he'd kept a safe distance while watching, the guy had noticed him like a damn ghost.

Fortunately, it didn't seem like he'd been fully spotted….

Meow~

"You little shits!"

The problem was that he'd hidden in such a shitty spot because of the rush.

The trash bin that cats had been rummaging through just moments ago.

Maybe there'd been food scraps inside—it reeked to high hell.

"Damn it…."

He shook off his body and sneaked a peek through the alley toward where Eugene had been.

He'd definitely been there a second ago, but now he was gone.

'Did he go inside?'

No way he could tail him in this state, that's for sure.

This was beyond his pay grade anyway.

He had no clue why he'd gone into the mercenary guild or what he was doing out and about.

But reporting to his master came first.

Still, before that, there'd be others to check it out in his place.

"Damn. Gotta report to the young master quick."

The man hurried out of the alley.

…A foul trash stench wafted from the running man's body.

This world looked a hell of a lot like Earth, but the mercenary guild was a whole different beast.

A world with mana, aura, and magic beasts.

Plenty of jobs robots or golems couldn't handle, so the mercenary system thrived.

The entrance crawled with people, and the noise spilling out from inside screamed packed house.

Ding~

"Welcome… hic!"

"Long time no see, sis."

The tattooed woman at the counter spotted Ashy and freaked out.

Tats covered her arms, shoulders, even her neck—she looked way rougher than Ashy on sight alone, but she acted like she'd seen a ghost.

And that was just the start.

"…."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"…."

The rowdy mercenary guild fell dead silent in an instant.

Ashy grinned as she spoke.

"What's with you all? Like you've seen someone you shouldn't have. Get back to what you were doing."

"Y-yeah, right."

"Sh-should we go over there and fill out the body waiver forms?"

"Y-yeah, let's do that."

Hold up. Why the hell are you guys filling out body waivers over there?

"Hey."

"Eek!"

"?"

When I called out to the guys scribbling waivers, a suit-wearing dude bolted in terror.

…What the fuck?

These reactions are way more intense than from folks who heard I'm a War God priest.

'What the hell did she do…?'

I shot Ashy a bewildered look, but she just smiled innocently.

'Jeez….'

"Mind if I squeeze through?"

"Y-yes! Go right ahead!"

One word from her, and…

Rumble!

The crowd parted like the Red Sea.

Adria didn't bat an eye—she'd seen this show before—but Jenella, the commoner girl, was straight-up stunned.

Wouldn't blame her if she foamed at the mouth and keeled over!

"Jenella."

"Y-yeah?"

"Don't mind 'em. Buncha cowards. C'mon, let's check the list together."

Ashy slung an arm around Jenella's shoulders like they were besties, pulling her close.

Then she snatched the mission list from the counter, scanned it, and pointed to one.

"This one's good."

I peeked over their shoulders from behind.

Whoa. 100 gold?

'Nice.'

Just snag one magic beast and done.

Pretty hefty payout, so it's gotta be infamous…

'But still below black mage level.'

The black mage I took down had a 500-gold bounty.

This was barely a fifth.

'Hang on. Any missions around black mage tier?'

I slipped sideways to browse the list.

If there were, I'd sign up on the spot. 500 gold split four ways is 125 each.

Jenella's burden would drop big time.

'…Tch. Nothing.'

No missions over 100 gold.

Checked the special list just in case….

Blocked at the gate. Cheap bastards.

'Whatever.'

Guess we'll hold off.

Perfect timing—Ashy's eyes met mine. She winked, like she knew exactly.

'Whaddya think? I did good, right?'

I gave her a quiet thumbs-up. 100 gold all to Jenella would wipe out her worries in one go.

But Jenella ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looked uneasy.

"Uh, Ashy?"

"Yeah?"

"I've never hunted monsters before…."

"No worries. I've done it. It's a jackpot chance! You gonna pass it up?"

"N-no, but…."

"Making big money ain't easy. Gotta risk the body when it counts. And our bodies are tough as hell anyway."

True that.

Ashy and I could snap wooden swords on our skin.

Jenella and Adria were mages, so squishier… but we'd cover 'em.

"…Yeah?"

"Right? This mission it is. Sis, register it? We're doing it now."

"Uh, yeah… w-well…."

The tattooed woman hesitated instead of jumping on it.

Ashy's smile deepened.

"Sis? Why not? Gotta act up like that day again?"

"N-no! B-but… it was reserved…."

"Reserved? Says none."

"It was… but timed out…."

"So it's free. Register it quick. Or I might really lose it?"

"B-but…."

The woman waved her hands frantically.

Ashy leaned in. I focused my hearing.

Caught the whisper to Ashy.

'The Arishion family reserved it…!'

Arishion family?

Where's that from?

"Adria. What's the Arishion family?"

"…?"

Adria gave me a you serious? look.

"The kid who glared at you in Basic Mana Lectures all the time? From Arishion."

Oh.

Right.

'No wonder the freakout.'

Arishion ain't some random house. One of just three ducal families on this massive continent!

Merc guild had pull, but zilch next to dukes.

A branch like this had to care.

Ashy? Didn't give a shit.

"So?"

"…Huh?"

"So?"

Ashy cocked her head.

"So what?"

"N-not that, but…."

"I want this mission. Or what,"

The woman gulped. Cold aura leaked from Ashy.

Icy blue mana filled the guild like a freezer.

Ashy kept smiling.

"You ignoring my rights right now?"

"Eeeeeek!"

"You crazy bitch! Accept the damn mission!"

"Ruuun! The psycho's flipping out again!"

Everyone—men, women—bolted like mad.

Ashy reeled in her mana. Sweet smile, chirpy voice.

"There. No one's watching. Accept it? Or I'll get sooo sad I flip?"

The woman laughed in defeat.

"Ha… haha… whatever."

Bam!

Mission accepted.

Guild turned into a wasteland, so we headed straight to the second-floor cafe.

Most customers spotted Ashy and bailed in panic.

"Gaaah!"

"…."

"…."

Ashy strolled to the counter cool as ever.

The part-timer deadpanned.

"What'll it be?"

"Four tall iced cafe mochas, heavy on mocha, extra whipped cream."

"Got it. Your total is…."

She ordered four coffees like nothing, grabbed a table.

Adria dragged soul-vacant Jenella to sit.

Eodukshini poked out from my pocket.

"Yeah. Scarier than me, even."

"Wanna go to her?"

I sat too.

Ashy waited till we were settled, pulled a map from her pocket.

"Our spot's here."

High-tech magic tool—finger tap zoomed it.

Ooh. Just like digital maps back on Earth.

She tapped the spot.

"Only one warp gate nearby, but it's close, so no sweat. Coffee and we're off."

"…Can I ask something?"

Jenella ventured, clutching her returned soul.

Ashy nodded with a soft smile.

"Of course."

"What'd you do to make everyone fear you like that?"

"Hmm. Before I hit top-tier mercenary…."

Ashy scratched her cheek sheepishly.

"They wouldn't accept my missions—said I wasn't ready—so I beat the crap outta everyone inside."

"…."

"Oh, tattoo sis too. Then HQ guys showed, same deal. Master cleaned up late and got me the mission."

"Who's your master?"

"Mercenary King Alex."

Jeez.

I knew jack about mercs, but the title screamed legend.

Mercenary King…

'Must be stacked.'

Mercs and knights differed.

Knights averaged stronger… but battle-hardened vets matched 'em.

A king among them? Prof level, maybe more.

'Wanna meet him.'

I glanced around.

Some customers lingered.

Barely detectable hostility if your senses sucked.

"Ashy."

"Yeah?"

"Wanna eat some eggs?"

"…In a cafe? Sure, why not."

"Adria? Jenella?"

"Huh? Me? Anything's fine."

"I-I might choke… no thanks…."

"Alright."

I shot up.

Lemme see.

Counter guy's long gone.

I bared my teeth at the 'customers' watching—monitoring us.

"Yo, uncles. Sunglasses indoors while spying on us? See shit through those?"

The words barely left my mouth—a dagger flew at my throat.

Thwick!