Chapter 26
Chapter 26
When you go to another world, it’s “common sense” to receive a cheat ability, right?
“Red Wolf Mercenary Company.”
“…Huh?”
“That’s right, isn’t it? That emblem—I can see it clearly up close.”
The moment I confirmed the emblem right in front of me,
my memory reacted first.
It had simply been forgotten,
but the name had never once disappeared from within me.
[Red Wolf Mercenary Company]
…
When I first fell into this damned other world,
like the cliché opening of a web novel, I expected a cheerful [Ding—!] sound and a status window that only I possessed to appear.
Or at least some hidden power within me that could protect everyone,
or a miraculous encounter like in martial arts novels.
I firmly believed I would become a legendary savior, revered by all.
But—
reality was brutally cold, dry, and malicious.
A status window?
A broken cheat ability?
Some hidden power unique to me?
Bullshit.
None of that existed.
If anything, maybe it was the extreme stress of being dragged into this place,
but I started occasionally seeing strange hallucinations—or things that weren’t there—
and my body felt even weaker than before.
…
Even so, I didn’t give up.
After all, I was someone who had lived in the 21st century.
‘That’s right! I have the great knowledge of modern Earth! I’ll show them the gap in civilization!’
I boldly tried to make modern tools and strike it rich.
I drew blueprints on the ground with a stick and passionately explained them, veins bulging in my neck—
but the blacksmith just snorted.
“Are you insane? Even dwarves can’t make that kind of thing!”
There wasn’t even a single standardized screw.
The metal of this era was crude, the tools were inaccurate, and all standards were based on guesswork.
All I got in return was the threat of a red-hot pair of tongs.
…
I realized it painfully.
The “modern civilization” I had taken for granted—
wasn’t something that could be recreated with the knowledge inside a single person’s head.
It was the result of foundational industries built over time with blood and sweat,
and a vast interconnected infrastructure of systems all working together.
‘Th-Then business! If I use modern marketing knowledge…!’
…
The problem was simple.
No capital.
No credibility.
No one backing me.
In this world, someone like that doesn’t even get a chance to speak.
Instead, I was dragged off by merchants, accused of peddling nonsense, beaten, and thrown into the mud.
No one believed me.
Everyone looked at me like I was crazy.
When my head was smashed against the massive wall of reality,
and I was pushed to the brink of starving to death—
to survive,
I chose the path most protagonists in otherworld stories take:
becoming a mercenary.
And so, the place I went to was the <Red Wolf Mercenary Company>.
Why did I choose that place?
There was no internet.
No convenient information network.
Not even a guide catalog.
The crooked, worn-out signboard just…
looked cool.
That was it.
“Alright, your limbs are intact… can you at least read a little? Actually, even if you can’t, it’s fine. Start working today.”
The small mercenary group, suffering from a lack of manpower, gladly accepted even someone like me.
That’s why—
without realizing it,
I deluded myself into thinking I might become something here.
…
“Damn, this longsword is heavy as hell.”
After swinging the sword a few times in the air, my arm quickly grew heavy.
Of course.
There was no flash of light or system window appearing the moment I held a sword.
No hidden power awakening.
For a modern man who had never properly held a sword in his life—
the tasks assigned to me were simple:
scrubbing off unidentifiable stains stuck to the mercenary dorm floor,
peeling mountains of potatoes every morning,
and handling miscellaneous errands.
That was my reality in this other world, with no abilities.
…
One day, clutching my blistered hands,
silently swallowing tears as I wondered why I had been dragged into this miserable world just to peel potatoes—
“Puhahaha!! Hey! What kind of man peels potatoes so delicately?!”
A woman appeared, laughing heartily as she slapped my back hard enough to break my spine.
Long red hair.
Eyes blazing like fire.
A personality rougher and louder than most male mercenaries around her.
She was the leader of the Red Wolf Mercenary Company, returning from a mission.
Apparently, the company’s cool name came from her fiery red hair and fierce eyes.
…
“Hey, Nasus! The stew you made is insanely good! You should just be our cook for life! Hahaha!”
The leader slammed down an empty bowl, chuckling.
“…You’re telling me to spend my life doing kitchen work in a mercenary group?”
“Why? Or do you want to take a few coins and head straight into a battlefield?”
“…Ah… that sounds… extremely terrifying.”
Seeing my horrified reaction, she grinned.
“Right? If you don’t want to be a cook, want to be my husband instead?”
“…Huh?”
My mind went blank for a moment.
“Puhahahaha! That’s the dumbest expression I’ve ever seen on you!!”
She laughed wildly, grabbing my neck in a crushing headlock.
I was flustered, gasping for air—
but…
I didn’t dislike her.
No—
to be honest…
I quite liked her.
In this horrible, cold world,
she was the only person who didn’t treat me like a weirdo and spoke to me first.
The only one who praised my cooking
and acknowledged my worth.
Whenever I heard her rough, unrefined laughter,
this hellish life felt just a little… more bearable.
Then one day—
“Hey, Nasus! How long are you going to hold nothing but a kitchen knife? Come with me today and get some real field experience!”
The leader grabbed me by the back of the neck like luggage.
I flailed in panic.
“C-Captain?! I think I’d lose even to a goblin—what do you mean field experience?! Honestly, I think I’m more of a helper than a mercenary! The others all see me that way too…!”
Hearing my pathetic plea, she smirked and ruffled my hair.
“You idiot! Why would I drag a complete newbie to his death? It’s just a simple carriage escort for some rich noble. Think of it as a walk. Just stick close behind me.”
“…If they’re nobles, wouldn’t they use their own soldiers? And truly rich people have personal guards… why hire a small mercenary group like us?”
At my question, she snorted and casually rested her axe on her shoulder.
“What, isn’t it because this big sister’s reputation is just that amazing? Hahaha!”
After joking loudly, she lowered her voice slightly with a grin.
“We’re mercenaries. As long as the price is right, we do most jobs. Don’t know what it is, but rich folks usually have something to hide… and hiring mercenaries for escort work isn’t that unusual.”
She tapped my shoulder confidently.
“Unless you’re insanely unlucky, it’s easy money. A simple job. If you come along this time, I’ll give you a good share too.”
Seeing her confident smile as she told me to trust her,
I eventually nodded.
…
On the day of the mission,
contrary to my prejudiced expectations,
the client wasn’t some fat nouveau riche dressed in flashy clothes.
They wore a faded, worn robe pulled low, hiding their face completely.
But from the faint voice, I could tell they were a woman.
‘Hiding her identity that much…?’
I felt a strange sense of unease.
But I shook my head.
‘If anything, that’s exactly why someone like her would hire a small mercenary group like us instead of official forces.’
Convincing myself,
I climbed onto the back of the horse the captain had borrowed.
In front of me was her broad back, shielding me from the wind,
and her loud, carefree laughter.
That peaceful moment made me foolishly let my guard down completely.
…
What we encountered that day
was not a peaceful mission.
“Cough! Kuh—!”
The moment we entered deep into the forest,
a sickly gray smoke rushed in from all directions.
“Captain! What is—!”
Before I could finish—
Whoooosh!!
Sharp whistling sounds cut through the air,
and flaming arrows rained down toward the client’s carriage.
Through the smoke-obscured vision,
dozens of masked figures burst out from the forest shadows like maniacs.
“Tch… you filthy rats…”
The captain muttered a curse.
Neighhh!!
A horse grazed by a flaming arrow reared wildly.
At the same time, the captain moved first.
She grabbed my waist roughly, yanking me off the saddle, and landed on the ground.
The next moment, the out-of-control horse bolted forward.
Amid the chaos,
the eerie voices of the masked attackers echoed.
“Give it… to us…!”
“Where is it… hand it over now…!”
Screams, burning wood, and the cries of horses drowned out most of their words.
Even so, the captain regained her stance and swung her axe, pushing them back.
But there were too many.
For every one she cut down,
another filled the gap.
…
We were being pushed back.
The moment I realized that—
for the captain who had saved a piece of trash like me and brought me here,
I clenched my teeth and grabbed a dagger from the ground with trembling hands.
“Aaaaaah!!”
I screamed desperately and charged toward a masked man raising his blade at her.
Like a protagonist in a comic,
I hoped my dagger would pierce his heart and turn the tide.
But—
Thud!!
“Guh—!”
With a single annoyed kick,
my body flew through the air like paper and crashed onto the ground.
“Urgh… cough!”
Pain exploded through me, and nausea surged as if my organs would spill out.
“Nasus!!!”
With a furious roar, the captain swung her massive axe, crushing skulls.
Blood splattered.
Flesh tore apart.
But no matter how strong she was,
she couldn’t handle dozens alone.
As deep wounds spread across her shoulders and thighs,
her breathing grew heavier.
Clang!!
Barely deflecting a strike, she turned to me, her face drenched in blood, and shouted:
“Nasus!! Take the client and run!! Now!!”
“L-Leave you behind…? How can I…! Cough!”
Blood spilled from my mouth as I shook my head.
But her eyes—
sharper and more radiant than ever—
locked onto mine.
“We took the job. We were paid.”
She knocked away an incoming arrow with her axe handle and smiled through blood.
“Then we see it through to the end. That’s… what a mercenary is.”
“But… Captain…!”
“Nasus.”
She called my name—
with the same voice she used when laughing and hitting my back while I peeled potatoes.
“No matter what anyone says, you’re already one of us. From the moment you walked through our doors.”
“……”
She tightened her grip on her bloodstained axe.
“So… go. And protect the client.”