Chapter 109

Chapter 109. The Strong One’s Consideration (3)

Burgundy, who had disguised himself as the Amantium mercenary Garen, had a peculiar glint in his eye.

For humans with Aura, there exists a “presence.” This is different from “momentum” and varies depending on the total amount and density of the Aura one possesses. If not controlled, this presence naturally leaks out, revealing one’s existence. However, no one deliberately emits this presence.

It’s a waste of Aura, and there’s no need to reveal one’s existence in such an inefficient manner.

But most mercenaries don’t control this presence. They flaunt their strength as a way of saying, “I’m this strong, so watch your step and think twice before picking a fight.”

Bronze, Silver, Gold—commonly known as “Brosilgol”—don’t differ much in terms of presence. They either lack Aura or don’t possess meaningful amounts of it.

However, from Platinum onwards, the difference becomes overwhelming. Anyone can tell, “Ah, that guy’s Platinum, Diamond, or even Amantium.” The gap in presence is that stark.

The presence of Orichalcon, known as the highest rank among mercenaries, is unmistakable. It’s akin to a 5-star Master among knights, so it’s only natural.

Burgundy, though a mercenary, hid his presence—at the level of Amantium. His plan was to conceal his identity as the Vice-Head and analyze Sephira to gather information.

But he was caught immediately.

By Keter.

Before entering the mansion, all mercenaries had their identities verified at Sephira’s main gate—by 3-star knights of the Lunar Knight Order.

However, the Lunar Knights failed to notice that Burgundy was Orichalcon-level and let him pass.

This wasn’t due to their negligence. It was simply because Burgundy’s Aura control was so exceptional that they couldn’t detect he was hiding it.

But Keter saw through it.

Keter, known to the world as a troublemaker from the Lawless City of Absinthe, who caused trouble the moment he arrived.

But what did he show today?

The courage to charge at numerous mercenaries and the exceptional martial arts to back it up, knocking them down. His body was like steel, and his stamina was so immense that even after fighting three Amantium mercenaries, he still had energy to spare.

Though neither used Aura, everyone could feel it.

Keter was at least a 4-star knight. In mercenary terms, he was Amantium-class.

How could someone this strong, even if from the Lawless City, remain unknown? Burgundy couldn’t understand it.

This alone made Keter a hot potato. But Keter didn’t try to hide it at all. Instead, he was bold, even requesting a private meeting.

Summoned to the warehouse of the treatment room, Burgundy was pushed against the wall by Keter, who pressed his palm against it.

“Care to explain who you are and where you’re from?”

“Bold of you. Even if you don’t know who I am, you called me knowing I’m not Amantium-class, right?”

Burgundy grabbed Keter’s wrist, which was pressing against the wall.

*Crack.*

Keter’s hand, which had been pressing against the wall, slowly began to give way. Burgundy was pushing back with pure physical strength, showing he was no less than Keter.

But then, Keter’s hand started moving forward again.

Burgundy’s eyes widened.

If it were Aura-enhanced strength, it would make sense. But Keter wasn’t using Aura. Burgundy could tell since he was holding Keter’s wrist.

‘Is his physical strength increasing even further?’

But Burgundy wasn’t using his full strength either. He immediately exerted 100% of his power.

Keter’s hand trembled in mid-air, indicating their strength was evenly matched.

But it didn’t last long. Keter’s hand began moving toward the wall again.

“……”

Burgundy frowned.

Burgundy was already giving it his all. Now, he had no choice but to use Aura, yet Keter still wasn’t using any.

The secret was Heavenly Power.

The power of the 3rd stage of Heavenly Power surpassed the physical strength of Burgundy, an Orichalcon.

‘It hurts my pride, but I can’t let him take the initiative.’

Burgundy drew upon his Aura.

Aura spread throughout his body, reinforcing his strength. The movement of Keter’s outstretched hand slowed.

Just as it seemed Burgundy might push back—

“……?!”

Keter surged forward again.

Heavenly Power, 4th stage. Still, no Aura was used.

Burgundy’s cheek twitched. He was being overpowered even while using Aura?

‘My strength shouldn’t lose even in a contest with an Ogre.’

He increased his Aura output. It was taxing for Burgundy, but he needed to see Keter use Aura to feel satisfied.

Keter, still smiling, applied more force to his arm.

Heavenly Power, 5th stage.

*Boom!*

His palm pierced through the wall. The warehouse, and even the entire medical building, shook.

Burgundy let out a hollow laugh and spoke. The defeated had no right to remain silent.

“…I’m Burgundy, Vice-Head of the Lilian Kingdom Mercenary Regional Headquarters.”

“Only after showing the difference in strength do you speak.”

Keter, having removed his hand from the wall, brushed the dust off Burgundy’s clothes.

“Orichalcon-class?”

“Yes.”

“Great service here. They even sent an Orichalcon-class without being asked.”

A natural condescension.

Even Upper Nobles treat Orichalcon mercenaries with respect. Yet Keter was only eighteen, not even having undergone his Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

But Burgundy felt neither displeasure nor discomfort.

“If it’s inconvenient, leave. But hire the mercenaries outside as usual. They don’t know my identity. They’re just mercenaries who accepted your request purely.”

“You’re insane. You think I’ll let you leave just because you’ve been caught? Who sent you?”

“Are you planning to kill me?”

“I could. I have the justification, don’t I?”

“……”

As Keter said, the justification was clear. Burgundy had infiltrated while hiding his identity, so he deserved death.

“If you want something, say it. If you want monetary compensation, I’ll give it.”

“Well said. I’ll consider the money as payment for hiring you for free, and you’ll lead and control the mercenaries for a month.”

“Hmm……”

Burgundy couldn’t grasp Keter’s intentions. It sounded like a reasonable offer, but…

“Does that mean I can freely observe Sephira? The world will know. Your existence, that Sephira, which had been crouching, has risen.”

“Will it wear out if you look? And if I wanted to hide, I wouldn’t have called the mercenaries in the first place. Go ahead, look all you want.”

“Ha, are you saying you intended this? Why? Why go out of your way to show Sephira’s potential?”

“Because I decided to.”

“……!”

If anyone else had said this, Burgundy would have scoffed. ‘Who do you think you are?’

But Burgundy didn’t think that at all. Even though he had only known Keter for a little over an hour today, Keter was a man who had the right to say such things.

“…I underestimated Sephira. I’ll pay the price for ignoring it. As you said, I’ll lead the mercenaries for free for a month. But let’s pretend my infiltration never happened.”

“No.”

“What?”

“You working for free is my reason to spare you, but I’ll demand separate compensation for the infiltration.”

“Do you not know what compromise is? With one word from me, all mercenaries in the Lilian Kingdom could become your enemies. Sephira would never be able to hire mercenaries again.”

“Compromise? That’s the strong showing mercy to the weak. But why are you ordering me to compromise or not? Do you think Sephira, or I, are jokes to you?”

Keter doesn’t just threaten with words. Action always follows. His hand was already gripping Burgundy’s neck.

Even at close range, Burgundy’s complexion paled as his neck was seized in a vulnerable moment. If Keter applied force now, his neck would snap.

‘Am I going to die so meaninglessly?’

He had been caught off guard.

He never thought Keter would attack mid-conversation, or that he would actually kill him. That complacency brought Burgundy’s life to the brink.

This wouldn’t have happened to Burgundy in his prime. But after becoming Vice-Head, he had been doing administrative work for five years without active duty. Though he occasionally sparred with Amantium mercenaries, it wasn’t real combat.

He had grown lax. His instincts as a mercenary had dulled.

But regret, no matter how swift, was too late. His life flashed before his eyes—the life that had tirelessly climbed to Orichalcon-class.

‘Why did I become Vice-Head?’

Amidst the work, he had momentarily forgotten.

Why he had become Vice-Head.

‘Ah, that’s right. I wanted to reach a higher realm.’

The mercenary class is known to peak at Orichalcon, but that’s not true. There’s a level above it.

Clear Class.

For mercenaries who learn Aura and swordsmanship instinctively without a clear framework, there’s a limit—and that limit is Orichalcon-class.

They can reach the level of a 5-star Master, but not beyond to Grandmaster or Prime. It’s a natural limit.

But “Clear Class” refers to mercenaries who break that rule.

There’s a way. A way for even a mercenary with no foundation to surpass human limits. And it exists. Clear Class does.

Across all mercenary association headquarters in the Empire, there are at least five Clear Class mercenaries. They are living proof.

One day, an offer came to Burgundy, who desired to reach a higher realm.

“Work as Vice-Head for ten years, and I’ll show you the path to Clear Class.”

A direct offer from the Empire’s mercenary association headquarters.

Burgundy accepted. He dreamed of a higher realm. That’s why he took on the tedious role of Vice-Head.

‘It was all for nothing. Damn you, Maroon. Because of you, I’m going to die.’

Burgundy’s thoughts came to an end.

He thought only death remained, but—

*Tap.*

What came wasn’t death, but a faint sting on his cheek.

Instead of breaking his neck, Keter lightly tapped his cheek.

“Don’t forget the feeling you have now. Behave.”

*Creak.*

Keter left the warehouse.

Burgundy, who had narrowly escaped death, touched his cheek and muttered.

“…So this is compromise.”

The mercy of the strong toward the weak.

Burgundy had clearly realized it.

* * *

Burgundy was experienced.

After reaching an agreement with Keter, he revealed his identity to the mercenaries.

The mercenaries were shocked to learn that the Vice-Head of the regional headquarters had been hiding among them, but they roughly understood after hearing the reason.

This was an unprecedented request. Never before had so many high-class mercenaries been hired at once. The fivefold fee Keter offered, along with treatment and lodging, was that enticing.

“To prevent any potential mishaps, I’ll be overseeing your control. Not that anyone would dare act out even without my oversight.”

Keter had already shown the mercenaries through fistfights that he was different from other nobles. He spoke with his fists. If you have a problem, let’s fight without ranks.

Unlike nobles who relied solely on authority, the mercenaries had no reason not to cooperate as long as they weren’t treated unfairly.

Shortly after, the treated mercenaries regrouped at the 7th Training Ground. Keter informed them of the detailed request and schedule.

“You’ll spar with participants of the Southern Sword Tournament. It’ll be one versus many, mock battles in group fights. Divide the teams as I said.”

Keter paired the 82 mercenaries into various groups.

Ten squads of three Platinums.

Ten squads of two Platinums and one Diamond.

Two squads of four Platinums.

Two squads of two Platinums and one Amantir.

Four categories in total.

The remaining mercenaries were kept in reserve.

Burgundy led the division of the mercenaries. As the mercenaries organized themselves into orderly groups, Keter brought two people.

Anis and Taragon.

The two were wide-eyed seeing the mercenaries gathered at the training ground. They hadn’t heard anything from Keter before coming.

“Number 2, Number 3. You two will spar with these mercenaries to prepare for the group and team tournaments at the Southern Sword Tournament. Treat it like real combat, but avoid lethal strikes. The same goes for you mercenaries. Do your best against these two, but avoid fatal injuries. As long as it’s not instantly fatal, I’ll heal you.”

Just saying he’d heal them wouldn’t be enough. Keter waved the Elixir he had brought in front of them.

Of course, even then, the mercenaries wouldn’t aggressively swing their swords at nobles. The same went for Anis and Taragon.

But they could correct that.

Keter’s training had no mental preparation. It started immediately. Knowing this, Number 3 raised his hand before they began.

“What is it, Number 3?”

“Instructor. Isn’t Number 1 participating?”

Anis was also curious. Only he and Taragon were at the training ground. Number 1, Luke, who usually trained with them, was nowhere to be seen.

Keter casually replied.

“Number 1 has graduated.”