The mercenary guild could be considered one of the largest organizations not only in the continent but throughout the world. Many people worked under them full or part-time. Even small and big groups of mercenaries who didn't want to join the guild but desired to use some of its benefits could enlist in the guild and enjoy its benefits by offering a low price.
Being able to use the mercenary guild's contact points was one of the perks of having a Mercenary ID, one other was partial access to its vast network and information. Over the years, the contact points have expanded to cover most parts of the continent to manage and support mercenaries all throughout the land. They were divided into branches and each had a manager and a mage to ease the communication.
"So, you are a party of four? Mr. Raven, Miss Eleen, Mr. Asterum, and... Mr. Dark Magician UwU, MyDearKI'mSorryICouldn'tPullYouBeforeWakinUpHere, Man throwing the table emoticon AAaAaaAAA New life here I come, right?"
"Ahem, r-right!"
If he could, Alaric would've buried himself in the ground right away. Despite his sincere death wish though, he stood side by side with Miss Eleen, trying his best to be of help.
"There are a few missions you can take. Here is a list, check it out and inform me of your choice."
"Yeah, thank you."
Grabbing the paper and turning around, Eleen immediately showed its contents to her group.
[In need of a few skilled coachmen- Each weak 5 Bronze coins.]
"Hmm, they pay well."
"We don't have that much time."
"How much money do we need?"
"To buy everything plus extra food, we need around 40 to 50 Bronze. These are just the basics not considering clothes and equipment."
"That much? if we all take this mission, we should work for 2 to 3 weeks..."
All eyes shifted to the bluehead who shook his head, mumbling that they needed to hurry up. As if his words marked the final conclusion, the group moved on to the next mission.
[Cut down wood. Each day 50 Brass.]
"Huh? Isn't this a bit vague? What about the amount of wood someone cuts? Raven can definitely do better than Mr. Ian, and they pay them both equally?"
"In our team, only Raven can take on such a mission."
"I've got no interest in cutting down trees."
"Next."
[We lack staff members for a theater. You'll be handling the background work, not actually playing. 30 Bronze Coins will be paid after the show ends.]
"Oooh! They pay well and the task is clear! What do you think?"
"When is the show?"
"It's in two days. If they hire the four of us, we can earn 80 Bronzes."
"Isn't it great? Let's apply!"
Alaric's shoulder was grasped by a slender hand.
"Don't you find it suspicious? Why hasn't anyone taken such a good job till now? It's been in here since last weak."
As all eyes shifted to Ian once again, silence coating the area. The four mercenaries exchanged glances, processing the information in their own way.
"Hay, don't act paranoid! Maybe they found better jobs! We don't know what was listed here in the past weak."
"Hmm, I think it might also be because few mercenaries pass this area, thus the number of people seeing the notices might be small. We're beside the jungle after all."
"I agree with my lord. It's suspicious."
Once again, everyone halted and all conversations ceased.
"Your lord? Who is your lord?"
"None of your business. Also, stop being disrespectful and step away from the lord."
Alaric's hand around Ian's shoulder was ruthlessly pushed away.
"Hey, what?"
"Guys guys!" Ian stepped in between the due to prevent any fights from breaking out. "Alright, let's accept the mission. We won't find anything better than this anyway!"
"No wait, what's that man's problem with me? And did he just call you his lord?"
"Ahaha!"
The bluehead burst into a sweet chuckle after a momentary surprise, eyes closing into crescent moons.
"We had a bet and he lost, so he's forced to refer to me like that for a while."
"As his lord?"
"Lord, league, master, and anything like that." Ian paused, heaving a heavy sigh with his gaze sunken, "As a slave of the lowest level, I've always liked to be called respectfully since a young age."
"Uh... I see..." Alaric took his dubious gaze off Ian, his lips twitching down for some reason, and shifted his sunset-colored pupils to the receptionist. "We'll take this one."
"Alright, I'll contact the commissioner right away. It's the four of you, right? Mr. Raven, Miss Eleen, Mr. Asterum, and Mr. Dark Magician UwU, MyDearKI'mSorryICouldn'tPullYouBeforeWakinUpHere, Man throwing the table emoticon AAaAaaAAA New life here I come."
"Y-y-yes! Ahem! You can just call me Dark Magi-"
Clack
The woman had already left the room.
"Miss Eleen, isn't there a way for us to change our nicknames?"
"As much as I know, you need to rank up to do that. People were going around ruining commissions and then easily running from the aftermath by changing their nicknames so the guild created a set of rules to prevent such misbehaviors."
So there was no way to erase this embarrassing alias for now. He was the one who'd brought this upon himself so he had no choice but to accept and endure it.
Alaric heaved a sigh and turned around, too ashamed to stay by the receptionist's desk, but what his eyes fell on was a colorless invisible mass atop his blue-headed attendant's shoulder.
'Uh...'
The 'Thing' shifted a little and wiggled, as if it too was looking his way and waving at him.
'Nah, no! Don't pay any attention to me, I don't wanna get beaten up or ignored again!'
Only heavens know how much adversity he went through to deal with that man's grumpy and sore temper, who kept ignoring Alaric for two whole days as if he didn't exist.
Tap. The 'Thing' jumped down from Ian's shoulder and circled around the noble a few times before lightly 'tapping' his foot and climbing down his pants. Alaric jolted up and stepped backward, panicked, but he couldn't kick the cute little creature away from himself, could he? His nervous gaze fell on his friend, who was giving him a sideway glance, silently observing his actions. A shudder ran down Alaric's spine as cold sweat drenched his back.
Tap Tap Tap
Repetitive pokes to his cheek forced him to snap out of his daze and look to the side. The 'Thing' was now resting on his shoulder. Alaric took a deep breath before releasing a small amount of mana, guiding it towards the thing. As soon as they made contact, a pair of adorable navy eyes emerged from thin air.
-Hiiii~
The baby wolf moved closer, rubbing its head against Alaric's cheek.
-Don't worry, unique master Alaric! Master won't do anything!
The child peeked at Ian before whispering.
-Master isn't mad at you but at me, but since he can't be mad at Lior, he targetted you, hehe! So don't worry!
'Huh? What? What was this child saying?'
-You know, this is the first time someone can see Lior besides Master, so he's quite worried!
'Worried? That's his worried face? Nah wait, Ian can also get worried?'
He thought that man couldn't experience any emotion besides the joy of eating delicious food. Up till now, almost all of Ian's expressions were fake except for the few instances he was happy while having his meals.
More important than that, how could he reply to the child's words? Did he have to speak out loud? But the others would notice it and think he'd gone crazy...
-Unique master Alaric, it's so nice that you can also see Lior! I told you, it's a first, I'm so excited! Do you think others might be able to see Lior too one day? Can you do something so that Lior will become visible? I wanna talk to more people and make friends!
Jumping from one shoulder to the other, the child rambled on without a care about Alaric's probable replies.
-What do you think about Lior? Master says I'm the most adorable and precious thing in the world, do you think it's true? I feel like master might be exaggerating sometimes, but there was no way for me to confirm it as I can't talk to anyone else! I'm asking you since you are the first to see me. Oh, can't you answer me? Just whisper it in a low voice, I'll hear it out!
Watching Miss Eleen exchange papers with the receptionist and the other due suspiciously discuss something among themselves, Alaric parted his smiling lips and hushed out a low-volume reply barely audible to himself.
"He's right for sure."
-Really? Yaaay! Uh! Your mana is dissipating! Quick quick, add some more to it or Lior will disappear!
Grabbing the wolf that was hoping up atop his head, Alaric secretly held him in his arms while supplying him with a streak of mana. No one seemed to pay any attention to him, so he used the chance to mutter out one of the questions piled up in his head.
"Hey, I mean no offense but what exactly are you?"
-Me? I'm not sure either. I was told that I used to be a bundle of Aether at first and matured over time to gain consciousness and characteristics and become the Lior of now. You can say I'm something like a spiritual being or a mystical creature.
A creature made out of Aether... A spiritual being... It was the first time he had heard of those terms. This caused more questions to pop up in his head. What kind of beings were mystical or spiritual creatures? How come Ian could see this thing when no one else could? How could he himself take notice of such a being? What was different about him?
-But Master always says that Lior is his light~
The child proudly declared while wagging its tail.
'His light...'
Ian seemed to be particularly close to this child. It was natural knowing that he was the only person that could see Lior. The bluehead clearly cared a lot for this being, close to being obsessive with him. This was the first time Alaric was witness to this side of his friend whom he thought was a lonely man with not much care about the world.
'It's a good thing that he has such a creature by his side.'
However, he couldn't help but wonder why was it only Ian who could see it and how they came to know each other. Where did he find Lior? In the count's manor?
As his hands thoughtlessly stroked Lior's soft and chubby belly, Alaric whispered another question, "Why do you call him 'Master'? Do you have some sort of contract?"
-Hmm? Contract? Nope, we don't have such a thing... But if not Master, then what should I call him?
"Hmm..."
Lior was right. How was he supposed to refer to Ian if not Master?
"Ah?"
Alaric's actions paused upon sensing a heavy glare cast on him. He didn't need to raise his head or turn around to find who was the person trying to devour him with their eyes. Lior also took notice of this but unlike Alaric, the child softly giggled.
-Actually, there is something, but I rarely use it! Watch me and also keep supplying mana so that you can hear it as well!
The child suddenly had a mischievous smile on its face. Could his expression be called mischievous? Or smiling? It was a wolf after all... No, not even a wolf, it was an Aether creature... Alaric felt weird thinking about what he was supposed to name the expressions a wolf pup.
Tap. Lior leaped down from Alaric's lap and dashed towards Ian, jumped and climbed his body until it reached his head, then rubbed its fur against the man's face.
-Why do you keep scaring Alaric like that? He's a good person and treats Lior well! I like talking to him so don't be harsh at unique master Alaric! Your gaze is enough to terrify him! Plus, he was even wary of talking to Lior because of your previous actions! This is true that Lior wants to make new friends, but don't you worry, papa is the first and only one for Lior!
"....."
Ian's lips, which were slightly parted, ready to talk, trembled visibly and his eyes widened, pupils dilated. His body froze up in an instant with his gaze fixated on the child on his shoulder.
'Did he just call him 'papa'?'
Lior sinister laughter echoed in Alaric's head as soon as he had that thought.
-Hehehe~ Watch him!! WATCH HIM!
It seemed that Lior was only talking to Alaric, proud of his achievement.
"Gasp!"
The bluehead's body tensed up and he let out a gasp. Face flushed up as if in a fever and eyes twinkling with a rare light, Ian turned around, snatched Lior from his shoulder, and pressed it against his chest, squeezing it tight like a child unable to suppress his excitement. The wolf wiggled and giggled, enjoying the sudden burst of affection.
Poof! With a sudden snap, the mana linked to Lior disconnected and the wolf pup disappeared from Alaric's sight, but he could still vaguely guess its expression and actions.
'...Oh my god.'
Looking at his friend who had a wide smile across his face, the young nobleman couldn't help but cover his mouth with a hand. It was the first time, in the last months of having Ian's company, that he saw the boy have a sincere grin on his face. Not fake nor annoyed, but a smile displaying his pure joy and pleasure.
'So... It was something like this...'
How unexpected.
The boy's eyes were filled with so much fondness and warmth that they threatened to explode at any moment, and his face was so red one would think he was sick. He lowered his head, placing a kiss atop the baby wolf's head in his embrace without any regard for the presence of the others.
'How can a 21-year-old be so overjoyed merely by being called 'papa'? Aren't you too young to be a father? Ah... How can he even have so much love for a mystical creature?'
It was amazing no matter how much Alaric thought about it. He made up his mind to ask Ian further about Lior when he got the chance.
"...My league, is something wrong?"
"Huh?"
Jolting up, Ian whirled on his heels to face his ghost-like knight, with a brimming expression.
"Something wrong?"
"Uh..." Kieran's outstretched arm froze midway. "...Are you alright?"
What did he mean by alright? Ian was perfect! He was in the skies, flying, free!
Ian barely held himself back from laughing out loud.
"Yeah, of course! Cough! Why?"
"Uh..."
Kieran threw a bewildered gaze at Alaric, standing far back in the lobby as if to ask him if he knew what suddenly happened.
"...Your heartbeat... It's so strong and fast I can hear it from here-"
"Ahahaha is that so? Cough cough!"
Ian bent his back, suddenly coughing in between his joyous laughter, and tapping his chest. The frozen swordsman wasn't sure what he was supposed to do in this situation.
-Master, calm down! Your heart is palpitating again!
Calm down? How was he supposed to do that? No, why was there a need for it? He was alright. He hasn't been this fine in so many years.
"Guys, I registered the mission under our names, let's go!"
At Eleen's call, the three men turned around to look at her. She was waving a paper at her hand, urging them to follow.
"Yes! Right away!"
Unlike usual, the first one to respond wasn't Alaric but the blue-haired attendant who was silent most of the time. With his lips stretched to the width of his face and eyes shining brightly, Ian strode towards Miss Eleen with light steps. Lior had already escaped from his embrace and was resting atop his shoulder, leaning against his neck in a comfortable position.
"Let's go, we can't be late for our first job!"
"Uh..."
The other three watched in a daze how Ian left the lobby while humming under his breath, almost juggling, with a hand over his chest and occasionally coughing. There was nothing they could do but to follow him.
The place they found themselves after wandering for half an hour was a small building at the far end of the city. The street where the inn was built looked less developed than the inner parts of the city and the buildings were all worn out due to old age.
"Is this the theater?"
Lined up at the entrance of the building, the group checked the address for the tenth time before glancing at each other, daring the bravest person to step up first and enter the building.
"I shall proceed."
Declaring out loud, Ian took a large stride towards the door and pushed it open, poking his head inside. Unlike how it looked from the outside, the inside of the building wasn't so old and abandoned. Groups of people were moving around, some carrying strange objects while some wore colorful dresses, working and conversing.
"You may enter, kids!"
Ian walked in with a straight back after ordering his group to follow behind.
"...Did he just call us kids?"
"Why did his manner of speech change?"
"I know right? Why does he speak like an old man all of a sudden?"
"You know something right, Alaric? Spit it out!"
Before the swordsman could grab the mage's neck, the blue-haired saint stopped in his tracks and did a counterclockwise turn, staring at them from above the stairs, smiling.
"What's the matter?"
"...."
For some reason, this smile of his made the group shudder in cold sweat. The three of them ran behind his back with heads lowered.
As soon as the group of four sat foot inside, the workers all halted their activities and turned their way. Ian raised a paper in his hand, showing it to the occupants of the hall.
"We've come for a mission from the mercenary guild!"
Oh!
The people inside looked around with widened eyes, gasping and chuckling in surprise. Before the group got the time to wonder about the strange situation, a short man with a protruded belly, in formal and neat clothes, ran out from the crowd, arms wide open.
"Oh my, you guys accepted my mission? Fabulous!"