Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Side Effects (3)
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The Red Eyes were a beastkin horde.
And such beastkin hordes generally weren't all that intelligent.
In other words, there were a lot of single-minded types.
Of course, that didn't mean beastkin intelligence was significantly lower than humans'.
Beastkin had intellect comparable to humans.
But the reason beastkin hordes tended to act on impulse was their instincts.
Beastkin preferred acting with their bodies over thinking things through, and charging straight into danger over devising plans.
As a result, beastkin rarely engaged in prolonged thinking outside of life-or-death battles. In such a horde, Kirral stood out as a beastkin who fought well and thought things through, so they listened intently.
"Killing them would build up infamy, right? And the boss is interested in Lartania's lord to begin with... Well, infamy would expose us anyway."
"Exactly."
Merrillda nodded at Kirral's follow-up.
As he said, if the people here quietly eliminated the guy in the carriage without anyone knowing, no one would be the wiser under normal circumstances.
In fact, even if they attacked the carriage right now and killed the one inside, no one would find out.
Unfortunately, they knew Lartania's lord had an 'eye' that could detect even hero murders done in secret.
No, they had no choice but to know.
Heroes rarely got away with murder because lords could see their infamy and issue warrants.
In essence, thanks to lords, steady territory operators among heroes and soldiers avoided killing.
But the key point here was that even if Merrillda killed the guy secretly, her infamy would rise.
"Conversely, if we beat him senseless but let him live, he'll spread rumors back in the territory, so infamy spreads for sure."
Letting him live spread infamy too.
No matter what they did, infamy rose.
"...So what are you suggesting?"
Gram scowled at Kirral, as if asking why the preamble was so long.
Kirral shrugged lightly at his glare, then pulled a mask from his bosom.
"Simply put, if we beat him without being recognized, no infamy."
He raised the mask with a swish.
Liyu, who'd been listening, let out an impressed "Oh" and nodded.
"Makes sense. We're not stealing goods, so hiding identities and not killing should avoid infamy."
"Exactly."
Kirral nodded in agreement with Liyu.
"I see."
Merrillda took the mask from Kirral without further hesitation, flashing a murderous grin as she donned it.
Kirral felt her killing intent not just gleaming but practically manifesting, spilling outward, as he spoke.
"B-Boss? You heard that right?"
"I heard."
"...Just to be sure, you can beat him hard, but don't kill him."
"I know. I'll go easy."
Smirking confidently, Merrillda leaped toward the carriage, now far from Lartania territory.
Liyu stared silently, then unwittingly gaped.
"Honestly, I couldn't picture it, but seeing it... it's really something."
"Agreed. Never thought the boss could make a female face."
"Don't say that with the boss around."
"Hmph, she doesn't mince words anyway. Just never has occasion."
"Really? Then I'll tell her everything."
"Don't bullshit me."
Liyu and Gram bickered.
But even as they did, they watched Merrillda charging toward the distant carriage.
From meeting her until now, they'd never seen anything but her blank expression.
Especially in battle or any situation, not a hint of emotion.
Seeing their emotionless boss express feelings was so novel they couldn't look away.
Kirral, comparing to before, noted her emotions seemed richer and pondered the cause of her emotional recovery with a curious look.
After another leap, Merrillda—wearing a fierce, excited, complex expression—crashed through the carriage roof. Five minutes later...
"...W-Who was supposed to let him live?!"
"..."
Kirral, Liyu, and Gram paled as they saw Merrillda drag the piggish rider from the carriage.
"...Boss, we said don't kill..."
"I didn't try to! I just tapped his head lightly, and he up and died!"
Merrillda protested indignantly.
But none of the Four Heavenly Kings sympathized.
His neck was already snapped.
"Uh, his neck's broken. Probably beyond saving, boss."
Liyu cautiously stated the tragic reality.
"A little twist like that doesn't kill, right?!"
"...Normally it does."
"Y-Yeah, can't you just twist it back? Some wolfkin heads twist back!"
"Theirs rotate a full turn by default..."
"H-Hey! Get up! Don't die, please!!"
Refusing reality, Merrillda shook his collar with a horrified face.
But.
Crack-!
With a sound signaling the end of the pig's lifeline, his neck bones shattered.
"...Ah."
"..."
Merrillda and the Four Heavenly Kings fell silent in stunned shock.
A day after Lartania's envoy from Randaron territory departed.
"Hello! Good to see you again!"
Kim Hyunwoo, having wrapped up business, greeted the cheery dwarf Gwyn brightly and grinned at the resources piled high behind him.
"Payment as usual, loaded up."
"Yes! And sign here."
"Already done."
"Thanks! I'll be off then! Come again!"
Kim Hyunwoo watched Gwyn leave the resources and depart with sunny cheer, thinking as the piles vanished instantly into the nearby warehouse he'd built.
'Resources are still pretty short.'
It made sense. His territory invested nearly all labor into development, leaving little for resource production.
'I could shift more gold miners to boost other resources quick.'
But excluding the forge, processing facilities couldn't handle raw influx yet, so no point diverting manpower now.
'Can't buy forever. Once sorted, ramp up production.'
Shrugging lightly, he left the vanishing resource zone.
Such alerts appeared before Kim Hyunwoo. He dashed to his office, curiosity piqued, opened the info window, and smiled unwittingly before meeting the Subjugator.
"Greetings, my lord. I'm Mila from the Mercenary Guild."
Mila bowed politely, her stunning face mismatched with her heavy plate armor and the title Subjugator.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Kim Hyunwoo, lord of Lartania."
Unlike yesterday's envoy, her impeccable manners prompted Kim Hyunwoo to bow back.
She eyed him with fresh surprise.
"Something wrong?"
"Pardon. Most lords don't use honorifics with mercenaries like me. I was taken aback."
"It's basic courtesy for a first meeting. Surprisingly few follow it."
"If only all lords were like Lartania's."
After light chat and smiles, they delved into business: the Mercenary Guild branch in Lartania.
"A guild branch benefits you too, my lord. Locals can post minor requests, easing daily life."
"I agree."
Negotiations flowed smoothly.
Mila's demands were reasonable; Kim Hyunwoo, needing the guild, had no reason to haggle.
As branch talks wrapped...
"May I ask something?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
"Would you consider instructor work in Lartania?"
Kim Hyunwoo broached it with a light smile.
As he offered Mila the instructor role...
Deep in a massive hidden cave south, far from Lartania, at a certain door.
"Sacrifices... all prepared—"
Adria confirmed the offerings.
"Hoo—"
She sighed softly, then opened the guardian's door without hesitation.
Last time, even opening it tensed her up. But after days tormented by the guardian, grasping her temperament, the merchant leader opened it briskly.
She entered what should be a treasure-filled room—
"...Huh?"
—no, instead of hoarded riches, one wall plastered with Kim Hyunwoo's photos.
"Heh, hehehe... Collection... complete... Hee."
The guardian's years of dignity gone, wrists bleeding, chuckled creepily.