Chapter 18: Invincible
After a while, the raucous celebration began anew. I couldn’t help but wonder about the large flames that had erupted in front of Ashley’s home, surrounded by several smaller fires. I decided to ask Ashley about it.
“Oh, that’s a ritual that the Berserga Mercenary Corps has been performing since its establishment,” he explained.
It was a way to boost morale before battle or to celebrate the completion of a mission—essentially, a means to uplift spirits and commemorate success.
In this case, the celebration was to honor the fact that the Berserga Mercenary Corps had met a worthy warrior and potential partner in Holy Knight Ashley.
“They start with one big fire in the center and several smaller ones around it, roasting meat and drinking alcohol. Once they’re feeling good, they sing and dance,” he continued.
Starting fires, roasting meat, drinking alcohol. When the vibes are right, they sing and dance. The customs of the Berserga Mercenary Corps were truly the actions of lively individuals. It reminded me of scenes I often witnessed back in Japan. Those lively types would gather at any time and place, bringing drinks and grilling meat. They would get drunk in parks, riversides, forests—anywhere, really—blasting upbeat music and dancing wildly.
───Could I keep up with the pace of their lively world?
No, probably not. As I mentally scolded myself for the cliché thoughts swirling in my head, I was interrupted.
“Hey, big bro! The meat’s ready!”
A mysterious plate was suddenly thrust in front of me. The voice that called me “big bro” belonged to a beautiful boy, still in his pre-teen years, with a clear soprano voice. When I turned to look at him, I saw a stunning young boy in his mid-teens.
Next to this beautiful boy stood Saga, the leader of the mercenary corps. He was in high spirits, asking me, “Hey, Row! You drinking up?”
“Saga, I apologize, but I’m not really good with alcohol, so I’m just enjoying it little by little,” I replied.
Saga frowned at my answer, letting out a puff of air. “Row, a man fights until he’s satisfied, drinks until he’s a mess, and enjoys a good woman until he’s content, right? That’s how we can do the best work, satisfying both mercenaries and clients.”
Is he some kind of Showa-era superstar? Just look at Ashley—he looks so displeased. At that moment, the beautiful boy called out to Saga.
“Old man.”
Wait, old man?
“Huh? What is it?”
Saga responded to his son as if to say, “What, you got a problem?”
“I’m telling Mom!”
“Hmph, do as you please.”
I was left bewildered, stammering, “Uh, um…”
They both turned to me, their expressions suggesting they wanted to say something.
“I just want to ask, what’s your relationship?”
“Parent and child.”
“Wait, what?!”
The mystery of DNA had me baffled. How did Saga’s genes result in this? Did his wife have some kind of supermodel genes that completely overshadowed his? There was zero trace of Saga in this boy! It was a complete absence of his genetic material! Saga’s genes, where are you? No, wait, maybe it’s better this way! But then, would this beautiful boy grow up to look like Saga?
“Time, stop right now!”
My desperate shout elicited confused expressions from the two, as if they were thinking, “Did this guy just lose it?”
○○○
“Big bro, how about a cold ale too?”
For some reason, the beautiful boy kept calling me “big bro,” offering perfectly grilled meat and chilled drinks, taking care of me diligently. He was Saga’s son.
“This kid seems to have taken a liking to you. Remember when I mentioned I’d be assigning you a capable person? He volunteered for that,” Saga said.
The boy looked so slender that he hardly seemed like a mercenary. With his hair tied in a ponytail, he almost resembled a tall, graceful woman.
“So, let me introduce myself again! My name is Milo Assaultbody! I’ll be in your care from now on!”
Milo Assaultbody. He narrowed his androgynous, beautiful eyes and extended his hand for a handshake.
“Ah, nice to meet you,” I replied, shaking his hand.
From that grip, I could feel Milo’s slenderness, reminiscent of a fierce feline predator like a black panther or cheetah, yet there was a certain grace and strength in his springiness. Beneath his clothing, tightly packed muscle fibers were evident, like steel.
“Wow, by the way, your moves back there were incredible, big bro! I couldn’t even see what you did!”
“Row-kun, you were really amazing! I had no idea how you did it!” Ashley chimed in.
They were likely referring to the moment I had vanished at super speed, disintegrating a wooden skewer and delivering gut punches to five opponents in an instant. Milo and Ashley were showering me with praise, their eyes sparkling.
“Ah, it wasn’t that impressive.”
Of course, I had my own desire for recognition. But I kept that to myself and feigned modesty. Then Saga chimed in.
“Some refined folks say modesty is a virtue, but if it goes too far, it becomes rude. Even I couldn’t clearly see what you did. So stand tall and be proud.”
It was a piece of advice from Saga, the embodiment of meritocracy leading a mercenary corps. He was genuinely looking out for me. If that was the case—
“You’re right, Saga. So, let me take back what I said.”
───Activate.
“My techniques are invisible to anyone.”
To their astonishment, I was no longer in the circle they had formed. I had moved away from them, calling out.
“Well then! I’m off for a bit! I’ll be back soon, so I’ll leave things to you, Saga and Ashley!”
I entrusted them with my farewell and dashed toward the waiting Eagle Dragon.