Aiden lingered for a long time in front of the “Hungry Wolf” tavern.
“When will he come…?”
Surely, he wouldn’t fail to show up, right?
For a brief moment, he imagined the worst.
Not long after, Jun’s voice was heard.
“Have you waited long?”
“Oh, not at all!”
“Really? Let’s go in right away.”
When they entered the tavern, they found that it was unusually quiet.
The recent failure of the Black Forest subjugation had significantly reduced the number of mercenaries.
Of course, it would become noisy again soon enough.
After ordering a few dishes, the two naturally started talking about the recent subjugation.
“Did you expect this operation to fail, senior?”
“I wasn’t sure, but I had a feeling.”
“How could you tell?”
“Firstly, there were the recent rumors.”
“Rumors? Ah… I did hear that the number of goblins had increased significantly.”
“That’s right. And the survival rate of mercenaries had dropped a lot too. Something unusual was happening in the Black Forest.”
“Hoo.”
“Secondly, I heard from the captain who the commander was this time.”
“The commander… You mean the one who just graduated from the military academy? Still, I thought a commander from the Imperial Military Academy would be reliable.”
“Even so, he’s a novice.”
It’s not that Jun looked down on the military academy.
The students who got in overcame fierce competition and grew with support that Jun couldn’t imagine.
In fact, there were reports that the main force led by the commander had returned to the fortress without much damage.
“I’m not talking about the experience of the novice commander. A commander who graduated from the Imperial Military Academy wouldn’t be clueless even if he ended up at Blackout. What I looked at was his track record.”
“His track record?”
Blackout.
The abyss beneath the empire that unified humanity.
The imperial family had discovered “Blackout” beneath the empire and had been striving to conquer it for quite a long time.
Was it hundreds of years according to the setting?
A truly enormous amount of time.
As such, an elite commander who graduated from the military academy would surely be aware of this fact.
On the contrary, since it was his first operation, he would have poured his heart and soul into it.
“The commander probably gathered some basis from the rumors and conducted his own investigation. However, unlike that, allocating the budget isn’t that simple.”
It was similar to working in a company.
No matter how well a new employee performed at the training center, it was unlikely that a lot of support would be given to the projects they handled.
No matter how good the strategy was, without the budget to back it up, it was all for nothing.
“But the novice commander didn’t have any achievements to his name. Could he really have requested a large budget just to subjugate goblins?”
“Ah…”
“That’s why this operation couldn’t succeed. It wasn’t the commander who underestimated Blackout, but the higher-ups who only looked at words and numbers.”
Of course, the commander’s lack of leadership skills was also a factor.
If he had conducted the operation more systematically, it wouldn’t have ended in vain like this.
“Various unfavorable conditions overlapped.”
“Indeed… You thought that far ahead.”
“It’s something you can realize if you just listen closely.”
Jun waved his hand dismissively as if it were nothing, but Aiden knew well how significant Jun’s shift in thinking was.
This is why I followed him.
During his days as a porter.
Aiden had natural physical talent as a member of the imperial family and he was confident he could soon become an official member.
Despite this, Aiden always treated Jun with the utmost respect because he recognized the value Jun possessed.
Following the education he had received in the imperial family, Aiden understood the importance of talent.
Even setting aside his magical abilities, he is someone who doesn’t fit the role of a low-ranking mercenary.
A frail man who would get scratched by passing branches and gasp for breath after just a little walking.
Yet, in stark contrast, he was incredibly knowledgeable and wise enough to apply that knowledge to everyday life.
“So, let me ask you instead. Why do you want to follow me?”
And so, Aiden could answer Jun’s question without hesitation.
“Because I feel I can survive for a long time if I’m with you.”
“That’s quite a clear reason.”
Aiden didn’t believe that only the strong survived long, or that those who survived long were strong.
But he did know that there was a future of becoming strong only if one survived.
At least, if it’s this man I’ve been watching all this time…
Wouldn’t he be able to survive in this place called the Abyss of the Empire?
That was the reason Aiden decided to follow Jun.
Aiden’s conversation ended sooner than expected.
More than anything, he had reached his physical limit.
I really overdid it.
As a mage, he had an unavoidable penalty when it came to his physical strength.
Because of this, every time Jun went on a mission, other mercenaries would mock him for being so exhausted yet it was Jun who ultimately survived.
“Haah… I’m dying.”
When he returned to his room at the lodging, Jun looked at the bronze-tinged mercenary badge in his hand.
It was the badge that the mercenary captain had possessed.
“Even thinking about it now, that guy died in vain too.”
Though he would usually belittle and ridicule Jun as a low-ranking mage, he would shamelessly come to him whenever he needed help.
At least he wasn’t a complete piece of trash.
His skills were decent enough that Jun thought he would survive for quite some time.
Unfortunately, he stepped into Blackout, or the abyss of the empire, in search of greater success.
“Thanks to that, I could come here, though…”
Death had become familiar.
Even though he had experiences that would leave regular soldiers traumatized for life, Jun’s face remained calm.
It was thanks to the [Steady Heart] skill.
“A lifesaver skill, indeed.”
A skill that consumed as many as seven points.
Though it was originally chosen to enhance his mental strength, it proved unexpectedly useful.
The reason Jun had survived until now was largely due to this skill.
“Anyway, Captain, I’ll make good use of this.”
He took a moment to pray for the dead.
“Aiden… so your name is Aiden…”
At first, he merely thought Aiden was a capable warrior.
But who would have thought? Beyond just being capable, he was actually of imperial blood.
There would be various troubles centered around him, but even with those, Aiden was a good party member to have.
Surviving here in Blackout required trustworthy companions.
“…How should I make use of these things?”
His body was more exhausted than ever, but his mind was sharper than ever.
“Yeah… it’s time to start moving in earnest.”
Even though he possessed the legendary skill of [Mana Body], he had been living as a low-ranking mage for the past year.
Jun briefly recalled that year.
When you hear the word “mage”, it’s easy to picture someone in a white robe with a long staff. Like in those famous novels or movies
A mere human defending a bridge alone against a giant demon.
Or generously offering wise advice to protagonists.
But here in Blackout, the mages in this game world were far from such righteous characters.
Of course, if you looked, you might find such a mage somewhere…
At least my master wasn’t that kind of person.
When Jun first opened his eyes in this world, he already had a master.
By some chance, the master he came to serve was the one who taught Jun about this world in many ways.
“I will teach you one truth. There is no such thing as a perfectly trustworthy person.”
This was what his master said before he aimed for the heart of his disciple who bore the [Mana Body].
After immense trials and tribulations, Jun barely managed to escape from his master’s grasp… but this world was just as cruel as his master.
It was difficult to survive with only the knowledge of the game.
Thanks to that, it took him a whole year to adapt to this world.
“Still, it gave me plenty of time to prepare for various things.”
Now that all the conditions were met, there was no need to live in hiding anymore.
Three days later.
“Yawn.”
When he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.
“Ah, it’s been so long since I slept in like this.”
For the past few months, he had been running without a break.
He had joined the mercenary group as a low-ranking mage and had to handle a busy schedule without missing a single day.
“Well, it feels a bit empty, though.”
The mercenaries always ignored him. But there was a certain bond formed through shared hardship.
Suddenly, their faces came to his mind.
Especially the image of Popkin who he had killed with the help of the [Sleep] spell.
“…Having such feelings after abandoning everything to survive is a luxury, I suppose.”
But he couldn’t help it.
The mercenary group’s rules were that harsh.
In just one year, there were countless times he nearly died from speaking carelessly.
Jun painfully learned over the past year that he had to be mindful of his actions and words.
“Let’s stop reminiscing about the past here.”
Still, perhaps because he did nothing but eat and sleep for three days…
The harsh journey and “overheat” had taken a toll on his body, but Jun had largely recovered.
Jun checked the time as he got up.
“It’s about time to go. Hopefully, Aiden hasn’t changed his mind.”
Getting a skilled vanguard early in the game wasn’t easy.
While he couldn’t use “aura”, reaching the second-order of physical enhancement through magic was rare enough.
And finding a trustworthy vanguard was even harder
“In that sense, Aiden is like a fortuitous encounter.”
Jun didn’t trust Aiden completely, but after observing him for a month, he considered him relatively trustworthy.
In the game, Aiden had consistently shown his integrity.
When Jun arrived at the “Hungry Wolf” tavern at the agreed time, he saw Aiden leaning against a pillar.
He looks just like a retriever waiting for its owner.
His overall scruffy appearance somehow reminded Jun of an abandoned pet.
“Ah, senior!”
Aiden noticed Jun and approached him with a bright smile.
After they entered the tavern together, they saw quite a few people. It was quite different from three days ago.
They ordered some food and drinks and started chatting casually. Only after their food arrived did Jun bring up the main topic.
“I’m thinking of starting a mercenary group.”
“Are you going to lead it yourself, senior?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds like a good choice.”
“…”
“What’s the matter?”
“No, this question might seem a bit strange. I’ve felt this way for a while, but it seems like you have quite a lot of trust in me.”
“Ah…”
This kind of trust was something he had never experienced even on Earth.
It was nice to be trusted, but if the trust was too blind, it could be uncomfortable in its own way.
However, Aiden smiled bitterly at Jun’s question.
“After leaving the imperial family, I found that the world wasn’t so easy.”
It would have been so.
Even Jun, who had been just an ordinary salaryman, had faced many threats while adapting to this world.
“But you were the first one, senior. The first person outside to continuously show me kindness without expecting anything in return.”
“It’s not like there wasn’t anything in return.”
Jun wasn’t some kind of philanthropist; he wouldn’t extend kindness for no reason.
“Having even a slightly friendly person helps with survival.”
But Aiden shook his head and said,
“I know why you were kind to me, senior. But compared to what I received, I haven’t done much for you.”
“Thanks for saying that, but… hmmm.”
He remembered the situation when he had considered whether or not to kill Aiden when he had fainted in the forest, and a feeling of guilt rose in his head.
It was thanks to Aiden that he had been able to escape the forest earlier.
If Jun had tried to escape alone, it would have been really difficult.
“You’re praising me so much that I don’t know what to say.”
Jun cleared his throat and shifted the topic to explain his future plans.
“First, we need to absorb the mercenary group. We’ll register the current White Whale Mercenary Group under my name.”
“Can you change the ownership of a mercenary group that easily?”
“Good question. As you said, it’s not easy to absorb a mercenary group through ordinary means. Under normal circumstances, that is.”
With that, Jun took out a mercenary badge from his pocket.
It was a mercenary badge with a bronze plaque in the center.
Unlike typical mercenary badges, it indicated that the owner was the leader of the mercenary group.
“But it’s not that difficult if a few conditions are met.”
“Conditions?”
“Yes, you only need three things.”
Jun smiled as he popped the remaining food into his mouth.
“Money, a bit of skill, and a little bit of circumstance.”
“Transferring the ownership of the mercenary group… well, it’s not difficult.”
The receptionist at the mercenary guild’s counter said as he handled the gold that was handed over with the mercenary badge.
“However, there are a few conditions you need to meet.”
“Skill?”
“And the number of people. You need at least three.”
“Skill, huh.”
At the receptionist’s words, Jun quietly channeled his magic.
“Is this enough?”
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, the flame burning on Jun’s hand illuminated the interior of the mercenary guild.
“You’re a mage? And with casting speed and firepower like that…”
The receptionist quickly nodded.
“That’s enough. Can you tell me which magic tower you belong to?”
The receptionist shook some of the gold he received and tried his luck, but Jun shook his head.
It seemed like he wanted to sell Jun’s information to a guild, but Jun had no interest in such attention.
“I don’t want to.”
“That’s a shame. So, how are you planning to handle the number of people? You’re one short to register the mercenary group.”
At those words, Jun handed over more money.
“He’s not here right now. Just register the name first. The name is Cheol-soo.”
“Charles, you mean? Got it. I’ll register that name. Are you keeping the mercenary group’s name the same?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. The White Whale Mercenary Group is now yours.”
After he received the mercenary badge handed over by the receptionist, Jun left the mercenary guild with Aiden.
Aiden clicked his tongue.
“Was it really this easy?”
“The world revolves around money. Losing 600,000 gold coins is painful though.”
The money he had painstakingly saved disappeared in an instant.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, but earning money in the future wouldn’t be too difficult.
“This is how the world works. It’s not as complicated as you think. Especially here in Blackout, there’s always a shortage of manpower. They don’t inspect things as much as they do outside. This is the third condition I mentioned, a bit of circumstance.”
“I see…”
“Well, now we can officially run the mercenary group.”
“Um, senior, what about the name Charles you mentioned earlier?”
It was originally Cheol-soo, but Jun didn’t bother to change it. He spoke with a somewhat wistful expression on his face
“Yes, he’s the eternal friend of Korean students.”
“Korean?”
Could it be the name of the magic tower he was reluctant to mention earlier?
“Anyway, let’s go. Time to take on some missions.”
(TN: Cheol-soo is a common name in Korean culture that is often used in textbooks, and educational materials. Somewhat like John Doe.)
There are three main ways for mercenaries to receive missions.
One of them is to take on commissions posted by the mercenary guild.
However, Jun excluded this option.
“Aren’t the missions from the mercenary guild the safest?”
“In many ways, that’s true.”
Missions from the mercenary guild usually have a verified client.
It might seem trivial, but this is an important detail.
They could measure the risk level of the mission based on the reputation of the client, and the chances of not getting paid were significantly lower.
“But there are also downsides. For one, it’s hard to aim for a big score.”
Clients also demanded mercenaries whose skills matched the mission, and on the surface, the White Whale Mercenary Group had nothing to boast about at the moment.
Naturally, they could only take on simple and low-paying missions.
“Anyway, with that in mind, we’ll choose the second option. By the way, the third method is excluded from the start. It’s about being forcibly drafted into a fortress defense.”
“If it’s the second method…”
“We find the clients ourselves.”
“Directly?”
“Yes.”
“But with just the two of us, how many decent jobs can we get…?”
“That’s the job of the mercenary leader. Just trust me and watch.”
“Understood.”
While Jun was explaining this, they arrived at a certain merchant guild.
“Gillen Merchant Guild?”
“That’s right. This is where our potential broker who will connect us to clients is.”
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