Chapter 6

A Full-Time Healer Gradually Grows Stronger

(5)

Actually, the journey to the destination was fine. The stronghold of the lumberjacks or the ruins or something like that wasn’t really a dangerous matter for the mercenaries.

However, the issue related to the formation was different. It was a formation that had to be maintained continuously to break through the forest and reach the destination, and it was a matter of life and death depending on where one was placed.

"The formation will have all the knights positioned in the center, with the mercenaries divided between the rear and the front. Each unit will have a guide. That's all."

This was a declaration of intent to use the mercenaries as a shield. The relaxed expressions of the mercenaries hardened.

No matter how much the mercenaries valued their lives and performed tasks for money, and even if it was a dangerous mission, it was unpleasant to be treated so overtly.

"In short, we spent the money, and you should die. Is that it?"

It was one of the mercenaries speaking. It was accurate.

"Sir Lamang! Even if that's the case, isn't it cruel to put only the mercenaries in danger?"

"That's why you're here, isn't it?"

Eila stepped forward as the representative of the mercenaries, but the knights weren't the type to just sneer. A sneer hung on Ereb's lips.

"Captain, last night you seemed to understand your place so well near my crotch... Why are you acting like this now?"

Ha ha ha ha!

Ereb's lewd comment made all the knights burst into laughter. Even the strict Lamang was no exception.

Eila's face turned red with anger, but she couldn't draw her sword.

In a world where strength and violence determined superiority, she had been living since the age of ten. She knew well that if she drew her sword, she would be the one to die.

"Hee hee... Please show some mercy, my lord. For the sake of last night's affection."

Eila bowed her head in front of Ereb, as if pleading. All the mercenaries watching her back bit their lips and barely held back their anger.

They couldn't step in when the party leader was holding back and bowing for everyone's sake.

"Hmm, is that so? If you say that, I can't help it. I'll have five knights each assigned to the front and rear units."

"...Thank you, my lord."

Even if only five knights could help, it was fortunate. Eila thought she had done well, but Lamang stepped in.

"It's not acceptable, my lord! The knights are the forces that must be preserved until the end. We cannot ruin the mission for just a night's affection!"

"Ah, is that so? Captain. I'm sorry, but as you can see, I have no real power! Commanding the knights is Sir Lamang's job. If you had gone to Sir Lamang's bedroom last night instead of mine, it would have been better... What a pity."

Ha ha ha!

It was a deliberate act. Ereb knew Lamang would block it and pretended to show favor.

Eila's hands trembled with anger but miraculously held back. The pain of her nails digging into her flesh helped her keep her sanity.

Eila thought it was for the best. She was already doubtful about Messi's words. She decided to end the contract.

"If that's the case... we will terminate the contract. We will pay the penalty as stipulated in the contract, ten times the amount. From now on, our Red Fox Mercenary Group will withdraw from this mission."

"...Huh, has that woman gone mad?"

"Captain Eila. You said you would pay ten times the penalty, but do you know that it amounts to 100 gold?"

"Yes. Even if the mercenary group goes bankrupt... and I lose everything, I will pay the penalty."

100 gold was a large sum. If 1 silver was the monthly food budget for an average peasant family, 100 silver was 1 gold. So, 100 gold was enough to feed 10,000 peasants for a month.

"Ha ha, good. Captain. Assuming the penalty is fine, how do you plan to compensate for the loss caused by your change of heart, which ruins our plan?"

"What... That's not part of the contract!"

No matter how much she cried out in injustice, it was useless.

The other party was more than what Eila thought.

"Shut up, I'm a noble!!!"

With that shout, all the mercenaries, whose faces were red with anger, lost their words.

Messi finally realized where she had landed. This world was a clear hierarchical society, and she saw firsthand why Eila had given her such advice.

"The words of a noble are truth and law!! No matter how much you wave a contract in front of me, there are things that must not change!!"

Ereb emphasized each word.

"Absolutely, a noble, will, not, suffer, any, loss, to, mere, commoners."

As Ereb raised his hand, all the knights behind him drew their swords.

Swoosh!

"Termination? Try it. I'll take the penalty by completely looting your mercenary group's headquarters and selling every brick. And the loss from our plan failing will be paid with your lives."

With fifty elite knights drawing their swords, the pressure was so overwhelming that it seemed to shake the surrounding forest. This was the source of their confidence.

"...Was this your intention from the beginning?"

Eila, in crisis, was surprisingly calm.

Perhaps it was because she had broken through countless crises with a single sword.

Strangely, a hypothesis formed in her mind as the situation worsened.

"What is your relationship with Deputy Leader Noas?"

"Noas?"

"Why is the deputy leader's name coming up here?"

Eila's question left the mercenaries bewildered.

"Something seemed off. The conditions were too good. Just 80 mercenaries for 10 gold... Moreover, the information Noas brought said the Forest of Resentment was only a B- level danger... Which mercenary group wouldn't bite such a sweet bait? Isn't that right, my lord?"

Ereb didn't respond, but his silence was all the answer.

"Since the Red Fox Mercenary Group needed performance, reputation, and funds to grow, my lord naturally knew they would bite this bait."

The mercenaries finally understood the situation, and the faces of the 80 of them turned bad.

"Noas... That bastard joined this despicable plan and led us to our doom!"

"I opposed the merger for this reason! What did we trust in those guys to make them deputy leaders?"

"Watch your words, we were originally from Noas's mercenary group!"

The Red Fox Mercenary Group had grown by absorbing several mercenary groups, the largest of which was Noas's mercenary group.

To achieve a stable merger, a compromise was necessary, and the deputy leader position was the price.

At the time, there was internal controversy, but over the years, the captain and deputy leader had worked together to lead the Red Fox, and it had long been forgotten.

Until they were betrayed like this.

The village chief and Reto could only sigh at the scene.

"There's no such chaos."

"I understand the mercenaries. If you suddenly found yourself at the gates of hell, wouldn't you react like that?"

"I somehow understand Captain Eila's feelings of being betrayed by the deputy leader."

"What are you saying... Why are you looking at me like that? Have I ever betrayed the village chief?"

"Think about it! Before we took in Messi, our relationship wasn't that bad!"

"It was bad."

"Was it?"

Reto's firmness left the village chief speechless.

"We're in big trouble. The knights brought us here with the intention of sacrificing everyone else... The guides won't be an exception."

"I thought my luck was good..."

"I was even thinking of running away, but with the formation Sir Lamang mentioned, it won't be easy. They plan to split us up and have each of us supervise a unit."

"...Should I have written a will? Oh, to die without using my hard-earned wealth!"

"Really, how many times do I have to be disappointed in the village chief before you hit rock bottom? Please maintain some dignity."

"We're about to die, what's the point of dignity! Reto, do you have any plan?"

"I don't, but..."

Reto glanced at Messi.

He was looking at the current situation without saying a word, deep in thought.

From what Reto had seen, Messi usually came up with a solution after thinking deeply like this.

Three years ago, the sudden appearance of Barcelona's disciple. And the kid who became part of his family.

Not particularly powerful, but always showing a hidden ace when something happened.

Last night, he urged Reto to run, but after thinking deeply, Messi said he would take them through the Forest of Resentment.

He must have something in mind.

* *

From the moment the knights' destination was revealed, Messi had a lot to think about. It was somewhat expected, but the confirmation was a shock.

'These guys... are they chasing the same thing as my master?'

Barcelona was a former lumberjack.

A person who reclaimed land, fought against strange natural environments, and dealt with countless monsters and ancient demons, the lumberjack.

A human weapon created by the nations to expand human territory, beyond their own interests, through the 'Lumberjack Union'.

Decades ago, Barcelona and his comrades were dispatched here to expand the land.

Until they discovered a certain ruin.

Sometimes such things happened.

While reclaiming land, traces of past civilizations would be found.

Barcelona and his comrades thought it was just such a case and began an exploration.

The result?

'The decision was made to withdraw all the lumberjacks, and the residents of Benuda village were left to guard the land.'

According to his master, it left only bitter regret. Many of his fellow lumberjacks died, and even Barcelona's own brother was killed.

With a deep grudge, his master faked his death, left the Lumberjack Union, and wandered in the forest for decades.

Now they were going there.

'What confidence do they have?'

Messi thought about it carefully. Were these knights really that strong?

'Well... they are strong.'

The way they bullied the Red Fox Mercenary Group showed they were strong.

Especially when fifty elite knights drew their swords and released their energy, it was so overwhelming that it seemed to make the forest cry. It was definitely impressive.

However, in this situation, there was an appropriate benchmark for judging strength.

'Are the knights really stronger than the lumberjacks?'

'If not, how do they plan to explore a ruin that the lumberjacks gave up on?'

The only lumberjack he knew was his master, Barcelona.

So, let's compare. Are they really stronger than my master?

Messi wasn't an expert in combat strength like a scout, but one thing was clear.

'My master was strong enough to wander the Forest of Resentment alone, but...'

These knights were so unsure of themselves that they were willing to sacrifice 80 mercenaries to pass through the Forest of Resentment.

They were on a completely different level.

So why were they arguing like this?

Even if they sacrificed 80 mercenaries, the remaining elite knights would all die.

Pfft!

Unable to hold back the laughter that rose, Messi burst out laughing.

"....."

"....."

"...Laughing?"

Everyone's gaze turned to Messi, who had burst into laughter.

The End

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