Harun

《The training camp》

 “How can anyone be like that?”

 Seryu could not answer the occasional questioning by Biryu. She wanted to ask someone as well, if there was anyone who could answer it.

 Not to mention the amazing execution from the members of the Gusts of Wind beyond their expectation for them, but its leader Haroon’s throwing knives always. .h.i.t the vital spots of the monsters in every emergency situation, which was remarkable as well.

 As they got out of the rocky mountain, the plain with dense tall gra.s.s between the mountain and the river Seine greeted them. It consisted of herbivorous animals, carnivorous animals and monsters. The monsters in the field became no more than the Gusts of Wind’s training targets. Also, as the monsters were not as dangerous as the ones in the mountain, they changed their combat style to one-on-one. The day had still not pa.s.sed, but the number of goblins and orcs killed by them was going over a hundred.

 ‘Those monsters were no pushovers. The members of the Gusts of Wind are stronger than them, but those monsters were stronger than the ones I’ve been dealing with.’

 The monsters living near the riverside were not any similar to those monsters she’d encountered at the hunting ground or any other places. The size, the strength, they were simply stronger. But the members of the Gusts of Wind made killing them look easy.

 The fighting style that drew the most attention from the sisters was Haroon’s throwing knife skill.

 “It moves as if it is alive.”

 “Yeah, I was thinking the same.”

 To them, he was just a mere mercenary, whose eyes were deep and pure, being the only appealing point. But his throwing knife skill was really extraordinary. In addition to being able to make appropriate commands, he had an eye to read the situation quickly and precisely, so his plans always worked and were very effective.

 The combination of the members were great as well.

 The old man named Teeno could move fast without making a sound, and he was talented at scouting, so he was always the one leading the way. It was amazing how he could sense the presence of monsters just by smelling or feeling the vibration of the ground.

 As the n.o.ble sisters were leading a guild as well, they knew how important scouts were. Figuring out where the enemies are and pre-planning the combat brought huge advantage that cannot be compared to not doing so. Considering that, Teeno’s ability was so exceptional, that Seryu was jealous of not having him as a member of her guild.

 The member named Philip who had quite a handsome appearance and well developed body, had agile movement and was capable of using the rapier so fast that she couldn’t track the tip of the sword with her naked eyes.

 Gitan, the member with a size that resembles an ogre, has good command over his shield, being a tanker of the guild but he excelled at one-on-one combats as well.

 The most impressive member was the girl named Ritrina. She normally took the role of a damage dealer, mainly using stabbing techniques from behind Gitan’s shield like Philip, then she went crazy like a berserker when a dogfight broke out. Ritrina in her berserk mode was so intense and powerful.

 Serinn, whose beauty was comparable to them, a.s.sisted the others with her blowpipe and poison darts with light, agile movements from the flanks. Whenever a fight ended, she skillfully skinned or butchered the corpses of monsters or beasts. As her dagger dances in her hands, the corpses revealed their crimson flesh in a few minutes. It looked like she was simply undressing the leather from a chunk of flesh as if they were

made separately.

 The members had great synergy as well. Though there was another woman in the group, Seryu couldn’t figure out who she really was. By the looks of it she a.s.sumed her to be the V.I.P. who the Gusts of Wind was escorting. Though she seemed to be a great magician, there was no situation where she needed to engage in the fight as well. She was just nonchalantly following the Gusts of Wind with relaxed steps.

 These five mercenaries were attacking as a group or individually on Haroon’s command, and they were making their way, effectively dealing with the monsters that her over 300 users had a hard time dealing with.

 ‘He is not partic.i.p.ating in combat so his members can stack more experience.’

 Seryu kept looking at Haroon.

 Though she couldn’t take a good look at his face because of his long hair, by his eyes and voice she a.s.sumed him to be mid-20s.

 There was nothing particular about his face except for his eyes. But as she focuses her attention on him, the intense impression she got from his tall, thin figure meant something special resides in him.

 ‘How do I put it, a scent that a man with a strong conviction has?’

 It was the same kind of scent that her father has, who was born as a commoner in District D but has put in a lot of effort to make his way to District S with an amazing marketing skill and great determination, and became a low ranking senator.

 She didn’t know why she cared so much about a mercenary, who was surely an NPC, but she somehow knew she could trust him.

 ‘He doesn’t seem to be interested in money, nor women. What should I do?’

 If it was him and his members, finding the mine marked on the map didn’t seem to be a hard task. Although they hadn’t encountered strong monsters like ogres or trolls, she was sure that these people would easily deal with them.

 ‘I have to make him be on my side, no matter what it takes.’

 Her father, the self-made man in such a stagnant society, once told her that the best way to earn money was befriending skillful people with all one’s heart. Though she didn’t completely agree with him, she learned that it’s one of best strategies that every businessman should have. Through a 3-year experience of study and work at the food circulation company, one of the companies her family runs she came to understand this.

 A long day have almost pa.s.sed. They’ve stopped somewhere in the field that was not far from the dungeon of lump orcs, and where they could see the river Seine in the distance, which was being tainted with red by the sunset.

 “We should deal with the leathers first when we complete the request,” said Haroon.

 He looked at the pile of leathers they’d gathered. The stack of all of the leathers they’ve gathered was taller than an average man. They separated them into three smaller stacks so it would be easier to carry them. Though they had no time to properly dry them, Serinn has been maintaining them as best she could.

 “Though I am not certain, our destination is further north from here, so it would be near the highest peak of the Huk’ran Mountains that we can see now. If we move toward the north-east direction from the peak, we’ll arrive at the Baron Thaust Castle, famous for their herb market. We may sell the leathers there,” said Teeno.

 “I suppose the others will like the news. Especially Serinn.”

 Seryu’s eyes sparkled with a glimpse of hope upon hearing the conversation between Haroon and Teeno. Baron Thaust Castle was where their recall scroll’s destination was set to. There was also an outpost of her guild, where her members would have revived and were waiting for her.

 ‘Though I wonder where they are heading, I know they will be coming to us. Now I have no reason to follow them anymore.’

 As she was looking for an excuse to accompany them so she can easily locate the place she was looking for, getting this information came as a great relief.

 “Uh, Mr. Haroon?”

 “What is it?”

 Haroon turned his face toward her on her call. At first he was just a mere common mercenary to her, but now he had become someone important to her.

 ‘Huh… It would be nice if he was friendlier with me, at least.’

 As he resembled her father, whom she respects the most in the world, she turned in favor of him. She blushed as Haroon’s clear, deep eyes looked at her directly.

 “We can see the river in the distance, so we’ll be going by ourselves from now on. I just wanted to say thank you before we go.”

 Then she gathered her hands together and bowed low to express her thanks.  Seeing her elegant behaviour that expresses her thankfulness very well and still maintaining her dignity, Haroon couldn’t find the words to reply.

 Like a totally different person than whom he thought she was, he felt a somewhat different  appeal from her. That was the image which he thought the n.o.bles had.

 It was funny to think of it now, but he used to think that female n.o.bles wouldn’t need to go to the toilet. The n.o.bles in the real world were getting that much power and were treated in such a special way.

 “It’s fortunate that we’ve arrived near the river before it gets too late.”

 “Indeed, and we were able to make it safely, thanks to you. I really appreciate it.”

 Then she bowed low to each and every member of the Gusts of Wind.

 “Well then, see you again if we’re meant to.”

 Seryu was upset to hear a subtle nuance in Haroon’s word that suggested he was feeling better to not have them, but she didn’t know why she was feeling that way.

 “Be well ‘till we meet again. I hope you can take our request the next time we meet.”

 “We’ll do so if we are free.”

 She smiled happily on Haroon’s nonchalant reply.

 “I’ll keep that in mind. Well then.”

 Biryu looked at Seryu in confusion while blinking her wide eyes, then she got dragged out by Seryu’s hands towards the river.

 “Well, let’s get going then!”

 Haroon carried a stack of leathers and headed towards the mountains. Philip and Gitan carried one each as well and followed him, and Serinn followed them while lecturing Gitan on not to drag the stack on the ground.

 When Ritrina was about to follow them, she heard Teeno murmuring something towards the back of the sisters.

 “Huh, those were truly odd eyes.”

 A weird expression was on Teeno’s face.

 “What is that supposed to mean, Teeno?”

 Ritrina got curious on what Teeno just murmured.

 “Well, it’s only been a day…… And her eyes were full of… something.”

 “So what’s that supposed to mean?”

 “Well, there are such things.”

 Avoiding the question, Teeno moved his steps forward to the mountain. Ritrina raised an eyebrow, frustrated by not hearing an answer. Looking at Teeno’s firm appearance from behind suggested that he had no intentions of answer her question at all.

 Though Haroon took the lead, he drew his attention to his back with a subtle feeling of missing something, then he happened to hear Teeno.

 ‘You don’t say…!’

 Haroon, too, thought that Seryu was looking at him strangely, but then he shook his head to shake off the thought and continued his steps. There was no way such a thing would happen.

 Meanwhile, Hall, at the tail of the group, looked at Haroon for a while, making the same strange eyes.

Translated by Channy_
Edited by Tom and Kmatt