Episode 182: A Bitter Reunion (4)
The return of the Mercenary King threw the Fafnir Mercenary Corps into utter chaos.
“How could you mistake this grotesque lump of flesh for me?”
The first thing the returning Mercenary King did was incinerate the fake body.
“You blind fools! You might as well gouge out your eyes and walk around like that—it’d be an improvement!”
His fury was boundless, especially since every mercenary had been duped by a puppet crafted by a mere dark sorcerer.
Even the Sacred Bloods, whom the Mercenary King held in high esteem, had been deceived.
Never in his life had he suffered such a humiliation.
“Bring me the mothers of every last one of you! Not a single one is to be left out!”
Next, he gathered all the women who formed the core of the factions.
“You started squabbling over power the moment I fell? How dare you engage in such audacity! I must have given you too much freedom!”
He ordered all their privileges revoked—luxuries, servants, everything. They were to fend for themselves from now on.
“Shame on you! No matter what your mothers say, you just follow along like idiots!”
Even the Sacred Bloods weren’t spared from his wrath. They were all assigned grueling tasks as punishment.
After venting his anger, the Mercenary King summoned Damian.
“Thank you.”
Those were the first words out of the Mercenary King’s mouth.
It wasn’t just words; the proud man clasped Damian’s hand tightly and bowed his head.
“If it weren’t for you… I shudder to think what Slah might have done to me.”
Becoming a test subject for dark sorcerers while incapacitated?
Even the Mercenary King felt a chill at the thought of their notorious experiments.
“Thanks to you, I was able to prevent the mercenary corps from splintering.”
Had Damian not rescued him in time, the Fafnir Mercenary Corps would have descended into civil war over power struggles.
“And not just that… you saved Athena from a dire fate.”
The Mercenary King gripped Damian’s hand firmly, his gratitude palpable.
“I only did what needed to be done.”
“No, you did something monumental. From your perspective, it was someone else’s problem… yet you risked your life.”
But that wasn’t the case.
Damian had his own reasons for aiding the Fafnir Mercenary Corps.
To kill Dorgo and prevent the War of Destruction.
To gather strength in case the war couldn’t be stopped.
Those were the reasons he saved the Mercenary King and Athena.
Thus, Damian felt unworthy of the Mercenary King’s gratitude.
“What do you plan to do with those involved in this incident?”
To change the subject, Damian asked the Mercenary King.
“I’d like to expel them all, but… what can I do? Like it or not, they’re my family.”
The Mercenary King spoke with a conflicted expression.
“Instead, I’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens again by keeping a close watch.”
In his past life, Damian had heard that the Fafnir Mercenary Corps’ division was due to the Mercenary King’s womanizing.
But what Damian saw was slightly different. The division was primarily due to factional conflicts.
Perhaps in his past life, the Mercenary King had chosen to bear the blame himself?
Maybe he took on the criticism that should have been directed at his family.
Of course, that future no longer existed, so it was all speculation.
“You’re not planning to let me leave empty-handed, are you?”
Damian joked, trying to lighten the mood. But the Mercenary King’s expression was serious.
“Of course not. I’ve been pondering how to repay you.”
The Mercenary King handed something to Damian—a badge made of red metal.
“This is the emblem of the Fafnir Mercenary Corps. Present it at any mercenary office, and you can hire any mercenary for free.”
To Damian, it seemed like a modest gift.
He was on the verge of becoming a master-class warrior and had no need to hire mercenaries.
“By ‘any,’ I mean it includes the Fafnir Mercenary Corps and myself.”
With that, Damian realized he had underestimated the gift.
The Fafnir Mercenary Corps was the continent’s most elite and powerful. Hiring them was not only difficult but also astronomically expensive.
And he could hire the Mercenary King himself?
“There are no limits on usage. Use it whenever you wish. But don’t overdo it, or I’ll get mad.”
The Mercenary King added playfully.
Damian accepted the token with gratitude.
“Are you leaving now?”
“Yes. It’s been too long since I’ve seen my family.”
Thinking of his family brought back memories of what Slah had done to his sister.
It wasn’t just Louise. Other family members had suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of the dark sorcerers.
The mere thought filled him with anger and disgust. Damian clenched his teeth, struggling to suppress his emotions.
“Before you go, see Athena. She’s been wanting to see you.”
“Alright.”
With a brief reply, Damian left the tent.
As Damian disappeared, the Mercenary King looked regretful.
“He’s too valuable to let go just like that…”
He wanted to keep Damian in the mercenary corps, but there was no justification.
“I even sent him on a mission alone with Athena, hoping something would happen… but no progress there either…”
The Mercenary King scratched his head and flopped onto his bed.
Rolling around on the wide bed, he lamented.
“What a waste~ Such a waste~.”
Damian went to see Athena.
She was lying in the infirmary within the mercenary camp.
She needed to heal her torn ankle ligaments and recover her weakened body.
“Athena, how are you feeling?”
Damian asked as he entered. Athena, lying on the bed, sat up in surprise.
“Damian! You came.”
“I wanted to see how you were doing.”
“Really?”
Athena’s face flushed with happiness, and she beamed.
Watching her, Damian found it strangely unfamiliar.
The Athena he remembered wasn’t like this.
She had been like a venomous snake, filled with malice. Her words and actions were harsh and sharp.
Considering what had happened to her in his past life, it was somewhat understandable.
Her father had disappeared, and she had been expelled from the mercenary corps.
Naturally, her personality had turned bitter.
”…Thank you.”
Suddenly, Athena spoke. Though it was a simple phrase, it struck Damian deeply.
In his past life, Athena had become the second Mercenary King to avenge her father and had fought against Damian.
She never got her revenge. After losing to Damian, she became a plaything for the dark sorcerers and lost her life.
That event had left a lingering guilt in Damian’s heart.
It wasn’t just Athena. Damian felt the same guilt for everyone he had led to misfortune.
“Thanks to you, I was able to save my father. If not for you, things would have been dire.”
Perhaps because he had saved Athena in this life.
Her gratitude seemed to ease the guilt he had been carrying.
“I’m leaving the mercenary corps.”
“What?”
Athena looked at Damian, startled.
“Can’t you stay a little longer?”
“I’ve been away from my family for too long. It’s time to return.”
Damian spoke firmly.
Athena’s face showed a myriad of emotions. Finally, she spoke.
“Can I visit you later?”
“Of course.”
Damian wasn’t the type to turn away a guest.
Athena hesitated, then asked again.
“Can I meet your parents?”
“Naturally.”
When visiting someone’s home, it’s only polite to greet the head of the family.
That’s what Damian meant. But Athena seemed to interpret it differently.
“Really? You mean it?”
Athena grabbed Damian’s arm tightly, her grip surprisingly strong.
”…Yes, I mean it.”
Damian replied, a bit taken aback. Athena cheered.
“Don’t you dare forget you said that!”
“So, he’s leaving after all.”
The Mercenary King watched Damian’s figure grow distant, feeling a pang of regret. Athena stood beside him, also watching Damian.
“I thought for sure you’d follow him.”
“I wanted to.”
The Mercenary King looked at Athena, puzzled.
“But I realized I’d only be a burden to him right now.”
Without Damian, Athena would have been expelled from the mercenary corps and faced a life of hardship.
Meanwhile, Damian had overcome every obstacle alone and saved the Mercenary King.
“I want to be someone Damian needs.”
Athena watched Damian silently. A moment of silence passed between father and daughter.
“By the way, I sent you on that mission with him hoping you’d make a move. What were you doing?”
“Did you really send me for that reason? How could you, as my father, do such a thing!”
“You said you liked that guy!”
The father and daughter were locked in a heated exchange for quite some time.
“Don’t worry, everything’s going just as you hoped, Father.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I got Demian’s approval. He suggested that the next time we visit the Haxen estate, we should meet his parents.”
At those words, the Mercenary King’s eyes widened in surprise.
Meeting the parents—what else could that imply?
It meant their relationship had grown quite serious.
“You, you rascal! I knew you’d pull it off in the end!”
The Mercenary King embraced Athena with joy, while she wore a triumphant smile.