Chapter 42. We Met Again.

“To be fair, we are not such important people. Whether we lived or died would have made no difference to the Guild Master.”

“Hey. Why would you say such a thing?”

The Guild Master’s eyes darted around in embarrassment.

“Well then, let’s ask the people who have been here since earlier. Has the Guild Master ever, even just once, called out our names?”

I drew in the surrounding people to drive the nail in.

The onlookers had all left, but the people who had been trying to stop the Guild Master were still in the guild, cleaning up the surroundings.

“No. Not at all.”

“I just heard for the first time that you guys were over there together.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the Guild Master.

“……Ahem. I was preoccupied, so, I mean, it’s not that I forgot you, but, how should I put it, I believed in you. I knew that you guys would be able to overcome any trial.”

He was so flustered that his words were choppy, and even then, what he said didn't make sense.

“Let’s just leave it at that.”

He wouldn’t be able to bring up the topic of meat now.

I wasn't exactly innocent myself, so I had no intention of clinging to it until the end.

The meat was delicious.

Take care.

“That, Sir Simon Liatro, what business did he have that he was looking for you? I was worried it might be something bad.”

The Guild Master awkwardly changed the subject.

I had told him up to the point where Simon arrived at Grainy's ranch just in time and took care of the situation, but I hadn't properly explained the reason why Simon was looking for us.

This was also a part that I absolutely had to tell the Guild Master before I left Dejong.

“He said it was the Sword Saint’s orders.”

“The Sword Saint?!”

The Guild Master’s voice rose.

The people in the guild turned around in surprise.

Although he was in prison for failing to prevent the Emperor’s death and for the culprit (me) to have escaped…… the Sword Saint’s reputation was still formidable.

“Ahem. You, what is your identity, exactly?”

The Guild Master, feeling the gazes of those around him, lowered his voice.

It was a terrifying question for me, who had to live with a hidden identity, although he probably hadn’t asked with full knowledge.

I played dumb thoroughly.

“What identity? If I had a hidden identity, would I be working as a mercenary here?”

“Hmm. Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

The Guild Master was rather easily convinced.

“It’s because of that sword manual.”

“Ah- I seem to have heard something about that being the Sword Saint’s swordsmanship.”

“He said that the sword manuals that could be leaked to the outside would be destroyed, and instead, the Sword Saint would teach me and Pol swordsmanship.”

The Guild Master’s jaw dropped in surprise at my story.

“Hiyah, to get a chance to become a disciple of the ‘Sword Saint’! Did you guys save a country in your past lives?! All the mercenaries in the Empire will be envious of you!”

It was a more intense reaction than I had expected.

Listening to the Guild Master, I felt good, as if I had truly obtained great fortune.

Even though it was completely different from reality, and we had just coordinated our stories.

I never really understood the psychology of people who posted bragging posts on social media, but now I think I get it.

“Anyway, that’s what happened…… so we have to go to the Imperial Capital now.”

“Hmm. So there was a reason you came back right away.”

The Guild Master nodded his head repeatedly.

“Losing promising mercenaries is a painful thing for a Guild Master, but I can’t stand in the way of young people’s futures because of such greed. I’ll be cheering for you.”

He spoke as if he were being extremely generous, which was a bit dumbfounding.

Did he think I would just stand by and take it if he tried to stop me?

No matter if he was the Guild Master, he didn't have such authority.

So, in a sense, he was taking credit for not doing something he couldn't do in the first place.

A nasty remark of ‘Are you mocking me?’ almost came out, but I barely held it in.

“Thank you. I won’t forget the help I received from the Guild Master while I was here.”

If he demanded something in return for this pretext, that would be another story, but I could say as many empty words as he wanted.

“Hmm. It’s embarrassing to hear such words when I haven’t really done anything.”

It seemed he knew he didn’t deserve the thanks.

“Ah, right. Before you go to the Imperial Capital……”

The Guild Master, as if remembering something he had forgotten, hurriedly went into his room and came out with a wooden box.

“This is something Nilia asked me to give to you.”

“Who?”

“Nilia. The girl who gave you your first request. Don’t you remember?”

Ah. Now I remember after hearing the explanation.

The person who had me take on a request that didn't pay well, get covered in goblin blood, and provided the cause for the nickname ‘Green’.

“She said she couldn’t properly repay you for the great help you gave her back then, so she asked you to accept this at least.”

Well, a few silver coins was indeed too little.

Just the goblins was pushing it, and the Hond Wolf was too much.

Still, the fact that she was willing to give additional compensation showed that she had a conscience.

‘But did Nilia have anything to give me?’

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much.

What could she possibly give when even a goblin subjugation request was a burden to her?

I opened the box with no idea what to expect.

‘This is-’

A helmet that resembled a snake’s skull.

When I touched it, I felt the texture of bone, not metal.

Could it be an item made from the materials of a monster?

“Oh. That helmet is-”

The Guild Master let out a gasp of admiration upon seeing the helmet.

It seemed he hadn’t even opened it after being asked to deliver it.

“Haha. It seems the old man took quite a liking to you. To gift you such a precious helmet.”

The old man- he was probably talking about that grumpy old man.

Nilia’s grandfather, who was presumed to be a former mercenary.

It seemed the Guild Master had known the old man from his mercenary days.

“Was he, a famous person?”

“Hmm. He was- famous. Around here.”

It was a subtle reaction.

“Though it wasn’t for his skills.”

“Yes……?”

If a mercenary isn’t famous for his skills, then what is he famous for?

“He did a lot of things that seemed to be trying to attract people’s attention. That unique helmet is part of that effort.”

“…….”

I ended up hearing about the old man’s dark past.

Putting aside my pity, I examined the helmet.

Although it was old, it was well-maintained and sparkled like new.

A helmet that an old man, who had been retired for a long time and couldn't go out to fight, and whose circumstances weren't great, had cherished for many years.

It didn't seem like a bad item.

It was hard, and light.

And above all-

‘This would be incredibly eye-catching.’

It might not be for others, but for me, it was a rather attractive feature.

What was the reason Simon had so insistently suggested dyeing my hair green?

It was to make people’s gazes turn to other parts of my body, not my face.

If I was walking around with a snake skull on my head, would my face even register in their eyes?

No way.

‘It would be hard to think that a wanted man would walk around in such a conspicuous outfit.’

I smiled and put the helmet on my head.

It fit my head perfectly, more so than I had thought.

It even covered the upper part of my face moderately, but because of its structure with holes punched all over, it didn't feel like I was wearing it to hide my face.

Perfect.

“You seem to like the helmet?”

The Guild Master looked at me with a pleased smile.

I felt a warmth from him, as if he were saying, ‘Yes, if that’s your taste…….’

This man, he was misunderstanding.

I quickly took off the helmet.

“A helmet like this isn’t particularly my taste. It’s just……”

“Haha, I understand. It’s not a bad thing for a mercenary to stand out.”

It seems he can’t hear me.

Damn it.

“Wow, that’s cool. I want one too. Really, really-”

Pol, for his part, was sending me a look full of envy from the side.

Pol’s eyes were sincere.

He sincerely coveted the snake skull helmet.

If I had my way, I’d tell him to wear this thing himself.

If I put it on Pol and we walked around together, everyone would only look at Pol.

But it’s not like I could always be with Pol.

And it wouldn't be easy to find a disguise that fit this perfectly.

“This is mine.”

Let’s just go with it being my taste.

It’s my taste.

Please respect it.

As I was clutching the snake skull helmet tightly, the Guild Master suddenly opened his mouth.

“Looking at you like that gives me an inspiration.”

“Yes? Suddenly? What kind of inspiration?”

I only got a sinister feeling from the Guild Master’s smiling face.

Whether he knew my feelings or not, the Guild Master continued lightly.

“I’d like to give you a new nickname.”

A new nickname?

“Can you just change a nickname like that?”

Wasn’t a nickname used almost like a surname here?

If I could have changed it just because I wanted to, I would have changed it right away.

Even in a mere game, there are restrictions like ‘nickname can be changed once a month’.

I thought that once a nickname was given, it couldn’t be changed unless it was something extraordinary.

“You said you’re going to the Imperial Capital now, didn’t you? And you’re going to become a disciple of the Sword Saint. I just felt that ‘Green’ was a bit weak.”

“You’re the one who gave me that nickname!!”

I was about to say, ‘Green is not bad,’ but I couldn’t hold back at his shameless remark.

“Hmm. I know you don’t particularly like that nickname.”

“……I’m sure you do.”

I hadn’t hidden my displeasure from the moment he first pushed it on me as a nickname.

Even though I hadn’t said it outright, it was only natural that he would have noticed.

Right.

Let’s think positively.

At least he’s changing it now.

“Alright. I’m sick and tired of this awful nickname.”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to call it awful……”

“It is awful.”

Just because I wore red armor, I got told it was strange that there was no green. It’s one thing to hear the same thing once or twice.

Did I have to wear green clothes to satisfy the expectations of such people?

Like the game company that kept hearing, ‘Why isn’t the main character Ze○da when the game is called The Legend of Ze○da?’ and eventually released a game where Ze○da was the main character?

“Ahem. There are no bad nicknames in the world.”

“There are. Right here. All the nicknames the Guild Master has given.”

Didn’t he say the Guild Master’s nickname was ‘Thorn Shield’?

He can’t empathize because his own nickname is fine.

It was about time he accepted the reality that his naming sense was terrible.

“I like my nickname.”

“Pol. You shut up.”

Can’t you read the room right now?

“I get it, I get it. But this new nickname will definitely be to your liking!”

The Guild Master boasted, but with his past deeds, he wasn’t trustworthy at all.

“I’ll at least hear it out.”

“Alright. Your new nickname is……”

The Guild Master paused for a moment as if to build up anticipation.

Just how great of a nickname was it?

Who knows.

It might actually be a proper nickname.

The Guild Master’s naming wasn't always a bust.

Even something like ‘Bloodstained’-

“‘Green Snake’! How’s that! Cool, right?!”

“Why can’t you give up on that damned green until the end?!”

Ben ‘the Green Snake’?

Damn it.

What on earth is wrong with this man?

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