Chapter 49
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: 11. Dungeon, Aftermath. (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Viola arrived in Vermandua and dove straight back into the backlog of paperwork without a moment's rest.
She had too many ventures going, and any lapse in oversight left openings for opportunists to swoop in. She'd already lost three or four businesses that way.
...Of course, it was all valuable experience.
...Maybe I should cut back a little...
Viola pondered whether to trim her enterprises. Her aversion to falling behind had led her to dabble in everything possible, but it was starting to overwhelm her. Money was no longer an issue anyway.
She was doing it all just to keep up appearances as one of the Top 10.
In the midst of it all, Allen Mercenary Leader crossed her mind.
...Every time she recalled him groveling before the marquis for coin, her chest tightened uncomfortably with heat. She never wanted to witness that again.
Yeah... Entrusting him with one or two ventures wouldn't be so bad. He didn't seem ungrateful, and it could draw him into her fold—
Expanding the mercenary corps required diversifying into other businesses anyway. But business in the mercenary city was cutthroat, with little room to wedge in. Her proposal would be sweet as honey to him.
As Viola mulled over ventures with Allen, word came that a visitor had arrived at the office.
"It's Dana the Captain."
"...Dana?"
"Yes."
...She was someone Viola slightly dreaded meeting. But refusing wouldn't make her slink away easily.
"...Let her in."
The door burst open moments after permission was granted, and a disheveled redhead strode in boldly.
"Hey, sis! Long time no see—"
Her looks were undeniably beautiful, but the savage knife scars crisscrossing her face made her seem fierce rather than pretty. She wore only a thin top with no undergarments, her pert nipples starkly visible through the fabric. And she showed no hint of shame.
...She embodied the raw essence of a mercenary, gender aside.
"What brings you here out of the blue?"
"Aw, no hello first? Ouch, is that all our friendship's worth?"
"...It's been a while."
Dana grinned, flashing her teeth.
"Yeah. Just passing through, thought I'd drop by."
"For what?"
"Escort job. Hauling some pricey goods, y'know? The kind that vanishes in a puff. Heh heh."
Drug talk. Narcotics.
...Viola despised them thoroughly but didn't let it show. She made it a point not to meddle in others' affairs unless necessary.
"...You're alone?"
"Bro's tied up with something important. Oh, he asked me to pass this along. I'll swing by tomorrow for your reply."
The redhead fished an envelope from inside her pants and handed it over. It looked utterly unsanitary, so Viola pinched the corner with just two fingers, brow furrowing slightly.
...At least she'd worn underwear down there, right?
Viola knew the letter's contents without opening it. A love letter, no doubt. He'd probably sent over a hundred already.
Dana's brother, Dagon—leader of one of the Top 10—was notorious for his ardent pursuit of Viola. Infamously ill-tempered and eccentric, he turned lamb-like in her presence.
His devotion was touching, but Viola utterly loathed Dagon's conduct. Shameless idleness was his baseline, he acted on whims constantly, and he was staggeringly crude. He'd take any paying job, no matter how vile, earning him infamy in the underworld. Without his Top 10 status, he'd pass for a bandit crew.
Dana showed no sign of leaving after delivering the envelope. Instead, she sprawled into the chair opposite Viola.
"Heard you got back two days ago? Already swamped with work? Damn, sis. You're inhumanly diligent. Total opposite of me."
"Lots of people depending on me."
"Weird. Ours runs itself once we pay up."
Viola skipped a retort and asked instead,
"When'd you get here?"
"Late yesterday."
"Heading out tomorrow then?"
"Mm."
Viola's expression betrayed no regret. Of course, self-centered Dana couldn't care less about others' feelings. As long as she amused herself, that was enough.
"Oh yeah, heard you snagged yourself a boy toy? Heh heh."
"...What're you talking about?"
Her tone sharpened. Dana's sly grin didn't falter.
"Rumors are flying. Some hot young stud. Late bloomer, huh? Bro's gonna be heartbroken—"
"Nonsense—! Don't spread that crap around. ...And quit pushing your luck. My patience has limits."
Viola's fierce warning finally made Dana pout rebelliously.
"Hmph. Taking it out on me. Fine, I'm out."
The redhead snorted and stormed out. Viola sighed deeply at the slamming door.
......Allen Mercenary Leader, this mercenary world's a filthy pit. ...I hope you don't end up like that.
She tried resuming work, but focus eluded her.
Suddenly furious, she shredded the envelope into bits and swept the scraps off the desk in irritation.
After a long dry wash of her face, her mind and body finally calmed.
Allen kept mulling over how to spend the hefty commission payout.
Truth be told, there was plenty to do. Too much, really.
...Too little money's a problem, too much is a problem. Damn it all...
To truly scale up the mercenary corps, other ventures were essential. Commissions alone hit temporal and spatial limits. But sustaining new businesses required a strong corps, so recruitment and scouting couldn't slack.
In short, split the capital just right to balance both perfectly. Not easy, hence the headache.
He'd love to poach a few second- or third-stringers from Viola Mercenary Corps, but it'd look shameless. Too soon after initial contact to start raiding their ranks.
Better to scour other corps' release lists. Waived fees were cheap, and raw gems occasionally surfaced.
......Maybe swing by a labor broker later when time allows...
Snapping from his reverie, he realized night had fallen outside. He glanced at Kallisman sleeping soundly on the opposite bed, then rose.
Seeking cool night air, he stepped into the hall. Moans of pleasure echoed from various rooms—mercenaries no doubt rutting with cheap whores.
...Denying any arousal would be a lie. With all those lust-related traits clinging to him.
Allen's gaze instinctively drifted to the Redhead Mage's door. Faint light flickered beneath. Still studying late into the night.
His mouth went dry, heart pounding. He walked slowly toward her room.
Standing before her door, he raised a fist to knock, hesitated, and held the pose motionless for a long while.
After agonizing whether to knock or not, he lowered his arm and turned away.
...No matter what, as Mercenary Leader, he couldn't view a squad member as a sex object. If she sought him out, maybe—but he shouldn't initiate. That wasn't right.
Allen retreated step by step from the Redhead Mage's door. On the third step, Elena's door creaked open.
—!
Half her body appeared in the doorway. Candlelight flushed her face as she looked at him.
"...Leader...?"
"Ah, uh... You're still up...."
"Something wrong...?"
"Just..., y'know, passing by...."
A heavy silence stretched. Neither spoke for a long moment.
Ahh... ahh...
The hall still rang with lewd moans. Allen's soles tingled, breath quickening.
Then Elena whispered,
"...Would you..., l-like to..., c-come in for a bit...?"
Allen swallowed hard.
His breath came ragged. His feet, rooted to the floorboards, finally lifted for one step.
As he reached her door, excessive excitement blurred his vision. Gripping the knob steadied him, preventing a stumble.
The Redhead Mage stood in the room's center, waiting. He slipped inside and shut the door firmly.
A small table held an open grimoire. Its ancient script was beyond him.
They stood panting, eyes locked.
Ahh... ahh...
The moans reached even here.
And Allen...,
found himself imagining,
such lewd cries spilling from the Redhead Mage's lips.