White Whale's Footsteps

"That's a naughty prank."

"You think it's a prank?"

—Grin.

I flashed a smile right back at the mercenary leader smirking at me. Because I already knew.

This stuff in the bottle wasn't poison.

If this liquid were on Earth, it'd be super-concentrated coffee. Think espresso potency multiplied dozens of times over.

Not poison, but a powerful stimulant.

The reason the rabbit died after eating it was simple. Rabbits already have insanely fast heart rates—make that 1.5x faster? A minute is more than enough for shock to set in.

Of course, the mercenary leader had no idea about the mechanism. She'd just stumbled on the fact that rabbits die from it and turned it into a guts test.

The liquid was easy to make—just roast Belderu seeds in water, no fancy equipment needed.

—Slurp...

I raised my hand to scoop ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out the liquid, stroking it between my fingers. The highly viscous extract clung like snot, thick enough to handle by hand.

I didn't stop there—I brought it close to my nose and sniffed deeply.

I didn't need to; the system and original novel had already told me what it was. But this was all for the leader's benefit.

To make it plausible that I'd figured out the extract's true nature.

"Heh heh. Scared? Why not just drink it?"

"Belderu seed concentrate, right?"

—Twitch!

"…"

"Huh?"

"What?"

The gathered mercenaries all wore shocked expressions at my words. The leader said nothing, but her surprised face gave her away.

"…You from the 'Empire'? Hardly anyone in this kingdom would know about those seeds."

"Nah, I'm just well-read."

"…Unbelievable."

"Anyway… it's harmless to humans. Fatal for small animals with fast heart rates, though."

"H-heart rate? What's that?"

"Hm… want me to explain?"

"…Nah. I'd probably just get confused."

"Wise choice."

The leader's face twisted like a kid whose prank had flopped. The disappointment came from me knowing the answer.

But she didn't lose interest or look bored. If anything, her expression lit up like she'd found a promising tool.

"Well… guts test failed, but you seem knowledgeable. Useful, even."

"So I pass?"

"Heh heh. Drink up and hand over the empty bottle. It's practically our initiation rite."

"…"

"What? Why not drink? You'll be sleepless for a bit, but you know it's safe for humans…"

—Splash.

"Huh…?"

"Crazy bastard."

I dumped the concentrate straight onto the floor without hesitation. The sticky dark-red liquid oozed down slowly, leaving the entire mercenary group dumbfounded.

With membership all but guaranteed, I'd flipped the script. No wonder.

…I can't even fathom how all these mercenaries knowingly drank what they thought was poison…

Even if it wasn't real poison, chugging something handed to you meant entrusting your life to another.

…Was that the point? To test if you'd risk your neck to share their blade?

Medieval education level, huh? They really go hard…

Come to think of it, this stunt only worked because of the White Whale mercenary group's reputation. Top-tier in the kingdom—they figured an antidote would come if needed.

No way a famous group's initiation could have fatalities without rumors flying.

Obviously, no one had ever died from the concentrate. From their perspective, with no such horror stories, downing it was… barely, barely understandable.

"What the hell…"

The leader stared at me, utterly baffled.

It wasn't a random impulse. Dumping it had purpose.

She'd already decided to let me join—my knowledge and smarts impressed her.

So why not leave a strong impression?

First impressions were setting now. Perfect timing to showcase more competence.

"Why the hell?"

"Sure, it's Belderu concentrate… but who drinks something without knowing if it's tampered with?"

"…That's your reason?"

"Well… think about it. Could be other reasons too."

I dodged giving her all the answers. Smart as she was for this world, she'd get it.

I just had to wait patiently.

"Nothing was mixed in that concentrate."

"I'll take your word."

"You think I'd let you in anyway, so you could pull this stunt?"

"About half, yeah?"

"Half my ass. You look dead certain. …Why?"

"Dunno?"

"…Most would've just drunk it quietly."

"Probably."

"…You're insane."

—Thwack!

The leader sighed, hand to her forehead. But she was inching toward the truth.

She wouldn't disappoint my expectations.

"Ah…!"

—Whoosh!

Pondering, she whipped around to face me. Her eyes said she'd figured it out.

"Defrocked monk. You don't get swept up in the mood. Even with the pressure to drink, you judged rationally."

"Oh… spot on. You nailed exactly what I meant."

"…Holy shit. You're really something. Were you testing me just now?"

"To follow a leader's judgment blindly as a member, don't I need confidence in her abilities?"

"Pffahaha… Fucking right."

Having cracked it, she burst into a hearty laugh. She'd caught the humor in that oddball punchline, right up her alley.

She was a pirate at heart and a weirdo besides.

"This guy's got balls, heh heh. Sticks to his guns. That your brag?"

"Gotta, so my advice later carries weight, right?"

"Kid, if I weren't as big-hearted as I am, they'd have booted you for arrogance. Got it?"

I knew. That's why I pulled it off—knowing her personality.

The result? A win. She seemed genuinely fond of me now.

"I'm not desperate to join… and I hate narrow-minded bosses anyway."

"Puhaha! Sucking up to my generosity now? Damn, kid. You've got charm. Girlfriend on the side?"

"Yep. My steady lover."

"…Shame."

—Glare!

Chris shot the leader a fierce look as she licked her lips. I grabbed her hand, flaunting our relationship right there.

Only then did Chris relax.

The leader was stunning, sure—but I didn't want Chris upset over poor boundaries. Cheaters need skills to stay hidden.

"Oh, obviously—when I join, let my lover in too."

"Ha, now conditions? You really an ex-monk? Oh, right—defrocked. Shit."

"If not, guess our paths end here…"

"Wait. …Can your girl pull her weight?"

"She's about as strong as me."

"Then let's test you both. Can't trust words alone for backup. Mel!"

"Yes!"

"Spar 'em one by one."

"M-me?"

"You're the weakest here."

"That's exactly why… facing two people who pulled this off back-to-back is too much for me…"

"You're in week two of apprenticeship? Skip the rest—full member now. Guys! Mel's shares are full from today!"

—Yeah!!

"Whoa! For real? I'm in!!"

—Dash!

Mel bounded forward, thrilled. Promotion clearly meant the world to her.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I'd go first, per the leader's order—she wanted my skills first.

The crowd formed a small ring around us. Fifty-odd mercenaries watched with wide eyes.

Trying to crush the newbies' spirits?

No pressure. Pre-swap, I'd led groups over a hundred strong.

"Mel, right? Nice to meet you."

"Ah, yes. Same here."

"Did you drink the Belderu concentrate too?"

"Ah… haha. I chugged it all at once, stayed up three days, then passed out…"

I relaxed. Unlike Terraforming, no divergences from canon yet. At least pre-intervention.

Good—no headaches from time travel here in White Whale's Footsteps.

Monk habits kicked in—I bowed politely, Eastern-style head dip. To boyish Mel, it screamed refinement.

Of course, I'd drop the act once we bonded.

"Uh… w-what about your weapon…?"

"My fists. You first."

"…Then I won't hold back…"

—Shing.

Mel gripped her hilt. The well-kept longsword slid free with a sharp ring.

She nodded at me—courtesy first strike incoming.

I matched her stance.

Her face hardened seriously as she lunged.

—Thud!

Clean side slash at my upper body. Her slightly twisted wrist said she'd flip to the flat just before impact.

Accounting for my lack of armor or weapon. Huge stat gap, plus kindness.

Dodging was effortless—even without Evil Thought Kick, I saw and evaded.

"Ugh?!"

I sidestepped her swing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and stood in her blind spot.

A punch now would've wrecked her.

—Tap.

My fist brushed her side—gentle, no pain.

No need to injure a future comrade. Unless she'd gone lethal…

—Hey! Mel! Why pull it?!

—Damn, couldn't even see it!

—Redo!

"I-I lost…"

"Hm… too considerate. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Flipping to the flat, right?"

"You saw that?!"

I smiled. Groans of disappointment rose, but my initiation proof was done. Cleared the minimum with ease.

The leader calmed them: plenty of time to see more in action.

"I save the good stuff. Heh heh heh."

Not as clean as my packaging, but…

Next: Chris.

"Fists too? Or that dagger? No main weapon visible."

Chris glanced at me. I nodded—subspace sword okay.

—Swish…

"Gah?!"

"W-what?!"

"Magic!!"

"Mage?"

"Nah. Artifact. Stores stuff in a hilt-sized space."

"…Ah."

"Heard the magic tower sells similar…"

"You got one too?"

"Mine's not that handy…"

"Exact ability and form? Secret. Could attract greedy types… no need to share, right?"

"Fair. Everyone hear? Don't pry. Mel! Go!"

"Yep!"

They bought it. Artifacts were pricey but not unicorn-rare.

I whispered to Chris: "Hide that you can store your body too. Real artifact envy could spark trouble."

"…Got it."

Better avoid needless enemies.

Chris crushed Mel easily—no mana needed, just like me.

We both joined White Whale Mercenaries safely.