Monster House: Nobles Don't All Stand Eye to Eye
Not all nobles stand at the same eye level, even if they're from the same class. If noble bloodlines exist in the first place, wouldn't it make sense for some to be just a bit more exalted than others?
Excluding the imperial family, the two great noble houses that first come to mind when you think of the empire's top aristocracy are these: the "Northern Grand Duchy of Rostyra." A great noble house wielding independent power, using the frigid snowfields as their bulwark. To outsiders, they're cold tyrants, but they get the job done, they're diligent, tall, built like tanks, solid, with overwhelming presence and a 3:8 ratio of hotness—they're warm to their woman... something like that. Since the previous Northern Grand Duke's genes were passed down intact to his descendants, this was the house that would later take in an SSS-grade adopted daughter and shower her with everything they had while acting all tsundere.
And standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Rostyra as one of the empire's two pillars: the "Eastern Money Ghosts, the Biern Count family." This was the house Kiara's sub-male lead, Ludric, belonged to—a massive merchant family that had subjugated the smaller eastern houses and extended its influence even to the barren south.
These two houses truly stood at opposite ends of the spectrum in every way. While the harsh snowfields had bound the Rostyra bloodline tightly together, the Biern house's creed of judging everything by numbers constantly spurred its members to leap outward.
'Freedom! Only freedom...!' Toward the world beyond their gilded cage.
"I'll never come back."
Today, yet another adventurer set off into the wilds.
* * *
The gathering spot for southern mercenaries: the Monster House mercenary guild. Sure, these guilds overflowed in every southern city, but the locals preferred killing time here. Nothing special—just the best booze around.
"Pirra! Beer over here!"
"Hey!! We've been waiting forever for those snacks!"
"Miss waitress... today too... you're like... a ripe strawberry..."
Broad daylight, and this place was packed tighter than ever.
Is this really the spot?
Harsh as it sounded, finding decent folk among mercenaries was tough. Not that they all lacked personality—it's just that people who couldn't fill their voids in normal life often turned to this path.
'Though most are personality-deficient too.'
A hunger for wealth too vast for odd jobs. The thrill of dancing on death's tightrope. A primal world divided solely by strength—that's what you got here.
'He said he ran away from home and worked at the biggest guild in the south.'
A throwaway line from the novel. Not detailed, but there was no bigger guild in the south anyway.
"Hey, new face. Take off the helmet."
"…."
"Can't talk? Mute or somethin'?"
The wrong crowd always shows up. Good thing I'd worn the orphanage's decorative armor helmet. The director had a knack for earning cash in masks or helmets anyway. I could probably take three of these clowns.
Which was more mercenary: knocking him flat or ignoring him?
I mulled it over when...
"Oh, come on, Richard! Don't harass the other customers!"
"...Well, if Pirra says so."
Perfect timing—the redheaded waitress jumped in.
"Hello! First time here, right, mercenary sir? Need help with registration?"
"...Please."
"Sure thing! Just wait here a sec—I'll get registration sorted from upstairs!"
That's why I hate mercenaries. So frivolous and loud.
"At least we won't run into her face again."
The U-shaped second floor let the upstairs tavern overlook the main hall. Smart business—keep the mercs thirsty while they waited for quests.
"Sorry for the wait! I'll handle your registration. Your name, please?"
"Lee Seoha."
"Lee... See-oh-ha?"
"...Just 'Lee' is fine."
No point using "Luagwen." What a headache—sudden rumors like "Porern Orphanage director jumps into merc work" or "Rich brat suddenly sponsors the orphanage..." Already exhausting.
"Unverified identities might face issues with quest assignments and payouts! Now just grab your desired quests from the board and bring 'em here!"
"Got it."
"And your companion—want to register too?"
Merc registration was a joke, barely any checks. Made sense—whoever risked their neck could eat.
"Your friend... oh, long time no see!"
"First time."
"Kiara, right...? That white hair peeking out... voice sounds familiar?"
"First time?"
"Uh... must've been a mistake! I'll register you fresh too!"
The hooded figure tailing me finished up. White hair slipped from under the hood... damn, who was that?
What's her game, I wonder.
Who knows. Visiting the merc guild was fine. Broke, short lifespan, and stuck with Kiara in a triple bind—my IQ 150 plus Shasha's 90 made 240 total brainpower to scheme a way to lure the sub-lead Biern.
'The count family's holy sword, Ludric Biern.' Guy suffering in the mismatched Sacrament Knight Order thanks to his family. Runs away, lives wild as a merc wastrel, meets Kiara. If he's fated for happiness with her, meeting sooner couldn't hurt.
But how'd it end up like this?
Looks like that one's registered too.
"Director, I'm so nervous—first guild ever."
"Don't worry. Super easy quests only."
Kiara. The waitress clearly recognized you.
What did she even think of Luagwen? If she bought this act, she might peg me as IQ-70 "My Little Dolphin" Shasha-level.
'Or maybe she's openly on guard.'
Original plan: Quiet solo contact with Biern, help him hide at the orphanage away from count eyes. Build trust mutually... and gauge Kiara's reaction on sight.
'If she's regressed, no way she misses Biern.'
Canon said it'd rattle her. Perfect intel-gathering under a flawless plan... but I "ran into" Kiara right outside the guild.
— "Director, right?"
— "…Kiara, what brings you here?"
— "Knew it... Saw the church letter by chance! Orphanage is so broke you're merc-ing now?"
— "Huh?"
— "I learned basic magic back then! I'll help!"
— "No need, it's not that dire..."
— "Nope! Gotta repay you for saving me. And I don't wanna lose the orphanage and split from everyone..."
Should've refused harder? Nah, rejecting that earnest plea would've been suspicious. Should've ignored her under the helmet.
If so, we'd have "bumped into" her inside.
I still felt Kiara's quiet gaze on me.
'No sign of Biern, though.'
Novel called him a striking handsome type... unless missing front teeth counted as "striking," he wasn't here.
Couldn't openly prowl the mercs forever, so I scanned the board.
'Low-grade quests bottom, higher up top.'
Higher risk, better pay—but not my goal. Wasn't here to actually merc for rewards.
Board half-empty, already taken. Skimming casually, one corner quest caught my eye.
'Well, well...'
Sacrament Knight Order's deserter hunt request.
Sacrament Knight Order—Biern's old crew.
'Stuck-up knights outsourcing to mercs for their own deserter.'
And posted here? Stinks.
"Picked your quests?"
"Yeah, these."
"Five herb-gathering gigs! Processing... Due today!"
Grabbed whatever looked easy.
"And this deserter hunt too."
"...Sacrament Knights? Hate to say it, but pay sucks—not recommended."
"It's fine."
Lowered my voice conspiratorially, but gestured obviously.
"...Rumor it's tied to the count's heir."
Quiet enough for Biern to hear, if here. No mercs reacted specially amid the drunks.
"Fun rumor. But only Silver rank or tracking skills qualify."
"Fine. Basic tracking's no issue."
Spread mana wide—showy, to the limit.
Before I hit it, she said:
"...Processed."
Easy.
Guild business done. Now just ditch Kiara.
"Director, tracking quest for us too?"
"Yeah. Decent pay."
"Knights are picky—sure it's okay?"
"Who knows."
Solo was best. Couldn't deal with Biern under her watch.
"Split here?"
"Huh?"
We're both playing pretend anyway. Hate revealing cards? Fine, I'll use it.
"Herb runs are simple—no need for two."
"Then tracking's..."
"Lucky you know basic magic. Otherwise, I'd worry sending you solo."
Handed her all the herb quests—worst routes, max hassle.
"But tracking needs Silver or skills—you don't qualify."
"…."
"You'll cover me, right? Pretty please."
"...Of course! I'll do my best!"
Ah. Can't get hooked on this. Now I get why the grand duke loved teasing her in canon.
* * *
— "Mercs' trail ends near Beast Forest. Join the advance team already there."
Porern, Beast Forest. Twisted, rotting trees—monster hideouts untouched by axes. No paths, but rally point close; linked up easy.
"Howdy. Alec."
"Edward."
"Pleasure. Wigen, from Sacrament Knights for the search."
Things are getting interesting.
Sure are.
"...I'm 'Lee.' Nice to meet you."
Quick nod, scanned their auras.
Lots wanna catch the runaway knight, huh.
Three distinct vibes.
'Knight aura? Priests similar?'
Thought I only saw evil god cultists' smog. Knights had faint light wraps... holy-ish, but weak.
If he'd noticed, he wouldn't sit idle.
'Lucky, maybe.'
Spotted earlier, might've been dead before I arrived.
'So party's me plus three cultists and one knight.'
This group had too many of my kind.