Chapter 29: The Red Bear Mercenaries Part 1

My goodness…

Who would have thought that the mercenaries hired by the western magic tower were the "Red Bear Mercenaries"?

Why didn't I anticipate this? The Red Bear Mercenaries also have Roshan as their main base, after all.

Now that I think about it, there's a mix of barbarians and beastmen among them…

Yes, the Red Bear Mercenaries were a place where you only had to prove yourself based on your skills, regardless of your status. I remember reading about them in the game.

It doesn't seem like it's been that long since we parted ways, yet they've already expanded their influence to this extent and acquired the skills to take on a request from the western magic tower…

What a scary guy.

I managed to awkwardly return the greeting while avoiding the beaming gaze of Jamil.

"Jamil. I never thought we'd meet in a place like this."

"Haha! I did say I'd get in touch once I settled in, but I was so busy."

"…. It certainly looks that way, it certainly does."

Indeed, the Red Bear Mercenaries I was witnessing now seemed quite different from the infamous Red Bear Mercenaries I had known.

"First off, it's incredibly chaotic here. It's overwhelmingly noisy."

I began to slowly back away, trying to escape the gaze of Jamil, who was bursting into loud laughter, and the mercenaries who looked at us with keen interest.

That is until Jamil grabbed my shoulder tightly—very tightly.

"I was surprised when I heard there would be a druid in the request, but I never thought it would be you!"

"Ha… Haha."

"Let's celebrate this joyous coincidence given to us by Beleth!"

Before I knew it, I was forcibly seated at a table.

How did a table become available in a dining hall that was packed just moments ago?

"Rob! Bring some beer! Oh, and a roast of sand bull too!"

"Jamil, I'm actually quite full…"

Of course, that was a lie. I was so hungry I could faint. But I didn't want to eat with Jamil amidst the intense eyes of the mercenaries.

– Murmur murmur.

– Did you hear? He calls leader Azar "Jamil".

– To think someone dares to use that name…

– He might look like that, but could he actually be incredibly strong?

– Whisper whisper

I can hear you guys, you know.

Jamil didn't care at all whether I was uncomfortable or not and held out a beer glass to me. A beer glass bigger than my head!

"Come on! Let's hear your story. Theo, tell us about your adventures becoming the greatest druid!"

"The greatest druid?"

"Yes! The wizards were saying that with the greatest druid, even the Swamp of Death wouldn't pose a problem."

"That's…"

"The Nemesis of Purification! The Saint of Evil!"

"…. You've got it all wrong. It's the Saint of Purification, the Nemesis of Evil."

"Ah, I got it completely wrong. Hahaha!"

When Jamil burst into laughter, the mercenaries around him joined in. These children, what are they laughing at?

"Leaving that aside. Jamil, have you really grown your mercenary band to take on such dangerous requests already?"

"Well, you could say that."

"It hasn't even been a year; how did you manage?"

"Haha, well, before I realized it, this was the situation."

"..."

Well, one could guess without having to hear the story.

He must have recruited and trained the barbarians and beastmen, who are despised across the continent, solely based on their abilities.

Seeing some with slave tattoos, it seems he really took in whoever he came across.

Barbarians were treated with contempt, but beastmen were regarded even lower. They were not even considered humans; their fate was often no better than being hunted or enslaved.

He even took in those beastmen.

I remembered reading speculations in the game's community about the leader of the Red Bear mercenaries.

There were speculations that Arturo Azar might be a half-beastman.

Indeed, Jamil boasted a massive frame that seemed to reach two meters with inhuman-like muscles.

Seeing that he has taken in beastmen as well, those speculations might actually be true.

Later, the Red Bear mercenaries would come under inspection from Roshan due to the growing influence of the barbarians and beastmen.

He should be preparing for that.

I worried whether this idiot could actually "prepare" for anything.

He's a good guy, but still…

I took a swig of beer to calm my complicated feelings.

"Let's hear your story now, Theo. What's with those embarrassing titles?"

Jamil chuckled and began tearing into a delicious-looking sand bull rib.

"…I just took on various requests and solved them, and things turned out this way."

I gave Jamil a simple and brief explanation of what had happened after we parted ways.

"You killed a demon?!"

"No, not killed. I sent it back."

"To kill a demon! The training I did with you really paid off!"

…This guy is still not listening to what I'm saying.

I was tired already. And with no desire to correct him further, I decided to focus on the roasted sand bull instead.

The sight of the crispy and glistening brown meat reignited a hunger I had forgotten. I took out the herbs, black salt, and white pepper I had and sprinkled them over the meat before cutting a large piece and stuffing it into my mouth.

Tasting the overflowing sweet juices of the meat made my fatigue and hunger dissipate instantly. Maybe I should try the roasted potatoes next? Oh, if only I had some kimchi to go with it.

"By the way, Theo."

Jamil, who had already devoured a whole rib of the sand bull, wiped his mouth and spoke to me. What's this about? He's usually the type who never talks while eating.

"Who's that girl?"

Jamil pointed towards El with his eyes.

His insight was indeed different.

Currently, El was dressed in such a way that everyone would mistake her for a boy. With her short hair, darkened skin from her time in Rabata, and the various scars and wounds from training, no one would guess she was a noble lady.

But he recognized her right away.

"Her name is El. An orphan I picked up from the cursed lands."

"An orphan? You took in an orphan?"

"Is it that surprising? I just thought she might be useful as a servant."

Jamil laughed heartily again though I don't know what was so funny.

I thought it best to have them formally introduced, so I gestured for El to come over.

"El, greet Jamil. He's an old colleague of mine."

"Hello!"

"What a lively voice! I like it! Pleased to meet you!"

Jamil took El's hand and shook it. Though it was more like he grabbed her hand and shook it vigorously, to be more precise.

Wait a minute. This could work out well…

Watching the two of them, an idea suddenly popped into my head. A really good idea!

"Jamil."

"Hmm?"

"If it's alright with you, I'd like you to train El until we enter the Swamp of Death."

"Train?"

"Yes. I'll pay you whatever you ask."

"Hmm…"

Jamil stroked his chin while looking back and forth between El and me.

Was he going to refuse?

Oh well…

At the moment, he was likely too occupied with managing his own band of mercenaries…

"Alright."

…But to my relief, Jamil answered very coolly and refreshingly.

"Thanks. Since I'm a druid, I felt I was lacking in training El properly. If you could take it on, I'd have no worries…"

"But there's a condition."

"Anything. Should I pay in gold coins?"

"No."

Jamil looked at me with a sly grin.

What is this ominous feeling?

"Let's have a bout."

"Ah…"

I had momentarily forgotten that this man was incredibly fond of fighting.

Of course, after having heard the tales of the "Greatest Druid", he must be itching for a challenge.

I clasped my throbbing head.

Just endure this once, and El's training will be free…

Just as I had mentioned to him, I was beginning to feel somewhat inadequate in teaching El.

Part of it was due to El's rapid progress, and part of it was because I was a druid and not a warrior.

After all, a deer can't raise a lion.

It's a good deal in the long run. Just one bout and it's settled.

Even though my opponent was the renowned leader of the Red Bear mercenaries.

"…Alright."

I nodded in agreement.

This was an investment, after all.

And since it wasn't going to cost me anything financially, it was a clear win.

But why do I already feel so drained…

After letting out a deep sigh, I finished my meal amidst the noisy bustle of the dining hall.

***

The day of the battle arrived.

I'm prepared, but I'm not sure if I can win.

Well, losing isn't really a problem.

The duel itself was the condition after all.

Since letting the magic tower know about this duel would do us no good, we decided to carry it out secretly in a small forest near the tower.

"Master, are you sure you're alright?"

"Don't worry."

El hadn't been able to sleep well since that day, and the lines under her eyes were puffy, probably because she was worried about me.

And her concern was not unwarranted.

After all, my opponent was the leader of the Red Bear Mercenaries, who had recently made a name for themselves in Roshan.

Even if we set aside ranks and faced each other as equals, the objective chances of my victory were slim.

But.

Was I, of all people, to engage in a battle I was bound to lose?

Absolutely not.

Unlike Jamil, I was quite cunning and not above fighting dirty.

Standing in front of what could barely be called a dueling ground, I took out a flag I had prepared in advance.

"Theo, what's that?"

Jamil who was unaware of what I was planning looked curious.

"Jamil, with a task at hand, wouldn't it be foolish for us to injure each other?"

"That's…"

"It's not that I'm against a duel. I'm proposing a rational one."

"Go on."

I gave Jamil a sly smile and handed him a red flag. Jamil had a disapproving look on his face, but he accepted the flag I held out.

"If you're truly strong, you don't need much to prove your skills. You'd agree, wouldn't you?"

"..."

"There's only one condition for victory: to seize each other's flags."

"The flags?"

"Yes. If a flag is destroyed or taken, that counts as a defeat. Simple, isn't it?"

"So all I have to do is steal it by any means necessary?"

"Exactly."

I waved my green flag leisurely and laughed with ease.

"You might think it's easy, but it's anything but that. This flag is made from the branches of a brittle sapwood tree. You already know how difficult it is to fight while protecting something, don't you?"

"…Hmm."

"How about it? Are you tempted to take up the challenge?"

Jamil was silent for a moment, then looked at me with a grin.

"So, we protect and steal the flags. Aside from that, anything goes, right?"

"..."

Cold sweat ran down my back in an instant.

Ah, a single mistake could lead to broken bones and torn flesh.

But I have a plan too.

I swallowed hard and nodded my head.

"Right."

"Good, then let's get started."