EFWM 49

Chapter 49

I had sent someone to fetch the guild master, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe they couldn’t find Pechenik and gave up, returning empty-handed.

Snore—
Hrrr—

I alternated glances between the two bandaged lumps sleeping soundly, then fixed my eyes on Chaud.

“Ever talked with this guy before?”

“Who, Chaud?”

“Yeah. I wonder what he’s about. Every time I look, he’s glued to Erica’s side.”

“He’s normal. Except for being an S-rank mercenary.”

“You’re skipping over the most important part—classic Shurin.”

“What does it matter? I’m just glad Erica finally has a friend who matches her ability.”

Shurin walked in, arms full of herbs. She began neatly arranging them in the cabinet, then suddenly said,

“But something is strange.”

“What is?”

“He said he came from the East… I think.”

“So?”

Karon came closer, awkwardly helping arrange the herbs.

“You know I’m from the East, right?”

Shurin had studied healing in the eastern regions. Though she had wandered across the Empire, she had spent the longest time there.

“You’ve never heard of an S-rank mercenary boy from the East?”

“Of course not. I was never close to mercenaries anyway… Karon! That doesn’t go there!”

She slapped Karon’s hand when he mixed the herbs incorrectly.

“Then what’s strange about him?”

The eastern region was a vast metropolitan area made up of countless cities.

Even if an S-rank mercenary was famous, it wasn’t impossible Shurin hadn’t heard of him since she was focused on healing studies.

But that wasn’t the problem.

“He doesn’t have an Eastern accent.”

The East had a distinctive dialect, yet Chaud spoke without any trace of it—smooth, clean, and simple.

“If I had to say… it sounds more like…”

She tried to place the accent running through her mind when suddenly—

Bleeergh—!

Thud!

The white bundle of bandages shot upright, then toppled off the bed, rolling onto the floor.

As the bandaged ball rolled noisily around, a voice rang out:

“What the heck is this!”

It was Erica’s voice.

“Shurin! Untie me! Why did you wrap me up like a cocoon?!”

“Erica, rest a bit longer. You’re way too exhausted.”

“No way! It’s suffocating! Let me out!”

At her shouting, flash!

The other bandaged lump on the bed opened its eyes.

“…?”

Chaud sat up—then promptly rolled off the bed as well.

“Heyyy~ Chaud~ if you’re like that too, what are we gonna do~!”

“Erica. You’re so cute.”

“Damn it, just untie me!”

“Looks like you could just tear it off with strength.”

“Should I rip it?!”

“Rip it.”

“Rip it?!?”

The two bandage cocoons tumbled around—then suddenly froze.

Snap!
Riiip!

They tore through the tightly wrapped hundreds of layers of bandages with brute force.

Like shedding cocoons, both stood up and shook themselves off.

“…”

“…”

Karon and Shurin stared blankly at them.

“…Looks like they’re fine?”

“…They’re full of energy.”

Clearly, there was no need to keep them tied up.

Now only the wasted bandages lay in shreds on the floor.

Shurin shook her head and went back to sorting herbs.

“Erica, so you couldn’t find Guildmaster Pechenik?”

“…”

Erica hesitated, scratching her brow. Then she turned not to Shurin but to Karon, who was staring blankly, unaware of what awaited him.

“…”

The muscular, burly Karon looked dependable at first glance, but to Erica, at this moment, he seemed pitiful.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…”

That man, now acting as temporary guildmaster, was about to face a thunderbolt.

He would have to serve as acting guildmaster of the Southern Mercenary Guild—for years, until their master returned, with no promise of when.

“…Let’s eat first. I’m starving.”

It felt like the conversation would drag on all night.

Late that night.

The mercenary guild tavern was bustling.

It had been unanimously decided then and there that Karon would serve as acting guildmaster.

No one present in the tavern had failed to raise their hand.

Except for Karon himself, sulking in a corner, everyone laughed and drank merrily.

As for Pechenik, they spread the excuse that he was away on a long-term mission at the Temple of Light.

A personal request from the Saintess herself! A top-secret mission!

With such key phrases added, no one dared question it.

Sigh…

Erica quickly got drunk.

Ever since becoming a Swordmaster, she could have resisted alcohol, but she chose not to.

The tavern was deafening with rowdy mercenaries.

She thought she wouldn’t get to experience this raw, wild atmosphere again once she went to the capital.

The thought that this was the last time made her chest ache.

‘…I need some air.’

Blinking heavy eyelids, Erica rose and stepped outside.

It was pitch-dark.

Looking up, the full moon shone bright.

Suddenly, she wished she could reach it. But even stretching out her hand, the moon was untouchable.

On impulse, she dashed away. She knew the closest place to the sky in Dantos.

The central clock tower.

She climbed its soaring spire recklessly.

‘…It’s been a while since I came up here.’

At the top of the clock tower.

‘…I used to stargaze here often with my master.’

She perched on the railing of the lofty spire, where the full moon seemed to hang.

Someone sat beside her.

Moonlight poured over them both.

‘Cool…’

At this height, the night air was crisp and refreshing.

The whole city of Dantos spread beneath them.

Erica dangled her legs over the edge.

“Hey.”

She turned her head.

“Why do you keep following me?”

Chaud only smiled at her.

The wind whistled softly.

‘…’

A pang of sadness hit her.

In a month, she would have to prepare to leave for the capital.

She had planned to say farewell to her closest mercenary comrades one by one.

“Chaud.”

Her handsome friend beside her—she would have to part ways with him too.

“We’ve known each other for quite a while.”

“It’s already been fifty years.”

“…? What nonsense—you know we’re only eighteen, right?”

“It just feels that way. I can’t remember days without you.”

“…”

Smooth talker.

She had been preparing to deliver her own farewell, but realized she could never outtalk him.

She had wanted to say something simple like, Thanks for making every day fun. Take care… I hope you’ll be well.

Would such a plain goodbye be enough?

As she quietly searched for the right words—

“Erica.”

Chaud spoke, voice laced with a smile.

“I’m going too.”

“…?”

Seeing her puzzled pink eyes, he repeated:

“I’m going to the capital too.”

Erica wondered if she was still drunk—or dreaming.

“I thought about joining Tenearha with you, but that would cause some problems.”

He spoke seriously.

“I think it’ll be better to just keep working as a mercenary, but move my base of activity to the capital.”

Erica’s pupils shook.

“Why? Why would you go to the capital—”

“Because I don’t want to be apart from you.”

“…”

“Will you let me come with you?”

She was speechless.

It was like he had read her heart.

The truth was, she had thought it more than once while looking at his face.

As a Swordmaster, Chaud was the only friend who could enter Tenearha with her.

If he came to the capital too, it would be fun.

But she had never voiced it—because joining Tenearha meant lifelong service to the Imperial family.

And yet… instead of her persuading him to take that path, Chaud had simply said—

He would come to the capital.