Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 81
Sandstorm.
It was the name of a mercenary corps that had stood as a witness to Baern's history alongside the mountainsa group always counted among the elite ever since the nation was born and the notion of the "Big Ten" came into being.
The fact that even Baern's children, who might not know the name of the current dynasty, all knew the Sandstorm Mercenary Corps spoke volumes about their prestige.
Asher had been one of those children.
He had regarded Sandstormnot the ever-changing names of dynasties swept along by the tides of historybut as a symbol of Baern's eternal spirit, something far grander.
Asher's eternal idol was the Trevion Mercenary Corps, but separately from that, he had always admired them.
An ancient giant that refused to fade with the eras, its name and scale built up over timeit was so magnificent.
And indeed, that was Asher's dream.
Someday, he wanted to become a mercenary who pulled his weight in Trevion, rise to lead it, and grow it into a force on the scale of Sandstorm.
When he spoke of that dream, his comrades would chuckle and ruffle his hair, while the captain clapped his shoulder in encouragement.
So he had thought it was nothing but grand and cool.
Asher realized Sandstorm wasn't such a romantic bunch when he turned eight.
That day, the mercenaries had rented out a tavern for a drinking party.
Since it was in the village, Asher was there too, and after taking a sip of Kyle's beer, he spat it out with a "blech" and jumped back.
It was then that Sandstorm showed upone of their top brass, Kaol.
"Little shits mouthing off."
Was he angry because the tavern they came to had already been booked out?
Or perhaps he simply couldn't stand Trevion's rising star growing brighter by the day.
Before turning to leave, Kaol kicked over a table in a rampage and hurled insults at the mercenaries.
Asher jumped up and down in fury.
The captain stayed calm. Or rather, he seemed utterly unconcerned.
"Asher, there's nothing uglier than those who hide behind borrowed glory. They're just pitiful creatures who can't survive without it. That one's probably lived his whole life as Sandstorm's Kaol, and he'll consider it his greatest honor to have even one line about him in their histories."
A long history didn't hold only romance.
The captain's words revealed why a millennium-spanning empire could never exist.
He only realized it later, once he'd gained some maturity, but Sandstorm was rotten to the core.
It was no longer a band of heroes worthy of its storied past, but a pack of hyenas riding on past glories to feed their greed.
They moved not out of pride as mercenaries, but like politicians chasing profit.
That must have been why.
Why Sandstorm kept meddling in Trevion's affairs at every turn after that day.
Why Trevion, as the Lion Corps, had let their outrages slide.
Among them, the man right in front of him nowKaolwas one of the people Asher resented most.
"Keh, your face is quite the asset."
Kaol approached with a sloppy gait, followed by his Sandstorm attendants.
Light brown hair, a sleazy face, a lean build, and average height.
Gaudy decorations that didn't suit his shabby looks said it all about the man.
Asher furrowed his brow.
"Die! Just die already, you filthy bitch!!!"
On the day the Kuolin Dynasty fell, Kaol was the enemy who had stabbed Hwaranwho was getting Asher outdozens of times in the heart.
A foul stench hung in the air.
Or was that just his personal feelings coloring it?
"What brings you here? This is Trevion territory."
"Don't get all pissy. Just came to say hi to my next opponent."
His slimy tone made Asher's stomach churn.
Asher hid his emotions. It was Hwaran's teaching.
"Asher, an assassin reveals nothing until the blade is buried."
His gaze grew a touch colder. But he masked it as mere wariness toward a rival.
"Didn't know you were the friendly type."
"Oh yeah?"
"The way you handle your tournament foes so roughly."
"You watched my match?"
He hadn't needed to. He could guess Kaol had brutalized his opponent even more on purpose.
"Saw yours too. Pretty impressive skills. Got me wonderingwhy stick with a newbie outfit like Trevion? With that talent, you could be top-tier in our 'Lion Corps.'"
Ah, how transparently obvious people's inner thoughts could be.
"For your brother? If so, why not both come over? I treat talent well."
Too blatant.
Not a true warrior at hearta politician looking to pad his ranks. Drunk on the Lion Corps' prestige, salivating over power games, all laid bare from the first meeting.
This wasn't what the arena was for.
The name Lion Corps shouldn't be sullied by squabbles like this.
"...Appreciate the offer, but I'll pass. For a mercenary, loyalty is as good as life."
"Sticking to your guns? What a stuffy woman."
Not a woman, and not stuffy.
But he had no desire to explain.
Asher turned away. No point dragging it outhe'd only react emotionally.
'The current Lion Corps is in bed with the royals. High chance a witch is involved.'
No need to give them any openings.
"See you in the arena."
As he left, he heard snickering laughs and leering eyes raking over him.
Asher gritted his teeth and endured.
* * *
Back with the group, Asher shared what happened.
Mostly displeased reactions, with Gester's the strongest.
"Kaol's a cowardly politician. He's picked up some vision technique and struts around like it means something, but he'll cheat in the actual fight for sure. Buy off refs, poisonkeep it all in mind."
"That dirty, huh?"
"Aye. Victory's all that matters to him, not duels or honor. Says he came to 'see your face,' but he was scouting you. Good call not showing emotion, miss."
Halia recoiled in disgust.
Born a holy knight, to her justice meant crushing foes head-onKaol was the kind she couldn't stomach.
As Halia fumed, Diego calmed her.
Asher spoke.
"I've got a rough plan for dealing with him. No need to worry much. The real issue is..."
"If he causes trouble after. If he loses and holds a grudge over the fallout, he might pull strings."
Asher nodded.
"Our goal is infiltrating the palace to track the witch."
Trailing eyes would make it tough.
He was deep in thought.
"You can win."
Versia said.
"What's to worry about? Just one mercenary."
A bit out of left field.
But Asher read the intent in her follow-up.
"If anything goes wrong, I'll handle it. Don't worry."
Words only shewho knew the full storycould say.
That Sandstorm was blood enemies. How Kaol was tangled with Asher.
She hadn't heard the details, but she understood the emotions.
It was comforting.
At Versia's words, Halia squeezed her eyes shut, then bellowed heartily.
"Bah, yeah! Just beat the crap out of him! You're worried about after the palace infiltration anyway, right? Worst case, I'll step in and smash 'em all myself!"
Halia was the type who really could.
At full power, leveling a city wouldn't be hard.
Asher's mouth fell open dumbly.
Around then, Gester chimed in.
"Hm, trueletting scum like that taste victory would bruise our pride."
He hadn't brought it up just for comfort, yet here came the cheers.
Asher smiled awkwardly.
He shoved the worries from his mind right then.
"...Then I'll be off."
"Off where? If it hits the fan, just pray to the Parent God for a divine smite. He'd grant it for you."
Asher nodded.
Divine smiteforgotten, but yeah.
Versia was God's favorite.
If push came to shove, the Parent God would provide.
The mood lightened.
They laughed the day away, until it hit him.
Semifinals. Clash with the enemy, right around the corner.
* * *
In the arena waiting room, Sandstorm's top brass Kaol jittered his leg and barked irritably.
"Hey! Still far?!"
His shout sent attendants scrambling.
Finally, one brought a long box.
"D-done, sir."
"Painfully slow. Damn it."
Kaol opened the box.
Inside lay a sword with a violet edge.
Gripping it made his head spin.
Elation surged.
"Dragging this out because of those bastards."
He grumbled, but his mouth grinned.
"Contract good?"
"Yes, blood of ten warriors."
"Keh, overkill for some girl and pup."
But better safe.
Kaol inspected the blade.
His face reflected on the eerie violet edge.
'Weird stuff, really.'
Allies or not, how could anyone craft such a monstrosity?
'A witch, huh...'
What a fascinating breed.