Chapter 275: 275 Not that kind of place

Ian let out a small smile as he tucked away Lia’s application form.

Finding a skilled C-rank mercenary this early wasn’t an easy task.

Moreover, it was rare to see a mercenary with such well-defined traits; he had been lucky.

Ian thought he should send a gift to Rebecca for introducing Lia to him.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“…Yes.”

“You can just speak comfortably like you did before.”

Ian, who had been trying his best to recruit Lia over the past few days, laughed and let out a sigh of relief internally.

It had been a sudden turn of events, but it was an opportunity he simply couldn’t let slip away.

When he was first introduced by Rebecca, Ian had confirmed that Lia’s desire gauge was nearly full, so he had intentionally prowled the park near the inn where she stayed at night, aiming for a night event.

’The traits… seem to have worked well too.’

He had even spent two Potential Points to increase the success rate of the negotiation.

Perhaps thanks to raising his [Authoritative Aura], which worked well on people of her type, Lia’s attitude had become considerably more cooperative compared to when they first met.

He had just started saving points again after using them for Mika, but if it meant hiring a mercenary of this caliber, it was an investment that had paid off handsomely.

“Now, I’ll introduce you to the other members.”

Ian called the members back into the lounge—the ones he had asked to step away for a moment while he spoke with Lia.

“This is Lia, who will be joining our mercenary group starting today.”

With everyone gathered in the lounge, Ian introduced the new member, Lia.

Rin, Mika, and Tanya.

The three of them, slightly flustered by the sudden news of a new member, gave a round of applause.

Lia bowed her head slightly and calmly reassessed the faces of the mercenaries who would become her comrades.

…She had wondered, but it seemed this group really was the entire mercenary force.

It appeared the claim of being D-rank was the truth.

“A C-rank mercenary?”

“Why would a mercenary like that join our group…?”

“Isn’t it plausible now? We have a base like this and all.”

The three gathered across from her whispered quietly while looking at Lia.

A new member.

Given Ian’s previous mentions, they had expected the group to grow eventually…

However, they had assumed a rookie mercenary would join as a junior; none of them had expected a veteran with more experience to join so suddenly.

Regardless, since a new member had joined.

The members gathered in the lounge began their introductions one by one.

Lia briefly memorized the names of the members introducing themselves first.

Rin. Frontline.

She was said to be the most senior, but she didn’t seem to have particularly much experience.

Since they shared the same frontline position, she would likely have to coordinate her positioning with her the most.

Mika. Mage.

For some reason, she emphasized several times that she could use magic.

…Aren’t mages supposed to use magic as a matter of course?

Tanya. Porter.

She briefly wondered why such a small mercenary group would bother with a porter, but…

The Captain was the one paying for it anyway. As far as members went, a porter was always a net positive.

Once the individual introductions were over, it was finally Lia’s turn.

The three pairs of eyes watched Lia with interest.

“I’m Lia. C-rank mercenary, frontline position. My mercenary career is about two years…”

While the three welcomed her with applause, they quickly exchanged glances with one another.

The new member wasn’t a junior, but a total senior.

If that was the case… how would the hierarchy work?

Lia sensed that strange atmosphere as well. It was a natural occurrence whenever a new member joined a mercenary group.

Immediately after the self-introduction, there was a brief, awkward silence as everyone ran out of things to say.

Ian stepped forward first and spoke to Lia.

“Rin is the Vice-Captain. When I’m not around, you can ask her.”

“Wait, me?”

Rin looked up in surprise at the mention of her name.

Only Lia understood the underlying meaning of Ian’s words and nodded quietly.

It was a signal not to disturb the existing hierarchy among the original members.

Lia hadn’t been a mercenary for just a day or two, so she understood this hesitant atmosphere.

A massive boulder had suddenly rolled into their lives.

If someone barged into the group and took a top spot, there was no telling how it might change the established vibe. Until they figured out what kind of person she was, she was bound to be viewed with caution.

This is why I didn’t want to join a low-rank group.

Lia let out a small sigh, wondering if she had signed too hastily, blinded by the contract fee.

“Um, Captain, then…”

In the quiet atmosphere after the greetings, Tanya timidly raised her hand.

As everyone’s attention focused on her, Tanya shrank back slightly and spoke hesitantly.

“Should we… have a welcome party?”

* * *

A somewhat sudden welcome party was prepared on the first floor of the Guild House where the Ian Mercenary Group resided.

“Rin! Take this.”

“There’s more?”

Despite the label of a “sudden” welcome party, dishes prepared by Tanya began to pile up on the lounge table one after another in an instant.

Since gaining access to a large kitchen she could use freely, Tanya had been excitedly stocking up on ingredients, and these were the results of her culinary spree.

“Mika. You can take this one too.”

“…Is there even more?”

“About three more dishes…”

Mika, who had stopped by the kitchen, took the new plate Tanya handed her.

Mika recalled that Tanya had been reading cookbooks every night before bed lately.

What she had been reading recently… was it party food recipes?

In truth, the welcome party might have just been an excuse; perhaps Tanya had simply been waiting for an opportunity to cook party food.

With that thought, Mika moved the plates she held in both hands to the table.

A small party to welcome Lia’s induction was held at the large table on the first floor.

Tanya was the most excited, but everyone else couldn’t quite hide their inner anticipation either.

In Labyrinth, a private space where one wouldn’t be disturbed by others meant a high cost.

A modest party in a quiet space for just themselves, rather than a noisy tavern.

It was something mercenaries dreamed of at least once while earning money…

Though it looked humble on the surface, it was actually a luxurious bucket-list item that required an immense amount of money.

“Then, shall we toast?”

Clink—.

As the glasses they raised together collided, the modest yet luxurious welcome party began.

* * *

The banquet that began in the evening eventually stretched into the deep night.

Feeling that enough time had passed, Ian stood up first.

“Well, I’ll head up first, so keep talking and get some sleep when you’re done.”

“Yes!”

Ian’s business with Lia was mostly finished. All that remained was for the members to get to know her.

Ian went up to his room first so that everyone could converse comfortably.

A sense of distance still remained in the way the three treated Lia, but as they talked, the discomfort gradually began to fade.

“Uh… Lia. Do you want more to drink?”

“No. I’m good.”

There was still a slight awkwardness in calling each other comfortably by name…

But at the very least, they weren’t avoiding eye contact or failing to strike up a conversation like they were at first.

“Mika is…”

“You two should stop drinking so much.”

Tanya, bringing the rest of the food from the kitchen, scolded the two of them.

Lia observed the scene from a slight distance.

These three were likely friends.

If this were a mercenary group with strict discipline, Lia would have had to clearly re-establish the hierarchy, but…

It didn’t seem like the Captain, Ian, expected that kind of role from her.

If he did, he would have assigned her a specific position.

Having finished her assessment of the internal atmosphere, Lia decided to simply blend into this group of friends naturally.

To establish teamwork in the future, following the existing rules was the fastest way.

“Lia, what happened next?”

“Ah… how far did I get?”

When Tanya returned after stepping away for a moment, Mika asked Lia.

Lia picked up the story she had paused while waiting for Tanya.

Was there really anything for mercenaries to talk about other than how they spent their money and their exploits during missions?

In particular, stories of missions from higher-ranked mercenaries were subjects that drew the interest and curiosity of mercenaries everywhere.

Being only D-rank and lacking rich experience in missions, the three were completely engrossed in the various stories Lia told.

“There was a pack of Kobolds there…”

“Kobolds?”

“Oh, those. I heard… they’re monsters that live in caves.”

…Are they D-rank and yet have never even seen a Kobold?

As she talked, there were occasional reactions that made her tilt her head in confusion like this…

Regardless, it wasn’t a bad feeling to have everyone so focused on her stories.

Lia shared the stories that came to mind and answered the occasional question about mercenary life, engaging in a long conversation until the dawn arrived.

…It’s been a while since I’ve been in an atmosphere like this.

Lia thought to herself as she leaned back and sank into the sofa.

This must be why Ms. Rebecca tried so hard to find her a new mercenary group.

Having grown accustomed to being alone, she had forgotten about these things for a long time.

Comrades…

Drinks and conversation…

Ordinary daily life…

As Lia basked in that atmosphere, she suddenly realized something and her eyes snapped open.

…Wait.

This is just an ordinary mercenary group.

A sudden question occurred to Lia as she belatedly remembered the reason she had come here today.

The dungeon.

The collar.

And where were the handcuffs…?

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