The Necromancer Who Was Despised

“Even if we turn back, there’s no guarantee we won’t be attacked.”

That could be even more dangerous.

If they’ve decided to provoke us, we’ll become an easier target for attack if we avoid the viscounty and turn back.

The relationship between territories is bad, and the relationship between mercenary guilds is also very bad.

To be honest, even if the relationship between territories is good, it’s difficult for the mercenary guilds of each territory to get along.

Mercenary guilds are fundamentally about recruiting excellent mercenaries to their branches, so they’ll even sabotage each other’s mercenaries if the relationship is bad.

“If the relationship between the lords isn’t bad, they’ll at least put on the brakes…”.

But these two aren’t in that kind of relationship.

“I’ve been making a name for myself recently.”

A 5-class black mage, including a high-ranking expert set.

A new upper-tier party and a rising star party.

With a guarantee attached to that situation…

“If we get caught, we’ll be targeted for sure.”

If the royal family openly watches over us, it’s uncertain, but that’s impossible.

Anelis might be able to sneak away if she directly faces a crisis, but that’s about it.

No, thinking about the recent foolish acts I’ve committed, I could have just abandoned her.

So, choosing to flee is a foolish decision. It’s better to face it head-on.

“At least, it’s hard to kill us openly.”

Some guys might provoke and attack us.

However, if we flee, they’ll gang up on us.

You might think it’s easier to attack us within the territory, but then the Mercenary Guild would intervene.

Exactly, not a branch, but the Mercenary Guild’s headquarters.

“A mediocre branch has many people eyeing it.”

If the headquarters gives a reason to intervene, it’s not just a matter of our heads rolling, but the entire branch might disappear.

It’s an opportunity for everyone, whether it’s the surrounding branches or someone who wants to take over an existing branch.

The headquarters has that much power and authority, but it’s not easy to move.

So, the branch won’t easily give a reason, and that means the inside of the territory is safer.

“Didn’t you say that the Perseus Mercenary Unit and Moses Trading Company are also eyeing us?”

In the worst-case scenario, those two and the Juterus branch’s mercenaries could surround our party from both sides.

It’s not a simple request like that.

It’s a request with a sufficient level of difficulty.

“After all, the king said he’s protecting the Ryneta territory, so he can’t send just anyone. Prove it.”

This test has three stages….

There’s nothing we can’t do. That’s how I judged it.

“I understand. I’ll do as instructed, and we’ll take on the transportation request.”

“Thank you. We’ll lend you a carriage. The request fee isn’t that high, but we should support you to this extent.”

On the surface, it’s just a goods delivery, so the request fee can’t be high. The request period is also short.

Still, since it’s a rare book that magicians covet, our basic worth due to our abilities is reflected in the price, so it’s not as low as you’d think.

“It’s not like money is that important, anyway.”

We already have hundreds of gold, and what’s important is the request’s achievement.

It’s a good request that can be solved quickly, and the timing is just right.

Even if we fail to complete the request due to an attack, we can still have someone else do it, so the risk is low.

“Our value will drop, and we’ll receive a warning. In the worst-case scenario, we might even be recommended as a certified black magician, just to protect Anelis.”

It’s a cold calculation, but it’s also a test.

At the same time, it seems like they want us to help Ryneta, judging by how they’re providing us with situation information.

We need to take the test, but it’s also a mindset that wants us to do well.

And I think I’ll naturally pass this test and show even better results.

So they can value us even more highly.

After receiving the request and additional information, I parted ways with Griant.

I prepared for departure, gathered my party, and said firmly:

“This time, we’ll show them a lot of our capabilities.”

“It’s going to be more than when we first registered as mercenaries.”

At my words, Aitina shrugged and said…

“Instead, we don’t have to hold back this time, right? That’s enough, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. If the mercenaries from Dorian’s faction attack us… we don’t need to hold back.”

I had already planned to kill most of them. And I intended to give them a proper warning so they wouldn’t dare to do such things again.

“That sounds good to me.”

“You don’t have to worry about revenge. If the mercenaries from Juterus’ territory really do attack us, we’ll just have to kill them.”

“Are they our enemies or something?”

“That’s from Dorian’s perspective. We don’t need to be enemies with them.”

We’ll be transferring to Linetaro soon, anyway. There was no need to pick a fight with Juterus’ territory.

“It’s not like it’s a long distance, anyway.”

I didn’t know what would happen when, but that was my intention.

Even though the mercenaries had been at odds with us for a long time, I didn’t see any reason to be hostile towards them either.

We just had to receive them properly. No matter how strong they were, they couldn’t do much harm to us.

“It means they’re not our enemies, but rather Dorian’s,” Kaila said, intervening.

I nodded in agreement.

“I don’t like it, but if that’s the case, then so be it.”

Artina seemed to hate those who grew stronger the more she grew stronger.

There was no forgiveness, it seemed.

Looking at how she treated Anelis or those who had been hostile towards us, there was a tendency like that.

“Fortunately, she listens to what I say.”

Although she didn’t like it, she didn’t strongly resist or oppose my words.

Her actions seemed to be due to Mana’s oath, rather than not trusting me.

Kaila was also merciless towards enemies, but at least she didn’t show as much hostility as Artina.

Valdur, who had recently become a free man, didn’t express any opinions like he did during his slave days and just followed orders.

After informing us how to respond to an attack, I ordered them to rest.

When the day changed, we finished our simple preparations and headed to the mercenary guild, where Griant’s carriage and coachman were waiting for us.

“It’s an honor to meet you. Please call me Gehnen.”

The coachman was a middle-aged man with a sturdy build.

Looking at the scars and training marks on his body, he seemed to be a retired mercenary or soldier.

He didn’t seem to have noticed Mana’s awakening.

“I guess they couldn’t send a weak coachman in a situation where we’re likely to be attacked.”

It seemed like a good idea to be a bit cautious.

We accepted the request through the mercenary guild, prepared for any eventuality by stocking up on food in the carriage, and set off towards Iclambard Territory.

“Wow, this is comfortable.”

“It seems like they’ve put some thought into it. The outer wall looks quite sturdy too.”

“And the exterior is quite lavish. It looks like something a noble would ride in.”

It wasn’t excessively extravagant, but it definitely had a high-class feel to it.

The horses pulling the carriage didn’t seem like ordinary cargo horses either.

“By the way, did you see that?”

At that moment, Artina spoke up.

“There were people watching us until we left our territory.”

“I know.”

We are currently in a pretty famous state.

But, like hammering a nail, we received our first designated request.

A high-class carriage came to pick us up, and it was impossible not to attract attention.

And there were people hiding behind those gazes, watching us.

“Familiar faces.”

They must have thought I wouldn’t recognize their faces, but I’ve been active here before, so I couldn’t not know their faces.

“Moses Corporation.”

As Griang said, it was obvious why the Perseus mercenaries weren’t showing up.

“Have they already prepared to ambush us?”

Will they ambush us on our way there or on our way back?

The two most likely scenarios are:

One is that we’ll clash with the mercenaries from Juterus’s side right after we leave.

The other is that we’ll be ambushed near the Dorilem territory on our way back.

But for that to happen, they would need to know our current state or location, so there should be someone chasing us….

“There isn’t anyone.”

Specter, who’s watching from above, already knows our surroundings.

If there was someone chasing us, I would’ve been told, but there was no news.

We can’t escape Specter’s gaze from above, so it’s true that there’s no one following us….

For now, there’s no way to know.

“Let’s wait and see, since there’s no one chasing us.”

“This is too fishy. If they were going to attack, they would’ve done so already. We can’t take the initiative either….”

“Thinking about the request, it’s better if they don’t come. We’re the ones who are going to go anyway.”

“But, Master. They don’t know that. And isn’t it better to just take care of them and be at ease, rather than living in anxiety for three months?”

Athena’s words also made sense.

If we’re going to gather the marked items on the map, those watching eyes will only be a hindrance.

But considering the current situation with Juterus, it wasn’t bad to quietly pass through this time either.

“It’s one way or another.”

However, even after two days, there was no ambush from them.

And so, we left the Dorilem territory and arrived at the Juterus Viscount territory.

“Ah, you’re here early.”

A group of people blocked our path.

They were unfamiliar faces.

“Are you the famous black mage group from Dorilem?”

A large man looked at us and asked.

“…Are you mercenaries active in the Juterus Viscount territory?”

“Then, who’s here? Anyway, you’re called the black mage group, but there are only five of you?”

“It seems like the information has been leaked strangely.”

“So, why did you block our path?”

“Can’t we just let the Dorilem-affiliated mercenaries easily enter our territory? What kind of nonsense would the black mages do?”

Our skills and conduct, backed by the mercenary guild’s guarantee, made it difficult for us to be discriminated against in Dorim due to being a black mage.

However, the story is different here.

“We are those who have received a guarantee from the Dorim mercenary guild. We’re in the middle of a request, so just let us through.”

“…Received a guarantee? I heard it hasn’t been long since you registered as a mercenary?”

I took out my badge from my chest and showed it to them.

“…Even Dorim went so far as to guarantee us. Black mages, and ones who haven’t even been registered as mercenaries for a year?”

A year? It’s been less than three months.

“If it weren’t for the royal family, it would’ve been honestly difficult.”

It’s likely that everyone knew there was some kind of deal behind the scenes.

“So? Are you going to keep blocking us? If you block a mercenary with a guild guarantee for no reason, it’ll cause trouble.”

“…A mercenary affiliated with Dorim cannot roam freely in Juterus’s territory. Leave.”

“Are you going to openly interfere with our request?”

“That’s Juterus’s intention.”

The large mercenary took out a badge from his chest.

It looked somewhat familiar.

“…Impossible.”

“I am Juterus’s Erayan, one of the mercenaries representing the Juterus branch, and I refuse to allow a mercenary affiliated with Dorim to roam freely in our territory.”

“If you ignore our warning, we cannot guarantee your safety.”

“…It’s become troublesome.”

He was a mercenary whose credibility was guaranteed by the Juterus mercenary guild.

‘Is this the official stance of the Juterus branch of the mercenary guild?’

Looking at him, it seemed to be the case.

‘It’s not a phrase that can be used lightly, claiming to represent a certain power.’