Chapter 49

Chapter 49

49. Silver Badge Mercenary (4)

The silver badge promotion examination only needs to prove the fact that one can strengthen the body with mana.

The proof methods are diverse.

If a warrior one shows physical ability that transcends common sense, if a mage one shows simple magic like lightning or shield.

There is also a method of using a mana crystal ball magic tool. It is a simple method magic tool that reacts when a mana user operates mana while placing a hand on it.

Adventurer guilds in large cities with a large floating population mostly used this mana crystal ball for examinations.

However the adventurer guild of Bromwood which is a true large city did not use magic tools. Even though the mana crystal ball supported from headquarters is clearly in the warehouse.

A silver badge mercenary should not stop at simply using mana. One must be able to operate it timely according to the situation to reduce the probability of losing one’s life even a little. And such improvisation is not the kind that can be confirmed with that kind of magic tool.

···That was the claim of Deban the branch manager of the Bromwood adventurer guild, and one of the Count of Bromwood’s ‘hawks’.

Behind the pretext that seems plausible at a glance the true intention of embezzling the application fee and pastime was hidden, which was a fact only the window staff Eblin knew.

Deban looked at Benrik standing in front of the hole.

The ceiling height of the first floor was 5 meters which is higher than ordinary buildings yet the expression is leisurely.

He heard that he awakened mana only about a week ago. A week was a time with much insufficiency even to open the path mana travels.

‘The confidence alone is worth looking at.’

There is not even a tense complexion so it is as if he is certain he will win.

“Are you ready?” “Yes.”

Deban immediately after flipping the hourglass extended his arm and grabbed the child’s shoulder.

‘···Huh?’

It was not. The moment he thought he grabbed, the foot left the floor. Not Benrik’s but his own foot.

Buung-

The flipping field of view, the sense of floating, the following sense of falling.

─Kuung!

“······.”

Deban who was stuck in the straw pile burst out laughing one beat late.

“···Haha.”

The moment Deban extended his hand, the wrist was grabbed. Another arm dug between the naturally opened armpits, and he was thrown as is.

‘I told you to endure, and you threw me instead?’

It is absurd. He thought he would avoid or endure, who would have expected he would rush the opposite.

He accurately stabbed the gap.

In Deban’s ear who was thinking the child urgently shouting was heard.

“Hodge, lock the door!”

···Aha. That is so.

The place he fell is the warehouse in the corner of the guild first floor.

Just arriving at the branch manager’s room after leaving the warehouse and pushing through the crowd would lightly exceed 2 minutes.

‘Huh, was he planning this from the beginning.’

Even during that time there were not none of the examinees who tried to drop Deban into the hole. They all just returned as bubbles.

This time the causes of defeat were three.

That he let his guard down, That the child’s strength was stronger than imagined, and also agile.

The ability to control mana was at a level hard to believe that he just awakened.

Moreover he knew how to appropriately use the opponent’s strength, and cleverly use his own small build and the advantage of the place.

Deban thought.

Did he calculate and proceed all of this in that brief moment?

‘Or spontaneously?’

Whatever it was he was certainly a formidable guy.

Already Benrik’s level was comparable to a veteran mercenary who has rolled in this field for several years.

Deban stood up with a thud from the place and almost squatted as if sitting. And jumped elastically.

At the giant soaring from the pit Benrik made a bewildered expression.

‘No he jumped up this height? Is he an aura user or what?’

─Taak···!

“···Isn’t it a foul.”

Even while grumbling the appearance of preparing for the following second round.

Deban who chuckled, took out a gold coin and flicked it with his thumb.

Ting!

“You won.”

Benrik snatched the coin flying pinggeureureu and made a bewildered expression.

“Still 3 minutes···.” “Anyway you would have endured. Let’s not waste time unnecessarily among busy people.”

Saying so he stamped two documents bang bang, and held them out to Benrik and Hodge.

“If you go to the window they will issue silver badges. Congratulations to both of you. I hope Luminas’s protection is always with you.”

He is clean. He was a refreshing person as much as his appearance.

***

The two people who came down to the first floor submitted the documents to the window.

Eblin the window staff who examined the two documents strangely was startled and looked at Benrik.

“Ah, did Benrik-nim also receive the examination?” “Yes, the branch manager looked after the convenience.”

At the humble answer Eblin smiled contentedly.

After always seeing only rough mercenaries who like to make a fuss facing a quiet child could not look so admirable.

“Ah, Benrik-nim also has to issue the mercenary badge together right?”

“Yes.” “Does Hodge-nim have the mercenary badge you are currently using?” “Here it is.” “Issuing the badge takes about 15 minutes, will you come to pick it up later? Or will you wait and receive it? For reference delivery is impossible.”

Benrik looked at Hodge.

“Shall we wait and receive it?” “Shall we.” “We will wait and receive it.”

When Eblin headed somewhere taking the two people’s documents and mercenary badge, Hodge scratched the side of his cheek as if embarrassed and said.

“But is it okay?” “What?” “According to principle I fell, I wonder if it is okay like this.”

What else. From the time leaving the branch manager’s room he had a somehow unpleasant expression, it was because of this.

This rigid human.

“Hodge, anyway you would have challenged again tomorrow.” “That is so, but the mood is a bit unpleasant.”

Yesterday evening Benrik also heard Bram’s situation.

That to solve the debt problem he has to receive requests with high reward, and for that Hodge is trying to promote to silver badge.

“I know that because Hodge is such a person our mercenary group runs well but in this kind of situation one also has to know how to exercise flexibility.”

Benrik who gave advice gently continued to say to lighten Hodge’s guilt a bit.

“The promotion condition for silver badge mercenary is to be a mana user. Right?” “Huh? That is so.” “Being a mana user means a person who can strengthen the body by tonifying mana.” “Accurate.” “Then there is no problem right? Because Hodge can strengthen the body with mana.”

It is a separate problem from how skillfully one handles mana.

“Anyway it is only advancing the timing a bit of something that was scheduled to be promoted. No one says anything about the degree of reducing time waste.”

Then Eblin who one does not know when she returned quietly added words.

“Benrik-nim’s words are correct, in principle if only confirming that one is a mana user one has to issue the silver badge. Please do not mind our branch manager’s peculiar hobby too much.”

When two people said so, Hodge also had no more choice.

“Thank you, Benrik.”

He said awkwardly, then as if recalling adds.

“Hmm, shall we go eat later?” “Hodge, you are aware who you are saying that to right?”

When Benrik worried about the pocket situation, he laughs pleasantly.

“Anyway if it was not you I do not know how much would have gone out as application fee.” “Then I won’t refuse.” “Good.”

Hodge who laughed pleasantly said to Eblin.

“Eblin, could you sort out a list of requests that only silver badge mercenaries or higher can receive?”

“Hmm, shall I show clean requests like usual?”

It means requests with no room for illegality.

If usual Hodge would have nodded without a bit of worry, but after hearing Benrik’s story a little while ago he realized a bit.

If it was others they would have dismissed it as the presumptuous sound of a young guy, but Hodge was a person who knows how to examine the reason contained in the words.

Above all he knew well how wise a child Benrik is.

“Please do not distinguish and all mainly those with high reward set.”

Even in a situation where a family-like member is in difficulty, distinguishing such things somehow felt nominal. The adventurer guild is an association operated under the imperial family’s official recognition. They do not receive openly illegal things like assassination contracts, assassination, escort of contraband, theft and such.

One would examine directly and judge and pick.

With that alone the range of choices would become much more diverse.

After waiting a while, Eblin called the two people.

“This is the request form you mentioned, the amount is quite a lot right? And this is the mercenary badge! Congratulations on the promotion to both of you.”

Benrik who received the mercenary badge and held it sparkled his eyes.

‘This is the mercenary badge···.’

On a wooden badge the size of half a palm the name and affiliation engraved by burning with a heated iron are written.

Below that a silver plate the size of about two finger joints was firmly embedded, and on its surface the seal of the adventurer guild was clearly engraved in intaglio.

Until a little while ago he had no particular thoughts, but when actually receiving the mercenary badge, the mood seemed it would fly.

‘I am also now a real mercenary.’

Not a mercenary aspirant, a real mercenary.

This was Benrik’s first occupation combining the previous life and the current life.

“Please use a lot in the future as well!” “Thank you, Eblin. I will come often in the future!”

Right after leaving the adventurer guild Benrik asked.

“Ah, Hodge do you know by chance where the tavern Lisa runs is?”

At Benrik’s question Hodge asked back reluctantly.

“Huh? I know, why suddenly there?” “Thinking it would be good if we eat there.”

Just because it is a tavern there is no law that it only sells alcohol. Yet Hodge hesitated with an expression of not wanting to.

“Hmm···.” “It is not that I am trying to drink alcohol, it would be good if we sell. I am also curious what kind of person Lisa-ssi is.” “It is not that···.”

Hodge who was thinking shook his head.

···Yes, rather than going with other useless guys and getting weird water it would not be bad to go with himself and preview the adult world in advance.

“No, let’s go.”

A while later, Benrik who arrived at Lisa’s tavern could know the reason Hodge hesitated.

***

A boisterous laughter sound hit the ears.

Oil lamps hung in clusters on the ceiling, and on the wide stage in the center women in thin clothes were shaking their bodies with seductive movements.

The men who occupied the tables continuously whistled or clashed glasses and shouted cheers.

···It was not just a tavern.

Whether he saw the child who was reluctant Hodge asked.

“Will it be okay?” “Why didn’t you tell me in advance···.” “Haha, sorry sorry.”

It is flustering but well···.

‘Keum···.’

Whatever the place one cannot not eat.

Then a woman who let down her light brown hair long greeted.

“Hodge?” “Lisa! It has been a long time. Have you been well?” “Of course, no but what is it? Is the sun going to rise from the west tomorrow? Even the monk-like Hodge comes to our store?”

At the teasing words Hodge wore a troubled smile.

“Because this guy said he wants to see Lisa. I also want to see the face after a long time.” “Oh my!”

Lisa who discovered Benrik standing awkwardly covered her mouth with her hand.

“Benrik! It is Benrik right?”

She recognizes even before Benrik introduces himself.

“Hello, Lisa-ssi. I heard a lot of stories from Bram.”

Then she laughs heartily saying as Bram said he really seems like an old child.

“It is an honor, the topic of the city came to see me hu hu···. Not otherwise lately every person who comes to the store talked about you enormously. By the way do you drink alcohol?” “No, instead of alcohol can we not have a meal?”

When asking troubled she smiles while folding her eyes.

“Of course possible. Hodge? Shall I give a glass of whiskey?”

“No, I am also fine.” “Will you wait a moment? Coincidentally good mutton came in.” “Mutton is good. By the way Lisa, the amount 5 portions, no can I ask for 10 portions?”

At Hodge’s words Lisa opened her eyes wide and looked at Benrik.

“His words were true?”

It was a tone as if knowing well about Benrik’s appetite.

“I have to properly show my skills after a long time! Just leave it to me!”

Lisa who firmed her resolve rolled up her sleeves and entered the kitchen.

Benrik who was looking around the tavern half with embarrassment half with curiosity discovered an unfamiliar figure at a corner table.

‘That woman···.’

It is dark so not certain but it seemed the mage he saw at the adventurer guild. The name was clearly Laila?

‘Women also come to places like this. It is amazing.’

When looking without thinking suddenly the woman who raised her head and eyes met.

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