Chapter 37: The S-Rank Hunter Who Became a Porter

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[ Crescent Guild Seeking Mercenaries ]

Conditions: B-Rank or higher High-Rank Hunter

Location: Crescent Guild House

We are looking for a mercenary to join us in clearing a B-Rank Gate.

Detailed information will be discussed in person,

as there is a risk of guild information being leaked.

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“Mr. Marcel.”

“Yes.”

After checking the flyer, I called out to Marcel, who was still scanning the bulletin board.

“You said Crescent Guild was fine, right?”

“Yes, no problem.”

“Here. Could you handle the registration for us?”

“Understood. But…”

Marcel said he understood, but he hesitated, as if something was bothering him.

“Is there a problem?”

“You two are D-Rank Hunters, aren’t you? Will they let you join the party?”

“There’s a way.”

I explained part of my plan to Marcel.

“Hmm, will that be enough to convince them?”

“It’ll be plenty. Besides, I’m somewhat acquainted with one of their guild members.”

That slit-eyed bastard I ran into after the last Rank Advancement Exam, and the woman beside him.

More than a month had passed, but I didn’t think those two had forgotten me.

“Then there shouldn’t be a problem. Understood. I’ll head to the reception desk, so please wait a moment.”

With that, Marcel headed toward the reception counter.

It didn’t take long for him to return.

“Let’s go. To the Crescent Guild House.”

* * *

Crescent.

One of the most famous Five Great Guilds in the country.

It’s smaller than the other four guilds and has fewer affiliated Hunters, but even so, no guild dares to underestimate Crescent.

In fact, the other Five Great Guilds probably see it as the most troublesome one.

The reason for that is—

Crescent means “crescent moon” in English.

What that means is, the strongest Hunter of this era—

Moonlight, “Ludwig Light,” is a member of Crescent.

The reason he earned the alias Moonlight isn’t anything special—it’s simply because the guild he belongs to is Crescent.

However, it’s said that Ludwig has never shown his face at the guild house, to the point where people wonder if he’s really a Crescent member at all.

Even the Crescent Guild Master reportedly doesn’t know where Ludwig is or what he’s doing, and can’t control him either.

Still, they say he appears for Crescent in times of crisis…

I don’t know how much of that is true, but judging from these fragments…

Maybe that monster—an S-Rank Hunter, the world’s strongest, the one who carved up the Black Moon Apollo, the boss of Dark Moon—is actually somewhere living a leisurely life.

And then, when the guild faces a crisis, he shows up with a ta-da.

‘What a cool bastard.’

It really stokes a man’s sense of romance.

I wanted to be like that too, you know.

‘One day, I’ll reach him.’

One of my goals when I was Verdiol was to make Ludwig take notice of me.

Ever since we crossed paths in Dark Moon, that goal has become a work in progress again.

* * *

“So this is Crescent’s guild house…”

Deneb murmured, looking amazed.

And that was understandable—I felt the same way.

It had been quite a while since I possessed this world, but the unfamiliar scenery caught me off guard.

Crescent’s guild house was a massive castle with an overall purple hue, steeped in Eastern aesthetics and an antique atmosphere.

At the center of the castle was the moon emblem, Crescent’s guild mark, with cherry blossom trees flanking both sides, giving it a sense of blending with nature.

As expected of one of the Five Great Guilds—they sure use an incredible building.

“Someone will come to greet us shortly.”

Marcel, who had spoken with a man who looked like a guard by the Gate, turned back and said.

True to Marcel’s words, we had been waiting at the entrance for about five minutes.

*CLANG—!*

The castle Gate opened, and a man appeared from inside.

“Sorry for the wait. Um… I apologize, but which one of you is Mr. Marcel?”

“That would be me.”

Marcel raised his hand in answer to the man’s question.

“Then the two behind you…”

“They’re my porters.”

The plan I’d told Marcel about.

It was to bring me and Deneb along as porters.

‘An S-Rank Hunter playing porter—absurd as it sounds.’

Never thought the day would come when I’d volunteer to be a porter myself.

It felt humiliating, but considering the gains from this job, I could bear it.

The difficulty of a B-Rank Gate—the entry point to High-Rank Gates—and a C-Rank Gate, one step below, is more than heaven and earth apart, just like the Hunters themselves.

The Association didn’t split them into Higher and Lower Ranks for nothing.

The difference in profit is enormous too.

The earnings from a B-Rank are a whopping ten times more than a C-Rank.

So even if I have to endure the humiliation of being called a porter, I have no choice but to jump in.

“As I informed you in advance, we can only allocate the allowance to you, Hunter. Is that still alright?”

At the man’s words, Marcel glanced at me for my cue, and I subtly nodded.

“Yes, no problem.”

“Understood. This way, please.”

We followed the guide into the castle. The outside scenery was beautiful, but the inside was even more stunning. With maintenance this meticulous, they must have a top-tier gardener on staff.

Once inside, the man led us to a guest room.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

The man left the room, and the three of us exchanged glances.

Step one was a success.

Even splitting the profits, a B-Rank Gate’s earnings are over ten times that of a C-Rank.

Even splitting it evenly among the three of us, it’d be more profitable than closing three C-Rank Gates.

Still, one thing worried me: Marcel’s face looked a bit stiffer than usual.

Well, it made sense—he was nervous about coming back to a place he’d avoided out of fear.

“It’s alright, Mr. Marcel.”

I whispered quietly to Marcel, making sure it didn’t carry outside.

“If anything happens, I’ll step in.”

“Well… thank you.”

Marcel let out a hollow laugh, then bowed his head with a slightly relaxed expression.

“I-I’m nervous too, Ms. Verdi. A High-Rank Gate…”

Just as I’d calmed Marcel down, Deneb whispered to me in a trembling voice.

Tch, what a pair of burdens. Don’t worry. Your hyung here will sort it out.

…Ah, I’m not anyone’s hyung anymore, am I?

“It’s alri—”

[ That fer real?! ]

I was about to say something to reassure Deneb.

The hallway outside grew noisy. Someone coming?

[ I have to meet them right now! ]

[ Wait a moment, Sir Hames! Those people are— ]

…Hames?

The name rang a bell, and just as I was wondering, *BAM!* The door burst open with a violent sound.

“Nice to meet ya! I’m Hames of Crescent!”

A face I remembered but never wanted to see again appeared.

“Just as I thought! I knew we’d meet again!”

As he swept his gaze over our faces, his eyes met mine and he widened them.

“The genius pretty girl, Yoschua Verdi!”

‘No, what the hell is he saying.’

I felt my face flush hot at his words. Even I was embarrassed hearing that.

“And you… Marcel the Deserter?”

Wow, this bastard doesn’t hold back. Calling someone a derogatory name right to their face.

Hames, who’d locked eyes with Marcel, showed a completely opposite attitude from how he’d treated me.

His face was properly scrunched up, like he was looking at a pest.

That expression overlapped with my past self.

I used to sneer without mercy at people I didn’t like too.

Marcel’s gaze quietly fixed on Hames.

Then a small smile formed at the corner of Marcel’s lips.

Was he used to this kind of treatment?

Or had his pride taken a big hit from the last defeat?

I expected Marcel to get angry, but surprisingly, his demeanor was calm.

“Sir Hames, that’s rude in front of someone.”

The awkward silence was broken by a woman’s voice as she entered behind him.

I turned my head toward the entrance where the voice came from and saw a familiar face.

I couldn’t remember her name, but she was the woman who’d been beside Hames back then.

“Our Hames here spoke out of turn. Allow me to apologize on his behalf.”

The woman bowed her head and apologized.

Whether she’d sucked up all the manners that squinty-eyed bastard was missing, her attitude was remarkably polite.

“Out of turn? That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it, Glare?”

Ah, right. So her name was Glare.

“Because Sir Hames was the one who first said something to make the other party uncomfortable. Sir Marcel is an A-Rank Hunter, just like you, Sir Hames. Please be more careful with your words and actions.”

“Aw, come on, you know it too, man. He only does Low-Rank Gates and porter work.”

“…Sir Hames.”

Glare fixed Hames with a cold stare.

“Alright, alright! I… I’m sorry. That was out of line.”

Seeming to admit defeat, Hames waved a hand and then apologized to Marcel.

“It’s fine.”

Marcel brushed it off coolly, though his attitude suggested he had no choice. Yeah, as long as you don’t get riled up, you win this one, Marcel!

“So, what brings you here?”

“We came about the B-Rank Gate that opened recently. The mercenary posting.”

The man in the training uniform who had guided us answered on our behalf.

“That fer real?! Mr. Marcel, ya mean the High-Rank Gate is—”

“That’s right.”

Cutting off Hames, who was speaking with a shocked expression, Marcel continued.

“The B-Rank Gate that Crescent posted on the mercenary recruitment board. I came to join that Gate as a mercenary.”

The nervousness from a moment ago was gone, and Marcel’s posture as he spoke radiated confidence.

After finishing, Marcel’s gaze turned to me. What, did he want praise or something?

*‘Alright, I’ll give it to you.’*

I gave Marcel a little wink, meaning ‘good job.’