The Regression Of A Grand Mercenary

What should have been a nice evening, where nobles would compete to represent their gracious works at the exhibition, now…only the sound of tense murmurs could be heard.

“Did you hear, an explosion occurred near the Blacksmith street.” said a noble who was chattering with a rounded group of other nobles.

“I did hear about that. They say that over a hundred commoners were killed. My family was supposed to compete in this exhibition, so we hired five of the most talented smiths in the kingdom. One of the blacksmiths we hired was also hit by that explosion.”

“The most surprising thing about this news is that rumors has it, one of the wealthiest merchant families were targeted by this explosion.”

“Really?! Which family?”

“The Amber’s…I heard that their daughter was affected by the blast as well. People saw that she was being carried on the sky by what seemed like an angel.”

“That…that seems unreal.”

“Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. Because of this incident, the Amber’s are backing away from this year’s competition.”

“It doesn’t make sense why they would back away now? I thought I heard good things from them this year.”

“I don’t think its as simple as that. I heard rumors that the Amber’s themselves were the target of this attack. Maybe that’s why their backing away.”

“Either way, it seems that the people are tense because of what just happened.”

“Despite that, are we still going to the masquerade ball tonight?”

“I am…I bought a pretty dress that goes well with my mask this year. So I don’t want it to be a waste.”

“Me too.”

As the nobles were chatting about inside the building where the Exhibition was about to take place, one particular Royal-blooded woman was seen staring down at them from the highest floor of the building.

She was none other than Velorria.

She has already been inside this building hours before the incident took place. So when she heard that an attack was made on the Amber’s…she knew they were never going to come. So all her interest was lost for this event.

“Hmm, I guess it happened then.” without waiting for this exhibition to end or even start, she decided to turn her back on it all…and made way to one certain place she knew trouble was going to brew.

Because it wasn’t just this certain particular incident she had in mind.

‘Thill isn’t coming, that is for sure….and with ‘their’ absence in this event again, I can only think of one place where they would be.’ she thought to herself as she started making her way down the building. She wasn’t specifically mentioning Thill in that thought alone…she had a different person in mind altogether, as well as other occurring mysteries in the kingdom.

The incident circulating around the ‘guest’ who was interested in Victor Vandel’s corpse…that was also an interest to her mind.

As well as the incident about the ‘flesh cave’ that appeared inside the wells of the slum district.

And more than anything…a certain saint’s arrival to this festival was what really had her eyes turned.

Although it may seem bleak, but they all have a connection of sorts…she simply doesn’t have a full idea yet…

But she does know of a particular place where it would soon be interesting.

So leaving the building, she made way.

***

*Amelia Daklis’s POV:*

“Nehh….”

“Hmm?”

“Do you think waiting for him now would be a good idea? The last time we talked to him, he didn’t show any interest towards this group. Why would he want to join now?” asked Jenny, the great capstone mage.

“Is it so wrong to hope? You saw him yourself…there are not a lot of people who is as strong as him who would act selflessly.”

“Didn’t you hear from the leader himself? If I were you, I would have just given up on this! I’ve already found four other people who were very willing to join. We should focus more on them rather than just this one guy you met a few months back.” she argued.

“You don’t get it….compared to the four men you saw, he is on a completely different level.”

“…Isn’t he just strong? I don’t get your obsession over this person.” she said.

“He’s more than just strong…he’s a person born with the talent to claim the top. The last time we both saw him, he was just a warrior who had his core at the first stage…now with only a few months that passed, I was surprised that he was able to grow significantly fast. Faster than anyone I know in history. In just a few months, he now had the strength of the fourth stage of the core.”

“That’s impossible…no one can quickly grow that fast. Even the most genius of fighters only grow their core one stage higher at half a year at most. And I’m looking at that fighter right now. Amelia, you are a person born with that much great of a talent. You’ll reach the top before a decade would even pass.” she said as a praise to Amelia’s talent.

“You didn’t see him with your own eyes. If he does come…you’ll understand why I am willing to exchange every power we have currently just to have him at our side. Those four men you were able to convince to join us, he’s worth a hundred of them combined.”

“Sigh….fine, if you think he’s that capable, then I guess we can wait a little longer. But at least try to look into other people while we wait. We came to this festival because we’re trying to recruit more members into the group. As of now, we were only able to get seven new members, and not one of them has yet to pass the test given by the Vice-leader.”

“…Right, but you know how strict they are with accepting new people. The leader isn’t really the type you would expect to just agree on anything.” said Amelia as she looked outside the window. And from her view, she could only see a row of graves put before her. As of right now, her and Jenny were inside a house that was built in front of the kingdom’s cemetery. It was a simple house built only for the gravedigger himself to live in to accommodate for his job in digging graves for the kingdom.

“It’s one of his problem, but what can you do? If it wasn’t because of how picky he was, we would have ended up worse right now.” she said as a look of sadness filled her expression.

“How much do you guarantee that the people you found can be trusted?” asked Amelia.

“A lot actually. I’ve worked with them before on a quest back at Samsel City. Although I didn’t expect to meet them in this festival, It’s great that they are here… I can guarantee that they are good people.” she said.

“We’ll see about that. In any case, It’s the Vice-Leader who will be the one to make claims about their righteousness.”

“The Leader and the Vice Leader…I know we’ve been working with them for a while now, but have you ever been curious about their identity? I’m not trying to say that we shouldn’t trust them. I’ve worked with them for more than five years now…and its just that, not once did they tell me their names. I’m starting to feel a little…sad.” asked Jenny.

“I guess you would start doubting someone. Five years is a long time serving someone…have you ever tried asking their names face to face?”

“No…I just don’t think I could.” said Jenny.

“From the way I see it, you have every right to ask them. I’m sure they trust you enough with their identity.” she said as she tries to assure Jenny with her words.

“…You think so?”

“Of course…in all the time that I’ve spent here in this group, I know them to be kind people. In all the missions they gave me, they are very much willing to always do good. So try to at least trust them, since they are willing trust you back in return for all the years you’ve worked with them.”

“Right…you’re right.” she said positively.

As the two waited for another hour inside the house, Jenny turned to the outside…and saw a cloaked man appear in front of the house.

Unbelievably, he appeared out of nowhere, like a passing wind. ForJenny with her expereince, she should have noticed him…but his arrival was simply unpredictable.

Not only was his frame big, but it seems that from how tall he was, it oddly made him more intimidating.

“I can’t believe it. He actually came.” said Amelia excitedly.

“!?” only to Amelia’s recognition of this person did Jenny then realize who that person was.

Quickly, when they approached and opened the door, they were met with the gaze of a rather tall person wearing a dragon-like armor.

“…It’s been a while.” he said. But his voice was coarse and rugged. Something that Jenny did not quickly recognize, but his attitude…the pressure that he brought on his arrival…it reminded her of the night when she witnessed his stature when he killed one of the apostles of the Partrus Church.

“I didn’t think you would come. But I’m glad you did, please come inside.” said Amelia.

“…” Jenny, in her silence…simply stared at the warrior.

As he walked in, each step he made was as heavy as a boulder. The wooden floorboards creaked at each step. It was doubtful that the floor would support his weight…but soon, in his fifth step, the creaks disappeared. Almost as if his weight had suddenly lessen.

Looking at him, Jenny was doubtful…

Just as what Amelia has said to her, he showed an immense presence that could not be ignored. And compared to their last meeting, she quickly recognized the difference in his power compared to a few months back.

‘She really wasn’t lying…this guy…his power has already risen to this amount in just a few months time?! How is that possible?’ she thought…

Looking around, the man in the draconic armor turned his way to the surroundings…and then turned his way to Amelia. It seems to him, the three of them were the only ones inside.

“…The letter you gave me at the banquet…is it true with what was written inside” he asked.

“Yes.” she said plainly.

“If that was the case, then why tell someone like me?”

“We were simply trying to encourage more people into joining our cause. I didn’t expect that out of all the people I would meet, you would be there. I just thought that I was lucky enough to see you…and I hoped that you would join. ” she said.

“If I said yes…what happens then?”

“Its simple. You will meet our leader and he will judge whether or not you are qualified to join us in our cause.” she said.

“And if I said no?” he asked.

“Then…” Amelia hesitated to say, so Jenny stepped forward.

“Then you will be forced to forget everything…” she said, as if trying to sound menacing…

But as she did…

The man in armor, simply smiled…almost as if he made a smirk.

“Pfft- hahahah…” aand he laughed.

“W-what’s so funny?” asked Jenny.

“Nothing….it just seems like you two are very serious about this.”

“Well, we are serious.” said Jenny in retort.

“Still, did you come here to join us Thill?” asked Amelia.

“I’m sorry but…no.”

“What?!”

“What do you mean by that Thill? Surely you came here to help us right? I know it in my heart that you are willing.” she said.

“Hmm…as a saint, you can easily read the heart of a man. That much is obvious…but even so, although our hearts point to the right direction, it doesn’t mean that we would walk in such a path.” he said.

“Then why did you come here?” asked Jenny.

“Simple really. I have a question I wanted to ask your leader.” he said.

“You think we would let you?” asked Jenny as she then manifested her magic to ready herself for an attack.

But immediately Amelia stopped her.

“Wait- lets not rush into things.” she said as she looks to Jenny with a hesitant expression.

“But he’s not willing to join us.”

“Thill, please tell me why you came here? If not for joining us, then what?”

“Its a personal matter…”

“I thought that after reading the letter, you would see just how dire our situation is. Why would you not join us even then?” she asked.

“…What you wrote in your letter. The rising threats of demons and their progression towards our country…cults invading noble families, manipulating them to a point that it will soon rot the country inside out…and what’s troubling most of all is the constant hypocrisy around the Alticrast church…or at least the pope is being quite a bastard. I believe in all of these things happening.”

“Then if that was the case, why not help us? If you think this is ruining our country, then why not help?” she asked.

“Amelia…I have trouble trusting people I have yet to meet, especially in matters as big as this. For your leader who wants to involve himself in such a dangerous path, isn’t it okay for me to wonder who this man is? What his deal is? His goal…because before anything, I just want to know the guy.”

“So you want to meet the leader first before you could decide? I don’t think that’s possible.” said Jenny.

“Wait…if you’re willing to hear him out, is it possible that you can lend us a hand?” asked Amelia.

“Depends. If our views align…if our goals meet…maybe I can be persuaded. You said it yourself, I have a good heart, so what is there to worry about.” said Thill.

“But you already said no to joining our group. What point is there to having you meet our leader if you are not going to join!”

“That may be…but its not a matter of joining groups, it’s simply a matter of an agreement.”

Having heard that he wasn’t fully willing to cooperate, Jenny had doubts. She quickly turned to Amelia who had the say in this matter.

“…Say no to this Amelia. We can’t fully trust this man.” said Jenny.

“But there is a chance that he will help. We have to take that chance.” said Amelia.

‘Tsk…this is bad. Amelia is clouded by this man’s talent. For some reason, she is willing to put the life of our leader in danger simply to gain the hand of this man…but what help will he give even if he does agree. Surely, as of right now, there are others in our group who are stronger than him, so this will surely fail. Knowing our leader, he won’t easily accept someone who isn’t a hundred percent in agreement with our cause.’ thought Jenny.

And to that thought…even if Amelia does bring Thill to the leader, it does not matter. The decision all ends on their leader’s hands…and Jenny was confident that it would not go through.

So she gave in and went along with Amelia’s decision.

“…Fine, lets take him to the leader then.” said Jenny.

As Jenny agreed, Amelia’s smile went from ear to ear…a show of how happy she was.

So she grab Thill’s hand, and pulls him out of the house.

“Great, lets go!” she said excitedly.

***

Although it’s a risk meeting with Amelia and her secret organization, simply put I don’t have a lot of options to consider.

The symbols I saw in Reginald’s letters…

They were familiar…

And it screamed of cultist activity…

Sadly, there are a lot of cults in the country…not just one, so it was hard to remember which group was which because they were all evil groups. At some point, cults would even wage war against one another for fighting for the same kind of idol.

With how Amelia and her group are now currently facing against a lot of cultist around the country, its possible for me to gain a name from them simply by describing the symbol I saw on Reginald’s letter.

Once I have that, I can make excuses for not joining their group. Although they do a lot of good, I simply have too much on my plate.

Well maybe…I’m just too angry right now to even give a fuck about their cause.

***

It was strange really.

When we left the house that was by the cemetery, we were instantly greeted by a carriage that was driven by a coachman who had his face hidden…and what’s intriguing most of all was the special beast that drove the carriage by itself.

It was an ink-black horse that had the strength of a dozen horses…with eyes as red as blood, and a venomous spirit that could discourage any man who would approach it. This horse was no normal horse…it was one that was born from a line of divine animals. Its blood itself carried something that was almost as equal to the tears of a saint.

Yet for some reason, it waas by the streets, pulling on a rather fancy carriage.

“What’s wrong?” asked Amelia as she looked at me curiously while she and Jenny were already on.

“…Nothing.” I said as I got on.

The moment we closed the doors, magic suddenly coated the entire carriage, including the horse and the coachman. I could tell because of how heavy the air became inside the carriage. I don’t know what kind of magic they used, but whatever it was, I had my guard up.

“…So tell me, how is the village doing?” asked Amelia as she looked at me rather shyly.

Maybe it was her attempt to try and make the ride less awkward, so I replied in kind.

“It’s been good. I’m pretty sure you heard that I was training some of the villagers to protect the village.”

“Yeah…I heard about that. Although I wasn’t there long, I know some of them had the potential to actually fight.”

“There’s actually one who already developed his core to the 1^st stage…although he has yet to master that core.” I said.

“Really? That’s great! But outside of that, I heard a lot of talk about this armor your wearing right now…although I have my suspicions, you made it yourself didn’t you?”

“I…did.” I said hesitantly.

“I see…when you lied to the prince and he saw right through it, you still didn’t gave him any information in where you claimed your armor. But knowing you, you were the only blacksmith in the village…and you had the talent to actually make armor. I was right to think you made such an amazing armor by your own.”

“It would have been complicated if I revealed to them that I made this armor on my own.”

“I can understand why it would be a bother. Still, it would be great wouldn’t it? To have your name spread out to the country.” she said.

“Maybe, but that’s not what I’m focused on right now.”

“What are you focused on right now?” asked Jenny.

“Attending to the Amber’s.”

“Oh really? And how is that going?” she asked again.

“You didn’t hear?” I asked.

“No…”

“An incident happened that targeted the family. Whatever it was, I’m on the trail of finding the man responsible for the attack.”

“So is it related on why you came here in the first place? You wanted to ask our leader about something related to the incident?”

“Hmm…yeah. Although I can ask you the same questions that I’m about to ask your leader, and you might give me an answer, I’m also just really curious on who this leader of yours is.” I said.

“!?”

“Don’t be too guarded. I really don’t mean to bring harm to your group…”

“I just can’t trust you.” said Jenny.

“Okay…you can do that. But out of topic question…do you remember Victor Vandell?” I asked.

“Yes…we do.” said Jenny.

“And you remember that I left his dead headless body for you to take care of right?”

“Yeah…”

“Can I ask, where that body is now?” I asked plainly but coldly.

“I took it with us when we left the village. And I’m sorry but I can’t tell you where his body is.”

“I see…that makes sense. I heard from a friend that someone else is looking for that body. Are you hiding it from him?” I asked plainly…but the pressure between our conversation was heavy, so Jenny couldn’t help but feel nervous.

“…That’s a secret.” she said cautiously.

“I see…oh well. Since you’re very cautious of this topic, I’m not gonna push forward. I just have to warn you though…the man who’s looking for the corpse…do your best not to get caught. I heard his very…dangerous.”

“D-do you know the man?” asked Amelia nervously.

“Of course…or at least I think I do. There are a lot of necrophiliacs in the world…it’s hard to tell which is which…hahaha.” I laughed to ease the mood.

Yet even to my laughter, it wasn’t enough. Jenny only looked at me with caution and spoke.

“Just…who are you?” she asked.

But I simply smiled.