The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 29



Only Noblemtl

Episode 29. I’m Going

“… … Hela?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, but your reaction is so bland. When I told you to come to the office, you didn’t even show your nose. Isn’t that too much?”

Hela shook her shoulders and made a sobbing sound.

It was an attitude that did not even feel the slightest bit of sincerity in trying to pretend to be sad.

I lightly ignored it.

“Did you have another accident? I’ll take your request for a contract.”

“Hey, do you think I’m some kind of rascal who doesn’t care about his age? Not this time.”

Hela’s group all looked at the back of her head.

Hela, who sensed his gaze, turned around and rebuked him with just her expression.

The group’s natural, learned behavior was evidence of skill.

‘… … I guess I’m really being treated like a troublemaker.’

It’s a bit too much to expect someone with that personality to be gentle.

He’s the type of person who calls his boss “inspiration” so he says it all.

But this time he said it wasn’t an accident, so I nod at him to prompt him to answer.

“I received a request from the mercenary group. What about you?”

“It’s the same as a request.”

“… … So, are we going to be working together again this time?”

“maybe.”

There was no way that the brokers would have arranged their meeting times to overlap in a confusing way.

It was Greenwood’s request.

‘You said you’d push me, but I never thought you’d bring in the Draxia mercenaries.’

It was what I had hoped for, but I was still a bit taken aback.

That means Cromwell has high expectations of me.

‘Of course, the mercenary group wouldn’t have just accepted it just because Cromwell recommended it.’

There may have been a transaction involving a ratio adjustment, or there may have been circumstances in which the mercenary group chose this commission.

The latter was more likely, since the money-grubbing broker would not share in my profits.

“But this request must not have been easy, but you accepted it anyway? You’re involved with Centrim. We have a personal relationship with the client, so the old man said he would accept, but you… … .”

“You’re friends?”

The truth was unexpected.

When I asked in surprise, Hela answered.

“Oh, it’s been quite some time. He asked me personally to see if my impression was okay.”

It’s a personal request.

‘Are you from Greenwood?’

It seems like they expected that not many people would gather.

No matter how much compensation was offered, it was understandable to be concerned since Centrim was involved.

‘I wish I could get an introduction.’

The reason I started doing contract work was to contact Greenwood.

The identity of the mysterious organization member was within reach.

‘Even if they’re not members of Greenwood’s organization, they must be close.’

It’s enough to move directly and find mercenaries.

If you’re good at tricking, maybe you can get a chance to meet Greenwood’s character.

‘Things might work out easily.’

A solution to shorten the schedule was found in an unexpected place.

It wasn’t just empty words, but it seemed like I really needed to visit the Draxia Mercenary Corps at least once.

“How long are you guys going to keep talking amongst yourselves? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

That was when.

Among the group that had been silently watching, a man with a half-shaven face placed his hand on Hela’s head.

“Oh, shit. I told you not to put your hands on your head. Are you going to fall?”

“I’ll let go of your hand, so introduce yourself. I’m so curious I can’t stand it.”

“… … Get off me now.”

“Eek.”

As soon as Hela let go of her grip, the man quickly took his hand away.

The distorted expression was a sign of genuine anger.

… … Even if you accidentally touch the head, you shouldn’t.

Hela said, straightening her messy hair.

“They are members of our mercenary group. This ruffian is Waver, and the gloomy human over there is Kelzid.”

“You call me a gangster. I’m your senior.”

“Get your work done and talk. You ate up the last project so badly that the old man hired you for this project.”

“Oh, it’s not my fault. I did my best.”

“Shit.”

The man with the half-shaven face was Waver.

The atmosphere was lighter than Hela’s, and she wore a mask with a unique pattern, as if it was necessary to cover her face.

Hela’s beating was also not a very trustworthy impression.

But if he was a real gangster, he would have been kicked out of the mercenary group long ago.

Even with such behavior, he was able to keep his enemies in check, which actually guaranteed his skills.

‘Wave.’

That name, too, was memorable, just like Hela.

One of the few mercenaries active after the disbandment of the Draxia Mercenary Group.

He was a person whose skills were trustworthy enough to know the future.

“… … Correction. I am not a member of the Draxia Mercenaries.”

Kelzid was a gloomy man with dark circles under his eyes.

I was familiar with this type of person.

“wizard?”

“He is a collaborator of Matap.”

That’s what happens when you become obsessed with magical research.

You can think of them as a kind of graduate student.

Because I was treated more like a consumer product than a human being, I suffered from chronic fatigue throughout my body.

‘The wizard of the magic tower.’

Unlike the unskilled Layla and the uneducated Sage, the magicians belonging to the Magic Tower had excellent skills.

“You’re not a member of the group, but you always have to come to our office to work anyway. Why don’t you just transfer?”

“I acknowledge Draxia’s competence, but you guys are not. How can a mercenary corps replace the Magic Tower?”

“What a tight-lipped brat. Anyway, I guess he’s a room magician, and he’s even younger than you, sir.”

“I’m more mature than you.”

“Oh my, is being old something to brag about?”

“… … .”

Even being able to throw a falcon is a skill to that extent.

They are close enough to always work together, so I think Hela’s role in not transferring is not small.

I intervened before the noble wizard could stage a rare scene of losing his mind.

“Are these the entire mercenary group?”

“Surely not, the old man only accepted applicants. It’s a risky mission after all. Since it was a request I received through my close relationship, I guess I just need to fulfill the minimum obligation.”

Loyalty does not guarantee life.

Moreover, from the position of leading a group, it was forbidden to be swayed by the supervisor.

Just by receiving the commission, Draxia was a rare personality in the city.

“And according to our plan, we don’t really need a lot of people. A small but elite force is better.”

“You’ve already made plans?”

“I’ll talk about the details later, but first, get ready to say hello. I’ll be down soon.”

“… … ?”

“Our inspiration. He came with us to discuss something.”

At that moment, the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs was heard.

I turned my head towards him.

Even in broad daylight, someone’s new figure was vaguely visible through the dim lighting that had fallen into darkness.

“… … So you are the prospect that Hela mentioned earlier.”

Could it be that he is a half-breed of a giant?

The first thing that caught my eye was his massive physique.

The typical Westerner’s appearance was that of a mature man with sunken eyes and a close-cropped beard.

As he drew near, I felt an instinctive pressure pressing down on my chest.

It is the momentum that has accumulated in the body over time.

If it was an enemy, he would approach with fear, and if it was a client, he would approach with strength.

Draxia stood in front of me and examined me carefully.

It was a sharp gaze that seemed as if it would disintegrate every part it touched.

Then, soon, his eyes slid down to Hela.

“… … Weren’t you just talking nonsense because you were dazzled by that flashy face?”

“Oh my, do I look like such a fool?”

“Well, you don’t have the talent to fool anyone by saying things that don’t exist.”

“What?”

Hela was furious at the seemingly accusatory praise.

Draxia, who had ignored him, turned his attention to me again.

“I look forward to your performance.”

“You speak as if I had volunteered for that mercenary group.”

“We can meet any conditions you want. It’s better than being a moth-like contract worker, and even if you don’t want to, it’s still a win-win for us because we’ve found someone who’s good to work with.”

The hand patting my shoulder was heavy.

It feels like a rock is placed on top of me.

‘You’re a big shot.’

The performance of the remaining group after the disbandment of the mercenary group was a convincing and oppressive sight.

I couldn’t take my eyes off his back as he walked away.

“Ah, you old man. You’re not helping at all. You’re holding on to the weight when you can’t even openly talk to me.”

“The captain is a person who can do that.”

“What kind of trash are you, holding on to documents while grumbling? You still think you’re a war hero from when you were young.”

Hela was surprisingly rude to such a Draxia.

She took the lead, lightly ignoring Waver’s advocacy.

“Let’s go. We have to make sure that inspiration doesn’t stick its head out.”

“It’s far to the factory. You said you had plans, so why don’t you finish the briefing first so we can organize things by then?”

“I’ll do that as I go.”

She took her keys out of her pocket.

When I pressed the button, the door of the car parked at the front gate opened with a beep.

“My dear. How is it? Isn’t it pretty?”

“… … .”

I kept my mouth shut.

Hela’s vehicle was a compact car that looked like it could fly in the wind.

The criteria for choosing a vehicle is not its appearance, but its sturdiness and fuel efficiency.

Especially in this chaotic city, you have to be extra careful.

Starting with the pink wallet, her taste was completely different from her appearance.

“Before you brag, drive properly, Inma. Do you know how scary it is every time you ride with me?”

“Then you shouldn’t ride it.”

“Ahem, that’s what you say.”

When Hela glared at him, Waver shut his mouth and sat in the passenger seat.

As Kelzid climbed on without saying a word, I hid my doubts and boarded.

‘A compact car like this would drive smoothly.’

Anyway, it was nice to be able to move comfortably without my feet hurting.

“Okay, let’s go!”

Boohoo!

“… … !”

The light car, which had started up, surpassed my expectations by accelerating quickly from the start and taking corners in a manner that was almost acrobatic.

***

Fortunately, Hela’s driving, although reckless, was quick and accurate.

We arrived at our destination just as the sun was rising high in the sky.

Down the hill where the vehicle had stopped, a factory was visible, spewing out smoke.

There were quite a few residents, as if they were boasting about how well things were going recently.

There were iron doors firmly locked at every entrance and the supervisors who whipped the workers and even gave them the correct answer.

It’s a sight that reminds me of the factory I escaped from.

‘Security won’t be as lax there, I guess.’

Unlike there, where the supervisor also served as a security guard, here, security was handled by employees dispatched from the company.

It was a proper company, armed with firearms and bulletproof vests.

Although his flailing movements seemed to show a lack of enthusiasm, the security checks were thorough.

It means that there is a pecking order from above to prevent mistakes from happening at work.

Since the basics were followed, it seemed difficult to expect any tricks.

“You know the plan, right?”

Hela, who was looking down at me, asked me.

I nodded.

The gist of the plan was simple.

If two of them make a fuss at the front, the other two will sneak in.

While one of them assassinates the agent to attract attention, the other one destroys the factory’s algorithm data.

It was a double-crossing maneuver.

“I’ll explain it again so you don’t forget. If you destroy the algorithm data, the product production will stop. It will take at least three months to readjust. That’s more than enough time for the hostile company to cook up Deliphersy.”

The goal of Greenwood’s factory raid was to stop production of the product.

The first thing that comes to mind is the collapse of the facility, such as blowing up the factory, but in reality, such a flashy method was not the only solution.

When a machine breaks down, production stops.

If the factors were assassinated and even the personnel responsible for handling the situation were eliminated, the factory’s shutdown was certain.

“But is it really possible to destroy data?”

This data is protected with the highest level of security inside the factory.

Will it be easy to break through this?

If there was any concern about the plan, it was that it did not have professional hackers.

“… … It’s possible because it’s not about stealing, but destroying. You don’t need to break the security, you just have to destroy everything.”

White sparks flew from Kel’zid’s fingers.

Lightning magic, that would be believable.

Since the magician belonging to the Magic Tower has personally guaranteed it, I’m sure he’ll be able to do it.

Then Kelzid came to me and whispered.

“I will consider the favor you asked.”

“okay.”

“ask?”

Hela stuck her face in between.

I hear this.

The ears are also good.

“It’s nothing.”

It’s a minor deal made by handing over a portion of the labor fee.

I waved my hand and put Hela’s curiosity to rest.

‘I heard that the Centrim Quadruple was dispatched, but I don’t see it here.’

Actually, the biggest obstacle was them.

An iron shield raised by Centrim himself.

We decided to decide on personnel distribution after looking at their security status.

“Hmm, I can’t see it.”

The party, like me, could not find any members of the quadruple.

This was bound to be a problem.

Waver stretched and said, perhaps because he was bored with surveillance.

“Did Quadraple give you the convenience of working inside?”

“… … I might have gone back.”

“Who would spread rumors to keep anyone from touching you? That makes sense.”

Waver’s voice rose in excitement, as if he liked Kelzid’s guess.

“That won’t happen. It’s information Cromwell has obtained.”

“Yes, human. Don’t be a slacker and expect the worst. You can’t see it because you work inside, right?”

Hela looked up at him with a pitiful look.

Waver scratched the back of his head and muttered, perhaps feeling embarrassed.

“Then the number of people assassinating the factor would be important.”

If Quadruple is guarding the inside of the factory, they will definitely be concerned about infiltrators inside.

The first priority is data destruction, and the second priority is agent assassination.

If the assassination succeeded, that would be great, but even if it failed, they had to be distracted until the data was destroyed.

Hela nodded and asked the group.

“What should I do?”

“I’m going.”

“Whey.”

I volunteered right away.

It was the same in the initial plan.

Hela glared at the whistling Waver and asked me.

“Are you sure?”

“I am the one who killed the warlock.”

It’s an advantage I gained through compatibility, but it’s something only I know about.

It was enough of a reason to persuade the group.

Waver patted me on the back.

“I like it because it’s hot. I’ll treat it as a test to join the mercenary group. Do your best.”

“I don’t care about tests, I guarantee your skills.”

“I’m the type of person who is very suspicious and only believes what I see with my own eyes.”

I didn’t bother to say anything.

The decision was mine to make, so I didn’t care what other people said.

More than that, I had a reason to stir up trouble inside the factory.

‘This is Greenwood’s request. You might be able to find the spirit’s cocoon.’

As with the previous 7th District commission, I had high expectations for this commission.

‘There are things I want to question the executives about.’

Deliphersy moved Alfonso, the agent who monopolized Centrim’s agenda.

I wonder if it had anything to do with scouting the warlock Dalton Sunderland.

Even if it turned out to be a coincidence, it was information worth digging into for me.

“Okay, so let’s each get ready and start in an hour?”

Hela said and relaxed her body.

The greedy gaze, as if looking down at food, was impressive.

It was something I was looking forward to as well.

Am I strong enough to stand alongside the best mercenaries in the industry?

‘I can’t get caught here.’

If I wanted to achieve my goals among the corporations and their monsters, I had to take on a request like this lightly.

“The World Tree burns with motivation, telling you to trust only in me.”

The results will be proven soon, I said, stroking the World Tree and strengthening my resolve.