EFWM 08

Chapter 8

“Captain Pechenik, there’s a really famous healer here. Can I scout her?”

“Oh, yes, yes. Just what we need,” replied the handsome middle-aged man at the next table.

“…?”

Shurin was at a loss for words.

Were they together?

Just what kind of people were these?

“Wow, nice to meet you! I’m Erika.”

The little fairy-like girl beside her even held out a tiny hand.

Almost in a trance, Shurin shook hands before snapping back to reality.

“W-What is this situation? I never said I’d join a mercenary group.”

“We’ll offer you the best treatment in the industry. Captain Pechenik, is that okay?”

“Of course, of course. We’ve got money to spare anyway.”

“What the…”

Shurin pressed her forehead.

She must’ve gotten mixed up with some lunatic scam group. Or maybe a shady cult.

“Look, I may not look it, but I’m not someone who just joins any random group.”

“And we’re not a mercenary group that just accepts anyone either.”

“Shouldn’t you at least introduce the mercenary group first?”

“Uh… Captain Pechenik, what’s the name of our mercenary group again?”

“No idea. Pechenik Mercenary Corps, maybe?”

“It’s the Pechenik Mercenary Corps. We’ve got eight members, but everyone’s so independent that we don’t really know where they are right now.”

“…”

“Currently, we’re recruiting because I’m too bored. Captain Pechenik, that okay?”

“Yeah, can’t stand being bored.”

“We’re also planning to take over the southern mercenary guild by force soon. Is it okay to say that, Captain?”

“Sure, why not?”

“You’re all insane…”

‘Wow, what grand ambitions…’

Shurin accidentally said what she was thinking and hurriedly covered her mouth.

Erika giggled.

Whether the cute little fairy laughed or not, Shurin made it clear she wanted out of this situation.

“I see. So you’re taking over the southern mercenary guild… Then maybe I’ll join once that happens.”

She hadn’t even thought it through.

She just didn’t believe a word of the delusional bluffs from these lunatic mercenaries.

Healer Shurin thought she’d never see them again.

She was even more certain she’d never treat them.

Time passed.

Seasons changed, and changed again.

Pechenik and his mercenary group traveled across countless cities and towns.

During that time, Erika gained a wealth of experience—

Land, sea, and even aerial battles.

She narrowly escaped death more than a few times.

It was enough time for the once-young girl to become a veteran S-rank mercenary.

There was no one her age in the south who could rival her.

But Erika believed it wasn’t because she was exceptional, but because her master’s teachings had been superior.

She trusted and relied on Pechenik.

He was her teacher—and her father.

Though the words “good” and “great” might sometimes be optional modifiers.

“What a disappointment. Truly a fool. You should’ve just surrendered quietly.”

“Gah, urgh—!”

“I was going to let you go in peace. Why’d you have to drag the merchant guild into this mess, huh?”

Even on the day they trampled the southern mercenary guild leader and seized the guild building—

“You look like a villain, Master.”

—Erika stood proudly beside Pechenik.

Boom!

Her long hair was tied high, her limbs toned with lean muscle.

She couldn’t even remember what she’d looked like long ago.

The poor child once abused by the countess in a frail body was gone.

“Don’t learn bad things.”

“I already did.”

Whoosh—she spun the longsword in her right hand.

“You told me to learn everything, remember?”

Lively eyes and a lazy smile.

Erika had become a flawless, formidable warrior.

Erika, age 18.

Her beauty had blossomed dazzlingly.

Looks were useless for a mercenary who rolled in the mud, yet Erika stood out.

Even the mercenaries, including Pechenik, found it fascinating.

Despite her rough upbringing, her skin was pure white and flawless.

Even her common brown hair had a strangely soft tint that made her look refined.

When tied up high, her pale neckline made her look fragile.

But no one in the southern mercenary world dared approach her carelessly anymore.

They didn’t want to end up bedridden.

Erika was quite well-known among the southern mercenary circles.

“Mess with Erika, and you’ll get wrecked by Erika first, then again by her guildmaster.”

Pechenik was her teacher.

Though they were master and disciple, they were practically like father and daughter. Many still mistook them as such.

They had too much in common.

For example—

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Grab!

“There’s still this much booze left!”

“E-Erika, maybe stop drinking now…”

“Why… why won’t you drink with me? Do you hate me? Do you hate me?! Explain why you have to go home right now—in two hours!”

“Ah, crap. Someone go fetch Shurin.”

She loved alcohol.

Had to drink with comrades—non-negotiable.

After finishing a mission, the only way to unwind was to party all night with the guildmates at a bar.

She also loved fun and was endlessly curious.

Impulsive, unable to resist what she wanted to do.

All these things, she inherited from her master—and still displayed today.

“Breaking news! Breaking news!”

The guild’s main entrance burst open.

“The merchant guild’s under attack! Right now!”

“What?!”

“I guess the Dantus merchant succession issue finally exploded!”

“Hey, let’s go check it out!”

“Hell yeah! Can’t miss a good brawl!”

Rumble—!

A horde of reckless mercenaries dashed out excitedly.

Among them, of course—

“Wait, Erika! Where are you going?”

“You guys are dumb, huh?”

Even the totally drunk Erika was there.

“It’s fastest to cut across the rooftops, duh!”

Giggling, Erika climbed the building wall and leaped lightly onto the roof.

Whoosh—

The wind blew through her hair. The feeling of floating was always exhilarating.

Thud.

She kicked off the edge of the roof and jumped across buildings.

Whistle—!

Thump, tap-tap-tap!

It was a direct shortcut to the merchant guild.

Through the sky, over the rooftops.

“Yes.”

“…”

“And so?”

“…That’s it.”

“Ugh!”

Shurin smacked Erika’s back.

“Ow! Ow, that hurts!”

“How can that hurt?! A delicate healer like me hit you with the gentlest hand! No way it hurts!”

“Ugh, it does hurt! I got bruised there!”

“Of course you did—you fell from a five-story rooftop!”

“What!?”

“You’re bragging about being drunk and falling? You’re proud you got planted into the ground?”

“I’m proud I only got bruised, actually. I didn’t even break a bone from that height—”

“Ugh!”

“Eek!”

Screaming about pain, Erika still grabbed a piece of bread with one hand.

The combination of hangover and concussion had left her starving all day.

She crammed the bread into her mouth and whined.

“Anyway, the guild members are teasing me, and it’s so annoying.”

“Teasing?”

“I’m an S-rank mercenary, you know. Do you think I like being embarrassed like this?”

“Oh, so you do feel embarrassed?”

“Of course! I mean, Shurin, you were so firm about never working with our merc group, and then as soon as Master took over the south, you completely flipped and signed the contract. I was embarrassed for you!”

“…How long ago are you dragging that from…”

“By the way, don’t you have strawberry jam?”

“Why would there be strawberry jam in a treatment room?”

Even then, Erika kept eating enthusiastically, finishing all the bread on the table.

She even carefully spread butter on it.

Bang!

Suddenly, the treatment room door slammed open.

“Gasp.”

Erika hurried to hide the remaining bread.

The large sign on the wall, “No Eating in the Treatment Room – 2 Silver Fine”, seemed especially massive now.