"Why are you looking for me?" I asked while walking towards the sofa where the guild master sat previously, and Frisena only chuckled.
"You know damn well why. I'm just wondering why you rejected me." Frisena said with a little bit of annoyance, and I only became wildly confused at her.
Rejected… her?
I remember the princess, the younger one who is crazy for the prince, kept saying that she got rejected. Is this… the same situation?
"… I don't recall you ever saying that you liked me--"
"The invitation. I asked you to join my military company." The cold princess said with annoyance as if not wanting to joke around anymore.
"I've already given my answer: Not interested." I replied quite relaxed, and she let out a sigh.
"May I ask how I can change your mind? Do you have other goals that you wish to achieve?"
"I'm only living my life. Is that not a good enough reason?"
"No, because you joined in on the war previously without asking for anything. I'm just curious as to what changed."
Frisena's point does make sense. From her perspective, at least.
I joined the war not because I wanted to fight for the people. I always act for my own merit, and it does not make sense if I fight without asking for anything in return.
I joined the war because of the deal I made with the prince. I recognized that he is a capable person just like me, and I'm sure he will be able to assist me in future problematic situations.
However, I have seen enough things during the war. It has given me enough answers to questions I want answered, and there is simply no more reason for me to keep going.
"As you know, a mercenary only does things when there's reward on the line." I pointed it out so that Frisena could understand, and she laughed hearing such words.
"In that case, let's make a deal. Name your price, Axel Cleric. I'll try to fulfill it, as the future queen of Valkaria." Frisena said quite calmly, which confuses me that she is so willing to fall into this discussion. I can almost certainly believe that she came here fully knowing that I was going to ask something.
If that's the case, then surely I can ask for anything, right?
"As the queen of Valkaria... What exactly are the things you can do?" I asked her first just to make sure.
"That's for you to guess. I'm just listening and bargaining."
Amazing. She is truly giving me a blank check. It showed me that she is genuine about how much she wants me. Which... made me concerned a little.
"In that case, I want two things." I said while lifting my finger, and she waved her hand around.
"Consider it done." She said quite quickly, and I haven't even said anything.
The two of us began discussing what the deal was going to be. Frisena wanted it to be a signed contract, as if treating me completely like a mercenary. I'm not troubled by it, and she is giving me everything that I wanted. However, I won't lie when I say that I'm feeling quite uneasy.
She accepted everything too quickly. The tasks I gave her weren't by any means easy, but she just said yes without even considering the costs and risks that she might go through by heeding those requests.
Something… is definitely up.
"Allow me to be blatant to you, Eric. You have the talent and power that is unrivalled by anyone in Avenor except for that brat Nathan." Frisena said boldly to me, and I only raised one eyebrow.
"Your value as an emerald ranked mercenary is way too cheap. You have the potential of becoming something even better, even more powerful."
"… Like?"
"Like a 'Demon'."
Frisena answered simply, and I only became even more confused. Seeing the change in my expression, she was surprised.
"Oh? It looks like you don't know."
"Know what, exactly?" I tried asking her, but Frisena only laughed as she lifted her butt from the sofa.
"Unfortunately, that's not for me to answer. The deal was for you to ask two things from me… not three." She said as she started walking to the exit, and I let out a sigh of regret for making everything a deal.
But, a relationship like this is more stable and reliable. I've learned that deal-based relationships will always be mutual, and can never be like what 'Friends' or 'Families' are.
"Then, I'll see you around the final exams." Frisena said right as she opened the door to the office, and I stayed silent as she left.
Beforelong, the mercenary guild master returned to the office, and he noticed I was still in the room.
"Hmm? Looks like a tough conversation--"
"I'll be leaving the lightning clan." I said hurriedly after deciding, and the guild master was surprised by my sudden decision.
"H-Huh!? You just came back--"
"Keep this town away from rats. I'll be counting on you, guild master." I said to the old guild master with a very wide grin, and this guy knows that I am not someone to be joking around with.
"Y-You can count on me…"
After that little farewell with the guild master, I left the mercenary guild building. I began to ponder what I want to do now, considering I've done everything to do in this tiny hometown of mine.
Right… there's still one more thing that I need to do.
Time to go back home.
My feet stopped walking and turned around, and I began heading back towards the slums area that existed at the corner of the town. The place where I once lived and grew up isn't exactly a clean and wonderful place, but it is a place I am very familiar with.
With muddy pathing and ugly buildings surrounding it, this tiny alley that only fits three people at once is a home to many unfortunate residents of the lightning clan. The people who are poor, rejected by society, or even escapees. They all ran here to hide, and despite how it looks, it is a very livable place.
"Oh!? If it isn't Axel!!" Right after I entered the alleyway, an old man who was sitting on his house's porch lifted his hand at me after he noticed me.
The old man looked so much thinner than I can remember, and he also looked weaker. It looks like age has been slowly getting him.
After the old man shouted, many others came out of their houses. When the doors to each house are only separated by a two meters wide alley, it's only normal that everyone saw each other the moment they all came out of the door. And seeing the familiar faces of the people I grew up with, I can only tear up.
"I'm back, everyone!" I said cheerfully to them while they assessed me, and I began greeting them one by one.
They are the people who took care of me when I was little. I was mostly ignored by my family when I was very young, and I somehow found myself in this tiny alley looking for friends.
That's when the people here found me. They all took care of me, some even let me stay at their shabby houses for the night. They took care of me as if I was a poor orphaned child who needed help, and I was able to find a group of people I know I can rely on.
For sure, I became a figure who'd end up being able to support them as well. After a certain incident, I started to become a mercenary. I got very powerful in the process, and I used all my wealth and power to support every family who has helped me in this alley.
This place is my home. The people here are my family. But, when we're talking about a genuine house, it's also technically here as well.
After greeting everyone, I bade farewell early because I had to visit my place for a bit. Everyone understood that I was in a hurry, and I arrived at the very end of the alleyway where a staircase is located. A door to a tiny house was placed at the walls next to the staircase, and I can't help but feel nostalgic seeing this door.
It's a house I am very much familiar with. It's the place where I've been to many-many times before, and I'd even go as far as to call this place my second home.
And so, I opened the door. I found myself to be in an empty house that is very old. All The furniture and decorations were covered in webs and dust, and I had to close my nose when I entered.
I poured in some energy to my hand, and I activated continuous lightning zaps around the skin of my palm, allowing it to glow. The light coming from my hand lit the guest room properly, and I was able to see the scenery inside properly.
Immediately, I noticed something that was odd.
"… Someone's been here." I said as my eyes locked towards the object above the table at the guest room.
I walked closer to the table, and my left hand that isn't enchanted with lightning picked up the object on top of the table.
It's a piece of paper, and it looks to be a letter. With one hand, I opened the letter with the help of my mouth. I ripped the letter open and found a piece of paper with writing in it, and I immediately opened my eyes widely.
'Oh? Is it finally time?' A voice spoke inside my consciousness, and I nodded firmly after reading the letter.
"Yeah. It seems like the time to return to the academy has arrived." I said while folding the letter, and I turned my gaze to the door behind me.
The letter was a reminder, an invitation. Because I've been away from the academy for a while now, the academy felt the need to remind me about the upcoming end of semester test that will decide the results of this odd semester.
A battle tournament… eh?
I just can't wait to finally face that guy in a genuine battle.
Surely, he will be there, right?