LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 18
“You really caused a big scene, huh?”
“Ah, yes, did you hear about it?”
The day after my first outing.
Lowell came to me with a forced smile and brought it up.
Had he already heard the news?
Well, considering I dismissed the dispatched guards with a seal, it’s not surprising Lowell knew about it.
“How could you cause trouble on the very first day?”
“Hahaha, think about where I come from.”
Did you really think someone who was at the top of the rough Coliseum wouldn’t cause any trouble?
“…It seems the Lady is surprisingly good at keeping you on a leash.”
“No one was seriously hurt.”
No one died or was broken.
And it wasn’t like I started the fight, so you could even call it self-defense.
It was a bit excessive, but in this world, isn’t that just normal?
“Yes, well… just don’t kill anyone.”
“Is that enough?”
“…And try not to cripple anyone either.”
“Alright, got it.”
I’m not great at controlling my strength, but I’ll do my best.
“By the way, why did you go to the Mercenary Guild?”
“I was curious about adventurers.”
“Adventurers? Are you interested in that?”
“A little.”
Since it’s a fantasy world, isn’t it romantic to explore the mysteries of fantasy while adventuring?
If I ever get the chance, I’d like to go on a proper adventure.
“Hmm, that’s unexpected. I thought being a guard dog suited you.”
“People have more than one aptitude, don’t they?”
Not that I want to abandon my current life and run away.
It’s just something I’d like to do before I die.
“Did you pick a fight with the mercenaries there?”
“That too, and I wanted to test them.”
“Their skills?”
“Yes, I was curious about how those who live by the sword are.”
Plus, mercenaries are one of the core forces in this world.
I heard that even small nobles almost always hire mercenaries when they engage in territorial disputes.
The outcome of battles can depend on which mercenary group is hired, and some nobles even marry their daughters to the leaders of famous mercenary groups to make them their sons-in-law.
“So, how was it?”
“Hmm, not sure.”
A pretty famous mercenary group got beaten to a pulp by me in three minutes.
But they were all drunk and didn’t even draw their swords, so that’s why.
If they had been in good condition and fought…
Well, if I used Aura, they’d be pulp again in three minutes.
There’s a huge difference between Aura users and non-Aura users.
The leader used a bit of Aura, but his skill level was incomparable.
“Still, without Aura, it would’ve been quite a struggle.”
But if neither side had Aura, it would’ve been tough.
Aura is just broken.
Even the old man here is spry thanks to Aura.
Looking at how old someone with that level of skill is, it’s hard to guess their age.
“Silver rank is quite high.”
“Yes, I plan to check again later.”
I’ll call the leader in a few days and properly confirm then.
“By the way, I heard you gave gifts to the maids.”
“Ah, yes, I bought them on the way out.”
I stopped by a high-end jewelry store on the way back yesterday and spent a fortune.
I figured I don’t have much to spend money on, so why not splurge?
The maids were thrilled when I handed out the jewelry.
“Hmm, you really know how to do things.”
“Huh? Ah, well.”
But then.
Lowell suddenly looked at me.
“What are you looking at? It’s creepy.”
“Don’t I get a gift from my student?”
“Have you ever seen a trained dog give a gift to its owner?”
When did you train me, calling yourself a teacher?
At my words, Lowell’s face twisted.
“…Seems I didn’t socialize you enough.”
“I’m just naturally wild.”
Did you think you could tame a born lion with simple training?
“Come out. It’s time for some long-overdue education.”
“…That’s a bit scary.”
But.
The old man really held a grudge.
Still, it’s training, so I sighed deeply and came out of the doghouse.
“Let’s check your basic guard first.”
“Ugh, you’re just planning to hit me.”
“Stand still, sandbag.”
And so, that day, I got beaten up while practicing guard techniques.
*
After the first outing.
I went out the next day and the day after that.
“Today, we’ll dress you up again!”
For two days, I couldn’t resist the maids’ enthusiasm after receiving gifts and got all dressed up.
“…Today, I’ll just wear casual clothes.”
“Ehh- you looked so cool yesterday.”
But today, considering where I’m going, I refused and wore the casual clothes from before.
“I’ll ask for your help next time.”
“Understood!”
Still.
I don’t think the maids’ goodwill will diminish just because I refuse a few times.
The gifts really worked wonders.
It was worth spending a lot on them.
Though, I still haven’t given the most expensive gift to the Lady.
Anyway.
“Have a good trip.”
“Yes.”
Today, I left the mansion after receiving the gatekeeper’s greeting.
“Phew.”
This scenery is already familiar after seeing it for four days.
The initial emotions are gone, and now it’s just a forest and a mansion.
…My sentimentality wore off quickly, but what can I do? That’s just how I am.
So, I walked through the streets at a slightly faster pace.
I quickly passed through the high-end commercial district where I wandered dressed up yesterday and the day before.
And headed straight to the Mercenary Guild in the general commercial district.
Clank.
I arrived at the Mercenary Guild a bit earlier than last time.
The inside was similar to before.
The faint smell of iron and the spices from the tavern.
But one thing was different.
“….”
“…You’re here.”
The mercenaries who were shouting and drinking last time.
Were now sitting in heavy silence.
They all came.
I thought only the leader would come and sit.
“You came on time, good.”
And they all got beaten up by me and are still fine.
They must be Silver rank adventurers for a reason.
…Did they all come to get back at me?
Well, they were drunk when I beat them up.
If they were in good condition and fully prepared, maybe they’d think they could take me.
I sat down, ready to use Track at any moment, thinking I might have shown too little.
But then…
“So… what do you want us to do?”
Looking at the mercenary leader’s expression and tone, it didn’t seem like that.
This heavy atmosphere wasn’t them preparing for a fight, but rather being cautious.
“Why so polite? I thought you’d have a different attitude once you sobered up.”
“…How could we dare in front of a full-fledged Aura user?”
“Ah.”
They figured it out?
Well, he also uses Aura and got thoroughly beaten by me.
They probably think I’m a hidden Aura user or a knight in disguise.
“No wonder you’re all so polite.”
“Yes…”
It felt oddly familiar to see mercenaries twice my age being so polite.
Back in my gladiator days, even the old gladiators groveled before me.
If anything, the mansion is the strange one.
The youngest Coliseum champion becoming a guard dog.
It shows the power of the Void Family.
“Leader, your name is Jeven, right?”
“Yes…”
“Jeven of the Chain Strikes, come here.”
“You don’t have to call me by my title…”
“Got a problem?”
“No…”
At my natural command, the mercenary leader Jeven flinched.
But he obediently came over.
“Take this.”
I handed Jeven the silver coins I borrowed from Lowell yesterday.
“This is…”
“I have something for you to do, and you’ll need money.”
“What do you want me to do that requires so much…”
I called Jeven here for a special reason.
Namely…
“You know how to create identities, right?”
“Huh?”
“You must have connections in the underworld.”
I plan to have him create a backup identity, separate from the slave Rain.
“Why do you need an identity…”
“Don’t ask, just create one and add it to your mercenary group as the youngest member.”
Having it ready might come in handy.
Plus, having a name in a famous mercenary group will make the fake identity more credible.
“This is so sudden…”
“Can’t do it?”
“No… I can, but…”
However.
Jeven clearly seemed uncomfortable with my proposal.
Well.
It’s understandable that someone twice my age wouldn’t like being bossed around by a kid who just knows how to use Aura.
Especially when it involves his hard-earned mercenary group.
“I’m not just asking with words.”
In fact, you shouldn’t give important tasks to someone you’ve just beaten.
You need to offer a carrot to get proper work done.
“You know you can’t use Fleet properly, right?”
“Yes…”
“Want me to teach you?”
“…Really?”
And if the previous beating feels like a trial for a reward, even better.
“Really…?”
“Just the basics.”
Jeven looked at me like he couldn’t believe I’d teach him Fleet.
Aura users are usually knights.
So, while Fleet is a basic technique for knights, they don’t usually associate with mercenaries, so I understand his skepticism.
“Don’t worry about whether I can use it or not.”
With that, I held up the badge I had just taken.
“Huh, what?”
A shining gold badge with a sword and shield.
Yes, Jeven’s Gold rank mercenary symbol.
“When did you…”
“This is the real Fleet.”
Even among Aura users, there’s a huge difference between those who know the basics and those who don’t.
Like Jeven, who couldn’t even resist or notice when I took his badge.
“So, if I make the identity, will you really teach me?”
“Yes, as long as the identity is properly done.”
Jeven’s eyes lit up with excitement.
He saw this as a real opportunity.
He’ll do the job properly.
“Of course, if I find even one flaw during cross-verification…”
I still need insurance.
I made a gesture of slashing his neck with the badge.
“Then there’ll be nothing left.”
“…Yes.”
“See you later.”
With that, I got up from my seat.
“Wait, what about my mercenary badge…”
“I’ll return it when you bring the identity.”
I found out this is the mercenaries’ ID badge.
It’s apparently very hard to reissue, so losing it is a big deal.
“Huh?”
“Why? Just bring the identity and I’ll return it.”
Once the identity is done, I’ll return it then.
I won’t need to use the badge while in the capital.
If I need quick verification, I can use his subordinates.
They’re all Silver rank, so they can vouch for their leader Jeven.
Even though they were all drunk and got beaten up by me.
Seeing them in their right minds now, they seem more capable than I thought.
Not a single one of them had bandages, which speaks to their toughness.
I do hit pretty hard.
“Alright, work hard. See you in a week.”
With that, I left the Mercenary Guild, setting the next meeting.
“Hmm.”
Once outside, I took a closer look at the gold badge.
Looks nice, maybe I won’t return it?
I’ll see how he handles the identity next week.
As I’ve thought many times before.
This is also a connection, so I won’t let it go easily.
I’ll make good use of it.