Chapter 03
“This looks good… and that looks good too… Ah, this isn’t the time for that.”
The moment I entered the village, I nearly lost myself to the street food filling the marketplace, but I forced myself to focus.
Speed was everything. I needed to find Calix and awaken him as quickly as possible. Only then could I stop the world’s destruction—and only then could my fun life truly begin. I couldn’t afford to waste even a moment.
First, I decided to look for the village bulletin board.
I’d heard before that the Henes Mercenary Corps didn’t go through request guilds like ordinary mercenary groups. Instead, they accepted jobs directly through village bulletin boards. If that were true, then I might find at least some useful information there.
I remembered passing by a bulletin board while traveling between villages before my regression. This one probably wouldn’t be that different.
After walking a bit, I spotted it in the distance. There were people gathered in front of it too, which made it easy to find.
Now I just needed to look for anything related to the Henes Mercenary Corps…
“Hm…”
I checked carefully from top to bottom, but there wasn’t a single flyer about accepting requests.
Just as I started to think I was wrong, one notice caught my eye like a flash of lightning.
〈Henes Mercenary Corps – Recruiting New Members〉
Qualifications
- Must be human
- Must prove usefulness in some way
Benefits upon acceptance
- Food and lodging provided at the Henes Mercenary Corps base
- Performance bonuses for completed missions
- Treated like family
Preferred
- Healers capable of healing magic
How to apply
- Write your name and a brief introduction on paper and place it in the box next to the board
- If candidates are selected for testing, their names will be posted on the board
“Healing magic…?”
Oh my god. Dear God. That’s me! I’m not amazing at it, but I can do it!
‘Wait… would God be angry if I use this after quitting being a saint?’
Either way, this could only be described as a gift from God.
If I joined the mercenary corps, I’d have many chances to meet Calix. And if that happened, I’d naturally get an opportunity to awaken him.
“Perfect.”
I confidently wrote my information on the paper beside the board and dropped it into the box.
***
Later that same afternoon, in the captain’s office.
“I sorted through them a bit. These are the applications from the past week.”
Vice-captain Damon spoke proudly as he slid a stack of documents onto the desk.
“There’s nothing amazing, but these are the ones that are at least worth looking at. Take a look.”
“Just pick one yourself.”
“How can I do that? I’m not the captain.”
“Then why don’t you become the captain?”
“Ugh! You’re doing this again. Please just glance at them and give me an opinion! We haven’t recruited a single new member for months. Everyone’s on the verge of collapse!”
Damon spread the papers out like a fan in front of Calix, who looked lost in thought.
“Here. A former low-ranking knight and a former miner look decent. The rest are average. Oh, there was also a woman who used to be a priest trainee, but she didn’t seem particularly impressive.”
“A priest trainee?”
For the first time, Calix’s gaze moved to the papers.
“Ah, yes. This one.”
[Riana. Former priest trainee. Possesses healing ability comparable to a priest. Leave it to me.]
“Riana…”
Without realizing it, Calix softly said the name aloud. For some reason, it didn’t sound bad to him.
“… I’ll see them myself. Hold a selection test.”
“What?”
Damon froze for a moment, then reacted belatedly.
“Ah—oh! You mean all the applicants here? Or should we exclude this woman? She’s a bit questionable.”
Calix’s blue eyes calmly settled on Damon.
“No. Include her. All three.”
“Ah! Yes, sir. I’ll prepare it.”
Damon bowed deeply and hurried out of the office. Calix watched the closed door for a moment, then turned his chair to look out the window.
A faint, unfamiliar emotion lingered in his blue eyes.
***
Late afternoon. In front of the bulletin board.
“Hahaha! My name’s on the Henes Mercenary Corps test list! My name is on it! Everyone, look! I passed!”
I followed the loud voice and saw a muscular man laughing loudly in front of the board. Next to him stood another man, silently staring at the list.
‘They already posted it? I’ve got a good feeling about this.’
For no clear reason, confidence welled up inside me. Then I saw it—clear as day.
[Riana]
“Of course.”
I didn’t actually expect to pass so easily, but somehow I just knew it would work. Writing that I had healing ability must’ve helped.
Feeling proud, I looked down at the note written beneath the list.
[Those listed above must gather at the Henes Mercenary Corps base before the first rooster crows tomorrow morning.]
‘Perfect. I’ll get there first, no matter what.’
… Wait. Where is the Henes Mercenary Corps base?
‘Should I ask someone nearby?’
As I hesitated, I noticed something scribbled at the very bottom of the notice—like it had been drawn by a three- or four-year-old child.
‘What’s this?’
Looking closer… unbelievably, it was a map. Judging by the feel of it, it was supposed to show the base’s location.
‘…Wow. This is drawn terribly.’
Still, I could at least tell that I was supposed to follow the valley and turn left at a fork.
I decided to leave at dawn while everyone was still asleep. I planned to score perfectly on the “preparedness” front.
***
The next morning.
I left at dawn… And instead of arriving early, I wandered around the valley endlessly and finally reached the Henes Mercenary Corps base just as the first rooster crowed.
‘Damn it. I was supposed to turn right, not left. Who the hell drew that map…’
The other two applicants arrived in similar states, rushing in and gasping for breath beside me.
“Ugh, I almost didn’t make it. But hey, we got here, right?”
“…Hoo.”
Just then, a large man with brown hair walked toward us, looked us over, and spoke.
“I’m Damon Fischer, vice-captain of the Henes Mercenary Corps. Welcome to the selection test.”
‘So that’s the vice-captain…’
Damon paused as if waiting for a response, but when no one spoke, he continued awkwardly.
“Anyway, it looks like none of you got lost on the way here. Of course not. I even drew a perfect map. Hahaha.”
‘Perfect?’
It seemed the vice-captain didn’t know the meaning of the word “perfect.”
‘The source of our tardiness. The root of all evil…’
I stared at him with a gentle smile, silently giving him a fair evaluation. Oblivious, Damon laughed heartily and went on.
“Alright then, let’s begin the test. You there! What do you think is the most basic ability a mercenary must have?”
He pointed at the muscular man beside me. After hesitating, the man shouted,
“P-Physical strength! I think it’s strength!”
“Close enough. Yes, the most important things are stamina and mental toughness. If you’re physically strong, you likely have those too. Now, you in the back—what do you think the first test will be?”
This time he pointed at the quiet man. After thinking seriously, the man answered,
“…A mock mission of rank three or higher?”
“Wrong.”
Damon shook his head firmly.
“What kind of mock mission would we give to rookies like you? The first test is…”
He pointed behind us and shouted loudly.
“Long-distance running!”
“What?”
“……”
Behind him was a wide open area that looked like a training ground. The other two applicants scoffed slightly. The quiet man spoke with disdain.
“You’re saying all we have to do is run over there?”
“That’s right.”
The muscular man looked excited, like a dog just released from its leash.
“Yes! Then when do we start?”
“Now.”
“Oh! Got it! Then—let’s go!”
“Tch, starting early like that… how sneaky.”
The two men immediately sprinted toward the training ground at full speed, determined to show off their best performance.
“Haha, such enthusiasm!”
Damon laughed heartily as he watched them, then glanced at me and clicked his tongue.
“Well, just do your best. There might be points for effort.”
“Yes!”
I started running toward the training ground a bit later. By the time I arrived, the other two had already completed one lap and were racing into their second.
‘They’re pretty fast.’
When I was very young, I used to run around the streets. But after entering the temple, I hadn’t run even once.
The temple was considered sacred ground, so running around was forbidden. Even when in a hurry, you had to walk briskly—some ridiculous rule like that. Thanks to it, the leg muscles I’d built on the streets had quickly deteriorated.
‘Well, no choice. I’ll just run.’
I awkwardly swung my arms and ran forward.
As expected, after about half a lap, my breathing grew shallow and sweat began to bead on my forehead. The other two were still sprinting at full speed.
I couldn’t match them, but unwilling to lose, I increased my pace slightly.
Immediately, my breath caught in my throat.
“Huff… huff…”
Me—once called a wild animal of the streets—falling behind these rookies?
My pride took a hit. Without realizing it, my stride shortened and my head drooped. As I kept running like that, my steps grew unstable, like I might collapse at any moment.
‘Ah, damn it. I’m dizzy… huh?’
At that moment, a cool energy spread through my entire body. As if nothing had happened, my body suddenly felt light.
‘There it is—my meddlesome instinct kicking in.’
It seemed the automatic healing within my body had activated—healing me without asking, as always.
