Warrior Marygold (3): At the Mercenary Guild with Lancel
Marygold's heart had been pounding strangely ever since she arrived at the guild headquarters. The closer she got, the worse it became.
"Whoa, it's barely morning and that sweaty guy's stench is already wafting everywhere. I feel like I'll get contaminated just getting near. Huh? Miss? Miiiiss?"
Marygold slipped through the crowd without a chance for Pina to stop her.
"Hey! This is the mercenary guild—what's a girl doin'—aaack!"
She twisted the wrist of the man trying to block her and bulldozed her way to the front.
"Cutting in line is bad manners, miss."
"Ah."
Finally reaching the very front, Marygold's mouth fell open slightly.
"Lancel Dante……."
The man from her dream. He was leaning casually against the reception desk.
Thump thump, thump thump.
Her heart hammered harder than ever before.
"Who the hell is this guy you're obsessing over, miss? He's just some random noble."
She had no good answer for that. This feeling couldn't be neatly summed up as like or dislike, affection or aversion.
"You didn't even know him before. Seriously, who is he?"
"Hm."
After some thought, Marygold tilted her head and replied to Pina.
"My ex-husband?"
"……?"
It wasn't wrong. Even if it was only in a dream.
"The test begins now! Enter one by one!"
The exam started soon after, and Marygold's turn approached. Her opponent for the sword clash had been decided long ago.
"Please, one exchange. Lancel Dante."
* * *
Marygold's passing was basically a done deal. Mastering basic swordsmanship already meant she had the minimum qualifications to work as a mercenary.
And her stance—visibly more polished than in the past—drew admiring gazes.
She was surely better than most average mercenaries.
"Please, one exchange. Lancel Dante."
But above all, her eyes. Those blazing eyes. Her emerald pupils, carved like flawless gems, seemed ready to spark with lightning at any moment.
Marygold said little, but Lancel could sense the unprecedented passion churning within her.
……Wasn't this our first meeting this loop?
Lancel was momentarily speechless. Marygold wasn't a regressor. She had no memories from previous loops. That much was certain.
So why?
"Give her what she wants. She seems so eager."
The 3rd Prince watching from the side spoke up. His lips curved in a small smile—he was clearly enjoying this.
Hm. What the hell was this situation?
"What're you doing? He's the guild master, not an examiner. Hurry over here……."
Lancel raised a hand to silence the examiner. Without a word, he drew the wooden sword from his belt.
"Young master?"
"Forget it. It's an exam—anyone can watch. I was getting bored just standing around anyway."
"You sure?"
"Don't make me say it twice."
"Yes, sir!"
The examiners all stepped back. Everyone formed a circle around Lancel and Marygold like spectators.
The venue buzzed at the unexpected turn.
"A barmaid dueling a noble? Living long lets you see all kinds of weird shit."
"Some country bumpkin noble and a waitress."
"He's a knight, though?"
"Skinny twig like that? He's a knight? Probably just picked the right hole to crawl out of."
The mercenaries' mouths never stopped.
"Even mercenaries aren't that easy these days, but a bar wench throwing a fit? Jeez."
"You don't know shit. That girl's no ordinary chick. Over a dozen guys got hurt messing with her at the west inn."
"What?"
"That's her?"
The mercenaries' gazes toward Marygold shifted. They all seemed to recall the rumor they'd heard somewhere.
"You know that bastard Roben who didn't show today?"
"The guy laid up with a slipped back? Yeah."
"Her handiwork."
"No shit? Thought he slipped in the bath."
Lancel spun his wooden sword lightly and stepped forward.
"Here's the deal. Graze my clothes even once, and I'll give you a bronze badge right now."
A rank above the bronze that most starters got.
"Touch my body even once, silver badge. Draw even a drop of blood, gold badge. Sound good?"
"And if I win?"
"If you win……."
Lancel smiled. Marygold, flushed with competitive fire.
"I'll grant whatever you want."
"It's a promise."
With that, one examiner raised his hand.
"Ready, begin!"
The signal dropped, and Marygold's wooden sword sliced the air. She closed five steps in a glide, thrusting forward.
Lancel tilted his head to dodge. He ignored her surprisingly swift movements.
The issue was the strange energy from her wooden sword.
……Mana?
No, impossible. Infusing mana into a sword required mastering advanced swordsmanship. Far beyond Marygold's current level.
Yet mana seeped from her wooden sword—and her entire body. Her hair fluttered faintly in the still air.
A sudden five-rank leap? Even for the protagonist, no.
Only one possibility.
Yuri. That bastard.
Lancel glanced back. The 3rd Prince Yuri sat there, lower face hidden by a fully opened fan, eyes curved like crescent moons as he watched.
Feeling the mana flow confirmed it. Mana from Yuri's body flowed straight into Marygold.
Sudden Event Occurred!
The 3rd Prince is cheering for Marygold.
Casts 5th Rank magic Blessing.
Marygold's stats greatly increase until the 3rd Prince's mana depletes.
※ The 3rd Prince wants to see Mercenary Guild Master Lancel Dante in trouble.
Let's defeat him!
Blessing. A high mage-level blessing pushed Marygold to her limits. Her current mana was essentially Yuri's power.
Every prince in this empire is a nutjob.
Poor Marygold, who might have to marry one of them.
With that thought, Lancel adjusted his stance.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Marygold. No hard feelings toward you."
He'd planned to go easy.
6.
Lancel already knew the 3rd Prince's intent. Sizing him up. Gauging his skill, how much power he hid.
He had no intention of playing along.
He sealed all mana inside his body. From now on, only his flesh would move him.
Swoosh—!
Marygold's wooden sword tore through the air. Lancel deflected the force and retreated.
Clashing head-on would shatter it—the destructive power writhed within.
Countless exchanges unfolded in seconds. Too fast for eyes to follow.
"……That's……."
The onlookers' eyes filled with shock.
Marygold's ferocious strikes were impressive, of course.
But stranger still: Lancel deflecting them all with one hand.
"Enough power, but still lacking. You're not there yet."
A relaxed smile played on his lips.
"Your guard's open at the waist."
"Ack!"
"No whining. Now your shoulder."
"Ow!"
He occasionally tapped her openings with his sword tip. No one knew how it was possible.
They only felt that Lancel Dante had mastered swordsmanship beyond their comprehension.
"Hm."
One man's smile faded. Lancel sensed the shift and inwardly cheered.
Thought pumping up raw stats would do it, Your Highness?
Marygold's boost relied on Yuri's mana. Which meant it would deplete over time.
Sure, the magic genius Yuri had mana to spare—no visible strain yet—but it couldn't feel good.
Lancel was satisfied.
Swoosh—!
Until a red ring appeared in Marygold's eyes.
"……Here I go again."
Fatigue vanished from her face. Sweat evaporated into a haze.
Event Updated!
The 3rd Prince absolutely does not want Marygold to lose.
Casts 7th Rank magic Overflow.
※ Consumes even more of the 3rd Prince's mana.
Marygold's health and mental strength continuously drain. Condition drops sharply.
※ From now on, all damage Marygold takes is replaced by the 3rd Prince's mana. (Remaining mana: 98%)
As expected. Lancel had experienced Overflow's effects in an old loop.
It was pure hell.
"Hngh!"
Marygold convulsed from the surging power. Warmth faded from Lancel's eyes.
He'd even considered losing on purpose. If it helped her catch the prince's eye.
If it was a step toward becoming future empress.
But he'd changed his mind.
This bastard needed to get hurt to learn.
3rd Prince, you crossed the line first.