Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Red Bear Mercenary Corps (1)
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‘My goodness…….’
The mercenary group hired by the Western Magic Tower turned out to be the Red Bear Mercenary Corps.
Why hadn’t I anticipated that? Roshan was their main base too.
‘Come to think of it, there are barbarians and beastkin mixed in…….’
Right. The Red Bear Mercenary Corps was a place that didn’t discriminate by birth and only valued pure skill. I remembered reading that in the game description.
It hadn’t been that long since we parted ways, but they’d already expanded their forces this much and gained enough strength to take on a commission from the Western Magic Tower……
‘Scary guy.’
I awkwardly returned Jamil’s beaming smile, averting my eyes.
“Jamil. Never thought I’d run into you here.”
“Haha! I meant to contact you once we settled in, but things have been so hectic.”
“……Yeah, I can see that.”
Indeed, the current Red Bear Mercenary Corps looked quite a far cry from the infamous one I knew.
‘For starters, it’s a total mess. Utter chaos.’
I slowly backed away, avoiding Jamil’s booming laughter and the mercenaries staring at me with keen interest.
-Thud!
Until Jamil grabbed my shoulder—hard, really hard.
“A druid, I thought? And it’s you!”
“Ha…… haha.”
“Let’s celebrate this joyous coincidence from Belek!”
Before I could react, I was forcibly seated at a table.
Wait, how did an empty table appear in a dining hall that was packed just moments ago?
“Rob! Beer! Oh, and sand bull roast too!”
“Jamil, I’m full…….”
Total lie. I was starving to the point of collapse. But I had no desire to eat with Jamil under the hot gazes of these mercenaries.
-Murmur murmur.
-Did you hear? Calling Captain Azar ‘Jamil.’
-To think someone would dare use that name……
-He might look like that, but he’s actually insanely strong, right?
-Whisper whisper.
I can hear everything. Every word.
Ignoring my discomfort, Jamil shoved a beer mug my way. One bigger than his own head!
“Come on! Now spill the tale. Theo, your adventures becoming the greatest druid!”
“……Greatest druid?”
“Yeah! The mages said there’s a top druid, so the Death Swamp will be no problem.”
“That’s…….”
“The Archfoe of Purification! Baby Saint!”
“……All wrong. Saint of Purification, Archfoe of Evil.”
“Oh, way off then. Hahaha!”
Jamil burst into laughter, and the surrounding mercenaries followed suit. What do these guys even know to laugh about?
“Anyway, enough about me. Jamil, you’ve already grown your mercenary corps enough to take on such a dangerous commission?”
“Hmm, you could say that.”
“It’s been less than a year. How?”
“Haha. Well, I blinked, and here we are.”
“…….”
No need to hear the details—I could guess.
He’d probably scouted and trained barbarians and beastkin, despised across the continent, based solely on talent.
‘Some even have slave tattoos, so he really took in whoever he could find.’
Barbarians were treated like scum, but beastkin faced even worse—they weren’t even seen as human, just hunted or enslaved.
‘And he took them in too.’
I recalled old game community speculation about the Red Bear’s captain.
‘Arturo Azar might be a half-beastkin bear hybrid.’
Jamil certainly boasted a massive 2-meter frame and inhumanly perfect musculature.
‘Taking in beastkin like that…… maybe the rumor’s true.’
In the future, the Red Bear Mercenary Corps would face Roshan’s scrutiny as the barbarians and beastkin grew too powerful.
‘He should be preparing countermeasures.’
I worried if this idiot even knew the word ‘preparation.’
He’s a good guy, but……
I downed my beer to push away my complicated thoughts.
“Now your turn, Theo. What’s with those cringey titles?”
Jamil chuckled, tearing into a succulent sand bull rib.
“……Various commissions piled up, and it just happened.”
I gave a plain, concise rundown of events since parting with Jamil.
“You killed a demon?!”
“No, sent it back.”
“Killing demons! My training paid off!”
……This guy still doesn’t listen properly.
I’m exhausted. No point correcting him now—I focused on the sand bull roast.
The crispy, glossy brown meat reignited my forgotten hunger. I sprinkled my herbs, black salt, and white pepper over it, sliced a big piece, and shoved it in my mouth.
The overflowing sweet juices melted away my fatigue and hunger. Nice. Shall I try the roasted potatoes too? Ah, kimchi would make it perfect.
“By the way, Theo.”
Jamil, having demolished a whole sand bull rib rack, wiped his mouth and spoke. What? He never talks while eating.
“Who’s that girl?”
Jamil nodded subtly toward El.
Sharp eyes, as expected.
El was dressed in a way anyone would mistake her for a boy: short hair, skin tanned black from life in Rabata, plus scars and wounds from training.
Yet he spotted it right away.
“Her name’s El. An orphan I picked up in the Cursed Lands.”
“Orphan? You took in an orphan?”
“Is it that surprising? Thought she’d make a good squire substitute.”
Jamil roared with laughter again, as if it was the funniest thing.
Better make introductions. I beckoned El over.
“El, say hello. This is Jamil. An old comrade of mine.”
“Hello, sir!”
“What a spirited voice! Great! Nice to meet you!”
Jamil grabbed El’s hand for a shake—or rather, shook it vigorously one-sidedly.
‘Wait. If I play this right…….’
An idea sparked as I watched them. A brilliant one!
“Jamil.”
“Yeah?”
“If it’s okay, could you train El until we enter the Death Swamp?”
“Train her?”
“Yeah. I’ll pay whatever you want.”
“Hmm…….”
Jamil stroked his chin, eyeing me and El alternately.
Is he going to refuse?
Makes sense……
He’s busy just managing his own corps……
“Sure.”
……My worries were unfounded; Jamil answered brightly and decisively.
“Thanks. As a druid, I’ve been feeling my limits teaching El. If you take over, I’d be relieved…….”
“But I have a condition.”
“Name it. Gold?”
“Nah.”
Jamil grinned at me.
This feels ominous.
“Spar with me.”
“……Sigh.”
I’d momentarily forgotten he’s a massive battle maniac.
Yeah, hearing about my new titles including ‘greatest druid’ must have him itching for a fight.
I clutched my throbbing head.
‘Just endure once, and El’s training is free…….’
As I’d told him, I was starting to feel inadequate teaching El.
She grew so fast, and I’m a druid, not a warrior.
You can’t raise a lion with deer methods.
‘Long-term, it’s a great deal. Just one spar.’
Even if against the famous Red Bear captain.
“……Fine.”
I nodded.
This is an investment.
Saves money too—total win.
‘Why am I already tired…….’
I sighed deeply and finished eating amid the rowdy dining hall.
* * *
The day of the showdown arrived.
‘I’ve prepared, but winning? Doubtful.’
Well, losing’s fine anyway.
The duel itself was the condition.
To avoid Magic Tower notice, we headed to a small forest nearby for secrecy.
“Master. Are you really okay?”
“Don’t worry.”
El, anxious since that day and barely sleeping, had dark circles under her eyes.
Fair enough.
Her opponent was the captain of the rising Red Bear Mercenary Corps in Roshan.
Even without ranks, my odds were objectively low.
But.
Would I just throw a fight?
Never.
Unlike Jamil, I was cunning. And pretty underhanded.
At the clearing—too shabby for an ‘arena’—I pulled out pre-prepared flags.
“Theo, what’s that?”
Innocent Jamil showed curiosity.
“Jamil, the commission starts soon. Hurting each other would be idiotic, right?”
“Well…….”
“Not refusing the duel. Just a fair one.”
“……Go on.”
I smiled slyly and handed him a red flag. Jamil looked displeased but took it.
“If you’re truly strong, you don’t need much to prove it. Agree?”
“…….”
“Victory condition: one. Steal each other’s flag.”
“Flags?”
“Yeah. Broken or stolen flag means defeat. Simple.”
“Any means, as long as you take it?”
“Exactly.”
I leisurely waved my green flag.
“You’ll think it’s easy, but it won’t be. Made from fragile aspen branches. Protecting something while fighting—you know how tough that is.”
“……Hmm.”
“How about it? Up for the challenge?”
Silent for a moment, Jamil grinned back.
“Protect the flag, steal theirs. Anything else goes?”
“…….”
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
One slip, and something breaks or tears.
‘But I’ve planned for this.’
I swallowed dryly and nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Great. Let’s start.”