Chapter 143 – Mercenary King (Part 2)

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Immediately after the oracle concluded, Marcus conveyed the contents of the oracle to the companions.

Though Sonya was guarding the temple, and the companions only amounted to Elbridge and Rombel… anyway.

“…Is that really true?”

Elbridge and Rombel were not a little surprised.

The God of the Sunshower had a mischievous side, and occasionally cracked jokes or played pranks. However, he was not a deity who uttered empty words.

Rather, the oracles delivered by the God of the Sunshower tended to hit the mark so accurately that they were close to prophecies. If the God of the Sunshower had sent down an oracle, it was highly likely to be realized.

However, unlike Elbridge who was purely surprised, Rombel’s reaction was a bit dumbfounded.

“Is such a thing really possible? Was your talent that outstanding?”

“He said it is not at a level to discuss the absolute best, but it is quite decent.”

“A decent level. Even my talent would be more than enough to be considered decent.”

Rombel’s talent was at a level worthy of discussing the best among all dwarves.

The fact that he survived on the battlefield even while serving the God of the Steel Anvil, who was unrelated to combat two hundred years ago, proved Rombel’s skill.

“He said martial power is not everything. Without heavenly luck and virtue, one cannot be called the Mercenary King… He said ascension is the same. Martial power is merely one path, and he said there are more deities among the heavenly gods who ascended regardless of combat.”

“Still, since you are a mercenary, martial power must be important. With your current skill, it does not seem like it will be easy to be called the Mercenary King. No, let us assume the martial power issue is solved for now. Heavenly luck, virtue, and even the achievements to become a god. Is the God of the Sunshower going to solve all of that?”

Rombel looked as if it were hard to believe Marcus’s words.

‘No, perhaps he just does not want to believe it.’

Elbridge could understand Rombel’s heart a little.

Rombel spent two hundred years of his three-hundred-year life with the single-minded determination to become a god. Even such a Rombel had failed to grab a clue to ascension, yet he said Marcus would be allowed to ascend to heaven in three years?

Rombel must be feeling as though his life was being denied.

“He said he could assist with a significant part, though not all of it.”

“…Even if he is a deity, how is that possible?”

Marcus replied to Rombel’s crooked question.

“Doesn’t the God of the Sunshower possess nine seats out of three hundred in the heavenly assembly? It means that if you meet a hundred people, roughly three are believers of the Order of the Sunshower, so he said most problems can be solved with their assistance…”

The arrangements the God of the Sunshower had shown so far were mostly like that. Having the believers mesh together naturally, becoming each other’s good fortune.

If the scale were increased a bit more, it might be possible to create a massive flow centered around Marcus. A flow guiding Marcus to the Mercenary King, and to heaven.

However, Marcus had not spoken of the most important thing yet.

Leaning his upper body forward, Elbridge asked.

“So, Mr. Marcus. Did you accept that proposal?”

Elbridge had been with Marcus for over a year.

From what he had observed so far, Marcus was a person who wished for a thin and long life rather than a thick and short one, and comfortable peace rather than fierce glory.

However, if he accepted the proposal offered by the God of the Sunshower, it was certain that Marcus would have to overcome formidable danger and hardship.

Danger and hardship. Those were the things Marcus disliked the most.

However, Marcus nodded his head.

“Yes. I decided to try.”

“How unexpected.”

“The God of the Sunshower must have also made the proposal after great consideration, so it would be a bit impolite for me to reject it.”

“…”

It meant that he had paid attention to the god’s mood out of fear of going against the deity’s will.

The only saving grace was that Marcus’s story did not end there.

“That is not all. Because I also wanted to challenge myself.”

“Hmm.”

“Compared to Sir Elbridge, I am a coward. Faced with a dangerous choice, I always hesitate and back down. However, too much was at stake this time. I know that such an opportunity will never visit my trivial life again. If I reject this proposal, I felt I would regret it in my old age.”

Elbridge spoke in a serious voice.

“It will be dangerous. Very much so.”

Marcus nodded his head.

“I know. The God of the Sunshower also told me. He said even he cannot control all variables. He said it would not be strange to die at any time. Whether it is the Mercenary King or ascension, he can only lead me to the nearest place, not drop me off at the destination…”

Marcus smiled awkwardly.

“Actually, accompanying you all, I always felt it. That I was always hiding a few paces behind you. That I might have been a bit of a burden… I also wanted to seize this opportunity and move a few steps forward. So that I can be of help.”

“Well. I have never thought that Mr. Marcus was not helpful.”

“It is just that I felt that way myself. Besides, there were many other reasons. If I succeed, Mother will be proud, Father who used to beat me will look at me differently, and my neighborhood friends will be surprised…”

Marcus talked a bit dreamily, then stopped speaking. Was he perhaps having a happy imagination?

As the silence dragged on, Rombel could not endure it and shouted.

“God of the Sunshower! Do you perhaps need a dwarf to become your henchman?”

Immediately, an oracle descended.

– Too late.

“Hmm. Is that so…”

Rombel stared quietly at Marcus.

Just by looking at that expression, Elbridge could guess what Rombel was thinking.

He must be thinking, ‘If I finish off Marcus, could I occupy Marcus’s spot instead?’

There was no way the God of the Sunshower would fail to read the thought that even Elbridge could guess. Immediately, the God of the Sunshower delivered an oracle.

– Unless you want to end up like Niceras, you had better not do any foolish things.

It was a threat that even if he received the Chief God’s choice and grabbed an opportunity for ascension, he would vote to drop him.

And if it was the God of the Sunshower, it seemed he could actually do so. Did the God of the Sunshower not seem well-connected?

Elbridge asked casually.

“By any chance, did the God of the Sunshower block Niceras’s ascension?”

– That is not it. However, because Niceras caused too many accidents, there were quite a few deities who disliked him. Though she has descended from heaven now, the Goddess of the Briar also disliked Niceras.

“I see.”

With that exchange as the last, the conversation stopped.

Just when the weight of the silence, accumulating bit by bit like that, was becoming burdensome, the first arrangement prepared by the God of the Sunshower arrived.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in.”

The person who appeared when the door opened was Murbach.

“What business brings you here?”

At Elbridge’s question, Murbach replied in a slightly bitter voice.

“An oracle has descended. The God of the Sunshower told me to accept Marcus into the mercenary corps.”

If one wished to be called the Mercenary King, a foundation was necessary. And the Murbach Mercenary Corps was a suitable group to use as a foundation. The scale was neither excessively large nor small, and its evaluation in the world was also excellent.

“Will Marcus become the vice-captain?”

“He said there is no need for that. He said he will stand out on his own. Actually, I think that might happen soon. Since none of my men can beat Marcus.”

Because Marcus always faced enemies he could not handle beside Elbridge and Rombel, it was difficult to personally feel that his skill had improved.

However, through sparring with the members of the Murbach Mercenary Corps, Marcus was able to view his skill objectively.

Yet apart from that, being recognized by Murbach was a special experience.

In the past, far from becoming the second-in-command of the Murbach Mercenary Corps, he could not even have entered the Murbach Mercenary Corps.

Marcus muttered.

“…My life has taken a rapid turn. When I first met Sir Elbridge, I never dreamed it would turn out like this.”

Murbach laughed gently.

“Anyone looking would think you have already become the Mercenary King.”

However, in a corner of Murbach’s smile, a faint shadow was cast.

Because Marcus standing out in Murbach’s mercenary corps meant that before long Murbach would die or retire, and Marcus would lead the mercenary corps.

Rombel crossed his arms and said.

“If Marcus joins the Murbach Mercenary Corps… it will be goodbye for the time being. Since we cannot afford to follow the Murbach Mercenary Corps around.”

“Perhaps so.”

At that moment, someone knocked on the door again.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in.”

The person who appeared this time was Marquis Hagenroth.

Unlike when Murbach appeared, Elbridge’s group was slightly surprised.

Because a person of Marquis Hagenroth’s stature usually summoned the other party rather than visiting them.

Likewise, Marquis Hagenroth was also slightly taken aback. He surely had not expected to bump into Murbach here.

However, Marquis Hagenroth quickly realized the reason Murbach was here.

Whew.

Marquis Hagenroth let out a small sigh, then approached Marcus and said.

“Marcus.”

“Yes. Marquis.”

“I will be blunt. Do you have any thoughts of joining the Hagenroth family?”

“…Yes? Is such a thing possible?”

“Of course it is possible. There are many ways, too. You just have to put your name up as a member of the family.”

Marquis Hagenroth spoke as if it were nothing, but from Marcus’s perspective, it was not. The name of a great noble holds power in itself.

Marcus instinctively checked Marquis Hagenroth’s expression.

Because he was worried that the Marquis might have made the proposal driven by the God of the Sunshower.

However, Marquis Hagenroth’s expression was calm.

“And… if a Mercenary King is going to emerge anyway, it is better for the Mercenary King to emerge from our family.”

“It is not certain. Before that, the probability of me dying or getting severely hurt is high…”

“Marcus. Do you intend to smear the name of the family?”

“That is… not it.”

“In that case, even if you die without becoming the Mercenary King, the Hagenroth family has nothing to lose.”

A bit cold, but a precise judgment.

This too was surely the result of the oracle sent down by the God of the Sunshower.

Seeing that Murbach and Marquis Hagenroth appeared at the same time, the God of the Sunshower must have delivered the oracle to both of them as soon as Marcus consented.

The arrangements prepared by the God of the Sunshower are only beginning now.

How far would the God of the Sunshower look ahead, how many people would he use, and how many things would he prepare?

As Elbridge inwardly marveled, the Goddess of the Rusty Shield casually sent down an oracle.

– Elbridge. Your Goddess can also do that.

“Is that true?”

– Just watch. As soon as you arrive in Solenion, Victor of the fruit shop will hand you an armful of apples. It would also be good to visit Wilkerson’s inn, which appears after walking east from here for two days. Wilkerson shall not charge you a lodging fee.

“…I will look forward to it, Goddess.”

While Elbridge was whispering with the Goddess, a sharp, piercing sound echoed in his ears.

Bzzzzzt—

Since it was a roaring sound that was heard without any warning, Elbridge covered his ears and sprang up from his seat.

Murbach and Marquis Hagenroth looked bewildered by Elbridge’s sudden action, but Rombel and Marcus, like Elbridge, covered one ear and rose from their seats.

The three immediately recognized why this roaring sound was heard.

Elbridge spoke.

“It is Sonya’s calling magic.”

There was only one reason Sonya would use calling magic.

“The Central Mage Tower Lord has fallen into the mousetrap.”