Chapter 110
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: 26. Hometown. (1)
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- You fucking bitch, snap out of it already—?! We're all gonna die at this rate, you fucking bitchhhh—!!
Then came the rough hand slapping her cheek mercilessly.
- Get going already, you slut—?! Hurry up and go catch those bastards—!!
Charlotte bolted off sobbing like that before suddenly jolting awake from the dream.
Ah.
Drenched in cold sweat from head to toe, Charlotte let out a long sigh as she slowly raised her upper body.
...Who would've thought I'd run into that man here of all places...
Allen Dwight Pomwell, the man who had vanished without a trace so suddenly, had popped up right in front of her again—just like back then. But now, he stood as a full-fledged Mercenary Leader acknowledged by the Top 10.
...Honestly, after going through that mine demon realm mission together, her view of him had changed a lot. Who could've imagined that the guy she'd pegged as just some tail-chasing follower would turn out to have such outstanding skills as a Mercenary Leader?
If her engagement had truly been arranged back then, she probably wouldn't have opposed it so fiercely. ...Maybe they really would've gotten engaged and even married.
It was just bad timing. For her... and for him too.
No, it's all in the past anyway...!
Charlotte shook her head vigorously to scatter the faint image of Allen floating in her mind, then got out of bed. She stepped out onto the terrace to watch the beautiful sunrise.
The sight of the red hue rising over the lazily flowing river was a breathtakingly enchanting view.
After a brief sunrise viewing, the golden-haired beauty took a thorough bath, then shared an early morning meal with Viola, the Mercenary Leader.
"If you two knew each other, I should've set aside a separate table."
"No, it's nothing like that. We've just known each other a little since we were kids. ...That's all."
...Truth be told, they had nearly become fiancés, but no need to drag out something so messy.
Viola responded with a faint smile instead of words, but somehow, it didn't sit entirely right with her.
A young, beautiful compatriot. And a childhood friend from a count's family she'd known since childhood...
Back then, maybe it wouldn't have mattered, but now Allen was undeniably an attractive catch by any measure. Even Elizabeth, the Top 10 vice-leader, was eyeing him enough to trade glares with Viola, another Top 10 leader. And now, out of nowhere, his hometown childhood friend shows up for a reunion? ...What a coincidence that was.
There was a twinge of concern, but Viola didn't lose sight of her goal. After all, Charlotte was the client, and Allen was the hired help. She trusted that Mercenary Leader Allen wouldn't forget his role. ...Who else could she trust if not the man who'd stood firm against the temptations of the alluring Lady Elizabeth Velver?
Anyway, once breakfast ended, the two women parted ways to attend to their respective tasks.
Considering the negotiations with the two leaders, they had roughly ten days before departure.
Of course, Charlotte had no intention of just idling away the time here. This was Vermandua, the city of mercenaries. With powerful mercs gathered in droves—rarer sights in the southern regions—she had to make the most of it and hire some help.
...Still, my own mercenary corps is pretty well-known in the southern regions now.
And so, Leader Charlotte rented a spot from the guild house to the roadside office and kicked off her full-scale recruitment drive.
Of course, her fantasy of top-tier mercs flocking in shattered after just one day. Not a single mercenary showed up at the office—only flies buzzing around. In reality, the Charlotte Mercenary Corps was barely considered a proper outfit in Vermandua. And since they weren't offering generous pay either, no sane merc would bite. The occasional lurker peeking in was, by Charlotte's own judgment, useless trash.
In contrast, the Allen Mercenary Corps had already built a solid reputation even in Vermandua. There were even rumors of something going on with Top 10 Leader Viola. ...There definitely seemed to be some subtle vibe between them. A woman's intuition, you know.
...No, whatever they have going on is none of my business.
Charlotte tried to think of Allen not as the man who almost became her fiancé, but simply as hired help. There was no real connection between them beyond a few shared missions anyway. No need to read meaning into old history. Whether he rose in the ranks or fooled around with some other woman, it had nothing to do with her.
I'm me, and he's him. We have absolutely nothing to do with each other.
- You damn bitch—!
She kept recalling Allen grabbing her collar and yelling like that.
......That man she hadn't seen in ages felt strangely familiar to her.
···
The Allen Mercenary Corps prepared for the southern journey. They inspected their gear, packed supplies...
It wasn't quite the distance to the west, but it was close enough to demand serious preparation and resolve.
And before heading south, there was one more round of pay negotiations between client and contractors. They weren't finalizing the full amount here—just agreeing on a minimum guaranteed fee upfront, then renegotiating any additions once they reached the mid-city of Verher.
Of course, Allen had no intention of cutting her a discount just because she was a compatriot. This was a wealthy count's family with its own mines—they could afford to pay up.
"I'm not going for under a thousand gold coins."
"...Whaaat—?!"
An unimaginable sum in the south, of course. She'd figured maybe around four hundred at most, so seeing it more than double left her flustered.
"A thousand gold is way too much. Even if...!"
"From my position, that's a fair price. ...Look, Leader Charlotte. Do you know how much it costs to hire my corps for a month? Over two hundred gold—over two hundred! And just getting to Verher takes more than a month. We're burning through two hundred gold just breathing."
The perception gap between the central and southern regions was huge. ...That was why everyone flocked to Vermandua—no one wanted to head south.
"Didn't you say the mine's been off-limits for months? The losses from that alone must be massive. Wouldn't it be smarter to resolve the crisis quick and minimize damages than quibble over a mere thousand gold?"
Logically sound, sure, but even accounting for distance, a thousand gold felt excessive. It was completely out of left field for her...
"Still, it's too expensive..."
"If you want a skilled corps for that far out, you have to brace for that kind of pay. ...Leader Charlotte, we're not digging money out of the ground either. Every move costs cash. You're clueless—way too clueless."
The southern girl Charlotte had no comeback. ...She really had no clue about Vermandua prices.
Allen, who'd been pounding the table with his fist in a forceful tone, switched to a gentle coaxing voice.
"Even so, I'm charging this much out of consideration for our old ties. Anyone else, I'd have asked fourteen hundred. Plus, we're vouched for by Top 10 Leader Viola herself. That guarantees our skill's worth the price."
Charlotte was already mostly swayed by his words. Then he drove the nail in.
"Hey, no pressure. If we can't agree, no hard feelings. ...Alright, then. I'll pull out of this job. Go find some cheaper mercs."
As Allen moved to end talks, the southern girl hurriedly interjected.
"Wait, I haven't refused yet. I just need a little time to think..."
"Sorry, but I can't give you much time. My corps has a tight schedule. ...I'd prefer to settle it right here."
Allen smiled leisurely, drumming his fingers on the table. For a man who'd haggled with countless sly foxes, sweet-talking a southern girl was child's play. ...Still, he genuinely hadn't jacked the price too high out of old sentiment. Otherwise, he'd have stripped her down to her skivvies.
"Viola only pulled strings for someone of your caliber. Any other southern outfit? Forget it."
And a timely bit of flattery.
With her [Self-Admiration] trait, stroking her ego or pride worked wonders.
She acted all haughty on the outside, but inside? She was thrilled. This guy recognizes my talent...
"......Fine. We'll do it. The situation's urgent, so I can't afford more delays. And better to pay up for reliable work, right?"
"A most wise choice."
Allen grinned broadly, standing to offer a handshake to the southern girl.
"Looking forward to working with you, Leader Charlotte."
The golden-haired beauty lifted her chin aristocratically, grasping his hand with elegant poise.
"Likewise, Leader Allen."
Of course, Charlotte probably assumed he wouldn't tack on extra fees during detailed talks in Verher..., but money-grubbing Allen wasn't about to let that slide.
For a beast-related job, he could probably squeeze another two or three hundred gold out of them.
Not that he held a grudge against the count's family for nixing the engagement or anything. ...Nah, really!