Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Keep Getting Mistaken for a Pro (6)
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The process of obtaining a mercenary badge went off without a hitch.
Asha breezed through the administrative procedures and was issued an Iron-rank mercenary badge.
It was one rank above the lowest Wood rank.
Thanks to Elysia, a knight herself, personally vouching for her, Asha had secured basic credibility right from the start.
A mercenary's rank wasn't determined solely by combat prowess.
It was more akin to a credit score.
Human connections, overall trustworthiness, accumulated achievements, reputation, and so on.
It served as the basic yardstick for clients to decide whether to entrust a job to a mercenary.
Naturally, high-stakes commissions with critical trust requirements were handled through personal connections.
After all, the mercenary badge was just the first filter to weed out the riffraff in the hiring process.
In that sense, Asha, who had smoothly made it to the starting line, sparkled with excitement.
'See? Told you having the right friends pays off!'
"Elysia, thank you so much!"
"It's nothing."
Elysia grinned without pretense. Seeing Asha so thrilled made the favor feel all the more worthwhile.
Ahem. Elysia cleared her throat and composed herself.
"Asha, as I explained yesterday, we'll be leaving the main road today and taking the side trails. We'll have to camp out, so brace yourself."
Even as she said it, she wasn't worried.
Someone who spent over a decade in the mountains—was she really going to complain about roughing it?
Sure enough, Asha just beamed without a hint of protest.
From her perspective, a shortcut beat circling around any day.
And so, the two bustled about the city, stocking up on supplies for travel and camping.
Having started early, the sun hadn't even reached its zenith yet.
They decided to grab lunch on the go and left the free city of Beck behind.
As they moved away from the city, the scenery blurred into a monotonous stretch.
Forests, fields, rocks, and the like.
To stave off boredom, Asha spoke up.
She also hoped to gather some intel in advance.
"Elysia, Elysia."
"Hm?"
"Your fellow knights. You know, the elf knights—what kind of people are they?"
"……."
Elysia hesitated for a moment before answering.
What kind of people were the elf knights?
They were the type with very clear strengths... and weaknesses.
'Do I really need to mention the downsides?'
She might take it as trash-talking her own kind.
You don't spit in the face of a smiling friend.
Best to keep her usual thoughts under wraps.
Elysia opened her mouth calmly.
"They're incredibly noble and honorable folk."
"Oh?"
"The moment the commander gives the order on the battlefield, elf knights charge ahead more bravely than anyone. To the enemy, they'd look like sheer terror incarnate."
Elysia paused to clear her throat.
She'd buttered up enemies chatting with elf knights plenty of times before, so why did it prick her conscience now?
'It's not even a lie.'
In truth, they showed more enthusiasm than anyone. They had to rack up merits to elevate their honor.
Of course, that alone didn't set them apart much from human knights.
The real difference with elf knights was...
They never considered retreat.
To the point where you wondered if the word "strategy" even existed in their heads.
'Their destructive power is insane, sure.'
Beings who barreled forward with reckless momentum, never looking back.
Customs aside, the battlefield was a place where death could strike at any moment.
Yet they charged in with indomitable spirit, like madmen.
From the opponent's view, was there a more infuriating race?
In fact, even monsters recoiled when elf knights charged.
Any creature with even a shred of intelligence couldn't help but sense it.
Their sheer ferocity.
'Well, still...'
Elysia glanced at Asha's reaction.
Her hands neatly clasped in front of her chest, eyes shining brightly.
Like she was eagerly awaiting the next part. Her emotions plain on her face.
Had praise for her kin ever tasted so sweet?
Elysia chuckled softly and lavished the elf knights' virtues with flowery praise.
Listening along, Asha thought to herself.
'Elf race default settings. This seems pretty solid, right?'
Didn't it?
In this medieval fantasy world, noble and honorable types.
They just didn't live in the woods—otherwise, spot-on classic elf image.
Perfectly fitting the era, too...
'Hmm?'
Something felt familiar.
What was it?
Asha's head tilted quizzically.
Right on cue, Elysia chimed in.
"Anyway, once we reach the knight order, I'll introduce you."
She added cautiously,
"...Just don't let it influence you too much."
"?"
"Be yourself—that's enough."
"Ah, got it."
Asha answered reflexively.
At the same time, she mused,
'Whatever, I'll figure it out once I meet them myself.'
For now, first impressions of elves: approved!
The main road connecting cities.
This well-paved thoroughfare bustled ceaselessly with all sorts of travelers as the vital artery of transport.
In contrast, the narrow, unpaved paths near villages were called side trails.
Paths formed naturally from foot traffic, not built by design.
These side trails were typically used by locals from nearby villages or small-scale merchants and peddlers.
As the sun began to dip low,
Asha and her group, traveling one such trail, caught up to a merchant caravan ahead.
Last night's rain had softened the ground, making it easier to close the gap.
"They're heading to the same village as us, right?"
"Looks like it."
Elysia touched her lips briefly, lost in thought.
Soon, she left Asha behind, spoke with the caravan leader, and returned.
"A little further up, there's a good spot to camp, apparently. We're traveling with them to the village."
"Is that okay?"
"They're merchants from a reputable major trading company."
She elaborated.
They got solid escorts, and we skip the hassle of camping alone.
Win-win.
The mindset born from this era's hard-earned experience.
Asha joined the small merchant group, inwardly fascinated.
They exchanged simple nods of greeting.
As they resumed their brisk march,
A girl suddenly popped out from inside a supply wagon.
With a bright, friendly face and warm smile, she said,
"Hello?"
"Oh, hi. Hello."
After greetings, the girl introduced herself as Rina, the merchant's daughter.
She hoped they'd take good care of her until the village.
Asha introduced herself in turn.
"Really? You're a mercenary?!"
She gasped in surprise.
"I thought you were a knight or something..."
"Uh, have you never seen an elf mercenary before?"
"Of course not! That's like saying chickens fly."
Chickens can kinda fly, Asha swallowed the retort rising in her throat.
"Oops."
The girl hurriedly bowed her head.
"Sorry, that was rude..."
"No worries. It was an interesting take."
"Come to think of it, chickens can fly."
"Right?"
A bizarre agreement sealed in seconds.
Both burst into delighted giggles.
At the same time, Asha filed away the info, village-style.
Elves had low population, and most were nobility, it seemed.
'So, were my parents nobles too?'
Is that it?
The connection felt natural, but now it was unknowable.
Asha shook her head to clear the stray thoughts.
Best to brush off what you can't solve.
After that, Asha and Rina chatted amiably.
The lighthearted joke had broken the ice.
True to her merchant daughter's nature, the affable Rina soon dropped formalities.
"Ah, so you're just starting out as a mercenary."
"Yeah."
"Why not join our trading company instead?"
Rina blurted it out like a sudden brainstorm, then lit up as she warmed to the idea.
"My dad's low on the totem pole, but he could squeeze in one employee!"
Ahem.
Rina's father, up front driving the wagon, let out a mighty cough.
"I'm not that low."
"Dad! That's not the point right now!"
"Hm..."
The father fell silent, focusing on the reins.
Frustrated, Rina pounded the wagon floor with her fist.
Typical low-rank dad—zero help.
'They get along great.'
Asha smiled quietly at the sight.
Then, Rina turned to stare at Asha and froze in a daze.
The elf girl's beauty was pure and untouched by worldly grime, radiating innocence.
How could she exude such a fresh aura...?
'No matter how I look at it, she doesn't match the rumors at all.'
Her head's supposed to be full of flowers or whatever.
Of course, this was Rina's first time chatting with an elf.
But she'd heard plenty of tales tagging along on her dad's trips.
From that angle, the elves in her imagination were nothing like this.
'Maybe the rumors are wrong or exaggerated?'
No, they were too widespread for that.
Sure, they'd hush it around elves themselves, but...
Right then—
'...Huh?'
Sudden realization!
Rina whipped her head around.
Her father. Herself. The knight casually striding along.
Then the elf girl Asha. Finally, the nearby mercenaries.
'...Ah, aah!'
"I get it now—!"
"Huh?"
"N-no! It's nothing!"
Yeah, that tracks!
Having latched onto an explanation for the situation, Rina couldn't stifle her grin.
Sure, no one's born violent, right?
Look at those clear eyes and gentle face!
Human nature isn't innate—it's learned.
Like a philosopher pondering good and evil, Rina gazed at the elf girl's face.
"...Is there something on my face?"
"No!"
Rina replied energetically.
Meanwhile, she thought,
I'll keep observing!
That way, I can verify if my revelation holds water!
...And the chance to observe came sooner than expected.
After setting up camp and filling their bellies with simple fare,
The elf girl Asha suddenly approached the rough-looking mercenaries and struck up a conversation.
Rina's eyes locked on instinctively.
'...What's Asha got business with the mercenaries for?'
Anyway, time to put her revelation to the test.
Rina watched Asha's every move without so much as blinking.