After washing up, changing into the spare clothes in his backpack, and finishing the food the servant brought him, Ronan shed tears of happiness. Though the food had gone cold, it still tasted wonderful to someone who had spent a month in the forest eating unseasoned roasted meat. After eating, Ronan lay straight down on the bed, ready to get some proper rest before taking a look around town tomorrow.
The soldiers the system can recruit are all strong, but they basically only know how to fight. Maybe I should hire some support staff in town to cook, do laundry, and so on. Things have finally calmed down, so I should be able to build up a little in this town before setting out again. But what should I do after that? Becoming famous throughout a kingdom will be difficult... Forget it, I won't think about it. Since I've come to a new world, the most urgent thing is to travel across it, see the scenery everywhere, and experience the customs of every country. As he thought, Ronan gradually drifted off to sleep.
Early the next morning, Ronan woke after a good night's sleep and washed up simply. There were no toothbrushes in this world, but there was a kind of herb that freshened one's breath. He chewed a leaf, rinsed his mouth with water, then splashed his face with clean water to drive away the remnants of sleepiness. Then Ronan called for his men and prepared to head downstairs for breakfast.
They filled two tables. Ronan chewed soft white bread dipped in honey, scooped up some salty pickled food made from beans with a spoon, and took a sip of warm milk whenever he was thirsty. He narrowed his eyes happily.
After breakfast, Ronan gave the Nordic Archers some money and sent them out to purchase travel necessities such as dried provisions and fodder for the horses. He then handed the animal hides, bones, and teeth they had obtained in the forest, along with the Eagle Pursuit Squad's weapons and armor, to the Rhodok Spearmen and told them to sell them to a merchant house.
However, Ronan kept the bear hide. He planned to find a craftsman to work it and see what it could be made into. He himself took two Vigier Cavalry to the Mercenary Guild, intending to ask about the cost of renting a base in town and where he could recruit people.
Upon entering the Mercenary Guild, he saw a spacious hall. Tables and chairs stood on the left, where several people sat discussing something. On the right was a notice board, surrounded by a crowd in all kinds of armor who were engaged in heated discussion.
Ronan vaguely heard words like Gnolls, nonhumans, bandit gangs, and Knight Warren. After paying attention for a moment, he did not hurry over to look. Instead, he first walked to the counter to ask the receptionist about a few things.
"Hello. I'm a mercenary who recently arrived here. Is there anything I should be aware of?"
The receptionist, who had been bent over writing something, looked up when she heard him. After confirming that he was a new face, she said,
"Hello. This is the Mercenary Guild established by the town mayor. I'm the receptionist, Daisy. There are many nonhumans and bandits near the town, and the town sometimes needs to enter the forest to gather supplies. Since the town doesn't have many soldiers, there is a great demand for mercenaries. If you want to take missions here, you can register with me first. Missions are generally posted on the notice board over there." As she spoke, Daisy pulled a ledger from a book beside her and opened it.
"All right, please register me."
"You need to give your group a name. Once you grow stronger, it would be best to design an emblem as well. Tell me the name of the group leader, too."
"Then we'll be called the Calradia Mercenary Group! The leader is Rodrit Fernando—that's me." Thinking of the system's abilities, Ronan gave his group that name.
"Calradia? Does it have any special meaning?" Daisy looked up at Ronan curiously. It was not the sort of name mercenary groups usually chose. Most groups in town were called things like Gray Bear, Black Dog, or Bloodblade.
"It has no special meaning. It's the name of my comrades' homeland," Ronan replied with a smile.
"All right, I've written it down. You can go look at the missions on the notice board. You came at just the right time—there's a major mission available now. After accepting it, come register with me. Once you've completed it, bring back the proof required by the mission and you can collect the reward."
Daisy smiled at Ronan. She was not particularly beautiful; her features were ordinary, and there were a few small freckles on her face. Yet when she smiled, she gave off a pure, adorable girl-next-door feeling. Perhaps that was why she had been assigned to work here as a receptionist. However, Ronan noticed that she wore a gemstone earring that did not suit her temperament—and only on one ear.
"Oh, right. I have another question. How can I recruit companions to join my group?" Ronan suddenly remembered.
"There is no slave market in the Holy Cross Kingdom. If you want to replenish your manpower, you can post a notice on the board listing the requirements, the payment, and where to find you. Anyone who sees it can come looking for you. You can also ask at the tavern across the street. There are quite a few lone newcomers there every day hoping to make a fortune, and sometimes young men in town want to go out and make their way in the world."
"What if I want to buy or rent a base?"
"Um, if you want to build a house, you'll need to apply at the lord's residence. But the Raven Trading Company owns quite a bit of property in the city for sale or rent, so you can ask them." Daisy patiently answered Ronan's questions. Perhaps it was because he was polite and unlike the burly roughnecks she usually dealt with.
Having learned what he wanted to know, Ronan nodded in satisfaction. After saying goodbye to Daisy, he headed over to the notice board, squeezing through the crowded people with the help of his own strength and that of the Vigier Cavalry.
More than a dozen notices were scattered across the board. Ronan scanned them and found that most were missions to gather certain herbs near the forest, escort merchant caravans, or clear out wild beasts ravaging nearby villages. He also saw the major mission Daisy had mentioned.
"Today, our town's scouts discovered that Krantuman, the 'Ragged Prince' of the Windblown Bandits, who once ravaged the eastern region of the kingdom, has appeared on Mount Glan west of town. He has gathered another group of bandits, fugitives, and nonhumans who wandered in from the Moran Kingdom, forming a powerful bandit gang said to number more than five hundred.
"To prevent him from continuing to expand and threatening the areas surrounding our town, we are now calling upon everyone to join the battle. The Knight Order stationed at Shadow Fortress has also dispatched five full Knights and three hundred soldiers. Our side holds the advantage in this battle; the enemy is merely a rabble thrown together on short notice. Warriors who wish to participate, please register at the Mercenary Guild counter. Assemble outside the town gate the morning after tomorrow, then depart after roll call. The mountainous terrain is unsuitable for riding, so please take note."
"Groups of five to ten will receive five gold coins. Groups of ten to twenty will receive fifteen gold coins. Groups of over twenty will receive one gold coin per person. Additional rewards will be granted according to the number of enemies killed. After the mission ends, rewards may be collected from the finance department in the lord's hall with the certificate issued by the Mercenary Guild.
"Signed: Knight Warren, May 3rd, Year 357 of the New Calendar."
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