The Protein Mercenary's Test
“So you came to see me on Abel’s recommendation?”
“Yeah.”
“……That bastard.”
The man gritted his teeth so hard they creaked. Flex!Bulge! His muscles surged with raw vitality, as if they were expressing his fury on their own.
What incredible muscles.
Shoulders broader than the endless Pacific.
A chest that could casually swat away an ogre’s fist.
Abs that look like they could shred a washing machine.
And veins like anacondas……
‘What are you doing?’
Ah…… I’ve never seen a human with muscles like that before.
I was just trying to describe them a little. [*•̀ᴗ•́*]
Albert had to admit it. The first time he saw the man, he felt like he was looking at a massive boulder. Those muscles made you question whether he was even the same species as ordinary humans. He reminded Albert of bodybuilders from the other world.
‘If he entered a competition, he’d sweep first place.’
Analyzing……
Body fat percentage below 1%.
Skeletal muscle mass…… Whoa…… How can a human even be like this?
“Braum…… what do you think…… Oh, is that so…… Bry, how about you? Mm, your opinion too.”
Albert, sir! That man just named his pectoral muscles and started talking to them!
‘I saw it too.’
A human who conversed with his own muscles was quite the rare sight. The twitching pectorals seemed to pulse with life and strong opinions of their own.
“Let me properly introduce myself. My name is Aiden. I’m a former S-rank mercenary and the former leader of the Protein Mercenary Group.”
“……What kind of mercenary group?”
“Protein. Have you heard of it?”
“……”
He had. Many times. In the other world, protein was essential for anyone who trained. Gym rats always carried a tub under their arm, claiming they could skip meals and women but never protein. It was their number-one treasure. Albert had heard the saying “You can give up the mast, but never the protein” more times than he could count.
“Judging by your expression, you have heard of it. I am…… Ah, before that.”
Aiden looked up, glanced to one side, then stood. When he rose, it felt as though a mountain had suddenly appeared before Albert’s eyes. While seated, he had seemed like an unshakable boulder no matter the situation. Standing, the pressure and presence radiating from him intensified until he felt like a steel golem.
“Looks like monsters have arrived.”
“Monsters?”
Albert had already sensed them but feigned ignorance.
There are about ten orcs outside.
But they don’t seem like ordinary orcs.
Based on their aura, they appear to be Red Orcs.
Red Orcs. While normal orcs had green skin, Red Orcs had red skin, as their name suggested. They were a variant of orcs. Not only was their skin color different, but they were stronger than ordinary orcs in every way.
“I’ll go deal with them and return shortly.”
Aiden walked out with heavy steps. As the System had said, ten orcs stood outside, staring in their direction. Their eyes were sharp and bloodshot with hunger. Drooling and breathing roughly, the Red Orcs were easily twice the size of normal orcs.
Analyzing……
They register as B-rank orcs.
They seem quite hungry, though.
‘I can see that without the analysis.’
The drool dripping from their mouths made it obvious how starved they were. Aiden nodded in understanding as he looked at the Red Orcs.
“Looks like you came here after working out. Makes sense you’d crave protein after that much exercise. I understand. However—”
Aiden didn’t draw a weapon. He was a master of hand-to-hand combat who used his body itself as a weapon. While others relied on swords, bows, or magic, he used only his fists.
“I absolutely cannot allow anyone to steal my protein.”
“Squeee!! (Protein!!)”
“Squeak! (Hand over the protein!!)”
The Red Orcs charged at him like enraged wild boars. Flex!Bulge!
“Right, Braum, Bry—you agree too? I’ll protect our protein.”
Aiden stepped forward as well. The lead Red Orc clenched its fist and swung with the monstrous strength unique to its kind. A blow that could easily dent the steel armor worn by mercenaries. If it connected with an unprotected body, it would pulverize an ordinary person in a single strike.
That fist slammed into Aiden’s exposed abs.
“Squeak!!”
Having landed the hit, the Red Orc grinned, baring its tusks. But something was wrong. Its face, which should have been twisted in pain, looked oddly nonchalant. Not only that—
“Squeak!”
The fist that struck hurt. It felt like punching a stone statue made of steel; the attacking fist had shattered instead.
“Squeee!!”
“Tsk. What did you think you could accomplish with an attack like that? Did you really believe that pathetic fist could pierce my Alter?”
Seems his abs are named Alter.
“Come back after training more.”
Crack!
Despite telling them to train and return, Aiden’s fist had already crushed the Red Orc’s skull. No matter how strong a Red Orc was, Aiden was still an S-rank mercenary, even in retirement. In terms of strength— No, more precisely—
It’s a difference in muscle.
That can’t even be called human muscle.
‘He really is something.’
Ah, one of the Red Orcs is trying to run.
It got caught and killed.
The System’s commentary continued. Aiden pursued and killed the fleeing Red Orc without mercy. The Red Orcs that had come to hunt ended up being hunted themselves.
“Sorry for the wait.”
“Not really. You’re pretty persistent, though. Chasing down even the ones trying to escape. You could’ve just let them go. Is there some story behind it……?”
“No story. It’s just that Red Orcs are known to eat a lot of meat.”
“True.”
“There’s already not much meat left in the mountains these days. If those things stay alive, my protein……”
“……”
Everything circled back to protein. The reason he relentlessly hunted down the fleeing Red Orcs wasn’t revenge or some tragic backstory. He had simply eliminated a protein competitor.
“Anyway, I heard you out. So Abel recommended me as Guard Captain?”
“That’s right. How about it? I’ll pay you well.”
“The pay…… Well, it wouldn’t be bad. But before that, there’s something I’d like to see.”
“What is it?”
“I have no intention of following orders from someone weaker than me. If you want my loyalty—”
He straightened his back. Albert was tall himself, but he was nothing compared to Aiden. Easily over two meters tall, with a bodybuilder’s physique that made onlookers catch their breath. On top of that, his S-rank mercenary background gave him a rough aura, like a wild beast standing right in front of you. A sharp presence reminiscent of a wild tiger from Korea felt like it could pounce at any moment.
Ah.
Braum and Bry just twitched.
Can pectoral muscles really move so independently and intensely like that?
“Prove that you’re stronger than me.”
“Prove it?”
“I’ll let you hit me once. Anywhere is fine…… though why are you looking down there? Not that spot.”
“Darn.”
He could have ended it in one shot. Aiden added a condition.
“Let’s exclude vital points.”
“Even with all that muscle training, that area’s still off-limits?”
“……”
“Well, fine. How about one hit to the forehead? That okay?”
“The forehead? I suppose that’s acceptable.”
He confidently exposed his forehead.
“You should be careful. I’ve trained my forehead as well.”
“……How do you even train a forehead……?”
“You might hurt your fingers instead. If you do get injured……”
“Ah, don’t worry about that. I won’t make you take responsibility.”
Albert raised his hand in a flicking position. Aiden chuckled inwardly.
‘I can already see him whining about his fingers hurting after hitting me.’
Nobles were arrogant, rude, and scrawny like anchovies with no muscle. They swung their power around as if it were their own strength. He had met plenty during his mercenary days, but only a handful of noble requests had been worthwhile. That was why he disliked them. Above all, Aiden worshipped physical strength, so he had no desire to deal with nobles who relied on authority to give orders.
There were other reasons too, but one of the reasons he quit being a mercenary was because of nobles.
‘The rest is just how annoying it is to get protein after workouts…… something like that.’
Anyway, he had only bothered listening because the man came on Abel’s recommendation. If that weren’t the case, he would have kicked him out immediately.
“By the way, how much salary do you want?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m talking about your salary. Since you’ll be Guard Captain, I can give you a decent amount. How about it?”
“Ha…… hahahaha.”
Aiden let out a dumbfounded laugh. Whatever nonsense this man was thinking, he already seemed convinced he had won.
‘He really thinks he can hit my forehead—which even an orc’s headbutt couldn’t scratch—with those thin fingers and walk away unscathed? Ridiculous.’
This was a battle of pride.
“If you defeat me, I’ll accept the same salary as the lowest-paid person in the territory.”
A bold offer.
There’s no way I’ll lose.
Your fingers will break instead.
If you’re scared, just die already.
‘What are you doing?’
I was just imagining what Aiden might be thinking.
Pretty close, right?
‘Yeah, that expression fits.’
There wasn’t a trace of defeat in his confident expression and assured gaze. Look at that body. It was a body crafted by talent, grueling effort, and an insane diet. A body made by the gods. He had probably never tasted defeat before. That was where his confidence and certainty came from.
‘Interesting guy.’
“Fine. I’ll make sure you keep that promise.”
“Hahaha, don’t worry about it.”
“Then…… flex your trapezius hard. Otherwise it’ll break.”
“What……”
Thud!!!
It was an instinctive reaction. The moment Albert’s finger touched his forehead, Aiden’s instincts sensed danger and tensed his muscles to protect his head. An impact so powerful it felt like his head was being ripped off. Even though it was morning with the sun already up, he saw stars in the sky. A dizzying sensation as his vision went dark. It was the first shock he had felt since he started training his body. He had taken punches from ogres before, but this was far worse.
His head snapped backward violently. The impact was strong enough to decapitate anyone else.
“……”
He muttered something, then collapsed backward. He had passed out.
Rater…… you held up well…… You’re the best……
……Seems his trapezius is named Rater.
“……Next time I’ll ask if he named his quadriceps too. Well, anyway.”
Albert looked down at the unconscious Aiden and grinned.
“I got myself a slave…… I mean, a Guard Captain for cheap.”
* * *
“So.”
After regaining consciousness and seeing the salary written on the contract, he looked up in disbelief.
“22 gold……? What is this?”
“Your salary.”
“But…… the average monthly salary for commoners is 200 gold…… 22 gold is……”
This was slavery, wasn’t it? This was clearly a slave contract disguised as an employment contract.
“You said it yourself. You’d take the same salary as the lowest-paid person in the territory.”
“……So that means……”
“There’s a high-level talent in the territory who works for that salary.”
“……”
“Now hurry up and sign that slave…… I mean, employment contract. A man should keep his promises.”
“Didn’t you just say ‘slave’?”
“Must have been your imagination.”
Grumbling, Aiden signed the employment (slave) contract. Albert smiled in satisfaction.
“Congratulations on becoming the Guard Captain of Legrian Territory. Let’s do our best from now on.”
“I’ll be counting on you as well.”
After signing the contract, Albert and Aiden quickly prepared to leave.
“Did you come here by carriage? I heard Legrian Territory is quite far from here.”
He didn’t know much about Legrian Territory, but if it was adjacent to Monster Land, it was a considerable distance from this place. They would need either horses or a carriage.
“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that.”
Albert grinned and raised his hand at the terminal stop as if hailing something, shouting the magic words.
“Taxi!! To Legrian Territory!!”