16
Chapter 16
I used the remaining money to prepare clothes and travel supplies.
Perhaps thanks to observing how Drek negotiated before, I managed to get decent items at a better price than expected.
To list the equipment I purchased one by one:
I bought a thin linen shirt separately to wear under the brigandine. It was an essential item to absorb sweat and prevent chafing.
I also prepared some underwear, a simple set to match the linen shirt, picking the best option among the cheap ones.
I felt extremely uncomfortable because I hadn't been able to change clothes since coming here. I could no longer compromise on hygiene.
I chose fingerless leather gloves considering the grip needed for handling tools, and selected pants made of a sturdier fabric than normal cloth.
Honestly, I wanted to buy leather pants, but my funds were too tight.
I could have used the boots I already had, but I packed an extra pair just in case they tore on the way.
The thick leather boots that covered my ankles seemed suitable for combat as well.
And my favorite purchase was a dark blue robe.
I liked that it could serve as both outerwear and a winter blanket, and that it could conceal my identity to some extent.
Above all, it looked cool. A robe is a must-have item for a magician.
Finally, I slung an old backpack over my shoulders.
Inside were travel supplies like food and a torch.
Even though I only packed the essentials, I let out an involuntary grunt when lifting it.
After gearing up, I had spent almost all the money I received....
Wouldn't this make me look somewhat like a veteran? Personally, I was quite satisfied.
Yeah. This is what a mercenary should look like.
Up until now, I looked no different from common thieves.
Honestly, there was one more thing I desperately wanted to get besides all this.
It was a helmet.
I had felt this to my bones throughout my past battles.
Rather than a blade swinging at me from the front, an arrow flying from an unknown direction was far more terrifying.
If an arrow flew in without a sound and hit a vital spot, that would be the end.
Magic or whatever, it would be a clean farewell from this world. There was no way I wouldn't be scared.
Dying is scary, but not knowing how you'll die is even more chilling.
However, perhaps because a helmet is mostly made of solid iron, the price was quite steep.
I definitely need to buy one after this request is over... No, wait. I should be taking requests without combat in the first place.
Seeing myself think like this, have I already become stained by the mercenary lifestyle?
My way of thinking is getting weirder.
The sun was still up on my way back, and people were swarming the market alleys.
The shouts of peddlers, the laughter of children, and the footsteps blending in between them.
This city was incredibly peaceful.
I pulled my robe down slightly and walked slowly through the crowd.
With the backpack hanging heavily on my back and the added equipment on my body, my movements felt more sluggish than before.
'Well, it's fine. I won't have to fight today anyway.'
...Or so I thought, but you never know what life has in store.
Just then, my shoulder brushed against someone.
My body swayed slightly, and the person gave a brief nod before quickly walking away.
In that instant, a chill ran down my spine.
I lowered my arm and felt around my waist.
The small leather pouch that should have been there was missing.
"...Huh?"
Before I could even make a sound, I reflexively spun around.
That bastard was already running through the crowd.
A shabby coat, quick feet, and practiced movements. He was probably a pro.
"Hah, seriously."
I let out a short sigh and immediately started running.
Pushing through the crowd while wearing a backpack was harder than I thought.
My body was heavy, my vision was narrow, and I kept bumping shoulders with people.
Fortunately, I had moved the ring from the small pouch to my inner pocket beforehand.
However, a few copper coins were still left in the pouch.
Even though it was a small amount, it was all the money I had right now.
It wouldn't be a disaster to lose it, but considering I had drenched myself in sweat for days to earn it.
It felt like the hard work I put in over those days was evaporating entirely.
He dashed through the market, stirring up a commotion, and at some point, swish- disappeared into an alleyway among the people.
Not wanting to miss the chance, I immediately threw myself into the gap.
The narrow, damp alley felt somewhat familiar.
It gave off the same vibe as the back alleys of the port I had seen a few days ago.
Due to the sunlight failing to cross the walls, the smell of damp earth lingered at the tip of my nose.
"Where did he go..."
I was just about to catch my breath and walk further inside.
"...That's some nice-looking armor."
A voice rang out.
At first, I thought they were talking to someone else.
But they weren't. The two men blocking my path chuckled at the same time.
"The armor, the bag. You don't need any of that here."
I silently scanned my surroundings.
There was no way to escape.
Another man was already blocking my rear, and the walls of the narrow alley were too high.
"You're a mercenary, right? Wandering around our turf is fine and all. But-"
With a snap, the guy snapped his fingers.
The man behind me slowly reached out his hand.
"Hey, why don't you hand over everything you have and leave?"
His voice was low, but a clear threat laced his words.
The man blocking my front even drew a knife.
'Was it a trap.'
I let out a quiet sigh.
...Right, this is what I get for walking into an alley without a second thought.
Blaming myself for the mistake, I gathered my mana.
It was at that moment.
"Are you bastards on your bullshit again?"
At the sound of the voice coming from the end of the alley, all three thugs froze.
One of the thugs, after checking who the voice belonged to, spoke with a trembling voice.
"It's that cr-crazy bitch...."
Light footsteps echoed through the alley.
A woman with red hair, wearing a cloak of the same color, slowly walked in.
Beneath the cloak, she wore dark-colored leather armor, and an old spear hung at her waist.
She stopped, briefly scanned the area, and opened her mouth in a low growl.
"Pulling a robbery while I'm in the city? Looks like I'll have to warm up my hands today."
The thugs hesitated for a moment, but eventually, one of them bolted first.
"Damn it, run!"
The rest began to flee right behind him.
...Should I run too?
She turned her head toward me.
"Are you okay?"
"...Yeah, well... You saved my life."
She gestured with her chin and said.
"Don't go into alleys from now on."
And then, she just continued on her way.
I couldn't help but stare at her back for a long time.
...How is she so cool.
Anyway, my money!
Those thug bastards ended up running away with it anyway!
In the end, I was the only one who took a loss.
"Sigh...."
I let out a small sigh and made my way out of the alley.
***
That evening.
I returned to my lodging, sat at the table, and was eating dinner.
On the other side, as usual, Barret brought his meal and was eating.
"Where did everyone else go?"
"Well, some guys go out to play at night... and some guys pass out early."
Barret familiarly dipped his bread deeply into the soup and put it in his mouth.
"I saw you geared up today... Did you find anything to your liking?"
"Yeah, it was alright."
Barret nodded and slurped his soup. He then set his bowl down, leaned back in his chair, and continued.
"Equipment, in the end, is what you stake your life on. Even if it's heavy and uncomfortable... you have to be able to trust it."
His words carried a weight that only someone who had survived the battlefield could hold.
I nodded silently and took a spoonful of soup.
As the salty broth wet my throat, the anger of falling victim to a pickpocket seemed to melt away a little.
Barret stared at my face again and went on.
"Now you've become a true mercenary. Soon, whenever you look in the mirror, you'll suddenly have this thought."
"What thought?"
Barret smiled and, this time, muttered quietly.
"That you survived another day. That kind of thought. It's funny at first... but later on, it becomes what you desperately wish for the most."
Hmm, is that so. As expected, I need to quit being a mercenary quickly.
"By the way, do you know much about this city?"
"Here? I wouldn't say I know it well, but I've stopped by a few times."
I should take this chance to ask some questions I was curious about.
"I saw a church in this city, what religion is it?"
"Religion? Well, naturally-"
He looked at my face for a moment as if it was strange, then continued as if he understood.
"You're a magician, right. Like most places, this city also worships 'El Sereon'. The church built in the square also belongs to the Sereon Order."
"Aha, so it's the Sereon religion."
El Sereon. If it's a god treated as common knowledge... I'd better remember it.
While I was at it, I asked about the god Baldic supposedly worshiped.
"Urusa? That's the first time I'm hearing that name. Could you mean 'Ulgran'? He is the god who presides over alcohol and festivals."
Ulgran? Was that the name.
The name I had only faintly remembered felt like it was finally clicking into place.
The fact that this guy knows him too means Ulgran isn't just some obscure minor god.
In that case... it means Baldic was a priest of a fairly well-known god.
Thinking about it like that, it actually made less sense to me.
'Would a person like that get caught making booze with holy water?'
Well, I just decided to give up on figuring it out.
Changing the subject and throwing out minor questions, I suddenly remembered the woman I saw in the alley.
"Then by any chance, do you also know a woman with red hair holding a spear?"
"Red hair and a spear...."
At my question, Barret set his cup down. His eyes grew just a tiny bit sharper.
"...Exactly one person comes to mind."
"Who is it?"
"Calcia. She's a Gold Token mercenary. I've briefly seen her face in the past as well."
"Gold Token... She must be an incredible person."
"Incredible would be an understatement. Her spear skills are one thing, but her aura is on another level. It's to the point where enemies take a step back just seeing Calcia's face."
"Then... why would that woman come here?"
Barret shrugged his shoulders.
"Who knows what a Gold Token mercenary is up to. They get dragged into kingdom wars as long as they're hired. A city like this... she might have just stopped by while passing through."
"Isn't Mr. Taren a Silver Token too?"
"That's true, but even though it seems like just a one-rank difference, a Gold Token is on a completely different level. From that point on, they don't raise their rank, they just add achievements to their token. You can consider them people who have already reached the top."
At those words, the scene I had just encountered at the entrance of the alley came to mind.
The way she overwhelmed those thugs with just her aura definitely made her look strong.
"...Did you actually meet that woman in person?"
At my question, Barret furrowed his brows once.
"Yeah, I think so."
"My god. It's a miracle you're still alive."
Barret let out a small sigh.
His expression was dead serious.
A faint sense of fear flashed across the face of the seasoned Silver Token mercenary who had been through so much.
"If you had rubbed her the wrong way, you could have died right then and there. She is... famous for having a nasty temper."
Wait, didn't she save me?
If so... did she intentionally let me off the hook?
Or maybe, she just wasn't interested.
"Among mercenaries, her nickname is a mad dog, and even her official Guild title is the Blood Princess."
A mad dog for a nickname? Looks like she really was a crazy bitch.
Besides, with a reputation like that... I should be more careful from now on.
No, avoiding her entirely would be for the best.
"What is a title?"
"When you earn a Gold Token, the Guild gives you a separate name. Well, it's like a nickname."
"Ah, are titles usually that bad?"
Blood Princess.
Translated literally, it would be something like 'Princess of Blood'.
The name itself is quite brutal.
"Of course not all of them are like that. Most follow their characteristics. Like Sword Emperor, Wealth, or Black Spear."
"I see."
So it's like the titles you only see in games.
It felt a bit childish at first, but it's a different story if it's a name earned through skill.
I guess there's romance in its own way in this world too.
"Then you must not have a title, Mr. Barret."
"Well, Silver Tokens like us usually decide for ourselves, or the people around us give us one."
"Then, what is your title, Mr. Barret?"
"Well, it's a bit embarrassing... but I'm called the Strong Sword."
"Strong Sword? Does that mean a powerful sword?"
"Yes... Well, when I was young, I swung it relying only on my strength. I can't do it well now because my elbows ache, though."
Barret shrugged his shoulders awkwardly and laughed.
For saying that, he outwardly looked to be in his thirties.
Is that considered old by the standards here?
Anyway, Strong Sword... It's not bad, but it feels like a hastily made-up nickname.
"Still, it's better than nothing. You need to have at least one thing for your comrades to remember you by."
"Then for me... Canteen? Something like that?"
"Um... Try to think of something a bit cooler. Please."
I chuckled at those words.
Maybe someday, I'll also earn a name worth remembering by someone?
***
After finishing my meal as usual, I returned to my room, lay down on the bed, and fell into thought.
'What should I do after the request is over?'
I haven't really thought about a goal.
In the end, I thought I needed to organize my thoughts a bit.
Right now, I'm just busy trying to make a living, doing whatever falls in front of me... but this can't go on forever.
Because a life where surviving is everything will become hollow at some point.
So, I'm thinking of setting a goal, but honestly, nothing comes to mind.
What is usually the goal when you possess someone in a fantasy world? Become the strongest and save the world?
Honestly, it sounds cool, but that's a bit far from who I am. The world seems fine in the first place, anyway.
In my current position, the thing I'm most curious about is what this body used to do.
Being in a prison, the way people reacted... it's clear there was some sort of problem.
If I move around without properly knowing what it is, it might come back to bite my ankles someday.
On top of that, the Blue Magic Tower.
A tower for magicians that sounds like a big deal just by the name.
If I was really someone who belonged to a place like that, shouldn't there be at least one thing left behind?
Even if it's just out of curiosity, I should go there at least once.
Next are Drek and Baldic... Honestly, we only traveled together for a few days, but I keep thinking about them.
They might have used me since we were all prisoners, but at least they didn't abandon me.
Moving together until the end in that situation... they must have been sincere to some extent.
I don't know where they went, but if I get the chance later, I want to look for them at least once.
If we meet, I'll ask them to go beat up Dardan and the broker together.
After organizing my thoughts to some extent, sleepiness rushed in.
As the drowsiness set in, the goal that came to mind first, but which I had half given up on, lingered in my head.
I must....
I must... go back.......