Episode 24

“Cheers!”

Clang!

Three iron cups collided in mid-air. Allen poured the toasted drink straight into his mouth. “Keuh.” How long has it been since he felt the feeling of alcohol?

“You both have had a hard time. It must have been tough dealing with the aftermath of an inadequate leader.”

Aiden waved his hand dismissively and chuckled.

“What nonsense. There are so many leaders out there who work you to death and then swindle your money. Compared to them, our leader is a saint, truly a saint.”

“When you see them guys wanting to keep working with our leader, you just know. You instinctively feel that something’s different.”

“Such praises. …You know you’re getting no more money right?”

“Well, then I should quit.”

The three laughed quietly. Beer was passed around again, and then Old Dog Kalisman asked,

“You said you’re going to start recruiting in earnest, right? …Do you have your eye on anyone?”

“There are some… but honestly, it’s going to be tough to bring them over. With the war and all, most of the mercenaries are dead. It’s hard enough to fill up the group, let alone snatch someone away. Plus, with the generous salaries being offered, they’re not exactly desperate for money right now.”

“So, what are you going to do?”

“Well, to be honest, I don’t really have a solid plan. I’ll try negotiating, but if that doesn’t work, there’s no need to get too hung up on it. I don’t have that much capital to begin with, and they’re not that enticing to me. …I’m just going to give it a shot.”

“I see.”

The beers were downed in quick succession. As soon as the glasses were emptied, Aiden raised his hand high and shouted for three more beers.

A woman, who looked like the daughter of the innkeeper, came with a tray and deliberately squeezed right next to Allen to place beer glasses one by one on the table. While doing so, she subtly made contact…

“If you need anything else, just call me.”

She lightly touched Allen’s shoulder with her finger, making a sexual appeal, and then left. Seeing that, Aiden leaned slightly towards the group leader and whispered.

“If it were me, I would have ran right after her.”

Allen chuckled and shrugged his shoulders lightly. Seeing that, Aiden seemed to suddenly remember something and let out a small exclamation, “Ahㅡ.”

“By the way, what were you two talking about earlier? …Ah, is it by any chance confidential?”

Allen, who had been fiddling with his finger on the beer glass filled to the brim, looked up.

“Ah, that… It was nothing. Just, well, a light conversation.”

“Was it something between men and women?”

“Seriously. You seem a bit in heat, why don’t you go and relieve yourself somewhere.”

“Oh dear, Group Leader, you don’t know anything. Life has only three things: money, alcohol, and women. We’ve got the money, drank the alcohol, so now only women are left, am I not right?”

The Old Dog Kalisman chuckled beside him, agreeing.

“It’s not that. Just, well, we were talking about the mercenary group. Seemed like she was pondering something.”

“That’s how love affairs usually start.”

Aiden raised his voice. Having tasted the vaginas of countless prostitutes, he began to preach his view on love.

“Who knows. Maybe that woman will suddenly appear and ask you to take her awayㅡ!”

Allen was about to scoff, saying that would never happen, but—

At that moment, someone suddenly burst open the door and stormed into the bar. All eyes instantly turned towards the door’s direction.

…It was the milk-jug mage. Her heavy breathing made it seem like she had been searching for him quite a while.

Elena scanned the bar once and then fixed her gaze precisely in Allen’s direction, striding confidently towards him.

“Thank goodness, you’re… Haah. I thought… Haah. you had already left….”

“…My lady? Why are you here all of a sudden…?”

“I have something to say. …No, a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

The group leader said this and looked around. He felt the sting of the stares directed at them… After all, it was inevitable that attention would be drawn when a beauty with jumbo jugs suddenly made an entrance into this shabby bar, especially among men obsessed with money, alcohol, and women.

“…Let’s head upstairs to talk.”

As he stood up, Aiden, who was sitting across from him, chuckled and whispered so that only the group leader could hear.

“We don’t have to go up for quite a while.”

He meant that there was no need to worry and just to enjoy himself. Of course, such a thing was unlikely.

The man and woman entered the second-floor lodging room they had just secured. By some chance, from the third floor, amidst broad daylight, a ruckus was happening, and the creaking from the bed above could be heard, accompanied by faint, erotic noises.

Of course, he pretended not to hear anything.

Allen made her sit on the plush bed and dragged a chair over to sit facing her.

“…So, what is this favor you’re asking for? I don’t think I’m capable enough to take on the lady’s request.”

The milk-jug mage took a deep breath in and then out first. It seemed like an attempt to calm her mind. …Upon closer inspection, her eyes appeared to be slightly reddened.

“Before that, I have something to ask.”

“Yes, I’ll answer anything if I can.”

“By any chance, if my father offers you the position of the leader of the Roakin-Mercenary Group, would you accept?”

‘…What is this all of a sudden? Is this some kind of unexpected event?’

Allen didn’t understand the intention behind this question. Why is the topic of becoming the leader of the Roakin-Mercenary Group coming up all of a sudden?

“…Well, I’m not the type to work under someone.”

“Does that mean you would refuse?”

“Yes, well, something like that. …If I outright say no, I might be disliked. It’s better to beat around the bush.”

With a light joke, both of them laughed softly. Only then did the stiff atmosphere start to relax.

“So…, may I now hear what this favor is? Or do you have more questions?”

“No, no more questions. But…, it might be a bit of an unreasonable favor.”

“Just say it. I’ll listen and decide.”

After a quick glance at Allen, the milk-jug mage revealed her intentions.

“I want to work under you. And I want to learn. …How to run a mercenary group.”

As he silently stared at her she quickly added more,

“Our mercenary group captain, he praises you a lot. Says you’re an excellent leader. Of course, I think so too. Surely, there’s a lot I can learn from you.”

‘Ah—’

Allen couldn’t believe his luck. It was as if a fruit he hadn’t even hoped for had rolled right into his mouth.

…However, he didn’t immediately bite into the fruit that had entered his mouth. First, he had to check if it was poisoned. Of course, the chances were slim, but it’s still better to tap on a stone bridge before crossing.

“Why have you suddenly made such a decision?”

“I think I need experience and learning. I’ve decided it’s time to leave this place.”

“…Then what about the position of group leader?”

Elena shook her head firmly.

“I’m not yet fit for that role. I need to learn more. I’m still…, not qualified.”

Allen hadn’t realized this woman had such a strong desire for learning. And to think her judgment was so clear-headed… Indeed, magicians are a different breed.

“Honestly, it’s hard to believe.”

“I understand. It must be sudden for you. But there’s no other intention in my words, except that I want to learn under you.”

He looked at her briefly and fell silent. In his mind, a rough scenario of what had happened to her before this played out.

Perhaps she got a proper hit from the Count? That person seemed more than capable of it.

“If you’re making this decision in a moment of anger, I will have to refuse. The outside world is not a playground for children.”

Then, the milk-jug mage tapped her sizable left breast twice with her hand.

“I am a magician. I am not swayed by emotions. It was a decision made after calmly reflecting. …I have been too foolish until now.”

No matter how much she struggled here, there was no way for her to gain the experience she was lacking.

“You said it yourself. Combat is not an area that can be addressed with theory alone. It requires experience.”

In the end, it meant that one must leave the nest and collide with the world.

He, a noble from the South who was considered a coward, was already confronting himself, the world, and everything in between, while she, a noble from the East who considered herself brave, was cooped up in a safe nest. …The difference between them had already significantly widened.

“I will do it too. I will go out into the world and learn.”

Allen slowly nodded his head.

“Yes. I understand your resolve. …However, I don’t need a disciple, I need a member. I can’t just take you with me to teach you. It’s not a situation where I can treat you like a lady. We are a mercenary group. You’re either a leader or a member. That’s the only distinction.”

She nodded her head vigorously as if she was already prepared.

“I didn’t plan on learning comfortably. I will become a member. …Will you accept me?”

‘Of course, I’ll accept you. Why wouldn’t I?’

She was a rare magician. When would such incredible fortune come again?

However, he did not forget to speak and act like a cool-headed leader.

“Alright. Having been active in the mercenary group for a long time, I assume you understand the meaning and role of being a member, right?”

“Yes.”

“…Then, the payment will be….”

“Please, just pay me the bare minimum needed for living. …Honestly, being that I’m asking you for a favor, I can’t take much.”

Allen couldn’t help but let his smile grow. A magician’s fee wasn’t just a small amount. In fact, he was most worried about the hiring fee, but if she would lower her price like this, there was nothing more he could ask for.

“Understood. I sincerely welcome you to the group, Elena.”

He extended his hand. She took a deep breath for the last time and grabbed it firmly.

“Yes…, please take good care of me.”

The recruitment of the milk-jug mage was decided in the blink of an eye.