Embarking on Mercenary Life with a Catgirl in the Magical World

White seagulls glided across the blue sky, their large bodies resembling airplanes.

Beneath the blue sky, atop a grassy slope.

A robust figure lay there, leisurely resting on his arm with a stalk of grass between his lips, occasionally chewing on it.

Standing close to two meters tall, his muscular frame was sinewy like a dragon's, yet not bulky, exuding a streamlined strength and beauty. Even lying flat on the grassy slope, his naturally stretched body resembled a lazy lion.

Beneath his neatly cropped short hair was a rugged face. Perhaps due to the pleasant weather of the day, with its agreeable temperature, he seemed to be in good spirits, a faint curve lifting the corners of his mouth, giving him a simple and amiable appearance.

Like an honest man.

At least, that's how Mike saw himself.

"Mmm~" A groan escaped him.

Having taken a nap, Mike felt refreshed. He sat up comfortably, stretching lazily, and glanced down the grassy slope.

Currently seated on a high grassy slope between the strait's two banks, a magnificent and grand city could be seen from here.

Seadot.

A bustling city, reputedly the birthplace of two legends and the dream destination of many rural youths.

Looking around, one could see that Seadot sprawled half on land and half in the sea.

Compared to the half on land, the half in the sea was evidently more prosperous, likely the so-called wealthy district.

Seadot was immense; even from this elevated position, Mike couldn't see the city's end.

Before the city gates, numerous adventurers and merchant caravans formed long queues from afar.

A smile crept onto Mike's lips as he reached for the enormous backpack beside him, standing up.

The clattering from the backpack indicated its considerable weight. Moreover, hanging from one side of the backpack was a metal hammer nearly a meter long.

Even so, Mike effortlessly lifted it with one hand and slung it over his shoulder.

"Let's go!" he said, taking big strides towards Seadot.

It had been sixteen years since he reincarnated into this world.

At least, anyone seeing his size would be shocked—sixteen?! What the hell!

After the old blacksmith who found him and raised him peacefully passed away, Mike once again found himself alone.

In his previous life, he hailed from a wasteland, a crappy world born of advanced technology and ravaged by wars, where mercenaries thrived and mayhem reigned.

The former federal government had become a puppet of corporate capital, with the economic lifelines of the lower classes almost entirely controlled by corporations. Penniless and powerless, they could only be mercilessly exploited. Between the corporations and the wasteland's cracks, the world was incredibly realistic and brutal.

Having struggled in the wasteland for many years, Mike had finally built up a top-notch mercenary team, only to be sent to the grave by that damn company.

The company had tasked him and his mercenary team with escorting goods to a fortress city under another company's control. Along the way, they encountered numerous firefights, wiping out several wasteland gang caravans. Finally reaching their destination, they expected a hefty payment, only to find it was a fucking nuclear bomb!

When he completed the mission, the nuclear bomb activated, and he and his mercenary team, along with the fortress city housing over three hundred thousand people, were reduced to flying ashes.

Fuck the corporate wars!

However, he had accepted this fact.

At least being vaporized in a nuclear explosion was more gratifying than having his throat cut by enemies or his chest shattered by a bullet.

Since becoming a mercenary, he knew he would kick the bucket someday; there was no hope of living out his golden years in peace. Just didn't expect to die so "spectacularly."

Dying in a nuclear explosion, doesn't that sound awesome?

But he didn't know he had reincarnated, nor did he know if his brothers and sisters in his team had reincarnated together.

Hopefully they did. Who knows? Anyway, Mike could only take it one step at a time and establish his own foundation.

Although this world wasn't as outrageous as the wasteland, it wasn't much better—equally cruel.

Because this world had magic, sword saints who could split mountains with a single sword, and beasts more terrifying than wasteland creatures. The power system here was far more horrifying, leaving ordinary people with no voice.

Therefore, Mike had no intention of being an ordinary person.

After the old man left him some property and a blacksmith's shop, he couldn't stand staying there for the rest of his life.

So, he transferred the blacksmith's shop to the old man's relatives, taking the money and some equipment and items left by the old man, and came to Seadot.

Like a young man coming to a big city to make his way.

Except, he was here to resume his old profession.

A mercenary!

Thinking about breaking free from comfort and returning to a life where he licked blood off blades, his emotions couldn't help but stir.

His blood boiled with excitement; where would ordinary people find such thrills? Perhaps he was just born to be restless.

He felt that if he didn't do something, he'd be wasting his strong physique. At sixteen, standing at six-foot-six, his strength far exceeded his previous life's.

Following this growth trend, Mike estimated he'd reach over six-foot-eleven by twenty—a solid, formidable figure.

And not the kind of big but useless figure.

Because he wasn't just an ordinary man.

He was a giant!

When he reincarnated as a baby, unfamiliar memories of a giant heritage filled his mind—a giant inheritance—and he knew he was a giant. However, most of these memories remained sealed. Apart from knowing he was a giant and some racial details, much remained unknown.

Fortunately, as his strength increased, more memories would unlock. He had a feeling that his giant heritage held some enormous surprises.

Because his physique and strength, far surpassing his peers and equals, were gifts from this giant inheritance.

But there was a problem—he seemed to lack any magical talent.

He admired magic, which had only ever appeared in films and on TV. But despite his strength and magical aura, he couldn't seem to learn it.

So, coming to Seadot, he wanted to be not only an adventurer and a mercenary but also to try to become a wizard.

In this world of swords and sorcery, it would be a shame not to be a wizard.

Mike moved quickly and soon arrived at the city gate.

Despite his size, he didn't attract much attention.

After all, there were bigger guys out there.

Like the guy in front of him, a Stoneman, with what appeared to be stone-like skin and a height averaging eight feet, he was practically a little giant.

Mike felt his giant identity was a bit underwhelming.

According to the inherited memories, giants averaged over thirty feet tall. At sixteen, he hadn't even reached seven feet, possibly due to stunted growth.

After paying the ten silver coin entry fee, Mike finally entered Seadot's outer city.

Looking at the wide streets and the hustle and bustle, Mike felt a sense of peace and tranquility.

It wasn't in vain that he spent half a month traveling two thousand kilometers to get here. It was lively enough!

But now, all he wanted to do was find a good restaurant.

After chewing on jerky for half a month, his mouth was starting to lose its taste.

Luckily, he saw a great spot ahead.

A mercenary tavern!

A gathering place for mercenaries!