Chapter 87

3/10 The name of the accountant was mixed with the old settings, so I corrected it.

Saul rushed into a certain tavern.

Something's wrong, he thought.

Yesterday, he had rushed to this tavern to bring a piece of information.

The return of Tetrarhedron, the wanted man among them, and the fact that Tetrarhedron had brought two explorers with him, which he had certainly reported to the leader.

The leader had certainly said,

Take immediate action. Send members to kill the three, he had certainly said.

But they were alive.

What Saul saw were Tetrarhedron and another small explorer. And it seemed that someone else was acting separately. It must be the other slender man he saw yesterday.

Something's wrong.

Perhaps the leader didn't take the information they brought seriously. Or perhaps he would say that the members were defeated.

They were certainly alive.

And it seemed they intended to stay in this town and interfere with their employer.

Even if yesterday's incident was a mistake, it couldn't be this time.

Definitely, something had to be done.

Thinking this, he visited the tavern again to appeal directly to the leader.

He roughly opened the swinging door and stepped into the alcohol-filled interior.

Until recently, many members had been drinking and waiting here. But now the members had left, and there were far fewer. At the farthest table in the back, the leader, Uster, was sitting.

Holding a glass of distilled liquor, he had a woman sitting on one knee, and with his free hand, he was caressing her body.

"Leader, what's going on! They're alive!"

As Saul pressed, Uster looked up at him with a troubled expression.

"What's the sudden fuss? They?"

"Tetrarhedron and his companions! You said you'd kill them yesterday!"

"Huh? They're still alive?"

Uster frowned and put down his glass.

"Damn Jima, I thought he hadn't come back since he left yesterday, but he's slacking off somewhere, huh?"

Uster grumbled, exhaling an alcohol-laden sigh.

Originally, the mercenary group wasn't very enthusiastic about their work.

Even when the leader gave orders, it was not uncommon for tasks to be left unfinished by the deadline.

Uster thought this time was no different.

He didn't care if the members decreased. Only a few members, including the accountant Ferment, understood that manpower was a valuable asset in this mercenary group.

One of those members, Saul, continued his appeal.

"Maybe, isn't it a dangerous situation?"

"What do you mean?"

"Because, it's strange for so many members to go missing. Sure, Jima wasn't very serious... but..."

Saul stared at the counter where the two of them always sat, his mouth twisted.

"It's impossible for Chip and Nez to not show up for over a week! Especially since they went to kill Hedron!?"

Chip and Nez were always a pair of members who acted together.

Their individual abilities were slightly above average among the members.

Their true value lay in their teamwork. It wasn't just that they were two more people; when they worked together, they were unbeatable by a group of other members, with a few exceptions.

More importantly, they had a value beyond combat power.

Loyal to their work, they kept their contracts and never betrayed expectations.

They were trusted by clients more than other members.

There was no way they would linger and not return.

Even if the target's elimination was delayed, it was impossible for them not to stop by the hangout if the target appeared in town.

So, this was an abnormal situation.

Saul pleaded desperately.

The members who had disappeared from the tavern must have gone after Hedron.

Hedron was safe, and they didn't return.

Their total annihilation should be considered.

But the leader's reaction was not good.

"They have their fun too. You guys can't fight, so just listen to us... hic."

Uster said that and drank more. The woman he held let out a giggle.

...This might be hopeless.

Saul thought about the future. His mind was already made up.

"Ferment...?"

He looked around the tavern for the accountant. There were nine people in the room, including the leader. The man who usually sat in the armchair at the back was there today as well.

"Ferment, please, take immediate action!"

"Hmm... I hear you."

Ferment, fiddling with the bracelet on his wrist, muttered with a troubled expression. Though he said he heard, Saul knew he had been dozing off.

"Let's immediately call for the missing members. Wait a bit, and whether or not the members gather, we'll hunt Tetrarhedron with everyone here. ...She's at the inn, right?"

"Yes, she came for lunch just now."

Nodding repeatedly, Saul gazed at Ferment as if clinging to him.

While Uster was the representative of the mercenary group, the management and selection of members and the acceptance of jobs were handled by the accountant, Ferment.

To support Uster, who didn't care about such matters, Ferment held half the power of the group.

Since Ferment had given the order, even the leader had to comply. The members present would surely go to finish the job. Everything would be resolved.

Saul felt relieved.

Most of the previous members might have been wiped out.

The enemy's combat power derived from that fact was overlooked.

"Is this the right place?"

"The place you mentioned earlier is here, right? There's no sign, but..."

Suddenly, a voice was heard.

Outside, someone was talking about the tavern.

Saul was shocked.

He recognized the voice. Could it be?

"Excuse me, is this the Adtest Mercenary Group's tavern?"

The swinging door creaked open, and the people he had seen at the inn earlier, Hedron and her companion, entered.

"Ah, you!?"

A cry of shock mixed with fear escaped him.

This was no joke. The assembly of the missing members wasn't even complete. And yet, with only seven combatants here, there was no way they could win...

Saul stopped his thoughts halfway.

No, it's okay. There are seven mercenary combatants here.

The leader is among them. Though his character is one of the worst, his skills are top-notch in the group. There's no way they could lose.

If the leader loses, it would be the end of the mercenary group.

Saul and the other members trusted the leader's skills.

That was why the mercenary group gathered, and why the leader was the leader.

Uster pushed the woman off his knee and stood up.

"Ha ha ha ha, the prey came to us!"

Laughing loudly, he smoothly drew his crescent blade.

Swinging it as if cutting through the air, he split a container of alcohol in two.

"Get ready! I'll give a special bonus to whoever kills first!"

Hearing this, the surrounding members became excited.

"Ke ke, what will you give us this time, leader?"

"Is it a woman?"

"Hedron's not bad-looking, you know. How about enjoying her before killing her?"

"Let's go eat something better than that!"

Spewing out their desires, the members also drew their weapons.

Saul felt a sense of unease.

Hedron didn't change her smug attitude even when facing their combat-ready group.

She's a mage. She's definitely strong.

But if she's strong, she should be more sensitive to stronger opponents than someone like him.

Besides, Hedron had fled once. She had given up on a violent solution and gone to Iline.

So, she should know that it would be futile to oppose them here.

Yet, this time, she didn't try to run.

Why?

Thinking this, Saul looked at the boy beside her.

The explorer who had been with Hedron since yesterday. His name was Crow, if he remembered correctly.

Could he be the source of her confidence?

If so, ...that would be a strange story.

What could this child have that would give her such confidence?

It's hard to believe this small boy could beat the leader. Saul himself might be able to beat him.

It's doable.

Thinking this, Saul reached for his dagger, but then felt ashamed of his own thoughts.

"Huh?"

The head of a member who had rushed at the two targets flew backward.

"Bluh!?"

It landed right next to him, about ten steps away.

It hit a shelf with a loud noise and stopped. Its face was distorted as if crushed, and a pool of alcohol and blood spread out.

Saul, who was one of the more perceptive members, instantly understood.

A monster.

The boy named Crow, who stood before them, was not to be underestimated.

He was a monster, not an opponent they could handle.

The boy must have kicked the member, killing him with just that.

Ferment also reached the same conclusion.

"Wait! Don't act rashly..."

"Always in a yellow shirt, with a bronze bracelet. ...You must be the most troublesome one, right?"

The boy appeared in front of Ferment, moving so fast it seemed instantaneous.

"Ugh...!"

Ferment drew a small knife from his sleeve.

Though he didn't go to the front lines as an accountant, he wasn't completely helpless. But it was futile.

Saul closed his eyes. He didn't want to see the impending carnage.

A faint groan and a loud thud, and Ferment's voice was gone.

Opening his eyes cautiously, he saw a glimpse of blood-soaked yellow fabric.

Another one dead. Saul dropped his sword, having given up. His happy life with his wife and his own life were over.

No one paid attention to Saul as the situation unfolded.

"That kid's not bad... but the kid can wait! Let's take out Hedron first!"

One of the members shouted.

An individual can't beat a group. Numbers are power. In a fight, the side with more numbers wins.

If one of the enemy group is strong, the strategy is to eliminate the weaker enemies first, increase the numerical advantage, and then take on the stronger ones.

The member who shouted chose this without much thought.

It wasn't something learned, but wisdom gained from numerous brushes with death.

An individual can't beat a group.

But that's only if the individual's power isn't considered.

"I don't want to be underestimated either."

Tetrarhedron muttered.

The two members who lunged at her might have heard her words, but it was impossible to know.

Tetrarhedron's fiery hair seemed to ignite.

A flash of light, as Saul saw it.

A streak of orange light crossed his vision. When the afterimage cleared and his vision returned, the two bodies in front of him were split in half.

Their rolling faces seemed to be twisted in shock.

The next moment, their bodies burst into flames and turned to ash.

"Those two were much stronger."

They must have been Chip and Nez.

Saul didn't want to see anymore.

This was a nightmare.

Four of his comrades had died in this short time.

The only hope left was the leader and one other member.

Even if the remaining three attacked, there was no way they could win. Their fate would be either to be crushed or turned to dust.

The remaining hope moved.

Uster swayed.

And in the next moment, Uster lunged at Crow.

Crow dodged the swinging crescent blade and stepped back.

Was he going to start over? Crow stepped forward, preparing to jump at Uster.

But Uster's sword strikes didn't stop. Another strike, and Crow dodged.

A scratch appeared on Crow's robe where he should have dodged.

"Can you...?"

The hope in Saul's heart grew.

The boy who had killed two in the blink of an eye was struggling.

The leader's skills were truly remarkable.

That's why he followed. That's why he obeyed even when treated like a servant.

The swordsmanship that had captivated the men couldn't lose to a child.

"Ugh...!!"

But an unexpected event occurred.

Uster dropped his sword, holding his wrist and wincing.

Crow looked surprised.

"I was trying to break it, but it's hard. Like a demon?"

Crow struck Uster's fingers in sync with his sword strikes.

Only Crow and Uster were visible in the room.

Saul couldn't see it.

But the leader had been hit by an unknown attack and helplessly dropped his sword.

Realizing this, Saul fell to his knees.

All hope was lost.

Which would be better to die?

The easier way would be to die unnoticed by his comrades, like Tetrarhedron.

Since he was going to die anyway, he might as well choose her.

Saul thought and prepared to pounce on Tetrarhedron.

He gathered strength in his stepping foot. Even without a blade, she would surely burn him.

She would kill him without making him suffer.

Tetrarhedron had become a goddess of hope for Saul.

A large shadow appeared behind the goddess of hope.

Tears welled up in the corner of Saul's eyes. Good, he could still live. A presence that gave him that certainty had appeared.

"Noisy, aren't you?"

The large man stood behind Tetrarhedron without her noticing, lifting both her hands with one hand.

"Kyaa...!"

A cute scream rose. At least, Saul had enough composure to find the scream cute.

The large man leaned his face close to Tetrarhedron.

Smelling the odor, Tetrarhedron frowned.

Hope overflowed in Saul's heart.

The large man's name was Balsaarga.

He was the only member in the mercenary group who could match the leader.

His powerful arms could break a giant horse's neck with one strike, and his log-like legs could crush a tough beetle with ease.

Most notably, his fighting spirit was formidable, and he had once fought a demon alone.

Uster, who cut down enemies like a dance, and Balsaarga, who crushed everything with brute force.

Their skills and strength made up the majority of the mercenary group's combat power.

"Wow... cute, huh?"

"Let me go...!"

Tetrarhedron spread flames.

Her hair was entangled in his hand, and using her fiery hair would burn her own hand.

She made this judgment, but ordinary flames couldn't even scorch the hem of Balsaarga's clothes.

Balsaarga calmly looked at the lifted Tetrarhedron.

"I just broke a woman earlier, can I have this one too, leader?"

In a drawn-out voice, Balsaarga asked about Tetrarhedron's fate.

Uster, hearing this, clicked his tongue and shouted.

"...Tsk! Break her quickly! And the kid in front too!"

"Sure thing..."

We can win, this way, I can be saved.

With the strong members of the mercenary group gathered, the situation was now solid.

Saul was deeply relieved.

Unaware that it was a false sense of security.