Chapter 418: 9. A Mercenary's Trivial Daily Life (1/2)
Chapter 418: 9. A Mercenary's Trivial Daily Life (1/2)
“Miracle!”
A brilliant light erupted from Ahn Sol’s entire body. The pure white rays reached the ceiling and formed a round oval, from which a noble woman with fluttering white wings emerged. With her eyes serenely closed, she was the very picture of an angel.
“Whoa…”
As the room filled with light, Cha Sorim, who was lying on the bed, let out a faint gasp. The Priestess of Radiance’s unique ability, ‘Miracle,’ was as visually spectacular and beautiful as it was effective.
The angel slowly opened her eyes and looked down at Ahn Sol, as if asking for her wish.
Ahn Sol pointed at Cha Sorim and spoke.
“Angel-nim, Angel-nim. Please heal the wounds this person received from the lich.”
The angel nodded her head benevolently, as if it were no trouble at all. Seeing this, Ahn Sol tilted her head.
Just as the angel’s hand was about to reach for Cha Sorim, Ahn Sol spoke again.
“Ah! Actually, how about you just restore her entire body to perfect condition? Since you’re healing her anyway, please throw in some extra service.”
Did my eyes deceive me, or did the angel’s hand hesitate for a moment? Seeing the angel nod with a reluctant expression, I let out a dry laugh. Bargaining with an angel for extra service. She was really something else.
But I was underestimating Ahn Sol.
“Umm, wait a moment. Angel-nim, Angel-nim. Come to think of it, we won’t see each other for a while after this, right? So please heal our Soohyun-orabeoni, too. He seems so tired these days, it breaks my heart. You’ll do it, right? Please?”
The angel suddenly glared at me. Hey, why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t do anything wrong, you… you angel.
“Ah, no, wait. If I do that, the others might feel left out… You know what, just heal everyone in the Mercenary House. You know, that thing you did during the war? That should be enough. Hehe.”
Ahn Sol nodded to herself, a bright smile on her face.
I was impressed. My god. “You know, that thing you did during the war,” she’d said. Miracle was arguably the highest-level divine spell in existence, yet Ahn Sol’s way of summoning it, as if she were calling a neighbor’s dog, was truly a sight to behold.
The angel clenched her fists. She looked down at Ahn Sol with an expression of utter disbelief, and this time, I knew it wasn’t a trick of the light.
Ahn Sol must have felt the angel’s gaze, because her smile quickly vanished. Her shoulders slumped dejectedly, and she pouted.
“Just do whatever you want…”
The angel let out a deep sigh. Or at least, it looked like she did. She then unclenched her fists and raised her hands high into the air. Every single one of her movements looked sacred, but why did it suddenly seem like she was putting on a show of reluctance?
Flash!
『All health is restored!』
『All magic is restored!』
『All status ailments are cured!』
A blinding light flashed for a moment before disappearing, and the messages I had seen once before appeared in a stream. At the same time, vitality began to surge through my body. I’d occasionally felt sluggish since using ‘Domain Declaration,’ but that discomfort now melted away like snow.
It seemed I wasn’t the only one. I could hear Ahn Hyun and Lee Yoojung, who were standing beside me, making a fuss. The Angel of Miracle. One way or another, it seemed she had granted Ahn Sol’s request.
As I seriously considered the possibility that Ahn Sol might have a talent for business, I gazed at the bed. The light that had seeped into everyone’s bodies was now slowly fading.
“Is it… over?”
“Yes, it’s over. Would you like to try moving?”
Cha Sorim’s face was a mixture of doubt and hope. But as Ahn Sol suggested, she cautiously moved her arm, and her eyes widened in an instant.
“Huh? Huh?!”
After moving her arm several times, Cha Sorim quickly sat up straight. Then, as if checking every part of her body, she began to slowly stretch. The unnaturalness I had seen in her movements before was completely gone.
“My master! Are your wounds truly healed?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Really? For real?”
“I said yes.”
Was she finally convinced that she was healed? Cha Sorim pushed away the vampire who was pouncing on her and stared at me with trembling eyes. But I just shook my head quietly and gestured toward Ahn Sol. Cha Sorim looked down at her with a surprised expression, then got off the bed and tightly grasped Ahn Sol’s hands.
“Y-You said your name was User Ahn Sol?”
“Yes~.”
Ahn Sol was all smiles. Come to think of it, I’d heard she sometimes went to the temple to volunteer after the war. She could be a bit eccentric at times, but it seemed that helping someone brought her great joy.
“My body… is completely healed. No, I feel even better than before. Thank you. Truly, from the bottom of my heart.”
“It’s nothing. I’m just glad you’ve recovered.”
“Ohohoho!”
As Ahn Sol feigned humility with a proud look on her face, the vampire immediately knelt before her. He spread his arms wide and spoke in an exaggerated voice.
“Ah, Ahn Sol! Your name is Ahn Sol! Is this what a miracle is? Are you the saintess of the Hall Plain?”
“What…? N-No way. A saintess? I’m just an ordinary priest. Hehe.”
In a word, it was overkill.
Ahn Sol took the vampire’s hand with a kind expression. Then, with an infinitely benevolent look, she quietly helped him up.
“There, now, please rise. You’re making me uncomfortable.”
“B-But…! Even so…!”
“I am no saintess. Miracles are but a bridge called coincidence, laid for those who strive. Today’s miracle is the day your efforts were rewarded. So please, be proud of yourself.”
“S-Saintess-nim!”
Give me a break.
The two of them were putting on quite a show. The vampire was ecstatic, and Cha Sorim was managing a strained smile, her face a mask of awkwardness.
Unable to watch any longer, I turned my head, only to see Ahn Hyun and Lee Yoojung clinging to each other just as tightly. Oh, what a nice sight.
“Ugh… Is that… really my sister? What happened to her?”
“Is she crazy? She’s been volunteering at the temple lately, and now she’s got some serious delusions of grandeur. Ugh, it gives me the creeps.”
“Hey. Lee Yoojung. That’s still my sister you’re talking about. Watch your mouth.”
“For a sister you care so much about… Huh?”
Finally sensing something was off, Lee Yoojung narrowed her eyes and stared at Ahn Hyun. Ahn Hyun, with a completely clueless expression, pulled her even closer.
“Hey, hey! Ahn Hyun?”
“Just stay still. This is cringey enough as it is.”
At Ahn Hyun’s nonchalant words, Lee Yoojung’s face crumpled. Three seconds passed.
Thwack!
“You fucking pervert!”
“Keuk!”
Lee Yoojung spat out a vulgar curse and slammed her fist into his abdomen. She then delivered a fierce kick to the fallen Ahn Hyun. After hissing like an angry cat for a while, Lee Yoojung, breathing heavily, turned to look at me.
“I can’t let my guard down for a second. See?!”
“Wh-Who would want to touch your body…”
Thwack!
“Shut up! Oppa! He was being a pervert to me!”
Then she strode over, latched onto me, and wrapped her arms around my body. Her physique was quite mature, and the distinct scent of a woman filled my nostrils.
I asked, dumbfounded.
“…Then what are you doing right now?”
“Mmm. Purification. I’m purifying my body that was tainted by Ahn Hyun… Don’t mind me… Mmm, this feels nice…”
“He’s not a cockroach, you know.”
“No, Oppa. Ahn Hyun is a cockroach.”
Lee Yoojung declared it with certainty. I quietly shook my head and calmly looked around.
Lee Yoojung was making strange humming noises, and Ahn Hyun was groaning in pain. The vampire was still lost in his praise, and Ahn Sol… I don’t even want to talk about it.
Among them, only Cha Sorim, her face buried in her hands, caught my eye. Her face was bright red; it seemed she had tried to adapt to Ahn Sol and the vampire but had finally given up.
Then, at some point, our eyes met.
Why do I feel a sense of kinship…?
It was a familiar feeling, for no particular reason. Cha Sorim met my gaze with a look of understanding.
Then, she and I sighed at the same time.
*
Several days had passed since Cha Sorim joined the Mercenary Clan. Having now fully recovered, she requested to take the test we had promised her.
Honestly, I didn’t think a test was necessary for Cha Sorim. I was already well aware of her skills. However, the other clan members, who didn’t have a Third Eye, couldn’t possibly think the same way, so I accepted her request and set up a space in the garden.
A quiet silence and taut tension flowed through the garden where the clan members had gathered. At the center of it all stood Ahn Hyun and Cha Sorim. The two of them, each holding a spear, were staring each other down.
The test was a ‘duel.’ To be honest, having Ahn Hyun as Cha Sorim’s opponent was a bit of a misnomer. I had originally planned to have her face Nam Daeun.
However, when I announced the test, Ahn Hyun had strongly requested to be Cha Sorim’s opponent. He said he had been practicing hard, and as a fellow spear user, it seemed his competitive spirit was stirred. I couldn’t bring myself to refuse his earnest plea, so I ended up agreeing.
In truth, facing Ahn Hyun might have been more pressure for Cha Sorim. If her opponent had been Nam Daeun, the clan members would have been convinced even if she only put up a decent fight. After all, Nam Daeun had a reputation as the Sword Empress.
But Ahn Hyun was a User with fewer years of experience than Cha Sorim. This meant she was under pressure to win so overwhelmingly that no one could complain.
However, I wasn’t worried about that possibility. Ahn Hyun had a Rare Class and was highly skilled for his year, but he was still only a rookie who had just become a Year 1 User. It was nearly impossible for him to defeat a serious Cha Sorim.
It should be starting soon.
Two minutes had passed since the test began, with both of them just staring at each other. The first thing I noticed was Ahn Hyun’s black spear. Its tip swam gently through the air, aiming to distract his opponent’s vision while searching for a point to attack.
In contrast, Cha Sorim’s stance was incredibly natural. Should I say she looked very relaxed? The tip of her spear was angled down, and her front was wide open. It was a taunting posture, as if to say, “I’m giving you an opening, so attack if you dare.” However, her slightly raised eyes were constantly observing Ahn Hyun’s entire body.
Soon, Ahn Hyun’s left hand moved. His right hand was still waving the spear, but his left hand had subtly rested on the butt of the spear. At the same time, his posture began to crouch lower and lower, indicating he was about to charge forward.
It was the moment I thought Ahn Hyun was about to push off the ground.
Whoosh!
“Hah!”
Cha Sorim swung her spear lightly. It was a meaningless swing, really, but Ahn Hyun was so startled that he bent his back sharply.
Tsk.
A foolish evasion. The sharp stance he had so carefully maintained was now a complete mess. The tension of facing a master had gotten the better of him.
However, it was in that instant.
Instead of straightening up, Ahn Hyun’s bent back arched even further. Then, with a powerful snap of his waist, he threw his entire body forward in a fierce charge.
The advantage of an Aura Spearman lies in their flexible martial arts. They aim for the opponent’s blind spots while eliminating their own. They can accurately thrust and evade from any awkward posture.
That was precisely Ahn Hyun’s aim. His posture had been broken, but he used that moment to his advantage. He had gambled on the thought, ‘She won’t think I can attack from this position.’
Shwoong!
The black spear cut through the air, shooting straight forward. He must not have been slacking in his practice, as the speed was swift and the trajectory of the thrust was quite clean.
The distance closed in an instant, just as Ahn Hyun’s spear was about to pierce the spot where Cha Sorim had been standing.
But in that moment, her foot took a single step to the left.
The match is decided.
I knew it instinctively. The intention to catch her off guard was good, but Ahn Hyun had opted for a one-hit kill instead of an exchange. That meant there was no second chance.
Cha Sorim had been watching Ahn Hyun’s entire body from the start. In other words, she wasn’t just watching his spear and upper body, but his lower body as well. She must have noticed that his lower body was braced with more force than necessary compared to his waist.
If you knew an attack was coming, it was easy to block. In fact, the match was decided the moment Cha Sorim first swung her spear.
Having sidestepped, Cha Sorim let Ahn Hyun’s spear fly past her. At the same time, she swung the spear she was holding upwards, striking Ahn Hyun in the abdomen.
Thwack!
“Keoheok!”
The moment Ahn Hyun hit the ground, the match was perfectly settled. Cha Sorim had subdued him in just three moves. It was a test no one could complain about.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
A moment later, applause broke out. Cha Sorim bowed politely, while Ahn Hyun hung his head powerlessly. I also clapped lightly. Congratulations for the victor, and consolation for the loser.
Cha Sorim remained expressionless, but she didn't look arrogant in the slightest.
“It was a good match.”
“Y-Yes. Th-Thank you.”
“Are you alright?”
“I think so. Ha, haha.”
Cha Sorim nodded once. She swept her wind-blown hair behind her ear, then extended a hand to Ahn Hyun, who was sitting dazedly on the ground.
“Ah…”
Ahn Hyun let out a faint gasp. He looked back and forth between Cha Sorim’s face and her outstretched hand before cautiously taking it.
“Well then.”
“W-Wait a moment!”
After helping Ahn Hyun up, Cha Sorim came and stood before me. Her eyes asked what I thought, and I spoke with satisfaction.
“Congratulations on passing the test. Your clean evasion and crisp movements were outstanding.”
“I am glad I did not disappoint.”
“From now on, you will be treated as an official clan member. So, once again, welcome to Mercenary.”
“Thank you. I will work hard.”
Cha Sorim lowered her eyes slightly and nodded her head. For some reason, she seemed to be avoiding my gaze.
I tilted my head for a moment, then looked at Ahn Hyun, who was still standing in the center. Was the shock of defeat that great? He just stood there, staring down at his own hands.
He’s not going to fall into despair, is he?
I watched Ahn Hyun for a long time before calmly getting up.
“Let’s go. We’ll have a meal first, then proceed with the official clan member procedures.”
“Procedures…?”
At Cha Sorim’s question, I smiled lightly and answered.
“Internally, we’ll check your equipment and assign you a room. Externally, we’ll need to change your status.”
Cha Sorim nodded once more. She was still staring at the ground.
*
“I don’t like this room either.”
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
Mercenary House Annex. A sudden scream echoed through the third floor, which the clan members used as their living quarters.
“So show me another room, alchemist.”
“Hey! Cut it out! How many rooms has it been already?!”
Vivian shrieked. The cause was none other than the vampire, Sasha Felix.
When Kim Soohyun registered Cha Sorim as a Mercenary Clan member, he also registered the vampire, who was bound to her as a slave. So, after finishing the procedures at the registration office, Kim Soohyun gave Vivian a special order.
He told her to show them around the Mercenary House and take care of things like their rooms. The deeper meaning was that now that they were all part of the same family, they should forget the past and try to get along.
But, as expected, a problem arose. The vampire, who had eaten well and enjoyed the tour, suddenly became picky when it came to choosing a room.
Vivian, who had planned to give a quick tour and run off to Nam Daeun, had to change her plans after seeing the vampire’s room selection process.
The vampire’s method of choosing a room was peculiar, but the process itself was simple. He would sniff the air and immediately give her verdict.
But the reasons were ridiculous. For example, “It’s cold,” or “It smells strange,” or “I can’t feel any soul,” and so on.
Anyway.
Whatever the reason, Vivian couldn’t help but be flabbergasted at him deciding yes or no based on a simple smell.
“You. You’re not doing this just because I tied you up and tortured you a bit, are you? Huh? So childish.”
Vivian’s eyes blazed, and she wiggled her fingers as if ready to scratch Sasha’s face off at any moment. But the vampire was unfazed. He snorted loudly and gave her a pathetic look.
“Hmph. As expected of a lowly spider. Is it so difficult to simply show me a room?”
“No. I’m asking how many rooms this is. You’re doing this on purpose to screw me over, aren’t you?”
“Screw you over? A vampire does not lie. He would rather not speak at all.”
The vampire shrugged and opened the door to another room herself to take a sniff. After sniffing for a while, he shook his head with an ‘as expected’ expression.
“This one’s no good either. Too barren.”
“Hah… Do whatever you want. I’m done. No. I can’t do this anymore!”
Finally, Vivian couldn’t take it anymore and declared she was giving up.
“Hmm. I don’t know the way.”
As if she didn’t care, the vampire clicked her tongue again and slowly walked to another door.
“That little…”
Although she said she was done, Vivian’s eyes were still following the vampire. As she watched him, she suddenly shouted urgently.
“Hey, wait! That room is occupied!”
But the vampire had already flung the door open. The room that was revealed had a neatly made bed and pure white priest robes hanging on the wall. There was also a pretty shelf on the wall and a plank filled with teacups, giving the room a cute, cozy feel.
“Sniff, sniff. Sniff sniff sniff.”
Seeing the vampire stick only his head in to smell the room, Vivian cursed under her breath.
“Hey! I said it’s occupied!”
“Sniff sniff sniff. Sniff. Sniff…?”
“Can’t you hear me? That’s Ahn Sol’s room!”
Furious at being ignored, Vivian screamed. Then she stomped over, looking ready to kick him in the ass.
“You…!”
And it was in that moment.
“Huuuurrrggghhh!”
“Kyaaak! Kyaaaaaak!”
Sasha suddenly started vomiting. Vivian shrieked and scrambled back, letting out a string of vulgar curses.
“C-Crazy! Are you really crazy?”
“Ugh! Bleeegh!”
But his repeated retching didn’t seem like an act. Vivian’s eyes widened as she observed him, then she cautiously approached.
“Hey. Hey?”
“Ugh… Urp…!”
“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden?”
“Hah… Hah… Dammit! Whose room is this?!”
Slam!
Vivian, who was about to answer, “I told you it was Ahn Sol’s room,” flinched at the sound of the door slamming shut.
The vampire was wiping his mouth, staring at the room with a look of utter contempt.
“Damn it! I shouldn’t have smelled it…!”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“The smell of saliva! The smell of a woman’s vaginal fluid! What kind of perverted stench is this?! This is truly the worst room I have ever seen!”
As if he held a deep grudge, the vampire spat out his words heatedly, then spun around and walked down the hall.
“Saliva? Vaginal fluid?”
Vivian tilted her head. She watched the vampire stride away, then quickly started to follow him.
“Where are you going now?”
“Forget it. I’ll look by myself.”
“The rooms from here on are all occupied!”
Perhaps wanting to get as far away from the previous room as possible, the vampire walked to the very end of the hallway and stopped in front of a certain door. He grabbed the doorknob and looked back at Vivian.
“Is this one occupied too?”
“Huh? Th-That one is…”
“Is it occupied?”
“Right now… no.”
“Phew. Then it shouldn’t matter.”
The vampire immediately pushed the door open. He took a deep breath for a moment, then stuck his head inside.
This room also showed signs of use. A light layer of fine dust covered the bed, and a faded robe hung on the wall above it. Thick books were neatly arranged on the desk, and on one side, there were simple tools used for alchemy.
“Wait a minute!”
Vivian, who had entered late, paused at the doorframe. As she looked inside, her eyes, for a brief moment, grew misty.
“Sniff sniff, sniff sniff sniff.”
Seeing the vampire sniffing the air, Vivian quickly grabbed his arm and pulled.
“Come on. Th-This one’s no good either, right? I’ll show you another room, let’s go to the fourth floor.”
“No, wait a moment.”
It was then.
Sasha shook off Vivian’s arm and slowly stepped inside. Vivian’s eyes went wide. It was the first time the vampire, who had only been sniffing from the outside until now, had actually entered a room.
“Hmm, hmmm.”
The vampire looked around the room, humming as if he liked something. Vivian watched him silently for a moment before speaking quietly.
“What about this one?”
“Pathetic.”
The vampire answered immediately. At the same time, Vivian’s brow furrowed deeply.
“What did you say?”
“It’s absurd, pitiful, and pathetic. Traces of deep anguish and struggle are etched everywhere. It’s so cumbersome and stifling that my own chest feels tight.”
“Ha. So you don’t like this one either?”
“But.”
Just then, the vampire stopped looking around. She glanced back and revealed a satisfied smile.
“It’s warm.”
“…What?”
“Strange. This is the only room that has any warmth. Mmm, mmm. I like it very much. Vivian la Classidus, was it? If it’s unoccupied, I’ll take this room. Is that alright?”
Vivian blinked as she watched the vampire nod her head in approval.
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
“You really like this room? Why?”
“Hmm… For this room, there’s no particular reason. It’s just a feeling, I suppose.”
The vampire just hummed, not giving a clear answer.
A brief silence followed. Sasha Felix carefully inspected the room for a long time before suddenly speaking.
“There’s a saying. Both in seasons and in life, spring only comes after the harsh cold has passed.”
“What does that mean?”
When Vivian asked in confusion, the vampire answered quietly.
“It means spring comes after winter passes.”
He closed his eyes, spread his arms, and took a deep breath.
“It’s absurd, but diligent… Pitiful, but I can feel its perseverance… Pathetic, but passionate… Yes. This room is like…”
The vampire paused for a moment.
Then, with a faint smile, he continued.
“Like a warm spring, just after winter has passed.”