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“All spots for mercenaries are filled in for the expedition. We’re leaving for Soron Valley in three days. There’s no time to spare.”

Riftan disheveled the hair behind his head and cursed.

Three days. That’s not much time to prepare and buy equipment, let alone rest.

He just swallowed what he wanted to say and went out of his room right away to prepare. To mercenaries, the down payment equated to living. To turn around from an expedition that had already been initially accepted would require a penalty of a hundred and thirty percent of the down payment. Riftan rubbed his neck and let out a long sigh.

“Who else decided to participate aside from me?”

“Zachary, Beger, Gault, Gerris…”

Samon’s list of names were of useless men. Riftan gritted his teeth. That must be the reason why Samon was so persistent in recruiting him. No matter how deemed as low risk the expedition was, it involved wyverns. The chance of unexpected problems arising was not so low.

You must have felt anxious to bring only those unskilled men, so you recruited me as your insurance. Riftan thought and smiled sarcastically.

“Great, what a team of skilled men you built.”

“The worthy men I tried to recruit cannot make it because of the tight schedule. Lucky for me, you came back just in time.”

The man grinned and made a fawning remark. Riftan felt very annoyed, clicked his tongue and shoved Samon’s shoulder aside with his, then headed downstairs.

It was him who joined the expedition without properly discerning it, there was no time for him to blame others. He simply filled his stomach in the restaurant and went straight to the village smithy after. There, he polished his scratched weapons and had his armor repaired. Then, he proceeded to buy new clothes and boots.

He lived a rough life, so his clothes and shoes quickly worn out and he had to buy new ones every time he stopped by a village. Recently, he had to discard them in less than two months from growing out of them.

Riftan grunted and bought a sturdy leather boots and clothes a size larger. Although he wanted to buy the shoes in a larger size, it might compromise his agility.

…Irritating.

Riftan looked sulkily at the new pair of shoes that fit his feet rightly. The pair would surely not last for a month. With a sigh, he returned to the inn to inspect each of his weapons.

The sun was setting as he greased and wiped the blood-stained chains and hooks that he used to hunt half-dragons. The next day was spent similarly. He unpacked his bag, mended his torn blanket, and washed the clothes that still fit him.

He wanted to pay the inn maid to do his laundry but every time he went down, she glared at him, the less evil thing she would probably do was burn his clothes to ashes. Riftan sighed, hanging the wet clothes in his room. He stopped by the herbal shop to purchase various emergency medicines and antidotes.

Like this, after a series of hectic days, the day of departure came around the corner. Riftan immediately began last-minute preparations for the expedition. He strapped on a breastplate made of wyvern leather and scales of a half-dragon. He wore protective gear around his arms and legs, wore a leather belt with two daggers and hung a bastard sword around his waist. Then, he wounded his chains and placed the anchor hook in a leather pouch. Finally, he wore a robe over his back.

When he had was finished arming himself, he heard a knock on the door, so Riftan picked up his bag and went out. Samon, who was dressed similarly, stood leaning against the wall.

“Everyone shall meet in front of the city gates. Are you ready?”

“I’m ready.”

Riftan walked down the stairs as he wore leather gloves on both of his hands. The horses and wagons were waiting in front of the inn. He disregarded the mercenary men who hurriedly threw greetings and rode inside the wagon.

Various equipment used to take apart large monsters were loaded haphazardly inside. Careful not to injure himself with them, Riftan passed through them and went to crash in the corner. After a while, the wagon began to move. When they arrived at the city gates, Samon poked his head inside the wagon.

“Calypse, the client’s here. Why don’t you come out and meet him?”

Riftan, who was sleeping soundly in a blanket, frowned. Working as a mercenary, he had no choice but to encounter a lot of aristocratic people, however, he didn’t exactly get along with the nobles. He pulled the blanket over his face again.

“I won’t bother. Just wake me up when we get to Soron Valley.”

“Hey man, this was a big-shot client. There’s no harm in showing your face to him.”

“My face doesn’t make a good impression anyway so stop nagging me and go away.”

Samon grunted and stepped back, turning around like he annoyed him. The wagon began to move again after the headcount was done. After a long time of being in the wobbly wagon, Riftan’s eyes fluttered open at a sudden blunt shock.

The wagon’s movement became extremely turbulent to the point that he could not bring himself to sleep. They must had entered the valley’s territory. Riftan sat down with his back against the wagon’s wooden wall and looked out.

The pale winter sunlight glinted against the snow that crusted the barely dried tree branches. He glanced at the ground covered in silver frost and the soldiers marching over it. In front was a luxurious carriage which apparently cradled their clients. Surrounding the carriage there were knights in shining armor who sat on military horses.

Riftan, who look at the scene with a cynical expression, jumped out of the wagon. Territories which had wyvern settlers wouldn’t likely host other large beasts, but there was nothing wrong with checking.

“Finally, you’re showing your head. Did you sleep well?”

A mercenary who rode a horse next to him was trying to start a quarrel. Riftan ignored all questions that had underlying meanings and hung on the wagon to inspect the terrain. The road was starting to incline and eventually became noticeably steep and soon a huge wall of rock came into the view. It was the perfect nest for the wyverns.

“We have arrived. That’s Soron Valley.”

The expedition team stopped a little far away from the valley. Only then was Riftan able to see the scale of the team. It was a considerable number of people. Nearly 50 soldiers, 20 knights, and around 40 mercenaries…

“Are there other mercenaries?”

“I think there are other stray ones there. Oh, the wizards are over there. Keep an eye on them. We can’t let even one of them get injured, we desperately need their help.”

He turned his head to where Samon was pointing. A middle-aged man wearing a grand-looking outfit that was definitely inappropriate for the trip was arguing with a young sane-looking man who wore several layers of thick robes. Riftan’s eyes squinted as he carefully scrutinized them. The older one seemed to wear such outfit to look dapper, but the younger one looked simply sensitive to the cold.

Riftan frowned as he observed the younger wizard. He thought that the expedition involved two arch mages, he was not sure about the middle-aged man, but the young one whom he scolded didn’t seem to look like a capable wizard.

He looked like he was in his late teens or early twenties at best, he doubted he had any experience with expeditions as he looked exhausted just by riding a horse for a few hours. Riftan glared at Samon with threatening eyes.

“That wizard looks like he could use some recovery magic himself.”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover. Rumor has it that even though he looks simple, he can wield great magic.”

Is there anything else more unreliable in the world than rumors?

Riftan felt a bad omen. Somehow, it seemed like the expedition wasn’t about to go smoothly and his hunch was always right.

After getting off the carriage, the noble lord, who was dressed finely, discussed with the knights for a long time and ordered the mercenaries to climb up the cliff.

“Eight men have to climb up the wall of rock and install each of these magic tools on a certain location. The wyverns are resting deep in the valley. I’m looking for capable, lightweight, nimble men to volunteer.”

The knight next to the noble lord announced with a dignified voice. A mercenary standing by pushed Riftan against the shoulder like he waited for that chance.

“This guy’s the nimblest among the mercenaries.”

Everyone’s eyes flew towards him. Riftan gave him a daunting glare, shooting daggers with his eyes at the mercenary who pushed him. He reluctantly came forward as the knight gestured for him.

“Good, another volunteer.”

“I didn’t agree to volunteer yet.”

The knight, who was looking through the mercenaries, turned his head stiffly at his rigid words. Riftan ignored his aggrieved look and spoke to the nobleman dressed in luxurious fur.

“The price was not right. One Denar for subjugating a wyvern’s nest was not fair. I didn’t know the Lord of Nebron was so cheap.”

Perhaps offended by his insolent attitude, the noble man’s eyes widened.

“The wizards put a sleeping magic. The wyverns won’t wake up unless you fire a canon.”

“Even so, it’s dangerous to climb a rock wall that high. Isn’t the pay ridiculously low for such a life-threatening task?”

“One gold coin was enough for a commoner to fool around and eat for half a year.” The man’s voice irritated the hell out of him. “You’re the one who wants to be paid for doing nothing. Once the magic tools are installed, everything else will be executed easily. My knights and soldiers will launch the catapults to finish them off while the magic tools trap them. What will you mercenaries do, stick around to watch and suck your fingers? I guess it’s true that mercenaries have become nothing but money-hoarding pigs.”

Riftan’s lips twisted.

Just who really was the money-hoarding pig? Wyverns will earn a whopping amount of gold coins, all this was just ridiculous…

As Riftan grumble inwardly, the nobleman raised his head and arrogantly spoke.

“If you came here shamefully thinking that you will earn money without breaking a single sweat, then turn around now. Of course, you’ll have to return the down payment first.”

In the end, Riftan clenched his teeth and accepts the magic tool. When the other seven volunteers were appointed, they headed straight for the Soron Valley, while the wizard who had to guide them with the installation of the magic tools followed closely behind them.

Riftan glanced grimly at the young man with rustling gray hair and walk swiftly through the lush trees. As he got a closer look, the rock wall was taller and steeper than what he had expected.

“You have to install this on the tip of the rock wall in 50 kvet (18 meters) intervals.”

“Wyverns don’t just suddenly creep up on you, right?”

One of the mercenaries murmured in question, looking at the dark valley. The wizard shook his head.

“Unless you intentionally try, they won’t wake up from sleep magic. But please, move as quietly as possible. If anyone falls, I’ll be below supporting you and will make you magically float.”

“How many Rants (1 Rant = 35 kg) can you lift?”

Riftan looked at him suspiciously from head to toe. Perhaps feeling the doubt coming from him, the wizard looked indignantly.

“I can lift more than a thousand Rants so feel free to fall if you wish!”

His disbelief only intensified at the wizard’s confident declaration. The young man was too proud for a normal person. Riftan took off his robe and breastplate, putting it on the ground to make him as light as possible. Although, he didn’t put his weapons down since he was still dubious of the fact that the wyverns had been magically put to sleep. After wearing only the minimum amount of armor, Riftan began to climb the rock wall with chains and hook. The other mercenaries carefully followed him.

The hook firmly pushed into the cracks of the rock and the chains supported his weight as he reached half the point of installation in about three minutes. He looked down at the distance and squinted his eyes. The other guys were far from reaching and were cowardly climbing. Riftan sighed and continued to climb to the top. Finally, when he reached the top, he began installing the magic tool to the wall, supporting his weight with the chains. As the wizard said, he placed the hook that looked like a bee sting against a crack between the rock wall and it stuck sturdily.

After confirming that it had been firmly installed, he went up to the edge of the rock wall. Despite the chilly weather, his whole body was soaked in sweat. He lay on the cold stone floor and wiped the sweat away from his forehead.

I’ll kill half of the wyverns as soon as I get back down.

As expected, none of the other mercenaries that Samon recruited were skilled. He grinded his teeth inwardly, then all of a sudden he heard a clatter coming from a narrow crevice in the valley.

Riftan frowned, the valley was wide in the middle and narrowed at the top while the bottom was surrounded in deep darkness. Could it just be gravel that fell in the blowing wind? As he looked into the dark valley with narrowed eyes, he saw something like a massive rock moving.

Riftan groaned and stepped back. He looked down in a hurry and found that three more tools were yet to be installed. Riftan shouted, going down with the help of his chains.

“Hurry! The wyverns are awake!”

At his voice, a mercenary who was climbing halfway, screamed and fell. Fortunately, it seemed like the wizard caught him well, but the magic tool the man was carrying fell with him. Riftan swore at how stupid the man was, releasing his chain to its full length.

“Wizard! Send the tools up here using magic! I will install them!”

Riftan shouted as he fell smoothly and steadily with the help of his chain, and the wind blew from underneath. He snatched a flying magic tool, but he was a step late.

A gust of strong wind raged between the rock walls and the head of a huge wyvern protruded. There was no time to install the magic tools. A silver net stretched out of the five installed magic tools and wrapped around the monster’s 40 kvet (about 12 meters) large body. In the aftermath of the force, the rock wall shook as if it was going to collapse.

Riftan hurriedly hung onto the rock. His eardrums almost shattered from the grotesque screaming sound that thundered loud like a volcano erupted.

Note – Nymeria: Ruth finally!! I couldn’t wait to see him T^T