Chapter 84
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Undeveloped Pioneering Corps
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The Undeveloped Pioneering Corps was, as its name suggested, an organization dedicated to developing the untamed lands of Blackout.
Officially, it was meant to rehabilitate prisoners who had committed heinous crimes within Blackout.
But in reality, it was nothing more than throwing criminals into the grinder to carve open Blackout's frontiers.
'And the biggest beneficiary among them is the Issus Academy.'
The meeting of the organization uncovering Blackout's secrets and the one pioneering its depths.
Even in the game, taking on Issus Academy requests often led to encounters with the Undeveloped Pioneering Corps.
After the battle with the orcs concluded.
The prisoners sat wherever they pleased and began resting on their own terms.
Some grimaced as they tended to their wounds, while others picked fights with fellow inmates.
"U-Un... Undeveloped Pioneering Corps...?"
Meanwhile, Aiden—who had only just registered the group's name—stared at Jun with a vacant, soul-drained expression.
It was hard to believe this was the same guy who'd been thrilled about the request just moments ago.
"They're still a group operating under the Imperial Family's banner, at least. Though no one in the Imperial Family really pays them much mind."
"They'd be interested in the scraps those guys churn out, though."
"Mm-hmm."
Jun, still subtly avoiding Eleanor's gaze, turned to look at Maya.
She was the only one in the party without any real complaints.
'Is she just not bothered by it?'
Meanwhile, Aiden's hand naturally drifted to his waist.
'I have to protect my senior.'
Aiden's resolve might seem a bit over the top, but Jun had always drilled it into him.
Anyone not in the same party? Suspect them without question.
In a world where even those without criminal records betrayed others, there was no reason to trust actual criminals.
Even now, some were eyeing their comrades with sinister intent—
"Attention."
The prisoners' heads snapped toward one man in unison.
He wore the imperial uniform with an expressionless face.
"Hmph."
Jun let out a short grunt right beside him.
Aiden, who had spent quite some time with Jun by now, picked up on the emotion laced in it.
'He's displeased?'
Did something about that man rub him the wrong way?
Aiden glanced at the surrounding prisoners.
At the single word "attention," they had forcibly turned their heads toward the stone-faced man.
But it didn't look voluntary.
Each one trembled as if compelled by some force, their movements puppet-like.
"Welcome. I am Leon, captain of the Undeveloped Pioneering Corps and your overseer."
Jun responded to the man who introduced himself in a flat, emotionless voice.
"...Pleased to meet you. I'm Jun, leader of the White Whale Mercenary Corps."
"Let's get along. But..."
Leon’s gaze shifted to Aiden.
At the same moment, Aiden sensed a pressure emanating from him.
His hand tightened instinctively on his sword hilt.
'At least on par with Sir Bern.'
Aiden immediately realized the man was no ordinary fighter.
"Your comrade seems overly tense."
Jun merely shrugged it off.
Only someone like Aiden could detect his irritation; his voice came out perfectly casual.
"Well, that's just how this line of work is. No harm in staying on edge."
"I hope he brings that edge to the mission."
"Don't worry. He's solid on that front."
With that, the captain exchanged greetings with the Issus Academy members before turning back to the prisoners and saying,
"No more slacking, you beasts."
Even from behind, his contempt was palpable.
Jun's eyebrow twitched again.
Just as the prisoners, peeking at Leon nervously, started losing interest in the party—
"Mage?!"
"...Why are you here?"
A slight-built young man emerged from the silent crowd of inmates.
His black hair and amber eyes stood out.
And beside him, a woman of similar petite build and appearance stared over with faint surprise.
"Luke? Lucy?"
They were adventurers from the now-defunct Azure Cloud, Jinrang tribesmen who had once teamed up with him during the Black Forest raid.
Luke and Lucy.
The two looked markedly different from before in many ways.
Scars had cropped up here and there in that short time, and their auras felt far more grown compared to the past.
'Around level 4 now, huh.'
They had always seemed too talented for level 3 anyway, so this growth was only natural.
"Is that your mercenary group joining us this time?"
Jun nodded at Lucy's question, and Luke immediately chimed in innocently.
"Whoa! Lucy! We're really teaming up with the mage this time?!"
If Aiden was a golden retriever, Luke was like a toy poodle pup.
"...Aiden?"
But there's a common misconception about golden retrievers.
That they're all gentle and mild.
Retrievers are hunting dogs at heart.
Fierce beyond measure toward anything they see as prey.
Aiden openly bared his hostility toward Luke and Lucy.
Jun shot Aiden a startled look, and Aiden quickly averted his eyes.
"Ah... Sorry, senior. I just..."
"Hey, hey, can't blame you. Jun, you forget what those two did?"
Eleanor pointed at the Jinrang twins.
"You nearly died because of them. More than once."
"Oh."
Aiden had been trapped in the hidden piece back then and missed it, but Jun had been ambushed by Luke and Lucy.
He'd subdued them after a drawn-out fight, but any mistake could have been fatal.
And the Fairy Queen awakening caused by their Azure Cloud had nearly wiped out the entire raid party.
"..."
Aiden only learned the full story after everything was over.
'From his perspective, that reaction makes sense.'
What to say? It didn't exactly displease him.
It showed genuine anger on his behalf.
But he was the mercenary leader, and they had a request to fulfill.
Just as Jun opened his mouth to speak—
"Ugh..."
Luke stepped forward first.
"We're sorry about back then!!"
"...?"
As if that was how apologies were done, Luke bowed deeply.
"I couldn't contain my joy at seeing you again! Honestly, showing my face after what we did is shameless!"
"...I was too flustered to say it then. We're truly sorry."
Lucy sighed lightly at Luke's outburst and bowed her head as well.
Of course, a single apology couldn't wrap it all up.
But Jun had no intention of holding them accountable.
Had he forgiven them?
No, it was more like he simply didn't care about the act itself anymore.
To him, it was a closed chapter the moment he survived.
Back then, the raid rewards from making it out alive mattered more than revenge.
Punishment? The Imperial Family would handle that.
"..."
Only then did Aiden properly take in their appearances.
Scars covered their bodies—marks absent during their Black Forest encounter.
Luke's arm seemed to bother him.
Lucy's messy hair revealed a large scar from her right temple to the back of her neck, slashed by something sharp.
Undeveloped Pioneering Corps.
Gathered to develop uncharted lands, as the name implied.
Blackout hid unknown dangers, so they staked their lives on every mission.
In just months, they'd faced death countless times.
"Haa... Alright. Lift your heads."
"...You forgive us?!"
"I don't have the authority for that. The Imperial Family will judge."
The Imperial Family judges.
Aiden thought his own words sounded cowardly.
He knew full well they weren't that just.
Yet here he was, invoking them when it suited him, despite his disgust.
Still, he couldn't bring himself to hate them outright.
If Luke hadn't blocked the Forest Guardian's heart essence to the end, Aiden couldn't have landed the finishing blow.
'And getting mad here would just... hinder the mission.'
Even rationally, there was no need to escalate with them further.
They had to work together for this job anyway.
That's how Aiden convinced himself.
Jun watched Aiden's expression and smiled faintly.
'He's getting good at controlling his emotions now.'
Jun had taught Aiden to suspect everyone by default.
But blind suspicion got you nowhere. You needed the courage to act despite it.
Aiden seemed to have mastered that.
'Physical growth isn't his only strength.'
Anyway.
"Th-thank you!"
"...Thank you."
Luke and Lucy straightened up, relief washing over their faces.
"Still, I'm genuinely glad to see you again! Oh, and if it's okay, let me introduce you to our squad—?!"
Luke's mouth clamped shut mid-sentence, forced closed.
He flailed in panic, mumbling "mmph mmph!" while clutching his mouth. Lucy, unfazed as if accustomed, turned toward the voice's source.
Leon, having finished talking with Schneider, now issued orders to the prisoners with a cold expression.
"Break's over. Move to the next point, all of you."
The prisoners—who'd ignore anyone else—rose as one and marched in formation.
Luke and Lucy were among them.
Why did they look like marionettes under control?
"S-Senior..."
"It's word-binding."
His gaze fell to the prisoners' necks.
Crude iron collars, far rougher than his own.
From within emanated a familiar power.
Similar to his choker, yet from a different lineage.
"What to call it? Overly efficient, maybe?"
Eleanor, who had approached, put it perfectly.
'Overly efficient.'
Spot on.
With those collars around their necks, the prisoners couldn't defy the captain.
Eat if ordered. Walk if told.
'Even die if commanded.'
They'd have no choice.
No trace of human rights here.
'Stronger constraints than Master's word-binding.'
Still, Jun instinctively knew it wasn't magic.
Magic converted mana into natural forces.
Binding humans like this fell more into sorcery's domain.
'Makes sense. That level of coercion demands massive power.'
So, no reason for Jun to care.
The irritation vanished from his face.