Chapter 8

A Full-Time Healer Gradually Grows Stronger

(7)

"By the way, why did you laugh just now?"

"There's a signal we use when hunting together. It said to make a loud noise. I thought it meant to laugh along, so I did."

"Tch. You guys are crazy."

The village chief rolled his eyes at the irresponsible answer. How could he burst out laughing based solely on Messi's words in such a serious situation?

Without trust, it would have been impossible.

In any case, the situation calmed down. The knights sheathed their swords at Ereb's command, and the mercenaries, except for a few, put their weapons away.

Those few still didn't fully trust the knights.

"Captain, we need to run away quickly! How can we entrust our lives to that cruel noble and his kind?"

The senior member, who had been in the mercenary group for a long time, had quite a bit of influence. His name was Durek. He was the one who had been shouting about marking the knights before the conflict.

"Durek, assess the situation. If we retreat now, we'll have to fight the knights of the Ahental family again. Are you confident about that?"

"Well, that's..."

"Right now, we can only trust Messi. He's given us a way out. I trust him."

"Trust a half-breed? You're just setting yourself up to be betrayed by someone like Noas!"

Durek turned away in anger, and a few others who agreed with him followed. It was a sign of a faction forming.

Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't have happened, but Eila couldn't stop it. She knew it was her complacency that had led them to this crisis.

'But Messi is trustworthy. Just by opening a path, it shows he has a plan.'

Even from their brief conversation yesterday, she could tell Messi was no ordinary person. His mind was at least as sharp as hers.

He seemed to know little about the nobility, as if he had come from another world, but that was due to his half-breed nature.

If she helped him a bit, he would surely become a great asset. A strategic mind capable of leading the mercenary group and managing its affairs.

'I just thought of this, but it's not a bad idea. I should suggest it.'

Wishing for him to be excellent in combat would be greedy. Eila's expectations and hopes were just that.

In any case, it was a waste for someone like him to be stuck in a small village. There were half-breeds who disguised themselves and worked as mercenaries, so Messi could do it too.

While lost in thought, someone called her.

"Captain Eila. The young master is looking for you."

It was a knight from the Ahental family. Eila realized the moment had come for the decision she had been dreading.

* *

"Do you want me to trust you with full authority?"

"I need control over both the knights and the mercenaries. Young master, you must trust me completely."

"Are you crazy? Only I, the knight captain, control the knights."

Inside the tent, an argument was taking place.

Lamang was furious, and Messi seemed to have expected it.

He had already figured out that the young master was a practical person, except for the part about 'noble honor.'

But Lamang was different. He was closer to a traditional knight, strict and averse to exceptions.

"The Forest of Resentment is divided into 48 territories, each inhabited by a different type of monster."

"Yes, I've seen that in the records from the Sky City. Look at this."

Ereb showed the records to Messi, who shook his head.

"...There's an important fact missing here. The 48 types of monsters do not consider each other enemies."

"What? How is that possible?"

Ereb, surprised, scanned the records again. There was no mention of this.

"Lamang, what did we bring from the Sky City? We were told to trust the information from the Sky City more than our parents, but are they just liars?"

Ereb was angry but didn't miss the chance to observe Lamang's reaction.

"...I am ashamed."

Lamang bowed his head, eyes closed. It was hard to tell if he was truly remorseful or hiding his emotions.

"The reason is simple. It's a structure where competition is unnecessary. There is only one food source: the sweet bodily fluid of the giant ants living underground in the forest. The ants provide this fluid to all species in exchange for safety."

"The monsters have such a level of sociality and intelligence. That's astonishing..."

Ereb and Lamang couldn't help but believe, knowing Messi was a 'forest species.'

"But the frightening part is that the 48 types of monsters are united by a common behavior."

"What is it?"

"Lamang, most monsters have an abnormally developed sense of smell, don't they?"

"Yes, they do. After all, they retain their wild nature..."

Lamang reluctantly agreed. Ereb was confused about what the smell had to do with anything.

But Messi's next words sent shivers down his spine.

"These monsters are extremely sensitive to the smell of blood. In the forest, you must never show blood. As soon as the scent of blood is detected, all 48 types of monsters will rush to the spot like mad."

"...Madness."

They would have been massacred.

Just ten minutes ago, he had suggested using the mercenaries and villagers as bait.

If they had gone through with it, they would have been wiped out at the entrance.

'How could they have omitted such crucial information...'

Ereb was filled with the desire to tear apart whoever had deceived him.

Whether it was Lamang and his father or the Sky City, he didn't know.

In contrast, the half-breed in front of him, though arrogant, had saved his life. He also had value and, without a powerful background, was more trustworthy.

Wouldn't he make a good subordinate?

'Not bad. He has decent healing skills and a sharp mind. Besides, who would he trust and follow? If I become his backing, he would trust and follow me.'

Secondary character education could be dealt with later. Violent means were acceptable, and making him have a child to control him was also an option. These were normal in this world.

"Fine, I'll trust and follow you. I'll give you full authority."

"Y-Young master?"

"I'm sorry, Lamang, but I need you to follow my decision this time. Since I bowed to you in front of my subordinates, can't you do the same?"

Ereb emphasized the part about 'in front of the subordinates.' Lamang had no choice.

Messi asked again.

"On the honor of a noble, can you promise me?"

'Such an arrogant brat...'

Ereb felt a surge of anger but suppressed it, knowing his priorities.

"Fine. On the honor of a noble, I promise. However, I expect you to earn my trust in the Ahental family's way."

The Ahental family's way? Messi had a bad feeling about it. The nobles in this world were more primitive than the ruling class in modern times.

Thud.

"The young master, I've brought Captain Eila and the other guides."

Ereb, with the knights behind him, Eila, Reto, and the village chief walked in. Ereb, as if speaking for their benefit, said to Messi.

"Messi, since I'm giving you full authority, you need to earn my trust, don't you?"

Full authority!

The three of them froze, realizing the weight of the word.

Messi had indeed gained the authority to command this group with just his words.

Of course, there would be limits, but the fact that the arrogant noble had said 'I'll give you full authority' was shocking.

'That madman! Did he really persuade him?'

'As expected... a worthy disciple of my brother. I had a feeling he would do something.'

Compared to the village chief and Reto, Eila's expression became serious. She realized that the lives of 80 mercenaries now depended on Messi's decisions.

"...How can I earn your trust?"

"You must have noticed that the village chief and the herbalist were taken as hostages."

"I did."

"Heh, you don't deny it. Good, let's be honest. The Ahental family dislikes trust based on intangible things. We only believe in what we can see, like money, contracts, hostages, or body parts."

"..."

"So, I'm thinking of cutting off one hand from each of them."

Thud.

The village chief suddenly collapsed, as if his legs had given out.

"Funny old man. What do you think? According to Boyle, your healing skills can reattach severed hands. I'll cut off their hands and preserve them with magic. You'll complete the mission in the meantime. What do you think?"

Ereb laughed sinisterly. He wanted to see Messi squirm more than anything.

But Messi's expression didn't change.

He simply said,

"Then I refuse."

"What?"

"I'll refuse the guides, the escort, and the full authority."

"You...?"

Ereb's fist, which was on the table, trembled. He wasn't angry because Messi refused. He was angry because the half-breed showed no fear, even when speaking the truth.

Was he so powerless to this half-breed?

Was he so powerless that he couldn't influence a mere half-breed?

How many times had he felt so powerless?

Probably not more than the fingers on one hand.

Until now, just the family crest on the negotiation table was enough to make everyone tremble and back down.

But this one was different.

"Just kill me."

"Heh, just kill you? Fine. I'll kill you and everyone else, burn the village to the ground, and feed your bodies to the monsters! Do you understand? It's easy for me!"

"I'll just kill you all, return, and bring better people to replace you!"

It was as if he was begging to be feared. Ereb saw a child throwing a tantrum.

Messi just sneered.

I've won. Messi was sure.

"Would a wise young master like you do that?"

"What do you mean? Do you think I can't?"

Ereb hated Messi's calmness. The air of knowing everything and the pretense.

It was definitely an act. If he drew his sword and cut the half-breed and the village chief, that calmness would disappear.

But he soon realized.

Listening to Messi's reasoning, he understood that the calmness had a real reason.

"This mission. Didn't you come in secret? If you give up now, there won't be another chance."

"..."

Ereb and Lamang looked at each other, bewildered.

"It's not surprising. You're not short of money, yet you hired the 'Red Fox Mercenary Group'... and after bribing someone inside, you planned and brought us here... Why go through all that trouble? You could have hired a large mercenary group to bring strong mercenaries."

"Is that all it takes for you to be sure we came in secret?"

"At least it's not straightforward. If you hired a large mercenary group capable of coming here, it would spread in the mercenary market. If you gathered small and medium mercenary groups to bring an army, it would spread on the way. If you raised the family's soldiers, the competing families would smell it."

"Ultimately, the only option left... is a mercenary group that's not as large as a large mercenary group but can maintain secrecy, has some skill, and won't cause a stir in the market... especially if the captain is greedy. Isn't that right, young master?"

After Messi's non-stop talking, everyone fell silent.

Ereb couldn't say anything. His thoughts boiled down to one thing.

'What is this guy?'

He couldn't figure it out.

But he was clearly cornered.

Messi wasn't afraid of death, and he was afraid of failure.

The one who fears cannot defeat the one who does not fear.

"...Sigh."

Ereb, who had been silent, let out a deep sigh.

"...You're a clever bastard. Fine, I admit defeat. You're right. I can't retreat now."

Ereb raised the white flag.

He finally admitted it cleanly.

The End

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