The Regression Of A Grand Mercenary

Wearing the fine black suit and blue vest, I made my way to the mirror and fixed my hair while I was at it. Having used a comb, I straightened my hair a little bit and put on perfume for me to smell more charming than I usually was.

“Hmm…this is weird.” I said to myself as I stared at my own reflection. My entire appearance was fized than usual…and because of that, I was at odds.

I barely care for my appearance…nor do I have the time to even care. Simply using my hands, I styled it whatever or make it flow at its natural style…but today, I could see that I was twenty percent more handsome than usual.

Seeing myself, I sighed heavily and readied myself to face whatever this event had in plate.

‘This is just the first day…there’s still an entire week ahead of me.’ I said to myself…

As I gave myself time to be ready, all of a sudden I heard a knock on my door and from it, the door opened and I saw that Reginald, Evelyn’s father came into the room carrying a sword.

“…Hmm, you made yourself look good. That’s good.” he said as he complimented my entire appearance.

“W-Why are you here sir?” I asked.

“I just want to talk before the event starts. Because after this, we’ll be too busy to ever bring up the topic again.”

“Topic?”

“I’m sure you know this…but I heard the report from Desmond.”

“Oh…”

“You and my daughter…” with a calm face, he looked at me straight in the eye and gave a warm smile.

As he spoke, he then slowly approaches me…

I knew where this talk was pointing towards.

It was clearly about the acts I did with her daughter…but what was going to happen? Is he going to reject me? Is he going to punish me? I have no idea where this will lead to!

Before I could even think to act…he spoke forward.

“…Do you love her?” he asked plainly.

“…” I was taken aback. For a second there…I thought he was going to stab me with his sword.

But seeing as how serious he was, I had to reply in kind.

“…I do.”

“Hmm…I know its not really my position to stand in the way of my daughter’s choice…especially her choice in choosing a man, but what you two did…I guess I just think that it’s too early for you two to be doing that.”

“I know…I think that I sometimes thought that maybe we were rushing things.” I said.

“Its your own personal life. What you two do in your private life is not my business…but I just think that in relationships, there are certain steps that should be followed.”

“…I’m aware that relationships between man and woman have certain stages just as how a core develops in a warrior’s body. We shouldn’t rush things so that it wouldn’t lead to something terrible. But…if a warrior is devoted to his core…if he understands and doesn’t betray his work and his decision, then I’m confident that I can take care of this relationship we both made for one another.” I said truthfully.

Reginald’s eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, weighing my words as though he could measure the weight of my conviction just by watching my face. Then, slowly, he lowered the sword he carried and placed it on my hand.

“…Good answer.” he said.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. My back was already damp with sweat from nerves, but his expression softened, and I could feel some of the tension leaving the room.

“Thill,” he continued, “I was once a man who lived without restraint. An adventurer, a wanderer… I knew nothing of commitment until I met my wife. But when I did, I learned the same truth you just spoke: once you make a vow, once you claim a bond, you have to protect it with everything you are. That’s what it means to stand by a woman.”

His gaze sharpened again, though his voice stayed calm.

“My daughter is strong, but she’s also my pride. So, when I ask you this… it is not as her father alone, but as a man who knows the weight of such responsibility: can you swear that you won’t betray her trust? That you’ll remain by her side, even when things get harder than you expect?”

I looked him straight in the eye.

“…I swear it.”

Silence stretched between us, heavy but not suffocating. Then, Reginald nodded once, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“Good. That’s all I needed to hear.”

He turned, lifting the sword once more and strapping it to his belt. Before leaving, he glanced back at me and added, “And don’t think of this talk as a warning. Think of it as… acknowledgment. Tonight, you stand beside Evelyn not only as her guard, but as her partner. Hold your head high, boy. I’ll be watching.”

With that, he left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

I stared at my reflection again in the mirror, the suit, the tie, and the faint trace of nervousness still clinging to me. But beneath it, there was something steadier now.

“…He really is her father.” I muttered.

With the assurance he gave me, I used the sword that he passed on to me and I wore it around my waist.

From here, I stared at the mirror one last time and thought ot myself how royal I looked.

“Hmm, I look like a knight.”

***

Standing over the side, I could see about fifty men and women who were of diverse age.

Some of them looked young, others looked old but most of them were about the same age as Evelyn’s father and mother.

“Hmm…it’s not just merchants, but there’s a few familiar faces here as well.” I whispered to myself.

Normally in my current appearance, I would attract a lot of attention, but using my skills as an experienced hunter, I minimized my presence altogether to not attract curious eyes.

For now, I was focused on surveying the people invited to this event. And checking if whether or not they pose any sort of threat to the Amber family.

And by my evaluation…there were about ten people in this event who were a threat to the family. People who had developed their cores…

And the strongest one was an old man who developed his core all up to the six stage.

A man in his sixties, where even without a weapon…I could feel that he was capable of easily killing everyone in the room. Beside him was a young man who looked like a merchant, socializing with the other people in the room.

Another person who caught my eye was a woman hiding her face with a cloth. Judging by her attire, she wasn’t from this country…in fact, she seemed to resemble a certain race of people from the Middle-West continent of the world. And beside her was a large-build man who showed an intimidating aura. He was clearly her guard…

Then there was also a pair of siblings who were meddling with all sorts of people. A boy and girl who were as young as I was. They looked at ease and were starting to talk to one person over the other, and judging by their conversation…it seems as though they were proposing ideas to the people. If my memory serves me right, those pair of siblings were known to be geniuses in making all sorts of contraptions. He reason they came to this gathering was clearly to look for sponsors for their next upcoming work.

A lot of unique and diverse people….gathered in one large room.

“…Hmm, this smells like trouble.” I said to myself.

“Really? To me it smells like opportunity.” said a voice that came from behind me.

“Hm?” when I turned my head…I was surprised to find a man wearing the royal knight’s uniform, patched with a certain dog symbol on his chest.

‘…Guard hounds?’ only certain particular people wear this sort of badge on their chest. The kind of people who work directly under the Royal family’s word…

And the person who stood behind me…I knew who he was.

Rais Luxly…One of the captains leading the Guard hound group. For him to sneak up on me like this…is nothing but dangerous.

He’s the second person I met who was part of the Guard hound group…the first one I met was Orion who first showed up in my village on just days before I regressed when I killed the Lich To think that I would meet them again like this…it was to be expected, but still I’m taken aback by how nonchalant they are.

“Say, out of all the people in this room…why are you the only one allowed to carry a weapon?” he asked.

And he was right to point it out. Out of all the people in this room, I was the only one carrying a sword on my waist. And the reason being that I was tasked with guarding Evelyn who was the daughter of this event. She has yet to come to this gathering, so I was simply waiting around until she came by.

“…Who are you?” I asked as I played innocent of myself.

“Oh sorry, my bad. I’m Rais Luxly…and seeing as how you look very cautious of me, I can only assume that we both have the same kind of role. Bodyguarding. You see, I’m guarding a soon to arrive guest as well, but for some reason I’m not allowed to bring a weapon…so I’m curious, since I already introduced myself…can I also know your name?” he asked kindly.

Despite not wanting to introduce myself…I needed to act formal for Evelyn’s sake.

“…Thill Cicial, and your right. I’m also a bodyguard.”

“Hmm, I see.” Rais studied me with a faint grin, his sharp eyes scanning me as though peeling away whatever mask I wore. “Cicial… never heard of the name. Still, your posture speaks of someone who’s trained. Not many common guards carry themselves that way.”

I didn’t reply. Silence was the better shield sometimes.

He chuckled softly, taking a step closer but maintaining a casual tone.

“Relax, I’m not here to cause trouble. If anything, I admire how you’re keeping yourself in check. Most men your age would be distracted by the music, the women, the wine. But you—your eyes are sharp. Watching. Measuring. That’s the sign of someone who’s seen more than he lets on.”

“…Or it’s simply my job,” I said evenly, refusing to give him the satisfaction of digging too deep.

That seemed to amuse him even more. “Good answer. Careful words, steady breathing… I can see why you’re allowed to keep your blade.”

His gaze drifted briefly to the sword at my hip—the one Evelyn’s father had entrusted to me. For a moment, something flickered in his expression. Recognition, perhaps? But he didn’t press further.

“Well, Thill Cicial,” Rais finally said, “let’s hope neither of us needs to draw steel tonight. After all… this is just a gathering of merchants and nobles, isn’t it?”

The way he said it carried weight, as if he knew just as well as I did that danger often hid behind gilded curtains.

Before I could respond, a stir passed through the crowd. Heads turned toward the entrance as a servant announced the arrival of the Amber family’s daughter. Evelyn.

The captain’s smile widened knowingly. “Ah, and there she is. The jewel of the evening.”

He gave me a polite nod, then stepped away to melt back into the crowd. But even as he moved, I could feel it—his eyes hadn’t left me.

“…So much for staying unnoticed.” I muttered under my breath, straightening myself as Evelyn entered the room.

***

As Evelyn stepped into the hall, I could see the strength in her posture. Her chin lifted slightly, her movements poised, she was every bit the image of dignity, the kind that commanded respect even without noble blood. The merchants looked on with pride, the nobles with faint curiosity, some even with envy.

But when her eyes found me through the crowd, that strong demeanor eased. The faintest smile touched her lips, and in that instant, she wasn’t the merchant’s daughter bearing the weight of her family’s name. She was just Evelyn.

I moved to her side, and her steps slowed just enough for me to match her pace. As I stood beside her, the sharp composure in her gaze softened, her shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. Whatever burden she carried into this gathering, it seemed lighter now that we were together.

“You look handsome.” she whispered under her breath, her voice barely audible to anyone else.

“…And you look beautiful.” I replied.

And with that, we walked forward side by side, presenting ourselves before the gathering. She returned to her graceful role, bowing her head in greetings, exchanging words with practiced ease. Yet every now and then, her smile lingered a moment longer when she glanced my way.

To the others, she was a figure of poise. To me, she was simply Evelyn — and that smile was worth far more than the weight of any crown.

***

As the evening carried on, Evelyn and her father began weaving through the crowd, reaffirming ties with powerful merchants and even a few nobles bold enough to mingle here. Deals were hinted at, alliances reaffirmed, and opportunities quietly exchanged over cups of wine.

And as those connections grew, so too did the thread of my own relationship with Evelyn—unraveling not in secrecy, but boldly for all to see.

At first, people only gave me curious glances, wondering why a man with a sword stood so close by her side. But when the questions came, Evelyn answered without hesitation.

“He’s my partner,” she said, her voice calm, unwavering. Then, with the faintest smile, she added, “My lover.”

Her words rang clear, carrying more weight than any gilded title. She wasn’t ashamed—not even close. She carried that fact with pride, even boasting about it when pressed further.

She spoke of me not only as a fighter, but as a man of craft. She told them how I was a blacksmith, how I had trained over fifty boys in my village to wield weapons with competence and courage. She spoke as if every small deed I had done was worth its weight in gold.

The room shifted after that. Curiosity became interest. Some among the merchants came forward, their eyes sharp and appraising, their words measured but respectful.

And one by one, they introduced themselves to me.

I returned each greeting with the same steadiness Evelyn had given me—bowing my head, shaking hands, answering politely. For a moment, I was not just Evelyn’s guard, not just a nameless outsider. I was a man standing on his own worth, and they acknowledged it.

Of course, not everyone greeted me the same way.

The merchants—sharp-eyed men and women who had built their fortunes on instinct and calculation—seemed the most intrigued. They asked about my craft, about the steel I worked, about the students I trained. A few even went so far as to hint at commissions, their minds already turning toward swords and armor forged by my hand. To them, skill and reliability were worth more than a fancy bloodline.

But the nobles… they were different.

Some offered polite smiles that didn’t reach their eyes. Others barely masked the way they looked me up and down, searching for cracks in my posture, in my words, in my presence. To them, I was an oddity—a village blacksmith, standing beside a merchant’s daughter who carried herself with more grace than some of their own kin.

One particularly smug young lord chuckled under his breath as Evelyn praised me, whispering something to his companion that drew a quiet laugh. Their amusement didn’t escape me—but neither did Evelyn’s glare. She didn’t bother to hide her disdain, and the two fell silent.

Still, the difference was clear. Where merchants saw opportunity, many nobles saw intrusion. I didn’t belong in their circles, and they knew it.

Yet, as Evelyn held my arm a little tighter and introduced me again, her voice unwavering, I realized something important.

I didn’t need their approval.

Because in Evelyn’s eyes—I already had enough.

Her gaze alone gave me the courage to stand here, in a hall that once would have suffocated me. For the first time, I thought perhaps this night would end without a single ripple of trouble. The nobles were entertained, Evelyn was radiant, and the atmosphere carried a sense of completion.

Yes… I thought the curtain would fall smoothly.

But I was wrong.

By the hour before the closing of the event, the calm was shattered.

It began with faint murmurs outside the grand hall doors. A muffled exchange. Then the sound of boots shifting, guards bracing. A disturbance that gnawed at the edges of the evening’s peace.

“Hmm?” I muttered, catching it before anyone else did. Evelyn continued chatting gracefully with the nobles, but my ears strained toward the entrance.

And then—

The doors opened.

A chill ran down my spine.

No… this wasn’t supposed to happen.

The first thing I saw was the banner—raised high, golden threads catching the light of the chandeliers. The crest of the rising sun.

The Goldensun flag.

My chest tightened.

And beside it, stepping into the hall with the grace of someone who had never once feared the judgment of others—was a face I wasn’t ready to see.

“…!”

She came.

Without notice. Without invitation. Without restraint.

Velorria Goldensun.

Gasps echoed around the chamber. Noblemen and women exchanged bewildered glances, servants stumbled in their steps, musicians faltered over their strings.

But me? Out of all the choices I could’ve made… I took a step back. Just one step. Yet it was enough to betray me.

My breath hitched. My fingers curled. My mind whispered only one thing.

It’s time.

The day I’d avoided for so long had finally arrived.

“Good afternoon, everyone.” Her voice cut through the silence like silver—smooth, sharp, and undeniable. “Forgive the sudden intrusion. I was… simply curious, so I came.”

Her tone carried both apology and authority, yet the room itself bent to her presence.

She was striking. Even with one eye hidden beneath a decorated patch, her aura allowed no hesitation, no weakness. The rumors of her character—the strength, the ambition, the unshakable will—they hadn’t exaggerated her.

No. They had underestimated her.

Velorria Goldensun.

And then… her eye found me.

My lungs froze. My vision narrowed.

Her gaze locked on me, and the entire world seemed to still.

Her lips parted, yet no words came out. Her lone eye trembled, moisture gathering at the edges. In that silence… so much was said. Words left unspoken, emotions restrained for years, an entire storm crashing down in that fragile gaze.

For someone who had conquered fear, who had climbed to her position with unwavering ambition—this was not the reaction I expected. Not from her. Not here. Not now.

The nobles sensed it. Their whispers fell silent. Merchants froze mid-step. The musicians dared not resume their notes. Every single soul in the hall was ensnared by the silent exchange between us.

I wanted to ask.

Why now? Why here?

But my throat betrayed me. My lips wouldn’t part. My chest felt heavy, every heartbeat pounding against me like a warning.

Velorria moved. Just a single step forward, but it shook me to my core. Behind her, her retainers entered, their presence looming, pressing against the atmosphere of the hall like a storm rolling in.

The banners swayed gently at her back, but she… faltered.

For a heartbeat, her composure cracked.

Her lips tightened, her lone eye shook—but then, she steadied herself, as though pulling invisible armor back over her heart.

“…It has been a long time.”

Her voice carried no weakness. At least, not to anyone else’s ears.

But I heard it.

And then—

To my surprise, her gaze shifted away.

Not toward me. Not yet.

“Sir Reginald,” she said, her voice smooth again, though I still caught the faint tremor beneath. “Forgive the intrusion. I came only out of curiosity.”

The entire hall held its breath.

And me?

I could only stand there, caught between past and present, with Evelyn’s hand still gripping my arm tighter than ever.