Volume 5 Chapter 21 I'm Captivated, But...
Suddenly, I noticed Reed was looking at me silently. More accurately, he was staring with great interest at the black spear (Gram) I had slung over my back.
"I thought this the first time we met, but you have a strange spear there, nerd. I mean, I've never seen a mercenary in this country carrying anything other than a sword."
"Well, the sword enthusiasts in this country are no joke..."
"Well, even if you say that to me, I don't know what to do about it."
I couldn't help but look at Aina, but she quickly averted her gaze. Well, telling her wouldn't really change the customs ingrained in the country.
"...Huh!?"
Before I knew it, Reed had come close to me and was observing my spear intently while resting his chin on his hand.
"Upon closer inspection, it's quite a cool spear, isn't it?"
"Oh, uh, yeah, I guess so."
'Hey, partner, when you actually see it, you get it, right? That vibe this Hero (Eiyuu) is giving off with his spear, it's like...'
Gram seemed oddly nostalgic. Come to think of it, this black spear (this guy) probably didn't get much praise.
As I'm pondering that, my eyes casually land on the sword hanging from Reed's waist.
It's not particularly shiny, more like rough-looking. But there's this weird feeling that keeps me glued to it.
Feels like I've been in a situation like this before――
"Hmm... it's really something..."
A shiver runs down my spine.
Reed, tracing his eyepatch with his finger, is totally captivated by the black spear as if possessed. His mannerisms almost make him seem like a wild animal eyeing its prey.
Feeling overwhelmed by that presence—and not wanting to let that show—I take a step back from Reed, exhaling deeply, and ask.
"...So, what's your angle here? Going through all this trouble for what?"
"Whoa, hold up, we're getting off track here."
As if the weird vibes were all in my head, Reed scratched his head coolly, looking kinda troubled.
"Well, you know, I can't help but get curious when I stumble upon something rare. Don't give me that look, Black Blade-san."
He called me by my nickname, and it made me furrow my brows. Well, to be honest, my brows might've been furrowed longer ever since this guy showed up.
"I'm big on gathering intel, you know. After meeting you guys for the first time, I had my lackeys do some digging."
It's not just some random big shot—Mikage made sure I knew that. Being a 2nd rank mercenary with a lot of achievements and a bunch of followers probably means he's got some serious leadership skills.
"Even the guild in this city has some mercenaries from the royal capital. I treated them to drinks and heard some interesting stories. Seems like you've been making quite a scene around here."
Reed chuckled and shook his shoulders as if remembering something about me.
"Enough with the talk. So, what's the point of all this roundabout business?"
"Don't be so dramatic, Silver Flash. It's simple. I just want you to help me with the job I'm currently working on."
"Help you... huh. You sure know how to ask for help in a roundabout way."
Mikage said with obvious disdain. Reed, the subject of her disdain, continued to smile as if he found her gaze comforting.
'He knew partner wouldn't just agree without a fight. And he also knew how to put partner in a situation where he couldn't help but agree.'
Reed got those troublemakers in the back alleys of the city to think that he and I are allies. He went out of his way to set up a meeting during the day just to make sure someone saw us together and got the wrong idea about our relationship.
As a result, I find myself at odds with the opposing faction of Reed in this city's underworld. It's too late to try and convince them that I have nothing to do with Reed.
'After all, you pretty much picked a fight with Reed without any connection, partner. It's partly ypur own fault for acting like that.'
I can't help but groan at the blunt comment.
At this point, I could just give up on the stuff at the inn and head back to the royal capital.
Luckily, as mercenaries, we always carry our usual gear. We also have some money on us, so if we pool our resources, we should be able to scrape together enough for the carriage fare back to the royal capital.
'No, that's gonna be pretty tough.'
But Gram shot down my idea right away.
"So, you're saying that there's someone lurking in this city that even Reed-san, a 2nd rank mercenary, needs help dealing with?"
"That's the gist of it, young lady. Initially, we thought we were dealing with someone easier, but after looking into it, things seem pretty serious. Honestly, we're short on manpower."
Despite Reed's playful tone in response to Aina's question, there was a more serious atmosphere than before.
'Reed's strength is still a mystery, but even Mikage reluctantly admits he's the real deal. Dealing with someone he asks for help against is gonna be a real pain.'
Gram's calm analysis made me growl again.
"Just so you know, it's gonna be tough to slip away now. By now, there are probably guys waiting at the entrance of the city, tailing us. There are a lot of them, and they know this city like the back of their hand. If they find us, we'll be dealing with some serious troublemakers."
"Someone as skilled as you is having a hard time, huh..."
No matter how much she dislikes him, Mikage is the one who sees Reed's abilities and trusts him the most. That's why she trembles and holds her breath.
"It's not like we can't win head-on, but it's certain that our losses will be significant. We might even end up causing trouble for the civilians. And that's where you guys come in."
Reed points at us sharply.
"Not to mention the power of Silver Flash. Aina, the new but talented magician. Kyunei-chan, a top-notch healer even though she's just a town doctor. And the rising star of the royal capital, Black Blade. We can't afford to let you guys slip away."
"So, you came up with a plan to create a situation where we have no choice but to cooperate... You're still as selfish as ever, aren't you?"
"But, you guys probably don't mind this story, right?"
Saying that, Reed chuckled triumphantly.
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