EFWM 16

Chapter 16

“What’s wrong? What are you upset about?”

“How could I possibly have any complaints?”

“Your cheeks are puffed up like a squirrel’s. If you’ve got something to say, say it.”

“I believe you have something to say, Mr. Chaud.”

“……”

Chaud crouched down beside her.

Fwoosh—

The sound of the burning nest filled the air, suffocating in its intensity.

“Erika.”

“What.”

“Why are you so good at this?”

“……”

Good at what? Was he teasing her? Erika narrowed her eyes at him.

He was definitely teasing.

Chaud’s voice was so gentle it almost sounded like praise.

Even the way he looked at her was so sweet it felt like honey was about to drip from his eyes.

“I thought you were just good yesterday, but today you’re even better. Why do you keep doing this? Are you trying to get me excited or something?”

“……”

“I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

“……”

Did he really have to exaggerate so much?

Erika scratched at the ground with an arrowhead, pointlessly.

She had learned one thing after years of completing tough missions with Fechenik since she was young:

Swordmasters are not human.

They surpassed normal human limits physically, so of course he was going easy on her.

That gentle tone—just empty words, probably.

She felt too proud to say anything in response.

She had thought she finally found a peer around her age who matched her in skill.

“Erika, let’s form a permanent pair.”

But they weren’t equals. Their levels were different. That annoyed her.

“I was already planning to move my base to the Southern Guild anyway. I’m a freelance mercenary, so I’m not tied down.”

“……”

“Let’s pair up—just you and me. We’ll take on only S-rank requests. It’ll be fun.”

“……”

Erika just stared at the ground without replying.

Chaud lowered his head, trying desperately to meet her gaze.

“Erika.”

His soft, calm voice inspired a strange sense of trust.

Erika finally looked up.

She knew how rare it was to find someone who worked so well with her.

And yet…

“No.”

“…What?”

“I said no.”

Seeing Chaud’s stunned expression, she repeated herself.

“I’m not pairing up with you.”

Dangters.

Southern Mercenary Guild Headquarters.

The towering building had an air of authority. It was larger than other regional guild offices.

The first floor was a wide lobby hall, with the upper floors housing medical facilities and weapon storage.

The topmost floor held the guildmaster’s office—but it had been vacant for a long time.

Fechenik, the guildmaster, had been absent for an extended period.

Plenty of people should’ve found that troubling, but right now, there was only one person who did.

Fechenik Mercenary Corps’ head healer, Shurin.

She flicked at her nails one by one. Her quiet murmur echoed through the silent infirmary.

“Is it just me who’s anxious right now?”

Fechenik’s corps may have been elite but it still had about ten members—none of whom were anywhere to be seen.

Why was she, the frail healer, the only one worrying?!

And today of all days, the guild headquarters really was empty—except for her.

Other mercenary groups were buzzing around the lower floors like swarms of ants.

‘Seriously, where is everyone?’

Even after Fechenik took over the Southern Guild ages ago, his mercenary corps had never disbanded.

Like the many other registered mercenary groups, they simply continued as one among many.

It didn’t matter that the guildmaster was also a unit commander. The title was mostly symbolic anyway.

But the Fechenik Mercenary Corps was extremely individualistic.

If they were all going to go off on their own like this, they might as well disband.

Still, didn’t these people have any sense of loyalty or belonging?

When Fechenik wasn’t around, shouldn’t the members step up and hold down the fort?

Fechenik had seized the position by force long ago. If someone else came and took it the same way, they wouldn’t even be able to complain.

‘What if we get robbed while the house is empty?’

The longer Fechenik stayed away, the more her anxiety grew.

To Shurin, the guild felt like an abandoned house now.

Despite hundreds of people passing through it daily, the place felt deserted to her.

Thinking about the empty guildmaster’s office at the top—it wasn’t just empty, it was gathering dust.

Even other mercenary groups coming in to take on requests made her nervous.

Since the guild headquarters was a shared facility for mercenaries, there was no real reason to block their entry.

‘…It’s probably just me overthinking, but still.’

She just hoped Erika would return soon.

Shurin opened a window and looked out.

She leaned toward the direction Erika had gone—Rugis.

A girl swift like a squirrel, strong like a beast.

Today, of all days, she really wanted to hear that bold voice again.

Erika had completed her mission.

It was sooner than expected, but she didn’t hesitate to leave Rugis.

Clatter, clatter—!

Inside a wagon.

Just as she was leaving, a merchant caravan bound for Dangters had departed. She hopped aboard.

When Erika showed her S-rank mercenary badge, the merchant leaders welcomed her with open arms. For them, it was basically top-tier escort service—for free.

Thanks to that, she got a whole empty wagon all to herself.

Clatter, clatter—

The only sound was that of hooves pounding the ground. The inside of the wagon was quiet.

“…Why not?”

If only it weren’t for Chaud’s voice.

“Tell me. There must be a reason you don’t want to pair up with me.”

“……”

Erika crossed her arms and leaned back into the seat in silence.

Chaud sat across from her in the exact same posture, his expression unreadable.

Because of that, Erika had no idea how annoyed he actually was.

“Erika.”

“……”

She kept silent from beginning to end.

Ever since Rugis, Chaud had been trailing her like a wolf. She didn’t know what to do with him.

He suddenly said he was heading to the Southern Guild too and jumped in the wagon—so she missed her chance to kick him out.

From the merchant’s point of view, they’d hit the jackpot. Now they had two S-rank mercenaries guarding them for free.

Erika leaned her head on her arm and looked out the wagon window.

She wanted to just zone out, but Chaud was relentless.

“Then just answer this.”

“……”

“Do you not like me, or do you just not like the idea of being permanent partners?”

“……”

Did that distinction even matter? Weren’t they the same?

Erika ignored the question, staring lazily out the window.

After spending a few days with him, she had learned one thing—Chaud had a silver tongue, always speaking in that smooth, low voice.

The best strategy against a snake like him: Don’t engage!

“Erika. Honestly, this is the first time anyone’s treated me this way.”

She still didn’t react, not even to his pitiful, bitter tone.

“How could you reject me like that…”

Anyone listening would think he’d just been dumped or something.

His innocent-victim act was top-tier.

Don’t respond, don’t get drawn in…

“Well, fine. Alright.”

“……”

“If you don’t want to form a permanent pair, that’s that. If you don’t want to, I can’t force you.”

“……”

“But just so you know, once I get to the Southern Guild, I’m going to follow you to every single request you take. All of them. Seriously.”

“…You little—”

Crack.

That’s basically the same as being a permanent pair! What the hell?

Erika bit down on her lip. He was getting on her nerves now.

‘Does a Swordmaster really have this much free time?’

Is he that bored? Did he lose his mind along with achieving physical perfection?

All sorts of rude comebacks popped into her mind, but she didn’t say any of them out loud.

She knew it was all just her own insecurity—but she couldn’t help it.

If Chaud really started working in the Southern Guild, then Fechenik would eventually come back and see him.

And she didn’t want that.

She didn’t want her master to meet this ridiculously gifted 18-year-old Swordmaster.

Chaud was even tall. Had a good build. Broad shoulders. Ideal muscle proportions.

What if her master suddenly wanted to switch disciples?