Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: 4. Big Leagues (1)
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Charlotte had scrubbed herself clean for the first time in ages. After spending a full fortnight looking like a total mess, returning to her usual self felt like heaven—what else could it be?
Dressed to the nines in elegant, refined attire, she stood before the mirror, striking poses this way and that, lost in a brief moment of self-admiration. Even to her own eyes, her beauty was stunning.
The flower of Verher, indeed!
Fully dolled up, she stepped out of her room and headed downstairs to where the female mercenary was waiting patiently for their leader. The makeup-free, muscle-bound woman lit up the moment she spotted the lovely noble lady.
"Lady, your looks are just killer. All the guys are gonna lose their minds."
"Ahem. It's leader, not lady."
Ah—. Realizing too late that this noble girl was sensitive about her title, the female mercenary lightly smacked her own mouth.
"Oops, slipped out. Lead-er."
"Let's go."
As the two emerged from the inn, the eyes of passersby on the main street snapped toward them like arrows raining down.
Hmph, they know beauty when they see it.
Having lived a life of superiority her whole existence, she knew how to bask in the attention without a hint of discomfort. After all, this was her due from birth.
It was early morning, just as dawn was breaking, but the avenue was already teeming with people. A true trading hub.
Charlotte led her female subordinate—treating her like a handmaiden—to scout out goods. There was no reason to waste the spare space in their wagons by bringing only coin; Rbalra offered things unavailable in Verher.
Of course, not for resale like other caravans, but for the count's estate.
Whenever the Charlotte Mercenary Corps handled transport escorts, she took charge of this herself, so her steps were confident and practiced.
"I only come to Rbalra occasionally, and it's so crowded I can never find my way."
"Just stick close to me, no worries."
Every now and then, sleazy types approached the alluring noblewoman with ill intentions, but the burly female mercenary's fierce growl and glare sent them scurrying without a word. Truth be told, that's exactly why Charlotte had brought her along.
She made a beeline for the 'Guild House,' where mercenary corps and caravan offices were packed in like honeycomb cells.
The moment they entered the massive building, the pair caught a whiff of its signature stale stench, thick in the air.
The corridors stretching along the hallways were jammed with people brushing shoulders. On top of that, the haggling voices echoing from every office made it feel like a marketplace.
As Charlotte strolled along, eyeing the displays outside the caravan offices, she turned at the female mercenary's sudden gasp of "Ah!"
"Over there, Leader! Look right there."
Charlotte followed the point of her subordinate's finger. Her gaze landed on a familiar head.
...Ah...
The noblewoman recognized him instantly. Allen, that guy.
"Looks like Allen the leader's here shopping too."
It wasn't exactly a coincidence, if you thought about it. For bulk purchases, the Guild House—hub of all the caravans—was a must. And even if Allen was running a mercenary corps now, at heart he was still a merchant's son. No way he'd let the payout from selling ore just sit idle.
But the instant Charlotte spotted him, her emotions churned in an oddly intense way. Back in the day, she'd have ignored him like he'd shown her something repulsive and breezed past. Yet now, her eyes kept drifting back.
A man whose nature had suddenly transformed beyond recognition... He was no longer the timid coward she knew, but someone bold and daring, capable of issuing commands with authority.
- You bitch!
...Even bold enough to curse at her.
"Doesn't Allen the leader look so cool? He was handsome before, but now he's got charisma too—total heartthrob."
"...Heartthrob?"
Charlotte furrowed her brow slightly and asked innocently, prompting the female mercenary to reply in a sly tone.
"The vixens. They're all fired up about him lately. ...You know, Allen the leader's been getting around with women."
Hearing that, Charlotte felt something sour rise in her chest. A prickly discomfort.
"Like I care. ...Hmph, as if. He's gotten cocky lately, acting like he owns the place, but he's still not on my level."
"Heh heh, of course, Leader. No matter what, Allen's got a long way to go before he can match you."
But even with that reassurance, Charlotte's mood stayed sour. Strangely so.
"Should I call him over?"
"...No. Let's just go."
Too late—Allen's side had already spotted them. In this dingy place, how could anyone miss a radiant flower standing smack in the middle of the corridor?
Charlotte watched Allen approach with steady steps, her heart pounding oddly. She didn't spare a glance at Captain Aiden beside him.
He stopped before her and flashed a gentle smile—the very one that had nearly tricked her into an engagement long ago. She'd fallen for it once, back when she was clueless. ...Not anymore, though.
No way I'm falling for that again. Hmph.
"What a coincidence, Lady."
"...Not lady."
"Ah, Leader Charlotte. My mistake. You just look so... radiant."
Grinning slyly, Allen gestured from head to toe, tracing her graceful figure.
She tilted her posture slightly away, prim and haughty.
"Shopping for goods too, I see, Leader Charlotte."
"...Yeah, uh... yes."
"Well then."
He gave a light nod and walked past her. ...And that was it. Or rather, ever since they'd called off the engagement talks, their conversations rarely exceeded ten words—polite small talk at best. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Yet as he left without lingering, her heart felt strangely unsettled. Unthinkingly, her hand rose to touch her left cheek, where he'd struck her.
That shocking scene replayed in her mind several times a day... It was seared into her brain, impossible to forget.
The female mercenary glanced at Charlotte's peculiar expression and smirked meaningfully.
"Got a thing for Allen the leader? Want me to sound him out?"
"What?! No, it's not like that. ...Just remembered his rudeness from before. That guy's so impolite."
"Ah, I see... Got it."
"So don't spread weird rumors. He's got nothing to do with me. I hate that kind of stuff. Got it?"
"Yes, don't worry."
But the female mercenary's sly smile lingered. Charlotte shot her nosy subordinate a glare and strode ahead briskly.
...A month from now, her legs'll be spread wide, mark my words.
Convinced of it, the female mercenary hurried after her leader.
The goods were ridiculously expensive.
Allen couldn't buy anywhere near the quantities listed. Especially foodstuffs and iron ingots—they were outright insane.
"Why have prices spiked like this all of a sudden?"
A caravan office clerk with gaps in his teeth answered Allen's question.
"Same as always, yep—war. Another flare-up in the east, they say. Eastern caravans are hoarding everything. Iron and silver? Can't sell if you don't have 'em."
"...I see."
The fighting was in the east, but the south bore the full brunt—unfair for merchants. Haggling was impossible too; buyers were lined up regardless...
Anyway.
With quantities short but key items secured, Allen now scouted for a suitable office spot for his mercenary corps.
Watching their leader inspect spots meticulously, Aiden asked quietly.
"Planning to leave?"
"Yeah, we have to. Mercenary work in Verher is suicide. No growth potential—just eating our own. ...You see it too, right, Captain?"
"Yes... Honestly, I do."
Once committed to the mercenary life, leaving Verher was inevitable. Lining up borderline D-rankers and agonizing over picks was torture for him.
"It won't be easy, though. I've seen plenty of corps dive in thinking it's simple and end up bankrupt."
"No business is easy. ...I won't lose your money, so don't fret too much."
Allen's light joke drew a chuckle from Aiden.
But inside, Allen was deadly serious.
Time to leave. Verher—
After this mission, he'd put his resolve into action.
To go big, you play in the big leagues.