Shortly after, Hassan returned and took us to his superior who was a middle-aged man with an impressively sharp mustache. His name was Adan Faiza. He introduced himself as the second class aristocrat and one of Kara’s commanders. In fact, the commander was a position directly under the supreme commander which was the top rank in the Kara military.
As I rode my horse alongside Adan, I started doing my business.
First, Adan asked me some questions.
“Master. Are those demons in the Utz River Mine that strong, sir?”
“Yeah, I think so. With a slight exaggeration, I could say that those demons can wipe out several units of an army with ease.”
“Sir, are you really sure?”
“Yeah. Although they’re weaker than Masters, they’re really good at slaughtering weak troops. Without the Aura Blade or high-level penetration magic, there are not any other ways to hunt them. That’s why Frakers are classified as dangerous as a novice-level Master Swordsman.”
“Hmm… What you are saying is quite different than the advice from the mercenaries who went there before.”
Expressing deep concern, Adan smoothed down his mustache.
“What have they told you?”
“They said they failed because they didn’t have any artillery weapons but never said the danger level of those demons was over 70.”
“Jeez. Do mercenaries know anything? They always hunt small and weak demons. Anyways, we will take care of Frakers and you guys should retreat. You don’t have to lose your troops unnecessarily, right?”
“Master, are you saying you will take care of those demons?”
“Of course, it’s not free. I am also a guy who’s running his own business after all.”
“How much do you want, sir?
He took my bait right away. He’s quite quick-witted. I pulled a bill out of my arms and handed it over to him.
“Here’s the bill.”
Once he saw the bill, he groaned.
160 riffs of gold for the basic fee to request a service of two Master Swordsmen. Another 420 riffs of gold for risk and difficulty of the task. 4 riffs of gold per day for two swordsmen’s traveling expenses and 2 riffs of gold for food. So the total cost was 586 riffs of gold. Also, those who actually hunted the demons were supposed to get the byproducts.
“Sir, don’t you think it’s too expensive?”
“It is not expensive at all. Do you know how much we paid for one-year rent to open an office here in Kara? It’s 45 riffs of gold. So if the cost of hiring two Master Swordsmen is slightly above the rental fee for ten buildings, then it’s very cheap.”
That’s because rental fees for land and buildings in Kara were so expensive. For instance, rental fees for land and buildings in the Imperial Castle of Yosrahim Empire were four times cheaper or more.
“Sir, but still…”
“We can also give you a fake receipt. You know what it is, right? If we charge 2000 riffs of gold on a fake receipt, you can make a huge sum of money as well. It’s mutually beneficial. Actually, this is how government business is done. Hehehe.”
“No way, sir!”
Adan’s face got red and he burst into a rage. He’s probably scared of his subordinates’ prying eyes.
“If you don’t want to accept the deal, it’s still fine. Why are you angry? Anyways, what are you going to do then?”
A bulky guy with a bushy beard on a horse approached. Adan said his name was Alon and he’s the leader of the Alon Mercenary Guild who came here to support Adan’s operation. It’s the same mercenary guild that recently went hunting Frakers upon a request but lost many of its members instead.
“Commander Adan. What’s going on, sir?”
“Oh, Alon. These Master Swordsmen have offered me a deal. They’ve said they would take care of those demons in the Utz River Mine for us.”
Alon turned his horse’s head and looked at me.
“I have never met these swordsmen before. Who are they? Mercenaries?”
As he saw me shaking my head, Adan answered.
“No, they’re not mercenaries.”
“Sir, you should not request their service unless they’re mercenaries. If other mercenary guilds know about this, they would feel very disappointed.”
“But you guys failed to accomplish your job, didn’t you? And that’s why our Kara military has to get involved.”
“Sir, that’s because there’s no mercenary guild which has artillery weapons. We would’ve surely accomplished our job if we had them.”
Adan pointed at me.
“But these Master Swordsmen have told me that we can’t hunt those demons even with our artillery weapons.”
“How do they know that?”
“They said they had hunted those demons before.”
Alon chuckled.
“Nobody has seen those demons in the Utz River Mine before. We’ve contacted other mercenary guilds all over the world and they don’t even know what kind of those demons are. And these two swordsmen are saying they had hunted those demons before?”
“Yes, that’s what they said.”
“What have they told you about those demons?”
“It is called Fraker whose danger level is over 70.”
Alon shook his head.
“We, mercenary guilds, determine the names and danger levels of demons. So how the hell do they know the name and danger level of a demon which mercenary guilds don’t even know yet?”
He’s right. Professional mercenary guilds, whose main job was hunting demons, determined the names and danger levels of demons.
“Well…”
“They must be con men. Just ignore them. We mercenaries know better about demons.”
As Adan who’s at a nonplus looked at me, I shrugged.
“You should make a decision. What are you going to do?”
“Well…”
“Just do as you wish. But please don’t prevent us from watching you guys from behind. My uncle Orc can still gain some experience. And actually, it’s been a while since I took my last vacation. Then, goodbye~”
I left them alone. Adan was the one who’s supposed to request a service. Once a battle started, he would be aware of the seriousness of his situation. So I didn’t have to persuade him at all.
Zenbe quickly followed me.
“So what are we supposed to do now?”
“Don’t worry. Things are going well.”
“What things?”
“The client has the right to request a service to us. And we have the right to set prices. Isn’t it great?”
“Why do you mean?”
“The more urgent becomes the client’s situation, the higher the price is. This is how business works. Hehehe.”
Zenbe narrowed his eyes.
“What if there’s a casualty?”
“Jeez. I didn’t come here because of my love for humanity. I came here to make some money.”
“So, you would let more people die to make a little more money?”
“How could I help people who’re not trying to help themselves? It’s their fate.”
“I am not blaming their stupidity. I blame you for not even trying to persuade them because you know what’s going to happen to them later.”
Zenbe seemed uneasy and made a nasal twang. Then I stared at him while pouting out one side of my lips.
“Unlike somebody, at least I don’t let everyone get murdered due to self-contradiction. Do you know who I am talking about?”
“That’s…”
Without anything to talk back, he only moved his lips slightly.
He blamed my evilness but actually he’s the one who could’ve made things much worse because he didn’t even want to follow me here.
I said in a slightly disdainful tone.
“Honestly, I am more worried about you than Kara’s soldiers. You are always making a frowning face as if you’ve lost all the hope in your life. Yet, you are minding other people’s business. Why don’t you mind your own business first?”
“Then you save those people. You seem to be qualified.”
“Hahaha. I save them? Please stop kidding me. How could a guy who can’t save himself save others? My only wish since a long time ago is that someone would please save me.”
Zenbe gathered his eyes.
“Are you crazy?”
“Actually, I am about to go nuts. So please stop saying bullshit. Neither you nor I can save anyone. All we need to do is to make some money and leave. Meantime, if some people can keep their life, that’s great luck for them. If some can’t keep their life, that’s bad luck for them. You got it?”
After I sighed, I turned my head and left. This uncle Orc was pretty stupid for sure.
He’s almost penniless and lived a more silly life than anybody else in the world. Yet, he’s trying to help others. Only after taking care of oneself and one’s family, one can help others. Seriously, how could anyone help others while not being able to take care of themselves?
Want to save others? Save thyself first. Those who try to help others but fail to help themselves are not even qualified.
* * *
The next day, the green forest and farmland disappeared. Instead, the wilderness had stretched out in front of us. Only after one day’s walk, we could be away from Kara’s great oasis region.
And I could’ve made a huge mistake. I wasn’t familiar with the regions nearby Kara so miscalculated the bill. Since one day passed, traveling expenses should be 16 riffs of gold. Also, I should charge 8 riffs of gold for food. But actually, it didn’t matter anymore because now I could charge as much as I wanted for our service.
‘I was right. They’re Frakers.’
Far away in the Utz River Mine, demons in enormous size were rolling their feet and roaming around. Their mouths looked like those of huge crocodiles and they had six thick legs.
“What a horrible sight.”
Zenbe was astonished once he saw dead bodies lying on the areas around the mine. It seemed that they were mercenaries who got slaughtered a few days ago but their bodies were squashed into pieces so we couldn’t even recognize them as humans.
“Well, it’s not that Frakers are particularly more brutal. They’re just too strong so with just one blow, you will end up like that. You should be careful too, uncle Orc. Even a Master Swordsman could be squashed into pieces with one blow.”
After hearing what I said, Zenbe nodded his head. Master Swordsman was still a human. He could move faster and was stronger than anybody but he’s not immortal. Thus he would also die if he got too much damage.
“Alright. I will keep that in mind.”
He looked at Titania in his hand which was trembling a little bit. Perhaps it’s because he faced strong demons or he smelled blood in battle for the first time in ten years. Anyways, he was certainly getting more excited.
Zenbe was Orc indeed. Orcs were weird species who didn’t even care about their own life but rather felt excited during battles.
* * *
Kara’s soldiers were completely ready for battle. Lined up in two rows, soldiers on camels were pulling out their bows. About 20 ballistas and catapults were slowly tightened up. It seemed they finished assembling artillery weapons.
“Everyone! Ready for battle!”
With a shout, Adan sent the signal. Alon and five warriors on camels went forward. They’re an advanced party and their job was to lure Fraker out.
As soon as Adan sent the hand signal, they slowly went closer to the mine.
“We’re going to lure one by one. If several of them are coming together, we will get into huge trouble.”
Alon stared at Frakers roaming around on top of the vast Utz River Mine. Yesterday he told Adan that he could easily hunt those demons but actually they’re fast and strong. A few days ago, he tried to hunt them with his 400 subordinates but less than a half had returned.
If they don’t act cautiously, it would be the same result again.
Not long after, two Frakers who were passing by the outskirts of the mine turned and stared at Alon’s party. They took the bait. Immediately, Alon turned his horse and shouted.
“They’re coming! Retreat!”
Right after the advance party started to retreat, two Frakers chased them quickly. Although they were 5 meters in size, they were very fast. The advanced party retreated as fast as they could but Frakers were closing in.
Yet, they still could get away from Frakers. While keeping enough distance, Alon’s party passed by the semi-circular array of artillery weapons.
“Commander Adan! They’re coming! Please begin now!”