Chapter 184 : Make Sherwood Great Again

Dust billowed up.

A little later, Boris was at a loss for words at the sight before him.

The impact meter, or rather, the punching machine, was gone, and there was a gaping hole in the wall.

In an instant, the repair costs were calculated in his head.

"...Damn it."

Ashuban muttered as he relaxed his stance.

"This is the Moonlight Punch."

Boris looked at him.

The glistening red eyes were staring at him.

"Do you know the Moonlight Punch?"

Boris didn't have much to say.

"...You crazy bastard."

Ashuban said in a triumphant voice.

"Let's check the score."

Boris looked at Ashuban once, and then at the hole in the wall.

Ashuban said nonchalantly.

"What's wrong? Is this the first time you've seen the Moonlight Punch?"

"...Where would I see something like that?"

"Anyway. Let's check."

Boris moved to the hole in the wall without a word.

The punching machine, which had moved to the backyard, had fallen over, unable to withstand the impact.

Boris immediately went over and checked the score.

To be honest, he was also curious.

When he checked the score, he couldn't help but be shocked.

"...931 points?"

It was a score that was more than 1.5 times the 600 points that was usually called the first cutoff for platinum rank.

Ashuban, who had followed him out, muttered.

"...So close."

"So close? Are you crazy?"

Boris came to his senses and recorded the score on the file.

"How is this possible? Your mana is 0, but you have this kind of power? Did you learn black magic somewhere? Where on earth did this power come from?"

Boris muttered as he filled out the file.

Ashuban, who was staring at him blankly, gently tapped his shoulder.

"What?"

When Boris turned around, Ashuban grinned and said.

"What are you doing?"

"?"

"Carry me."

"...."

***

"Damn it. Do we really have to do this?"

"You said it, so you have to keep it. Does a man go back on his word? I'll be like this even when we eat."

"Damn it. I got caught by a crazy guy."

Is it a rare sight for a rather small guy to be carrying a man bigger than him on his back?

People glanced at us as they passed by.

"Anyway, I passed the first round, right?"

"...Yeah. You passed."

"Then when do I take the second round?"

"I don't know, you bastard. Do you think that's up to me?"

The promotion test has two rounds. In fact, the second round is the main test. The first round is to check the minimum qualifications to take the second round.

I tapped the head of this unkind receptionist and said.

"Hey, I demand a proper explanation of the second test. You butcher."

"Damn it. Damn it."

Boris the human butcher, cursing, kindly explained the second test.

The second test was simple.

Hunting a B-rank magical beast under the supervision of an examiner.

In Maia, hunting magical beasts was the main job of a mercenary, so it was also the most certain and practical method.

Naturally, two things were needed to take the second test: a B-rank magical beast and an examiner.

"I'll let you know when a B-rank magical beast appears. So just know that for now."

"Then what about the examiner?"

Boris let out a deep sigh.

"That's the problem. It has to be a gold-rank mercenary with at least 5 years of experience. How are we supposed to find a guy like that?"

"Hmm... turn left here."

"I know, you bastard."

"Oh? Is the servant rebelling?"

"...."

I returned to the front of the Sherwood hideout, carried on Boris's back.

Although there were still some bloodstains, the corpses on the street had already been cleared away.

"Ugh, damn it. The smell of blood is overwhelming."

Boris grumbled.

I tapped the guy's head and instructed.

"If you kill someone, do you think it will smell like flowers? Shut up and go into the hideout, you slave."

As I advanced into the hideout, carried on the slave's back, all eyes were focused on me.

The inside of the hideout was crowded with people.

How can it be this popular when I haven't even established the mercenary corps yet?

I met the eyes of Shushruta, who was scrubbing a table with a rag.

She had a black smudge under her eyes, and in that state, she blinked her eyes with a look of utter incomprehension and looked back and forth between me and the slave.

In the end, the slave was the first to speak bluntly.

"What are you looking at?"

Shushruta looked at me.

"Who is this?"

"A one-day slave."

"...?"

"That lazy guy who was sleeping at the mercenary guild reception desk, he lost a bet and was demoted to a one-day slave. And I, who won that bet, am using him as a one-day slave."

I tapped Boris's head and said.

"Slave. Greet your mistress."

"Damn it. Damn it. How did I get caught by a guy like this..."

Shushruta stared at Boris blankly and then said to me,

"Ashuban. The slave's legs are trembling."

"Ah, really? That's good news. Slave. I'll give you a choice."

"What is it?"

"Either help with the cleaning, or help with the cleaning while carrying me on your back. Choose."

The slave rebelled.

"You crazy bastard. I have to guard the reception desk! I don't have time for this."

"Nonsense. A guy who was sleeping with his feet on the reception desk. Your argument is a bit lacking, isn't it?"

"Damn it..."

"Choose quickly. Are you going to clean quietly, or shall I give you various instructions while on your back?"

Boris said tragically.

"...I'll choose the former."

I got off the guy's back and then took the rag Shushruta was holding and gave it to him.

I didn't forget to give him some words of encouragement.

"If I see you slacking off, I will personally get on your back again and conquer the world."

"Damn it. Damn it."

Boris started cleaning, grumbling.

I watched him for a while and then said to Shushruta.

"Why are there so many people?"

"The onlookers said they would help with the cleaning, so I just told them to. They even refused when I offered to pay them."

"...Really?"

I was proud, thinking that it was proof that the Sherwood Mercenary Corps had lived well.

Shushruta wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and asked.

"So, did you create the mercenary corps? Did you put my name in?"

I looked at the smudge on her forehead and answered.

"No. I have to be a gold rank first, so I just took the promotion test. I passed the first round easily, and I'll have to create it after taking the second round."

"Ah..."

Shushruta's shoulders slumped. She seemed a little disappointed.

"Don't worry. I'll put your name in first as soon as I create it."

"Really?"

"Of course. It's a man's promise."

Only then did Shushruta regain her spirits.

I looked around and asked.

"Where's Miho?"

"She's sleeping upstairs."

"Hmm."

Well, she's not much help with cleaning anyway.

"Let's finish up quickly and rest."

I also rolled up my sleeves.

My job was more focused on throwing things away than sweeping and wiping.

I took out all the trashy furniture and liquor bottles that the guys had brought in and put them out the back door.

Time passed, and by the time the sun set and dusk fell... the cleaning was finished.

It was finished sooner than I thought because many people came to help.

Since they stubbornly refused money, I took them to Sven's restaurant, gave Sven the money, and ordered a hearty meal.

Money should be scattered like flower petals. What's the use of all that money after you die?

Especially since I had gotten much more money than I needed, I had to spend it whenever I had a chance.

Of course, Ophosis's legacy would be divided among his descendant Hans, the Stavanger family who had helped me greatly, and the unlucky Black Prince.

But I still have a lot of money left.

While I was at it, I also had a meal and a drink with them.

Because Sven's pig's feet are so delicious that you don't get tired of them even if you eat them consecutively.

In the end, it was a good thing.

Until then, people had been hesitant to talk to me and avoided my eyes, keeping their distance and seeming a little intimidated by me.

But after eating and drinking together, it seemed that the distance had shortened a little.

Some of them even recognized me.

They said they hadn't recognized me because my atmosphere had changed, and they asked what had happened since they had heard that I had fallen from the Mist Cliff, so I kindly told them my adventure story again.

After the enjoyable meal was over, we returned to the hideout.

Of course, on Boris's back.

I tapped the guy's head and said.

"Slave. Let's go to the backyard."

"Yes."

At this point, Boris seemed to have reached a state of enlightenment and obediently followed my instructions like a gentle cow.

After arriving at the backyard where a pile of miscellaneous trash was gathered, I got off Boris's back and then approached the pile of trash, creating the Snow Branch Blue Flame Art.

A blue flame rose from my palm.

"Black magic...!"

It was Boris's voice.

Boris seemed to have decided to define me as a black magician.

"It's not black magic, it's martial arts."

Shushruta, who was standing next to me with her arms crossed, said with a smug look.

She also thought it was black magic at first.

I threw the blue flame in my palm at the pile of trash.

The blue flame stuck to the pile of trash and began to burn fiercely.

Looking at the blue burning flame... I was lost in thought for a moment.

The Sherwood Mercenary Corps.

I'll start again.

I'll build it up with my own hands.

...It must be great.

So that no one can ignore it.

If someone ignores Shushruta, who has become a member, I feel like I won't be able to sleep at night.

Is this the responsibility of a mercenary corps leader?

I felt like I could understand what the leader had been thinking when he created and ran the mercenary corps.

It must be great.

Like Gustan of the Greatsword.

Like the mercenary corps he was in.

No, more than that.

I fidgeted with the jet-black bracelet on my wrist as I looked at the burning fire.

The Eight Sword Masters are a matter for later. I couldn't even scratch the leader.

I'll create a mercenary corps and announce the revival of Sherwood.

To do that, I have to be very active.

So that people talk about it.

According to Boris, Sherwood's reputation has fallen a lot.

I'll raise it.

To do that, I also have to become famous.

Like the other guys.

It would be great if I could become strong enough to challenge the Eight Sword Masters while building up the mercenary corps and solving requests.

I looked at the burning flame and then raised one hand high.

"Make Sherwood great again!"

Shushruta followed me and raised her hand.

"Make Sherwood great again!"

At that moment, a white ball of fur fell from the air onto my head with a gentle, beautiful voice.

"As expected, Ashuban, there's no time to be bored with you."

Miho, who had woken up, stretched her front paws as if stretching and laughed.

"Make Sherwood great again."

Our gazes fell on Boris, who was standing there blankly.

"Why me?"

An unspoken gaze pressed him.

In the end, Boris also joined in.

"M-make Sherwood great again!"

Although the Heavenly Demon did not shout the slogan, he joined in with a low laugh.

The new Sherwood Mercenary Corps.

The curtain rises.

***

"Ashuban of the Half-Sword!"

I thought as I heard my nickname coming from outside.

That nicknames are not a realm I can decide.

[Of course.]

My nickname had somehow become Ashuban of the Half-Sword, not Ashuban of Sherwood.

It seems that the sight of me creating an aura on a broken sword was that impressive.

Should I be grateful that my name was at least included?

"...Nothing goes as I want."

A few days have passed since we defeated the fake guys and got the hideout back.

The streets and the hideout were cleaned up, but there was no news about the second test.

I have to create a mercenary corps first to be able to take on requests or do anything.

Even if I went to the mercenary guild several times a day, nothing changed.

Although a few traces of what were presumed to be B-rank magical beasts were found, the examiner was the problem.

Gold-rank mercenaries were rare to begin with, and the fact that I was trying to find one with a guaranteed career was the cause of the delay.

Boris said he was looking hard, but there was still no news.

Shushruta also said she would look into it and left, but she hasn't come back yet.

"In the old days, I would have found one in no time."

As I was smacking my lips in disappointment, I heard the door burst open.

"Who is it?"

When I went down, a guy wearing a black hood was gasping for breath at the doorway.

Did he come in anywhere because he had to go to the bathroom urgently?

I gave the guy the desperate news.

"This isn't a bathroom."

The guy who saw me stopped in his tracks, and then took off his hood.

The moment I met the golden eyes inside, I couldn't help but doubt my eyes.

"...Schmitt?"

The guy smiled brightly.

The youngest member of the Sherwood Mercenary Corps had returned.

(End of Chapter)

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