NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1 - Episode 001: Headhunter, Quitting as a Mercenary
Episode 001: Headhunter, Quitting as a Mercenary
“You’re leaving the mercenary group!?”
The man’s eyes widened at the sudden announcement.
In a certain room, a middle-aged man with a menacing bald head seated behind a desk, and a rugged young man with messy chestnut hair and scars on his cheeks standing in front of the desk, faced each other.
Both of them had larger bodies than ordinary people, and their muscles were so well-defined under their clothes that it was evident they were trained extensively.
The bald man was Vulcan, the leader of the mercenary group “Morning Star Falcon.” The young man was a member of the group, known as Ack.
In this world, there were monsters called “Monsters” that attacked humans, and wars between nations were common. These mercenaries fought monsters and participated in wars in exchange for rewards, serving as independent forces.
Today, Ack had come to inform Vulcan that he was leaving the mercenary group.
“I see. You’ve been a great help.”
“…Unforgivable, unforgivableeeee!! How dare you leave, how dare youuuuuu!!”
After a brief silence, Vulcan trembled and shouted loudly.
Ack’s resignation was not permitted.
– Bam!
“What’s going on!?”
“Captain, what’s happening!?”
“Hey, what’s the matter, Captain!?”
With a loud noise, the door opened, and many sturdy and rugged men rushed into the office.
“Ack says he’s leaving the mercenary group!! Let’s all stop him with everything we’ve got!!”
“That’s not happening. You’re the light of our group!!”
“That’s right. You’re what makes Morning Star Falcon!!”
“It’s too early for you to stand on your own!!”
Because Ack was deeply cherished by all the members of the mercenary group.
To repay his parents’ debt, Ack had been working in the mercenary group, Morning Star Falcon, led by Vulcan, an acquaintance of his deceased parents, since he was a child.
Starting from the bottom, he gradually became stronger with his blessed physique and talents, and eventually rose to become the top mercenary of Morning Star Falcon.
And before he knew it, with his stern face, silent demeanor, and merciless skill in swiftly severing enemies’ heads in one strike, leaving them bathed in crimson, he became the strongest mercenary feared as the “Headhunter.”
“If you don’t want to die, don’t stand before the Headhunter.”
This was a common sense among those who made a living by fighting now.
However, for the members of the mercenary group who had been watching over him all this time, Ack was like their own child, a beloved presence.
They didn’t want him to leave.
“Hey, everyone cares about you so much. Won’t you reconsider?”
“I’ve already made up my mind.”
Despite Vulcan’s persistence, Ack shook his head and refused.
Originally, Ack had planned to leave the mercenary group once he repaid his debt.
It had been several years since he finished repaying his debt. He had continued to work as a mercenary until today to repay the favor and save up money for a certain purpose.
He had achieved that purpose. He had no intention of staying here anymore.
“I see. Well then, I have no choice. We’ll do this by force!! Everyone, restrain Ack!!”
“Got it!”
“Let’s do it!”
“Leave it to us!!”
Giving up on persuading him with words, Vulcan and his subordinates attacked Ack together.
“Haa… I knew it would come to this…”
Ack sighed as if exasperated.
He hadn’t expected to leave smoothly from the beginning. And the world of mercenaries was one where strength mattered. It was evident that they would try to detain him by force.
“Uoooh!!”
“Thanks, Jean, as always.”
“Fugoooh!!”
While expressing gratitude to the members who were attacking him, Ack twisted his fist into a haymaker.
The members crashed into the wall with a dirty scream.
“Haaah!!”
“Thanks, Rock. But ease up on the drinking.”
“Ugeeeeh!!”
Next, he kicked them away.
“Stay down!!”
“Thanks, Luke. But don’t gamble too much.”
“Ugeeeeh!!”
Next, he punched their faces, sending them flying.
After that, Ack effortlessly dispatched the oncoming members of the group.
“Haa… Nobody’s a match, huh… You’ve really grown strong, Ack,” Vulcan sighed, wearing a troubled smile.
His expression was that of a father rejoicing in his son’s growth.
“Vulcan. Thanks to you all for raising me,” Ack replied.
“Hah!! It’s too early for thanks. I’m not like everyone else,” Vulcan chuckled, leaping over the desk and landing in front of Ack, assuming a stance.
As the leader of the mercenary group, Vulcan exuded such an intimidating presence that even ordinary soldiers would tremble and freeze in his presence.
“Alright.”
However, Ack flowed with the same ease and took a defensive stance.
“Let’s go!!”
“Bring it on!!”
“Haaah!!”
Vulcan’s fist attacked Ack.
“Hmph!!”
“Gugaaaah!!”
However, his fist never reached its target.
Because Ack had become so strong that not even Vulcan, the leader of the top-tier mercenary group Morning Star Falcon, could match him.
“I’ll occasionally drop by to say hello.”
“Now, tell me… why are you quitting as a mercenary?” As Ack tried to leave the room, Vulcan, breathless, called out to him.
Vulcan was puzzled.
Being his friend’s son, he had always cherished Ack. Although he had subjected him to rigorous training, he had always treated him with love.
He couldn’t understand why Ack wanted to quit being a mercenary no matter how much he thought about it.
“……”
For the first time, Ack fell silent in confusion.
“Hey… could you tell me?”
“…Actually, I… I like cute things… and… I don’t really like fighting…” Ack reluctantly opened up to Vulcan, his voice strained.
Contrary to his appearance and the rumors of his ruthlessness, Ack actually loved cute things.
Especially fluffy monsters.
And he didn’t want to kill innocent people anymore for money.
“Huh?”
At that moment, the world seemed to freeze.
Everyone in the room stopped moving with expressions of shock.
Because nobody had ever thought that Ack felt that way.
Ack hadn’t expected his likes and thoughts to be understood. Besides, this was a mercenary group. It wouldn’t be comfortable to stay without fighting, and not fighting wouldn’t be tolerated.
And Ack had a dream of running a cafe with cute monsters and living a leisurely life.
He had saved up the funds for that.
So now, he would open a cafe in a more hospitable country and spend his days in peace.
“Well then, see you later,” Ack said, leaving Vulcan and the others frozen in place as he set off for his destination.