CH. 4

Cynthia was right in front of the man that instilled fear inside her. Vain had his arms crossed while sitting across the small table while waiting for her to talk. 

Cynthia Locks McGuiness had her head down for a while now as she couldn't make eye contact with Vain at all. Emann Wells, who was right next to her, was looking at her with a complicated expression as he wasn't used to such quiet commander. Usually, she go around saying "Fufu, so you've got the guts to sit down when I haven't told you to?" while wearing a dangerous grin and her hand on her sword.

How it came to this?

Emann Wells was sighing internally as he was forced to be in this situation. Because Vain wanted to talk to the head of the airship, Emann Wells dragged Cynthia to the reception room in order to meet with Vain.

However, when she saw the guy that didn't even think twice in sending her flying with a crude kick right dead center of her belly, even though it didn't hurt for some reason, caused her unimaginable fear to well up again.

Then when their eyes met Cynthia jumped onto the couch like a dog commanded by it's master. Though the dog was cowering because she did something naughty.

"Oi, speak already. I can't do my work unless you tell me what to do"

Vain said so in an arrogant tone. Because he was a merc, moreover, a street oprhan, all he knows to do was to get the job, do it and get paid after. All he need was to hear the job, how much they were willing to pay and after that, they'll go their separate ways.

"......."

If Cynthia Locks McGuiness was still unable to say what she wanted to say, then there was no job for him to do.

Vain sighs and faced Emann Wells.

"Goatee, you talk"

"Saying my name this far would just irritate me..... well anyways"

Emann Wells just accepted being called Goatee by Vain as he still refused to came him by his name then glanced at Cynthia Locks McGuiness for a second before turning to Vain.

"Well first off, we'd like to recruit you"

"Denied. I don't do long term work"

The invitation was easily shot down. Emann Wells coughed once before resuming the talk.

"Ahem.... well, can I ask why?"

"There's no need for the client to know about the merc their hiring. Just tell me what to do and I'll work for my pay"

"E-Even so... we don't know anything about you. We've only found out about you through rumors"

"Rumors?"

Vain's ears perked up. Mercenaries that was famous enough to have rumors always gets hired personally all around the airspace by different kinds of people. The famous the mercenary was the more work he could get. That means the more money he earns.

Vain was interested in hearing these rumors about him.

"Yeah. It's about a guy exterminating large flocks of monsters everywhere alone. Even soloing against Rank 3 monsters on his own and that he uses a large sword to slay monsters"

"What? Just that?"

Vain was disappointed that it wasn't that important of a rumor. However Emann Wells was surprised by Vain's reaction.

"Just that? you say.....what do you mean?"

"Anyone can kill monsters. I can too like anybody else"

"No, soloing Rank 3 Flying Behemoths, 3 flocks of Green Wind Wyverns and even taking down those ten magic armors like their nothing..... no one is capable to doing that alone"

Normally, it takes a large squad like the Light Wing to exterminate 3 flocks of Green Wind Wyverns. Because there's about 5 of them in each flock, fighting wyverns that can caused a whirlwind to appear, it takes time to kill all of them even with a large squadron. Even Flying Behemoths. Each one was Rank 3 category dangerous monster with its large hairy body, bull like head and large lizard like tail. Fighting three of them alone was a considerable feat.

Even how Vain easily took down ten experienced Magic armor pilots alone, without even using magic armors himself. Vain was that powerful yet he thinks that anyone can do it.

"Anyone can do it if they out their mind to it"

"No... only you can do that....haaaah...."

Emann Wells sighed as his head ached just by talking with Vain.

"Moving on. What do we call you?"

"Vain"

"Alright. Vain, do you know about an Abyss gate?"

"Hmmm..... I've read about it in a book. It's a gate that connects this world to a different dimension right?"

"That's right. Just recently, another one appeared"

"Oh, you mean the one that causing monsters to fly to this place huh? It's thanks to that that I've got so many work"

Vain nods while smiling as he thanked the abyss gate opening in his heart.

"Only mercs are happy about that. Most people aren't. They want to close it as soon as possible"

Abyss Gates are gateways to a different dimensions. In that place, monsters called parasites gets out from the abyss gate and invades this world. They have a swarm on the other side of the Abyss gate, as such, there was a high number of Legions and Knight Squadrons joining up to close the gate.

"And in order to close it, you have to kill the Parasite Queen. That way, the gate is closed for good"

The first time the first Parasite Queen appeared was decades ago. When humanity nearly won against the swarm of parasites only to get obliterated by the Parasite Queen.

It was a tragedy that cost the lives of many soldiers.

Vain listens quietly while considering the danger. Well as a mercenary, death was an occupational hazard. As such, even facing a swarm would be dangerous even if it was him. Or well, he was thinking about it..

Since it was work, there was no way he would refuse the offer. As long as the other side was willing to pay, then he doesn't care if there's a swarm or a Queen.

"How much you're willing to pay for my work?"

"Eh? Ah... it depends on the commander but.... I'm suggesting about 300 gold coins?"

Vain immediately calculates the amount worth 300 gold coins and what he could use it for. Then as he thought of many things, a smile appeared on his face.

"Alright, I'll bite"

"Oh!! So you'll be working with us then?"

Emann Wells jumps in with a smile as Vain accepted the work. However, Vain suddenly stopped Emann Wells with his hand in front of him.

"No, I'll work a lone. Just point me the right direction and I'll be on my way"

"Eh?"

It wasn't Emann Wells that let out such stupefied noise Cynthia Locks McGuiness was so taken aback by what Vain just said that she couldn't help but let out her thoughts.

Vain moved his gaze from Emann Wells to Cynthia Locks McGuiness. Meeting those deep dark colored eyes, Cynthia Locks McGuiness shrunk once more.

"What? Is there a problem with that?"

"N-No... I-It's just, going in alone in an area where an Abyss gate is open without support is...."

"I'm not weak. I can take care of myself. I'd rather die than to receive help from a knight. It's enough from that you guys will be paying me for work"

Vain glares at Cynthia Locks McGuiness and Emann Wells as he said that.

"I deal with my work privately. Don't go near me and just pay me when the job is done"

*Clack* Vain's boots sounded as he stood up from his seat. Then before leaving he turned to the two once more and said "I'll sleep outside. Don't you guys dare even think of coming near me got it?" Before exiting the room.

Once the door shut *Ka—tum* closed, Emann Wells and Cynthia Locks McGuiness exhaled loudly....

"Haaaaaaaah..... I thought I was gonna die there...."

"Haaaaaaaah..... I thought he was going to kill me there....."

"Eh?"

Emann Wells was surprised by his commander's words.

"You were scared? You? The White Sword Demon?"

"Shut up. If you get kicked like that without you even noticing it, it's only normal to get scared"

"No, well, I thought it was weird seeing you being meek like that. So you were scared huh?"

Emann Wells was scared too. Even just thinking about Vain kicking him like that sent shivers down his spine. Wouldn't he snap like a twig if he got kicked instead? Dying from a kick sounds more scary if it was Vain doing it.

"So? He refused joining us and just accepted the job as a mercenary. What do now Commander?"

"Uuuu.... I don't know. Didn't you hear him earlier? He works alone"

"Yeah... and he hates Knights too. I wonder what's up with that?"

Because there fear from earlier was still lingering inside their hearts, they were making small talk but it was unavoidable topic about Vain that they couldn't just dismiss.

"How were the others after fighting him? I saw from my room"

"All of them are just fine.Though their mechs are beyond repair unless we go back to the capital now"

Emann Wells got the total damage report before talking with Vain. It seems that the parts they needed to repair and replace can only be found in the capital where all the magic armors are being manufactured. Because of that, 10 out of 15 magic armors were lost cases.

As for the pilots, they only suffered small burns and bumps when falling into the water and from the explosions of the armors.

It goes to show that Vain went easy on them.

"He fights like a monster. What kind of human being fights a mech with a damn sword?"

"Yeah.... that was weird wasn't it? His fast, strong and can use magic with chanting. I wonder who his master is?"

Like any mages, chants were important to conjure spells. To do that, they need a lengthy incantations before launching powerful attack. That's why, mages and swordsmen works in tandem in battle. Inside a magic armor the pilots can either be a swordsman or a mage since the magic armors works like an amplifier of power of sorts.

"If that guy has a master, he'd be a legend"

Emann Wells could only laugh dryly at that freak Vain's master. If Vain could take down magic armors with sword and a little bit of magic, then what will his master use? Summon meteorites from the sky?

"In any case, we got his cooperation. What now Commander?"

"We'll let him do as he please. If he wants to fight alone then we'll let him. We can't even fight in our current conditions"

Cynthia Locks McGuiness sighs as she stands up from her seat. 

"Should I try and convince in joining?"

"I don't mind if you die so it's best to jump out of the airship before he kills you. Don't dirty the ship alright?"

"Ahahaha..... I guess the commander got her spirits back up huh?"

Emann Wells laughed dryly at that joke Cynthia Locks McGuiness just mentioned. It was her usual way of saying "Don't do something stupid or you'll die" kind of thing. But well, he was already used to it since it was Cynthia Locks McGuiness.

"Hmph, I still haven't accepted that loss. I want a chance to fight hims seriously with a sword in the future"

Cynthia Locks McGuiness says so with a brave smile on her beautiful face. Emann Wells sighed at he saw that.

Well, it's your funeral— was his thoughts while he was watching Cynthia Locks McGuiness walk out of the room......

———

Out in the windy deck, Vain was sitting next to the railings with a thick clothe wrapped around him.

The strong winds and cold breeze reminded him of his home. That tiny corner under that bridge. Every time a storm comes in, all he could do was weather it out in the freezing rain. 

The pain of his body when he got sick at that time was a nightmare he want to forget. But it was thanks to that he grew strong. Now, he can't even catch a cold even if he sleep on the rain wearing nothing.

Though he wouldn't do that now since he has clothes and money.

"The twins are shining again...."

Vain looks up at the starry sky where two moons were standing close to each other. Vain calls it twins because they were two identical silver moons. A lonely smile crept on his face as he braced himself from the cold.

"Must be nice having someone next to you. I guess I wouldn't know, after all, I grew up alone"

Vain grew up without anyone. The dog that fed him milk died before he could even learn to speak. He didn't have friends. The kids in the slums only threw stones at him and whoever his mother was, she just threw him in a pile of garbage.

Vain was alone. Even if he wished he have someone calls a family, they wouldn't even like him because he was a sewer rat.

"Haaaaaaah...."

His misty breath escaped from his mouth as he sighed. With the drowsiness finally kicking in, Vain finally sleeps after a long day....