Chapter 16
Several days had passed since we conquered the Red Evil Mercenaries' dungeon. In that time, we didn't head off anywhere else and instead hunkered down briefly at the lord's castle in Hildenheim territory's capital.
It wasn't like we had some specific business or were mooching off them or anything. It was just...
"We're doing this out of gratitude, pure gratitude. You solved the problem that popped up in our territory, so we have to repay you properly, right?"
"But Sierra, we already got the commission fee."
"Pfft, you think that's enough? We're nobles, you know. We have our pride—we can't just let our benefactors walk away empty-handed."
Sierra and the Hildenheim count family had insisted on it. Repaying a benefactor is the duty of a noble, or something like that? They were already dealing with headaches from that death sorcerer's dungeon we'd cleared on their request. By handling it for them, we'd let them save face and eliminate the territory's instability. Sending us off with just the fee would've earned them mockery from other nobles.
Plus, the territory was booming lately, drawing adventurers from all over and causing all sorts of issues. Our presence was actually helping out quite a bit. Specifically, the adventurers flooding in were causing fewer incidents.
Rapid territorial growth came with boons, sure, but plenty of drawbacks too. The biggest problem was public safety. Adventurers wandering around armed to the teeth, packing decent strength? Trouble was inevitable.
Not everyone's good or righteous. Adventurers are the same—selfish jerks, selfless good guys, the whole mix. Every day, hot-blooded idiots were sparking fights and mishaps all over the territory... until we started staying at the lord's castle, showing our faces at the guild, and picking up a quest here and there. Things changed fast.
The riffraff couldn't even straighten their backs anymore. Even the cocky ones who thought they were hot shit tucked tail after a few beatdowns, slinking off to hide in corners like whipped dogs. And at the center of it all, naturally...
"What're you staring at, you fuck? Wanna die? Eyes down, asshole. You wanna try me again?"
"N-no... Sorry."
"I remember your face. Catch you causing shit around town, and you're dead. Got it?"
"Y-yes, sir!"
There was our Bella, whose temper was second to none if she took offense.
Bella might look a bit rough around the edges, but she's drop-dead gorgeous. Her body's provocatively built to match that fierce face, so of course she draws every guy's gaze wherever she goes. Especially in an adventurer guild full of hormone-fueled meatheads—plenty tried to catch her eye.
At the count family's request, she'd swing by the guild for an hour or two during peak hours, and sure enough, posers would show off to impress her... only to get crushed in her hands. Real deal or not? Didn't matter. Same result.
Even now, that gold-badge adventurer who'd been a big shot in his old town strutted up, smitten by her looks and eager to flex. Ended up with a swollen face, black eyes, busted lips drooling spit as he nodded frantically.
The poor bastard bragged he was top-three in his previous guild, rattling off achievements... Pitiful guy. Shouldn't have messed with Bella.
"Fine, get lost."
"Yes, ma'am! Thanks!"
"Ma'am my ass. Scram."
Bella waved him off dismissively, and he bolted. But as he scurried away, she called him back like she'd remembered something.
"Hey, wait! You little shit!"
"Y-yes?!"
"Today's beating sucked ass, so come find me at the lord's castle later. Ask for the Fist Princess."
"N-no, I couldn't possibly..."
"Suit yourself. Whatever. Beat it."
Dina and I were watching the whole thing. Dina had reverted to her child form after absorbing the blessing in the dungeon—back from that mature big-sis vibe to her usual kid self while I was out cold. The reason popped up as a message window when I came to.
Conductor's mental strength has reached its limit.
Conductor's unconsciousness confirmed.
Blessing absorption will be released shortly.
Checking the system window in the corner of my vision afterward, I saw a new skill: Absorption.
No matter how I sliced it, my role screamed supporter. But this Absorption skill... why'd it have to be that one? Couldn't it have been Release or something? Not that I'm complaining—just a nitpick. Compared to the old days, what right do I have to gripe?
The real issue was how to use it. This skill burned through my mental strength. Sense-sharing with Cheong-ah or body-sharing with Bella barely touched it. But absorbing Dina's blessing? Five points per minute, as noted. With 300 total, max 50 minutes. No way around it—without boosting mental strength or cutting the risk, daily growth for Dina was off the table.
Luckily, she got it. Waking up to see her small again... she didn't blame me, but I felt guilty as hell anyway.
One odd thing: The message window that appeared for Cheong-ah back then never showed for Dina. Why? No clue, no way to find out. Maybe no alert for Absorption, or my blackout messed with it?
Anyway, brushing off the guilt... what really bugged me was the option to burn 10 magic stones for a "system function." No idea what that meant, so I held off. But 10 stones? Not like they're cheap candy. This damn ability only slurps up the purest, highest-grade ones. Painful.
...And why'd the magic stones suddenly increase by 24 anyway? That was the lingering question.
Pondering how to spend them, little-girl Dina tugged my sleeve.
"Yeonja, that beast handles her duties quite well."
I shrugged at her words.
"Eh, it's what Bella does best."
Beat the cocky. Beat the rowdy. Beat whatever pisses her off. She's specialized in beatdowns. Weak? Charge hard. Strong? Charge harder. Doesn't matter who— she dives in headfirst. Probably the same even against superiors. Classic Bella.
"Indeed. For beasts, hierarchy is everything, after all."
"Don't say that to her face."
"Hmph. That one calls this body 'brat' anyway—what's it matter?"
"Still, no picking fights. You're a good girl, right, Dina?"
"...Very well. If Yeonja insists, this body shall endure."
I ruffled her hair, and she bashfully ducked her head. As we chatted, Bella spotted us and approached with a grin.
"What're you two doing here? Thought you were skipping quests today."
"What else? Just came to check on you."
"Oh yeah? What's with the sweet talk?"
"Sweet? C'mon..."
We bantered with her a bit when...
"Lady Bella! Lady Bella, are you here?!"
The guild's main gate burst open as someone yelled for her. Hearing the familiar name, I peeked out curiously. It was a guy I recognized.
"Huh?"
One of the butlers from Sierra's household—we'd crossed paths at the castle. Name was...
"Herron? What's up?"
I stuck my head out and asked. Spotting me, he rushed over frantically.
"Ah, Ian! Is Lady Bella with you by chance?"
Bella turned, puzzled.
"Huh? Why me?"
"A letter arrived."
"Letter? For me? From who?"
"Here it is."
Herron handed it over. Bella glanced at the envelope's writing, and her face lit up.
"Oh, it's from Karlson?"
"Karlson?"
"Yeah, from my mercenary band. Red Evil Mercenaries. He's the vice-captain..."
"Oh, that old guy?"
...What'd he look like again? And Red Evil Mercenaries? Naming sense is wild. I couldn't recall his face but played it off, and Bella nodded happily.
"Yep, that's him. Wonder why he's writing now? Haven't heard squat lately. Heh. Hold on."
She tore it open eagerly, eyes scanning the contents. Then...
Her eyes flashed, face hardening coldly as she spat,
"...The fuck is this bullshit?"