Chapter 10
Calyx let out a short laugh and stood up. His thin shirt became slightly rumpled. He didn’t seem to care and walked toward me. When I stepped back hesitantly, he snatched the medicine bottle from my hand.
He swallowed a few pills from the bottle while looking at me.
“There is something I want from you besides money.”
“What is th—”
Before I could finish, Calyx spoke.
“Catch the scammer.”
It was an unexpected answer. Was that really what he wanted from me? It felt strange, but I lowered my head.
“Thank you.”
“You seem serious about catching the scammer. Serious enough to risk your life.”
“That bastard completely ruined my life.”
I clenched my fist tightly. If it weren’t for that scammer, I wouldn’t be here, being this pathetic. It was the mercenary off-season—I might have been resting somewhere nice by now.
When I looked up, our eyes met. Calyx didn’t look away and stared straight at me. His sharp, deep gaze shone strangely. It was so persistent that I turned my eyes aside without realizing it.
‘Why is he staring for so long? This is embarrassing.’
The discomfort I had felt before came back. What does he really want from me? No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t feel like it’s just about catching a scammer.
Then Calyx spoke.
“Do you want anything else?”
What’s with him? He’s even asking politely. Without thinking much, I answered.
“If possible, I’d like some freedom from morning until before lunch. I want to investigate the scammer during that time.”
“Do as you wish.”
Unlike before, Calyx answered without hesitation. I hesitated, not used to his attitude, when he added,
“Don’t touch my body again. It’s unpleasant and irritating.”
I didn’t like the way he ended that sentence, but I answered out of habit.
“Yes. I’ll be careful.”
Then I remembered how sick he had looked earlier. Since he was already helping me with the scammer, I asked out of courtesy.
“Are you feeling better now?”
Calyx chewed his medicine and looked at me. His brows, slightly furrowed this time, looked oddly rebellious.
“That’s none of your business. Don’t worry about it.”
So sharp, even when I show concern. I lowered my head with a stiff expression.
“I’ll be going now.”
I quickly left the room.
Calyx swallowed the medicine. It tasted bitter, but his face showed no emotion. He had already taken enough, yet he kept putting more pills into his mouth. His head was full of thoughts.
The moment the woman’s hand touched him, the violently raging energy calmed down.
He liked that calm feeling, so he grabbed her without thinking. He let go right away, but perhaps because his blood was boiling, his body had moved on its own.
If someone else had grabbed him, he might have gone even more out of control.
Calyx looked down at his arm. The boiling feeling had eased, but he couldn’t forget the moment her hand touched him. It was the first time he had ever felt something like that.
Unfamiliar, yet refreshing. Full of vitality. He had never truly felt it before. That was why it annoyed him. It wasn’t familiar.
Feeling sick, he took more medicine. Even so, his stomach churned.
‘Damn it.’
What was worse was that he wanted that feeling. Against his will. The vitality he had suppressed began to rise again, and he even started to miss the energy he felt when he touched her.
Calyx chewed two more pills. His brow slowly twisted.
His body felt refreshed instead of going out of control. Now, the woman’s existence was undeniable.
This kind of energy balancing was only possible with royal blood.
The enemy’s daughter.
Since she so easily put her life on the line this time, it worked out well.
But deep inside his heart, something unfamiliar and hot began to rise.
Calyx forced himself to ignore it. He wanted to forget this strange discomfort he had never felt before.
He slowly took a deep breath and focused on his breathing. His body gradually calmed down. The boiling desire and longing scattered as he exhaled.
This would be fine. It was intense only because it was the first time. With time, it would be nothing.
As soon as I left Calyx’s room, I thought about the scammer. The place Grandmother mentioned, Darangpeu, didn’t seem right. Then Calyx’s words came to mind.
‘There is no such place. You might mean Derilph.’
Derilph. Maybe Grandmother had told me the wrong name. They do sound similar at a glance. Derilph. For some reason, a strange feeling pulled me toward that place.
“Sir Lerit!”
I turned at the sudden voice. A familiar man was waving at me. He was the one who praised me before, saying I did the work of fifty men. He had also given me my lodging key, though I didn’t know his name.
When I hesitated, he ran over to me.
“You’re a mercenary from Rollend, right?”
“Yes. Why?”
He met my eyes directly and bowed.
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Pardon?”
“I’d heard the name Lerit and was curious. They say your sword posture is perfect and you never fail—that you’re practically a legend at Rollend.”
“I wouldn’t say a legend. Just well-known—”
“Not just well-known! Aren’t you the one they say makes even passing criminals cry and wet themselves?”
It was so exaggerated that I was speechless.
‘Am I famous even here?’
I never thought the rumors would reach this far north, especially since this place was far from the capital.
As I awkwardly smiled, he quickly introduced himself.
“My apologies. My name is Herkel. I gather and manage soldiers who hunt Berok, and I’m the deputy commander here.”
“I’m—”
“You’re Lerit Bin, right?”
“Yes.”
Herkel nodded with a smile. I felt oddly embarrassed. Where on earth did he hear such ridiculous stories about me?
“You must be the one the Duke brought in, since you left such a mark on the stagnant sword world.”
I froze at his excessive praise, but Herkel just smiled brightly and leaned against the wall.
“Now that I think about it, you did seem special from the start. It’s rare to kill a Berok in one strike. Their hide is thick, so it’s hard to finish them off quickly.”
Maybe I was getting used to the exaggeration. It actually felt good. My shattered confidence seemed to be slowly recovering.
“Anyway, it’s an honor to work with you.”
“No! Thank you for saying such kind things.”
As we talked, Herkel gestured toward the cloak I was wearing.
“Isn’t that the Duke’s cloak?”
“He told me to take it.”
That’s honestly how it sounded to me.
“That cloak?”
“Yes.”
Herkel stared at me in shock. I wondered why he had called me in the first place.
“By the way, why were you looking for me?”
“Oh, I wanted to change your room.”
“Why my room?”
“The room you’re using now is for ordinary soldiers. It’s far from the gate and not in a good spot.”
“I’m fine with it.”
“No! With your experience, we can’t let you stay in such a shabby, uncomfortable room. So I begged the Duke and got a room that suits you.”
“The Duke agreed?”
“Of course.”
That was unexpected.
“Where is the room?”
Herkel’s smile widened.
“Right next to the Duke’s room.”
“What?”
My voice rose without me realizing it.
Herkel calmly continued.
“That room is usually for important guests, but no one is coming now, and it fits you perfectly.”
He stepped aside slightly.
“Please, this way. I’ll show you.”
I waved my hands quickly.
“No! I think I’ll stick to my original room. Thank you for the thought.”
I tried to leave, but Herkel blocked me.
“Sir Lerit! I was rushed before and gave you just any room, but that one is for rookies.”
“But—”
“We can’t let someone from Rollend stay in a place like that. This time, I prepared properly, so please accept it.”
Herkel bowed deeply. I couldn’t easily refuse after that.
‘It should be fine to just take a look.’
If it felt strange, I could refuse then.
“Then… shall we take a look?”
Herkel beamed and hurried ahead.
“This way, please.”
When we arrived, I stood there, completely stunned. Clean walls, a large bed, and most of all, a wide room with a white blanket said to exist only on noble beds.
It felt like a hotel room. No—like a hotel where a king would stay. The moment that thought crossed my mind, I felt grateful to Herkel.
Seeing me stare blankly, he spoke.
“I worked hard to give you this room. It’s good enough to stay in, right?”
I answered absentmindedly.
“Yes.”
It was more than I deserved. Even back in Rollend, I had never lived in a place like this. It was even better than Calyx’s office.
“And please take this as well.”
Herkel handed me a map. As I took it, he explained,
“It will be useful when you go hunting Berok nearby or visit the village.”
His kindness made the words slip out naturally.
“Thank you.”
“No problem. Then please take your time looking around.”
With that, Herkel left the room. I had only planned to look, but it seemed I would be living here after all.
I quickly ran to the bed and lay down.
It didn’t sink too much, wasn’t too hard, and had just the right firmness.
‘With a bed like this, even hunting Berok won’t be a problem.’
“This is bad. This is really bad…”
I gripped my sword with tears in my heart. Dozens of Berok surrounded me, growling as they closed in.
