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Chapter 50
Startled, he ignored even his younger sister who had returned after two years and grabbed Nibelia, demanding the source of that terrible word.
“Uh… where did you hear the word ‘mating’?”
“Long, long ago.”
“Long ago… when? Who?”
“When Nini was a cat!”
While this fruitless interrogation continued…
“Hmm, shall we head into the mansion?”
“I have to go with the lady.”
“That guy… he’s filled with knightly spirit to the core. Then, would you like to hear the Mercenary King’s story for a bit?”
“Yes!”
Armifera told Aref about her adventures.
She started from her struggles when first joining the mercenary group, then to exploring the final dragon’s lair, the internal factions that fought among the members, and even the time she nearly lost one of her eyes.
As Aref listened, his face shifted from excitement to horror.
The raw adventure tales were brutal and terrifying.
Aref, secretly expecting a story of fairy-tale heroes, was shocked.
Particularly, when she recounted injuring her eye, he covered one of his own eyes as if he himself had been hurt that way.
“Ah… did it not hurt?”
“It hurt like hell.”
Armifera proudly pointed to her scarred left eye.
“But only my skin was scratched, and the traitor who attacked me… his eye…”
“Armifera!”
A sharp shout came from the second-floor window.
Startled, Aref looked up.
Through the wide-open window was Muniel.
She glared at Armifera with her fierce eyes, seemingly not even noticing Nibelia or Aref.
“Muniel…?”
“Oh no…”
Meanwhile, Armifera’s expression twisted as if she were doomed.
“I forgot about Mom.”
Even the world’s Mercenary King was just a child in front of her mother.
“Are you out of your mind? Not a single word in two years? You have to rot my heart to feel relieved, huh?”
“Ouch! Mom, that hurts!”
Smack, smack!
The relentless sound of blows showed no sign of stopping.
Aref could hardly believe what he was seeing.
“Mu… Muniel…!”
The woman who always maintained a gentle smile, whose hands were always warm and kind…
Muniel, nearly furious, struck her daughter’s back after two years of absence.
Her wrist movements were so strong one could imagine how she fought in the war forty years ago.
“Mom! It hurts!”
Finally unable to bear it, Armifera fled and scooped up Aref nearby to use him as a shield.
Aref’s eyes widened.
“Nice! Nini, you get to do it too!”
Nibelia whined, holding Armifera’s leg, asking to join in.
Considering the situation, Seletina separated the children a little to give space.
“Mom, calm down a little!”
Armifera had something to say as well.
“No news is good news. We came back in one piece with all our limbs intact!”
“Is that what you say with your mouth? And what’s with your eye?”
“Cool, right? This happened during the semifinals of the Mercenary King selection tournament…”
“Hey!”
Muniel was seething inside.
After all the trouble of giving birth and raising her, her daughter’s natural audacity, showing no regard for her own body, was frustrating.
“Fera.”
Ardores, who had been silently watching, spoke.
“Muniel worried a lot about you.”
His stern voice was heavier than usual.
Of course, he had worried about his missing daughter.
He knew she wasn’t someone who could be easily harmed.
Yet, no matter how strong and grown-up a child, a parent worries when they’re out of sight.
“…”
Finally, reflection and regret crossed Armifera’s face.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have come…”
Her kind of regret was slightly different from what her parents expected.
But soon, she corrected her mind and gently set Aref, whom she had been holding as a shield, down.
Aref, finally regaining his composure, lightly touched her hand.
“Well, if you did something wrong, you should apologize.”
He taught her something important she had learned at the kindergarten and now at the Deiamor mansion.
“If Lady Armifera does something wrong, it’s right to apologize.”
“Sigh… you’re better than me.”
His rough hand ruffled the girl’s fine blonde hair.
Aref lightly pressed her head down with his hand, then hurried to where Nibelia was.
“Mom.”
With determination, Armifera faced Muniel.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For not contacting you properly. At least I should’ve kept in touch. And for not taking care of my body.”
“…”
Of course, a few words of apology wouldn’t erase her anger immediately.
But Muniel finally embraced Armifera after letting out a long, heavy sigh.
“As long as you’re safe. From now on, keep in touch on time.”
“Yes, Mom.”
At last, the two mother and daughter hugged tightly.
Muniel carefully caressed Armifera’s sun-tanned face.
“It’s really nice to see you after so long.”
“Hehe, right?”
“Don’t smile foolishly. You look silly.”
“Still, do it in front of the kids, keep some dignity.”
Armifera also greeted Ardores.
He lifted his grown daughter and spun her around.
Even the reckless Mercenary King who had run away was still his small, beloved youngest daughter.
“But, Fera.”
“Yes, Dad.”
“What about my greatsword?”
“Better than losing my arm, right?”
Armifera gave a bright smile, hinting at the fate of the sword.
Knowing the greatsword had crossed a river from which it couldn’t return, Ardores felt a pang in his heart.
Fortunately, the broken greatsword was currently under repair.
“There’s a skilled blacksmith in the Latro district. His name is Malleus, and he knew it was Dad’s sword.”
“Oh, that guy went to the mercenary base.”
“I said it was Dad’s sword, so he offered to fix it for free. But I gave him plenty of money anyway—it wouldn’t be polite otherwise.”
After greeting her parents, Armifera inquired about her brother and his family, catching up on what she had missed.
“Wow, you haven’t changed much, brother?”
“Do you really think saying that makes it happen?”
“Doesn’t matter! Ah, Selly! Long time no see! You haven’t changed at all.”
“Lady, I’m glad you returned safely. You look stronger than before. Did you really become the Mercenary King?”
Seletina was genuinely happy as if it were her own achievement.
Armifera beamed.
“Of course! It took six years, but I finally achieved my dream!”
The only one able to control uncontrollable mercenaries.
All mercenaries in the world must obey her commands instantly, and anyone who disobeys is summarily executed in the name of the Mercenary King.
The Mercenary King’s authority rivaled the power of most nations.
“So I’ll rest for a while. Six years of non-stop work left my whole body sore.”
“You’ll stay here then?”
“Just for a bit. Even as the Mercenary King, there’s work to do. I have plans…”
“Understood.”
Kaleo interjected.
He carefully inspected his sister from head to toe.
“First, take a proper bath.”
Only then did everyone notice Armifera’s disheveled state.
After a refreshing bath, Armifera wore a loose shirt and cotton pants.
Her shoes were replaced with sandals that exposed her toes.
“Nini has these too!”
Nibelia chirped, pointing at Armifera’s shoes.
“Shoes where your toes are free. But dirt and grass get in when running.”
“You like sandals, Nini?”
“Sandals?”
“Shoes that show your toes like this are called sandals.”
“Hmm, so-so.”
Nibelia, Aref, and Solace stayed close to Armifera.
It had been two years since they saw their aunt.
And she had returned as the Mercenary King.
Everything she brought was fascinating, and her stories, though a bit cruel, were very interesting.
“Wow, Solace, you’ve grown so much!”
Of course, Armifera also marveled at her young nieces and nephews.
“You’ve grown a lot since last time. Wow, looking at your hands and feet, you’ll be as big as your dad and grandpa.”
“Really?”
Solace’s eyes sparkled.
“Especially the feet. Big feet mean fast growth. Look at wild beasts. Wolves or tigers—creatures with big paws grow huge.”
“Wow…!”
Solace imagined herself growing into an adult.
She hoped her height would increase rapidly, just as Armifera said.
“By the way, Aref, your hands are big too. Solid bones.”
“The Duke told me the same thing before.”
Hearing the same words again, Aref believed once more he would grow tall.
“Huh? Duke? Ralph?”
“Ralph?”
Nibelia fiddled with her hand, muttering to herself.
“Callarov. Ralph. Duke Deigladis.”
Remembering the neighbor, Nibelia nodded.
“Ah, that guy with the messy legs?”
“Where do kids learn these words? Funny kid.”
“Here and there.”
Armifera chuckled briefly and dumped her bag on the floor.
“You’ve been curious about my stuff, haven’t you?”
Her eyes had been sparkling since earlier.
