Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: 7. Canyon (2)
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Lütonbake Canyon.
The vital pass connecting the southeast to the central region.
If you couldn't pass through here, you'd have to go nearly two months out of your way around the mountains, making it a place trading caravans could almost never avoid. Long ago, the Winterhorn Ducal House, which ruled the great city of Raplause, had sealed off the canyon and charged exorbitant tolls, leading to an incident so infamous that even the Imperial Family had to step in to mediate. That was how crucial it was as a transportation hub.
Back when the ducal house managed the canyon, neither bandits nor monsters dared approach the carriage paths. But after they withdrew, entering without a mercenary band became outright suicide.
The mountains ran deep, and so did the monsters and bandits. Rumors even said demons lived there….
"It's the curse of the canyon. Your flesh melts away, and your bones get crushed. That's why no one's going in anymore. Nine or ten out of ten die—!"
Allen, who had risen early at dawn and headed to the counter in the inn's first-floor hall, heard the rumors of the canyon incident from the old innkeeper.
"A curse, huh…."
"Definitely the work of demons. Who else would do something like that? They even command monsters."
"…Yeah?"
Allen chuckled softly. Among the events he remembered in Lütonbake Canyon, there were exactly two worth noting.
One was the rampage of a dark sorcerer, and the other was the molting of a named monster.
The latter was a late-game event, so this incident was probably tied to the former. …Of course, it could just be some ordinary happening, but if it were, people wouldn't be struggling this much. To Allen, it was a reasonable suspicion.
"So no one's going into the canyon?"
"Not no one. There are caravans that figure they'll die one way or the other. Those ones give it a shot. Very occasionally, you'd see a caravan make it through from the other side. …Though they were mostly wrecked by the time they did."
"And they called it a curse?"
"Everyone says it's a curse, so what else could it be?"
Allen shut his mouth around then. No point digging further; nothing more would come of it. Rumors always came with exaggeration anyway, so he filtered them accordingly.
That's when the red-robed mage slowly descended from the second floor. Every guy down there—age be damned—couldn't help but glance at those lewd tits at least once. When Allen pulled a silver coin from his pocket and slapped it on the counter as payment for the info, the old innkeeper snatched it up in a flash and tucked it into her money pouch.
"Two meals, too."
As the leader placed the food order with the innkeeper, Elena demurely took the seat beside him. With the owner off shouting something through the kitchen window, he turned to her.
"Heard there's trouble in the canyon. That's why everyone's stuck here."
It scratched her itch perfectly.
"What kind of trouble?"
"Some curse or whatever. Anyway, that's the story."
"…I see."
Allen sneakily eyed the red-robed mage's profile as she lapsed into thought.
"If we go into the canyon, your role's gonna be key."
She stared at the leader with wide eyes.
"M-my role?"
"You're a mage, after all. So steel yourself. And don't slack on training."
"Yes."
"…You'll learn a lot this time. It'll be a crucial experience for you. Definitely."
A crucial experience—.
The red-robed mage slowly nodded, her face tense.
Soon, two plates of food arrived.
The man and woman emptied their bowls in the blink of an eye.
"Hey—."
The burly Frank lightly jerked his chin toward the approaching four. He gave a meaningful grin at the sight of their leader, returned safe and sound.
"Glad you didn't get eaten, boss."
The muscle woman jumped up in outrage.
"Fuck off, you think I'm some sex-crazed bitch?"
As the red-robed mage shot her a slightly baffled look, the woman jutted her chin out like what're you staring at? …What a thick-skinned bitch.
Then—hey—Aiden drew the leader's attention.
"Heard the canyon rumors?"
"Roughly."
"Good thing there's a solution. The ducal house is sending in mercenaries."
"The ducal house? Didn't hear about that."
Allen hadn't caught wind of it up to that point.
He'd been pondering how to break through the canyon himself, so if the ducal house was stepping up directly, that was perfect.
A mercenary band hired by a ducal house—not just any—had to be at least upper-class. Even a dark sorcerer would be manageable.
The issue was the dark sorcerer's traits. In Guild Master, traits were mostly random at the start—barring a few cases—so he couldn't pin down this one's. But with the curse talk, he guessed curse-weaver.
"Anyway, lucky break. No need to go around."
"But it's not free."
"…What?"
"Separate entry fee."
Fucking hell, this is insane—.
Funds were already tight, so the mention of an entry fee made Allen's curse rash flare up.
"Heard how much?"
"Fifty gold per head."
The men didn't flinch—they'd heard already—but the women leaped up on the spot. The muscle woman especially lost her shit.
"What the fuck—! Fifty gold entry fee? That's fucking ridiculous—!"
"I set it, dumbass? Bitch about it to the duke."
"Ha, think I won't? I may not have a dick, but I've got balls."
The muscle woman stomped off toward the ducal castle in a huff, then turned back. No one followed.
"Fuckin' disloyal pricks."
"Balls instead of a dick? You look exactly like some old hag with a cock."
"I'm gonna kill you for real."
Aiden ignored the two muscle pigs and kept talking to Allen.
"They'll discount for mercenaries, though. Like hiring them on."
"Oh? That's something."
"You in?"
"Gotta be. No choice now. Four hundred fifty gold—four fifty. Can't swing that much, no matter how rushed we are. It's clearly aimed at desperate caravans with asses on fire."
Dudes would pay double fifty gold right now. Fail to deliver in the contract period, and trust and payment go down the drain. Headcount could be minimized anyway.
"We're fine following your lead, boss."
"Yeah, don't sweat it. The ducal house is handling it themselves—think they'd half-ass it? Their reputation's on the line."
Not some baron or count house, but a full duke's. That name said it all. The duke's prestige could drop birds from the sky.
"Alright, Aiden and I are heading out a bit. You lot hit the inn or sightsee, whatever. But pairs at least. …And no starting shit that lands you in the guard cells. Don't make us fight."
"Yes, boss."
Captain Aiden and Leader Allen waited ages before finally entering the ducal castle. The line was insane. Caravans especially—newcomers wouldn't get their turn till evening. Mercenary line was shorter, though, so no scorching wait.
After quite the wait, it was Allen's turn. Inside the building, two sat at a long rectangular table. One from the ducal house, the other a mercenary rep, probably.
Allen barely glanced at the ducal house elder. His eyes locked on the middle-aged man.
He knew right away—this was no ordinary guy. A finely cut gem of high quality. Probably the captain or leader of the ducal house's hired mercenaries.
Obvious A-rank material. He'd know the name on the spot.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Allen Dwight Pomwell, leader of the Allen Mercenary Corps."
"Come here."
"Yes."
Allen approached the table and submitted his pre-filled paperwork. Number of members, roles, kept brief.
Unless you were famous, all mercenary bands looked the same. The Allen Mercenary Corps wouldn't stand out.
"Allen Mercenary Corps, eh. Recent combat record."
"There was a territorial war on Romeln Plateau with the Wirgang House. We joined as part of the Herrera House's forces and won."
The elder skimmed the paper and nodded vaguely. But the middle-aged man ignored it entirely, scanning Allen head to toe like an art critic.
His presence was overwhelming. Sharp edged into lethal.
"What do you think, Leader Kalim?"
"…We'll allow it."
Kalim—!
Allen barely registered the approval.
Kalim Mercenary Corps.
Not top ten on the continent, but right below, propping them up—a powerhouse in the mercenary world. …How many mercs had Jihoo quietly poached from Kalim Mercenary Corps—!
One of Guild Master's three greatest suckers.
Allen had met Kalim Bender.