A Disaster-Level Assassin Has Been Freed

Chapter 44: Mercenary (3)

There were a total of five types of rating plates provided by the Mercenary Brokerage.

Wooden Plate, Bronze Plate, Silver Plate, Gold Plate, and Platinum Plate existed, and one could receive a higher rating as their experience, credibility, and skill increased.

Naturally, among the three evaluation factors above, the most important was undoubtedly ‘skill’.

No matter how high one’s experience and credibility were, if their skill was lacking, there would be a limit to the jobs they could undertake.

A Mercenary who had successfully completed 100 requests but couldn’t even draw an Aura Sword.

A Mercenary who had only successfully completed 5 requests but possessed skills equivalent to a mid-level Expert.

The one boasting a higher price between the two would unconditionally be the latter.

Then, what was the ‘standard’ for evaluating the skill appropriate for each rating?

This was a point that didn't even require contemplation.

How well can one handle an ‘Aura Sword’?

There likely wasn't a scoring method in the world as intuitive and indisputable as this.

Those who reached Expert and could manifest an Aura Sword, albeit incompletely, were given the qualification to challenge for a Silver Plate.

Those who reached Graduate, attained a certain ‘class’, and could manifest a completed Aura Sword were given the qualification to challenge for a Gold Plate.

Finally, those who reached Master, achieved their own ‘color’, and could display one of the colors red, blue, or yellow in their Aura Sword were given the qualification to challenge for the glorious Platinum Plate.

It was truly a story so simple that even a child could understand it.

‘And this is something everyone living in the southern part of the continent knows.’

It wasn't arrogance; it was a fact.

The Mercenary King’s Mercenary Brokerage was a massive organization exerting influence throughout the southern part of the continent, to the extent that even those who disregarded the Mercenary industry knew as common sense that Silver Plate = Expert, Gold Plate = Graduate, and Platinum Plate = Master.

‘In other words, the question that young man named Harang asked… wasn’t because he was genuinely curious about the criteria for a Platinum Plate.

It’s not that, but rather…….’

He might have been indirectly saying that his skills were comparable to a Platinum Plate, on par with a Sword Master!

……Of course, this delusion did not last long.

Marzen branch manager Bailey, whose expression had briefly hardened, let out a hollow laugh.

‘That can’t be.’

Of course, it wasn't to say that the black-haired young man was an insignificant figure.

Even if only a quarter of the rumors were true, he would be an incredibly promising prospect whose future was greatly anticipated.

Enough to not fall short when compared to the divine talents who had made their names widely known across the continent.

However, no matter how great a talent one possessed, it was impossible to reach Master at that age.

No.

It was nearly impossible to even reach the level of Graduate.

Individuals who reached Graduate in their 20s… even if you searched the entire south, there were ten, and even if you broadened the scope to the entire continent, there weren't even 50.

‘If this young man shows a completed Aura Sword, he would become a new star of the continent, but…….’

Of course, such a thing would not happen.

What was the background of those known as the next generation responsible for the continent's future, commonly called ‘Next Gen (Next Generation)’?

All of them were so incredibly great that one would nod their head just hearing their names.

Those from famous Swordsmanship Guilds with over 1,000 years of history, who protected humanity in the battles against demons long ago.

The top talents of the five most powerful nations in the world, or those born with royal blood.

These individuals were beings who lived in a different world from birth, giants who could not possibly be met in the Mercenary Brokerage of such a small city.

They were figures whose mere glimpse from afar once in a lifetime would become a topic for drinking stories.

‘Comparing him to such individuals…… even if he’s a monster who devoured Marzen’s back alleys in an instant, it would be too much.’

It wasn't an undervaluation of the young man named Harang.

He was sufficiently remarkable.

However, the fact that they played in different leagues was an undeniable truth.

That was all.

Having thought this far, Bailey nodded once and briefly explained the Austin Mercenary Brokerage’s rating system for Harang.

Whatever his intentions, it was the branch manager’s duty to answer the questions of someone aspiring to be a Mercenary with sincerity.

Of course, the black-haired young man, after hearing the explanation, did not conspicuously show his ‘color’ or his ‘class’.

He nodded, then told his subordinate named Daereon, the one who had displayed mid-level Expert skills, to draw his sword, and he too drew his own sword.

And he said this.

“Daereon, manifest your Aura Sword.”

“Yes? Suddenly……”

“Do as I say.”

“Ah, yessir.”

Woooooong-!

Thus, Harang faced the grayish-white Aura undulating over the sword blade.

Branch manager Bailey, seeing this, felt even the slightest remaining hope in a corner of his heart completely vanish.

Hadn't he said it before?

The Austin Mercenary Brokerage’s rating system was quite intuitive.

Silver Plate if one could draw an incomplete Aura Sword.

Gold Plate if one could draw a completed Aura Sword.

Platinum Plate if one could add their own color to a completed Aura Sword.

That meant, to obtain the desired rating, there was no need for a sparring partner.

Nevertheless, to have a subordinate showcase his swordsmanship skills, the intention was…….

‘It’s practically confessing that he himself is stuck at the Expert level.’

Of course, reaching Expert at such a young age was a remarkable achievement.

And it probably wasn't just any Expert.

He would likely show a performance that overwhelmed the mid-level Expert swordsman named Daereon.

That meant he possessed skills superior to even a direct member of Portville, Marzen’s top swordsmanship family, at the age of 20.

It was something he could sufficiently boast about and be proud of.

That was enough.

No, it was more than enough.

Bailey smiled triumphantly.

The fact that he had something to report to his superiors, who were always nagging him, saying ‘a promising talent worth supporting has appeared.’

That alone made his mood considerably better, as if he had had a glass of beer.

However, there was something that even the experienced him hadn't anticipated.

The fact that Harang hadn’t called Daereon to spar.

Fwoong-

Seogeok!

Thud!

“……?”

“……?”

“……?”

“……!”

Harang swung his sword.

It wasn't a particularly fast speed.

To be precise, it was a speed that a mid-level Expert like Daereon could sufficiently react to, a move that was infinitely lacking for showcasing skill.

However, it didn't even take a second to realize that this was a misconception.

Daereon’s sword, enveloped in grayish-white Aura, had been split in two by Harang’s sword, which had nothing.

“……”

“……”

The silence continued for longer, much longer.

It couldn't be helped.

What was Aura?

It was a swordsman's greatest weapon, capable of cleaving rock and piercing steel.

Thinking about that in reverse, it meant that an object without Aura could never break a sword enveloped in Aura.

However, today, that common sense was shattered.

By a young man who sheathed his sword with an indifferent expression.

“With this much, what kind of rating plate can I get?”

“……”

“Excuse me?”

“……”

“Excuse me? Mr. Bailey?”

“Ah! Ahh! Oh dear, I apologize. Sorry, but, just a moment…… Just a moment to think……”

Bailey said with a flustered expression.

His mind was complicated.

This was a first.

Even if it was an incomplete Aura Sword, to cut it with an ordinary iron sword that had no special features?

‘Could it be a magic sword?’

Bailey, entertaining a fleeting thought, politely received the sword from Harang, only to confirm that his sword had no special features, just a reasonably good quality sword, and then he became dazed once more.

What should I do about this?

Should I give him a Gold Plate?

But, he didn't show a completed Aura Sword?

Should I give him a Silver Plate?

But, he split an incomplete Aura Sword in two with his sword?

No, before that, is this even possible?

What should I do?

What should I do?

Bailey’s head felt like it was about to explode due to thoughts tangled like a skein of thread.

Fortunately, Harang was considerate enough of his predicament.

“It seems difficult to evaluate.”

“Ah? Ah! Hmm, well, a little……”

“If it’s going to take a long time, you can give me a lower rating plate first. Can’t you just raise it to the proper rating later?”

“Ah, if that’s acceptable, please, if you could just wait a little longer……”

“Alright. I’ll wait. Then I’ll be going…… Ah, just a moment.”

Harang, about to finish the conversation, showed a few documents.

Bailey, wondering what they were, saw they were request forms from inside the Brokerage building.

The young man said.

“I want to review a few requests, can I take them?”

“Can you read?”

“I can. Is that alright?”

“Ah, of course……”

“Then, I’ll come back tomorrow. Please prepare the highest rating plate you can give by then. Eddy, can I go first?”

“Ah, of course!”

“Then, excuse me……”

With those words, Harang quietly left the place.

No one followed him.

It was natural.

Everyone was stunned by the unbelievable skill Harang had displayed.

‘I knew Big Brother was strong, but I didn’t know he was this strong…… Big Brother is truly amazing!’

‘Am I learning swordsmanship from such an amazing person!’

Eddy and the other former thugs felt an overwhelming emotion at Harang’s strength, which surpassed their expectations.

‘I don’t know how something like this is possible, but that young man is at least Gold Plate level.

His skill is on par with the Next Gens who will be responsible for the continent’s future.

This isn’t something I can handle at my level.

I need to report to headquarters immediately!’

Branch manager Bailey began to formulate various plans in his head so as not to miss the good fortune that had rolled in on its own.

The underlying emotion was, of course, joy and delight.

‘Fuck.’

Only one person.

‘My sword.’

Only Daereon, whose expensive sword he had bought just a few days ago was now broken, was swallowing his tears with a sad expression.

Meanwhile, Glen, who had been watching the spot where Harang left for a long time, thought.

‘Is Harang Big Brother unable to manifest a completed Aura Sword?

Or, is he capable but deliberately not showing it?’

* * *

Woooooong-!

Inside the inn room.

Harang, having drawn his sword, manifested an Aura Sword.

It was not a flowing energy like that of Eddy, Pale, or Daereon.

It was undoubtedly a completed Aura Sword, hard and sharp as ice.

A peculiar point was that it had a slightly darker feel than a typical grayish-white Aura Sword.

And.

Tzztztztzt……

“As expected, even this sword can’t withstand it.”

The sword, imbued with Aura, was losing its form as if corroding.

Harang, having finished his confirmation, soon withdrew his Aura.

Pat

“Did it for nothing.”

He muttered as if disappointed.

He had hoped that since it was the sword of a low-ranking village administrator, it might be able to withstand his Aura, but unfortunately, it was a failure.

It seemed he would have to use a different sword starting tomorrow.

“Well, I can probably get a similar grade one at Willer's Forge.”

He still had quite a bit of money left from dealing with Travion.

A single sword wouldn't be a problem.

Having finished worrying about the sword, Harang now looked over the documents.

They were request forms brought from the Mercenary Brokerage, and there was one that particularly caught his eye.

[Request Details: Escort for a merchant caravan traveling between the Commercial City Marzen and Kilken]

[Caution: Client is receiving assassination threats]

‘Assassination, huh…….’

Perhaps, it might be an chance to obtain information about the ‘village.’

Harang’s eyes lit up as he continued to check the contents of the request form.