A Stuffed Cheonma in my Head - Chapter 13



Only Noblemtl

Episode 13. Nice to meet you too!

* * *

I left the Barranquilla estate and walked east without any plan.

It was a surprisingly peaceful journey.

It would be so, if it hadn’t even been a day since I killed the Baron, and already rumors were spreading and there were people blocking my path.

That is truly strange.

Even if words without legs travel a thousand miles, rumors also need time to spread.

The Barranquilla Estate was located on the westernmost outskirts of the Blake Kingdom, and had no choice but to head east.

I walked leisurely along the forest path lined with trees, humming a tune like a wanderer with a wanderlust.

As I walked, I spoke to Cheonma as if I was having my homework checked.

“Master.”

[What is it?]

“How did you see it?”

I asked Cheonma about the aftermath of the battle that took place last night.

Cheonma watched silently throughout the battle, so I was curious about his thoughts.

What was lacking and what was good.

What areas should I improve on and what should I focus on in my practice?

The inspector grows through fights that cross the line.

It was a kind of feedback for daily growth.

He was a Cheonma who always had people saying that he was pathetic because he didn’t catch people’s attention.

It wasn’t bad, or it was okay.

Surprisingly, he was the type of person who would admit what needed to be admitted and occasionally spout out compliments.

… … Of course, the instances of praise are rare.

I waited for his answer, expecting both praise and scolding.

But the words that came out of Cheonma’s mouth were neither of those two.

[It was fun.]

“Hmm? Was it fun?”

Cheonma continued speaking in a slightly excited tone, as if he was in a rare good mood.

[The fun of watching a play is incomparable to this. I don’t know why it’s so fun to see a crazy guy swinging a sword. It’s perfect as a drinking snack. It’s a hundred times more fun than watching the heads of the religious bastards bow all day long.]

“No, Master. That’s not it. How was my Night Heavenly Moon Dance? What were its shortcomings? What could I improve on?”

Cheonma continued talking as if he didn’t hear me.

[They say that the best part of watching a fight is watching a fight. It’s fun to watch. The occasional nonsense is also fun.]

“No, this master… … .”

It seems that Cheonma was watching me fight for my life with excitement as if he was watching a play.

That was also my fault for not saying anything.

I said it because I was dumbfounded.

“My disciple almost died. Is that funny?”

[Oh, that’s why. It’s even more thrilling.]

“… … .”

So, the Cheonma that was stuffed in my mind was watching my fights from the front row of the theater, eating jerky and the like, while drinking alcohol.

No, where did the jerky and alcohol that are stuck in my mind come from?

Cheonma laughed and then spoke with a slightly smiling voice.

[So this is how they raised their disciples. It’s more fun than I thought.]

My life-threatening fight was just a drinking game… … .

[I was feeling suffocated because you stuck your head in my throat. Well, this will be a little fun.]

“… … So, Master. Any advice?”

[Fight more often and talk more nonsense.]

“Hey.”

I couldn’t help but quicken my pace, recalling the fight the night before.

* * *

I continued walking along the road.

As I walked like that, it was only when the sun was setting that I could see the castle wall in the distance.

Seeing that the entire village was surrounded by walls, it seemed to be a fairly large village.

Unlike the earlier Barranquilla estate.

The city wall was visible, and beneath it the city gate was visible.

Guards stood guard in front of it.

People passed through the checkpoint and entered the gate, showing off something.

“hmm…….”

As I approached the gate, I took out the mercenary badge from my bosom.

The faded silver mercenary badge stared blankly at me.

Silver grade.

It was a mercenary card that proved the ability to handle a C-class demon with just one hand, and at the same time, it was the limitation of those who could not use mana.

‘I wonder if I can get a gold rank now.’

I looked at the silver-grade mercenary badge that had been with me for many years, and then looked at the gate that was being inspected.

“… … Will this work here too?”

There was a high chance that it would not be acknowledged.

Even if a mercenary has a strong free spirit, the mercenary badge is issued by the mercenary guild of each country.

Since each country has different cultures and atmospheres, it is only natural that the mercenary groups cannot be the same.

But I can’t come all the way here and sleep out.

I walked naturally to the gate like everyone else.

The guard stopped me.

“Stop. Show me your ID.”

I held out my mercenary badge in front of his eyes and quickly took it back.

Then he asked somewhat shamelessly.

“Is it done?”

“… … .”

The guard glared at me as if to say, “Are you kidding me?”

“Are you a newbie? You need to know how to read it first.”

“… … .”

“Your eyesight doesn’t seem to be very good. Let me show you again.”

I quickly showed the mercenary badge again and took it back.

He grumbled as if he had been questioned dozens of times.

“I’m a little busy, so let me in quickly. Tsk, let me check once or twice.”

“… … .”

Then, the inflexible guard, who was excellent at carrying out his assigned duties, held out his hand with a blunt face.

“Please present your identification.”

As if this were the final verdict.

‘It doesn’t work.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

“… … Here it is.”

I had no choice but to place the mercenary badge on his palm.

“… … .”

The guard tilted his head when he saw my mercenary card, then glared at it.

I gave a very confident look to the blunt guard who was looking back and forth between me and my mercenary band.

If you’re confident, eat half first and then go in.

“What’s the problem?”

“… … Please wait a moment.”

The guard took my ID and approached the other guards.

After a while, other guards came rushing towards me.

The middle-aged guard who seemed to be the most senior among them looked at the mercenary badge and asked me.

“A silver-ranked mercenary. Name is… … Ashvan. Is that right?”

I nodded.

“That’s right.”

“This mercenary badge is in the style of the Kingdom of Maia. Are you from Maia?”

I nodded again.

“It was a rough journey.”

“How did you come here?”

I said, pointing to the foggy cliffs that were vaguely visible here as well.

“Over there.”

“… … You came down from the foggy cliff?”

I replied with a solemn expression.

“I told you it was a rough journey.”

The guards looked at me like I was crazy.

Some even laughed out loud.

The senior guard glanced at the mercenary badge again and asked me.

“Ashvan of the Sherwood Mercenaries?”

“That’s true.”

I simply affirmed.

Then, one by one, our guards who had been working hard to guard the gates day and night began to giggle and laugh.

I frowned.

“What? Why are you laughing?”

The senior guard who had been the first to start giggling asked with a still smiling face.

“The Sherwood Mercenaries? The Sherwood Mercenaries with Guston the Greatsword?”

As expected, he is our leader.

It seems that its fame has spread even to neighboring countries.

I nodded.

“You are our proud captain, as always. The only flaw is that your beard is a bit messy.”

The senior guard chuckled and placed the mercenary badge against my chest.

“Go.”

“Go. Where.”

“If you’re going to forge something, do it with some sincerity. Isn’t that too sloppy?”

“What?”

“I’ve never seen anyone forge a Maya Kingdom mercenary badge. Did you think they’d let you pass just by putting in the name of a famous mercenary group?”

I looked into his eyes.

“Then, if it’s a different mercenary group name, will you let me in?”

“no.”

“It’s tight.”

“If you are truly a mercenary, it would be common sense to obtain a mercenary card from another country from the mercenary guild in advance.”

“ah.”

I didn’t know because I’ve never traveled abroad. They say that you have to travel to broaden your horizons.

This is another thing I learned.

“Because I didn’t plan to jump off the cliff.”

The guards chuckled at my words.

The senior guard also smiled and waved.

“It looks like you fell on your head. Let’s go while we’re talking nicely. It’ll be annoying if we make a fuss.”

I nodded.

“Okay.”

I put my mercenary badge in my bosom and turned around without any hesitation.

“Good luck.”

“You too.”

I expected this.

I was just trying it out just in case, thinking that if it worked, that would be great, but if it didn’t, then it wouldn’t be so surprising.

Cheonma, who had been watching silently, asked.

[Are you planning to sleep out?]

“no.”

[then.]

“There is a way to do everything.”

Plan B.

There is a way to get in even if it is not through the gate.

If it’s an old castle, it’s bound to have at least one hole.

I walked around the walls, scanning the area with an eagle’s eye for openings.

As I was walking, I saw a little boy standing in front of me with his arms crossed with a very serious expression on his face.

It looked like he was waiting for me.

I stopped in front of the kid and looked at him.

“… … .”

“… … .”

We exchanged glances in silence for a moment.

The boy raised his hand with a serious face, pointed at me once, and then jabbed his thumb twice toward the wall.

‘You. Do you want to go inside the walls?’

I also pointed to myself with a serious face, and then followed the little boy and poked the wall twice with my thumb.

‘I want to go inside the castle walls.’

Nod.

‘check.’

The boy nodded once as if he had confirmed it and then approached the castle wall.

Then he removed the plank covering underneath and looked at me again, pointing at the exposed hole.

‘This is it?’

I nodded once and pointed to the hole with my finger.

‘That’s right.’

The boy nodded toward the hole.

‘You go in first.’

I nodded.

‘okay.’

We talked secretly like smugglers, reached an agreement, and I pushed myself into the hole.

The little boy blocked the entrance to the hole and followed me through the hole.

As I was coming out of the hole and shaking off the dirt on my clothes, the little boy blocked the hole he had come out of and nodded to me.

‘Follow me.’

I nodded once and followed the little boy who was leading the way.

‘okay.’

Wherever you go, there’s bound to be one of these smart guys.

As I followed the guy, I came across an inn.

The inn was called ‘The Hungry Gypsy’, but at first I couldn’t figure out why they named it that.

Does this mean that wanderers (gypsies) are welcome?

The boy opened the door to the inn as if he was coming and going from his own home and said.

“A guest has arrived.”

It was a kind of unspoken rule.

Instead of letting them pass through the wall through the hole, he asked them to stay at his inn.

The kid offered me a deal, and I took it.

The problem is… …I don’t have a single penny left.

As soon as I stepped inside, the smell of delicious food wafted over me.

The small inn was bustling with people eating.

They made eye contact with me once and then went back to their work.

“Welcome.”

A large man who appeared to be the innkeeper asked me while wiping his hands on a towel.

“Would you like to start eating first?”

“The meal was good.”

I answered, sitting down in an empty seat.

“Master, please give me what you’re confident in. And a glass of draft beer too.”

The owner nodded.

“How many days will you be staying?”

“day.”

“Are you going to take a hot bath too?”

“of course.”

“Then… …all together it will be 1 silver and 7 coppers.”

I drank a glass of water the boy brought me and then said.

“I’ll give it to you when I go.”

Then the owner answered in a cut-off tone.

“It’s prepaid.”

“… … .”

I had a staring contest with the owner for a moment.

The surroundings became slightly quiet.

“Master. Do you not trust me?”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just the rules. Please understand.”

“Rules are meant to be broken.”

“… …Rules are there to be followed.”

The owner responded with a bewildered expression.

As the owner and I were having a staring contest, the little boy who had been guiding me asked me.

“Sir, don’t you have any money?”

I looked at the guy and spoke to him in a scolding tone.

“Money is something that is there but then disappears, kid.”

“Not now?”

“Coincidentally.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

The eyes of the two people looking at me became cold.

But I took another sip of water and said calmly.

“I tell you again, sometimes you have money and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you don’t have money and sometimes you do. I’ll give it to you before I leave tomorrow.”

The owner spoke to me with a hardened expression.

“I’m sorry, but our store does not accept postpaid payments. Please leave.”

I said with a sigh.

“I understand. I understand the owner’s position as well.”

chin.

He took out a silver mercenary badge from his bosom and placed it on the table.

“This is my mercenary card. I’ll leave it as collateral. It’s real silver, so if you sell it, you’ll get at least 5 silver.”

The boy took the mercenary badge and gave it to the owner.

The owner looked at me and the mercenary group alternately with suspicious eyes and asked.

“This is the first time I’ve seen this form. Sir, are you from abroad?”

“I guess so. So, when will the meal be served?”

The owner looked over the mercenary cards for a while, then reluctantly nodded and headed to the kitchen.

“… … I’ll bring it to you soon.”

* * *

The next morning.

I left the inn as soon as the sun rose.

It was to solve two problems.

The first was an ID card, and the second was money.

I knew a place where I could get two things done at once.

“Kid. Where should I go to the mercenary guild?”

The name of the little boy who guided me the day before was Fabio.

But I just called him a brat.

Because a kid is a kid.

“A mercenary guild?”

“okay.”

Fabio looked up at me blankly and asked.

“Sir, are you really a mercenary?”

“Yes. A wild and free-spirited mercenary. What do you ask? You saw my mercenary card yesterday.”

“I thought it was fake.”

“You thought it was fake? Then why did you take it as collateral?”

“It’s because it’s so real.”

I looked at this reckless brat for a moment and said.

“So where should I go to the mercenary guild, kid? That way I can get my mercenary badge, made of real silver, back.”

Fabio shrugged and readily took the lead.

“Follow me.”

As I followed him, I soon arrived at an old building.

“It’s that building.”

I nodded.

“Okay. You go back now.”

But the little boy didn’t turn around and just stared blankly at me.

“What are you looking at? I said you can go now.”

“I’ll go and take a look.”

“Or so.”

Squeak-

I opened the door and entered the mercenary guild.

When the door creaked, all eyes inside gathered towards the door.

A few guys recognized Fabio.

“Isn’t that Fabio, the innkeeper’s son?”

“Fabio! What are you doing here? If you keep hanging around here, your father won’t like it.”

Fabio answered.

“I’m here to guide you.”

“customer?”

Then their gazes turned to me.

“hmm.”

I walked inside, looking around the guild without paying attention to their gazes.

Every time I walked, I heard a creaking sound as the old wooden planks bent.

A bulletin board with all sorts of request forms posted, a guild receptionist at the reception desk, rough-looking mercenaries, and a peculiar musty smell.

It was similar to a mercenary guild I knew well.

A smile naturally appeared on my lips.

It felt like meeting a friend from my hometown in a foreign land.

As I was walking around looking around the interior, suddenly a large, menacing figure stood in front of me.

“It’s a face I’ve never seen before.”

I nodded and admitted it.

“It’s rare to find a handsome man.”

Then the mercenaries suddenly burst out laughing.

I said, suddenly feeling unwell.

“… … Are you laughing?”

“Then laugh. Or cry?”

The bastard thrust his ugly face in front of me and grumbled.

The other mercenaries were watching this scene, giggling from their respective seats.

“… … Me too.”

Pick I burst out laughing.

Those mercenary guys.

I’m telling you, it’s like this everywhere you go. I would have honestly been disappointed if it hadn’t come out.

It was a kind of initiation ceremony for a face I saw for the first time, as if representing the temperament of those who beg for food with a knife.

It’s just a greeting to say hello.

This familiar atmosphere.

Even joy surged in. It was as if I was home. My heart warmed at the guys’ shy greeting.

The big guy must have thought I was scared because I kept my mouth shut, so he pushed his face in so our noses were almost touching and his voice was hoarse.

“What if you laugh? Huh? Hit me once? Hit me. If you can. What happens next is entirely your responsibility.”

The other mercenaries chuckled and said something one by one.

“Dogon! Don’t scare me too much!”

“What if I pull out the knife in a panic and cut my finger?”

“Wahahahaha!”

I liked the thoughtless, optimistic, and idiotic atmosphere that was characteristic of mercenaries.

It was as if they were going to die tomorrow, and they would clink glasses together, laugh and drink, sing songs, and then suddenly get up and swing their fists at each other.

I was caught up in the atmosphere and chuckled, slapping that guy named Dogon in the face like I was giving him a high five.

Of course, it goes without saying that I have poured my inner strength into it so that I will not feel disappointed.

“Nice to meet you too!”

Taaak!

The sound of someone slapping someone’s cheek echoed throughout the guild.

The big guy fell down in the direction where his cheek had been hit.

……thud!

“… … .”

The noisy guild suddenly became as quiet as a mouse.