I Pull Out Excalibur

38 – Red Eye Mercenary Band (6)

When they arrived in Cambria, the sun had already set.

Since the central guild had closed its doors, the Red Eye Mercenary Band, delaying the report on the request until tomorrow, headed straight to the tavern. It was a tradition for mercenaries to have a drink after a mission.

Najin was among them.

Of course, Najin felt like going back to the inn and resting, but Roselin Ascalo, the leader of the Red Eye Mercenary Band, who had his arm around Najin’s neck, seemed unwilling to let him go.

“The taste of the alcohol here is amazing. I’m a regular here. A regular.”

Humming a tune, Roselin opened the door of the tavern. The tavern was empty. Roselin had reserved it in advance. The members of the Red Eye Mercenary Band took their seats one by one.

At the center of many tables.

In the center, Roselin sat down with a thud and placed Najin next to him. It felt suffocating to have the attention of dozens of members focused on him all at once.

“hehehe. Leader, did you like it?”

“Hunting a crimson troll and a stone golem? Ha, what a fantastic guy with a touch of romance. What’s your name?”

“I heard you even pulled out a sword?”

“Not a talent for a greenhorn.”

Muttering sounds. Mercenaries approaching the table, shaking the beer mugs placed on it. They circled around Najin as if fascinated by him. Najin glanced around with a sidelong glance.

‘The lowest grade is green.’

Most of them had red-grade nameplates, and their momentum resembled that of a Sword Expert. Najin inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘Red Eye Mercenary Band seems to have a power comparable to a knight order. Is it true?’

-They’re quite skilled. Especially that woman, the leader.

Roselin Ascalo.

The level of the mercenary band centered around her was not significantly different from the rumors circulating in the city. It was a mercenary band composed of the top players in the city.

“Move aside, you bunch!”

As Najin was gauging the level of the mercenaries, Roselin waved her hand, dispersing the gathered members. Chuckling, as the mercenaries returned to their places, Roselin stared intently at Najin, chin in hand.

“Did you say he’s a halfie?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“He’s twenty-eight years old.”

Najin nodded, and Roselin chuckled.

“At twenty-eight with that face, ridiculous. You could easily pass for twenty. It’s amusing how youth is betrayed by that face.”

“… I am twenty-eight.”

“Well, I suppose. It makes sense for your level.”

Roselin spat out casually.

“You’re a sword expert, aren’t you?”

“… “

“You can draw a perfect sword, right? You just choose not to. It doesn’t make sense not to draw a sword when you have such a high-quality blade. It’s absurd not to draw a sword with a blade of that caliber.”

She narrowed her eyes.

While she could deceive the eyes of most adventurers, she couldn’t fool her. Despite her casual demeanor, she was a seasoned swordmaster.

A powerhouse standing between human and superhuman.

A figure renowned for her mastery of the sword.

“A guy who looks twenty but is a sword expert… And not only does he handle the swordsmanship of the Sword Sect but also the swordsmanship of the Ahtangga simultaneously?”

A sense of exposure.

Najin took a breath and met Roselin’s gaze. The narrowed eyes of Roselin were glowing red.

“hehehe.”

With Najin on guard, Roselin sipped her drink, suppressing a laugh. She exhaled deeply and patted Najin’s back with her palm.

“Why are you so tense? Who’s going to eat you?”

Najin, appreciating the spicy taste of her hand, rubbed his back.

“Just like that. Where can you find someone in this city without a story? You must have your reasons too. No need to delve into digging or prying. Why bother?”

Even I have serious matters to deal with.

Muttering so, Roselin Ascalo pointed to her pupils. ‘Red eyes’ Roselin. Until she gave the mercenary group the name Red Eyes, the term ‘red eyes’ was more of a derogatory term for her.

The land where the witch of Camran was born.

Red irises were a symbol of the inhabitants of that land.

“I’m not here to threaten you; I just brought you here to have a drink and talk. Relax. Want a drink?”

“I’ve never tried it.”

“A greenhorn like you doesn’t know the taste of alcohol?”

Rozelin sighed.

“If you’re going to disguise yourself as a twenty-eight-year-old, you should know how to drink. Let’s have a drink.”

“Well, I’ve never really tried…”

“When an adult offers, you just accept it, kid.”

Reluctantly, Rozelin handed the glass to Najin. Of course, he was old enough to drink according to imperial law, but he wasn’t particularly interested.

Clank.

Najin forced their glasses to collide with Rozelin’s. The swallow was refreshing, but it didn’t have much flavor. It was just the feeling of being refreshed.

“Right. You’re good at drinking.”

Rozelin murmured as she refilled Najin’s glass. Since the swallow wasn’t bad, Najin drank the alcohol like water. How many glasses had they had? While the other comrades and Rozelin’s faces showed signs of slight intoxication, Najin remained unaffected.

“Wow, this bastard doesn’t seem to be getting drunk…”

Rozelin looked at Najin in disbelief, making a clicking noise. She had hoped to get them tipsy and have a conversation, but instead of getting drunk, Najin’s face remained unchanged.

Najin was also puzzled.

After drinking alcohol, one should feel tipsy, but Najin couldn’t feel that at all.

-Oh, right.

Merlin whispered in Najin’s ear.

-You never get drunk from alcohol, do you?

“What? Why?”

-The basic blessing Excalibur holds is purification and healing. It seems to react to intoxication as well, but even Arthur can never get drunk.

They tried to get Arthur drunk by making him drink day and night, but they failed. At Merlin’s mumbling, Najin smirked. It felt like they had seen a similar part in a fairy tale.

“Phew. Click.”

Rozelin tapped her chin and looked at Najin.

“Where did you learn Ahtungar’s swordsmanship?”

“I knew a knight of Ahtungar among those I know.”

“Oh? Did that person teach you how to use a sword?”

“He didn’t teach me how to use a sword properly.”

Najin smirked.

“But he taught me a lot of other things. I received so much that I can never repay him.”

“He must have been a good teacher.”

“He was an excellent teacher.”

Because of Ivan and Open, Najin was able to be here now. Najin exhaled deeply.

“Did Atanga’s knight also appeal to you?”

“Yes?”

“The swordsmanship you were trying to use, it’s called a bound sword in Atanga. That’s why I stopped you from using it against the troll. But it’s not a technique that can be used.”

Roseline grumbled, chin in hand.

“It’s a technique used only against opponents worthy of a clash, when punishing evildoers who defile the name of a knight by abandoning honor and dignity… It’s a technique used against opponents with high pride, who can be met with all one’s power.”

In other words.

“It’s a technique that only the opponents recognized by oneself can see. Didn’t you hear the explanation until here?”

“…Really?”

“Yes. You don’t show it off unless it’s necessary. I’ve only seen it a few times myself.”

Najin fell silent for a moment.

The sword technique he tried to unveil against the troll. It was the technique that had been the last gateway to leave the underground city, the technique that had defended Excelsior head-on and instead repelled it.

Najin’s own technique, which had been shattered head-on.

It was still the technique that came to mind as the “strongest blow” for Najin. Because Ivan’s sword was heavy and intense to that extent.

“A technique used only against opponents recognized as worthy.”

Najin unintentionally smirked at the thought of the technique that was probably used in the latter sense. It meant that he had gained recognition from Ivan in the very last moment.

“That’s enough chit-chat.”

Roseline stretched and yawned.

“Ivan.”

Roseline exhaled a long breath and called Najin’s name.

“Do you have any intention of joining the Crimson Eye Mercenary Group?”

2.

The moment she made the offer, the pub fell silent. The mercenaries drinking their glasses stared at Najin without a word. A moment of silence settled. Najin met gaze with Roseline, whose eyes sparkled in front of him.

The Crimson Eye Mercenary Group.

Not a bad choice, but naturally, Najin had the same answer in mind to reveal. Ignoring the gathered gazes, Najin replied briefly.

“I have no intention of joining anywhere yet.”

“Well, you’re quick to reject. Usually, even when rejecting, people at least say they would consider it.”

Roseline chuckled. The members who had been watching the two also burst into laughter, saying, “The captain is spurned.” It seemed like they had expected such a response.

The Crimson Eye Mercenary Group is an appealing group for city adventurers… but not so appealing for those aiming for the pinnacle.

And the members had already somewhat sensed that the young man in front of them was aiming for the pinnacle, an ambitious individual. Because he had achieved an overwhelming first place by confronting the blood-red troll, he seemed to have a different determination from ordinary adventurers.

“Well, if you have any thoughts later, come find me.”

“The proposal is still valid until then.”

With a muttered comment, Roselin shrugged her shoulders.

“By the way, the first-place reward was an opportunity to join the Red-Eyed Mercenary Corps… I guess I’ll have to change that. Well, let’s make it simple. Barago, shall we? Come here for a moment.”

“What is it again?”

“That thing, you know, the one with my name written on it.”

With a sigh, Captain Barago handed a piece of paper to Roselin. It was a certificate with Roselin’s name on it. Roselin handed it back to Najin.

“An opportunity to borrow my name. You can think of it as a chance to ask me for a favor.”

Similar to what Dieta had given her but of a different kind. The chance to borrow Roselin’s name in any situation.

“Borrowing the name of one of the peaks of this city, isn’t this a tremendous opportunity? Use it when you really need it.”

These were the words she had thought she should say.

After finishing her words, Roselin let out a short breath.

“Come to think of it, it seems like I’m the only one asking questions. Don’t you have anything you’re curious about? Ask anything. I’ll answer one or two coolly.”

“There is one thing.”

Najin lowered her gaze.

Her gaze was directed at the handles sticking out from Roselin’s waist. Two handles protruding from the lower back.

“What are those weapons exactly?”

“Oh, this thing.”

She tapped the exposed hilt with her finger, then pulled out the scabbard with a snap.

And then, she lightly inserted the two knives into the table. The blades smoothly sank into the table. With a sharp look from the innkeeper, Roselin apologized with a clap of her hands and turned her gaze back.

“Curious about this weapon?”

“Commander.”

“It’s okay, Barago. My masterpiece is well-known anyway, and it’s unique in its own way.”

Ignoring the objections of the captain, Roselin spoke.

“My dear, do you know what a masterpiece is?”

“It’s a weapon with mystery.”

“You know it well. Normally, the mystery of a masterpiece is more useful when hidden, but mine is a bit different. The previous user was too famous, so all the mysteries were revealed.”

Originally, the masterpiece echo was a weapon handled by a hero who operated hundreds of years ago in the Allied Nations.

“So, well, I’ll tell you.”

With a muttered comment, Roselin smiled.

“The 21st Masterpiece, Echo.”

She flicked the sharp edge of the twin swords with her finger. The cheerful sound, “chaeng,” echoed through the tavern like a reverberation. It was a layered sound, resonating several times, reminiscent of what she had heard in the forest.

“As the name suggests, Echo makes anything echo. Whether it’s sound, impact, or even mana.”

“Then the techniques in the forest…”

“Yes. It resonated the blade in the clash of echoes. It’s a technique that spreads the blade using sound. The details are my secret, you know what I mean?”

Najin nodded while her gaze remained fixed on the sleek black blade resting on the table. It was fascinating.

“Interested in masterpieces, huh?”

“It’s fascinating. It’s also the first time I’ve seen something like this.”

“Well, you don’t come across it every day. Since you seem interested, let me tell you a bit more about masterpieces.”

Rozelin pointed to the blade of the masterpiece.

“Despite being a weapon that has existed for at least thousands or millions of years, not a single blemish on the blade, you see? That’s one of the characteristics of a masterpiece.”

“Characteristics?”

“It rarely breaks. Even if it withstands the strikes of a Sword Master, it remains intact. It’s nearly indestructible.”

Nearly indestructible.

It didn’t mean completely indestructible.

“Do they ever break?”

“In very rare cases, they say it does break.”

Rozelin nodded.

“When two masterpieces collide continuously, there are cases where one breaks. But in recorded history, the majority of broken records are from clashes with ‘higher concept’ weapons.”

…Higher concept weapons?

Najin raised an eyebrow, and in her ears, she heard Merlin’s laughter. It was a self-assured laughter.

“What are higher concept weapons?”

“You’d probably say ‘ah’ when you hear it. There are two main ones.”

Rozelin laughed.

“One is the cursed sword Gram, a demonic sword that possessed the power of darkness, and the holy sword Excalibur.”

The pinnacle of all weapons and the sword that transcended death, delivering eternal death to the immortal demons. The moment the word Excalibur was mentioned, Najin swallowed a breath.

“Whether it’s a masterpiece or the relics of the Thrones, they’re just chunks of metal in front of Excalibur. Just the masterpieces shattered by Excalibur in history would be at least five, right?”

Najin silently questioned Merlin within herself.

“Is that true?”

“It’s not five, but seven, to be precise. There were cases where demons or corrupted constellations wielded masterpieces.”

“Did I struggle with just a longsword when I wrote it?”

“Well, you don’t have a star yet.”

Merlin replied as if asking such a question was obvious.

“You need a star to fully unleash Excalibur’s abilities. What you’re wielding now is just a holy sword with ‘demon slaying’ effects and healing and purification effects attached.”

Even that seemed quite remarkable.

“Come to think of it.”

Rozelin flicked her finger as if remembering something.

“Barger, didn’t someone pull out Excalibur this time? Has it been revealed who pulled it out?”

“Not yet. If it were, the entire continent would have been in an uproar.”

“True. But, well… could it be one of the Swordmasters? It seemed like someone was hiding it.”

“I think so too. Maybe Swordmaster Gerde of the Empire?”

Listening to Barger and Rozelin’s conversation, Najin clasped her wrist. The constellation engraved on her wrist was visible only to Najin, but she absentmindedly covered her wrist with her palm.

3.

Early morning.

Najin blinked her bleary eyes at the chirping sound. The mercenaries had been drinking all night, and Najin was the only one among them who remained sober.

“Ugh…”

Rozelin, screaming in hangover, was on Najin’s back. It was the price Najin paid for getting Rozelin drunk all night to see her tipsy.

“Get up. Please.”

“Take me to the guild… just that far. I should be the one to stamp the quest completion seal.”

Najin sighed.

With Rozelin on her back, walking towards the central guild, a groan came from behind.

“Ugh… hey, let me down. Ugh.”

Rozelin quickly slapped Najin’s shoulders with her palms. When Najin put Rozelin down, she sat in a corner of the alley and started dry heaving.

“Pat my back. Ugh…”

Najin sighed and patted Rozelin’s back. Sitting in the alley, holding her hair up with her hand and dry heaving, Rozelin looked quite miserable.

‘Is this the pinnacle of an adventurer city?’

She had aimed for the White-Rank, a bit more glamorous existence. Najin felt a sense of emptiness for some reason.

“Huh?”

A voice came from behind.

Without waiting for Rozelin to pat her back, Najin turned around. There stood a familiar face, the girl who swallowed gold, Dieta.

She was dressed differently than usual. Wearing the attire of a representative of the Dieta Upper, she shook hands with Najin as she headed towards the Central Guild.

“Nice to see you again here…”

However, her welcoming voice gradually faded. The reason was that Najin, who had been patting her back, confirmed the appearance of a woman twice her apparent age, resembling a carefree and frivolous girl in her twenties.

Jet-black hair flowing down to her lower back.

Informal, light, and carefree clothing.

Smooth and fair skin, belying her actual age, which was twice that of Najin.

Adding to that, unsettling crimson eyes.

Dieta’s pupils narrowed, convinced that the woman accompanying Najin was the ‘woman’ she knew.

“… Rozelin Ascalo?”

It was the moment when Dieta muttered those words.

“What, who called me… Ewweeek!”