Chapter 23

　　Wow, this is no joke.

　　That was the fourth trap disarmed. Cadel wiped away the sweat pouring down his face and shook his head in wonder.

　　He had mentally prepared himself beforehand, but the mana required to disarm the traps was beyond imagination.

　　How to put it? It felt like holding a plank for thirty minutes on top of a magic circle while belting out a song from start to finish. In a word, it was insanely exhausting. The sheer amount of mana was one thing, but severing the flow of mana left by the Witch was no easy task either.

　　“Here’s some water.”

　　“Thanks…”

　　Cadel took the canteen Van handed him and gulped it down. His hand trembled so much against the flask that he felt like he would collapse if he didn’t immediately get some rest.

　　Van watched Cadel’s condition closely, fanning him from the side. Thanks to Van’s large, strong hands, the breeze was much cooler than a regular hand-fan. Cadel quietly accepted the gesture and caught his breath.

　　“Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

　　“I was planning to take a break anyway. Let’s rest for about… fifteen minutes before we go disarm the rest.”

　　“Is there really nothing I can do to help? For you to suffer like this all by yourself, Captain, while all I do are these trivial errands…”

　　“Nope. Nothing.”

　　This time, it was the truth. It wasn’t some white lie for the sake of his one and only subordinate. There was absolutely nothing Van could do to help disarm the magic.

　　It might be different if he could handle even a little bit of mana, but Van, a warrior to the bone, could only wield aura. Aura couldn’t affect the flow of mana. So, unless he planned to foolishly smash the magic circles to pieces, there was no way for him to disarm the traps.

　　However, Van seemed reluctant to accept his own helplessness. Staring at the ground with a sullen face, his eyes suddenly lit up as if he had made a decision.

　　“Then let me at least carry you on my back while we move between traps, Captain.”

　　“What? Forget it, I don’t need that.”

　　“The traps aren’t exactly close to each other, and walking takes up stamina, too! It’s for the sake of efficiency, Captain. Please?”

　　Cadel looked Van up and down with a dubious gaze. Normally, he would have told him to stop spouting nonsense and refused him flat out, but…

　　It would be comfortable to be carried… No, come to think of it, even friends give each other piggyback rides, right? Plus, I am currently really, extremely, profoundly exhausted. There’s no clearer path to suffering than useless stubbornness.

　　Cadel was in such a dismal state that he could justify anything for the sake of rest. In the end, he nodded in reluctant defeat, and Van smiled as brightly as a blooming flower.

　　“I’ll transport you comfortably!”

* * *

　　It wasn’t just an empty promise.

　　After a short break, Van began searching for the next traps with Cadel on his back. Carried like that, Cadel forgot his initial embarrassment and hung limply like wet laundry.

　　What’s with this broad back? It’s way too comfortable.

　　He should have asked to be carried sooner. The unwavering comfort rivaled any high-end bed. Thanks to this, he was able to conserve a bit of stamina, allowing him to disarm the traps while maintaining a state just short of death.

　　How many have the Holy Knights disarmed? Even if we haven’t doubled their count, it’d be nice if we were ahead by three or so. That’s enough to rub it in their faces, right? Especially considering the difference in our numbers.

　　That was the sixth trap disarmed. Cadel thought this as he crouched in front of the magic circle, rubbing his hollow eyes.

　　The reward from the temple was one thing, but more than anything, he wanted to gloat and rub it in the faces of the Holy Knights who had looked down on him. He had acted nonchalant on the outside, pretending not to be bothered, but he had his pride, too. Even if he couldn’t openly growl at them like Van, he still wanted to ruin their mood.

　　Driven by that single thought, Cadel forced his heavy body up. Just as his blurring vision made him feel it was about time for a second break—

　　“You’re fast. Even for a mage, having twice the efficiency of the Holy Knights… Those arrogant folks are going to have their pride pretty hurt.”

　　A familiar voice drifted down from the trees surrounding the magic circle.

　　“You…!”

　　Spotting the owner of the voice before Cadel, Van immediately drew his greatsword. Despite the vicious killing intent, the voice’s owner let out a hollow chuckle.

　　“That reaction doesn’t deviate from my expectations in the slightest.”

　　“…Lumen.”

　　Slowly raising his head, Cadel called his name in a cold voice. Lumen Dominic. He was sitting on a branch in plain sight, watching them.

　　Cadel clenched his fists, glaring at Lumen, who gave a light wave in his direction. If he had enough mana, he would have launched a fireball at him right then and there.

　　“Hello, Cadel.”

　　But Cadel had no spare mana, nor did he have the physical strength to drag Lumen down from up there. Therefore, he moved his relatively fine mouth.

　　“It’s a shame, but there’s no evidence for you to make off with in this quest. What, are you planning to return before us and beg for the reward first?”

　　“Not really. The reward money I got last time was plenty.”

　　“Then go drink some good booze with that money. Don’t hover around and ruin people’s moods for no reason.”

　　Even though he was completely drained, Cadel’s voice was surprisingly icy. His tone, naturally dry from lack of energy, played a part as well. At that, Lumen clicked his tongue before jumping down from the tree. Despite the considerable height, he landed smoothly and leisurely straightened his clothes.

　　“Don’t tell me you didn’t expect my betrayal. I only volunteered to be your subordinate temporarily for the sake of exchanging information from the start. You should know that best, as the one who made that absurd proposal in the first place.”

　　“Captain, I’ll slice that bastard’s mouth off.”

　　Cadel grabbed Van’s arm, whose eyes were practically rolling back in fury. Then, he took a moment to catch his own breath. Anger surged to the top of his head, but he still had to stay calm.

　　The reason Lumen came looking for him again after already having deserted the mercenary group once. The reason he bothered to strike up a conversation.

　　Lumen’s value was the only thing determining whether they spoke to him or ignored him.

　　He was in a position to think and make a choice.

　　“Expecting betrayal and experiencing it are two different things. A normal departure and sneaking away with the stolen reward are different, too.”

　　“I have no intention of making excuses.”

　　“And I have no intention of listening.”

　　Cadel quietly observed Lumen. His neat appearance, his confident attitude, and his strange gaze that gave off a slight sense of incongruity.

　　…Right. I remember the conditions for recruiting Lumen Dominic in the game being annoyingly strict, too. I also thought it couldn’t be helped since his performance was that good.

　　The fact that the proud and haughty Lumen hadn’t just left but had sought him out again definitely held a positive meaning.

　　Cadel pondered.

　　Do I take this traitorous bastard back or not?

　　No, even if I take him back, do I have the ability to control him right now?

　　“I just came because I wanted to see you.”

　　“Wanted to see me…?”

　　“I’ve taken an interest in you. Does that displease you?”

　　“Honestly, it doesn’t feel great.”

　　At the clean answer, Lumen smiled bitterly. It was a smile so wistful that, had it not been for their respective positions, Cadel’s guard might have momentarily dropped.

　　This is why otome games are no good. Stop trying to solve everything with your face! You obnoxious pretty boy.

　　Scolding him in annoyance internally, Cadel crossed his arms.

　　“To be even more honest, I quite liked your abilities. I thought it was the kind of strength I needed for the mercenary group I’m going to build.”

　　“I don’t fall short anywhere when it comes to fighting.”

　　“Seems like you fall short everywhere when it comes to personality, though.”

　　“That’s harsh.”

　　“Let’s cut the useless chatter here. I know that you are Lumen Dominic.”

　　Was it too much of a surprise attack? Lumen’s expression, which had been relaxed the entire time, faintly stiffened.

　　His stiffened mouth slowly curled into a smile. He spoke to Cadel, who was staring at him nonchalantly.

　　“I wasn’t entirely sure. It’s even more surprising that you offered me a spot knowing that. Were you planning to drag in a noble to make a name for your mercenary group?”

　　“I don’t care if you’re a noble or royalty. All I want is a strong person.”

　　“Then why bother mentioning that you know my identity? Being part of some shoddy mercenary group for a day isn’t going to put a dent in my honor.”

　　“You still don’t understand what I’m saying.”

　　As Cadel spoke sarcastically, Lumen’s eyebrow twitched. Before he could retort, Cadel struck first.

　　“The second son of the Dominic family has great ambitions and is constantly eyeing his older brother’s position. He left his family and is traveling here and there to gather a force to bring down his brother… I’ve heard such rumors.”

　　Lumen fell silent.

　　“That’s why I made the offer. I might not be able to give you that kind of force, but I am willing to wield that kind of force for my subordinate.”

　　This time, even Lumen couldn’t hide his agitation. His gaze hardened, as if he had heard an unexpected statement, as if that statement was genuinely quite shocking.

　　Facing such a Lumen, Cadel drove the wedge in.

　　“I’m going to be a big shot, Lumen. My goal isn’t just to put a single family beneath me.”

　　A brief silence fell between them.

　　Lumen regained his composure, but his initial smile was gone. He stared at Cadel with a numb, resolute expression.

　　“Are you telling me to gamble? To dedicate my life to being a travel buddy for an ordinary mage who may or may not become a big shot?”

　　“Don’t be ridiculous. I never asked you to be my friend. And I have no intention of readily accepting someone who betrayed me once as a subordinate.”

　　“Then why say such things…”

　　“But I still covet your abilities.”

　　Lumen was definitely a coveted talent. His skills were guaranteed, as he was a regular in the final deck Cadel used to favor. Cadel could confidently say that he understood Lumen’s potential better than anyone else in this world. However, he still had worries and anxiety about whether a nobody beginner like himself could properly raise a talent like Lumen.

　　That was why he made this choice.

　　“Become a temporary member.”

　　“…Temporary?”

　　“You’ll have to wander around here and there anyway, and you need to raise your reputation, right? You might even find a useful organization along the way.”

　　A state of neither abandoning nor possessing Lumen. As long as they could grow while maintaining that ambiguous state, the perfect timing to completely bring Lumen into his grasp would surely come.

　　“You don’t have to participate in every quest. And you don’t have to introduce yourself as a member of the Red Scale Mercenaries.”

　　“Then what’s the point of me tagging along?”

　　“We’re just testing the waters with each other. I’ll see if you’re worth keeping around despite the risk of betrayal, and you’ll see if I’m someone worth gambling your life on.”

　　If he made Lumen a temporary member, the range of costs he could manage would also widen. The amount of funds he’d need to invest would definitely decrease. Selective quest participation might be inconvenient, but Cadel thought it was a risk worth taking.

　　Lumen remained silent. He seemed cautious, as if pondering Cadel’s proposal. Cadel spoke lightly to the tight-lipped Lumen.

　　“You have two days. Make your decision by then.”