Chapter 152: Monsters (1)

“Ransel Grantz? Really? The actual Ransel Grantz?”

My, Sheratiya Viyan’s, reaction burst out immediately.

It was only natural.

Ransel Grantz was so famous in the Nadan Kingdom that no one wouldn’t know him.

Of course, nothing was absolute.

Eddy, who had brought the news, saw my exaggerated reaction and turned to Harang.

He was the same as ever.

His calm demeanor seemed to ask who that was.

Eddy, feeling both incredulous and unsurprised, as if this was expected of his boss, gave a resigned look.

“Your expression is kind of strange?”

“It can’t help but be strange. Boss, you don’t know who Ransel Grantz is?”

“I don’t know well. Do I need to?”

“It’s not that you need to know… but talking with you sometimes makes me think you dropped into this world from another one.”

“I agree. Sometimes your lack of common knowledge is uncanny.”

“What, is not knowing Ransel Grantz such a shocking lack of common sense?”

“For people in the Nadan Kingdom, yes. If you’re into swordsmanship, even those in the western or central continent would know him.”

“Oh, he must be incredibly strong then.”

The moment “swordsmanship” came up, I, Harang, showed interest.

Seeing this, Eddy let out a small laugh.

It was impressive.

Despite being unbelievably strong for his age, his eyes sparkled like a child’s when it came to swords.

It was an almost obsessive, near-mad passion.

‘Maybe that mindset is why he’s so strong. Compared to him, I’m far lacking.’

Though I, Eddy, and the mercenary corps’ officers still trained diligently, we no longer lived each day with the same excitement as before.

Our skills had surpassed our dreams, and we had secured our place in the region without rivals.

But seeing Boss Harang at this moment changed my mind again.

Even someone as strong as him hadn’t lost his passion—how could someone like me afford to be complacent?

‘I need to aim higher…’

Graduate.

A realm that felt suffocating just to hear, one I thought had nothing to do with my life.

I, Eddy, resolved to change that mindset.

Instead of a tree I wouldn’t climb because I couldn’t reach it, I decided to keep chopping at it with an axe until I could—aiming for the Graduate realm.

“Thank you, Boss Harang!”

“Huh? Why suddenly…”

“Your passion for swordsmanship has made me a new person. It’s whipped my recently lazy self into shape, so I can’t help but express my gratitude, Boss!”

“Oh, I see.”

“Wow, congratulations.”

Harang and I, Sheratiya, offered awkward congratulations.

Then came silence.

It was inevitable.

My remark was quite out of context for the conversation.

Of course, I, Eddy, knew that, so I quickly gave Harang the real information he wanted.

“Ahem, where was I…”

“You were talking about how strong Ransel Grantz is.”

“Oh, right! Yes, he’s incredibly strong. The Nadan Kingdom isn’t a superpower, but it’s not small either, right? Being the third strongest swordsman in such a kingdom makes him a formidable figure.”

“Hoo.”

“But what’s even more impressive isn’t his current strength but his potential for the future. Boss, have you heard of the Next Generation?”

“No. But I can guess what it means.”

“Yes. It refers to the fifty young swordsmen who reached Graduate in their twenties, destined to lead the next era. There are ten in the southern continent, and Ransel Grantz is the only one from the Nadan Kingdom.”

“So, he’s pretty young then?”

“Yes. I heard he’s in his early to mid-thirties… Anyway, it’s strange. He’s a high-ranking noble with considerable swordsmanship skills, so why would he come all the way to the kingdom’s outskirts to meet you… Hmm! Boss, did you cause some trouble out there?”

I, Eddy, asked with a serious expression.

In response, Harang gave a bewildered look before seeming to consider it possible.

He didn’t even trust himself.

Not just in the Dark City Kalbaron, but he had swung his sword in various places, so it occurred to him that he might have unknowingly crossed paths with someone like Ransel Grantz.

“If that’s the case, I’ll need to talk it out. Say it wasn’t intentional.”

“…Will it be resolved that easily?”

“Hmm… I don’t know. But it’s probably not a grudge, I think.”

“How can you be so sure…”

“I wrapped things up cleanly most of the time.”

“…Oh, I see.”

I, Eddy, didn’t pry further.

The phrase “wrapped things up cleanly” was quite chilling and eerie.

‘Probably dead or something close to it. When necessary, Boss can be ruthless…’

Thinking this far, I hoped Ransel Grantz hadn’t come seeking Harang out of a grudge.

I liked him.

Though we hadn’t met, his reputation was good.

Even excluding his contributions to the kingdom’s prestige, he was said to have a commendable character for a high-ranking noble.

“Anyway, it’s not good to keep him waiting too long.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Alright. It’s a hassle, but since he came all the way to see me, I should hear him out.”

“I’ll guide you right away.”

“No need. He’s probably in the hideout’s reception room… I’ll go alone. Get back to work.”

“If you say so…”

“See you later, Lady Viyan. Thanks for your hard work on the trip.”

“Yeah, take care.”

After politely bidding farewell, I, Harang, quickened my pace toward the mercenary corps’ hideout.

I seemed a bit more excited than before hearing the news.

Eddy asked Lady Viyan.

“He looks a bit excited, doesn’t he?”

“Seems so.”

“Because a strong person came?”

“Probably? Maybe he’ll even suggest a spar.”

“Hmm…”

“What? Worried Harang will lose?”

“The opposite. I’m worried he’ll crush him too thoroughly.”

“Fair point.”

I, Sheratiya, nodded.

Ransel Grantz was not only the Nadan Kingdom’s but also the surrounding kingdoms’ most outstanding prospect.

He likely lived with immense pride, and if they sparred, he might see Harang as beneath him.

But what if, contrary to expectations, he lost?

And by an overwhelming margin?

What would he feel?

If it were just disappointment, fine, but if twisted resentment turned into hostility…

“…That’s a bit scary.”

“Right. Thinking about making an enemy of a high-ranking noble does make my stomach churn. Though Ransel Grantz’s reputation isn’t bad… you never know.”

“Hmm… I can only hope Harang goes easy on him.”

It was an absurd notion.

People worrying that Ransel Grantz, a top-tier Next Generation figure, might lose?

To a mercenary in his early twenties, no less?

Yet they were serious.

Neither of them entertained the slightest thought that Harang would lose.

“I hope it ends well.”

“Indeed…”

Their worried voices didn’t reach Harang, who was already far away.

***

As Eddy predicted, I, Harang, headed to the hideout’s reception room with some anticipation.

I hadn’t known before, but now I understood how difficult it was to reach Graduate in one’s twenties.

In my Godok days, even Maria, the lowest-ranked, was a Graduate, so I thought it was common.

But a year and a half in the outside world taught me otherwise.

Anyway, someone with such remarkable talent, after ten more years of training, had come to see me.

I couldn’t help but be excited.

How strong was he?

If he needed a sparring partner, would he gladly cross swords with me?

If he came for something else, what then? Should I beg him to fight me?

Such thoughts swirled in my head during the short walk to the reception room.

‘…I’ve seen him before. In Delkaro’s ancient dungeon.’

But the moment I opened the door and recognized who it was, the moment I roughly gauged his strength with sharp eyes, I couldn’t help but make a disappointed face, like a child receiving an unwanted birthday gift.

‘Not enough.’

It was true.

Though he had considerable skill befitting his Next Generation title, he was still far below Hagio.

At best, a step above Philip Portville?

That wasn’t enough to satisfy me.

Of course, like Guild Leader Jeten, if he used a vastly different swordsmanship style, there might be something to gain.

But I wasn’t in the mood for that now.

I wanted something more intense, thrilling—a battle so tense it made my skin tingle.

Of course, my social skills had improved significantly, so I didn’t openly show my feelings.

“Hello. I’m Harang, a Gold Plate Mercenary of the Eddy Mercenary Corps.”

“I know. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“That’s right. I remember seeing you in the ancient dungeon.”

“I remember too. Your ability to vanish instantly left quite an impression.”

“Oh… I see.”

“So I looked into you afterward. I’m sorry if it felt like prying. But… as you might guess, I’m desperate to face strong peers. Haha.”

“Hmm, I feel the same way.”

“Oh, sorry. It’s a stretch to call us peers. The people I’ve sparred with lately are at least twenty years older than me… Haha, consider it a slip of the tongue.”

“It’s fine.”

“Anyway, here’s the thing… I’m not usually like this, but I’m so excited I’m getting to the point without manners. Having you, someone who became a Gold Plate Mercenary in your early twenties, in front of me makes me impatient. So, I know it’s abrupt, but… how about a spar with me?”

Was it fortunate?

He hadn’t come seeking me out of a grudge.

He had purely come to the Nadan Kingdom’s outskirts, Marzen, to find a sparring partner.

I, Harang, inwardly sighed with relief.

Having experienced the hassle of noble conflicts in the capital, I felt at ease knowing he approached me with goodwill.

But—

“I know it’s concerning.”

“Huh?”

“It’s only natural, right? A famous person—haha, sorry for calling myself that. Anyway, me, Ransel Grantz, coming out of nowhere asking for a spar, and pressuring you that it’ll be boring if you don’t comply—it’s not a pleasant situation. It’s obvious it could hurt your pride. I understand.”

“Oh?”

“But don’t fear defeat too much. For geniuses like you, experiencing loss early can be an asset.”

“…”

As we continued talking, I couldn’t help but feel a strange, peculiar sensation.

‘Does he… think he’s definitely going to win?’

Reaching that thought, I could only stare blankly.

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