Chapter 8
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Forced Burglary
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“Evidence...?”
Jinovan showed faint curiosity as he gazed at the fairly large box placed on the table.
He had little interest in the mercenary standing before him. But this was an item brought personally by Cloi, the granddaughter of the Golden Hand, owner of the Gilenoi Merchant Guild.
Jun opened the box next. Inside lay a sphere bearing traces of damage in various spots.
“This is...!”
“Yes. A golem core.”
“Where did you acquire this?”
Jinovan's gaze shifted back to Cloi.
“Truth be told, the mercenary before you took part in the goblin subjugation alongside the commander.”
“I-Is that right?”
He stared at Jun, as if he'd never imagined encountering a survivor here.
“Hold on. I recall the White Whale Mercenary Corps failed to make it back.”
They'd been a group of about a dozen mercenaries, memorable enough to stick in Jinovan's mind.
“The captain fell there. Only I and one other escaped—belatedly.”
“So you inherited the mercenary corps?”
“That's correct.”
“Escaping the forest with just the two of you...”
True to his Imperial Military Academy background, Jinovan was well-versed in Black Forest lore.
“The beasts didn't come in small numbers. And amid all that, you managed to hunt a golem? Just the two of you?”
He looked utterly skeptical, but Jun calmly recounted his experiences there.
“...I never imagined using a tower shield that way. You've taught me a thing or two. Still, I'm struggling to wrap my head around a junior mage and a level 1 warrior taking down a golem.”
“Appearances aren't everything, are they?”
“You were hiding your strength?”
“Being in a mercenary corps and all.”
“Mercenary corps protocol, is it.”
In raw destructive power alone, Jun rivaled any mid-level mage.
Yet he'd stuck with mercenary work to build experience.
“Anyway, that's beside the point, isn't it?”
“The golem... Yes, its appearance does change the equation.”
Goblin numbers were hard to grasp without seeing them firsthand, but a golem was different.
Like the Goblin Lord, golems heralded the rise of an area boss.
“So with this, the evidence is secured.”
For a moment, they watched Jinovan's expression turn grave. Then Cloi spoke up again.
“Taking this core straight to the marshal is one option... but wouldn't someone else reap the benefits?”
“Hmm...”
As Cloi pointed out, presenting it to the fortress marshal would likely hand operational command to another.
Jinovan's reputation had sunk that low.
“What if I could restore the commander's honor right here?”
“How?”
Now fully engaged in the meeting, Jinovan asked intently. Jun provided the answer.
“At the very least, I can cast you as a commander who knows right from wrong.”
Clack, clack, clack.
Jun and Cloi rode back from the fortress in a carriage, chatting lightly about what came next.
“Things are going smoother than I thought.”
“They'd better. We pulled all-nighters for days hammering this out, remember?”
Jun had sketched the broad strokes; Cloi had handled the fine details and arranged the meeting with Jinovan. That's how it all came together.
In the end, Jinovan pledged his full backing.
One task remained, though: restoring his reputation, the final agenda item.
Once that was done, operations in the Black Forest would be far smoother.
“So we're moving out right away?”
“We have to. Time's not on our side.”
To execute, they needed to gear up fast.
After stepping down from the carriage amid Cloi's farewell, Jun briefed Aiden on recent events.
“So from here on, our job is reclaiming Commander Jinovan's reputation.”
“Reputation... That sounds tricky. Got a plan?”
At their usual tavern rendezvous.
Jun flashed a grin at Aiden's question.
“Naturally. You think I'd wing it?”
“Impressive as always, senior.”
“Save the flattery.”
“So, what's the gist of the plan?”
“Right. Here's what we'll do to boost Commander Jinovan's rep...”
Simply put.
“We're going to steal.”
“Pardon?”
Goblins roamed the village interior, each tending to their tasks.
One-on-one, they were pushovers.
But nearing a hundred? That was another story.
Even layer 2 hunters would struggle against a full charge.
Aiden's face was a mask of sheer dismay at walking right into it.
What if those goblins aggroed?
Imperial blood or no, his head would dangle from a tree in eternal farewell, limbs hacked off and digested in goblin guts.
“Let's get ready.”
Jun snapped Aiden back from the brink of panic.
“Burglary time.”
It started like this.
“What do you suppose a mercenary badge is for?”
Before heading to the Black Forest.
Aiden tilted his head at Jun's out-of-left-field question.
“Proof of identity?”
“Right. But that's not all. It's insurance.”
“Insurance... Ah.”
Aiden recalled receiving his badge and caught on quick.
“Registered mercenaries can deposit funds with the guild. There's a fee, but plenty do it anyway.”
“For when they die.”
Most mercenaries scraped by day-to-day, but not all.
Some saved steadily, dreaming of returning to family.
Merc life was unpredictable, though. Hence the guild deposits.
Bring the badge later, and kin claimed the savings.
Fee or no, that's why so many trusted the guild.
“What we'll swipe from the goblins? These badges. Hand 'em over, and Commander Jinovan's rep gets a solid lift, yeah?”
“Ah...!”
Spot on. Success would elevate him among mercenaries.
Jinovan would reassess Jun and Aiden too.
And that wasn't all.
“Plus, if things go to plan... it'll line our pockets nicely.”
“Our pockets?”
“I'll explain en route.”
The pair set out and soon returned to the subjugation battlefield.
“Decent haul of badges.”
“Fewer than expected, though.”
Only about half the participants' worth.
Jun replied.
“Goblins probably nabbed the rest. Beasts swarmed—no time to ditch 'em.”
“Ah... So that's all?”
“Nah. We need the leftovers too. Bigger rep boost for the commander.”
“You don't mean... heading straight to the village?”
Aiden sounded uneasy. Jun grinned as usual.
“Why not? Let's go. I can guess where they stash stuff. If it's not there, I'll drop it clean.”
That conversation was half a day past.
On the hill behind the goblin village.
Over a hundred goblins at a glance. Tension etched Aiden's face inescapably.
“Goblins rank high among monsters for grasping human greed.”
“That bit from earlier. Greed. You mean they bait humans?”
“Bingo.”
The spot wasn't far from the prior battlefield. Jun was 100% sure their trophy warehouse was here.
“They keep gear for themselves. Gold, silver, jewels? Useless junk to them—but perfect bait.”
Stack treasures, lure humans in.
“Heavens. How'd you know?”
“Monster manuals on sale anywhere.”
No lie—straight from <Blackout>'s in-game books.
“Most goblins lack the brains for it. Takes a Goblin Lord minimum.”
“The lord's influence is no joke... But senior, with so many villages, why this one?”
“Sharp catch.”
It was a goblin ploy, brains and all.
“Humans never back off after a loss. They exploit that.”
Stronger force comes, razes nearby village, finds the hoard.
Greed kicks in for average mercs.
Deep into the woods they plunge—greeted by hundreds of goblins.
“Clever... But aren't we the greedy fools here?”
Aiden nailed it. Jun just chuckled, unashamed.
“Heh, fair. Greed's not inherently evil, though. Blind greed's the killer—calculated greed? Manure for growth.”
He eyed the Plant Undead they'd brought.
Perfectly still.
Undead traits, yet plant—vulnerable to cold.
Prolonged chill sends it dormant. Jun's cold potion had it in deep slumber.
“Alright... Lecture's over. Ready for the real show?”
Jun tossed his erstwhile waterskin aside and grinned.
Tenth one drained: auction-bought horse blood.
<Blackout>'s system matched its vast freedom—versatile as hell.
Gank events bad for players? Flip 'em to crush foes right.
“Up and at 'em.”
Cold potion faded. Plant Undead's eyes fluttered open slow.
Jun slapped its cheek mercilessly.
Crack!
Kieeeek——!!
Fresh awake, slapped by a human—it wailed on survival instinct.
The cry shook the forest. Blood-lured beasts howled back.
Keegi?
Kyarga! Kyarga!
Kyaaa!!
Village goblins joined the frenzy, roaring wild.
Thrilled by the rare Plant Undead threat in this Black Forest stretch.
“Perfect!”
Jun hurled the last three blood pouches downslope, cloaking up with Aiden.
Shabby cloaks plant-camouflaged, beast musk slathered for extras.
Now? Spectate goblin-beast brawl.
The failed subjugation's paying off here!
Not easy normally.
Beasts territorial—won't mass like this on blood alone.
Ten tops. Too few for a hundred goblins.
Sorry, fallen mercs—but you made this shot possible.
Subjugation flop bloodied the whole forest.
Time passed, most beasts returned home—but plenty relocated nearby.
Situational gimmick tactic.
Every last one bolting out the entrance. Nice.
As Jun mused, Aiden gawked at entrance-rushing goblins battling beasts.
Schemes like this... work?
Discarded prince or not, he'd drilled tactics young.
Outside? Useless. Market manuals, rowdy merc chatter? Gold.
“Clear! All gone. Move!”
Aiden still marveling, warehouse guards had bailed too.
Textbook empty-house heist.
Being a Mage in the Hero Party 9