Savage Ascension: Starting with God-Tier Plunder Ability-Chapter 78: This One Stopped Again

"Because I’m a hunter. I’m skilled at tracking it, and we can catch it in places where we can ambush it first."

"Have you caught bears before?"

Rowan nodded. First, he mentioned his own experience that could say the risk burden was small. Just that made Bedri nod. He knew well from observation that having someone experienced meant that much less burden.

Because many mercenaries avoided being with greenhorn mercenaries. The perception that experienced people helped was big. So some greenhorn mercenaries lied about experience.

"Well then... whatever..."

"How much does the commission fee say?"

Rowan put the commission on the table. Along with numbers, a copper coin picture was drawn.

"500 copper coins."

About half the value of silver. More than the compensation Bearded Doren mentioned, but still an amount considered small. At least the Skull Mercenary Group played with silver coins, and trivially played with copper coins.

Rowan had arrived with them to Torch Fortress at an amount almost like free, which was great luck. Anyway, Bearded Doren asked.

"Isn’t it too little?"

Rowan smiled.

"If we catch the bear, if we sell what comes out, we can touch silver coins. We have to look at byproducts too."

"Ah!"

Rowan explained very detailed reasons for setting this commission. Though what he’d said was sufficient, he put in more effort. Today was the first meeting with them, and it was to firmly grasp these naive greenhorns.

"If lucky, 10 days. If unlucky, we can resolve it in a fortnight."

Even the resolvable time was fast.

Everyone nodded. Decision made.

"Though timing is ambiguous, should we prepare now and depart? Or go tomorrow?"

To Rowan’s question, nobody answered. Because it was vague, deciding was difficult.

"Everyone don’t get excited and play around, with bright energy come to the east gate when the sun rises tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

"Got it."

Some answered, some just nodded. And so they parted. Rowan felt they weren’t as hung up on age as expected. Maybe because they were greenhorns, but it was quite a good start.

Because Rowan had half a day left over today, he wasted time packing luggage. Through one silver ornament, he ordered necessary things from general store female owner Sore. Sore told him things needed for travel in sufficient quantities.

"I’ll lend the cart for free. If you break it, you have to repair it yourself."

"Thank you."

She said she’d lend a senile donkey and earnestly requested absolutely not injuring it. She said it was a laid-back one, so hitting it wrong could break bones. She requested that when that time came, he’d have to pay several silver coins.

For Rowan, it couldn’t help but be good. He confirmed on parchment a list of things to last a fortnight starting with food. Drawn as pictures, quantities were marked with sticks. 300 copper coins went in. Because she gave 3 silver coins for one silver ornament, he received 2 silver coins and 700 copper coins.

"Come by here early tomorrow. I’ll be waiting."

"Thank you."

Rowan expressed thanks repeatedly. Resolved without great effort. Conversely, Sore also wasn’t bad at all. Even just the margin from 300 copper coins meant today’s business was done. Because she herself was responsible for most of the supply.

Especially regarding food, except for jerky, she was also the primary producer. Just by showing convenience, Rowan would come back here.

Before lunch even came, having finished definite preparations through the parchment list, he didn’t sightsee Torch Fortress and headed straight to Merein’s house. Because he had no mind to sightsee.

He spent time training. He even practiced basic swordsmanship movements, and what he felt facing Gulliver Alastor’s sword accuracy was significant.

’Though swordsmanship improved by accepting his quest... not yet.’

Scraping opponent’s helmet while fiercely exchanging offense and defense? Even Rowan whose swordsmanship improved one dimension couldn’t do it. While concentrating and mastering specific attack techniques through basic swordsmanship, Informant Merein arrived home first.

The moment Rowan sensed presence, he tossed one silver coin.

"Oh my, what’s this money?"

"I got lucky. There was a street gambler who saw me as a greenhorn, so I won and came right away."

Merein giggled. Certainly Rowan’s young-looking face was enough to make opponents let down their guard. Of course, it was a lie. Rowan just gave leftover money from selling silver ornaments.

"I’m leaving tomorrow."

"You made a mercenary group?"

"Yes. With greenhorns. 4 including me. We’re going to catch a bear."

Merein asked this and that. Having lent silver coins, Rowan had trust in her. So he told her quite in detail.

While eating dinner, Rowan sought this and that advice from Yuval. Yuval answered faithfully—because of Rowan’s capability.

’If he just doesn’t die anytime, he’ll grasp quite some success.’

The judgment to create favor by sharing information now couldn’t help but come out.

Though leaving early in the morning, everyone had arrived at the east gate.

"When did you arrive?"

Rowan asked each person one by one while extending his hand shaking hands. Most said they came out at dawn. That they couldn’t sleep was universal. They loaded luggage on the cart, but this damn old donkey had no thought of going forward.

"Let’s take out some luggage."

When Rowan picked up one leather backpack by hand, others also took out one each. Only then did the quick-witted donkey slowly go forward. Rowan even pushed the cart slightly from cuteness.

"Puhwing."

The donkey made a sound. A signal to push more, but Rowan didn’t do even that much.

"Mercenaries?"

When Rowan took out the mercenary badge, the soldier skillfully spoke while checking the mercenary badge, and spread out the cart covered with tarp to check. Because checking even the floor was the first time he’d seen, Rowan asked.

"Previously you didn’t check the floor."

"..."

The soldier ignored Rowan’s words. Seems there was something that shouldn’t be known. The road heading to Three River Valley was peaceful. They had to go at least 3 days and would pass through one village.

The village name was Spring Dusk Village. A unique name, but seemed to use the dusk character.

’A village with short spring? Busy in spring?’

"This one stopped again."

The old donkey was the most troublesome. Thanks to that, they decided to sequentially put luggage in the cart one by one and push the cart from behind. No complaints came. Rather it felt fun because it felt like a starting mercenary group.

Rowan was also like that.

The crow Kaiya was sleeping on the cart. Because of night watch. Completely became nocturnal. Sometimes waking up and crying once, Rowan gave dried wild strawberries or raisins. Kaiya had recently taken great interest in sour things.

Crossbowman Bedri glanced at such black crow. The crow had quite a build even among birds. A body twice as large as pigeons. Though not as much as eagles, seeing a crow up close was the first time.

Others were the same, but they were busy chattering. Woman talk was mainstream.

Rowan moderately surveyed surroundings. Hunters had observational power showing true colors in green-shaded places. Having traveled mountains and forests so much, he saw concealed enemies quite well too. As long as not camouflaged, he could perceive clear color differences.

Near Torch Fortress, he couldn’t meet mountain bandits, bandits, robbers. Sometimes on slopes above, he could see wild boars, deer, foxes looking down at him.

’Public safety is certain.’

Pushing hard to go, they made camp early. Because they couldn’t tell where water was. They just took position when camp traces were visible and searched nearby to find water. Could find it in an hour.

’Have to drink boiled water.’

Though water flowing from rock crevices, it pooled below, and the flowing amount was small to fill water bottles with flowing water. Rowan drew water in one go and returned. Others seemed to have heard something, placing stones to heat and completing a campfire.

Fire was kindled, and Large Shield Espin arrived last holding firewood.

"Seems like you brought too much firewood."

At Bearded Doren’s words, Espin shrugged.

"Just in case."

The 3 had met at dawn and talked, so were already speaking casually. Rowan had absolutely no such thought.

Jerky went up, water boiled. He tore grain powder and vegetables by hand to put in. Thick soup and salt-pickled fish were grilled and put on the table.

Tap tap!

To erase burn marks, hitting with hands was best. Shaking off burnt parts, Rowan ate fish and soup. He ate twice as much as others ate.

"You really eat a lot."

Rather than different satiety standards, it was because of body weight. It was Rowan who ate forcibly. Because he’d constantly chewed jerky even while coming to maintain weight class, gazes naturally gathered.

"Kaiya will stand night watch."

"That’s really appreciated."

Talking gently, even heated alcohol only went around once. Greenhorn mercenaries were most curious about Rowan. Rowan told stories about the hunting competition and black wolf in Black Mountain Village.

When talking about the situation of children’s torn-apart bodies cast in torchlight, everyone was concentrating very much with mouths slightly open.

"Wah!!"

When Rowan shouted loudly, everyone jumped. Some shouted together.

"Ah! Really! Why suddenly shout!"

"Hahahaha."

As the atmosphere switched, Rowan changed the subject.

"I’d like everyone to tell me only how many years you’ve handled your weapons. As the first essential thing to know as mercenary captain, you absolutely must not lie. If you increase years, you might enter dangerous situations yourself. If you additionally mention what you’ve caught, whether you’ve done combat, it’ll be more helpful."

When Rowan spoke very seriously, everyone erased all laughter.

First, Crossbowman Bedri approached Rowan who’d headed toward a tree trunk behind.

"Please stand with your back to the tree and tell me."

"Yes."

Quite a nervous look showed. Though 18 years old, 3 years older than Rowan, he suddenly made a greatly nervous expression. Seemed like a personality nervous in interview-like situations.

’Can’t entrust important missions.’

Nervousness meant mistakes.

"It’s almost been 2 years touching the crossbow. I wandered Blood-Full Tavern since age 12, and there was a mercenary who recommended something other than swords saying my physique wasn’t good."

"You have a dagger—what about that?"

"I practiced often on scarecrows but..."

Rowan nodded and didn’t ask about close weapons.

"What have you caught with the crossbow?"

"Birds, small animals..."

At the unconfident appearance, Rowan threw one compliment.

"You can hit even moving ones. You’ve done good practice."

"Ah, yes."

He asked others one by one too.

Large Shield Espin, who looked most dependable, had only handled sword and shield for 6 months. He said until turning 17, he’d lived doing thug work in neighborhood alleys. He said he was quite skilled at brawling, and rather than scolding him, Rowan made satisfied laughter.

Bearded Doren had the longest weapon training time. He had quite some persistence. Though 17, he’d handled shortswords alone for a whole 4 years. But he said he’d never shot the bow he had, whether he hadn’t turned eyes to other things.

’It’s a mess.’