Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 362

362.

Sharing good liquor was a common occurrence, especially in the mercenary world where drinking was abundant. They were even sharing liquor they had bought themselves, just a portion of it. Yet, for some reason, his heart swelled and his chest felt tight. The liquor tasted exceptionally good that day. It was a drink he enjoyed occasionally, so he knew the taste well enough, but it felt unfamiliar, almost like he was tasting it for the first time, leaving him bewildered. At the time, he casually dismissed it as being because he hadn’t had it in a while, but looking back now, it was something that could be considered special if one chose to see it that way.

“Hey, wait a minute. I remember hearing something like this before. A priest with immense divine power can create divine liquor.”

“Divine liquor?”

“Yeah, liquor imbued with divine power. It’s supposed to be an incredible elixir. Just one cup can revive someone on the verge of death. If a healthy person drinks it, their physical abilities are said to improve dramatically….”

“Oh, I’ve heard of that too. But it’s not something you can make easily, right? Only a very few high priests can make it, and they have to abstain from food and pour out their divine power while praying. Even then, they can only make a small amount….”

“Maybe he was one of those rare priests. Maybe even a more special one.”

“Well, he… was really amazing, after all.”

“Come to think of it, that priest never ate much and always just drank liquor, but he was always fine. Priests with strong divine power can survive for a long time without eating, but he took it to an extreme. What if he was turning the liquor into divine liquor and drinking it?”

Everyone gasped at Iril’s last words. They had been hesitant while piecing things together, but there seemed to be no more definitive evidence than this.

“Wow, crazy? Did we drink divine liquor that day?”

“No wonder the liquor tasted so amazing that day!”

“I need to move my body more! Are there any monster habitats around here?”

A stroke of luck they hadn’t even realized had come their way. The Champagne Mercenaries were thrown into belated confusion, unable to collect themselves. But even then, they knew nothing. More incredible things were waiting for them in the future.

* * *

“Hey.”

Huysen frowned slightly at the shadow cast over him. A middle-aged, massive man was blocking his path, looking down at him. Huysen wasn’t short, but he had to look up quite a bit to see the other man. He seemed even bigger than Herol, the tallest in the company who was often mistaken for an ogre.

“Ah, that’s!”

“It’s Rex of the Beer Mercenaries!”

“Rex of the Gold Badge!”

Murmurs spread among the onlookers who had gathered. Huysen’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the man. Rex of the Gold Badge was a famous name, well-known even to him, who didn’t pay much attention to the world around him. He was a founding member of the Beer Mercenaries, which had the highest achievements in the current guild, and a Gold Badge mercenary [a mercenary who has achieved a high rank and is recognized for their skill and experience]. His position was vice-captain, but he was the practical leader who had led the Beer Mercenaries to their current fame. However, Huysen was interested in something a little different.

‘I heard the Beer Mercenaries signed a contract with the Grand Duke’s forces. Was that not the case?’

Unlike the reconnaissance unit from last time, the Champagne Mercenaries were newly assigned to an assault unit composed solely of mercenaries. Since the unit included foreign legions, there were many familiar faces, but even more he didn’t know. Even so, the Beer Mercenaries were an unexpected presence.

When the civil war broke out, the mercenary guild tended to favor the Grand Duke’s forces. The contract fees and rewards offered by the Grand Duke were higher, so most people were leaning towards that side. And the Beer Mercenaries had led that trend. When the mercenary group, known as the strongest in the guild, signed a contract with the Grand Duke, everyone followed suit.

‘Did they break their existing contract and come back to this side?’

Originally, mercenaries often switched allegiances during wars depending on the situation. Knights who served only one lord until death criticized the behavior as being like migratory birds, but it was a natural part of life for mercenaries who didn’t particularly have enemies. Huysen was a mercenary, so he only focused on interpreting the situation. The fact that the Beer Mercenaries had come over to this side meant they had judged that the Grand Duke’s forces had no chance of winning. It meant that the tide had clearly turned, so it wasn’t a bad thing for someone affiliated with the Imperial Army.

“I am Rex. Are you Huysen, the captain of the Champagne Mercenaries?”

“That is correct.”

“I heard you’re a Gold Badge?”

“……That is so, but?”

Huysen’s tone naturally became stiff in response to the blunt question. A coldness flickered across the man’s face as he examined him. It was a very familiar gaze to Huysen. ‘He’s not as impressive as I thought?’ He could read the other man’s thoughts without even hearing them.

Those who approached Huysen after hearing his reputation generally showed a similar reaction when they first saw him. This was largely due to his handsome appearance. They subtly perceived him, who had a noble-like, pretty appearance, as easy to deal with. Some even openly expressed their disappointment. The man in front of him belonged to that category.

“I wanted to meet you because I heard so much about you. But it would have been better if I hadn’t. I thought the guild properly conducted promotion exams, even if they were terrible in other areas, but that’s not the case. It seems like rot has spread everywhere.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I heard you caught a monster?”

“…….”

“I hate guys who boast without having the skills. I especially hate guys who tarnish the Gold Badge. Exactly like you.”

“So?”

“Fight me.”

So, this was it.

Huysen let out a light sigh at the anticipated situation. It wasn’t anything new, as this was already the third challenge he had received today. As the news that they had caught a monster spread, people who felt competitive had flocked from all directions. And all of them, as if they had planned it, designated Huysen as their opponent. Normally, they wouldn’t dare to challenge a Gold Badge mercenary, but they seemed to think he looked weaker than he was, so they thought it was worth a try.

So far, Herol had stepped in to fend off those who challenged him. It wasn’t out of consideration for Huysen, but rather for the sake of the challengers. He knew better than anyone from experience how shocking it was to be miserably defeated by someone you underestimated. Huysen was a ruthless man who didn’t know how to hold back in these kinds of matches. It would be troublesome if the opponent became discouraged and deserted. But this time, the opponent was also a Gold Badge mercenary. “Yo, Captain. Good luck.” Huysen glared at him as he sent his half-hearted support. Rex glanced at Herol, following his gaze, and smirked.

“I heard that friend of yours has been accepting all the challenges on your behalf? I can see how you’ve been running the company.”

“Well, I don’t know what you’re misunderstanding, but it’s not like I’ve been avoiding the challenges. That guy just took them all without my permission.”

“Then you will naturally accept this challenge.”

“If you wish.”

Simultaneously with his answer, Huysen drew his sword. His usually gentle demeanor became sharply honed the moment he grabbed the sword. The onlookers all gasped at the sudden change in his aura. Rex also widened his eyes and then grinned.

“You should act like that, of course.”

As the two stood facing each other at a suitable distance, the onlookers who had gathered quickly surrounded them. Intra-unit duels were strictly prohibited, but the mercenary corps were seen as outsiders anyway, so the higher-ups didn’t interfere unless the situation was serious. Even the soldiers who were supposed to be cracking down on these events flocked to watch.

“Jackpot! Huysen and Rex are fighting!”

“A Gold Badge duel!”

There were few Gold Badge mercenaries, so it was rare for them to encounter each other. It was even rarer for them to duel. The scene was heating up with a rare spectacle that was hard to see even with money. Some even placed bets on each other.

However, the festive atmosphere didn’t last long. Soon after the duel began, people couldn’t think of anything else. The duel was an overwhelming victory for Huysen. Rex’s tremendous power, wielding a mace like a twig, was easily blocked by Huysen’s thin sword each time. Most of the onlookers couldn’t even follow Huysen’s movements, so they couldn’t consider Rex’s skills lacking. They only remembered that he was incredibly fast and that something moved dazzlingly. By the time everyone who had been watching in a daze came to their senses, the tip of Huysen’s sword was already aimed at Rex’s neck.

“…….”

“…….”

A chilling silence fell among the speechless crowd. In the perfect stillness where even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard, Rex glanced down at the sword stopped at the precarious point of his neck. As he swallowed hard, sweat trickled down his chin. However, Huysen’s expression, facing the shocked man, was simply indifferent. As if the result was so obvious that there was nothing to be surprised about. Rex opened his unmoving mouth at the gaze that seemed to ask if he would continue.

“……I lost.”

“It was a good duel.”

Huysen, who answered calmly with a more polite tone, sheathed his sword. Only then did cheers and applause erupt from the onlookers. Rex rubbed his neck and looked at Huysen with a complicated expression.

“Let me ask you one thing. Why do you… no, why do you do mercenary work?”

“……? Because this life suits me well.”

“Do you like mercenary work?”

“Would I be doing it if I didn’t like it?”

“How many members are in the Champagne Mercenaries? Five? Six? Does the mercenary group intend to maintain its current size? Do you have any plans to increase its size?”

“Well, I haven’t thought about that yet.”

“You should.”

“……?”

“Those with great power have a corresponding duty. Whether they want it or not.”

With those incomprehensible words, Rex silently turned away. Huysen frowned as he watched the path he walked on split like waves on either side. About that time, Sherry, who had been watching from a short distance away, stuck close to him.

“Good job, Huysen. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“As you can see. By the way, it’s a bit strange.”

“Why?”

“I just thought he was picking a fight because he didn’t like me, but it doesn’t seem like that. It feels like I was being tested.”

“Hmm, I think we should pay some attention to that guy. I heard people whispering earlier that he came to the Imperial Army alone?”

Iril said, watching his receding figure. Herol and Mighty widened their eyes, following Huysen’s surprised expression.

“He came to the Imperial Army alone?”

“Then does that mean he left the Beer Mercenaries?”

“Wouldn’t that be the case? A mercenary belonging to a company can’t act independently.”

“Why on earth…… What happened?”

“Well, I think I have a rough idea. The mercenary guild has had a lot of complaints for a while now. Like being incompetent, and favoring certain mercenary groups by giving them well-paid requests. And embezzling request fees or taking bribes in the middle.”

“What? Did they?”

“Huysen is oblivious to that kind of thing. Anyway, I heard that the Beer Mercenaries are benefiting the most from that. Their captain is close to the guild master. So I heard that there are factions within the company, could it be related to that?”

“Hmm.”

Rex was no longer visible. Huysen was bothered by the last words he had left behind, but he soon decided to ignore them. Anyway, he had made a big splash, so the number of people picking fights with him would decrease in the future. As proof, everyone who met his eyes was avoiding his gaze. Huysen, who had responded to the duel expecting this effect, was satisfied with the outcome.

“By the way, Captain, you were really amazing. To beat Rex of the Gold Badge so easily. I often missed your movements too, Captain. You’ve definitely gotten stronger than before, right?”

“Ah, it wouldn’t have been this easy before.”

“Are you going to become a Sword Master soon?”

“No way. ……Well, but it might be possible. I feel like my skills are getting better and better.”

“Crazy. The divine liquor is really amazing.”

“What a waste that we were the only ones who drank that precious stuff. It would have been nice if Matthew had been there too.”

“I know, right.”

It was when they were trying to calm down their excited feelings and regretting that their colleague hadn’t enjoyed the same benefits.

“Everyone’s here.”

At that moment, a low boy’s voice broke into their conversation. The Champagne Mercenaries, who turned around reflexively, soon opened their mouths blankly. An unexpected person was standing before them. A captivating chocolate-like skin with jet-black hair. A boy with dazzling golden eyes shining like stars. It was their young colleague whom they had parted with just before returning to the unit.

“Matthew?”

“Oh my god, Matthew!”

“How are you here?”

“Did you decide to join the army too?”

Since only people who had been identified could enter the camp, they naturally thought that Matthew had applied to the military. They had been feeling his absence, so they ran to him with joyful feelings. However, the reaction that came back was different from what they had expected.

“No. I came to say goodbye.”

“What?”

“Sa, goodbye?”

“It’s as it sounds. I’m leaving the mercenary group.”

“……!”

The smiling faces hardened in an instant. In particular, Huysen, who had taken the lead in recruiting him into the company, couldn’t hide his dumbfounded expression. Only Matthew himself, who was smiling with an unchanging expression, was shocking everyone.