1.
It’s me, Black Wolf.
It’s also me, Yellow Dragon.
〈”Please bring Black Wolf in.”〉
…
Fine.
‘What exactly do you want me to do?’
That I have to capture myself?
〈”Mission completed, Your Majesty.”
“Good! Where is Black Wolf?”
“Yes, I am Black Wolf.”
“Hmm?”
“Yes?”
“Hmm?”
“Yes?’
Is this really a sensible situation?
‘Especially since Black Wolf has an outstanding top-level bounty on them.’
If I were to confront Black Wolf or Yellow Dragon this way, they would surely lose their heads.
Fortunately, a compulsory name-request mission hasn’t been issued yet.
If this were a necessary condition to prevent sub-quests or bad endings, I would need to resolve it, no matter what.
【A 7-day grace period has been granted until the next bad ending setting <6.??? >!】
The system was quiet, so it seemed like there wouldn’t be a significant issue if I failed or gave up.
‘Then, I’ll just refuse.’
Though it was Black Wolf, hints were already given indirectly, so there shouldn’t be a problem.
“A, we’ve arrived, Yellow Dragon.”
“…I see.”
Right as my thoughts ended, we reached the Mercenary Association branch office. Since leaving the barrier of <Green Forest>, Dalan, who started treating me as Yellow Dragon, grinned and asked,
“Let’s have a drink after a long time?”
“Refusing the mission is the priority.”
“Ugh, what a boring person. The Branch Chief won’t be here until noon, right? Are you just going to stand around here for an hour?”
Indeed, Dalan had a point.
A name request.
A mission where the employer directly names a mercenary, with unmatched security compared to general missions, and consequently, quite expensive too.
Thus, if a mercenary named by the employer refused the mission, it could only be resolved by a Chief level or higher.
“Not really. From what I vaguely heard, there’s an investigation regarding something that happened early yesterday morning. Not sure about noon. They might not even come today.”
This was because the Branch Chief left their post due to the appearance of Black Wolf early in the morning.
“Is that true?”
“Pretend you don’t know. Haven’t you heard the junior members bragging from inside?”
I can’t hear anything, Uncle.
“Anyhow, because of that, let’s get some information from the first floor and head back.”
“That was just your excuse to drink…”
“Eheei, Yellow Dragon! Thinking low of me aren’t you…? …Well, you’re correct.”
Walking ahead, Dalan arrived at the entrance of the Mercenary Association. Just as Dalan said,
“So, is City Rat also Black Wolf’s doing?”
“How should I know, man? Anyway, since Red Master is getting investigated, something new will surely spread around tomorrow, wouldn’t it?”
“That said, how on earth does someone take Red Master as a hostage? What kind of fool is he?”
“Eh, wait a minute, seniors! Red Master won’t be coming today!? But I bought flowers!!”
“Puhek! How dare a mere B-rank mercenary dream so high! Sit down and drink!”
Information about Ruby not coming in, alongside the name of Black Wolf, was circulating.
“What did you do?”
“What needed to be done.”
“Ugh, truly impressive.”
Impressive?
I feel uncomfortable talking like this.
“Alright then, let’s just gather some information and leave according to Dalan’s suggestion.”
“Wait…!”
What’s wrong with him?
<Klang!>
Ignoring Dalan who was raising his thumb, I pushed open the door to the Mercenary Association.
“It’s Yellow Dragon!!”
“What the hell!! Get out!! Move aside this instant!! I’ll definitely get Yellow Dragon’s autograph this time!!”
“Oh, Yellow Dragon!! Since I’ve taken the A-Rank mission, would you like to join me?”
A myriad of mercenaries rushed toward me.
…
【Passive: The Favor of the Sun (Ex)】
◆ Effect:
Glittering light. Cool, huh? If the subject of your <admiration> meets this sparkling light, they are inflicted with the abnormal status <adoration>. <The Favor of the Sun is unmatched in this world!>
…
The twinkling eyes,
the overly familiar arms wrapped around me,
the trembling voice.
‘…So this is <adoration>.’
The sense of fulfillment akin to being an idol was brief. Suddenly, those gathered started shouting.
“I was first in line!”
“Where do you get off shouting, you lowly D-rank? And I was the first to take off my pants!”
“Why would you take off your pants?”
“To get the autograph, obviously!”
This is the real chaos.
Without any clear way out, I was tossed here and there when Dalan slinked up quietly.
“Why the hurry to come in like this? Following me as usual would have been fine.”
Ah, that older man was here all along.
Shoving the approaching people aside, I whispered into Dalan’s ear,
“Clean this up.”
I feel so exhausted.
But Dalan didn’t move.
He briefly pondered, away from the others, then rested his hand on the hilt of his sword and inquired,
“Is this a request made by the Sun? Or… An order from the Lord of the Moon?”
The green glow swirling in his questioning eyes made me realize.
‘Dalan truly is part of the Black Wolf.’
Until now, I only perceived him as a light-hearted middle-aged man with great power among the top ten, but now it’s different.
Were I to answer, not as Yellow Dragon, but rather command him as Black Wolf…
‘…He would undoubtedly clean this up, killing everyone if necessary.’
Sensing the menace, I softened my voice and pleaded, trying to sound vulnerable like Yellow Dragon.
“Hey, dear dragon. Could you please just help me out? What does it mean to be a good friend?”
“…Alright.”
A brief standoff.
Dalan, looking at me through his helmet, flashed a cunning smile once more.
“Thanks to you, Yellow Dragon, I’ve secured a spot. I’ll drink ahead of time.”
“Wait, isn’t that a bit much?”
“Hehehe, what does it mean to be a good friend?”
The elder man in the tattered coat turned away, ordering a drink as though nothing had happened. As expected, there are no normals in the Black Wolf group.
Speaking of which…
“One signature, please!! For the love of, please sign my panties, Yellow Dragon!!”
“Tsk, another competitor. Talon, that guy’s underwear smells nice today, doesn’t it?”
“…How do you even know that, Mr. Namgung?”
‘How am I going to get out of here?’
“Excuse me, everyone?”
After a moment of contemplation, I tried to resolve the situation by starting a conversation.
“NEEEEEEK!!!!!!!!”
“Yellow Dragon called me! It’s me!!”
“It’s me, you bastard!”
“How do you even know that, Mr. Namgong?!!”
Instead, it made the chaos worse.
One cheer after another when I opened my mouth, people would slip through whenever I tried to retreat.
‘Maybe I should just run away.’
And just when I turned my body, trying to map out an escape route as my last option,
“C, catastrophe!!”
A blood-stained man, face ashen, stormed into the Union.
Karang!
“Enough.”
People who had seemed like friendly clerks moments ago immediately drew weapons, targeting the man. The remaining mercenaries also focused their sights on him.
“!!?”
Realizing he was within blade range, the man finally calmed his excitement and reported to the clerk,
“I, I’m Mud, an E-rank mercenary!! Right now, intruders have appeared in the middle of the Central Plaza!! They’ve gathered people and keep killing those they’ve captured!!”
…What?
They’re holding an execution in Central Plaza, the heart of Babylon’s system?
‘Which madmen are these?’
Right when I was about to rush out to confirm,
<Swish.>
The maid-clad clerk confirmed their mercenary badge and drew an axe.
“Proceed.”
“Proceed?? People are dying as we speak!! Don’t we need to go help immediately!!? The Central Guard was wiped out long ago!!”
At the moment the man, whose name truly suited his mud-like appearance, shouted, the clerk asked dryly,
“Is this a request?”
“…What?”
“Minimum fee 1 Gold Piece. F-Rank to D-Rank, personal agreements can be made for silver-based contracts.”
“Shit, people are dying!!”
Enraged, the man shouted and looked around the <Mercenary Union> interior,
“…”
“…”
“…”
But all he found were cold or interested gazes, with no one stepping forward.
It was inevitable.
People who live day to day, gambling their one and only life to survive tomorrow.
Living with death always by their side, a job that makes it difficult to maintain sanity.
The higher their rank, the crazier they became; the ones in the middle made mistakes; the ones staying low died in the cold and hunger.
That’s what the mercenaries of <Babylon> were.
Realizing this dark fantasy’s world once again, my wavering heart slowly settled down.
‘…Anyway, what can I do even if I go there?’
Let’s not delude ourselves.
I’m no <Black Wolf> or <Yellow Dragon>, just an extremely ordinary person.
I’ve become a bit stronger through various encounters, but only a bit.
‘The rank of the <Central Guard> is B+.’
And since it’s a group, there are definitely numerous A-Rank knights included.
‘Even they were all defeated.’
These unknown, deranged individuals are definitely beyond comprehension.
‘I’m only human after all.’
Moreover, from the land of <Babylon>, a 25-year-old young man from South Korea.
Of course, the dying are pitiful,
And the mercenaries who don’t step forward are hateful,
And one wants to step forward like a hero to solve it.
‘But I’m scared.’
Not knowing how to stop them, not confident in finding a way.
‘All that matters to me right now is the bad ending that starts in a week.’
I’ll stop the remaining ten as soon as possible and return to help my friend achieve their dream.
After all, this is just a book.
A person only needs to live their own life well.
It might not even be the real world.
So I decided not to get involved under any circumstances and only act according to my goal.
“Those bastards are making kids wear Roblan masks and then killing them with their own hands!!”
But this was something I absolutely couldn’t ignore.
“Karon.”
A voice filled with pure anger, not belonging to Black Wolf or Yellow Dragon, echoed.
“I’m going to resolve this immediately.”
“…Is that so?”
That voice resembled Black Wolf somewhat, so the seated Karang stood up.
<Creak.>
By the time the chair moved, there was already a clear path between Karang and myself. As Karang approached, he asked,
“Is this a request from the Sun? Or an order from the Lord of the Moon?”
A classic either-or choice leading to completely opposite results.
If I want to hide that I’m Black Wolf, I choose the former, and if I need help, I choose the latter.
Depending on my desire, I could pick one, but halting what’s happening here,
“It’s naturally something that must be done.”
I gave a curt reply and turned around, hearing Dalan mutter quietly,
“You remain the same as always.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
After all, it means even this world’s Nahan isn’t a mad murderer.
“So, should I kill all the intruders?”
“Maximum capture. If not possible, eliminate.”
<Pfft.>
“Then how can I not kill them?”
Dalanced laughed, fiddling with his worn sword while flashing a relaxed smile,
2.
Slowly.
“Hey, wait! I really didn’t do much! I just delivered some medicine!”
“Ew, this scent is foul.”
“Se, save me──”
Taking his time.
<Crunch.>
As he danced with his dagger, the man’s head fell with a thud.
A frail silhouette resembling that of a child poked the fallen head with a stick, muttering,
“Hmm…this is unexpectedly boring. It’d be easier just to clean this up in one go like before.”
“Not allowed. That’s the unit leader’s hint.”
“Tal! I told you to stop nagging me! Anyway, how much longer am I supposed to kill them one by one?”
“More people must be gathered.”
“Huh? So there must be more entertainment?”
<Whish!>
The disturbing emerald-green eyes swept over the tied-up trash.
“Found you. Next is you!”
“No! No way!!”
“Hmm. I don’t like your smell either. You’re so nasty I can’t even play with you.”
<Crunch!>
An overwhelming metallic, bitter stench filled the air, but she didn’t care.
“Phew. Who’s next?”
After the cleaning,
the person with the world’s most fragrant scent will return and hug me just like before.
…But, you know.
”
