Chapter 74
Chapter 74
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 74
Asher's declaration came true exactly one week later, just as he had said.
Whenever they stepped out onto the streets, the only name echoing everywhere was Baern's Divine Blue Sword.
It was astonishing how quickly they had gained fame, and the whole group let out exclamations of awe. No one bothered asking how it had happened.
It was only natural. They had all gone through it together, the four of them.
Still, it was impossible not to let out a hollow laugh.
Looking back on everything from the very first day.
After securing a place to stay, they immediately registered as mercenaries.
There was some trouble during the process, but Asher didn't bother avoiding it.
"Mercenaries are done for if they're underestimated."
Instead of his usual clean precision, he overwhelmed them with brutal aggression, laying the mercenaries flat.
Every mercenary in the guild office witnessed the scene. Even executives from the top ten mercenary groups, dubbed the "Big Ten," were involved. They offered Asher a position with them, but he turned them down and headed straight out on a mission.
After that, everything fell into place.
Exterminating massive sandworms in the desert, wiping out bandit groups, investigating ruins. By cherry-picking only the highest-difficulty missions between those and clearing two or three a day, the Blue Sword's exploits were enough to shock all of Baern.
The mercenaries who had sneered on day one that they wouldn't last four days were now watching in reverent awe, wondering how far they would go.
Already, mercenaries were lining up to join as new recruits.
Of course, they didn't expand the group.
"If we take on newbies and our identities get exposed, it'll be trouble."
Halia smacked her lips regretfully.
But there was no helping it.
"If new recruits show up, you won't be able to step forward, Halia."
"That's why I'm staying put, isn't it?"
All the missions they'd taken so far had been extermination jobs.
And Halia was always the one charging in.
Imagine if more new recruits joined now.
Halia was publicly playing the role of Ria, the spoiled rich girl.
The main reason the Blue Sword was seen as strong was the three mercenaries by her side, who outclassed even Big Ten executives.
What if that girl suddenly picked up a hammer and smashed enemies to pulp? The fallout wouldn't be pretty.
For now, they had to be satisfied with this.
Fortunately, Halia didn't seem too dissatisfied.
"Maybe I should become a mercenary after I retire! Heh heh!"
She seemed to genuinely enjoy the mercenary life more than expected.
Above all, being the leader of the Blue Sword probably helpedno one could dismiss her to her face anymore.
In any case, the Blue Sword's debut in Baern had been a resounding success.
The only regrettable part was that, despite Asher pulling off all the feats, the praise went to Versia.
"Terbion, you're quite capable, aren't you?"
"You're too kind, Saintess."
With their bodies swapped now, everything had to be chalked up to plans from her mind.
Asher wasn't the type to thirst for praise anyway, so he didn't mind much.
There was only one thing he truly cared about.
"Ah, 'Tia of Incest' did great work too!"
"Halia!"
"Why yell? Isn't that what people call you?"
"You know it's a nasty nickname!"
"Hey now, raising your voice at me?"
"Urgh...!"
Asher glared at Halia, his face flushed red and trembling with rage.
He felt so wronged. That nickname had come about because every time someone approached Versia, he'd broken their limbs.
He'd explained it to Halia as "part of his training," but to the outside world, it painted him as a crazed little sister obsessed with her brother, keeping everyone away.
Mercenary nicknames were usually like that.
No matter how strong or special you were, even Big Ten leaders often ended up with some screwball moniker.
There were two reasons.
First, every mercenary started out as a scrub, and nicknames usually stuck from those early days.
Second, there was the superstition that tacky nicknames helped you survive longer.
Whatever the case, it was a phrase that gave him a headache every time he heard it.
He felt so indignant and humiliated he wanted to bash his head against the wall, but the infuriating Versia was grinning and enjoying the nickname alongside him.
He had no allies.
Sensing this would turn into another round of teasing, Asher quickly changed the subject.
"Enough of that. Take a look at this."
"Oh ho, changing the topic."
"...Keep it up, and I won't show you."
"Acting all prickly. Fine, fine! Let me see!"
Asher placed the letter on the table with a sullen expression.
"What we were aiming for arrived."
"Aiming for?"
"An invitation from the crown prince."
"Oh ho...!"
Halia's eyes lit up.
But it was too early to celebrate.
"It's not a ball invitation. This isn't that fancy a place."
"Huh? Then what is it?"
"A recommendation ticket for the arena."
"...?"
Halia's brow furrowed.
It was understandable to be puzzled. But this wasn't the kind of arena she imagined.
"Think of it as a martial tournament. Losers often end up crippled somewhere, but it's rare for lives to be at real risk. Even Big Ten members participate, so if we make a showing here, dining with royalty won't be hard."
The tournament was the biggest festival held in Baern.
It had been Asher's dream as a child to win it.
"Ambitious mercenaries all enter. Make it to the top sixteen, and you'll face off against Big Ten core members."
"If we aim for the win..."
"Yes, we'd get invited straight to the palace, not just a meeting with the prince."
It would take them right to their goal.
Typically, the mercenary group that produced the champion stayed in the palace guest quarters, starring in the three-day feast that followed.
Three days and two nights in the palace.
Perfect conditions for investigating Baern's anomalies.
"It certainly sounds like a good opportunity."
Halia's expression darkened slightly as she spoke.
Asher knew what she meant.
"Yes, we'd have to be careful. With heretics likely behind Baern's troubles, they won't just welcome an outsider wielding divine power."
Still, they had to take the challenge.
There was no other way.
* * *
Right after deciding to enter the arena, they handled the necessary paperwork.
The tournament started in three days, so they set missions aside for now and took some rest.
Asher headed out into the streets with Versia.
Baern's citizens, recognizing them, buzzed and cleared a path.
He could hear that damn nickname whispered here and there, but he couldn't snap at every one.
The nickname's one silver lining: no one approached or leered sleazily.
The rumor that she'd slash you just for looking kept the stares at "Tia" purely fearful.
"It's ironic how convenient this is."
"...Better than them ogling me sexually. And I'm not actually going to brutalize them anyway."
"I'm always grateful. For protecting my purity."
"It's only natural."
"But forbidding even me from touching is a bit much."
"Of course it's not allowed!"
It was a perennial argument, but with their bodies swapped, Versia touching Asher's current body was sexual harassment.
The standard for harassment was the victim's shame, and from that view, Asher clearly felt humiliated by it.
No matter how many times he told her, Versia would lunge with "It's my own body, what's the big deal?" She was definitely the bad one here.
"It's not like it'll wear out from touching."
"It will."
"Prove it. I'll touch it, and you show me if it wears out."
"Argh, I hate this!"
"Hmm, alright. That's enough for today."
Her languid smile, like a well-fed lion, made him want to flick her forehead hard.
Maybe it was time to counter with "Fine, go ahead and touch it then."
The reason he didn't? She'd actually do it.
And go beyond...
Zing!
'...Ah, the pleasure point!'
Asher sucked in a sharp breath and focused his mind.
His slightly flushed cheeks calmed. His fingers clenched into fists then relaxed.
Only then did peace return.
His racing heartbeat settled back to normal.
Asher let out a relieved sigh and shot Versia a sulky glare.
Realizing what happened, Versia shut her mouth.
Apologize already instead of looking away.
"...You're the one thinking dirty thoughts, Knight."
"You're the one making me think that way."
"That's straight out of the 'You made me horny first' playbook..."
"Th-that's...!"
She finally quieted down when he glared with wide eyes.
They were bickering like that while passing through one of Baern's alleys.
"H-Hey, wait!"
A man wrapped in ragged cloth emerged from around the corner.
He reached for Versia's wrist, but Asher blocked him.
"Guh!"
"Who are you?"
Asher demanded, twisting the man's wrist with clear hostility.
But a moment later, he froze.
"Wait! I know you! You're Asher, right? Yeah? Don't you remember me?"
Asher's eyes wavered.
He knew this black-haired man, pleading desperately while looking at Versia.
"It's me! Your best bud, Gester!"
He was Gester Kuolin, Asher's childhood friend who had shared his early years and dreamed the same dreams.