19.LITTLE GIRL DECIDES THE NAME OF THE GROUP
Although the city of Morson was a garrison for the frontlines of the battle, it was known for its public order being extremely bad because of the wildish mercenaries that would walk around, lording over the place.
Of course, although its public order was bad compared to other cities, because they would sell alcohol, medicine and prost.i.tution services, and because the money earned by the mercenaries from being contracted for battles flowed like water, there was also that side where the city was becoming prosper because of them.
Besides, to mercenaries, there was their own sets of rules to restrain them. Because of that, even if there was to happen any incident inside the city, it wouldn´t become as big as one would expect, and besides, the city wasn´t such a bad place for one to think things like that happened normally.
With that said, that was something people that didn´t know of the situation that made the city become like that didn´t actually know.
[That´s quite the dangerous place.]
Borudo muttered. Bela´s Aiandinna and Bal´s Musashi were inside the wagon. Because the city was in the middle of a war, it was permitted for machiinis to enter inside the city.
The gazes of the people at the surroundings gathered at the wagon, and then, seeing the symbol of the Benmark company marked on it, those gazes would go away.
The Benmark company was a company that had a good amount of influence within the Ruuin kingdom. Machiini pilots that would receive the permission to use that symbol were probably seen as very dangerous by the puny mercenaries. In this world, the disparity in strength and the difference in social status made up a great gap between the people. The mercenaries wouldn´t live for long. Worldy wisdom was also a quality a mercenary had to have.
“They are in war. It´s obvious it is dangerous. Well, it´s not as lively compared to Colossus, but I guess the place would already be considered extravagant if I was to put it like that.”
Bela, who was relaxing on [Aiandinna], which was being carried by the wagon, said. The mercenaries would look at her as if she was some strange creature.
“Master, don´t lower your guard so much.”
Although Bal, who was near her, warned, but Bela laughed it off and said.
“Nope, I will. You are here for that sake, right? I will have you properly do your job.”
Hearing those words, Bal sighed. Originally, those words were the truth. Both Borudo and Bal were now working as her escorts (although mostly as insect repellent).
Before, Bal also didn´t take Bela´s words literally. Thinking on how Bela´s temperament was, there shouldn´t be any way she would be so negligent. Bal believed that she was the type of person that would gladly go light the fire if there was ember that seemed it could set fire on the place.
After all, Bal was like that too… Or rather, it seemed that was something that only applied to Bal. Even if Bela was very skilled at fighting, she wasn´t crazed for battles. It wasn´t like she was looking out for the happiness of living inside wars.
“More importantly, we got money from Kooza. Let´s settle at that inn Kooza has connections with already, and then go to the place they sell slaves. After that, I guess we can go to the mercenary a.s.sociation.”
Bela said. After having ended their contract of the protection of Kooza´s caravan, they had already separated with him and started making their own arrangements.
Kooza went into the residential district of the knights. It seemed that he had a meeting with the local lord. Because Bela had already received the reward for the subjugation of the bandit group and sold the machiinis along the way, she had already received a great amount of money from Kooza. Hence, the amount of money she had was a lot.
Besides that, because Bal and the machiini [Musashi] joined the group, it started to feel that only Borudo wouldn´t be enough for the ch.o.r.e jobs. Because of that, she started feeling like getting another element. And so, she was heading to buy one.
“”Well, that´s quite the luxury.””
So Borudo thought after hearing that from Bela.
If one were to say, element pilots were weaker than machiini pilots. It was like they were only makeshift for machiinis. Of course, they were stronger than normal battle slaves, but if one was to consider the costs, not to mention that the cost performance proportion was high, it was simply more efficient to just buy ten battle slaves or hire a mercenary group with the money.
With that said, this was something Borudo was very happy with from his perspective. Differently from the machiinis that exhausted their joints and frame just by standing and walking, because elements were summoned, there was no way of its machine pieces to wear out. It was because of that that Borudo was now pulling the wagon that was carrying Bela´s and Bal´s machiinis by himself. If there was someone Borudo could take turns in his shift, his workload would greatly decrease.
And so, going on just as Bela´s agenda, they arrived at the inn that was backed by the Benmark company, [Enukar]. Leaving Borudo the job of watching over the machiinis, Bela and Bal were headed to the building of the slave trading company that was located deep into the business district.
“If there are any fellows that keep being a pain, I don´t mind if you cut off two or three arms from them.”
“Understood.”
Although Bal answered Bela that without hesitations, the concern was pretty much unnecessary.
Certainly, the people at the surroundings were attracted by Bela´s appearance, but there wasn´t anyone that would pick up a fight with Bal. One of the reasons why they wouldn´t was because Bela and Bal were both from the Rahsa race. With the extent of strenght a hooligan would have, to fight those of the race that were naturally born to fight was an unreasonable action.
Although Bela and Bal were able to keep going without problems because of that, there was a group that called for them along the way.
“Aren´t you Bal, Bal Maskar!?”
After holding back the mercenaries he leaded, the big man of bulky muscles came close. It seemed that his target wasn´t Bela, but Bal.
“Your acquaintance?”
“No…”
Hearing Bela´s question, Bal tilted his head and answered. It seemed Bal was searching for the big man´s face in his memories, but it seemed that he couldn´t remember him in the end. The man laughed at Bal´s reaction and said.
“Yes, I am your fan. There was a time I won a bet because of you after all.(TL note: I´m guessing it was a bet. ->いつぞやは儲けさせてもらったからな
In other words, it seemed that he was one of Bal´s fans when he was a gladiator. Hearing that answer, Bela and Bal made a convinced face, being satisfied with the response.
“So you are also going to fight in the war. Well, it´s obvious considering your strength, but are you bringing your daughter?”
Bela gave a short laugh at the man´s words and Bal made an awkward face. They actually had a servant-master relationship; Bela being the [master] and Bal being the [servant]. As to be expected, Bal was hesitant in talking about that knowing about the man being a fan of his. He didn´t answer anything in particular, and Bela also didn´t say anything either.
“Uh… Hey, hey. What´s that slave mark?”
And then the man noticed. He noticed the slave mark at Bal´s neck.
To begin with, the slave mark was made so everyone could see it. It was done on Bal in that same way, so it was better to say that it was the big man instead that was slow to notice it.
Moreover, while the reason why it was put on a visible location was so that people could see who were slaves, it was also done that way in order to protect the slave at the same time.
Even if one was a slave, it wasn´t like he would obey all people, which would account for many people of all kinds, but only the person that bought him.
To damage a slave is to damage the possession of its master. If someone was to put their hand onto the slave of a master that had power, that person might receive retribution.
With that said, although it was a possibility for a slave to be only a servant or something similar, if one was a battle slave, and better yet, one just like Bal that would wear equipment that was clearly better than those of average mercenaries, they would be outright considered an existence that was many times at a better standing than, for instance, those mercenaries standing there.
But with a battle still being a slave, if one was to ask whether the big man that had said to be Bal´s fan had any thoughts about it, one could say he definitely had. However, Bal said to the angry big man:
“It was in exchange for a knight group model machiini. It wasn´t anything shady.”
To that, even the man could only answer “you were bought by quite a lot”. It is said that the selling price of a knight group model machiini wouldn´t be less than sixty million goldin. This was the same of the wage of an average mercenary for twenty or thirty years. However, if one was to really think about it, it would also be needed to consider if the mercenary wouldn´t have already died or retired by that time.
“So, you are piloting the machiini?”
Clenching his fists tight, the big man asked. Bal nodded.
“Though I cannot be compared to the level of my master, I give my support at battles within my range.”
Bal said while showing a smile. It seemed his blood would run faster once the topic would become about battles. Seeing Bal´s att.i.tude, the big man said “I see”, nodding his head. Seeing Bal´s satisfied face that was like that for some reason, it seemed the big man reached some sort of understanding.
“In that case, I will be eager to meet you in the battlefield. Give my best regards to your master. The ojou-chan there too.”
“Yeah, alright.”
Hearing the big man say that, Bela gave a complacent smile.
Neither Bal nor Bela said anything in particular about the big man´s misunderstanding. The conversation would proceed more smoothly by letting him think Bal was escorting the daughter of his master or something along those lines. Both knew they didn´t need to cause unnecessary friction.
After saying his name was [Orga] and the name of his mercenary group was [Crazy Cow], the big man left the place together with his companions.
“Ah, the name of the mercenary group. Now that I think about it, I still didn´t think of one.”
Bela said while watching the back of Orga and his companions that were leaving the place.
“Haven´t master registered our group at the mercenary a.s.sociation? Did you not put a name?”
“I just put my own name there, you see”
Usually, it was the representative of the mercenary group that did the registration at the mercenary a.s.sociation. Although Bela had already settled the matter about her registration at the town of Yarke, it was for the sake of getting the reward of the machiini pilots of the bandit group.
“I don´t really know much about giving names and so. So Bal, don´t you have a good name?”
Bela threw Bal this question. It was difficult for Bal to think of Bela lacking common knowledge, but since he was asked, he would answer.
“It seems they usually take the name from their own name, or from hero tales or folk tales from their home town they heard. There are also times they put the name of a greater beast they defeated.”
“Like putting the name Bigrobear, right? Don´t you have anything in mind that gives off a whimsical sense of strength?”
そうバッサリとベラに言われてバルもうなる。(TL note: Dunno how to translate that^^)
“One that is from an existing name would be Beladonna… No…”
Because of her name “Bela”, people would a.s.sociate her with that certain queen. That was the same for Bal. However, the first thing he heard from Bela when they met was that she didn´t like Beladonna. That´s why he was going to apologize, but…
“Yes, that´s fine.”
Although Bela had immediately accepted the name, as to be expected, Bal made a blank face.
“Is it fine?”
“That´s the name you said, wasn´t it?”
Bal frowned at Bela´s shocking words.
“Well, although it is fine if you like it, didn´t you hate the princess?”
“It´s just that she was some old hag that lost and died. So, wouldn´t it be just fine if I just steal that name “Beladonna”?”
“Ha?”
Bal doubted his own ears. Bal looked at the little girl that said she was going to steal the name of Beladonna with a face of someone that saw something weird. Seeing that, Bela laughed. And then, she said “Yes, it will be it”.
“It should feel so good if all the people in this world were to make a face like that.”
Bela muttered that.