Episode 2

The mercenary who picked a fight with me immediately stared into my eyes and pointed to the ground.

“Damn it, just because you wear armor and have some ink on your hand, you think you’re all that? Or do noble-borns not even learn the concept that they should lower their gaze when a senior mercenary points it out? Hey, you endlessly pampered pig prince, why aren’t you lowering your gaze?”

If someone’s life motto was to take the good as it came and live carelessly, then, of course, they would lower their gaze when ordered by a senior. But in the mercenary life, especially if you hadn’t done anything wrong and if you showed humility, you were likely to become a pushover.

Just moments ago, I boasted of my capabilities in front of a beauty like Karin. After entering this game, I left the countryside knight’s position. I crawled my way to the very bottom of the mercenaries. Damn, bow my head? I’d rather die fighting.

“If I’ve done anything to offend you, senior, I apologize. But I’m in the same ten-man squad as Senior Karin. I just wanted to get to know you better since we just met. What has upset you? I’m curious about the reason you’re angry at me.”

Upon hearing this, the mercenary in front of me stomped the ground, drawing attention with a loud thud.

Given that the tavern was filled with people who live and die by fighting, everyone cheered, clapped, and turned their gaze to me as soon as this senior tried to start a fight.

“Hey, damn, that crazy Adolf bastard. Were you so clingy to Karin that she rejected you, and now you’re throwing a tantrum? Are you acting out again today, picking a fight with a newbie?”

“That’s the bastard who should get hit in the head and die. He’s not a real person. Go, newbie! If a senior starts an unreasonable fight, you should at least growl back!”

“If you’re going to get hit, land at least one punch! Show us what you’ve got, damn newbie!”

Even if I was armored, up to now, I was just a newbie about to start an internship with no experience in real combat. The guy in front of me clearly had experience killing people on the battlefield.

Although it might not escalate to us trying to kill each other, the one with some experience obviously has an advantage.

Everyone seemed to expect me to lose.

“When you were sucking on your mother’s teat, you might’ve caused a ruckus and gotten away with it, but there’s none of that in our mercenary group!”

As the atmosphere heated up, the guy lunged at me with a punch after stomping his right foot.

He seemed ruthless, having likely killed a few people before, but he was a bit unlucky. Because my body’s previous owner seemed stronger than him.

It wasn’t as dramatic as seeing a punch in slow motion like in novels, but I could clearly see where he aimed the punch.

“Don’t think you’re all that just because you’ve got a bit of training. Damn, arrogant jerk. And what woman would like a man who charges in like a dog in heat?”

Dodging his punch, I countered with a strike, not strong enough to kill, which knocked him down.

The sound of him crashing to the ground echoed through the tavern, and I drew the sword from my waist, pointing it at his neck, pressing down on his chest with my left foot.

When I applied some pressure with my foot, Adolf, the senior mercenary, gasped for air and glared up at me.

“Fuck, you damn orphan…”

“You’ve been defeated by a rookie, and you sure talk a lot. Aren’t you ashamed? In front of everyone?”

The defeated senior in front of me tried to get up using his arms and legs, but I applied more pressure with my foot to keep him down.

The crowd around us was increasing, with many looking at me in astonishment.

“Looking at that armor, he seems like a fallen knight. He can fight, huh? Adolf may be a bit thick-headed, but he’s not weak enough to be defeated by a rookie.”

“If he lost to a newbie, he should be castrated.”

“Among the newbies, that crazy armored guy seems useful, huh? When Fior, that bastard, hears about this after visiting the armory, he’s gonna laugh his head off. Ah, can’t even tear him apart.”

That was when Dalton, the mercenary captain, sighed and approached, pushing me lightly.

“Enough with the dogfight, both of you. Everyone, back to your spots. I’ll kill anyone who tries anything funny.”

Then, everyone returned to their original positions as if nothing had happened and started drinking and chatting again.

Dalton, with one hand, grabbed Adolf by the collar, lifting him, and then swung him around with ease.

Judging by the faint blue glow… that must be the mana or the special power they called “aura” used by the mages.

“Adolf, you lustful pig, whether you sleep with Karin or do whatever, it’s none of my business. Why pick a fight in front of the newbies and get beaten?”

“No, Captain, that orphan…”

Dalton slammed Adolf onto an empty table and said,

“Hmph, it’s not the first time I’ve seen you tailing Karin, but this time you even went for a fight… that’s not acceptable. I looked after you out of goodwill, but I’ll have to kick you out now. Don’t follow us, you damn perpetually lustful wild boar.”

Adolf was foaming at the mouth in shock, and Dalton approached me, whispering in my ear,

“I knew you were skilled from the moment I saw you, but seeing you again was a revelation. I just thought you were a rich pig; I never imagined you’d be a golden goose. I have high hopes for you. You milk-smelling kid.”

“You’re not going to call me by my name?”

At my words, Dalton smirked, giving my head a light squeeze,

“If you survive your first battle, I’ll remember your name. Mercenaries prove themselves with actions, not words, damn kid.”

That night, I had fun and gained some attention from several members of the mercenary group, including Karin. The next day, Dalton’s mercenary group headed towards the Chieftain Plains, which would be my first battlefield.

A month later, our mercenary group stood in the Chieftain Plains, waiting for the horn sound that would herald the beginning of the imminent war.

The captains of ten-man squads and senior mercenaries of the mercenary group kept a watchful eye on the new recruits to ensure they didn’t lose their nerve, constantly scolding and berating them.

“You scarecrow piglets, the armor you’re wearing, and the spears you’re holding! You didn’t buy them with your own money. So, if you dare run away and get caught, I’ll skin you alive.”

“Don’t be scared! Can’t you see that punk over there looking like a dog that was pulled out of the water? All you need to do is stab your spear into that punk’s neck! If you can’t do that, just die and go to your parents. Do it right if you don’t want to die.”

“Slowpokes will be trampled. When told to walk, match your pace while counting the blades of grass beneath your feet, and when told to run, do it till the soles of your feet bleed!”

Other new recruits, who had found their seniors so friendly on the first day, were now trembling with fear, more terrified of them than of ghosts, shedding tears.

However, the atmosphere in my squad, the Fior ten-man squad, was a bit different.

“Hey, rookie.”

“Rookie Martin Meyer!”

“Hey, you greenhorn. Who taught you to act like the foot soldier of the Rhinebrook Barony as soon as you stepped onto the battlefield? Did you learn that from Senior Karin? No wonder with that ink-smudged head of yours…”

“I’ll correct it; I apologize.”

“I’ll let it go because it’s funny. Are you nervous?”

“Shouldn’t I be halfway safe if I follow the Captain and the others?”

While other units pressured the new recruits, trying to make sure they served as meat shields and couldn’t run away, I had already proven my worth by beating up a blockhead named Adolf.

Within the squad, I was accepted as a mercenary who did his share, just lacking actual combat experience. As a result, I wasn’t severely punished for fooling around before the war began.

If it had been another new recruit, they would’ve probably been beaten up with a spear by now for discipline.

While I was joking around like this, Karin called out to me.

“Don’t get in the way unnecessarily. I’ll cover you from behind. Just make sure you don’t die.”

It was a cold thing to say, but I could sense her concern.

Not long after, Captain Dalton’s authoritative voice resonated through the air.

“Get in formation! Aim your spears at the enemy’s neck! Adjust your stance! New recruits, watch the veterans next to you and follow their lead!”

The sound of veterans scolding the newbies and our squad’s playful banter ended abruptly at that command.

Hearing that, I moved, following my body’s instinct, aligning my spear and syncing my actions with the veteran next to me.

Other squads beside us gradually got into formation, readying themselves to charge at the enemy line.

Soon after, a massive horn sounded, and our Fior Squad charged as a single unit toward the enemy line.