Chapter 13
Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Spirit Mage (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
They decided to hear the details once they got back to the city. Terti explained that he'd been away from Nijerte for quite some time himself and had rushed straight into the subjugation mission right after returning, so he didn't know much in depth.
The next day, after breakfast, they set off immediately. The guild had already done everything it needed to for the subjugation party, so the rest was up to them to handle on the way back to the city.
Thanks to the carriage, they passed through Nijerte's gates in less than three hours. It headed straight for the mercenary guild.
They sent the clerk up alone and killed time browsing the bulletin board. After a while, the clerk came back down.
"You two, the guild master wants to see you."
Following the clerk's guidance, they met the guild master—a man in his early fifties who looked weathered, with traces of his once-robust youth still lingering.
"Come in, Terti. Nice to meet you, Lord Galen."
"Just call me Galen, no need for formalities."
Galen waved off the guild master's polite greeting.
Warriors of Silver rank or higher were addressed as "Lord" followed by their name, while mages or priests used "Lord" after theirs—in formal settings, at least.
Mercenaries weren't exactly a refined profession, and Galen had lived a life far from elegance, so lofty titles only made him uncomfortable.
"Call me just Galen, Terti. It's easier for me that way too."
"If it makes you more comfortable, so be it."
The guild master nodded and gave a brief introduction.
His name was Paul. He'd been a Silver-rank mercenary in the past and had taken over as guild master here about ten years ago after retiring.
After some casual greetings, Paul got straight to the point.
"Terti filled in one of the clerks on the details. Hunting down all those evil beasts, and how you took out the troll too. You've got the skills to more than deserve Silver rank."
"You're too kind. But if I may say so myself, aren't you trusting this a bit too easily?"
"It's Terti I'm trusting, to be precise. No one would lie about something that'd get exposed after just one job anyway. And there were other witnesses when you fought the troll."
Paul spoke bluntly and straightforwardly.
"Don't put too much stock in ranks. It just makes it easier for mercenaries to find work through the guild, and for the guild to build connections with skilled ones. Mutual benefit, that's all."
"Any obligations that come with Silver rank?"
"None. If anything, it's just upholding trust even more rigorously. From Silver on, it's hard to hide any screw-ups. Not many of you around, so you stand out."
"No issues as long as I don't cause trouble, then. I gratefully accept."
"Good. It'll take a bit for the mercenary tag to be issued, but from this moment, you're officially Silver rank, guaranteed by the Nijerte Mercenary Guild."
Terti chimed in with congratulations from the side. Galen and Paul shook hands.
"Now, let's get to the main topic."
In the warm atmosphere, Galen smiled softly as he spoke.
"You didn't call me here just to promote me to Silver, I'm guessing."
"...You knew, huh. Terti must've told you. How much did you hear?"
"Just something about power struggles in the city. Nothing specific."
"Hmm."
The mood turned serious again as Paul gathered his thoughts.
Galen did the same in his head, sorting through what he knew.
This world was unusual in that there were no emperors or kings.
There had been empires and kingdoms in the past, but endless wars and rebellions had wiped them out long ago. Who knew what the future held, but right now, those were just words.
Unlike Earth, where vast lands meant wealth, population, and overwhelming armies, this world was full of superhumans who could take on a hundred foes alone. Centralization just wasn't feasible.
So how did the world turn? Much like Renaissance-era Italy.
City-states. Each city, backed by dozens of villages, functioned as its own little nation.
The rulers were warrior families or mage families who wielded overwhelming force against common folk.
Families like the Oceanis, with their brute strength and size, dominated multiple cities. Others saw minor families band together to share control of one.
From what Galen had overheard during his two-plus months in Nijerte, this city fell into the latter category.
"If you divide Nijerte's power players simply, it's the Gaud faction versus the Narok faction."
Paul spoke up once he'd organized his thoughts. Galen picked up.
"I've heard those names. Supposedly, they hate each other's guts."
"Enemies for decades. Their powers have been in a delicate balance until recently, keeping things stable. But the Gauds just hired a powerful mercenary and shattered it."
"Gold rank?"
"If it were, the Naroks' heads would've rolled, not just the balance. Not quite that big a deal. But tricky all the same. The mercenary's a spirit mage."
"A spirit mage!"
Galen's eyes widened slightly.
They fell under the mage category broadly, but instead of casting spells themselves, they wielded magic indirectly through summoned spirits. Rare even among rare mages, and here of all places.
"That's why you want me? A mage to counter their mage?"
"Exactly. Remember that incident before the subjugation, when you spilled beer? At Bron Brothers' Haven."
"Ah, right."
"Word spread like wildfire among the mercenaries there. Reached my ears, and the Gauds' and Naroks' too."
Paul paused and pulled two envelopes from his desk drawer. Each bore a different crest.
"They sent these invitations before your skills even fully leaked out. Once word of your Silver rank and the troll spreads, they'll be even more eager."
"Naroks make sense, but the Gauds want me too? Even with their spirit mage?"
"Oh, right, I forgot to mention. The spirit mage commands a fire spirit."
"Ah..."
"You can guess why they want you."
Of course. A water mage would counter a fire spirit nicely, they'd figure.
The Naroks had flames literally at their feet, so they needed a firefighter. The Gauds probably wanted Galen less for his power and more to keep him from the Naroks.
"Must be a shock facing this right after getting back, but you'll need to decide in a few days."
Paul told the pondering Galen as he eyed the invitations.
"Help the Gauds, the Naroks, or neither."
*
Galen and Terti left the guild and headed to Bron Brothers' Haven.
"Oh, you're back!"
Freeman and Saker greeted them warmly.
They ran the tavern late into the night, so they didn't open during the day. Few guests stayed at the inn then anyway. Perfect time to relax.
"Some beer, please, brothers."
"You punk, drinking this early?"
"Work's done—time for a drink. Galen, you in?"
"Beer for me too, thanks."
"What, you turned into a drinker in just a few days? Caught it from this guy?"
"All that dried meat on the mountain made me miss the taste of beer."
"Our esteemed mage has been through a lot."
"Heh, we'll get the best snacks ready."
The four sat around, passing mugs and digging in. Terti mostly gushed about Galen's amazing magic, while Galen played the embarrassed role.
After a long chat about the subjugation, the topic shifted to city gossip. The speakers moved from Terti to Freeman and Saker.
"The factions first clashed the day the subjugation party left. Personally, I think the Gauds timed it on purpose."
"Timed it?"
"With so many mercenaries gone for the subjugation, the Naroks couldn't reinforce quickly. Gauds probably wanted to press hard early and seize the momentum."
"Naroks took heavy losses, from what I hear. Dozens dead or injured in the last week or so, and a few buildings burned down."
Freeman and Saker took turns explaining the situation. Terti's face grew serious.
"That bad? Narok morale must be in the dumps."
"That's the word. Even elsewhere it's even, but wherever the spirit mage shows, Gauds steamroll."
"That strong?"
Galen voiced his doubt.
"Not Gold, so probably Silver. No way Naroks lack a Silver-level fighter?"
"They've got 'em. Gauds too. Just all warriors on both sides. That's the issue."
"Imagine you and me fighting. I dodge your water and slash you—my win. Can't dodge—yours. Fifty-fifty odds, so we're equals."
"Right."
"But think back to the troll. You at full power, safe and focused on offense? Your damage output was way above mine."
"Mages get preferential treatment over warriors for that reason. One-on-one similar, but they shine in key situations. Same with the Gaud spirit mage."
Terti, Freeman, and Saker explained in turns. Galen nodded.
"Got it. In group fights, you can't target the protected spirit mage, so you're just watching spirits rampage."
"Yep. If one side had overwhelming warrior numbers to push through, maybe. But they're evenly matched."
"Teaming with Naroks seems advantageous, then..."
"The desperate side pays best. But tread carefully."
"I know. Great terms mean nothing if you back the losers."
Water beat fire usually, but not guaranteed every time. Even on Earth, massive blazes took dozens of fire trucks hours to extinguish.
A spirit mage handling that scale wouldn't linger at Silver, sure, but still—no assuming easy wins.
"Need to think it over more. Seeing them fight firsthand would give a better sense of strength."
"Tough to time it right. Gauds don't announce their raids."
"No need to decide today, eh? We'll gather more intel. Eavesdrop on guests—something'll turn up."
Freeman and Saker spoke cheerfully, easing Galen's mind a bit. Yeah, just back today—deserved a rest day.
"Sure. Let's just drink for now."
That's when the four clinked mugs.
Ding-a-ling!
The shop door suddenly opened. All four heads turned toward it in unison.
A woman led, followed by a man. They wore loose cloaks with hoods, traveler style. Thin for the season—looked a bit warm.
"Inn guests? No food service till tonight."
The pair ignored Freeman's question and stared silently. More like glaring.
The three ex-mercs furrowed their brows slightly, but Galen narrowed his eyes. He murmured low.
"...I think I know who they are."
"Hm?"
"Spirit mage."