Chapter 117
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: 27. Overwhelming. (4)
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For three days of brutally navigating the demon realm, the demon beast subjugation wrapped up far too smoothly. Of course, no one was unaware that it was thanks to the overwhelming prowess of the Allen Mercenary Corps.
Though two mercenaries from the southern mercenary groups had perished in the sudden monster horde's emergence, it was still a highly favorable result for clearing the infamous demon beast subjugation mission that had terrorized the south.
The mercenary band pressed on for two more days and finally reached the mining fortress. They were still within the demon realm, but the presence of walls made a world of difference in terms of security.
After resting a day at the fortress, the group trekked another half-day and at last escaped the demon realm. The moment they safely completed the mission and emerged, the mercenaries felt no small sense of euphoria. The southern groups in particular rejoiced as if they'd crawled back alive from hell itself, raising an absolute ruckus.
Of course, even in that moment, Allen didn't neglect to scan the mercenaries from the other groups. He might spot someone with untapped raw talent, after all... But true to its barren reputation, the south yielded no one who caught his eye.
Anyway.
The mercenary band boarded the carriages waiting at the entrance fortress and returned to the city of Verher. The city felt like paradise itself after a full week away.
The carriages pulled up in the outer courtyard of the count's estate. The mercenaries disembarked and immediately stretched their stiff, aching bodies with groans of "Ughhh."
Allen gave a light clap and a faint smile as he encouraged and praised his hardworking crew.
"You've all been through a lot. Everyone performed the mission splendidly. Rest easy and enjoy yourselves until we depart."
"Woo-hoo—!"
The crew let out small cheers and grinned with delight. What mercenary in the world would hate working hard and getting rewarded for it?
After sending his crew off first, the leaders gathered together. Allen began by expressing his regrets to the two southern leaders who had lost members.
"It's fate, what can you do."
True to form for mercenaries, the leader invoked destiny once again.
Though merely a formality as the representative, Charlotte still commended the other four leaders on behalf of her house. Of course, even though the Allen Mercenary Corps had shone brightest in the mission, she didn't single them out for praise in front of the others. Everyone knew it anyway, without needing to say it.
With the leaders' final report concluded, the five dispersed to their lodgings. Allen returned to his room, unpacked, and soaked away the accumulated filth in the bath.
The first to visit him before dinner was Tit Inspector Natasha. The woman who had been so composed and valiant in the demon realm transformed completely in front of her leader.
As if eager to relieve a week's worth of pent-up camaraderie, she immediately plastered herself against him and gazed up with an expression of desperate longing. Naturally, he lewdly devoured the lips of the woman clinging to him... But tonight's guest spot was already reserved under someone else's name.
Not long after Allen finished dinner and returned to his room, a very soft knock echoed at the door. The visitor was Red-Robed Mage Elena.
[Prodigy] [Willpower] [Hubris] [Ambition] [Sensitive] [Irritable] [Insomnia] [Affection] [Masturbation Addiction] [Lewd]
Ever since leaving Vermandua, Elena had endured for this very day, and she was already in a state of extreme arousal. Truth be told, her patience in this regard was far sturdier than Tit Inspector Natasha's—befitting a mage who strictly adhered to laws and rules.
Of course, once the reins came off, she became lewder and more depraved than a street whore, but that remained a intimate secret known only to those two.
"Leader... sir..."
And so Allen spent the night imprinting his cock once more into the soft pussy of Elena, who had faithfully abstained all this time.
Back in the city, Charlotte spent two days wrapping up mercenary recruitment matters before finally turning her gaze toward scouting new talent.
This passive approach gets me nowhere. I need to take more proactive action...!
The southern country girl Charlotte resolved to emulate Leader Allen, reflect on her own passivity thus far, and commit to change.
The stark gap between those two was clearly a matter of attitude. He had acted decisively, while she had merely stood by with arms crossed, observing. And that had led to this disparity.
Thus, the golden-haired leader steeled her resolve for recruitment as a catalyst for change and first sought out the female mage Elena, who had caught her eye the most.
Elena, naturally, looked a bit startled at Charlotte's sudden appearance.
"A moment? Could we talk?"
"Talk about what...?"
"It's a bit awkward for here."
"...Ah, sure, come in."
The Red-Robed Mage ushered Charlotte into her room. As the door clicked shut, an awkward air flowed between them... Truth be told, this was the first time the two women had faced each other alone like this.
Still, Charlotte was a seasoned leader by now. She knew full well that you couldn't just grab someone and yell "Join my crew!" to make it happen.
Praise first, then persuasion, finally the offer. She followed the formula to the letter.
"Your magic was truly impressive. We'd have struggled a lot without you."
"Ah, thank you. ...But I'm still sorely lacking."
"Not at all. You should take pride in that level of skill."
Who wouldn't like hearing praise? Of course, Elena—sharp as she was—immediately clocked that it was praise with an agenda. Showing up out of the blue just to compliment her? ...Sadly, she was too jaded by reality to buy it at face value.
As expected, once the praise wrapped up, Charlotte glanced at the mage's reaction before cutting to the chase.
"How's the treatment under Leader Allen?"
There, Elena fully grasped the intent. She wants to recruit me, she thought.
"It's good."
"...Any dissatisfaction?"
"Nothing in particular. My relationships with the others are smooth too."
"I see..."
Charlotte had known it wouldn't be easy, but their bonds seemed far tighter than anticipated... Still, she had no intention of backing down just yet.
For mercenaries, money was always priority one, after all. So Charlotte planned to win with coin. She was determined to use this recruitment as a turning point for renewal, no matter what.
"Then... let me be direct."
Charlotte wiped the smile from her face a touch and declared in a solemn tone.
"Fifty gold coins a month. ...Of course! Compared to the Allen Mercenary Corps, our group has plenty of shortcomings, but this will be our fresh start. And you'd be the cornerstone... What do you say?"
Elena felt zero temptation. She had no intention whatsoever of leaving the Allen Mercenary Corps—not even for ten million gold.
But the woman was an associate of Leader Allen. Outright refusing might bring trouble his way, so she had to tread carefully with every word.
"Well..."
"...Is fifty not enough? Then sixty. ...No, how about seventy?"
"I'm sorry."
She was trying to play it cool, but Elena sensed unmistakable desperation from her.
"Fine, got it... Then, a hundred! That's the max I can offer."
It was an amount that might make a blind saintess's eyes spin, but unfortunately, Elena wasn't the type to cling to money. The daughter of a count's house wasn't slinging mercenary work for cash in the first place.
"It's not really about the money."
Charlotte interpreted that as dissatisfaction with her own group.
"Yes, I admit it. We're still far behind the Allen Mercenary Corps... But! Things will change. Definitely. I'll work harder and put in more effort... ...Still no?"
"...I'm sorry. Let's pretend this conversation never happened."
There, Charlotte's hopes crumbled. Just as expected.
Truth be told, it had been a long shot from the start, so there wasn't much disappointment to feel. Charlotte tried not to get too down about the failure.
"I see. Understood. ...Sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
"Not at all. I fully understand how you feel as a leader."
She meant it. Because she herself had once served as interim leader for her house's mercenary group... It was only natural to want to recruit good talent as a leader.
"Then, get some good rest."
"Yes."
Leader Charlotte forced a smile, but it faded the moment she stepped out of the room.
A heavy stone seemed to thud onto her chest. She'd tried not to feel that way, but inescapable despair and defeat swallowed her whole.
...It was a long shot anyway. There are plenty of mages out there. This is just the beginning. From now on...!
The southern country girl kept picturing Leader Allen. But he was already so far ahead she could barely see him anymore.
Perhaps by now, to him, she had become...
...an existence he no longer even needed to scorn like before.