Chapter 81

Episode 81. This is the Price of Defeat (1)

The certificate proving the successful completion of the request from the request plate fluttered in Keter’s hand, and Cork’s face turned ashen.

The mercenaries nervously watched Cork’s reaction. The branch manager they knew wasn’t the type to admit defeat easily.

As expected, Cork gripped his sword and said, “I can’t accept this.”

With those words, the mercenaries who had remained neutral burst into jeers.

“How pathetic! You act all high and mighty, then lose and refuse to admit it!”

“Keter completed an impossible mission. He didn’t interfere like you did, nor did he cheat. What else are you going to argue?”

“I don’t like the idea of a Solver becoming the branch manager, but seeing you act so un-mercenary-like is even worse!”

Under the mercenaries’ fierce backlash, Cork clenched his lips and shouted as if having a fit.

“Stop spouting nonsense! Keter cheated. He colluded with the Red Comet!”

Hansen, a mercenary who had been watching Keter from the start, retorted, “That’s a fresh take—a named monster negotiating with a human. You might not have seen it, but Keter fought the Red Comet risking his life. What do you think about that?”

“They were just pretending to fight. Can’t you see? Does Keter look like someone who could defeat a named monster?”

“Have you ever fought Keter? We’ve seen him. He’s strong. Branch Manager, just admit defeat and step down.”

“You bastard, Hansen! You’re siding with Keter too!”

Cork pointed his sword at Hansen but was startled when mercenaries gathered behind him.

Keter didn’t even need to speak. The mercenaries had made their choice. It wasn’t Cork, but Keter, who was fit to be the branch manager.

Realizing the tide had turned, Cork felt like he was losing his mind. How did it come to this? Just when he was so close…

If he could get the artifact, he could become the Mercenary King!

“I should have done this from the start.”

Aura erupted from Cork’s sword, filled with sticky malice.

Over thirty mercenaries stood against him, but none of them looked confident. They knew that if Cork, a Diamond Class, went all out, half of them would die.

The mercenaries, who didn’t have enough loyalty to die for Keter, began to step back.

Eventually, a wide space was cleared for Keter and Cork.

Cork sneered. “Heh, a mercenary should prove themselves with strength, not tricks. I’ll show you how I climbed to this position, Keter.”

Cork’s entire body shone brilliantly, a precursor to pushing his magical tool to its limits.

Keter smirked. Then, as if he had been waiting for this moment, he said, “You’re struggling so hard for me until the end. How generous.”

This long-standing feud could only end with someone’s death.

But Cork wasn’t even given that chance.

“You’re tarnishing the position of branch manager, Cork.”

A deep, resonant voice cut through the tense air. Everyone’s gaze turned to the source.

A man pushed through the crowd. A sturdy frame. An apron that didn’t suit him. An eyepatch covering one eye.

People called him by this name.

“One-Eyed Joe, Joyray?”

“Why are you here?”

The mercenaries tried to shoo away the suddenly appearing Joyray.

“The tavern owner has no business here. Go back!”

“If you’re just passing through, keep moving.”

Both the mercenaries and Cork frowned at Joyray’s disruptive entrance.

However, their expressions changed at Joyray’s next words.

“I’m not just passing through. I’ve been here from the start. From beginning to end, I saw everything.”

Joyray’s presence was overwhelming. He was a head taller than most, and the smell of raw meat clung to him.

But did no one know?

Of course, not everyone was unaware. Keter knew. He just didn’t show it.

Regardless, Cork, eager to kill Keter, snapped at Joyray.

“Whether you’ve been watching from the start or not, don’t meddle. Just keep watching.”

“I can’t just watch. I have a position to uphold.”

“Who do you think you are to interfere in this? Should I pluck out your remaining eye?”

“Cork. Unlike the others, you should know what this is.”

Joyray pulled a badge from his pocket and pinned it to his lapel.

A golden border with a silver body. The image of a blindfolded woman holding twin swords was engraved on it.

“W-what? Y-you have that? No way…!”

Cork was shocked the moment he saw the badge.

“That badge…!”

The eyes of those among the mercenaries who recognized the badge widened in disbelief.

Of course, they were the minority. Most mercenaries didn’t know the meaning of the badge and soon began to pester for an explanation.

“What’s the big deal about that?”

No one explained. Only a few mercenaries, like devout followers meeting a god, clasped their hands together in awe.

“Ah, so the Mercenary Association hasn’t abandoned us after all.”

“That man isn’t just a tavern owner. He’s a council member of the Mercenary Association! From the beginning to the end, he’s been watching over us!”

* * *

A council member of the Mercenary Association.

That doesn’t just mean holding a high position within the association.

They were the ‘representatives’ of millions of mercenaries recognized by leaders worldwide. Representatives who spoke for hundreds, thousands of mercenaries, replacing the position of the Mercenary King.

There were only eight of them.

Their identities were unknown.

And yet, one of them was in Ruquer, hiding his identity as a tavern owner.

The appearance of a council member, akin to a legend for the mercenaries, left everyone stunned. Especially Cork’s reaction was even more intense.

“A council member? A mercenary council member was in Ruquer!? Is that even possible?”

The position he dreamed of, ‘Mercenary King,’ had been replaced by ‘council member’ in the present.

Meaning, Joyray before him was the closest to the Mercenary King he had dreamed of.

“That shabby tavern owner can’t be a council member!”

“Branch Manager of Ruquer. Your denial changes nothing.”

The Joyray who wore an eyepatch, joked with customers, and fought frivolously was no longer here.

Council member Joyray of the Mercenary Association exuded an overwhelming presence as he strode toward Cork.

Cork trembled even as he pointed his weapon. It wasn’t just the weight of authority.

A council member was still a mercenary. But a mercenary representing millions couldn’t be of a low rank.

Cork knew that only mercenaries of the highest rank, Orichalcon, could become council members.

Swish.

Joyray reached out toward Cork’s sword. Despite it being a level 2 magical tool and brimming with aura—

Crack!

Joyray crushed it like a cookie.

“……”

It was so surreal that Cork dumbly stared at the hilt of his now-shattered sword.

“You dared to ignore the Mercenary Association’s traditions. As a council member, how could I stand by? If you want to fight Keter, you’ll have to go through me first.”

“……”

Cork’s once-proud shoulders slumped. His fighting spirit had sunk to the depths.

Even when he fought an Amantiir-ranked mercenary, Cork felt an immense wall.

But against the Orichalcon rank before him… he couldn’t even sense a wall.

Infinite.

It was like facing an endless, vast ocean.

“You don’t seem to have the guts for it.”

Joyray turned and shouted to the mercenaries.

“By the authority of a council member, I declare: Cork, who lost in the Trial of the Goddess through proper procedure, is stripped of his authority as branch manager effective today. The authority is granted to Keter, the victor.”

It wasn’t a request for opinions but a unilateral announcement.

No mercenary disagreed. Even Cork hung his head low, his fists trembling.

Keter wasn’t one to let it slide.

“Hey. You mad?”

“……”

“What are you gonna do if you’re mad? What can you do?”

Keter’s taunting in Cork’s face was utterly infuriating.

Cork’s response was—

“…Congratulations.”

Acceptance.

Cork raised his head, his face calm.

“I lost. I admit it.”

“You didn’t admit it. You just gave up because you couldn’t beat Joyray.”

Despite Keter’s provocation, Cork didn’t throw a punch.

“I won’t deny it. Either way, there’s nothing more I can do here.”

Cork turned and walked away, clearly done with the conversation. His gait was unmistakably that of a defeated man.

The mercenaries, feeling triumphant at the villain Cork’s surrender, cheered as if they had won themselves.

“Hahaha! Look at him running with his tail between his legs!”

“Keter won!”

“Wait, the Solver is becoming our branch manager? Thinking about it, that’s kinda…”

Keter was smiling too, but it wasn’t the smile of someone savoring victory.

Cork giving up and walking away?

‘Taragon must have seen the artifact report and just brushed it off. He must have something up his sleeve. Even better.’

Cork hadn’t played his final card yet.

And Keter letting Cork go wasn’t because the revenge was over or out of mercy.

It was for a more perfect revenge.

A more satisfying revenge.

Because revenge is best when it’s certain.

Among the many people, only Joyray understood Keter’s intent.

“You’re planning to finish him off.”

“Who do we have here? The captain. No, the father of the mercenary world, Council Member Joyray, isn’t it?”

“Don’t be sarcastic. I have eyes and ears everywhere.”

“After helping Cork, what do you have to say?”

Joyray hadn’t stepped forward for Keter.

He had stepped forward for Cork.

Because if Cork fought Keter, he would die.

Joyray was, after all, a mercenary and a council member called the father of mercenaries. While personal bonds were important, he cared more for his fellow mercenaries.

No matter how vile and rotten Cork was, he was still a mercenary and had been the branch manager protecting Ruquer for decades. Joyray wanted to spare him.

‘Admit defeat and don’t fight. Then you can live,’ was the message Joyray tried to convey to Cork.

But Cork didn’t admit it. Instead, he showed his determination to fight to the end.

If Cork had truly given up, he would have fought Keter to the end here. Then, at least, Joyray would have saved him at the last moment.

But he ran away.

Enduring the humiliation, hiding his fangs.

A knife in the back is scarier than one in front. In this situation, Joyray couldn’t protect Cork.

“What can I do? I’m the father of mercenaries. Even if it’s a disappointing son, a father wants to save him, right?”

“You’re going to kill your son, and you’re not stopping me?”

“Step-son.”

Joyray handed his badge to Keter.

“Cork must have gone to the mercenary vault. He’s probably up to something there. The branch’s funds are stored in a vault only accessible with the branch manager’s key or someone with higher authority. Take it. Don’t just smash it.”

“Oh, with this, can I raid mercenary vaults worldwide?”

“In this situation, you come up with that question. Very like you. Don’t get any ideas. I can reclaim it whenever I want.”

“Tch.”

Keter clicked his tongue and turned around. It was the direction Cork had left.

Joyray sighed and advised, “Go. And be careful. I don’t know what he’s hiding, but he seemed confident he could handle even me.”

Keter waved his hand in response to Joyray’s warning.

“I’ll trust you, Captain.”

Keter truly hoped Cork had a trump card up his sleeve.

That way, when he crushed Cork’s spirit and beat him down, the satisfaction would be even deeper.

Keter’s mouth watered at the thought of tasting a decades-aged main course.