Chapter 48

Chapter 48

48. Silver Badge Mercenary (3)

“It is not possible.”

The adventurer guild guide said kindly. It was so kind that he thought it was possible.

“Is there not even a bit of room? I am really a mana user. Really.”

At Benrik’s words she added firmly as if admonishing.

“The age limit is not an internal guild policy but something that falls under the city ordinance, so at my line there is no choice.” “That is so.”

If there is no choice there is no choice.

“It is a shame.”

Then Hodge who paid the examination fee at the next window said. Benrik shrugged his shoulders.

“It is fine. It is not something unexpected···.”

Is it not a place where that Count of Bromwood is opening his eyes wide. It would not be easy to process things vaguely.

‘As expected is there no choice but to compromise directly with the Count.’

If the master of the city he can set exceptions as much as he wants.

And if Benrik’s expectation is correct the matter of coming here today and making a fuss would soon enter the Count’s ears.

Originally the Count had a history of trying to entrust the investigation of the blood-sucking rats when first meeting Benrik. If only the judgment that ‘there is the ability to solve problems matching the level’ it seemed obtaining permission would not be that difficult.

“The examination can be conducted on the second floor.”

The guide said to Hodge.

“Can I also go together?” “If only the person concerned is fine.”

It was the second reason for coming to the adventurer guild. Thinking that seeing how the silver badge qualification examination is done would be helpful.

“Let’s go.”

He headed to the second floor together with Hodge who had a tense expression.

The promotion conditions for silver badge mercenary are a record of completing 20 or more requests and having martial force of mana user or higher.

However unlike aura users mana users had no visible evidence.

But what, they won’t check something like blood mana concentration right?

‘As expected the highest possibility is sparring.’

Why there is one expert like Drenor in each branch playing the role of a combat power measuring device.

While thinking this and that he arrived at the 2nd floor.

‘The one receiving the examination is Hodge why is my heart pounding.’

Looking around it was not only Hodge receiving the promotion examination, two more people were waiting.

One was a man standing leaning on the stair railing with arms crossed, and because he was wearing a mask he somehow gave off a sinister atmosphere.

“······.”

The half-open eyes touched Hodge and Benrik the two people in order then quickly fell.

The other one was a young woman sitting cross-legged randomly in front of the room, and Benrik was greatly surprised seeing her.

There was no makeup, and the hair also looked tied up randomly yet the appearance was outstanding.

‘Extremely pretty.’

The limbs are also slender but nobility flows from the face so no matter where one looks it was not a face for doing mercenary work.

One would believe even if saying she is a noble young lady from somewhere.

Whether it was not Benrik’s thought alone, next to him Hodge also could not take his gaze off her for a while.

Then a strange phenomenon occurring around the woman entered Benrik’s eyes.

The appearance of unrefined mana in the air shining and being sucked in through the woman’s respiratory organs was seen.

‘She is refining.’

Usually one does not tonify in a place where others see. Because it is a defenseless state. Yet the woman was refining mana as if nothing.

‘Peculiar.’

Is it because thinking others will not recognize?

Then whether the woman felt the gaze she quietly opened her eyes.

Light brown eyes turned to Benrik. When eyes met she smiles slightly and waves her hand. It was a ceremonial greeting one occasionally does when meeting a child in the neighborhood.

Benrik who returned the greeting in a daze suddenly felt a question and looked at the woman again. The light cluster was still being absorbed through the woman’s nose and mouth.

···At the mana user level it would be difficult to act while tonifying?

Even Drenor who lived for decades as an aura user said refining mana while moving is not easy.

Then the right door opened and someone came out.

“Bemond.”

At the words of the man with a bushy beard the masked man who was leaning on the railing stepped forward.

Not a few seconds after the two people disappeared into the room, a short and thick scream of ak! was heard.

And it became quiet.

‘It is not something wrong···?’

Benrik who met eyes with Hodge asked.

“······Have you not heard what method of examination it is?” “Hmm, in the case of the former captain I heard he just looked at the face and passed, the captain heard he sparred briefly with the branch manager. In Selen’s case I heard she showed magic, and it ended.” “Selen?” “Come to think of it Benrik you have not seen yet? She is the guy who went out on a dispatch mission to Northford. The second silver badge mercenary of our mercenary group and the only mage.”

Come to think of it he recalled the memory of saying there is a silver badge mercenary.

Even though it has already been almost three months since arriving at Bromwood he had completely forgotten the existence because he could not see.

‘She was a mage.’

He was curious. He has seen mana users and met aura users, but he has never once met the flower of fantasy the mage.

‘What kind of person would she be.’

While thoughts briefly went elsewhere Hodge continued the words.

“Anyway I recall that all three people said there was nothing particularly to care about.”

···Benrik tilted his head small. There is nothing to care about but there is a scream?

Then the door opened again and the bushy beard man came out.

“Laila.” “Yes! It is me.”

The woman who was sitting at the door answered vigorously and stood up from the place. She roughly dusted the dust on her buttocks, winked once at Benrik and entered inside.

Benrik who was briefly out of it at the first-seen cheerfulness recalled the fact that the woman who entered a little while ago did not possess anything that could be called a weapon on her body.

Not only that the attire was also a light everyday clothes appearance.

‘A mercenary goes around without a weapon?’

Even himself who is a mere mercenary aspirant is fully armed with sword and dagger, even armor?

“But···.”

When strength was quietly placed on the speculation that she is a noble young lady who came out to see the world, Hodge said.

“Why is the man who entered just before not coming out?”

Listening to it···.

He did not see the appearance of the masked man called Bemond who entered first coming out.

‘What···?’

The door opened again, and the woman came out. There was no particular changed point from when she entered.

‘It seems not even one hem of the clothes is disheveled.’

The woman tottered down the stairs, and the beard man looked at Hodge.

“Hodge.”

Benrik followed behind Hodge heading to the room with a stiff face. The beard man only glanced down at such Benrik once and did not particularly impose sanctions or anything.

The inside was an ordinary office scene.

In the middle back there is one desk that looks for office work, and in front of that one sofa table for receiving guests in a simple composition.

Benrik who was looking around the room’s gaze suddenly turned to the floor. He saw a square hole that would be about 3 meters horizontally and vertically.

‘Hole···?’

He peeked down and it is a real hole. Below a soft straw pile is laid. Surely, was that scream earlier from here? While thinking.

“Branch manager, it is Deban.”

The beard man said. And then he stood Hodge about 1 meter away from the hole and asked.

“How long has it been since you learned mana operation?” “About 5 years.” “The path opened?” “About three months.”

The man who nodded said.

“I will drop you into that hole. You just have to endure for 1 minute without falling. You can strengthen the body in advance.”

Only then the riddle was solved.

Laila passed and came out the door, and the masked person called Bemond who entered first fell below.

“Understood.”

Hodge who answered extended his right foot forward, and stretched his left foot back while lowering his upper body low.

He made the center of gravity as close to the floor as possible.

Benrik watched that appearance with interest.

Honestly the appearance of Hodge being pushed by strength somewhere was not easily associated. Unlike the gentle appearance he was a muscle spoon who hits weight for three or four hours even without mana.

He does not know how strong the strength of that person called branch manager is but unless it is as strong as Gerik, he would easily endure 1 minute.

“Start.”

The moment the branch manager’s hand touched Hodge’s shoulder along with the words, kung! Hodge fell below the hole.

“Fail.” “···?”

Below the hole, Hodge who fell on the straw pile looked up at Benrik with a bewildered expression.

Benrik transferred that gaze as is to Deban.

He who pushed Hodge and dropped him in the blink of an eye said with a calm complexion.

“I only now see the protagonist of the abundant rumors.”

Probably the protagonist of that rumor is Yerik, but Benrik instead of correcting the minor fact asked.

“Did that woman just now break this?” “Yes.” “Can I ask how she broke it?”

“She deployed a shield. It was very solid.”

Shield···? She was a mage!

Deban sat down with a thud on the sofa and put a cigarette in his mouth and asked Benrik.

“I heard you want to receive a mercenary badge. That too a silver badge.” “Ah yes, that was so. But they said it is not possible.” “In principle it is prohibited.” “So I am trying to find out other means. Then-”

It was when Benrik who briefly greeted tried to turn his back.

“Are you thinking of asking the Count?”

He knows that I have a face with the Count? Benrik said while thinking it strange.

“Yes, if not possible I can also receive it in another city and return.”

There were many cities that do not set an age limit.

Anyway there is a method. It is the difference of going straight quickly, or going around.

“Shall we make a bet?”

At Deban’s words Benrik’s eyes sparkled.

“I heard you are that strong.”

The one who is strong is Yerik, but anyway.

“If you endure 1 minute without falling into the pit I will issue a silver badge.”

It was a proposal that tempts the appetite.

Then with a presence the door opened and Hodge entered. Deban who saw him said.

“Reapplication is possible from tomorrow, of course the application fee has to be received again.” “I know.”

Hodge who answered stiffly scratched his cheek awkwardly while looking at Benrik.

“I showed an embarrassing appearance. Let’s go, Benrik.” “Hmm, wait a moment Hodge.”

Benrik sought understanding from Hodge and looked at Deban.

“On average how many times do ordinary people have to try to pass?”

Then Deban grinned and replied.

“Well, about ten times? It tends to differ according to my mood state.”

As expected, that is so. This gentleman was also a mercenary. Likes gambling, likes money, likes alcohol. A very green-like mercenary.

“Let’s do it, a bet.”

Benrik looked at Deban and said.

“Instead let’s change the conditions a bit.” “Hmm?” “If I endure 2 minutes, please pass Hodge too.” “Well good.”

Deban who readily agreed spread his palm. When Benrik looked blankly he says.

“You have to pay the application fee.”

Benrik paid one gold coin for the two people’s application fee and said.

“···If enduring 3 minutes please return the application fee.” “That is too much of a loss for me?” “Instead you can report to the Count how much my level is.”

The strong hawk, Deban’s eyes sparkled.

“···Your sense is quite something. Good, let’s do so.”

Benrik does not like gambling.

Because from young he was pushed by Gerik’s hand and had to survive piercing extreme probability.

So it was a principle not to do gambling where the probability of winning does not exceed half if possible.

“······.”

Benrik’s gaze turned to Deban.

Around him no peculiarities other than cigarette smoke could be found.

The gray haze symbolizing financial loss is not seen.

That is,

The win rate of this bet is 99 percent.

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