The next day.
The two of them entered the fortress at dawn. The place was still damp with morning dew.
Unlike before, they had prepared thoroughly, so they had no major battles on their way back.
Though they still looked ragged, their expressions were much brighter than before.
“So much money… I can’t believe it.”
“This is what they mean by a windfall.”
Just as Jun had expected.
The goblins’ warehouse was filled to the brim with gold and treasures.
Not only was there money, but there were also various jewels, rings, and necklaces, all of which had once belonged to mercenaries.
Aiden looked at Jun. He was still in disbelief.
“Well, it is all money from dead mercenaries.”
“…When you put it that way, I suddenly feel guilty, senior.”
He couldn’t help but worry that spending this money might bring a curse.
But Jun just shrugged his shoulders.
“If we were cursed for things like that, the world would be full of nothing but good people. Besides, even if it feels a bit uncomfortable, someone else would have taken it eventually if we hadn’t. Or worse, it could’ve been used as a sacrifice to cause more innocent deaths. It’s better that we use it.”
“Hmm…”
Aiden still felt uneasy about taking money from the dead, but he couldn’t deny that Jun had a point.
His expression gradually brightened again.
“So, what do you plan to do with this money?”
They hadn’t counted it precisely, but the amount they recovered was easily in the millions of gold coins. Including the various trinkets, the value was likely much higher.
It wasn’t enough to do something extraordinary with this amount, but it was definitely too much for two low-ranking mercenaries to spend.
“First, let’s get you some proper gear. In your current state, the upcoming battles might be tough.”
“Th-Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. We’re practically one now. The stronger you get as the vanguard, the more valuable I become too.”
“Senior…”
Aiden looked genuinely moved.
When he saw this, Jun felt his wariness toward Aiden ease a bit more.
He’s not swayed, even with all this money in front of him.
Jun sighed inwardly as he habitually thought this.
He wondered how he had developed the habit of constantly doubting others at the slightest opportunity.
It meant that the journey over the past year had not been easy.
“Well, even with this much money, it’ll be hard to get really high-grade equipment.”
In this era, a high-performance set of armor was almost as valuable as a small castle.
But still, I can make something much sturdier than what I have now. And… I can learn all sorts of magic too.
As he recalled the various spells he hadn’t been able to learn under his master, an emotion Jun hadn’t felt in a long time rose to his face. He was excited.
***
“Wow… you really pulled it off?”
Chloe gazed at the mercenary badges and the pile of loot stacked in front of her.
Individually, none of them were worth much, but when piled up like this, it was a different story.
“Deposit the remaining money from selling the loot into the account under my name. I have a use for it.”
“Hmm… I’ve got a good investment opportunity. Interested?”
True to her merchant nature, she even proposed an investment at a time like this.
“Not yet.”
“Well, it’s not your only chance.”
Jun handed Chloe an elegant leather pouch tied to his waist. Though he couldn’t hide the regret in his expression.
After all, this pouch had been the key to the operation.
“I made good use of this… space pouch.”
“Hehe, I can hear the regret in your voice.”
“It’s not something you come across easily.”
Just as Jun had said, space artifacts were items that could only be obtained at level 3 or 4 at the very least.
As the name suggested, that small pouch contained enough space to hold the contents of ten wagons.
Without it, the two of them wouldn’t have been able to bring back such a large haul on their own.
Moreover, the space pouch Chloe owned was a medium-sized one. It was an item so rare that it was nearly impossible to buy even if one had the money.
For a physically frail mage, even carrying a bag around was a hassle.
Convenience is great, but more importantly, it’s the spatial magic embedded in it that matters.
Unfortunately, there was no space magic school in the game of <Blackout>.
This meant that acquiring a space pouch was only possible as a dungeon reward, which made its value beyond imagination.
Now that Jun was also a mage, he was curious about magic.
“Well, someday you’ll get one too. Anyway, I’m planning to send the mercenary badges to Sir Ginovan today. Keep your schedule clear until tomorrow. Sir Ginovan will probably summon us by then.”
“Of course. That shouldn’t be too difficult.”
But the two of them were wrong.
…..
“…He’s asking us to come right now?”
Ginovan summoned them on the same day.
***
“To be honest, I didn’t fully believe your words.”
Jun nodded at Ginovan’s plain sincerity.
“I understand. It’s hard for anyone to believe that two low-ranking mercenaries took down a golem.”
When Ginovan first heard Jun’s story, he didn’t have high expectations.
The main reason he gave Jun a chance was largely out of respect for Chloe, the head of the Black Forest branch of the Gilenn Merchant Guild.
So, even if Jun had disappeared during that time, Ginovan wouldn’t have been too disappointed.
After all, the golem core that Chloe handed over had significant value in itself.
However, Jun had proven his worth far more quickly than expected.
“Yes… Are these all the mercenaries who died during the mission I led?”
Dozens of mercenary badges were packed inside the box.
A bitter emotion flickered in Ginovan’s eyes as he looked at them.
“I don’t know how I’ll ever repay this debt.”
With this, some of the dishonor that had weighed down on Ginovan would be lifted.
In fact, others might even start to praise Ginovan’s name.
Returning the mercenary badges was an act that would serve as an example to others in the mercenary community.
But more than that, Jun could sense that Ginovan’s face had brightened even if only slightly.
Even if he didn’t show it, he must have been under a lot of stress.
It was understandable.
Even for an elite who had graduated from the Imperial Military Academy, it was impossible to remain unaffected after witnessing people die right before their eyes.
I’ve seen novice mercenaries panic and accidentally stab their allies.
The trauma that the battlefield inflicted was not something to be taken lightly.
While Jun was lost in these thoughts, Ginovan who had somewhat regained his composure spoke up.
“Since you’ve proven your worth, it’s my turn to act. So, what is it that you want?”
“I would like a position in the upcoming Goblin Lord subjugation operation.”
“A position… Are you seeking fame?”
“Yes, I am.”
What Jun needed as a mercenary was experience.
Moreover, as the leader of a mercenary group, he needed to raise the reputation of his unit if he intended to expand it in the future.
If we want to continue recruiting skilled members in the future, having a strong public record is important.
In that sense, it was an excellent experience for Jun and Aiden to participate in the Goblin Lord subjugation.
The Goblin Lord was considered a field boss, and having experience in taking down a field boss offered huge advantages.
On top of that, the pay from the Goblin Lord subjugation will be quite good.
He had already finalized the profit-sharing arrangements with Chloe.
If the Goblin Lord was defeated as planned, the resources in the area would be released, so there would be a steady income through Chloe.
Having thought this far, Jun waited for Ginovan’s response.
He seemed to be reassessing the situation and calculating how much he could handle.
“Phew. I understand. Thanks to you, I’ve gained a good opportunity. However, before we proceed, there’s something I want to ask. To be precise, I’d like some advice.”
A commander from the Imperial Military Academy asking for wisdom from a mere lower-ranking mage.
However, Jun didn’t feel that Ginovan was seeking wisdom alone.
With the next question, Jun felt his suspicion solidify into certainty.
“How far do you think I can go as I am now?”
This is more of a test than a question.
The intent behind the question was simple.
When the Goblin Lord subjugation begins, which position would be best for him to take?
But the look in his eyes didn’t belong to someone uncertain about their future.
Rather, there was a sense of anticipation.
It was as if he was asking to confirm his own thoughts.
“I’m not sure if I’m in a position to share wisdom with you, Commander.”
“There’s no need to be so humble. Just speak honestly, as it is.”
In that brief moment, Jun quietly licked his lips.
“I’m not sure if I fully understand your question, but—”
He responded with a voice filled with the confidence that matched the expectations placed on him.
“In this operation, I believe the commander should fight his way up from the bottom.”
***
To be honest, Ginovan was quite impressed by Jun’s answer.
At first, when he saw Jun’s shabby appearance and heard that he was a low-ranking mage, he thought of him as nothing more than a vagrant who had been expelled from the Magic Tower due to a lack of talent.
Yet despite that, was it because he was still a mage, or had his talent blossomed late?
Jun’s answer precisely hit the core of Ginovan’s question.
“You got it right. My thoughts are similar to yours.”
Ginovan was a man who knew how to reflect on himself with cold objectivity.
He had succeeded in regaining some of his lost reputation.
But even so, the fact that he had been defeated by goblins could not be erased.
Returning the mercenary badges to the guild earlier may help recover his image as a loyal commander, but it would not paint him as a skilled one.
Moreover.
“The other two commanders in this fortress, unlike me, have various connections backing them.”
Therefore, in the upcoming campaign to subdue the Goblin Lord, the fortress commander is more likely to employ those two commanders rather than Ginovan who has already failed once.
If that happens, Jun and Chloe’s positions will naturally become uncertain. When the commander they’ve invested in gets sidelined, what they gain will diminish as well.
“So, I’m wondering how far I should push and whether I should be more ambitious.”
Jun responded to Ginovan’s honest reply with a gentle smile.
“I’m not sure if my answer will satisfy you, but… there is one way.”
“A way, you say… would you care to share this wisdom with me?”
“If you’re considering employing me in this campaign… volunteer for the scouting team.”
“The scouting team…”
When he heard this, Ginovan also gave a bitter smile.
“It is indeed an important role, the scouting team.”
“Of course, I fully understand your concerns, Commander. As important as it is, it’s also dangerous.”
The scouting team. Essential in war, yet with a high death rate.
Moreover, in this Blackout where much was still unknown, the survival rate for the scouting team was alarmingly low.
Given Ginovan’s reputation for caring deeply for his subordinates, his expression was entirely understandable.
“But there’s a saying in my hometown: If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.”
“Is that so? That’s an interesting saying.”
Just like Jun had said, if the subjugation campaign began, Ginovan would likely be assigned to the scouting team.
The attack team that can make the most contribution will probably be taken by the other two commanders.
“Since you’ll be assigned to it anyway, it’s better to volunteer.”
“Why do you think so?”
“First, it’s about your image. If you step up and volunteer, the commander will see it as a sign of your determination to make up for your previous failure.”
“Hmm.”
“Also, the likelihood of the other two commanders interfering with you will decrease.”
“Because they’ll see that I’ve taken myself out of the competition, and they’ll assume I’ve given up my ambitions.”
“That’s right.”
Ginovan had considered that possibility as well.
“Secondly, the merit of a scouting mission is by no means small, despite the risks. But if I’m with you, I can confidently say that we can reduce those risks by more than half.”
“Oh?”
This time, Ginovan seemed intrigued.
It was a confidence that came from a mere low-ranking mage, but didn’t Jun manage to escape the Black Forest safely twice already?
Moreover, from the know-how he had shared directly with Ginovan, it was clear that Jun was well-versed in the dangers of the Black Forest.
“Certainly, the importance of the mission is significant.”
Even if just a few of the previous crises had been detected early, the burden on the attack team would have been greatly reduced.
“And finally, there’s one last reason.”
The final piece of advice left Ginovan not just intrigued but genuinely surprised.
“You know, just because we’re part of the scouting team, that doesn’t mean we can’t take down the Goblin Lord, right?”
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