Unexpected Gain

Translator : Elizabeth

Chapter 17. Unexpected Gain

It was then.

I picked up an old leather pouch rolling next to Kelek's corpse.

It was something the bastard cherished in his bosom until the moment his breath stopped.

'What is… this?'

Inside the pouch was a secret letter clearly stamped with the crest of a noble family.

As soon as I checked the name written on the letter, I read the contents rapidly.

"……Julia Helmon. An interesting name pops up here."

My eyes checking the contents grew bigger and bigger, and soon a hollow laugh burst out involuntarily.

"Ha…?! This is absurd."

Right, it was strange.

How a mere bandit group could expand its power so much without interference.

To think the daughter of the Marquis Helmon family, who opposed Ashuhalt at every turn, was behind it.

The letter contained orders Julia Helmon commanded Kelek to execute in exchange for regular funding.

But while checking the order sheet, there was something strange.

'Securing a trade route with the Evelin Kingdom…? To a bandit group?'

I tilted my head.

Securing a trade route isn't an ordinary task… but ordering a bandit group to do it?

Just looking at the document, it was indistinguishable whether this was a crime or really to secure a road.

But the location was also strange.

'From the bandit lair in the Duchy here… to the snowy mountain border of the Evelin Kingdom?'

I couldn't understand.

Even if they secure a trade route here, the only goods that could come and go would be at most herb roots.

Moreover, it wasn't a road mainly used by merchants.

"……."

There is something.

However, there are too many cases to guess with just this information.

'Possibility of this being a fake letter?'

Impossible, the seal on the letter is genuine, and if so, Kelek wouldn't have carried this on his body.

This must have been like a lifeline to him.

"Things are flowing interestingly…?"

I set fire to the fortress.

Blazing flames dyed the night sky and my retina red.

I knew better than anyone what ripples this single letter would cause.

I don't know the reason, but the fact that the Marquis Helmon family colluded with bandits alone would be like dropping a bomb on noble society.

Report such a major incident immediately?

One corner of my mouth went up unconsciously.

'Not a chance.'

This letter will become the sharpest blade at the most important moment and stick in Julia Helmon's neck or….

'I might be able to demand a blank check from Ashuhalt….'

"Kuk kuk kuk…!!"

Then, voices were heard again.

'Hey, that bastard is laughing gloomily again! He's thinking something really bad!'

'Danel… don't laugh like that… I'm scared….'

I looked up at the sky.

'Shut up, everyone.'

Swords containing Aura crossed.

Shiiing—

Aura and Aura resonated with each other and screamed. Vince smiled as if satisfied.

"Amazing, Arisa. In just two days."

Clang—!

Tap—!

Arisa pushed Vince's sword away and widened the distance.

"How is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it! Cool, right! Quite good, right! Proud, right! Want to praise me, right!!!"

Vince ended up laughing heartily at such a cute appearance of Arisa.

"Haha, right. Really…."

Just then, Arisa rushed in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like a blizzard.

Bang—!

"Opening!!"

Vince leisurely blocked even such a cowardly(?) attack of Arisa attacking while talking with a smile.

Clang—!

At the heavy sensation, Vince raised his eyebrows slightly.

'Hoh… this girl….'

But when that attack was blocked, Arisa put down her sword and lay flat on her back.

"Daaamn it!! Ah!! Even this didn't work!!"

"Haha, want to stop?"

"Yes! I lost! I definitely realized Expert level is on a different dimension!"

Click—

Vince sheathed his sword and said.

"You're only 17. At your age, I was just at the entrance of Novice. You've already stepped into Ascendant."

"It's all because of the Cold Blue Stone Fungus, though."

"Luck is also skill, that is a clear fact. But did you say that mercenary named 'Danel' gave it to you?"

"Yes."

"And you ate it without suspicion?"

"Yes. Why?"

"……."

He had hundreds of things to say, but seeing Arisa's innocent face, Vince just closed his eyes.

It was just… better that way.

"Right. Understood. Go in and rest now."

Arisa jumped up and answered.

"Yup! Tomorrow when Danel returns, I'll flatten his nose!"

Vince reacted to Arisa's words.

"Where did that guy go?"

"Yes, he said he had business to attend to."

Returning to his room and washing his body, Vince sat on the sofa in a gown.

"Phew…. Arisa really grew a lot. I wonder if I'll be caught up at this rate."

Although he said that, he was happier than anyone about Arisa's growth.

Vince stared blankly at the ceiling.

His head was filled with questions about the man named 'Danel' who provided the foothold for that growth rather than Arisa's rapid growth.

'It's strange.'

Vince narrowed his eyes.

A mere mercenary obtained the Cold Blue Stone Fungus, a spiritual elixir even Ashuhalt cannot easily obtain?

From there, it was already outside common sense.

But far from swallowing that precious elixir himself, he handed it over to Arisa whom he hadn't even met for a day.

Of course, he took 'Serion', one of Ashuhalt's famous swords, in exchange.

But to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Vince's eyes, that didn't look like a simple barter.

'Serion is a famous sword, but it cannot compare to the value of the Cold Blue Stone Fungus. The guy is aiming for something bigger than immediate profit.'

Then his thoughts reached one conclusion. Vince jumped up.

'Surely… is he a strong person who doesn't need the Cold Blue Stone Fungus…?'

Then it makes sense.

Even at Vince's level, a famous sword was better than the power gained from the Cold Blue Stone Fungus.

Because the Cold Blue Stone Fungus was a much more effective elixir for someone just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠starting to realize Aura.

'He judged it beneficial to buy Arisa's heart with the Cold Blue Stone Fungus!'

Thinking about it, the guy's moves were meticulous.

He crossed Ashuhalt's threshold by taking Lorraine, who had the narrowest standing in the family, as an employer, and made Arisa, who was relatively easy to approach, a sure ally by seducing her with an elixir.

'Whether he's lucky… or has a few snakes sitting in his stomach.'

If all this is his design….

"……I have no choice but to watch for now."

Vince murmured low.

Whether the guy is a snake hiding fangs or a pumpkin that rolled in would be revealed soon.

Three days promised with Lorraine later, I returned to the Duke's residence.

Even after dealing with the Kelek Bandit Group, I handled three more requests and returned.

All were bounty hunting related to village security.

My body felt heavy from overworking, but this should be fine for a while.

Still, thanks to Aura, I could recover quickly.

The three additional requests I handled were old requests already over 2 years old.

Meaning I handled three more guys who were meticulous and entered the ranks of the strong.

'Earned a lot of money too….'

Suddenly Violet, who settled the request money, came to mind.

'If you go today… when are you coming back….'

'Well? About 1 year?'

'Don't be funny. Come see me once a month.'

'Haha. Okay, understood.'

Since it's a request from a kid like a little sister, I decided to show my face about once a month.

Arriving in front of Ashuhalt's castle gate like that.

The gatekeeper welcomed me.

"Oh?! Mercenary King!!"

I tilted my head.

"Do you know me?"

The guard who introduced himself as 'Luton' smiled a good-natured smile and said.

"Of course!! The pride of commoners who knocked down 'Genius Arisa'! Kuhaha! I should have been there!!"

I opened my eyes round for a moment and soon smirked.

'This is an unexpected gain?'

Right, even if it's the Ashuhalt family, it doesn't make sense for everyone to be nobles.

Commoners were supporting the Ashuhalt Duke's family throughout the residence, and it meant they could become my allies.

"Well, thanks for saying that."

Luton approached me and whispered in my ear.

"Still, be careful! We cheer for you, but there are definitely people who don't view you favorably."

I nodded.

"Thanks for the advice."

"Here! Go in quickly! Today's meal is very delicious! By the way, when do you eat dinner!? I want to chat a bit together!"

I shook my head as if regretful.

"For the time being, I have a lot of work, so scheduling dinner is difficult."

"Ah, r-right? As expected?"

"But when work is done, I will definitely visit the guard post, Luton."

At those words, Luton rejoiced greatly and opened the door.

"Must come!! It's a promise!!"

"Yeah."

It wasn't a bad feeling.

Going to report to Lorraine, the first person to welcome me was Kailey standing outside Lorraine's office door.

She with black bobbed hair and sharp eyes frowned her nose and blocked me.

"The smell of blood is vibrating. Where did you roll for 3 days?"

I also sniffed and smelled my body.

"Does it smell? I washed clean though?"

"…I can smell it… Just how many did you kill?"

"About… 60 people?"

"…Serious…? Were you a murderer…?"

I tapped Kailey's shoulder and laughed.

"Kuk kuk, you know how to joke too, personality isn't just stiff, huh?"

Kailey blushed slightly and said.

"G, go in quickly. Lady Lorraine wanted a private meeting, so I was out."

"Okay, thanks."

I replied casually and entered Lorraine's office.

Lorraine, who was waiting for me nervously inside the office, approached as if running out like a puppy as soon as I entered.

Patter patter patter—

"Danel! You returned! I was worried."

'She must have really thought I wouldn't return….'

Damn, I ended up thinking she's a little cute.

I shook off the thought and said.

"Nothing happened, right?"

"Yes, the Helmon family is quiet too…. However, there is bad news."

I asked back.

"Bad news?"

"Yes, movements in the North seem suspicious. I don't know the details, but the movements of barbarians and beasts seem unusual."

"Barbarians… moved together with beasts? Not separately?"

"Seems so. Most social gatherings are canceled too."

"Julia Helmon's tea party must have been canceled."

Lorraine opened her eyes round and asked.

"How… do you know that…?"

"Well, aren't they a family that farts a bit in the North, though not as much as Ashuhalt. Since the movements in the North are suspicious, they must have thought it wasn't time to hold tea parties."

The bandit group she put effort into was ruined overnight, would she have time to drink tea.

Lorraine, having no way of knowing that, had a face full of worry.

"What do I do… I was just gaining some footing in high society…."

"Hmm, rather, it might be more of an opportunity."

"Yes?"

I said with shining eyes.

"If the North is noisy, the Ashuhalt family will become very busy from now on."

"R-Right…?"

"Enough to need the hands of Lady Lorraine's guards, right?"

Only then did she open her eyes wide.

What Lorraine lacks is 'Opportunity.'

Since Ashuhalt's work is mostly focused on using martial power, situations for Lorraine to be active didn't arise.

It's a problem that could be solved by subordinate knights being active, but the problem was the 'possibility' of failure.

Ashuhalt does not tolerate failure.

Especially if rumors spread that a person bearing the name 'Ashuhalt' took a job and failed, that alone damages their name.

'Living so tiredly, really.'

"Are you saying… an opportunity will come to me?"

I shrugged.

"I'm not a fortune teller so I don't know well but…. The fact is the possibility has increased."

Then a grim determination hovered on Lorraine's expression.

"Lady, please collect information. No matter how random the rumor is, it's fine. Lady would be better than me running around directly anyway."

Lorraine clenched her two fists tight.

"I-I'll try my best!!"

'At this rate, who is the employer….'

"Then I'll get going. Please call me if anything special happens."

"Understood! Danel! Rest!"

Receiving her cheerful greeting, I headed to my room.

Just as I was moving steps to the quarters, a familiar voice was heard.

"Found you! Danel!!!"

I lowered my head deeply.

'Ah, please…. I moved quickly because I didn't want to meet today….'

Arisa fluttered her hands and ran over triumphantly.

Around her body which digested the Cold Blue Stone Fungus, vivid blue energy incomparably stronger than before was swirling.

I smirked.

'Showing Aura on purpose.'

That somehow looked cute like a puppy threatening that it grew teeth.

Arisa raised the corner of her mouth and said.

"You came just in time! Now it's time to flatten your nose!"

It was then.

A calm and low male voice came from behind.

"You understand. She seems itching to move after gaining some strength."

I had noticed his approach long ago.

'Tsk, still early though….'

I looked toward where the sound came from.

Vince Ashuhalt.

The 6th strongest man among the 12 children of the Ashuhalt family.

He found me together with Arisa.