The three walked in silence for some time. Though he had taken their side at the gate, perhaps because the old resentment
had yet to fade, Kasim’s expression had now turned cold.
Mitchell and Juliana, having no excuse even if they had ten mouths, silently followed behind Kasim.
As Kasim walked toward the inn where they were staying, a troubled look suddenly appeared in his eyes.
“Were they the welcome guests he meant?”
In truth, he had gone to the gate on Damon’s orders.
The dark mage Damon had kept them holed up in an inn in Dontrell for ten full days. Thanks to that,
Kasim and the mercenaries under him had been able to enjoy a rare stretch of leisure. However,
they had never truly had time to rest. They had been far too busy practicing the mana cultivation method
the dark mage had taught them. Though he did not know how powerful it was, it was certainly
a mana cultivation method with remarkably quick response.
For the first time in their lives, they could feel the mana within their bodies, and they became so absorbed
in trying to move it that ten days passed for the mercenaries in the blink of an eye. The more they trained,
the amount of mana they could move increased little by little, making cultivation surprisingly enjoyable. As he walked,
Kasim quietly shook his head.
“Will this cultivation method really have any effect?”
Though he was not certain, they had no other choice. Even if it was
a mana cultivation method created by a mage, the mercenaries had no choice but to practice only that.
Still, it was quite enjoyable. By doing as the dark mage instructed, they gradually became able to
sense the mana within their bodies, and Kasim had now reached the point where he could move it to some extent.
Of course, circulating it along the pathways he had memorized was still beyond him, but the mana was slowly
moving according to his control.
The dark mage’s words were, wondrously enough, proving true.
“I only hope it really works.”
As he walked on with rising expectations, a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz suddenly came from beside him.
“When did you arrive in Dontrell?”
Realizing that it was Juliana’s voice, Kasim replied curtly.
“That is none of your concern.”
“I’m sorry.”
Juliana lowered her head and apologized, unlike her usual self. Even they, who had taken the food,
had suffered this much; thinking that the mercenaries had come all the way here without provisions
made her feel too guilty to even begin speaking to them. As if something had occurred to her, Juliana’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
“Thank you for saving us from trouble. But why did you come to the gate?”
For a moment, Kasim was completely at a loss for words. He had half doubted and half believed the dark mage’s assurance
that he would meet welcome guests if he went to the gate, but to think he would meet Mitchell and Juliana there…
Kasim had never dreamed that he would come face to face with them. However, he could not
tell the truth outright, so Kasim muddled through with an excuse.
“To tell the truth, I’m somewhat acquainted with that lieutenant. So I went to sit down with him and reminisce
about the old days.”
Of course, it was a lie. It was true that he knew the lieutenant, but during duty hours, and especially
when the man was too busy with inspections to even breathe, there was no way he could leisurely chat with him.
But Juliana’s thoughts did not go that far.
“What a coincidence. For us, it was the greatest stroke of luck.”
Kasim silently nodded and started walking again. His manner said he did not wish to speak
with them any further. At the same time, he fell into thought.
“Then does that mean the dark mage who disappeared was following them?”
Judging by the circumstances, that seemed reasonable. If so, the reason the dark mage had vanished for about ten days
was probably… Kasim stopped abruptly and turned his head to look at Juliana. Startled,
Juliana quickly lowered her head. She was afraid he might bring up the fact
that they had taken the food.
But Kasim said nothing. Tilting his head as he looked at Juliana,
Kasim turned back around.
“Could the dark mage possibly have fallen for that foul-tempered princess?”
It sounded like an absurd guess, but it seemed plausible enough. Since he was a high-ranking mage, if he used tracking
magic, he would have been able to find them easily, and he might have followed them all the way until they reached Dontrell,
then notified Kasim.
Kasim thought his guess was likely correct. If so, it was quite a troublesome
problem, and Kasim’s face twisted sharply.
“Damn it. Then I have to carry out the mission to the very end, don’t I? Since the dark mage has feelings
for the princess.”
Whether the dark mage loved the princess or not had absolutely nothing to do with him. However, he
had to avoid displeasing Damon under any circumstances. To do so, it was necessary
to keep the princess with them.
He did not know for what reason the dark mage had joined, but the man was absolutely
necessary to his mercenary band. Though he had not said it aloud, Kasim felt
that he wanted to grant him anything he desired.
If it was true that he had the princess in his heart, then in the current situation, dissolving the contract
was hard to consider. In truth, the moment he saw Juliana, he had intended to make her sign the contract termination document
and cut ties with her. But considering the dark mage’s position, Kasim changed his mind.
Turning his head, Kasim spoke in a subtle tone.
“I will no longer quibble over what happened before. Let me ask just one thing. Princess.
What do you intend to do from here on? Will you accompany us to the Krosen Empire as agreed in the contract?
Or will you sign the contract termination document and part ways?”
Though somewhat taken aback by Kasim’s direct attitude, Juliana did not think deeply
about it. There was only one choice she could make. At present, the mercenary band was the only place
she could trust and rely on. Otherwise, she would have to start worrying about where to eat and sleep
right away. She answered as if it were obvious.
“Of course we should act according to the contract, shouldn’t we? It makes no sense at all to terminate the contract
just because we went out for a short walk and got separated.”
Kasim’s face twisted once again. Juliana did not even mention the fact that she had stolen
the food. That immature princess refused to admit her wrongdoing to the very end. But there was nothing
he could do.
Since maintaining the terms of the contract seemed proper if only to keep hold of the dark mage,
Kasim nodded as if he understood.
“Very well. However, there is a condition. For the sake of safe escort, from today onward,
please follow my words thoroughly. If you do not, then even if I must pay a penalty,
I will consider terminating the contract on my side.”
At Kasim’s surprisingly firm attitude, Juliana had no choice but to nod.
“I will.”
In truth, the fact that matters had been smoothed over like this was already an immense relief for them. If the contract
were terminated, they would be stranded here with nowhere to go.
With her complexion brightening, Juliana began chattering nonstop. She was completely different
from Mitchell, who still had his head bowed with a grim expression.
“By the way, when did you come here?”
Seeing Juliana bombard him with questions as though nothing had happened, Kasim let out a sigh.
There was no one more brazen than her. However, now that he had made his decision, she was still
his employer, and there was no benefit in treating each other uncomfortably, so he answered honestly.
“We have stayed here for exactly ten days.”
Juliana’s eyes widened. Ten days meant the day right after they had parted
from them, so she could not help doubting her ears.
“H-how could that be…”
“At first, I was frustrated too. But the dark mage Damon teleported us, so we were able to
arrive easily. We have spent the past ten days here resting very comfortably.”
After hearing the truth, Juliana bit her lip hard. She had gone to the trouble of stealing food
and running away, yet the mercenaries had not suffered at all. She could not bear how wasted
all their hardships seemed. Thinking that the mercenaries had been resting comfortably here while they
had suffered all kinds of ordeals made anger rise in her on its own. In the end, Juliana snapped one sentence at him.
“I see. It must have been nice, coming here so comfortably.”
After speaking, Juliana shut her mouth coldly. Watching her, Kasim shook his head as if
she were beyond help and turned away. Only Mitchell followed behind, looking half out of his mind.
When the mercenaries saw Mitchell and Juliana stride in boldly, their eyes went wide. They had never
dreamed that they would meet their employers again. Only Damon did not show the slightest sign
of surprise. Damon had known in advance that matters would proceed this way.
After sending Kasim to the gate, Damon had stayed here, observing the mercenaries’ progress.
Everything was proceeding as planned. The gathered mercenaries hurriedly asked Kasim
what had happened.
“Captain, what is going on?”
“Where on earth did you find them?”
“We were unlucky and got separated, but now that we’ve met again, shouldn’t we complete the mission?”
At Kasim’s nonchalant answer, the mercenaries grimaced. The thought of having to serve
that stubborn girl, who did everything however she pleased, left them deflated. Whether she knew
what the mercenaries felt or not, Juliana shamelessly headed toward the inner room.
“I’m terribly tired. I’ll go in and wash, so please prepare a meal.”
Once Juliana went inside, Mitchell collapsed weakly onto the floor. It was because he had no strength
after not eating properly for so long. Ignoring him, the mercenaries showered Kasim with questions.
But Mitchell did not hear any of it. The moment he sat down, he had fallen fast asleep.
“This really makes no sense.”
“Running off after taking every bit of our food was already unforgivable enough…”
With a grim expression, Kasim ignored the mercenaries’ complaints.
“It cannot be helped. Upholding the contract is the iron rule of our mercenary band. Even if we dislike
the person, once we accept a mission, we must complete it.”
After speaking, Kasim looked at Damon and winked. Quick-witted Damon immediately
understood Kasim’s intent. A satisfied smile formed at the corners of his mouth.
“That fellow. He has quite a useful head on his shoulders. He lacks nothing at all as a companion.”
From Damon’s reaction, Kasim could tell that his guess had been correct to some extent.
He hurriedly instructed the mercenaries to prepare a meal.
“Heinrich and Gerald, go downstairs and bring up something to eat. The rest of you,
prepare to depart… Our journey begins again tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
Though they were not without complaints, it was an order from the captain they trusted and followed absolutely, so the mercenaries
answered in scattered voices and rose. Those with nothing to do sat back down on the floor and began practicing
the mana cultivation method they had learned ten days ago.
Because of the enjoyment of being able to control the mana within their bodies, they had now reached the point where, whenever they had time,
they immersed themselves in mana cultivation. Damon approached Kasim with a smile.
“You are quite perceptive.”
“I’m rather quick on the uptake.”
Watching Kasim smile as if embarrassed, Damon’s expression grew serious.
“By the way, your subordinates are truly remarkable. Most of the mercenaries were able to control mana,
however faintly. Gerald and Heinrich are progressing the fastest… How about you?”
“I still cannot circulate it along the pathways, but I can move it to some extent.”
It was such astonishing progress that Damon marveled. Even in the Central Plains, there had been no martial artist
who showed such rapid achievement. The Asura Death Spirit Heart Method was an internal energy method so powerful
that there was nothing comparable to it in Arcadia. After all, it could fully absorb
the natural qi that was more than ten times richer than in the Central Plains. Seeing Damon’s surprise,
Kasim carefully opened his mouth.
“But if we train only according to this method, can we really become paladins?”
For Kasim, it was a natural question to ask. Since it was a mana cultivation method created by a mage,
the doubt was reasonable enough. Damon smiled gently.
“Do you trust me?”
“Y-yes, I do.”
“Then trust me to the end and devote yourself to training. Those who make an effort are certain
to receive their reward.”
After winking at Kasim, who still did not realize the fortuitous opportunity that had been bestowed upon him,
Damon turned away. In a little while, Juliana would emerge looking clean and refreshed.
His heart was already swelling with anticipation at the thought of seeing that face so perfectly resembling Daphne.