Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 71 (part 2)

The pocket watch was an artifact engraved with a sophisticated projection magic of considerable level. At the very least, it was a 7-circle artifact, and it could be much higher.

However, Ellice hadn’t recognized that the pocket watch was an artifact.

Like the box that held the items, the magic was used so subtly that the external magic leakage was almost zero, making it difficult for anyone to notice it was an artifact unless they were extremely sensitive.

“Is it a memento?”

“It’s an important item. Did you finish your conversation?”

“Yeah. We’ll go to the mercenary guild tomorrow to finalize the contract.”

In four days, Bron’s group would leave Bontis after accepting a year-long contract. Depending on Rodin’s decision, the next four days might be their last time together.

“You’re not negotiating the payment?”

“If the request says negotiation is possible, we do. But when the payment is specified like this, negotiating is pointless.”

“Are you the only ones going for the escort?”

“No, including us, there are over thirty people. Judging by what they said earlier, they seem to want to gather a few more, but it’s such a long-term request.”

Some mercenaries preferred long-term contracts. They didn’t have to go through the hassle of finding the next job, and as long as they completed the contract, they could earn a large sum at once.

But most mercenaries didn’t like jobs that lasted too long. They preferred to finish short-term jobs and spend their earnings freely in entertainment districts.

There was also the issue of trust in the client. There were plenty of cases where, after a year of escorting a caravan, the client would suddenly refuse to pay.

“Rodin, have you decided yet?”

“No, I’ll think about it for one more day.”

“Alright. There’s still time.”

Rodin hadn’t received his mercenary plate yet, so even if he wanted to take on the request, he couldn’t. Even if he accepted, it would be two days later when he received his mercenary plate.

Fortunately, as a wizard, he didn’t need to take a separate test. As long as his circle was verified, there was little chance of being rejected by a client.

“We’re going to the blacksmith’s. Want to come along?”

“No, I’ll stay at the inn today.”

“Okay. Ah! We’ll be back before dinner, so don’t eat alone. Got it?”

“Got it. I’ll wait for dinner.”

Bron’s group left in a rush. Even Ellice, who doubted there was anything to buy at the blacksmith’s, went with them.

Rodin ordered another cup of tea on the first floor and drank it before going up to his room.

Once inside, he focused on the ring. Although it had been less than a day, he had already grasped some understanding of the ring.

“It’s definitely an artifact for storing something.”

Once again, there were too many runes he didn’t know. The number of unfamiliar runes far exceeded the ones he knew.

From the box he opened yesterday, to the pocket watch, and now the ring—unfamiliar runes were coming at him from all sides.

The Four Great Magic Towers knew about 10,000 runes.

In comparison, Rodin knew slightly less than 8,000 runes, about 2,000 fewer than the Four Great Magic Towers.

But the new runes he had encountered yesterday and today exceeded 2,000. If he could understand their meanings and grasp their pronunciations, he would become a wizard who knew as many runes as the Four Great Magic Towers.

“Sigh, if only there were someone who could teach me runes.”

He grumbled out of frustration. However, he had no intention of joining an organization like the Four Great Magic Towers.

He had spent nine years in the Special Forces Training Center and felt that was enough time under someone else’s command. He no longer wanted to move according to someone else’s orders.

“At least I know it’s not dangerous.”

The runes on the ring were intricately connected to the concept of storing something. There was no magic related to attacking anyone.

“Should I put it on?”

He repeatedly brought the ring close to his finger and then pulled it away.

There were too many unknown runes in the artifact, making him hesitant to put it on. Still, he felt he couldn’t learn anything more just by examining it from the outside.

“Let me think about this.”

He decided to delay the decision.

No matter how he thought about it, the idea of putting the ring on scared him. Despite feeling there was no danger, something about it made him uneasy.

* * *

The next day, Rodin informed Bron that he wouldn’t be able to join the request. Everyone was disappointed, but they still wished each other well for the future.

Bron, Marlon, Baker, and Ellice.

They all knew they couldn’t stay with Rodin forever.

While they were Tier 2 swordsmen and a 2-circle wizard, Rodin was already a 5-circle wizard. The difference in skill was too vast for them to work together.

They weren’t master and disciple; with such a disparity in ability, it would be an insult to one side to remain together.

Bron’s group didn’t like the idea of relying on someone else’s skill either; it hurt their pride.

Still, they didn’t part ways immediately. The request Bron’s group had accepted was scheduled to start in three days. They had time left to spend together.

The next morning, Rodin went to the mercenary guild and received his mercenary plate. Like Bron’s group, he received a copper plate.

“This feels strange.”

“Because you got your mercenary plate?”

“Yes. Hmm, should I say it gives me a sense of achievement? I feel like I want to turn the copper into silver, and then into gold. Something like that?”

Even with skill, it wasn’t easy to become a silver-plate mercenary. The required mission points were over ten, which meant at least ten months if only taking month-long missions.

“Hahaha. We felt the same. When we first got our mercenary plates, we thought we’d rush straight to gold.”

“You’re starting with a copper plate, but we started with wooden plates. It felt amazing when we upgraded from wooden to iron, and from iron to copper.”

“I saw some missions with high point values.”

“Those? It’s better not to take them.”

Missions were point-based, and some had particularly high points assigned. There were even missions that offered over five points in one go.

If someone chose only those missions, they could qualify as silver-plate mercenaries with just two missions.

“Is it because of the risk?”

“Yeah. You should avoid them too. It’s not that I doubt your skills, but some missions are dangerous even with ability. It’s better to complete missions one by one to climb the ranks safely.”

“You’re giving him unnecessary advice. The next time we meet, Rodin might already be a gold-plate mercenary. Who knows? He might even have a platinum plate.”

They held a party to celebrate Rodin becoming a mercenary.

The party wasn’t anything grand. They just piled up a lot of food and enough beer to drink freely.

Rodin, being young, didn’t drink. He took a sip and wondered why anyone would drink such a thing, then set it aside. He doubted he would ever seek out alcohol, even when he grew up.

Hyung_Otaku

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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