Reward
“What’s wrong? Get up.”
I froze for a moment, staring at Jeban as he suddenly dropped to the floor in front of me.
What the hell? Some new sneak attack?
I was still trying to figure out what the hell this mercenary leader was thinking when—
“Aigoo!”
“We’re sorry!”
The other mercenaries followed suit, one by one slamming their foreheads to the ground after their boss.
“...What’s this all about?”
Utterly baffled, I finally asked.
“Please don’t kill us!”
“We did everything you asked!”
The mercenaries spouted some nonsense out of nowhere.
Kill them? Oh.
“Because of the sword? It’s just sheathless, that’s all.”
I casually unbuckled it and set it on the table.
Is that why they freaked out?
Makes sense, I guess. A guy who never carried one before shows up with a naked blade—no scabbard, nothing. Gotta be intimidating.
Especially if he’s an Aura user.
“Oh, uh, that’s what it was?”
Once I cleared up the misunderstanding, the mercenaries sheepishly got back to their feet.
“Hoo… haa…”
Jeban rose too, just like the rest, drenched in cold sweat. His face wasn’t embarrassment, though—it was pure relief at still being alive.
Damn, survival instinct off the charts.
Then again, that’s probably what gets you to Gold-rank.
“Sit down, all of you. You got the identity ready, right?”
“Y-yes… Here it is.”
I took a seat at the table, and Jeban immediately pulled an ID token from his pocket and placed it down.
“This is legit?”
“Yes, it belonged to a same-rank mercenary who died recently.”
“...You kill him for it?”
“No way, that’d be a huge mess in the capital. We just paid off the family to not report the death.”
“Ah, got it.”
Yeah, better than forging a fake—using one that’s already ownerless is cleaner.
“Background info?”
“Age twenty-five. Name’s Cain.”
Twenty-five?
Seven years older than me.
Still, might be a good fit—old enough to pass without raising eyebrows.
“Cain. Nice.”
Suits me. Close enough to my real name to remember easy, but different enough to blend.
“And this is the mercenary badge.”
Next, Jeban produced a Bronze-rank badge.
“Use it to prove your status as a mercenary.”
“Mm. How far does Bronze get you?”
“Pretty much any city in the kingdom.”
Apparently Silver lets you cross borders into other countries’ cities.
Should aim for that eventually.
“You registered me with your company, right?”
“Yes, through official channels.”
“Good work.”
I’d have Rowell double-check the details later, but Jeban’s face didn’t scream deception.
From his reaction earlier, the guy’s survival drive was too strong for risky bullshit like that.
“I’ll verify it when I get back, then.”
“And the reward you mentioned…?”
“I’ll teach you once it checks out.”
I fully intended to pass on Fleet as promised.
“R-really?”
“Yeah. I’m clear on rewards and punishments.”
Fleet—what’s so precious about it? Every dog and their grandma uses it.
Hard part’s becoming an Aura user. Fleet’s just basic technique one-oh-one.
“Anyway, that’s that. You know the Kaine Mountain Range well, right?”
“Pardon? Uh, yeah?”
Perfect timing.
I needed materials anyway—why not get experts’ help?
“Work with me on something.”
“Pardon? Work?”
“You’re heading out on a mission soon, yeah?”
“W-well, yeah…?”
“To the Kaine Mountains? I’ll tag along.”
Searching solo sounded like a pain.
Veteran mercenaries would make it easier.
“...You mean together?”
“Yeah. I’ll help you out.”
I just needed the materials. And for them? An Aura user like me along for the ride? Jackpot.
“A-ah, yes…”
“Take even tough jobs. Bring me a mission.”
“Uh, by when…?”
“Next week.”
Gave me time to finish healing and for Rowell to vet the ID.
“...But my mercenary badge…”
“You’ll get it once the ID’s confirmed.”
Oh yeah, I’d snatched Jeban’s badge.
Forgot to grab it. Probably back at the doghouse with the junk.
That’s where I stash random crap anyway. Even got my personal box under the cushion.
“See you next week, then.”
Business done, I stood up.
“Y-you’re leaving?”
“Yeah.”
I’d half-thought about hitting the mountains today, but…
Throb.
Wound wasn’t fully healed. Been stinging since that terrace leap earlier.
Sutures probably pulled a bit. Time to get it fixed.
And so, after leaving the Adventurer’s Guild—
I swung by the upscale merchant district briefly, then headed straight back to the mansion.
“Aigoo! Where have you been? You’re not a child!”
Right into the furious healer.
“Brought you a gift.”
Tried the universal cheat code to soften the blow, but…
“I don’t care! Lie down!”
...It bounced right off.
Don’t women love gifts?
**
A few days into recovery later.
“Can I go now?”
“Well, yes, but…”
The healer eyed me skeptically, but the wound had healed enough for normal life.
“Your natural recovery is insane.”
“Born with it.”
More like post-Colosseum, after those weird potions.
Mage Tower experiments. Still wonder what the hell they were.
“Still, don’t overdo it.”
“Got it.”
I nodded through her final nagging and left the infirmary for the doghouse.
Hoo.
Never thought I’d miss this place.
Infirmary’s fine, but stuffy.
This open-air doghouse in the yard felt like home now.
I wriggled inside the crumpled entrance. Spotless as ever.
Felt it last time grabbing clothes—maids keep it clean even when I’m gone.
Gotta repay them somehow.
After a quick check of my long-lost digs, I stood and stepped out.
Grabbed the sword leaning by the doghouse.
No good spot for it, and hauling it to the infirmary would freak the healer out. Good thing no one touched it.
Mansion staff are tight-lipped and trustworthy.
They serve the lady the Boyd family treasures, after all.
No one’s swiping a sword, and no one’s making a fuss over me having one now.
Still, needed a scabbard. I buckled it on and headed to the training grounds.
“Oh, Lane! You’re back?”
Ran into a gaggle of maids en route.
“Yeah. Hope you’ve been well.”
“Us? Same as always~ Heard you were helping the healer?”
They knew I’d been MIA assisting her.
“Yep.”
“How’s the healer? We’re in the same mansion but never see her.”
Smartly pivoting to her, since Boyd infirmary’s off-limits.
“Hm.”
Thought for a sec. Couldn’t say “drama queen” to the staff.
“Great healer.”
“Duh.”
“Full of energy, too.”
“Really? Wow, that’s not our image of her.”
“No?”
“Yeah, thought she was all cold and serious.”
...Serious? Got whacked for secret training yesterday.
Not even close.
“Well… she has her moments.”
Denying it’d be weird, so I glossed over.
Anyway, itching to test this rented sword.
Rowell’d chew me out for shredding too many dummies, but I had to check its performance.
Heavy for a reason—solid build, razor edge.
Leagues above my old gear.
So…
“Gonna train. See you.”
I cut the chat short and hustled to the grounds.
“Lane!”
“Been a while!”
The guards were deep in drills.
Lady’s absence gave them some slack.
“Here for a quick session.”
“That sword…”
“Rented it new.”
“Ooh… looks sharp.”
Unlike the maids treating me like prized pooch,
guards were cautious, respectful.
“Here, use this one!”
“Make yourself at home!”
True to form—they prepped a dummy without asking.
“Oh, Rowell said not to destroy too many.”
“Sorry in advance.”
“Huh?”
“Gonna send a few flying today.”
Boyd wealth? A dummy or two’s nothing.
“...For real?”
“Yeah. Everyone, back up.”
Dummy set, I drew the longsword, spun it once, and rested it on my shoulder.
Let’s see…
I focused my Aura fully into the blade.
Rush mastery still low, but this sword could take the abuse.
So.
I crammed in as much Aura as it’d hold.
“Hah!”
With a shout, I swung down from my shoulder.
And then—
BOOM!!
The dummy exploded into shards and flew apart.
“Whoa…”
“The dummy…”
Guards gawked as I inspected the blade.
No damage despite the heavy Rush. Perfect as expected.
Hoo.
Even better than I thought.
Hell, I almost didn’t wanna return it.