The Returner Wants Complete Victory

48 – 048. Colony exploration (2)

As expected from a large mercenary group, work progressed at a fast pace.

The next day, as soon as I went down to the lobby for breakfast, there was a member of Wild Fang waiting for me.

As Evan boasted, the treatment I was treated with was quite unconventional.

30 gold coins per day.

10% rights to all by-products of chimera obtained during the expedition.

Additionally, when fighting with a higher level or higher entity, I transfer all rights to the chimera I hunted.

Actually, 30 gold coins per day was very cheap compared to my ransom, but value is only relative.

If it had been the latter half of the first round, he would have refused even if he had been offered 100 gold coins, but now it has only been three years since the Earthlings came to Proa.

The scale of the mercenary group’s funds is still relatively small, which means that it is a time when overall ransoms are cheap.

When I asked if I could actually take Eunha and Bo-kyung with me, I was offered one gold coin per day and 0.5% rights to the chimera by-products.

Even this was a convenience for me.

It’s the same offer that was given to other veteran hunters in Kirnyu.

And thankfully, those who are confident in their skills are given the opportunity to increase their prices.

“What do you want to do? Are you going to take a test?”

After finishing breakfast, I asked Eunha and Bokyung.

Bo-kyung smiled slightly awkwardly at those words.

When I asked about the children’s compensation, the messenger continued to talk as if there was a fixed information message.

‘Basic supplies for the entire expedition, including food and barrier stones, are provided by Wild Fang. That is why the rights to by-products are 0.5%. One gold coin per day is the same salary as a combat soldier of this mercenary group—a combat agent with average stats between 40 and 70—and… .’

To summarize, it was like this.

If you are dissatisfied with the ransom, come out to the square later.

If your level is similar to that of an elite soldier, that is, a combat agent with stats above 70, I will raise your ransom.

“… “Do you have any options?”

Bo-kyung carefully asked me if she thought I might be disappointed if she showed me off.

“of course. I’m not forcing it. Honestly, nothing will change. “I’m just asking if you’d like to try it for experience.”

“Then I won’t watch it…” .”

“Sure.”

I nodded willingly.

In the first place, he didn’t really ask to go and raise the ransom.

The kids are now going from 25 to 30 stats.

Besides, Bo-kyung is still an archer, so even if she takes more tests, nothing will change.

“you?”

I turned my gaze towards the galaxy.

Eunha looked like she was worried about something.

“… “Could you die while taking the test?”

“No? Accidentally killing your opponent during sparring is something that only happens when your skills are similar. “There’s nothing like you.”

Would an examiner testing an elite soldier be unable to perform hand-to-hand combat against an opponent with only 30 stats?

“Then I’ll give it a try.”

“Do you seem confident?”

“… “Just give it a try.”

When I spoke teasingly, Eunha pursed her lips and lowered her eyes, which was rare.

“okay. It’s not a bad idea to take this opportunity to feel for yourself what level you are at. let’s go. “Get your weapons and come down.”

*

When we arrived at the square, nearly twenty people had already gathered.

Evan Clark, members of the Wild Fang, and hunters who came to take the test because they were dissatisfied with the ransom.

The people who came to see the test were sitting under an awning installed in a corner of the square, and Wild Fang members were unarmed.

At best, the work was limited to setting up tables and chairs for the judges to sit on and preparing the ground for unarmed use.

“uh?”

At that time, Evan’s eyes widened as he saw me.

He, who was sitting on a chair and controlling his subordinates with just the movements of his fingers, got up from his seat, quickly walked towards me, and asked:

“Jinwoo, are you here to take the test too?”

I automatically read the words ‘I can’t treat you any better than this’ from his expression.

I smiled and waved my hand as if it was not true.

“Oh, it can’t be like that. “I just came here to give the kids some experience and because it seemed like fun.”

“ah. hahahaha.”

He smiled awkwardly, as if he was glad.

“And one of my kids wants to take the test. Is that okay? “Actually, my skills are quite lacking, but as I said, it’s just about gaining experience.”

“Sure. “There will be no reduction in conditions just because the test results are bad.”

Evan answered my question coolly.

He seemed satisfied just because I didn’t ask him to raise the price.

“Then how about the seat, this way…” ?”

As he said that, Evan pointed to the chair set up for the judge to sit on.

“no. Because I’m going to be with the kids. “You don’t have to worry about it.”

“ah. “Then, if you have any plans for the future, would you mind moving the order of those taking the test forward?”

“No, no, please just do it in your normal order. Waiting for your turn and looking at the people in front of you is an experience.”

Since he tried to take care of me too much, I felt burdened and backed away with a slightly disgusted look on my face.

“Yes, if you say so.”

After saying that, Evan returned to his seat and sat down again.

Those in the Martial Artists League underestimated me so much that they lost me, but these guys overestimated me and made me suffer.

Did you have any intuition when shooting Raven’s head with Romune?

Otherwise, I can’t explain it?

*

Kyaang—!

“Ugh!”

Wild Fang’s test tube struck the tester’s sword hard.

The sword let go of his hand flew through the air and rolled on the floor.

The tester grabs the arm with the opposite hand to see if the shaking of the hand will stop due to the sudden shock.

1 min.

This was the average time the hunters lasted against the examiner.

The level of Kirnyu hunters is one step lower than that of Emur elites, but the gap is not this big.

Still, freelancers who survived after the end of this war would have an average stat of 5-60.

The Wild Fang judge’s stats seemed to be much higher than his.

Is that roughly over 80? I think my strength is around 90.

I guess it would have been a bit much to send out someone with only 70 stats while taking the elite soldier level test.

It may have been natural, but it was bad news for Eunha.

If the stat gap is that big, there’s a high possibility that you won’t even have a chance to do anything with your skills.

“I’m sad.”

At that time, a pleasant voice was heard next to me.

“Why again… .”

“f*ck you,” I swallowed back my throat.

I don’t know how I found it, but before I knew it, Hyril was standing next to me.

I confirmed that he wasn’t following me when I went out with the kids in the morning.

He even used magic to detect things that weren’t around to check for things that weren’t there.

“I overslept, so you just left me and left… .”

I never picked you up, so what are you throwing away, you crazy b*tch?

I swallowed these words too.

“If this happens, I have no choice but to sleep in the same room as you, Apostle.”

“What kind of bullsh*t are you talking about?”

Ah, I was holding it in well.

It was such an absurd bullsh*t that I started cursing without realizing it.

“If you don’t like that, please take care of me a little more.”

“Mr. Yemi… .”

I gave up on rebutting.

─ Next, Elizabeth Hart!

The man standing next to Evan loudly called the next person.

A familiar back with long blond braids caught my eye.

A woman who introduced Noah to us and had a history of moving with him during the war.

It was Ellie.

“and… .”

Still, I’ve known him since the first episode, but I think this is the first time I’ve heard his full name.

Ellie, who uses a mace as her main weapon, was holding a shield as big as her upper body in her other hand.

The protective gear was simply a breastplate and gauntlets, but this was probably a choice made to preserve physical strength due to the nature of hunters who often walk for long periods of time.

“Take a good look.”

I said, placing my hand on the shoulder of Eunha, who was standing in front of me.

Unlike before, the battle between those two will be quite worth watching.

“huh.”

Eunha had already fixed her eyes on the two in the sparring hall.

─ Start!

At the same time, Ellie’s mace swung diagonally.

The examiner easily deflected the blow, which was difficult to avoid or block, by simply twisting his body.

Kaan—!

From noble mtl dot com

The sword that the test tube pierced like a thunderbolt scratched Eli’s shield and made a clanging sound.

Pabababak!

The examiner paid no heed and continued his attack, and Ellie crouched like a turtle and began to block the sword.

In terms of status, the examiner has the upper hand.

The large shield could have blocked the view, but Ellie was clever enough to see all of the opponent’s swords and block them.

This meant that at least it was possible to follow the opponent’s movements.

Unlike before, a fairly long battle ensued.

It was then.

“It sucks. “Don’t you think so?”

It wasn’t Hyril.

From the other side, a man spoke to me.

Why are there so many people talking so suddenly today?

“Are you talking to me?”

When I looked back, I saw a man with light blue hair looking at me with a sad smile.

A slightly youthful face who appears to be in his late teens or early 20s.

Perhaps because his eyes were narrow, he had a strangely unpleasant smile.

“To both of you.”

As he said that, the man looked at Hyril and then at me.

I didn’t have anything to say in response and was about to turn my head, but the man continued speaking.

“Isn’t he just wielding the power he gained through expedient means? I don’t even know how to manage my body efficiently… . “It’s literally like putting a pearl necklace around a pig’s neck.”

I turned my head again and looked at the other person.

It’s strange to say this.

You speak like a native of Proa.

Come to think of it, it was also my first time seeing this face.

A face I’ve never seen before, not only during this war, but even during the first war.

“oh. Sir Eshed?”

Hyril looked at him and pretended to know him.

Hyril’s face suddenly had the same pretentious smile it had when he first saw me at the ruins.

The other person gave a light greeting to Hyrill and then held out his hand towards me.

“This is Eshed Karelopin, a second-class knight who volunteered for this expedition. “It is an honor to meet the famous archmage.”

As the other person said that, his eyes scanned me like a snake searching for its prey.

“Oh, yes. “I am also honored to meet you, sir.”

I lightly grabbed Eshed’s hand, shook it, and immediately let it go.

The Karelopines are a fairly famous knightly family.

It is also the family that produced the famous Knight of Radiance.

However, because there are so many collateral branches, not all members are powerful knights.

Moreover, the other person introduced himself as a second-class knight.

Since the status was divided in the following order: Apprentice – Grade 2 – Grade 1 – High-ranking Knight, being a Grade 2 Knight was no different from being a newbie who had just become an official knight.

Not wanting to have a long conversation, I turned my attention back to the sparring hall.

The examiner was still pushing Ellie roughly.

Although Ellie occasionally counterattacked, it did not lead to effective hits.

The end of the match seemed to be in sight.

“What do you think, Wizard? Even though he’s from Earth, he’s still an archmage, isn’t he? Considering that you defeated Raven single-handedly, it seems like you are well versed in combat, unlike the old people in the closet.”

Eshed spoke again.

It was a strangely unpleasant statement.

I’m not being overtly sarcastic, but it feels strangely scratchy… .

Didn’t you come from Earth and just like those guys in front of you, you just ignorantly increased your size through status quo?

Is it just my imagination that sounds like this?

“That’s great.”

After hearing what I said, Eshed looked visibly disinterested.

This is a funny bastard.

“Among the high-ranking knights of Proa, aren’t there quite a few who have only become stronger over time? “Compared to that, this one is great because they at least risked their lives to catch the chimera and become stronger.”

It was a sarcastic remark about the fact that even those who wasted time practicing without doing anything were treated as high-ranking knights when they accumulated mana.

He was saying that regardless of your skills, you also become stronger over time.

“under.”

The person I was talking to laughed out loud.

“We collect mana since childhood, and learn the swordsmanship that our ancestors have refined over hundreds of years. It’s quite unpleasant to disparage them by comparing them to a dwarf who just swings around without any sense or direction… ?”

“So, I guess all members of the Karelopin family have realized the essence of swordsmanship?”

That can’t be possible.

Because not all knights are the same.

“Now that I think about it, the knight of brilliance… I know him to be around Eshed’s age. ah. Is Eshed’s nickname the Knight of Radiance? Hey, this is true. It is an honor to meet the famous Knight of Radiance. I trembled in front of someone who participated in the Yuiljong subjugation war. Yes. “It is natural that it seems insufficient in the eyes of the Knight of Radiance.”

When the name “Knight of Radiance” is mentioned, the smile on Eshed’s face deepens.

Since they share the same last name, Karelopin, and are of similar age, they couldn’t understand the topic and seemed to have a sense of rivalry.

“ah. Come to think of it, I heard that the Knight of Radiance is a woman?”

When I add the last word, my narrowed eyes open slightly.

The pupils visible between the snake-like narrow eyes were shining with murderous intent.

“You’re more interesting than I thought, huh?”

Eshed, who said that, was now openly pressuring me, as if he had no intention of hiding his life.

I lightly tapped Eunha’s shoulder, which had become stiff due to her sudden loss of life, as if to tell her not to worry.

It looks like he was trying to boost his self-esteem by gently scratching him without anyone noticing, but he looked at the wrong person, you f*cking bastard.

Do you feel like you have an inferiority complex and relieve stress by touching people?