Level up with swords (47)
Common sense suggests that this meeting would have been difficult to establish.
Blaine’s guildmaster, Bernard, was a former A-rank adventurer and a powerful person in charge of a city. He only had no title, but the authority he could wield was greater than that of any nobleman.
This is true even if you just look at the preparation process for this war to subdue evil.
It was Bernard who made the decision to move the army alone with the lord of this city, Earl Blaine.
‘I heard it’s hard to see the faces of B-ranks, who are the guild’s core personnel, but I see them often.’
Leon smiled bitterly inwardly.
There were a lot of bribes offered by merchant owners just to get a glimpse of Bernard’s face. How much can you gain by becoming friends with the guild master?
A monopoly on secret information, an advantage for competent adventurers or mercenaries.
Even if you get just one thing, you can easily beat your competitors. Therefore, merchant owners have no choice but to look for the guild master as their eyes widen.
‘No, it’s not just merchants who do this.’
What about nobles?
Unlike religious orders that despise nobles, guilds do not shy away from contact with those in power. It was possible to recruit talent that required decades of effort as long as the requirements and wishes were met.
Even if it is a bit difficult for A rank, they are people who can perform at a mid-level or higher level in any knighthood even if they are only B rank. This meant that it would take at least 20 years to grow it by hand.
Moreover, what if you get lucky and recruit an A-rank person? A strong man who was not even in the royal palace could end up staying in his family.
“Hmm, where should I start?”
Bernard muttered after taking a sip from his teacup.
“I’m sorry for calling you out and thinking about it, but this situation was something I had never experienced before. Please understand just a little bit.”
“of course. “Please tell me when you have organized your thoughts.”
“Haha, thank you for saying that.”
It’s not that it wasn’t, it was just as he said.
War to subdue evil.
Although it was rare in itself, it was an event that could be experienced occasionally. An extermination operation targeting ‘evil’ captured by the religious sect. A holy war in which the Holy Knight takes the lead, destroying all obstacles and pursuing justice without regard for borders or the shackles of the law.
This was something that Bernard also experienced during his days as an adventurer, and he made quite a remarkable contribution.
“But this subjugation war is a little different… .”
Leon, who was only a C rank, was not only on the tail, but he even took the lead in the operation while accompanying the church’s assistant. It was an operation that mobilized more than a thousand adventurers, mercenaries, and military forces.
He boldly used those people as bait to form an intrusion team and succeeded in recruiting two of the three major villains of the slums. In the end, he personally took down the leader of the guys who were trying to take over this city.
It was a performance worthy of being the protagonist of this subjugation war.
“Huh, I’ll just tell you everything.”
Bernard said while twisting his mustache.
“Your performance is such that it wouldn’t be surprising if you were already promoted to A rank. It’s unprecedented, but it’s not against the rules. “It’s just that no one has made it this far.”
“But,” said Bernard, beginning to cry.
“Disclosure of performance will be unavoidable. Being unprecedented inevitably attracts people’s attention. “Even if it was the correct procedure, if the reason is kept private, it is likely to cause a major blow to the transparency of the entire guild.”
“… “You might think I was promoted through fraudulent means.”
“There are testimonies from the Holy Church, so there may be few who will say it openly, but bad reputations spread secretly.”
Leon nodded, understanding those words.
Secrets quickly lead to suspicion, and when misunderstandings and jealousy are added, it can quickly turn into malice.
Apparently, he was standing at a crossroads again.
‘Well, there’s no need to worry.’
Leon, who had already decided, opened his mouth.
“Guild Master, please put my promotion on hold.”
“… “Are you serious?”
Bernard’s eyes widened.
In a way, all that was needed was to reveal his performance. He could have been a hero. A young hero who led the battle to subdue evil and even received recognition from the Holy Church at the age of less than 20!
As the story of Leon spread, bards would be busy inventing as many of his songs as possible, and nobles and merchants who were greedy for talent would tempt him with the most luxurious conditions.
It’s literally a situation where wealth and fame are rolling in, but you’re going to kick it without even thinking about it?
“Yes, I have decided.”
But Leon also had his own thoughts.
The fact that his activities are widely known means that they are also known to the ‘evil’ group that has been hiding in this city. Since he was the one who disrupted the grand ceremony of <Swallowing the City>, there was no doubt that they would come to kill Leon if his personal details were spread.
‘With my current skills, I can’t even keep up with myself.’
Because he had a holy sword, he was able to easily deal with the foreign magicians, but his pure strength was not even B-rank.
If ‘evil’ does not come forward directly and mobilizes its minions, Leon’s life is immediately in danger. There was no reason to pursue wealth and fame despite such risks.
“I plan to space out promotions to B rank a bit.”
In fact, it was because he couldn’t even classify an Auror, but Bernard couldn’t figure it out so he just nodded.
A young man who doesn’t like fame.
Maybe he thinks that way.
“I understand. If that’s what you mean, I can’t say more. “I will make sure that the details of this subjugation war cannot be viewed under the authority of the guild master.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“That’s what I’m going to say. If it weren’t for you, this city would have been devastated right now. “It’s truly a shame.”
Bernard looked down at his prosthetic leg with bitter eyes, then smiled and stretched out his arm to Leon’s shoulder.
“Still, I was glad to see a young man like you. If you change your mind, please let me know. As you can see, I have wide feet, so many bards know it. “Within two months, I will make your name ring across the other side of this continent.”
“Well, that’s a bit…” .”
“Ha ha ha ha ha! Blaine’s hero is so shy!”
Bernard patted his shoulder and laughed. Leon staggered from the impact, but then something came to his mind and he spoke.
“Now that I think about it, Guild Master.”
“Something?”
“What happened to Khan after the subjugation war? “There was no news. Did he just go back to the slums?”
Bernard’s eyebrows came together at that question.
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“Tsk, he would have already run away.”
“… yes?”
“The day after the subjugation war ended, we liquidated the property in the slums and fled out of the city. I don’t know where he went. “Because he was so quick, I couldn’t catch him as a chaser.”
Leon was so dumbfounded that he just opened his mouth.
The escape itself was expected.
Nearly half of the slums were destroyed by this subjugation war, and now all that remains is to be swept away. Moreover, even if there is merit in participating in the subjugation war, the punishment of the Seongcheolsaegi Knight cannot be avoided.
As Karen said earlier, it was certain that she would be sentenced to hard labor or sent to prison for several years.
‘Even if that’s the case, you ran away the very next day… .’
The more things you have, the heavier your butt becomes, but Khan quickly got rid of it without any regrets.
Absurd behavior.
Leon had to remember his cunning once again.
‘I have a feeling we’ll meet again somewhere.’
Leon, hiding his uneasy feeling, let out a long sigh. With that out of the way, he looked at Bernard.
It seemed like he still had something left to say.
“Hmm, this is really the last time for this business.”
Bernard must have noticed that he had just woken up from the hospital bed, and he cleared his throat repeatedly.
“Do you have any intention of meeting the lord?”
“My lord… “Do you mean that?”
“okay. After listening to the bishop, I heard that he has ties to the church, but is not a paladin. “Then it’s okay to be somewhat close to nobles.”
Leon thought for a moment and then shook his head.
“it’s okay. “I don’t know much about etiquette, and I feel that if I get involved with nobles, my goal will get further away.”
“is it? Then, I will accept the lord’s praise on your behalf.”
Some may call it foolish, but being a noble did not give a very good impression to Leon.
That was what I experienced at the academy, and according to what I heard from El Cid, the nobles were traitors. Those who betray the grace of the Goddess and abuse it to put others under their feet.
I didn’t think it would feel good to be deeply involved with them.
“My story ends here. “Will you stop getting up?”
“yes.”
Leon stood up and held his hand.
“Thank you for your continued support, Guild Master.”
“hmm!”
Bernard smiled deeply as he returned the handshake. The two’s first private meeting ended that way.
* * *
“Oh, junior!”
When Leon finished his private meeting with the guild master and walked out, Karen, who was waiting at the door, welcomed him.
Gray-white hair tied in a ponytail.
The eyes that seemed out of focus were still there.
She also suffered some injuries in the subjugation battle, but unlike Leon, the injuries were shallow and her self-recovery ability was so excellent that she recovered a long time ago.
“Did the story end well?”
“huh.”
The distance between the two was different from a few days ago.
A rank and C rank.
Originally, it was a senior-junior relationship at the level of heaven and earth, but the relationship hidden behind it was completely opposite.
Four days ago, Leon proposed to Karen.
Don’t you want to live proudly in the sun, not in the shade?
―I am the hero of this generation.
This is your chance to go from being a miserable assassin in the slums to becoming a warrior’s companion. For Karen, the proposal was like a string from heaven.
In front of the brilliantly shining holy sword, she closed her eyes.
-Before you accept that offer, let me be honest.
Karen let out the words she had buried inside her.
-I have no guilt about the blood I have buried so far. Because I couldn’t live without it. For me, who was born at the bottom of a gutter, their death and suffering was probably a good thing.
But she also had something on her mind.
-I hope there are no more people like me.
Born without parents, surviving without love, and without hope, he only learned the art of taking life into his own hands.
I wish there were no more people living like that.
Assassin, Karen hoped.
―Junior, no, warrior. If you can make it happen. If you say you will make it happen.
For the first time, I got down on one knee of my own free will and swore an oath.
-From now on, I will offer up this sinful life.
And Leon promised.
There was no need to say it out loud.
It is the duty of a warrior.
A better today than yesterday, a better tomorrow than today. For a future where there is at least one less person suffering like her.
That day, the ‘Guardian’ died, and only Karen survived.
“then.”
Karen, who had been taking a few steps ahead, turned around and said.
“What do you plan to do from now on? I haven’t heard the plan yet. “You’re not moving without thinking, right?”
“Hero,” she said, licking her lips and smiling.
Leon thought about those words.
The plan itself existed. After being promoted to B rank, the plan was to set off on a journey to the Titan Mountains.
‘There’s still quite a bit of time left until the 100th day.’
El Cid said.
In 100 days, it is more than enough to achieve the typification of an Auror. If you’re ranked B, that’s the level you can reach.
The problem was that El Cid was asleep right now.
“Karen.”
“huh?”
Coincidentally, a textbook rolled up in front of his eyes.
‘An A-rank rogue and a top assassin.’
Leon looked into Karen’s eyes, which knew nothing, and thought about what he had lacked this time.
Presence detection and search.
Ability and mobility to use the surrounding environment.
The person who could teach me both was Karen.
“I’ll take care of you for a while.”
Karen’s eyes wavered at those words.
“huh? what?!”
“Let’s go to the bishop first. “You’ll need a large space.”
“wait for a sec! What do you want to do? I’m anxious right now, so tell me quickly! “You’re doing this even though you know my personality!”
Pretending not to notice Karen holding his sleeve, Leon walked towards the Prima district where Cesare was.
It was about three weeks and two days until El Cid woke up.
Before that, you have to reach the level of typification as an Auror to save face. I was thinking of trying 〈Seven Star Sword〉, which I haven’t even mastered yet.
‘Just wait and see, El Cid!’
Leon’s eyes lit up with a strange competitive spirit.
