Zich left the tent. A chilly air flowed inside the tent, and an atmosphere frosty enough to pierce dwellers swept them. Zich remained unconcerned even when his words had been the cause.
‘I’m hungry. I wonder what I should eat for dinner,’ he simply thought. A worry that most people would have laughed at was Zich’s current greatest worry. At that moment, someone went outside the tent. It was Max.
“Let’s go, Sir Zich. I will guide you to the castle walls.”
Zich was about to refuse him when he realized Max’s goal. ‘He’s trying to avoid any forms of conflict.’
If Zich clashed with the mercenaries before he left the camp, it was hard to tell what would happen. There would be many losses, and Zich wasn’t an ordinary person—he was a Karuwiman Honorary Holy Knight. Besides, Max had good reason to be worried since his subordinates had caused a string of troubles recently.
“I will accept your guidance with gratitude.” Max looked relieved by Zich’s words.
“Then, let us go,” Max said.
Zich and Max began to leave the camp, and no mercenaries approached them. Although there were some mercenaries who lingered around to look at Zich with curiosity, they quickly turned away after receiving a stern look from Max. In the meantime, Max asked Zich about many matters. It was just chit-chat with no important content, intended to decrease the awkwardness between them and make them friendlier toward one another. About the time when Zich and Max reached the camp’s entrance, somebody approached them.
‘…A child?’
Two children, unbefitting of the mercenaries’ campsite that reeked of blood and metal, were following a mercenary into the campsite the boy and girl looked to be about six or seven. No matter how much experience he had gathered, the only thing Zich could think of was human trafficking; that was how much the children looked ill-fitting in the mercenaries’ camp. Yet, thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“Mr. Max!”
“Max!”
The two children separated from the mercenary and ran to Max. His was scary enough to make even smiling children burst into tears, yet the children ran towards him gleefully while calling his name. It seemed like they were considerably close. Contrasting the solemn expression he had been wearing the whole time, Max broke into a wide smile. Yet, the muscles on his face twitched and the scar on his cheeks wiggled like worms. Unintentionally, his face became even more fearsome-looking, even more so as torches in their path cast deep shadows on his face. Yet, the children seemed completely unbothered by Max’s scary face.
“Oh my! It’s Walter and Ellie! Why are you guys here so late?”
“We came to see Dad!”
“Yes!”
“Hmm, still, isn’t it a bit too late right now? It worries me very much if you guys wander outside the city so late.”
The city walls were already closed at this time. The children had been able to get out because the guards knew that they were connected to the mercenaries—it was the same as the reason why Zich was able to go beyond the city’s walls at this time.
“B-But it’s been a long time since we last saw Dad!”
“Yeah!”
The boy voiced his opinions strongly while stuttering. The girl nodded her head aggressively beside him. With an uneasy expression, Max looked at the mercenary who brought the children. The mercenary shrugged his shoulders and said, “What can we do, sir? Captain and Sir Nick have left the camp for many days. Even if it’s a bit late, we should let them meet their dads at times like this.”
“He’s right!”
“Yeah! Yeah!”
The children cried loudly and nodded energetically. The mercenary guiding them smiled lovingly at these children and whispered quietly to Max. Of course, Zich could hear everything he said.
“Based on the atmosphere, it seems like the two will butt heads again. I don’t know about other times, but right now, we have an important guest with us. I knew they both wouldn’t fight in front of the children, so I quickly grabbed them.”
“Hmm. But this won’t resolve the disagreement between the two.”
“Who said this would solve it? If this problem were to get resolved after a big fight, I would have given each of the weapons and told them to try it ages ago. Seeing those two, it’s obvious that emotions are going to fly again, and they would make no progress with their relationship. It’s better to bring the children and overcome the immediate danger. I’m sure the two will calm down once the next day arrives.”
Max looked at the two children. Two pairs of gleaming eyes stared back at him, and Max let out a small sigh before he tapped on the mercenary’s shoulder.
“I got it. Take them and go.”
“Yes, sir!” the mercenary said and placed his hands on the children’s backs. “Okay, then, let’s go meet your dads.”
“Yup! Bye Mr. Max!”
“Bye!”
The two children waved their hands as they went inside the camp. The mercenary with them bowed their heads slightly at Zich and Max and followed the children. Max stared at them until the children disappeared into the camp.
“My apologies, sir. I said I would guide you, but I made you wait.”
“It’s fine, sir. It’s surprising to see children on the mercenaries’ campgrounds.”
“Yes, it’s very unfitting, right sir?”
“To tell you the truth, yes.”
Max made a bitter smile. “They are the captain and vice-captain’s children.” Zich had thought so while listening to their conversation. Therefore, the two began to walk towards Pialu’s city walls again.
“The boy is the captain’s son while the girl is the vice-captain, Nick’s daughter.”
“Unlike their fathers, the two seem quite close. Thank goodness for that. Children should grow brightly without fighting since that’s what they would have to do without wanting to when they grow up.” Then, Max sighed and said, “Their relationship wasn’t always so bad. Instead, it was the opposite. After all, they started the Wolf’s Canine and I actually joined and got promoted as the group got larger.”
Like this, Max began explaining the situation in the Wolf’s Canine. Even though it was not a subject matter to tell an outsider, it seemed as if he wanted to complain to someone. Zich’s status as a Karuwiman Honorary Knight also played a large part.
“Both of them are very skilled and the captain’s skills are extremely terrifying. Most knights won’t stand a chance against him.”
‘That’s probably true.’
Til had been part of Zich Brave’s team, which was full of highly skilled talents, and Zich also predicted that he was probably one of the three Demon Lords that made the world tremble in fear.
“Vice-captain Nick is also very skilled even though he is not as strong as the captain. Moreover, his ability to manage the mercenary group is extremely high.”
‘The captain is in charge of the strength department and the vice-captain takes care of the internal matters. The balance is good.’
This was probably how they were able to raise the Wolf’s Canine to 500 people.
“Moreover, their relationship is also very special because they share similar circumstances.”
“Is it related to those children?”
“Yes. They both gained children and lost their wives at around the same time. However, considering that their only education was basically just how to fight and use swords, what could those two do to take care of their children? Moreover, since they didn’t want to get married again or leave their children to other people, they decided to just bring around their children while beginning their mercenary careers.”
“Isn’t that a bit ridiculous?”
“Of course, it’s absurd! Honestly, when I first joined this mercenary group, I thought it was completely ridiculous! A mercenary group with children. I’m sure it’s not good for the children’s education at all!”
After this, Max continued to murmur insults towards Til and Nick to Zich. However, they were not insults that showed any real hatred. His words were closer to a family member worrying about the circumstances of another family member.
‘He has a lot of affection for Til and Nick.’
However, why did a mercenary group like that become like this? Zich was able to soon find the reason.
“Everything went to hell when the captain and vice captain’s opinions began to clash.” Max’s eyes let out a melancholy light.
* * *
After Zich left, Til and Nick didn’t talk for a while. A heavy atmosphere filled the insides of the tent. As soon as someone opened their mouth, it seemed as if their anger towards each other would burst forth all at once. However, as soon as they felt two small presences come inside the tent, the tension loosened up.
“Dad!”
“It’s Dad!”
Walter and Ellie burst into the tent and jumped into their dads’ arms.
“Ooph!”
“Oh no! You have to be careful!”
Walter and Ellie acted childish in front of their dads, but soon, their gazes moved towards their ‘friend’s dads’.
“Hello, Mr. Nick!”
“Hello, Mr. Til!”
Walter and Ellie were the children of people they had ill feelings for. Even if they were kids, people might have worried that Til or Nick would look at them with unkind eyes. However, Til and Nick made a big smile and accepted the children’s greetings.
“Yep, Walter. Were you energetic today as well?”
“Yes, Ellie. Let’s go eat something delicious together next time.”
The mercenaries Til and Nick that looked like mercenaries meeting their enemies in battle just a moment ago were nowhere to be found, and they treated the children like nice and caring fathers. Seeing this sight, the mercenary who brought Walter and Ellie smiled in relief. He had put out an immediate fire, and now, even if the children left, a large fight would not erupt between them.
Til and Nick spent some time with their kids. However, since it was late, the children soon became sleepy. Before they completely fell asleep, Til and Nick quickly called their underlings and ordered them to return the children to lodging inside the city. Since they both realized their underling’s intentions of bringing the kids in when there was a tense atmosphere between them, Nick and Til glared at their underling. However, since the mercenary had also worked under them for a long time and was skilled at dealing with them, he was able to avoid their sharp gaze with a whistle and returned back to the city with the children.
“Seriously, that guy is so…” Nick let out a sigh and complained about the underling that went out with the children.
Til also shared the same sentiment. “He definitely did this on purpose.”
“I agree.”
Even though they were formally captain and vice-captain of Wolf’s Canine, they were friends personally. So, they dropped honorifics when they were alone. Of course, their relationship right now was too strained to be called friendship.
“Ah, I’ve lost my motivation. I’m going to get up now.” Nick got up and walked out of the tent. Til also felt the same, so he didn’t want to fight. However, as the captain, he needed to say what needed to be said.
“We still need to solve today’s matter.”
Nick immediately halted. “Did I not tell you that I’ve lost my motivation?”
“We can’t take care of matters here with just your motivation. I told you before, but we don’t need underlings we can’t control. If things like this keep happening, I’m going to send those guys away.”
Nick let out a deep sigh. Then, he turned his body around and stared at Til—no, he glared at him.
“Hey, Captain.” Even though they were alone, Nick called him by his title rather than his name. “We’re mercenaries. How long will you live such a strict life that even knights don’t follow? Conflicts like this always happen among mercenaries. Even though the new guys lack integrity, their skills are good enough. When did a job as a mercenary also consider people’s day-to-day activities? Don’t they need to be just good at the jobs they’re given?”
“It’s because problems are arising while they’re carrying out orders.”
“Other mercenaries also commit those acts. Even the people who hire us consider those factors as expected occurrences when hiring mercenaries!”
Their gazes sharply met again.
“…Let’s stop. My good mood from seeing the kids is going to get ruined. It must be the same for you.” Nick turned his body again, but he heard Til’s voice from his behind.
“Let’s not become embarrassing dads for our kids. That was what we swore when we founded Wolf’s Canine, Nick.”
“…Was it to not become embarrassing dads for our kids? Yes, it was like that back then.” Nick spoke with a slightly sentimental tone, but his next words no longer held any sentimental feelings; instead, they carried a firm mindset.
“Til, even if I become embarrassed about myself, it’s also a father’s way to give more things to their child. If our mercenary group grows bigger, we’ll be able to receive more requests and obtain more money. Then, we’ll be able to do more things for our children.”
Nick then exited the tent. Like this, their fight ended with no results again. At a certain point in time, their differing opinions continued to run parallel to each other.