Chapter 89 – Mercenaries

There was a mix of sorcerers and mages, with ranks from 0 to 6. In front of the entrance was a reception with a desk manned by a young man. I made my way to him.

"Welcome. How can I help you?"

I had already noticed the person I was looking for but decided it was better to ask for her from here.

"Hello. I'm looking for someone called Selva."

"Rank 2 sorceress, rhinoceros?"

"That's her."

"She's right there. You can speak to her directly."

He pointed toward one side of the training hall, where Selva was practicing her hand-to-hand combat moves alone.

"Thank you."

I moved toward her, attracting the attention of a few other people on my way. When I was close enough, she stopped her moves and turned toward me with a questioning face.

"It's been a while, great sorceress Selva. I'm glad to see you again."

"Who are you?"

This wasn't unexpected and I answered without missing a beat.

"I'm the merchant you escorted from the dome to Geola."

She looked like she had no idea what I was talking about so I added some more details.

"Around two weeks ago, you were in the middle of destroying the dome when we met. I asked you to escort me to the closest city. On the way, we met some bandits whom you beautifully massacred. You unfortunately sustained an injury to your head, right here."

I pointed at the place which still had a very small scar and she seemed to finally get it.

"Ah… Yes, I remember now."

"I'm still grateful for escorting and saving me from the bandits."

"It's fine. Did you only come here for that?"

"No, I…"

At that moment, I sensed rapid movement coming my way from the side. When I looked at it, I saw a flying subspecies rushing toward me with a large grin on her face.

Object: flying woman of whatever species.

Wealth level: wearing the standard martial outfit of this place. Possessions unknown. Living quarters of unknown value. Wealth is impossible to quantify.

Power level: amount of sel in her body: 6999, rank 6 stuck in front of the wall, lightning affinity. Muscle power: maybe 30. Estimated to be a lightning sorceress. Adding muscles multiplier for being a sorcerer: +300 to power level score. Adding a two-factor multiplier to account for hidden moves and trump cards. Estimated maximum power level at 14 598: can handle most everything. Harmful potential: slightly dangerous.

The design of her martial outfit was similar to the one everyone else was wearing here but it was cut short in several places, like around her legs and arms. There were also changes to adjust for her species, like holes in the back to allow her wings to pass through. Her head’s feathers were white while the rest of her body was dark-brown colored. In terms of height, she was maybe around two-thirds of my size.

I only sensed playfulness and curiosity from her, without any hostility or malice, and I didn't put myself on guard against her.

As if it was the most normal thing in the world, she flew over me and landed on my shoulders, her legs leaning on my torso and her body behind my head. I could feel her soft leg feathers rubbing against my cheeks, which wasn't an unpleasant feeling.

"Who are you?"

She asked with a high-pitched tone characteristic of flying species. I let her stay on me for now while Selva responded in my stead.

"Master, you should stop climbing over strangers' shoulders."

"Kahahah! It's fine! Look, he doesn't mind!"

They watched me, one in front of me and the other looking down from her VIP position.

"I don't mind. You can stay as long as you want, master."

It was something I often witnessed in Geola. Flying species tended to strive to stay higher than other people. Whenever they didn't fly to achieve that purpose, they would stay on the tallest person's head or shoulders. That was also the reason why they mostly lived in flying buildings, far above the rest of the species.

"Why are you calling me master?"

"You're the master of the one who helped me and saved my life so you're obviously my master too."

The two women were startled before the one on my head laughed again.

"Kahahah! You're funny! I got a new disciple today!"

"Master, I'm your only disciple."

"Not anymore!"

This made Selva sigh while my new master turned her attention back to me.

"So, who are you?"

"My name is Tila Urtek. I'm a merchant in Geola. May I ask for your name, master?"

"I'm Wico Blynt! Strongest in the world!"

She flew a bit to show me her back. There was indeed a very explicit stylized "World's Strongest" written on the back of her martial outfit. This didn't leave much to the imagination. I now knew why her disciple was calling herself the future strongest in the world. It was a disease inherited from master to disciple.

"Wow. I'm so glad my master is such an amazing person. Thank you for taking me in."

"Kahahah! Don't fret it, don't fret it! It's no problem!"

She laughed some more until Selva resumed the conversation.

"So, why are you here today?"

"On top of thanking you for last time, I…"

We were immediately interrupted by Wico.

"Last time?"

"Yes, my fellow disciple Selva escorted me to Geola when I was lost, around two weeks ago. She also saved my life by protecting me from bandits. As expected of master's disciple, she was splendid."

"Oh! You did that, Selva?"

"You didn't know?"

"No, that stupid disciple escaped from here one day and only came back four days later without saying anything."

"You're the stupid one, master."

"Kahahah! It takes one to know one!"

"I'd never be as stupid as you, master!"

They argued like that for a while and I had no way to escape the very low-level insult fight since one of them was on my shoulders. Eventually, there was a break in their silly argument and I inserted some words in a hurry.

"The second reason I came here was to find mercenaries to escort me to Makji."

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