Strategically speaking, the conquest of the first level wasn’t considered a particularly great feat in the grand scheme of history.
After all, Blackout was overflowing with hidden secrets.
At that time, those in the industry simply regarded it as, “Some highly skilled individuals have appeared from the lower levels.”
However, the incident involving Shylock’s Zenkar Magic Tower and the Volcatornic Tower wasn’t something that could be brushed off so easily.
The number of people who were metaphorically and literally decapitated by the count’s blade, swung like a butcher’s cleaver, was no small matter.
That incident was so severe, it even made the imperial family flinch.
Even Chloe had to hide Jun’s existence in order to tread carefully regarding that part.
But all her efforts were in vain. The news got out to the world, not just within Blackout but even on the surface.
…What was truly surprising was that those digging for information even unearthed the incident in Enmity involving the Ariklotus Church.
As a result, the White Whale Mercenary Group became celebrated as “the veteran heroes who stopped a Dimension Reverse phenomenon not once, but twice.”
—And the fact that such people were only in their first year of Blackout left many in utter shock.
After hearing all that, Jun nodded his head.
Indeed, even compared to a game, their rate of growth was beyond crazy. Crazy didn’t even begin to cover it.
Not even veterans could pull off this level of performance!
“But still, it’s weird that even kids are playing games using our names…”
“Oh, that’s because a famous bard who was deeply moved by your story spread it through song.”
“Ah.”
Well, it was the kind of story people of this era would naturally fall in love with.
Accomplishing not just one but two incredible feats within just their first year in Blackout. And ending it all by taking down the Orc Lord in a blaze of glory.
It was, in every sense, a passionate yet tragic tale of heroism.
“They say the upper class has already adapted your story into a stage play…”
“Stop right there!”
“Pffft—!”
Chloe barely held back her laughter. She clutched her stomach at Jun’s reaction.
His expression was so twisted, it looked like a demon had been summoned.
“This is crazy…”
Treated like heroes?
Fine. That was the goal from the beginning. To build up their reputation.
But come on, there should be limits.
Fame that should have taken years to accumulate had now exploded in less than a year.
“This was seriously driving me mad.”
There was a reason people say, “Too much is as bad as too little.”
“So…”
“Pffft… Right. As of now, the world thinks you’re dead. Though that’ll change starting today.”
“……”
Had they died with that level of fame, they would have simply gone down in history as a legendary mercenary group.
– Ah~ there were such valiant people who accomplished so much without us even knowing!
– What a shame! If only we had found them sooner, we could’ve put them to good use!
But now, it wouldn’t end with reactions like that.
“…Chloe. You do have a plan, right?”
“Heh… Hmm?”
“You’ve been laughing like this is someone else’s problem. But you do have a plan, don’t you?”
At that, Chloe smiled. This time with a completely different kind of expression.
“Of course. Why do you think I’ve been keeping you here this late at night?”
“Is that so?”
Knock knock.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
The Gillen Merchant Guild was a busy place worthy of its name, and even at this hour, countless staff members were bustling about.
But very few ever made their way down this particular hallway.
Chloe, after all, was treated like royalty on the surface. She was nearly on par with an imperial princess here, so unless it was something truly important, no one would dare disturb her here.
“Come in.”
To the person knocking at the door, Chloe showed the highest level of courtesy she could offer.
She rose from her seat and yielded the place of honor.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Count.”
“Oh… It’s true. You’re alive.”
A middle-aged man with a friendly smile started patting Jun on both shoulders.
Despite his dignified appearance, he wore a surprisingly witty expression.
Count Albert Mordenain.
He ruled over Blackout on behalf of the imperial family, and now he had come secretly to the Gillen Merchant Guild.
***
“Must be tiring this late at night. I’ll be imposing a bit.”
“Not at all. What matters is who’s visiting, not what time it is.”
With those words, Chloe gave a soft smile and offered an elegant bow.
“I’m sure you have a lot to talk about. I’ll step out for a while so you can speak freely.”
“Thank you.”
The Count, who had been smiling in satisfaction, turned a bit more serious once Chloe left and looked straight at Jun.
“I’m sure that clever young woman already told you… but your reputation right now is practically sky-high.”
An unexpected meeting with the Count.
After offering a polite greeting, Jun asked about the one thing that had been on his mind.
“…If you think about it, there are adventurers and mercenary bands in the upper ranks who are far more powerful. Why is there such intense enthusiasm directed toward us?”
“Haha! You know, sometimes you can be a bit oblivious when it comes to things like this.”
The Count then spoke with a touch of regret, as if recalling the past.
“Dimension Reverse. One of the main reasons why the Empire, despite having everything, is so fixated on Blackout… and a name that has struck fear into countless citizens.”
“……”
“It’s much less common now, but just a few hundred years ago, the power of the term ‘Dimension Reverse’ was anything but trivial.”
—They say a neighboring city completely vanished overnight.
—Came back from work to find the whole village gone without a trace.
—A relative living in another region was attacked by some unknown monster and turned into an undead.
And so on.
To the people on the surface, Dimension Reverse was something even more terrifying than natural disasters or plagues.
At least those two came with warning signs…Dimension Reverse, on the other hand, was like a bolt from the blue.
“Even just fifty years ago, didn’t an entire city at the national level fall because of it?”
The trading city of Merdein was wiped out overnight due to a Dimension Reverse that erupted in Silent City.
Naturally, the loss of life was unimaginable, and for a time, the Empire was gripped by fear.
“You’ve stopped Dimension Reverse not once, but twice.”
“……”
Only then was Jun able to somewhat accept and acknowledge the current situation.
“But as you well know, too much fame can sometimes be more dangerous than a blade held to your throat.”
“…I suppose so.”
Countless people would covet the fame that the White Whale Mercenary Group had earned.
Some would try to win them over. Others would brand them as threats.
And Jun stood in a position where he had no choice but to completely ignore them.
“You and I made a promise, didn’t we?”
To remain politically neutral.
That had been the core of the deal made with the Count back in Blackout, when Jun received the [Growth Elixir].
More precisely, it was to build the Count’s trust by keeping Aiden close.
“You said something back then.”
“Hmm?”
“That there would be change left over.”
“…Haha.”
At Jun’s words, the Count let out a dry laugh.
That’s right.
At the time, when he handed over the [Growth Elixir], the Count had said that its value far outweighed Jun’s contribution. And that the leftover value could be considered as “change”.
Jun, using Aiden as leverage, had agreed to the condition of political neutrality.
And now, Jun was subtly calling him out on that point.
“Well… honestly, trying to claim that leftover change now would be a bit much. It’d be undignified, too.”
“Is that so?”
“Volkatornic Magic Tower. Thanks to the information you brought me, I gained quite a lot. You know that well, don’t you?”
Jun didn’t know.
Well, of course, he could make some educated guesses, but he didn’t know the details.
He only knew that he had gained enough power that no one but the Emperor himself could carelessly interfere.
“When I added up everything I gained from it in detail… haha. This time, I ended up with some leftover change on my side.”
“……”
In other words, now it was the Count’s turn to hand over some change to Jun.
Unlike in the past, Jun’s neutrality now held far more value.
“There’s a way to solve the problem you’re dealing with while also making it work out well for all of us.”
Of course, Count Mordenain wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.
He certainly wasn’t a generous benefactor, either.
So now, he was proposing to spin the current situation into something mutually beneficial.
Whatever it was, it wasn’t a bad deal for Jun.
“I’ll go over the details with you another time. For now… yes, it’s enough that you’re reminded of your current standing. I’ll make sure to bring you change that matches it.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“Haha, don’t expect too much. I may not look it, but I’m broke, you know.”
He said it like a joke, but it probably wasn’t entirely false.
Though the Count commanded the forces under the Emperor, he didn’t personally lead any organization of his own.
Still, he does have the Emperor’s immense backing behind him.
A fox riding on the back of a tiger.
That was the Count’s current position.
***
“Wow… you’ve really made it, huh?”
Chloe, who had returned after seeing the Count off, looked at Jun with a teasing smile.
Jun asked curtly,
“How long have you known the Count?”
The White Whale mercenaries had only returned less than a day ago.
And yet, the Count had already heard the news and paid a personal visit.
And he even came in secret.
Jun had sensed the presence of artifacts designed to suppress all signs of movement.
That meant he hadn’t come in any official capacity.
“It’s been a while. More precisely, since you returned from the mission in silent city.”
No matter how much the Ariklotus Church wanted to hide what had happened to them, they couldn’t keep it from the Emperor.
So, Pope Elahim subtly informed only the Count about the incident.
Naturally, the Count realized that the White Whale mercenaries were involved, and approached Chloe to confirm the facts.
“We’ve been talking about this and that since then.”
“So it wasn’t something that happened overnight.”
Only then did Jun understand why Chloe had smiled at him like that earlier.
“But just because the Count steps in doesn’t mean all the problems will go away. Honestly, you look way too tempting right now.”
“……”
At her words, Jun quietly pulled his clothes together, and that made Chloe burst into laughter again.
“Heheh… Anyway! What do you think they’d get if they caught you?”
“More than a few things, I’d bet.”
At the very least, the White Whale mercenaries. And their reputation.
At the most, the benefits that come with that reputation, and…
“The Gillen Merchant Guild?”
“Exactly.”
It had become a chance to reel in the Gillen Merchant Guild, which was deeply intertwined with the White Whale mercenaries.
So would the other groups just sit back and watch that opportunity slip by?
“Of course, with the Count stepping in, there’s a good chance the Emperor will get directly involved. That would keep you safe. But…”
“We can’t let our guard down completely.”
Even if the Count and the Emperor were involved, there would still be those who’d try something against Jun and his group.
The bait was just too tempting to ignore.
“A golden goose found in the wild. Who’s going to claim it?”
“But that’s not what really matters.”
Chloe was right.
Who ended up owning the golden goose wasn’t what was important.
What mattered more was—
“How will the ones who lost the golden goose right in front of them react?”
As Chloe continued, Jun nodded and covered his eyes with one hand.
“What a shitty world.”
He had come back alive from the underworld, only to find the reaper clinging desperately to his leg.
Leave a Reply