31 – Mercenary
＜Chapter 31: Mercenary＞
Bang!!!
“Elwin, what on earth are you thinking!?”
The supervisor, who was standing in a corner of the dining table, stood up with a bang!
All eyes turned to her.
Ineon looked at me with a curious expression.
“Well… um. She’s a supervisor dispatched from the Central Mercenary Guild. Her name is…”
Come to think of it, I still didn’t know her name.
“What’s your name, supervisor?”
“I’m Aine. Elwin-nim.”
“Yeah, Aine. What was I thinking? What does it mean?”
“I’ve never heard or seen anything about a recommendation system! What’s that?”
“And?”
Aine seemed flustered for a moment.
Probably because I spoke so calmly.
“As far as I know, we just need to follow the manual provided by the Central Mercenary Guild, right? The rest is up to the autonomy of each branch, isn’t it?”
“But… the recommendation system involves bringing mercenaries from other branches. This…”
I shook my head.
What I wanted to say was clear.
“So? Does it violate the manual?”
“Not exactly…”
Bang!!
This time, I slammed the table and stood up.
“Are you telling me not to compete among the branches of the Mercenary Guild? How can we make progress like that!”
I raised my hand and pointed towards the mercenaries.
“The Mercenary Guild has a responsibility to provide better services! We must do our best to assist the mercenaries so that they can focus on their missions!”
The mercenaries had expressions of admiration.
Ignoring their gaze, I looked at Aine.
“But what is the state of the Mercenary Guild now! We’re just working on paperwork in a small building! Do you know why? It’s because there’s no competition, and without competition, there’s no progress!”
Aine had a complicated expression.
She seemed angry,
and also perplexed.
After a while, Aine sat back down.
And so, another day passed.
**
The next day.
I introduced the guild to the members of Innocent Mercenaries.
First, the Mercenary Guild located in the center.
“This is the Mercenary Guild.”
It was much larger than the average mercenary guild.
As I entered, a spacious interior greeted me.
Numerous chairs for mercenaries to rest.
A massive map occupying one side of the wall.
A request board of no less size.
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat and quickly skipped the introduction to the request board.
There were only two requests compared to the size of the board.
Monster subjugation and recommendation system were the only options.
“We’re done with the mercenary guild, let’s go outside.”
Several buildings were located around the mercenary guild.
“That place is the restaurant where we had dinner yesterday. And next to it is the inn where you stayed.”
Starting with the restaurant and inn, I introduced other places.
“Can we receive treatment at the infirmary?”
“Yes, you can. Especially there, you just need to pay for the treatment after it’s done. Isn’t human life the priority?”
Eilon’s expression became strange.
Because he had gone through something similar.
Giving potions in advance and receiving payment later…
Creating a debt and being bound to this place.
I understood Eilon’s thoughts and spoke immediately.
“I understand what you’re thinking, but isn’t life the priority? Let’s survive first.”
Inon nodded deeply.
From the perspective of debt, it might be negative, but with a slightly different viewpoint, it could be an immense benefit.
Avoiding the worst situation of being unable to afford treatment due to lack of money.
“This place is a training ground. You can use it at minimal cost.”
Mercenaries are not seasoned warriors.
Instead, they are individuals who have rolled and tumbled from a situation of having nothing to come this far.
They always needed a place to train.
“And here is the lecture hall.”
“If it’s a lecture hall, what does it mean…?”
“Monster hunting techniques. Basic swordsmanship training, and the like.”
The pupils of the Innocent mercenaries sparkled.
Especially, the younger mercenaries were even more enthusiastic.
“Are you saying you’ll teach swordsmanship?”
“There are swordsmanship instructors at nearby schools. I plan to invite them. Also, there’s a knight who can teach.”
“Why are you going to such lengths?”
“Well…”
To secure the Troll region.
Furthermore, to become the lord of the frontier.
However, there was no need to tell the mercenaries about these matters.
When I was pondering how to handle the situation, a young mercenary stepped forward.
“Of course, it’s to provide better service! It’s to help mercenaries focus on their missions!”
The young mercenary spoke loudly and looked at me.
With a expression expecting praise.
“Well, I suppose you could say that.”
Perhaps it was because of what I had said at dinner yesterday, but everyone accepted it without question.
Even the children following behind us nodded their heads.
Afterwards, I introduced the forge and the shop.
They were essential places for mercenaries, where various equipment could be bought and repaired.
Perhaps because of that, mercenaries bombarded the blacksmiths and shopkeepers with various questions.
After finishing the tour of the two places, we went outside.
Enon’s expression looked complicated.
“What are you thinking about?”
“I thought the cost of living in Ireland was expensive compared to the mainland. But, it seems that’s not necessarily the case.”
“That’s right. Food may be expensive, but the prices of goods produced in Ireland aren’t high.”
We returned to the entrance of the Mercenary Guild in the center.
“What do you think, looking back?”
You asked Enon casually.
From Noble mtl dot com
And his answer was positive.
I forcibly held back the tail that was trying to wag.
“Don’t worry, bring the mercenaries. I’ll take responsibility and provide a service better than the continent. I’ll also help you earn more money!”
The mercenaries greeted and entered the guild.
‘Is this enough?’
I explained firsthand how good this place was.
Having done this much, the psychological burden on the mercenaries should have lessened.
The worry that recommending them might lead them down the wrong path.
“Lord Elwin.”
“Yeah? Why didn’t you go in?”
Aine remained in front of the guild.
“I misunderstood the recommendation system. I apologize.”
“It could happen. No need to apologize.”
Ironically, Aine was right.
The recommendation system aims to bring mercenaries from other regions.
Yesterday, my words were just a positive spin on that.
“Lord Elwin is right. The Mercenary Guild isn’t progressing. No, it’s regressing.”
Seeing Aine speak sincerely,
I unknowingly took a step back.
“The Mercenary Guild needs new vitality. Someone like Lord Elwin!”
“Uh… yeah. Thanks. I’ll just go…”
The conversation took a strange turn.
So, hastily saying goodbye, I tried to leave my seat.
“There are people within the mercenary guild advocating for reform.”
“No, do I really need to know about that?”
“Of course, you do! Until now, the mercenary guild has only collected fees from mercenaries, swelling the pockets of the upper class. Meanwhile, wounded and dying mercenaries have been ignored!”
What on earth is Aine talking about?
Those advocating for reform?
And why talk about the upper echelons of the mercenary guild?
“Aine, calm down for a moment. I just…”
I just need to occupy the troll territory.
I have no interest in reforming the mercenary guild.
I couldn’t bring up what was behind my words.
Because I’ve already said it.
“Yesterday, I heard Lord Elwin’s words and thought about it. Let’s create a utopian world for mercenaries here.”
Aine delivered an enthusiastic speech and then returned to her usual expression.
But her face seemed red, as if embarrassed.
“What’s wrong? Why are you embarrassed?”
“Me? You misunderstand.”
“Oh, come on, why are you embarrassed?”
“I said it’s a misunderstanding.”
Aine turned her face to the side, avoiding eye contact.
Hiding the reddened face was adorable.
Especially because she was usually expressionless and cold, it seemed even more so.
“Aine, how old did you say you were?”
“I’m 20 years old.”
20 years old.
About a freshman in college.
‘I remember when I just entered college.’
After finishing the marathon called college entrance exams,
Before heading to the military,
That one year.
In a way, it could be called the golden age for men.
A golden age where you can truly enjoy life.
The freshness that I felt from a college freshman at that time was also evident in Aine.
“Cute.”
“Me… Me!? Where do you see me as cute? And I’m older than Lord Elwin.”
I sighed and looked at the sunset.
“Tsk tsk, it’s not about the outer appearance. It’s about how mature the heart is.”
Thump.
Aine stood beside me and looked at the sunset.
Like me.
“Aine, I understand what you’re thinking. However, reforming the Mercenary Guild is not something I can do.”
Perhaps it is even more difficult than becoming a frontier writer.
I don’t have the luxury or the will to do such a thing.
“I know. Elwin doesn’t have the power to confront the guild’s upper echelons.”
I turned my head and looked at Aine.
Is it because of the red light of the sunset?
There was a different energy than usual.
“So I was giving up too. Until I met Elwin.”
Aine turned her head towards me.
Our gazes met.
I saw her moist, sparkling eyes.
Clean and clear pupils.
“We don’t need to fight the upper echelons. As Elwin said, we can compete between branches. Then the branches will make more effort to keep mercenaries from being taken away within their territories. In other words, we will become a Mercenary Guild that benefits mercenaries.”
I laughed.
Aine laughed along.
If that’s what she’s thinking, then there’s no problem.
Competition between Mercenary Guild branches.
That’s what I want too.
And that competition is advantageous for me.
If other Mercenary Guild branches operate with profit as their goal,
I have plans to operate even with a deficit.
The goal I desire is more than just money.
“Do you have someone in mind for the position of division manager?”
“No.”
“May I make a recommendation?”
