Chapter 37
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Mage in Merchant's Clothing
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Alize stared at the merchants, her mind racing.
Mercenaries move according to their contracts.
Of course, every mission a mercenary band undertakes carries risks. If you're afraid of that danger, it's better to set down the sword and pick up the plow.
The situation is a bit odd, though...
Still, since an official request had come in, she had to consider it carefully.
The offer itself isn't bad.
Their destinations matched anyway, and all they had to do was travel together—no hassle there.
And if they could boost their income on the side, there was no reason to refuse.
After a moment's thought, Alize glanced back at her mercenary band.
The twins, Gerard, and Clorang gave the slightest nod.
They all knew it well.
Once you start turning down requests even once, it's all too easy to take a second step back.
The moment excuses become habit, the band falls apart. That's precisely why mercenaries must embrace the risks.
Alright, then...
With their consensus reached, Alize finally flashed her business smile and approached the merchant.
"Very well. How much are you thinking for the compensation?"
"We'll pay 50 silver upfront, and 1 gold upon arrival."
An incredibly generous offer.
A week-long extermination expedition might net only 3 gold, so earning half that just for escorting was a windfall.
Honestly, the 1 gold might fall through, but even just the 50 silver advance is pure profit.
50 silver was no small sum. Even in the worst case, it was more than acceptable.
Alize nodded readily, about to accept the request.
But at that moment, Ruyan abruptly stepped in front of her.
His expression was blank as always, but his eyes glittered with icy frost.
"Ruyan, what's wrong?"
Alize flinched and called out to him, but his gaze didn't turn back.
Ruyan fixed the merchant with a stare, spitting out each word deliberately.
"I hate mages pretending to be merchants."
The reason Ruyan had pegged them as suspects from the start.
This merchant was wearing a magic item that concealed mana.
Was it because the merchant guise was perfect for laundering identities? Those with filthy hearts loved masquerading as traders.
Even that Brighton Academy mage did the same.
It was a painful memory for Ruyan.
Pretending ignorance to maintain a peaceful life had been his mistake.
But things were different now.
I should have killed that bastard right then.
No regrets? Like not killing Boldkan immediately back in Hatchling Village.
"Wh-what do you mean... A mage? Me?"
One merchant stammered, hunching his body in clear fear.
But that was the wrong answer. Ruyan had no patience for such theatrics.
Ruyan ground his teeth and glared fiercely at the merchant.
"I hate lies, too. Opportunities are scarce, so choose your words wisely."
He was exerting tremendous restraint right now, suppressing the endless surge of killing intent.
The band's decisions rested with Alize.
Even as a temporary member, once he'd agreed to join, basic courtesy was in order.
Startled by Ruyan's menacing warning, the merchant backed away, his eyes darting awkwardly.
"Is it okay for mercenaries to intimidate merchants like this? I was in a bind and offering good pay precisely because..."
The merchant tried to hide his unease and act bold, but his eyes kept flicking about.
Of course, Ruyan saw it all clearly. He missed nothing, not even fleeting changes.
"Last warning. Roll your eyes again, and you die."
Finally, killing intent exploded from Ruyan's eyes. At the same time, the ambient mana churned and pressed down heavily.
"Ruyan, hold on! Calm down first."
Alize sensed the killing intent and quickly stepped forward to restrain him.
"Let's figure out what's going on before..."
"He's at least a 3rd Circle mage. Hiding his mana with a magic item."
At Ruyan's explanation, the entire band whipped around to the merchants in shock.
They hadn't sensed any mana at all, so their surprise was natural.
But the merchants themselves showed no shock, merely exchanging wary glances.
"Tell me. You said you were stranded after orcs attacked?"
Under Ruyan's sharp interrogation, had they finally given up?
The merchant swallowed dryly and nodded subserviently, bowing low.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to deceive you on purpose. I'm the head of the Tami Merchant Group—and a 3rd Circle mage."
The merchant finally admitted it.
But Ruyan didn't withdraw his killing intent. Trust was impossible from the moment the lie began.
The merchant pitifully watched Ruyan's expression as he continued.
"Our group keeps escort numbers minimal since I handle the trading myself. Bigger margins that way."
It was a convincing argument. No law forbade a mage from running a merchant group.
"But this time, there were too many orcs. I couldn't handle them alone."
The merchant spilled everything: how his group scattered, the hardships of being stranded.
It was a tale of woe, eloquently told.
His eloquence was so impressive that even the wary Alize mercenaries lowered their weapons.
"Then we ran into you by chance, and..."
As the mood softened, the merchant sighed in relief and moved to renew the request.
But in the end, he couldn't.
No need to hear more.
Ruyan's patience had run dry.
Thwack.
In an instant, Ruyan's hand moved, and the merchant's head exploded.
Crimson blood sprayed everywhere, painting the area red-hot.
The merchant, who had just sighed in relief, toppled headless.
"Wh-what..."
"Ughhh!"
Everyone stared at Ruyan in stunned disbelief at the surreal sight.
The remaining merchants could only blink in shock, unable to even scream.
"I warned you rolling your eyes meant death."
Ruyan's voice was so eerily calm it felt all the more menacing.
Snapping to her senses at his words, Alize rushed to Ruyan.
"Ruyan! You can't just kill someone out of nowhere like that! This could turn into a huge problem."
A mercenary killing a merchant.
No light matter. It could make enemies of the mercenary guild.
Even if he was a mage in disguise, not a real merchant—the latter was arguably worse.
But Ruyan ignored Alize's outcry.
"Wait a moment."
Without sparing a glance elsewhere, he strode toward the merchants.
He seized the collar of one trembling merchant.
"First lie. Hiding that you're a mage. Even using a suspicious magic item."
The merchant, still unable to process, flailed desperately to break free.
"Why did you do it?"
Ruyan gave him a chance. A final one to confess the truth.
"Like I said, it wasn't to hide..."
The merchant shuddered under the horrific killing intent, trailing off.
That was it.
Crack.
Ruyan tightened his grip, twisting the merchant's neck grotesquely.
Having faced the Divine Bow's wrath with nothing but false excuses, his death was inevitable.
Ruyan tossed the limp body aside and grabbed the next merchant's collar.
"Second lie. That mage's mana was full. You didn't fight any orcs."
"Th-that's..."
"Answer. Why lie?"
The merchant hesitated, afraid to speak.
He'd seen the fate of the previous two.
But that was wrong, too.
To live, he should have spoken immediately. Ruyan had already withdrawn the chance and wouldn't wait.
What a hassle.
Ruyan claimed the third merchant's life without hesitation.
Crack.
With their malicious intent confirmed, no reason remained to spare them.
Ruyan slowly turned to the last remaining merchant.
"Third lie. You weren't stranded. A mountain survivor's clothes don't look like that."
In the Central Plains, Ruyan had wandered wild mountains as an orphan to survive.
He knew better than anyone what getting lost in the mountains entailed.
Surprisingly intact clothes.
Survival instinct.
Lost people avoid dense woods; they seek open spaces for safety.
Even camping, they avoid lying on bug-infested dirt.
If truly lost, clothes wouldn't tear or dirty so little.
"Last question. Why were you waiting for us?"
His conclusion.
They'd known Alize's band's route in advance. Someone was behind them.
Ruyan approached the final merchant slowly, hand extended.
The moment it touched, his life would end—he made that intent crystal clear.
"Ughhh. D-don't come closer!"
Totally terrified, the merchant wet himself at Ruyan's approach.
This guy's really going to kill me. I'll die like this!
Death loomed. Even the boldest couldn't keep their wits.
"Pl-please spare me! I'll tell you anything!"
The merchant finally threw up his hands in surrender.
He'd spill even his darkest secrets if asked.
"Name and occupation. Speak."
"Luke! I'm really just a merchant."
This time, no lie.
Ruyan could tell from the man's desperate prostration.
"Good. Where do you work?"
"Th-that's..."
The merchant hesitated briefly but opened his mouth again.
Yet somehow, only his lips moved—no sound emerged.
"Urk, eeeek."
He strained to speak, but only guttural noises came.
"Speak clearly."
Impatient, Ruyan pressed; the merchant nodded frantically, gesturing wildly.
"Kuhk! Guuugh."
But his eyes dulled, face blackened, limbs twitched.
Watching, Alize finally clicked her tongue and stepped forward.
"Brainwashing magic. He can't speak."
Ruyan turned, mildly surprised; she shrugged.
She hadn't understood his actions at first, but now grasped the situation.
Suspicious, sure—but a disguised mage? Good thing Ruyan was here.
Without him, they'd have stumbled into trouble.
Not just Alize—all the band realized it now.
"Depending on the constraint, brainwashing magic requires at least 5th Circle. If he can't even open his mouth, it's 6th Circle or higher."
The band's mood grew heavy at her words.
6th Circle!
The realm of grand mages. From there, power differed vastly from 5th Circle.
Like a peak warrior transcending to transcendent.
6th Circle mages are supposed to be extremely rare.
Ruyan knew that much. Grand mages outranked even Sword Masters in esteem.
That seriousness etched their faces.
If a grand mage was involved, the backers were no pushovers.
Ruyan brushed blood from his clothes and calmly gazed at the night sky.
What is about to happen?
Turbulent times approached.