How to Live as a Knight After the Ending - Chapter 6
Only Noblemtl
Episode 6. Suspicious Proposal (2)
The man named Ronan Rolland who helped me out with the fight at the bar was what is commonly called a middleman, or broker.
It was obvious why he approached me and was blatantly trying to get my favor.
They want to hire me because they are attracted to my skills.
‘Even though I look like this, my physical abilities are definitely at a monster level.’
I had no choice but to admit it again.
Now my body has already reached the level of a superhuman.
It was natural since I reached the max level in the game and maxed out all my stats.
‘Even so, I didn’t know that I could do the trick of cutting down flying bullets.’
He just threw the three big guys that had been taunting him a moment ago far away with just his bare hands.
Of course, because of that, I almost got into another fight with other people, but it was okay because the man in front of me helped me.
A cross-eyed man who introduced himself as a broker.
Ronan Rolland.
His expression didn’t change even as I stared at him, trying to read his mind.
He still had that nice smile on his face, but honestly, it made him look even more suspicious.
‘If this was the original game, I would know that he is a significant NPC, but that’s not the case here.’
Of course, I don’t know the inner thoughts of the NPC right in front of me, or even of the actual person since it’s now a reality.
All I can do right now is infer what the other person wants from his or her job.
“So what do you want from me?”
… … This guy’s speech again.
But this isn’t something that can be corrected by force, so let’s just move on for now.
What’s important is the conversation you have with the person in front of you.
‘Never let your guard down in front of a half-sighted person… …!’
I opened my eyes wide and glared at the man in front of me.
*
Ronan Rolland was inwardly amazed.
The sharp gaze staring at me was like a blade, and it seemed like it would cut my skin if I let my guard down even for a moment.
‘He’s a person you can’t let your guard down.’
It was purely by chance that Ronan found him in the bar.
When Ronan discovered Ossian in his armor, he knew he was the man from the source he had just heard about.
But I still can’t believe that he actually took down a gang of 40 gunmen with just a knife.
If information is not properly checked, more than half of it is nonsense.
So, while Ronan was staring at him intently, the three Dutri brothers picked on him with perfect timing.
It was a nice treat to see.
There Ronan came to a realization.
That Ossian’s information is absolutely not a lie.
Not only was the strength to throw a large body out of a bar with one blow a strength, but it was also the speed at which he swung his sword without being seen when the second and third brothers of the three brothers aimed their guns at him.
‘A mutant with physical enhancement abilities. And a mutant of a fairly high rank. I can’t miss him.’
Mutants are humans with special powers that began to appear in the world 100 years ago.
Mutants were beings that appeared in a world transitioning from an age of magic to an age of science.
Another name for it is mutation.
It was a term referring to those who, despite not being magicians, displayed miraculous, superhuman powers.
Like drawing lightning from your bare hands, controlling people’s minds, or making your skin as hard as steel.
The mutants’ abilities varied greatly, and even similar abilities had different outputs depending on their level.
In Ronan Rolland’s eyes, Ossian was a mutant.
He is also a mutant with physical enhancement abilities.
‘Usually, the physical enhancement mutants branch out from there. Like increased strength, harder skin, or faster speed.’
In Ronan’s view, Ossian was a complex mutant with enhanced overall physical abilities.
Strength and speed. Judging by the high increase in both, it is estimated to be a top-tier body-enhanced mutant.
‘I don’t know where a person like that gets this kind of armor and swings a sword.’
The important thing was that he was a blank slate who had not yet signed a contract with anyone.
If we could just recruit Ossian, he would be a great addition to his troubleshooting agency.
So, to win his favor, I paid for the drinks he ordered but didn’t get to drink.
“First, let me introduce myself. My name is Ronan Rolland, and I run the Violet Fox problem-solving agency.”
Ronan handed Ossian a fancy purple business card to ease his guard.
“The reason I came to you, Mr. Ossian, is because I wanted to make a proposal.”
“proposal?”
Ossian’s eyebrows twitched.
The reaction was that it was interesting rather than annoying.
“Yes. Is this your first time in this city, Mr. Ossian?”
“… … How do you know that?”
Ronan stared at Ossian’s armor in puzzlement as Ossian asked warily.
Ossian looked down at his armor, then at the outfits of the mercenaries around him, then nodded.
“… … Okay. Let’s say this is my first time in this city. So what’s the big deal?”
“Mr. Ossian, do you have any specific purpose in mind when you come to this city?”
“… … .”
Ossian remained silent in response to Ronan’s sharp question.
There is no way he would have come to the great steel city of Tirna with any specific intention of doing anything.
When Ossian came to his senses, he found himself in a game world.
When I finally got outside, I saw a city from the Industrial Revolution, but there was no way I could have a purpose.
“Then you probably have no place to stay and no means of earning money.”
Instead of answering, Ossian simply tapped his fingers on the table without saying a word.
That alone was enough of an answer for Ronan.
Ronan got straight to the point.
“Then, would you like to work with me?”
Ossian looked at Ronan silently.
Even though it was just that, I felt an irresistible pressure.
Even Ronan’s smiling face cracked for a moment.
The mercenaries and troubleshooters who had been stealing glances at the two people while pretending not to notice them in the surrounding area flinched without realizing it.
Goosebumps were appearing here and there on my forearms.
‘What, what is it? I suddenly have chills.’
‘Crazy. Just looking at it gives me goosebumps.’
The mercenaries all watched tensely, with anticipation as to how this situation would end.
Ronan took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat running down his cheek.
‘Why are you like this? Are you perhaps offended by what I said?’
Ronan didn’t know why Ossian was so uncomfortable.
If you look at Ossian right now, he looks like he’s about to draw his sword and swing it at him at any moment.
I wonder if he was hurt by my suggestion to be a problem solver?
While Ronan was swallowing dry saliva and tense up, Ossian was deep in thought.
‘What? Was this not a simple mission, but a recruitment offer?’
Actually, he didn’t think much of it.
Rather, I’m seriously considering it because I didn’t know I would receive a job offer from a place like this.
Ronan said he runs a troubleshooter’s office.
A problem solver is someone who takes money and handles various tasks on your behalf.
And most of these things were illegal and likely to involve violence.
‘It would have been impossible in the past, but in reality, in the current situation, there is nothing better than this.’
Ossian was like an uninvited guest who suddenly dropped into this world.
He had no guaranteed status and no place to stay right away.
This sturdy body would be fine sleeping on the bare ground, but the emotions of modern people who slept on soft beds until recently could not tolerate it.
Above all, there was something essential to living in this world: money.
Everything costs money.
In particular, more money was needed for food, clothing, and shelter, which are most necessary for people to survive.
Even though he was able to pay for his meals with the money he earned by taking down gangsters, he couldn’t live like this forever.
He eventually needed a stable means of making money.
‘If it was the game I originally knew, I would have done quests and received money as a reward, or done simple mercenary work.’
But the world now is completely different from then.
All Ossian could do now was swordsmanship using his absurd physical abilities.
And there really was no way to make money with it, other than the solution suggested by Ronan right in front of me, which was really ironic.
In that case, Ossian had to accept the proposal, thinking it was the right thing to do.
There is only one reason why it is not done right away.
Because Ronan wasn’t usually suspicious.
“We promise to give Mr. Ossian the best treatment in the industry.”
Ossian was not at all moved by Ronan’s bold proposal.
He rather became more suspicious of Ronan.
‘The best conditions in the industry? No matter how great your physical ability is, how can you suddenly trust a guy like me?’
Rather, it was even more suspicious because he was trying to do such a good job.
Now that the perception that Ronan was suspicious had already been ingrained in Ossian, he found it difficult to trust Ronan.
Naturally, Ossian’s pupils narrowed, and Ronan had to swallow dryly as the pressure of his guard grew stronger.
He had to do his best just to keep a smile on his face now.
What is it? You don’t like even the best treatment in the industry?
The tension reaches its peak, and even the mercenaries watching from afar cannot stand it anymore and clench their fists in cold sweat.
Ossian opened his mouth.
“The proposal is interesting. However, it is late at night, so let’s postpone the detailed discussion until tomorrow.”
The atmosphere, which had been tense to the limit, suddenly relaxed.
The mercenaries who had been watching without being able to breathe until then began to catch their breath, and Ronan was no exception.
‘Why are you all like this?’
However, since Ossian was not aware of it, he could only look at the attitudes of such people with curiosity.
“… … Haha. I see. I’m sorry if I bothered you, Mr. Ossian, at this late hour.”
“No. I don’t think badly of you because you helped me. I just needed some time to organize my thoughts. I’m tired, too.”
Ossian meant it, but no one took his words at face value.
Ronan also became quite confused by Ossian’s words.
‘Even though I told him it was the best treatment in the industry, he didn’t seem happy at all. Is this ridiculous?’
Ronan glanced at the surrounding mercenaries.
Many people have already witnessed this series of events.
The mercenaries who loved to brag couldn’t just let this news go.
‘Tomorrow, other brokers who heard the news will come running with their eyes burning.’
And the discerning broker will notice Ossian’s extraordinary talent and try to recruit him.
So, I intentionally approached him in a friendly manner while buying him drinks and tried to sign the contract right away.
Ossian did not come over easily.
‘Or maybe you’re aiming for this?’
Ronan’s expression became quite serious.
I couldn’t help but think that Ossian was scheming in deliberately not giving a definitive answer and putting it off until tomorrow.
This was a kind of competitive pasting.
Perhaps saying he was tired was just an excuse and he may have been the one who initiated this situation in the first place.
Ronan became anxious as he thought about it.
“Hey, Mr. Ossian.”
“what?”
“Do you have a place to stay right now?”
“No. Not yet.”
“Oh, then this is a bar, but the 2nd and 3rd floors are also inns, so you could easily stay for a night or so. Since it is fate that we are meeting like this today, would it be okay if I pay for your lodging expenses?”
Ronan had to do his best to look good to Ossian.
So, even in such trivial matters, we had to show this level of sincerity.
“… … ? Really?”
Actually, Ossian didn’t know why Ronan was doing this.
It’s like I suddenly feel anxious about something and I just accept it gratefully because you did it for me.
Right now, Ossian needed time to sort out what was happening today and prepare himself mentally.
So rather than accepting Ronan’s offer right away, I asked for the end of the day.
Even though my body wasn’t, my mind was really tired.
‘Still, fortunately, I found a place to stay for the night.’
Let’s go upstairs and get some sleep and think about it.
Ossian thought about this and got up from his seat.
“See you tomorrow.”
Ronan’s face brightened at Ossian’s meaningless words.