Chapter 8

“Commander Pechenik, there’s a famous healer here. Can I recruit them?” “Oh, sure, sure. We needed one anyway.” The middle-aged man at the next table answered. “…?” Shurin was speechless with bewilderment. They were together? Just who were these people? “Wow, nice to meet you! I’m Erica.” The little fairy-like girl even extended her small hand. Shurin shook hands as if in a trance, then suddenly came to her senses. “W-what’s going on here? I never said I’d join a mercenary group.” “We’ll offer you the best treatment in the industry. Is that alright, Commander Pechenik?” “Of course, of course. We have money to spare anyway.” “No…” Shurin rubbed her forehead. It seemed she had run into some crazy scam artists. Or maybe a cult. “Look, I’m not the type to join just any group, you know?” “We’re not the type to accept just anyone either.” “Shouldn’t you at least introduce your mercenary group first?” “Um, Commander Pechenik, what’s our mercenary group’s name?” “Don’t know. Pechenik Mercenary Group?” “It’s the Pechenik Mercenary Group. We have eight members, and they all have such strong free will that I’m not sure where they are right now.” “…” “Currently, I’m recruiting members because I’m too bored. Is that okay, Commander Pechenik?” “Sure, can’t stand being bored.” “We’re planning to take over the leading mercenary guild in the Southern Empire by force soon. Is it okay to say this, Commander Pechenik?” “Sure, go ahead and say it.” “Crazy bastards…” ‘You have quite the ambition…’ Shurin quickly covered her mouth as her inner thoughts and spoken words came out opposite. Erica giggled. Cute fairy or not, Shurin drew a clear line to escape this situation. “I see. So you’re going to take over the Southern Mercenary Guild… Well, I might join when that happens.” It was a thoughtless remark. She didn’t believe a word of the boasts from this mercenary group that seemed like crazy scammers. Healer Shurin thought she would never meet these people again. And there was even less chance she’d ever have to treat them with her own hands. Time passed. Seasons changed, and changed again. Pechenik and his mercenary group moved through countless cities and villages. During that time, Erica gained a wealth of experience. Mountain battles, water battles, even air battles. She had several close brushes with death. It had been long enough for the young girl to become a veteran S-rank mercenary. There was no match for her among her peers in the South. Erica believed this was not because of her excellence, but thanks to her master’s superior teachings. She trusted and relied on Pechenik. He was her master and her father. The adjectives ‘good’ and ‘great’ were sometimes detachable, but still. “How disappointing. What a fool. Wouldn’t it have been better to quietly submit?” “Ugh, cough-!” “I was going to let you go quietly, but why did you have to drag the Merchant Guild into this and make such a mess? Hm?” Even on the day they stomped on the head of the Southern Mercenary Guild leader and took over the guild building. “You seem like a villain, Master.” Beside Pechenik stood the well-grown Erica. Thud! A girl with her long hair tied up high, lean muscles smoothly developed on her arms and legs. She couldn’t even remember what it was like long ago. The pitiful child who had been abused by the Countess in her shabby state was now gone. “Don’t learn the bad things.” “I’ve already learned them.” Whoop, she twirled the longsword in her right hand. “You told me to learn everything.” A languid smile in her lively eyes. Erica had become a perfect warrior, second to none. Erica at 18 years old. Her beauty had blossomed dazzlingly. Appearance was useless for a mercenary who rolled in the mud, yet Erica was exceptionally pretty. Pechenik and the other mercenary group members found it strange. For someone who had been through all sorts of rough mercenary work since childhood, her skin was snow-white without a single blemish. Even her brown hair, common among commoners, was somehow subtly lighter in color, giving her a pure look. When she tied her long hair up high, it revealed a fair neckline that looked quite delicate. But there were no more fools in the Southern Mercenary Guild who would try to hit on her based on looks alone. Not if they didn’t want to end up in the hospital. Erica was quite famous in the southern mercenary world. ‘If you mess with Erica, you get X’d by Erica first, then X’d by the Guild Master second.’ Guild Master Pechenik was her master. Though they were master and disciple, their relationship was close to that of father and daughter. Even now, some people still mistook them for such. It made sense, as she resembled Pechenik in many ways. For example- “Where do you think you’re going!” Grab. “There’s still so much alcohol left!” “E-Erica, let’s stop drinking now.” “Why… Why won’t you drink with me? Do you dislike me? Do you hate me?! Explain for two hours why you have to go home right now!” “Ah, we’re screwed. Someone go call Shurin.” The fact that she loved alcohol immensely. The firm belief that alcohol must be drunk together with comrades. After completing a request, she had to spend all night drinking and chatting with guild members at the tavern to relieve fatigue. And the fact that she loved fun things and was very curious. Being impulsive and unable to resist doing what she wanted. She had grown up resembling her master in these ways, and it was still ongoing. “Breaking news! Breaking news!” The main gate of the mercenary guild burst open. “The Merchant Guild was attacked! Right now!” “What?!” “Looks like the inheritance issue of the Dangters Merchant Group finally blew up!” “Hey, hey! Let’s go check it out!” “Yeah, can’t resist watching a fight.” Rush-! The crowd of immature mercenaries rushed out, competing to be first. And among them, of course. “Oh, Erica! Where are you going?” “Y’all, are you stupid?” There was Erica, completely drunk. “We gotta jump over the roofs to get there faster!” Giggling, Erica lightly leaped onto the rooftop, climbing the outer wall of the building. Whoosh- Her hair fluttered in the wind. The feeling of being airborne was exhilarating every time. Tap- She kicked off the edge of the building. She leaped between roofs. Whoosh-! Tap, tap, tap! It was the way to cut straight to the Merchant Guild. Crossing over the high sky. “So.” “…” “So then.” “…Well, you see.” “Ugh!” Shurin smacked Erica’s back repeatedly. “Ow! Ow, it hurts!” “How can it hurt! A delicate healer like me, hitting you with hands as soft as cotton, how could that possibly hurt!” “Ow, it hurts! I have a bruise there!” “Of course you do after falling straight down from the roof of a five-story building!” “Ah, what!” “Are you bragging about falling while drunk? Are you proud of crashing into the ground?” “Isn’t it impressive that I only got bruised? I fell from that height and didn’t break a single bone-“ “Ugh!” “Eek!” While screaming that it hurt, Erica grabbed a piece of bread with one hand and ate it. She was starving after fasting all day due to a hangover on top of a concussion. She whined as she stuffed bread into her mouth. “The guild members are already teasing me enough.” “Teasing?” “I may be an S-rank mercenary, but do you think I’d feel good about such an embarrassing incident while drunk?” “So you do know it’s embarrassing?” “Of course. I was even embarrassed for you when I saw you stamp the contract right after our master took over the South, even though you had so firmly declared you’d never contract with our mercenary group.” “…Just when are you bringing up that story from?” “By the way, is there no strawberry jam?” “Why would there be strawberry jam in a treatment room?” Even so, Erica had a good appetite and ate up all the bread on the table one after another. She even spread butter on them diligently. Bam! Suddenly, the treatment room door flew open. “Eek.” Erica hurriedly hid the remaining bread. The words <No eating in the treatment room, 2 silver fine> hanging on the wall seemed unusually large.