Chapter 66 – Cupid Rye

#066.

Shall I run right away and call? As he gripped the sword at his waist, Mark spoke quietly.

“The number is a bit short. They may be hiding around you. So can I ask for a boundary? Shouldn’t you also know how strong our power is?”
“That’s right. We also have no intention of relying only on you, Rai.”

What should I say?

Pride? Coming?

I couldn’t explain it, but it seemed like both of them had the pride of being mercenaries.

‘Certainly I can’t defeat all the monsters…’

There is an emergency situation, but if that happens, it will not be able to function properly as a party.

Originally, I didn’t intend to stay together for a long time, but now that I’ve heard a little bit about it, it’s a pity that we broke up right away.

“All right. I’ll be on the lookout, and if it’s dangerous, I’ll intervene.”
“Okay. Thanks. Reena. Know?”
“Huh.”

The two of them exchanged signals silently, probably because they often matched their hands and feet, and at one point ran out of the bush.

‘Go back… It’s too slow.’

Rina Mark also learned how to practice the aura, and the moment she ran out, the aura gushed out of her body.

But the movement was so awkward, slow, and rough.

If Exceed is a highway, should Lina and Mark say it is an unpolished mountain road?

Even if you use the same aura, there will be no comparison in its efficiency and output.

‘Are the Aura exercises that mercenaries learn..?’

Certainly, if you think so, performance will inevitably decrease.

─Cooooo!

While thinking about that, Lina and Mark collided with orcs.

“Haap!”
“Hot!”

Lina and Mark attacked the orc with their long and short swords respectively.

Mark swung his sword with a big movement and slashed the side of an orc, while Lina quickly dug in, stabbed the orc in the chest, and retreated.

When 2 of them were incapacitated, 3 of them charged with weapons.

Kang! Cagan! Chaeeng!

After watching the two of them work together to deal with the three Orcs, they moved on.

Could the howl of the orc from earlier be the sound of calling his comrades?

After moving for a while, I saw two orcs rushing at me.

His body was already covered in blood, so he must have hunted prey.

Sigh-

He immediately drew his sword and charged at them.

‘I’ll have to fight in close combat after a long time.’

I always felt like my swordsmanship was rusting because I always sharpened it with an aura whip.

“Insane!”

When the distance decreased to 10m, they immediately turned to me and swung their swords.

Charleureung-

The flying sword was flown using flowing water, causing the two weapons to collide.

Caang!

“Chur!?”
“Uhh..!”

The weapons collided with them were momentarily shocked and hesitantly stopped.

‘I can’t come to my senses.’

It’s so embarrassing that we just bumped our weapons into each other…

Pay for it.

─Stand up!

The upper body and lower body must be separated.

Chow-

While wiping off the blood on his sword, he looked at the orc’s corpse and then turned around.

‘I have to go back quickly.’

I think it will be all right, but if Lina and Mark get hurt while taking their time, it will be a big deal.

‘Because I can practice swordsmanship now anyway…’

For the past month, it was impossible to practice swordsmanship due to traveling by carriage, but there is no problem now.

Taat!

It jumped on top of a tree with a single leap, then stepped on the branches and moved quickly.

In less than 5 seconds, I returned to the original place and saw the last remaining orc grabbing his neck and collapsing.

Percussion.

“Are you done?”

Asked as they landed on the ground, Mark and Lina pulled out the orc’s molars and laughed.

“Okay. I heard their screams from over there earlier, did you kill them?”
“Yes. It was easy. But I haven’t retrieved my molars yet, so I have to go get them.”

Saying that, as she was about to move to get her molars, Lina came up to her and tapped her on the shoulder.

“Lie. Great job! Are you strong?”
“Is it so? I’m glad if you’re strong. Do you like reliable men, too?”

She deliberately asked out loud to hear, and Lina glanced at Mark and she replied with a grin.

“Of course. My older sister prefers reliable men.”
“I knew it. What are you doing mark? Go fast! Just retrieve the molars and go back.”
“Uh? Uh. Okay, let’s go.”

When he called himself, Mark stood there blankly, then he approached with an awkward answer.

Even so, he continued to find it funny that he looked sideways at me and Lina.

‘It’s fun, but it’s a bit frustrating.’

He’s the kind of person who’s really going to get NTR’d while hesitating.

Tsk— I found the corpses of the orcs after kicking my tongue and pulled out my molars.

“Then let’s go back. The order ended very quickly. The commute time is longer.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. Still, this is a good thing.”
“It is.”

So we talked about this and that and returned to the mercenary guild.

***

“Yes. Definitely got it Here’s the commission.”

The receptionist received the molar, moved somewhere, and brought the request money.

I received it, divided it according to the number of people, and left the mercenary guild.

“Euddeudeu…Then the request is over, how about we have a drink?”

Lina stretched her body, then raised her hand and acted to swallow something in her, she said.

“Maybe? It’s been a very long time.”

Come to think of it, I haven’t had a drink since I came to this world.

Because she drank for the first time in her previous life and went through hardships, she usually doesn’t enjoy it very much, but when the story came out, she craved.

“Then let’s go straight to the inn!”
“Exit Baal!”

The two of us excitedly moved to the inn, but Mark objected.

“Lie. You’re not an adult yet I can’t force it, but I can’t recommend eating it anyway.”

I never thought I’d hear words in this world that I rarely heard even on the modern Earth.

She stared blankly at Mark for a moment, then patted him on the back and said,

“Ah~ These days, everyone eats at my age. Isn’t it? Sister.”

The ax that believes in is stamped in the foot.

The current situation suited him.

Lina, who thought she would definitely stand up for me, avoided her gaze as she scratched her cheek.

“That’s true, but if Mark doesn’t work…”
“…Sister?”
“Sorry. I’m on Mark’s side.”

‘How are you? Can I live with this sadness..’

When Lina agreed with her words, Mark smiled happily and gave her a warm look.

Lina, who received that gaze, shyly looked into the eyes and smiled at each other.

‘The price is shaking..’

After staring at it, the two turned their backs and walked away.

“Ah, that’s it! Song!!”
“Haha.. Rai. Are you upset?”
“What are you yelling at! Song. Go! Mark ruined the fun, so take responsibility!”

Even though it’s the day I successfully completed my first request, I think it will be a bit frustrating in the future.

Did you feel something when you saw me like that?

Mark left room.

“Hmm… It’s definitely the day I successfully completed my first quest, so I guess I should celebrate. Just think about it.”
“Hmm… Certainly, it’s a bit like not drinking to commemorate the first quest. How is Mark?”

Mark and I have been together for a total of 2 months.

I’ve never had a drink in that time.

As a result, Mark gradually began to be persuaded by Lina’s words.

I walked with a huff, and turned around after listening to the conversation behind me.

“So. What do you want? I will drink. I won’t.”
“Let’s drink. Instead, it is only today.”
“All right. Okay. That’s true… After half a year, you’ll be an adult anyway, but you’ll be strict.”

This world is not specifically prohibited by law, but Mark seems too conservative.

When he grumbled, Lina shielded Mark again.

“Heh.. I understand. Still, it’s better than just giving a kid a drink.”
“Yes. It’s good. Is that why Lina is also next to Mark? I should make a lover too.”
“What..? What!”

Lina was taken aback by my frank words and glanced sideways at Mark.

Then, seeing Mark quietly blinking, he was relieved and sent me a desperate look.

It seemed that he meant to tell Mark not to tell him what was on his mind.

“Uhh.. Let’s go quickly.”

I didn’t see Lina like that either, but she is secretly timid.

Just sure! If you drink and fall, you are supposed to come over, but you don’t know that.

They don’t know that I’m doing it on purpose to connect them, and they block it..

‘I guess I’ll just let it be NTRed…’

I’m dying of cold right now, but I don’t know what I’m doing.

After the three of them quarreled, we quickly arrived at the inn.

“Eutcha! Then what do you want to eat?”

When I sat down at the empty seat, Mark asked while looking at the wall with the menu written on it.

“What do you want to eat?”
“Me? Um.. I don’t have anything in particular.. Just ask Mark and noona to do it. Because I eat anything.”
“Is that so? Here you go!!”

Rina skillfully ordered what she was originally an inn she frequented.

“But why are you so excited?”

Seeing something brighter than usual, Lina avoided her gaze.

“Huh? Ah.. Just?”

‘Sueup—what’s there?’

I don’t think it’s just that I’m excited because of alcohol.

Most of all, I haven’t taken a single sip yet.

“Mark! How about that? Do you think it’s possible to manifest an aura?”

Was my gaze a burden?

Lina pulled Mark in as if trying to divert her topic.

Then Mark looked up at his ceiling and tsk–clicked his tongue.

“Not yet. I think it’s also a limitation of the Aura technique. You?”
“Well, me too… What can I do? Are you still alive?”
“…”

She didn’t have anything to say, so she was silent. Lina patted me on the back and said,

“What. You! Aren’t you cursing at us inside?”
“What am I swearing at?”
“Ahh, man! Are you great? At a young age, it is already manifested to the point of coming. Wouldn’t it be the mercenary king?”

She looked at Lina, who raised her tension for no reason, and became interested in her seductive words.

“The Mercenary King? Is there anything like that?”

Lina and Mark, who exchanged glances at my words, laughed awkwardly.

“The mercenary king.. Yes. It must have been 300 years ago or so. A being at the pinnacle of all mercenaries on the continent who have reached the level of 11 stars.”
“I heard that there is a record, but it went missing in the middle? Isn’t that just a rumor?”
“I don’t know. In fact, the mercenary king might have reached the level of 12 stars and become the main character of a ghost story.”

‘It’s the state of 12 stars…’

Where did they really go?

Will Lucas go missing if he reaches the level of 12 stars?

Probably the answer that no one in the world can tell you.

Lina shouted as she was about to be lost in her own thoughts.

“Come! Everybody get drunk!”

I looked to the side and before I knew it, the waitress was holding three glasses of beer.

Upon accepting it, the waitress headed toward the kitchen again brought snacks.

“Then call me to order again.”

When the waitress left after all the food was served, Lina raised her beer mug.

“Well done everyone!!”
“Thanks for your efforts!”
“Okay. Good job everyone.”

Percussion!

As soon as she clinked the wooden glass and inhaled it, the carbonic acid violently hit her throat.

“Keuuuuu~ It’s good to drink it after a long time!”
“Whoops! What makes a little boy look like an old man?”

At my exclamation, Lina sighed—and then she said that.

And just like that, Mark also gave a big exclamation while drinking beer.

“Ha ha! Because it’s good too.”

Then, Lina smiled shyly this time.

“Pu-huh! Are you hotheaded?”

Then, as I gently touch him, Mark smiles slightly as if he is in a good mood.

‘Fuck..’

I was sincerely trying to be saddened by the way they discriminated against me so openly.

As I drank beer while staring at the two of them in a friendly conversation, I quickly ran out.

“Here! One more beer!”

As soon as I raised her hand and ordered, Lina and Mark said anxiously.

“Are you drinking too much? Be careful.”
“That’s right. If I fall alone, will I leave you alone?”

He treated me like a non-existent person, but he only intervenes at times like this.

The judges were distorted for no reason, and she said meanly raising one corner of her mouth.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if I collapsed, sister?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”

When she said she had no idea what that meant, Lina’s face hardened awkwardly as she glanced at her mark.

Then she put her beer glass down and she turned her head to Mark.

“Mark. Can I talk to you for a second?”
“Hmm..? What… Okay.”
“Thank you. Lie! Let’s talk!”
“I don’t like… Uh, uh!”

Lina begged Mark to excuse me, but she didn’t listen to me, and I grabbed her and led her to the second floor.

Then she came to a corner where there were no people and she turned around.

“Lie. You… You know?”
“What? Does Lina like Mark?”

When she said it openly, Lina startled her shoulders and put her hands together as if in a plea.

“Lie. Can we keep it a secret? Huh? Please.”

She looked at Lina who was talking earnestly and reached out her hand.

“Then stay still. Until I say okay.”
“Lie? Isn’t it?”
“What? Do you want me to stay still?”

Lina looked confused as she stretched out her hand with the meanest expression in the world.

Then she bit her lip in disappointment—

“Lie! I didn’t expect this to happen… Ouch!!”

Fuck!

I was about to say something, but I got hit and grabbed her forehead.

“Uh..? What is this…”

Seeing the blank expression on her face that she couldn’t grasp the real situation, she laughed wickedly.

“What did you say? What were you just trying to say?”
“Uh, huh? Oh, that’s why…”

She looked at Lina, who was puzzled by her words, then turned around and ran up the stairs to her, she said.

“I can’t. I should tell Mark that Rina’s sister is pervert.
“Hey, hey! For a moment! At there..!”

Seeing me ready to give it to Mark at any moment, Lina desperately held onto it.

So she stopped and then sighed—she laughed.

“It’s a joke. I will help you.”
“Uh? Really? Isn’t that a lie?”
“Of course. Isn’t that too much anyway? Did I look like trash?”

This time, she said in her tone that she was disappointed on my part, and Lina struggled with her arms and denied it.

“No! I didn’t think it would be me either! It’s just… That… Anyway! Mark is waiting for you, so let’s go down!”

Tadad-

Rina changed her topic and headed to the first floor.

“Hmm… That sounds interesting.”

I hate to see the two of them teasing each other, but it can’t be that much fun when they tease each other like this.

Looking at Lina’s back as she walked away, she also headed to the first floor.