The Kinship of 22 Gold
“Pleasure to meet you. My name is Aiden.”
“Ah…… Yes, nice to meet you?”
“You?”
“Ah…… Sorry. My tongue got a little twisted.”
Elena couldn’t hide her bewilderment as she looked at Aiden. His enormous frame made the chair he sat on in the reception room seem pitifully strained, creaking as if it were screaming, “Just kill me already, you bastards!”
‘It feels like a giant golem is sitting there.’
Even though he was merely sitting, the overwhelming pressure radiating from him pressed down on her shoulders. The heavy atmosphere filled the reception room with awkward silence.
“Please, have some tea.”
The nanny poured tea as usual, trying to lighten the mood despite the heavy air. Her gentle presence allowed Elena to breathe a little easier.
“Thank you.”
The nanny responded with a small smile.
“You’ll have some tea, won’t you?”
“Of course. Proper hydration aids muscle growth.”
“……I see.”
“By the way.”
Elena read through the contract. Nothing else mattered. Since Albert had brought this man, she didn’t need to worry about his character or personality. His abilities were obvious just by looking at his body. Those densely packed muscles, especially the massive pectorals, exerted tremendous pressure. When she first saw him, she’d wondered if he was some kind of ogre variant.
Besides that—
‘His face is…… No, it’s terrifying.’
He was a former mercenary. His face looked brutal, probably from living in harsh places. Instead of looking like someone who would maintain order as captain of the guard, he looked like the type who would disrupt it. His fierce appearance combined with his enormous muscles created an intimidating synergy. If he stared at someone, they’d probably hand over their wallet without thinking. The pressure was that strong.
Normally she would have opposed appointing him as guard captain, but she trusted him because Albert had brought him. The contract also contained all the necessary clauses. However, one part puzzled her.
Her eyes landed on the salary section.
“22 gold…… Am I reading this correctly?”
“……You are.”
He was an S-rank mercenary. When he was still a mercenary, the basic fee just to request his services had been 2,000 gold. Considering an S-rank mercenary’s power could turn the tide of an entire battlefield, 2,000 gold wasn’t excessive. Yet—
‘Hiring someone like him for 22 gold? What on earth did my brother do?’
Regardless of the circumstances, hiring an S-rank mercenary this cheaply was a huge benefit for the Legrian Territory. There was no reason to refuse.
“Then I look forward to working with you.”
“Ah, there’s no need for formal speech. I’m now your retainer. Please speak comfortably.”
“Is that so? Understood.”
Elena immediately dropped the formalities. She adapted to opinions remarkably quickly. Aiden blinked a few times, then chuckled.
‘Like brother, like sister.’
* * *
The Legrian Territory was in the midst of rapid development. Thanks to Albert’s arrival, the people could now obtain things they never could before and earn wages while working. Their barely-standing houses had been repaired, a blacksmith had opened so they could craft or commission necessary items, and their lives had shifted from constant hardship to a stable existence where they could finally catch their breath.
In the past, they had relied on each other because they never knew when they might die, creating deep bonds. But as the territory changed and comfort arrived, seeds of discord began to sprout.
“I liked Liel first!”
“What!? I liked her first! I told you before that I was going to confess to Liel!”
“That was three years ago!! The statute of limitations expired ages ago!!!”
“The statute of limitations is five years! Anyway, no way! Liel is my woman!”
“Like hell!!”
Two men were brawling over one woman. To outsiders it might seem trivial—“Over a woman?”—but the fighters were deadly serious, throwing punches with brutal force. Teeth broke and lips split, blood flowing freely.
“What do we do? Shouldn’t we stop them?”
“How are we supposed to stop that??”
“Maybe we should tell Lord Albert……”
“No way…… Even if Lord Albert treats us kindly, he’s still a noble.”
An unbridgeable gap existed between commoners and nobles. No matter how approachable Albert was, he remained nobility. They couldn’t easily speak up.
“Then what? Just keep watching?”
“Ugh, look how violent they are…… What should we do?”
They couldn’t intervene. They wanted to stop the fight, but it was so savage they feared getting hurt themselves.
“Where’s Lord Hot?”
“Doesn’t look like he’s coming.”
“If Lord Hot were here……”
“Who……”
Just then, the onlookers felt something. A chill ran down their spines like cold water had been poured down their backs. Their bodies froze, refusing to move. It felt as if a ferocious beast stood behind them.
‘What on earth…… is that……?’
‘There’s something there!’
They were terrified to turn around and see what was there, yet their curiosity surged. The maddening urge to know what stood behind them became unbearable, so they finally looked back.
The first thing they saw was a pair of pectoral muscles so massive they stole the breath from their lungs.
“Hup!”
“What the!?”
The startled people stumbled backward. Only after putting some distance between themselves and the figure did they finally see his face.
“……”
“……”
A fierce, scarred face. The wounds around his eyes spoke volumes about the brutal life he had lived. Fear and terror flooded through them. That face alone was a weapon, but then there was his body.
‘What kind of muscles……’
‘Are those even human muscles……?’
Over two meters tall, his densely packed muscles were terrifying. One punch might kill you. His body itself was a weapon. Looking at him, they felt an overwhelming urge to bow at the waist and offer their wallets.
“Move aside.”
At his single command, the people who had been blocking the path scattered like an ambulance appearing on a congested highway—citizens parting left and right in unified concern. A miracle of Moses. Of course, in this case, it was simply because he was terrifying.
Whoever he was—
‘Let’s just get out of his way.’
‘We might die if he hits us.’
No one could meet his eyes. Oblivious to the atmosphere around him, the two men continued exchanging punches.
“Give up on Liel!!”
“I can’t! You give up!!”
Their fighting spirit was razor-sharp. Like two wild dogs battling over territory, they put on a vicious display. Approaching them was difficult, which was why the onlookers had only watched from afar. Who would dare get close when both had lost control?
“You!!”
One man threw a powerful punch. Aiden caught his wrist. The caught man scowled and snapped angrily.
“Who the hell are you!? I can’t see straight right now! If you touch me…… What should I……?”
The moment the enraged man saw Aiden, his uncontrollable fury and excitement vanished instantly. His runaway self-control and reason returned, forcing the door open and storming back in.
‘Whoa…… How can a person…… Look at those muscles. Is that a washboard……?’
Were those human muscles? And that face—meeting his eyes was terrifying.
“Um…… Who are you……?”
His politeness returned in an instant. He couldn’t possibly use casual speech. If he did, that monstrous fist might smash his head like a watermelon. So his words became cautious.
“Me?”
“Yes……”
His expression seemed to say, ‘Who else would I be talking to?’ and ‘Ah, there could be others, but right now it’s you.’ But he couldn’t voice those thoughts. Normally he might have joked around, but joking now could get him killed.
“I’m Aiden, newly appointed captain of the Legrian Territory’s guard by Lord Albert’s orders.”
“G-Guard captain!? With that face!?”
What a waste of talent. Anyone who saw Aiden’s face would think he belonged on the side of disrupting order, not maintaining it. He had exceptional talent for that. Just looking at him made people want to bow and call him “boss.”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, sir!”
How could anyone voice complaints? Look at that clenched fist, those twitching pectorals, those washboard abs. Would anyone dare talk back after seeing that? If someone did, they should be hailed as a hero immediately.
Flex! Flex!
His two pectoral muscles twitched as if they had a will of their own. Why did it feel like he could hear the muscles speaking?
‘If you have complaints.’
‘Feel free to say them.’
The onlookers began to stir.
“What? Guard captain?”
“Does that mean our territory finally has guards?”
“Well, things are different now compared to before……”
“Right, right.”
“But……”
The people’s gazes toward Aiden were filled with fear. Look at that face and body. Even without the face, humans weren’t ready to accept those muscles. A man like that as guard captain? They didn’t know why Albert had chosen him, but it only made them more uneasy. There was something dark and alien about him.
“Tsk! What the hell is with this damn atmosphere!?”
While everyone remained silent, a rough voice and thick curse rang out. Turning their heads, they saw Hot holding a hammer.
“Why are you all making those faces? What’s the problem with this guy being the guard captain? Huh?”
“Well…… Lord Hot……”
“It’s just that……”
“What? You’re scared because of his face? Or because of those muscles?”
Hot looked at Aiden. Aiden stared back with curious eyes, as if surprised to see a dwarf in a place like this. Hot chuckled.
“Kid’s got some big muscles. Not bad.”
“……Thank you.”
“Enough!”
Hot gave Aiden an indescribably friendly look.
‘Why?’
Aiden couldn’t understand. It was surprising to see a dwarf, but they had only just met today. They weren’t close enough for such a friendly gaze. What was that look supposed to mean? It contained not only familiarity but another emotion.
That was—
‘Kinship? Why?’
Two inexplicable emotions mixed together. Hot turned his head sharply, his eyes changing as he radiated a fierce aura.
“You damn bastards! If a new guard captain has arrived, you should be happy!”
“B-But Lord Hot……”
“H-He’s scarier than you……”
The people who had mustered courage glanced at Aiden and their voices grew smaller. His face and body were terrifying—what could they do? If he became guard captain, they’d have to see him every day.
Hot, realizing what they feared, frowned.
“You damn humans! You’ve gotten too full of yourselves! Do you think you’re in any position to judge someone’s face or body!?”
“But……”
“Where do you think you are!? This is the Legrian Territory! Monster Land, full of dangerous monsters, is right next door! You lot used to tremble in fear whenever monsters attacked, and now that a strong human has come as guard captain, you should be shouting while holding iron ore, not complaining!”
His scolding was sharp yet struck deep in their hearts, like a teacher reprimanding students. Faced with his furious expression, they couldn’t say anything.
“Well…… Lord Hot has a point.”
“He’s a little…… No, very scary, but having someone like him protecting us would be reassuring.”
“Security…… will definitely improve.”
“We won’t have to be scared even if monsters come.”
The people nodded. He was terrifying, but they accepted him.
“And you bastards! What the hell are you doing? Fighting over one human woman? Have you lost your minds!? I’ve been too lenient lately, haven’t I? Starting tomorrow, report to the blacksmith!”
“Huk!”
“W-Wait!! I-I’ve never hammered anything before……”
“This is your chance to learn. Get to work. You know what happens if you don’t.”
“Hing……”
“And all of you!!”
At his roar, everyone flinched and trembled.
“Do you have time to stand around here? It’s work time, isn’t it? What? Finished already? Feeling relaxed? We’re short on hands for dismantling Iron Ants……”
“Aigoo! Now that you mention it, it’s time to work the fields!!”
“Huk! It’s already this late!? L-Let’s get to work!”
The people scattered in all directions, afraid of being caught, and hurried off to their tasks. The situation resolved in an instant.
“Hmm…… Thank you……”
“No need for thanks. You would have handled it yourself even if I hadn’t stepped in. I just helped a little.”
“Well.”
It was true. Even without Hot’s intervention, Aiden would have resolved things through “conversation.” Of course, depending on people’s reactions, that conversation might have become physical. Aiden preferred body language over words.
‘But.’
Aiden still couldn’t understand. Why was Hot treating him so friendly? What was that look in his eyes? The strange sense of kinship he felt from those eyes was something Aiden couldn’t comprehend. They had only met today. Even during his mercenary days, he had never encountered a dwarf. Why was Hot giving him that look?
Just then, Hot smiled at him with a friendly expression invisible to others and spoke.
“Come to think of it, I heard. You’re also on 22 gold, right?”
It was the kinship of 22 gold.
Only then did Aiden understand. The culprit behind his salary becoming 22 gold was standing right in front of him.