White Whale's Footsteps
We passed through streets that were surprisingly empty for such a sizable village and arrived at the mercenary guild, which was deserted except for the White Whale members and a few staff. There, we officially joined the mercenary company. I covered the issuance fee for Chris's mercenary badge since she didn't have any money on her right now.
"Hmm..."
I rolled the badge around in my hands, examining it closely. My physical characteristics were engraved on the sturdy bronze plate, just like on my ID—black hair, black eyes.
The badge in my hand was bronze, but Janet's wasn't gold or anything special. All mercenaries' badges were identical bronze plates. There were no rankings like the common novel tropes—F-grade to S-grade, or bronze to platinum. In this world, a mercenary's strength was proven solely through reputation and their affiliated company.
So even though Chris, Mel, and I were total rookies just dipping our toes in, no mercenary would dare look down on us.
"Whoa... th-this is a mercenary badge...! I'm a mercenary now too...!"
"..."
I glanced sideways and saw Mel and Chris staring at their badges in fascination, just like me. The other company members burst out laughing at the sight of us three.
Yeah, we probably looked like complete newbies.
Thud, thud.
Janet came down from the second floor after finishing her business and spotted me clutching the bronze plate. She grinned like the others.
"Heh heh. Park Chanyoung. What's so fascinating? Can you even read it?"
"Yes. I can read and write, at least."
"...Y-you can?"
"Yeah."
Her eyes widened at my response, but I gave her a puzzled look instead. According to the original story's lore, literacy rates in this world weren't that low. This guild was just one of many branches, not the headquarters, and the receptionist was pretty young—yet they'd engraved text on this badge, right?
"Why are you so surprised?"
"Wouldn't you be?..."
"Aren't people who can read and write common enough? Even in this lord's village, you'd find plenty if you looked."
"People who can read and write are common, but 'mercenaries' who can? They're rare as hell. Who'd become a grunt mercenary if they knew their letters?"
"Uh... is that so?"
Thinking about it, she had a point. Literacy was higher here because of the lord's castle, but in some backwater village, it alone would make you high-class talent.
"I'm not doing this as a career, am I?"
"Ah! Right, you're not in it for the money... What was it? Some pilgrimage to broaden your horizons?"
"Exactly."
"Makes sense, then. ...You're turning out more useful than I thought. Don't go dying on me, yeah?"
Janet looked at me approvingly. Good thing my excuse landed.
She'd just come down from the second floor, meaning she'd wrapped up talks with the lord's proxy as company leader.
"Anyway, business done? What's the verdict on the territory war?"
"Heh heh... You'll see. Hey, everyone! We've taken the job! Nailed a fat payout, so let's get to work!"
Janet bellowed to the company. Her "fat payout" meant way more than expected. The members, knowing full well and loving their coin, cheered wildly, faces lighting up.
The guild erupted in noise instantly. Luckily, no one else was around but us and the staff, so no complaints.
"Ugh... so loud..."
Thud, thud.
I plugged my ears and approached Mel and Chris—the only ones not swept up in the excitement. Mel was rigid with nerves; Chris showed no reaction.
"Um, uh... Captain? So when exactly is the territory war...?"
Mel swallowed hard and asked Janet. I knew the answer, but it was Janet who replied.
"Curious?"
"Y-yes, ma'am..."
"Tomorrow."
"T-tomorrow?! That's so soon!"
"Heh heh! Mercs get hired mid-battle sometimes. Arriving a day early ain't late."
Mel looked tense, but once fighting started, she'd pull her weight like a true protagonist. Well... not much shine in this battle, but she'd hold her own thanks to her traits.
Tomorrow it was. The war was that close, hence our rush. The guild's emptiness, the sparse streets—all because everyone was already at the agreed battleground with the enemy territory.
Good thing the site wasn't far. If we hustled after lunch, we'd arrive by evening. Adjacent territories made it possible.
Tomorrow...
Ah... no rest for us...
Camping again tonight?...
At least they'll have empty tents there.
What's that beat camping?
The members, who'd hoped for a bit of downtime upon reaching the village, looked a tad disappointed. Cash was great, but they'd dreamed of a bed tonight.
"Lunch, then we move! Rest up proper once we're there!"
Ugh...
Damn...
Let's eat slow.
Thud, thud.
Chris and I could eat well anytime, but not the mercs. Their staple was always slop cooked by amateurs. Proper food in a big village like this soothed their gripes nicely.
Thud, thud.
As we crossed the village post-meal, Mel noticed the locals' calm faces—not a hint of war panic. Odd for a territory at war. She asked Janet.
"Captain? The villagers don't seem worried at all."
"Told you. Winner's already set."
"Even the villagers know?"
"It's sorta secret, but no skin off anyone's back if it leaks. Lord's probably spread it so they can focus on work without fretting."
"Even with sons, fathers, husbands off to war?"
"They know no one's dying."
"Huh?"
Janet smirked at Mel's baffled look and explained why victory was locked in.
"Kingdom's got two factions, and the power gap's huge."
"Kingdom...? Factions...? Urgh..."
"Hahaha! Simple version: our side's backed by the strong faction; theirs gets zilch."
Mel's eyes spun at the politics. Janet summed it up short and sweet. Backer disparity—easy.
"But 'backing' ain't just food, coin, or gear. We've got three high mages on loan."
"M-mages?!"
"Three high mages in a pipsqueak territory skirmish? Game over. Enemy lord's half-given up already. We got the intel quick."
Matched what I knew. Spoiler for the near future: enemy lord tastes high magic, folds in under a day. His ace blocked too.
Some might say surrender early, but he had his own ace—solid enough to maybe counter three mages. Our joining wrecked that.
"Only wildcard's the Iron Lion mercs they hired... but no biggie."
"Wait, Iron Lions over there?"
"Uh... Iron Lions...?"
"Hoo, been a while."
"Heh. Freebie gig after all."
"Captain knew they were with the enemy, huh?"
"Explains pushing so hard for this job..."
"Heh. Yeah. They owe that lord something."
Hearing "Iron Lion," the mercs relaxed completely, like no battle tomorrow.
"W-wait a sec!"
Mel panicked, blurting to everyone. Their nonchalance screamed abnormal to her.
"Why's everyone so chill...? Iron Lions! The top-tier company neck-and-neck with White Whale!"
"Scared 'cause we might clash for real?"
"N-no, but is relaxing smart...? Shouldn't we tense up...?"
"See tomorrow."
Janet brushed her off. Enemy's ace was Iron Lion—unignorable force. Three mages vs. 100+ pros. Without us, they'd decide the war.
*
Bwooo!!
The territory war day dawned long ago. Soldiers vs. soldiers, scarce knights vs. knights, mercs vs. mercs. Standard setup to minimize peasant losses—the backbone of territory income.
Noon soldiers facing knights or mercs? Casualties would skyrocket.
We headed to face Iron Lion. Enemy camp ahead swarmed with way more mercs than us. Them, no doubt.
"Whew. Crowded. How many in Iron Lion now?"
"Around 150, probably."
"Quite the number."
"Their entry bar's lower, strength-wise."
"Dead serious, we'd win?"
"Yeah. But they'd lose two-thirds."
"...Joking, why so straight?"
Janet eyed her vice-captain's deadpan answer. 50 vs. 150, taking 100 down? Jaw-dropping.
As they bantered tension-free—
Bwooo!! Bwooo!!
Horns blared twice, signaling start. Left-flank soldiers roared, charging enemy lines. Faint officer shouts egging them on.
"It's go time!! Move out!!"
"Waaaah!! Eh, wha—?"
Waaaah...
Waaah...
Mel bellowed with Janet but faltered at the company's limp cheers and saunter. Looked nothing like pre-battle.
We jogged leisurely—high base stats?—and soon met the charging Iron Lions.
Then... both companies' scripted playtime began.
Clang... sching...
"Yo, long time! First face since that ant hill, right?"
"Oh! Recruited some newbies?"
Schiing... clang...
"Hahaha! Growing steady! Hit 100 soon!"
"Bluff... just lowered entry reqs."
"Think our captain'd allow that?"
Clang...
Swords clashed bloodlessly. Lethargic swings blocked easy. Then chit-chat with foes.
Mel's jaw dropped impossibly wide.
"Wh-what the... C-captain?"
"Kuhahaha!! Same-weight companies always go like this."
"Huh?..."
"All-out? Both sides wiped."
"But we're hired... if the employer's watching..."
"Lords know. Similar tiers, similar pay—it's like trading coin for coin. Tacit fake-out!"
"..."
"Why we rushed like our asses were on fire! Free money, basically!"
Janet cackled sleazily, thrilled.