Chapter 35 - A Fucking Terrible Reunion
Chapter 35 - A Fucking Terrible Reunion
035
Former sword master and former S-class adventurer Edel Baz had many peers.
Peers from the knighthood she used to belong to, people who joined the guild at around the same time, and so on.
Knighthoods and adventurers might seem like completely different industries with nothing in common at a glance.
But the reality is different. Adventurers and knighthoods share a shockingly similar commonality.
That is precisely: 'The longer you survive, the stronger you get.'
Knights who survive wars grow stronger with that experience.
Adventurers who master how to survive against monsters and bandits make their living based on that experience.
Only adventurers and knights would grow stronger the longer they survive.
Anyway, because of that principle, Edel Baz's peers who managed to 'survive' all held prominent, high-ranking positions.
"Long time no see, Edel."
That was why Edel couldn't hide her shock.
Because the bitch who used to carry her luggage back when she was an active-duty adventurer was wearing an expensive ring and necklace.
'A black diamond!?'
A diamond a whopping thumb-nail's size.
With that size and color, it would easily fetch thousands of gold coins.
That's enough money to build a grand mansion in the city center. Yet that bitch made it into a necklace and is wearing it.
"...Marien."
"Ah, this? I just bought it while settling the client fee this time."
Marien Witches.
A mage from the Magic Tower who was always looked down upon because she only knew a few spells.
Being the ultimate dunce who could barely shoot a small fireball, even fellow mages looked down on her.
"I-, Is that so?"
Edel couldn't bring herself to raise her head.
Because she herself was the very person who had oppressed and tormented Marien the most.
"It's no big deal. Around three thousand gold coins?"
"I-, Is that so?"
Even if there were a hundred Edels, it wouldn't be enough to earn those several thousand gold coins.
Just what kind of work is she doing to casually buy such jewels?
"Oh, Marien. They said you entered as a court mage this time around. You're doing well for yourself now, huh?"
An emperor's mage?!
For someone like her living off the money of beginners at a training center, it was a position so high she couldn't even raise her head.
"Speaking of which, Liens, I heard you joined the Dragon Subjugation Squad as its captain this time."
"Ah, has word already gotten around?"
Liens Gamartri!
She was another adventurer peer whom Edel had looked down upon.
Back then, she was undeniably a fat and stupid-looking woman, but whatever drug she picked up and swallowed, she had been reborn as an absolute stunner.
On top of that, captain of the Dragon Subjugation Squad? It was one of the most prestigious positions on the continent.
'This is a nightmare.'
The two losers who couldn't even dare look at her back when she earned the title of the youngest sword master are doing great.
Furthermore, it wasn't just them. Looking around at the peers attending the reunion, it was very common for each of them to be wearing jewels worth dozens of gold coins.
Only she was wearing a sword and draped in clothes she had washed a few days ago.
Even those clothes were cheap ones bought at the market. Not even brand-name items.
"Edel? You don't look so good. Did you eat something bad?"
"Ah, no. It's just that my clothes are a bit uncomfortable."
"Huuuum..."
There was no way her expression could be managed. She felt like she was about to go crazy from inferiority complex right this instant, and they told her to calm down? No way.
If anyone were to make fun of her here... Edel would explode.
"Ah, come to think of it, Edel, they say you opened a training center."
"Whoa, a training center? Then that Edel became a teacher!!!!"
Whoever it was, Edel wanted to rip apart the mouth of the peer who shouted so loudly.
Because that voice drew the attention of everyone at the reunion to her.
"They say teaching mere aspirants doesn't suit Edel."
"It is a waste of talent."
"Still, doesn't it make money?"
At first glance, they sounded like words comforting Edel.
But in reality, it was advanced passive-aggressive mockery. And Edel's brain translated those words with a shockingly high synchronization rate.
- You act all stuck-up back when you were active, and now you're just doing petty work teaching aspirants?
- You carry the title of a sword master, yet you're a training center teacher instead of a knight?
- Is snot-stained kid's money really that sweet?
Every single one flew in as a critical hit.
She had faced countless swords and spears in numerous battles, but those words hurt her far more than those attacks.
"Still, I think it suits her."
- Yeah, an ignorant bitch like you shouldn't even dare show your face in the industry. Yep, absolutely.
"I think it would be great if Edel taught stances and techniques and stuff?"
- Sell your techniques and beg for scraps to eat, you beggar bastard.
"Maybe I should open a training center later when I retire too."
- A washed-up bitch who ran away from active duty.
'These fucking bitches.'
Because of her nature, which was more violent than anyone else's, everyone added their two cents.
Every single time she heard them, she was gripped by an excruciating pain as if her heart was being carved out.
Is this what it feels like if your heart catches fire?
"Oh, right! I'm getting married this time. I'll give you a wedding invitation."
"Whoa, really?"
The finishing blow was delivered by Marien Witches.
That mage who had nothing going for her compared to her was getting married?
Marriage.
It's a word that has now become vague to her.
There was a time she harbored an ambitious aspiration to live with a cute younger man before turning 30, but...
It was a dream she had no choice but to give up by the time she reached her mid-30s.
But this insolent loser bitch is getting married?
"Ah, come to think of it, doesn't Edel have someone she's seeing?"
- Would men ever like an ignorant and violent woman like you?
The reason Edel wasn't popular with men stemmed from her personality.
Was her phobia of male adventurers simply going too far? When she was young, whenever she saw a man, groundless hatred welled up within her, and that hatred manifested into her actions.
Ultimately, that was the decisive reason she had lived as an old maid until now.
'I can't say I don't.'
But Edel couldn't say it even if her mouth was torn apart.
If she admitted she didn't here? Public ridicule disguised as comfort would immediately begin.
If that happens... she wouldn't be able to endure it.
"Edel?"
"Ah! I, I do! He's a rookie who just started as an adventurer this time. I told him I'd teach him swordsmanship and reeled him right in."
When telling a lie, you have to make it big.
Edel lied with a straight face, without batting an eye.
This shouldn't be her reaction. Marien thought that as she curled the corners of her mouth way up.
"Is that so?"
"Of course!"
"Then bring him over tomorrow and introduce him to us."
"...Huh?"
Wait a minute, this isn't right.
"...So you're saying that because you don't want your lie to be found out, I have to act as your boyfriend."
"That's right!"
"I refuse."
I immediately gave a flat-out refusal.
There's no special reason. I just find this woman off-putting.
Of course, objectively speaking, she's an absolute stunner.
Did she say she was in her mid-30s? Judging purely by her appearance, she looks no older than her early 20s.
But her violent and selfish behavior is a massive minus factor.
It makes me wonder how a woman like this even runs a training center.
"Why do you refuse?!"
"Jeez, my eardrums are going to burst... Is there even a reason needed for something I don't want to do!"
"Hey!!!! I accommodated you!"
Edel grabbed my shoulders and shook me back and forth palang-palang. She's so strong my body shakes like there's an earthquake.
"You're repaying kindness with enmity here, you know that?"
"No! You said you didn't need money when I offered to pay!"
"Still, a person has to have some shame!!!!"
That's my line.
"Are we close? Why on earth do I have to act as your boyfriend! Go tell them the truth right now."
"I hate that! I'll be publicly ridiculed for the rest of my life!!!"
"You lied, so of course you should face it."
Can she really just brush it off after saying something so shameless?
She's a weird woman, no matter how you look at it.
"If it really doesn't work out, you can just ask another man instead of me."
"Th, That's..."
Edel stammered umul-jjumul, then opened her mouth as if embarrassed.
"You're the only man I know."
"...."
"That's why I'm asking you! They say even the wish of a dead person gets granted, so why won't you grant a living person's!"
Ah, seriously! For this woman to be 35 years old and not have a single male friend she knows.
And a wealthy woman at that. It makes me curious about what kind of life she's lived.
"Fine. If you act as my lover, I'll teach you a technique."
"A technique?"
"Arcana Form... How about this? Normally, if you go anywhere else, you'd have to pay several gold coins for it."
I don't know what kind of technique it is, but just hearing the name makes it sound awesome.
'Worth a shot?'
Even if she offered a few silver coins, I wouldn't have done it. I hate being treated like a gigolo.
But if she teaches me a technique... hanging out with her for a little while should be fine!
"Alright. I'll accept under those conditions."
"Really? You're really doing it!"
"Yes, yes, I'll do it. But when are we supposed to start?"
"We have the gathering right away tomorrow. Wear the clothes I give you and come out."
...I feel like I just did something I'm going to regret.