{Mercenary} 3

Translator : Elizabeth

The entrance of the abandoned mine, the location of the request, was agape like a black maw.

Every time a bleak wind blew, the smell of rotting wood and rust mixed together and stung the nose.

Eight mercenaries set foot here.

"Ugh, what an unpleasant place."

Tom shuddered and muttered.

It was as he said.

This place, which would have once been filled with the vitality of miners, had now become a nest for demonic beasts.

"Stay alert. From here on, it's their den."

Team Leader Hans warned in a low voice.

A sword was already in his hand before anyone noticed.

Other team members also took out their respective weapons and formed a formation.

Crack—.

Kang Jin-ho stood at the very front, the vanguard, and lightly loosened up his body.

The vanguard was the most dangerous position, but no one raised an objection to him, a young boy, standing at the front.

Because the strongest shield and spear here was Kang Jin-ho.

"Let's go."

Kang Jin-ho moved his steps calmly.

As soon as they entered the darkness, red eyes flashed as if they had been waiting.

"Kieeeek!"

A swarm of bats poured down from the ceiling.

They weren't simple bats.

It was a swarm of 'Blood Bats,' vampire bats with a wingspan reaching 1 meter.

"Damn it! It's Blood Bats! Defensive stance, everyone!"

Hans shouted.

Blood Bats were weak individually, but they ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were terrifying creatures; if dozens attacked at once and sucked blood, even an Ogre would be sucked dry.

It was when the mercenaries were about to hurriedly raise their shields.

Kwaaang—!

Kang Jin-ho, who was at the front, punched toward the empty air.

He didn't strike anything.

He merely cut through the air, but an overwhelming wind pressure burst out like a cannon.

"Kieeek?"

The swarm of bats rushing in bounced off as if they had hit an invisible wall.

The ones at the front were swept up in the wind pressure and exploded without a trace.

"W-What?"

The mercenaries behind him opened their mouths blankly.

Kang Jin-ho shook his fist as if it were nothing.

"Since they're small and fast, it's actually annoying to catch them. It's better to just push them away with wind."

"……."

Hans swallowed dry saliva.

Pushing them away with wind. Is that as easy as it sounds?

But the result was clear.

More than half of the dozens of bats were annihilated with a single punch, and the rest were scared off and fled.

"Let's go."

Kang Jin-ho moved his steps again as if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nothing had happened.

The expressions of the mercenaries following him were complex.

Awe, relief, and… greed.

'Really incredible skill.'

'He's truly useful….'

The exploration was smooth.

No, it was beyond smooth; it was boring.

"Kiiiiii!"

The interior of the abandoned mine was tangled like a maze, and demonic beasts popped out from everywhere.

Giant Worms bursting out through the walls.

Venomous Giant Scorpions.

But not a single demonic beast survived after blocking Kang Jin-ho's path.

"Get lost."

Thwack!

The head of a Giant Worm burst open.

"Move."

Crunch!

The hard carapace of a Giant Scorpion crumpled like a sheet of paper.

"Uh…."

"Those things go down that easily?"

Kang Jin-ho was truly a moving disaster.

Hans and the team members just had to pick up the magic stones dropped where Kang Jin-ho passed or guide the way.

"This… is too easy? Hahaha!"

Tom giggled.

His pockets were already thick with magic stones butchered from the monster corpses.

"You said it. Jin-ho, that guy is a real monster."

Bern also nodded in admiration.

"As expected, he's not a guy who will stay with guys like us for long."

The tone of Hans saying that was strangely dark.

How far had they gone like that?

Finally, the end of the path came into view.

A massive steel door blocked their way.

Vines and moss were thickly covering the door, but its magnificence remained unchanged.

And the final gatekeeper guarding the front of the door.

"It's a Golem!"

A giant doll in human form made of rock.

The guardian said to be made in ancient times, a Golem.

Among them, it looked like a Stone Golem.

The Stone Golem was over 5 meters tall and held a flail the size of a house in one hand.

"Kuuoooo…."

Red light came into the eyes of the Stone Golem as it detected the intruders.

At that intimidation, the mercenaries flinched and stepped back.

Swords or spears wouldn't work on such an ignorant lump.

It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had to be destroyed with only overwhelming physical force, or there had to be a wizard, but they didn't have a wizard.

"Jin-ho! That's dangerous! Without a wizard…."

Hans tried to shout, but Kang Jin-ho was already running out.

"If it's rock, I just have to smash it!"

Kang Jin-ho chose a frontal breakthrough.

The Stone Golem swung its flail.

The sound of it cutting the wind was terrible.

Power that would turn one into pulp just by grazing.

"Hmph!"

But Kang Jin-ho didn't dodge.

No, instead of dodging, he dug in.

Kwaaang!

The flail struck the ground, raising dust.

In that gap, Kang Jin-ho had already dug into the Stone Golem's embrace.

"Uppercut!"

Kang Jin-ho's fist struck up under the Golem's chin.

Bang—!

A massive impact sound rang through the abandoned mine.

Surprisingly, the Golem with a massive 5-meter body floated backward into the air.

The rock chin crumbled, and sparks flew from the neck connection joint.

"This is the end!"

Before the airborne Golem could fall, Kang Jin-ho leaped.

A critical blow delivered by twisting his waist and putting the weight of his whole body into it.

The straight punch accurately struck the Golem's chest, the core where the power source was located.

Kwaaaaang!

With an explosion sound, the Golem's chest was pierced.

The heavy body shattered into pieces and flew backward, crashing into the steel door.

Kugugung!

Due to the impact, even the firmly closed steel door opened with a roar.

It was a natural result since numerous rock fragments struck it with strong physical force.

"……."

Silence flowed.

Kang Jin-ho walked out from within the dust cloud.

His clothes were a bit dirty, but he was in pristine condition without a single scratch.

"The door opened too. Let's go in."

Kang Jin-ho grinned and gestured.

Only then did the mercenaries, coming to their senses, run over cheering.

"Wooooow! Awesome! Is this for real?"

"That Golem in two hits? Wow, Jin-ho, you're really a god, a god!"

"We will serve you as our big brother! Uhahaha!"

Tom and Bern hit Kang Jin-ho's shoulder and made a fuss.

Hans also approached and patted Kang Jin-ho's back.

"Good work, Jin-ho. Thanks to you, we survived."

"Don't mention it. Now we just need to grab the treasure and it's over, right?"

Kang Jin-ho smiled broadly.

His heart fluttered at the thought that suffering was over and happiness was beginning.

'If I go back from here, I can get an identity right away, right?'

The party entered the open door.

It was indeed a treasure warehouse.

Gold, silver, and treasures were piled up like mountains everywhere.

Gold coins, gems, ancient accessories….

The sight reflecting the torchlight was so dazzling it felt blinding.

And in the corner of the room, there was a small box containing the 'Family Seal' the client had requested.

It seemed the Golem or demonic beast that dealt with intruders had regarded it as a trophy and placed it among the treasures.

"Oh my god…."

"How much is all this?"

The mercenaries' eyes rolled back.

This was an amount where they could buy a manor and act as lords, not just retire.

Bern sat on the floor, picking up gold coins, and sobbed.

"My daughter… Daddy did it… our suffering is over now…."

"Me too… I'm a bakery owner now too!"

Tom also shoved gems into his pockets like a madman.

Kang Jin-ho watched that scene with satisfaction.

He felt good at the thought of securing his share too.

"Jin-ho."

At that moment, Hans called him.

He was securing the box containing the seal on the dais.

"Yes, Team Leader."

"Can you come here and look at this? The box isn't opening well."

"Ah, really? Should I use some strength?"

Kang Jin-ho walked toward the dais without much suspicion.

He beat a Golem to death; would he not be able to open a mere box?

He approached defenselessly, showing his back to Hans.

He walked carefully because right behind the dais was a cliff with no visible bottom.

"Let's see. Is it because it's rusted…."

It was the moment Kang Jin-ho reached out for the box.

Thwack!

He detected an attack flying toward him.

'Huh?'

Kang Jin-ho flinched for a moment.

However, he didn't go out of his way to dodge.

'Betrayal?'

It was to verify if his guess was correct.

A strong impact was felt from behind his back.

The sensation of a sharp blade stabbing his back.

'It's useless, but….'

But there was no pain.

A body that bounces off even a Troll's club couldn't possibly be pierced by a mere piece of metal.

Far from piercing Kang Jin-ho's back muscles, the blade tip only tore his clothes and slid as soon as it touched the skin.

'Don't tell me it's really betrayal?'

Before he could even grasp the situation, rough breathing was heard from behind his back.

It was Hans.

Flustered that the blade didn't go in, he put his whole weight into pushing Kang Jin-ho.

"You… monster bastard! Die!"

Behind the dais was a thousand-gil cliff.

Kang Jin-ho's body stumbled from the pushing force.

It was because he intentionally relaxed his legs.

'This… as expected, is betrayal.'

In an instant, his mind cooled down.

Disbelief came before anger.

He could have just turned around and snapped Hans's neck.

But Kang Jin-ho stopped.

'Don't tell me it's Hans's sole decision?'

It couldn't be, but what if the other colleagues didn't know?

At least Mister Bern or Brother Tom might not be involved.

Lingering attachment remained.

He wanted to check that foolish belief he liked, saying it smelled like people.

"Aaaagh!"

Kang Jin-ho screamed intentionally and threw his body.

He pretended to lose his balance after being stabbed and fall, acting it out.

But Kang Jin-ho was already disappearing below the cliff.

Since it was inside a dungeon, it was dark and couldn't be seen anyway.

Shooooom—.

Kang Jin-ho, falling into darkness, quickly twisted his body.

He thrust his hand into the middle of the cliff.

Bang!

Kang Jin-ho shoved one hand into the rock wall.

Thanks to his immense grip strength, the fall stopped.

Then he placed the other hand on the rock wall.

He pierced the rock wall with the grip strength of his fingers and hung there.

"Haa, haa…."

Hans's rough breathing could be heard from above the cliff.

"Did he fall?"

"Yes, it's certain. I heard a scream, and even if he's a monster impervious to blades, he won't survive from this height."

Hans answered.

And the voices that followed.

"Phew… that's a relief. That monster guy, I was nervous when the blade really didn't go in."

It was Tom's voice.

That voice, which was trembling just a moment ago saying he would serve him as a big brother, now contained despicable betrayal.

"You said it. Thinking of my daughter, we have to take that guy's share too. It was too much, a waste to share, wasn't it?"

This was Bern.

That daughter-fool mister who showed the family photo and shed tears.

"Giggle, serves him right. Acting up as if he was something. I told you he's a guy from a different world than us anyway. He deserves to die."

"Looking at his skill, looks like some well-off family's son was playing around."

"Right. I bet inside he was laughing at us for being lowly scum."

Ugly conversations to rationalize their dirty betrayal went back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and forth.

"Hey, pack it up quickly. Let's exclude the Captain's share and divide the rest among ourselves. We can just tell the client he died fighting a monster."

"And that corpse was thrown down the cliff along with the noble sir who tried to conquer this place, right?"

"Being buried with a noble sir, isn't it an honor? Hahaha!"

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes.

A hollow laugh burst out in the darkness.

"Ha."

Sole decision?

Delusion?

Misunderstanding?

'It was bullshit.'

Everyone was in on it.

While he was fighting monsters here, no, from even before that, it was a planned betrayal.

They were sharpening their knives behind his back, waiting only for him to show it.

'Smells like people, my ass.'

It reeked of rot.

The disgusting smell of a group of humans soaked in desire.

The romance in the Romance Fantasy novels he read on Earth didn't exist.

This place was a world of thorough survival of the fittest.

A wild where if you had no power, no wits, and trusted people, it was natural to die.

'I was stupid.'

Kang Jin-ho bit his lip.

Suddenly falling into an unfamiliar place, he wasn't rational.

He should have absolutely never trusted anyone.

Hatred toward himself and murderous intent toward the bastards giggling up there boiled up simultaneously.

"Right. So this is the rule of this field?"

Then I will play along.

Survival of the fittest?

Fine.

I am the strong, and you are the weak.

'Then you will have nothing to say even if I, the strong one, trample on you.'

Kang Jin-ho put strength into his fingers embedded in the rock wall.

Crack.

The rock broke and fell as powder.

Simultaneously, he placed his feet on the rock wall and kicked off in a single breath.