Chapter 157 - Messenger from the North
Today, my schedule was unusually packed. Usually, I delegate most of the tedious tasks to the vice-commander, the acting vice-commander, or the Secretariat members, acting on my behalf as the president. Being too accessible can make people take you for granted, especially in a female-led organization like ours. So, I often keep a low profile.
Of course, I step up when necessary, but most of the time, it’s not essential that I personally handle things. Sometimes, maintaining a bit of mystery is beneficial.
However, there are times when I can’t avoid it.
For example, when everyone else’s schedules are booked solid, and I’m the only one free. Or when someone specifically requests a meeting with me, and I can’t turn them down.
That’s what happened today. Several such requests piled up.
After dealing with a few appointments, it was time for the main event of the day—a meeting with someone who piqued my interest.
"Onee-sama, let’s go grab some lunch after this," Valeria said.
"...You’ve got to be kidding. I’m glad I’m in the Combat Unit."
My companions were Valeria, who was acting as my bodyguard, and Angelina, who was on vacation. Valeria, with her delicate features, doesn’t look like a bodyguard at first glance. This can be a double-edged sword depending on the situation, so I brought the intimidating Angelina along, too. It’s good to mix things up.
Today, Valeria was wearing a moon-white duffle coat, a high-neck sweater, and short gauchos, paired with her favorite red boots. She looks so cute that no one would ever guess she’s a bodyguard. The contrast between her appearance and combat prowess is striking.
Angelina, the intimidating one, wore a jet-black mod coat with loose riding pants and combat boots. The overall silhouette resembles a military uniform, and she pulls it off beautifully.
As for me, I wore a long moon-white trench coat, black innerwear, a long skirt, and short boots. I also wore teardrop sunglasses to complete the look. I hope it gives off a boss-like vibe.
Our meeting point was a lodging near the Central Plaza. It’s a fairly high-end place.
Angelina drove us there, and we talked along the way.
"What kind of person are we meeting?" Angelina asked.
"A mercenary. More specifically, a female leader of a mercenary company. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?"
"Huh, didn’t know such a group existed. Unheard of in my day."
Angelina used to be a mercenary, so she knows the ropes. Female mercenaries are rare, and a female-led mercenary company is even rarer.
"I hope they’re not just a bunch of wannabe mercenaries. I don’t want to waste Onee-sama’s time."
Anyone can call themselves a mercenary, but that doesn’t mean they have the credentials or the skills.
"I agree. It would be a shame if they’re not interesting, but we won’t know until we meet them."
This meeting was requested by the other party, specifically asking to speak with me, the president. I usually don’t indulge every request, but I have to be selective.
Lately, more and more people want to meet me, and the numbers keep growing. I can’t meet everyone, and I don’t want to. I dislike tedious and boring tasks.
But today’s meeting is with a particularly intriguing group.
A female-led mercenary company is already a rarity. On top of that, they’re seeking an audience with our Kikyo Society.
Their intentions are unclear, but if they join us, they could be a valuable asset. Even if they’re not quite ready, we can always train them. I’m always on the lookout for new members, so I’m not too picky.
We arrived at the lodging, and we headed to the designated meeting room, passing through the lobby. I’m not a fan of public discussions, but I’m not bothered by it. If there’s a trap, so be it.
Angelina led the way, followed by me, and Valeria brought up the rear.
We reached a secluded room, where two armored women stood guard, looking like sentinels.
"...It’s the Kikyo Society. We’ve brought the president."
As we approached, the imposing Angelina surveyed the guards with an intimidating presence. Her attitude isn’t exactly friendly, but that’s the point. These are warriors, and it’s important to establish who’s in charge right from the start.
The guards were overwhelmed by Angelina’s powerful magic and aura.
"Hurry up. The president is busy," Angelina commanded.
The guard snapped to attention and called out to the room.
"Captain! The Kikyo Society has arrived!"
Hmph, they seem to have at least some manners.
We entered the room without hesitation. The spacious room was lined with mercenaries, all wearing red armor. Unlike the Crimson Knights, who use high-quality Carmine Ore, their armor is mostly just painted red. The materials and designs are varied, but they still manage to maintain a cohesive look. The disciplined atmosphere makes them seem more like a knight’s order than a mercenary company.
Their formation is impressive, but it doesn’t faze us. We surveyed the room with a calm demeanor.
The only person seated at the conference table was a surprisingly slender woman, who didn’t look like a mercenary at first glance. However, her well-worn equipment and visible Physical Enhancement Magic clearly indicated her prowess.
Interesting, she doesn’t fit the typical mercenary stereotype, but she seems competent. My first impression is good.
Our other ex-mercenary, Zenobia, is a reliable older sister type, while this one seems more like a diligent younger sister. She even has a ‘class president’ vibe, though she isn’t wearing glasses.
She confidently approached us, standing tall and delivering a proper greeting.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Ingrid West, leader of the Rose Madder Mercenary Corps."
She speaks with a class president-like tone, not at all what I’d expect from a mercenary.
Indeed, Rose Madder. They must be named after the crimson flower. That explains the red theme.
"So, you’re Ingrid, the captain. I’m Shinogami of the Kikyo Society."
"You are..."
Never mind, it’s fine.
We exchanged names while standing, and then we were offered chairs and tea. This level of hospitality isn’t typical for mercenaries.
From what I can tell, this captain and her team seem quite solid. Mercenaries are often stereotyped as easily swayed by money and prone to violence, but in reality, they’re not much different from adventurers.
Mercenary work ranges from participating in wars to hunting bandits, defending strongholds, and providing security for VIPs. They sometimes join monster hunts, and their roles often overlap with adventurers, but their primary focus is combat.
Trust is crucial in this line of work, as they always have an employer. Those with bad reputations or lacking skills are naturally weeded out. Mercenaries who manage to stay in the business for a long time tend to be more reliable.
So, how do these people measure up? I have no prior information, so I’ll have to judge them on the spot.
I didn’t come here for small talk, so I’ll get straight to the point. They approached us knowing about us, so there’s no need for formalities. First, I need to learn more about the Rose Madder Mercenary Corps. Personal claims alone aren’t enough to verify their credentials.
With Angelina and Valeria standing guard, I initiated the conversation while keeping my sunglasses on.
"Let’s get to the point. I’d like to know more about you. Before we get to your purpose, can you tell me more about the Rose Madder Mercenary Corps? Your group isn’t well-known in this city, so I’d appreciate the details."
"Of course. We are known in the eastern region of Donditch, but we don’t expect our reputation to reach this far."
She humbly adjusted her posture and began her explanation.
"The Rose Madder Mercenary Corps is employed by the frontier baron of southeastern Donditch. Our task is to repel Retnark’s advances. We’ve been contracted for about a year, and we formed our company shortly before this job. We’re here to find new work due to changing circumstances."
I see, they’ve been working for a year, and they’ve managed to hold their ground. A year is a long time in this world, and it’s a significant achievement. Given that their employer is a noble, it’s easy to verify. Lying about a noble’s name could lead to trouble, so I’ll assume they’re telling the truth.
"Let me confirm this."
She casually showed me a short dagger with a crest. It looks authentic, but I’m not an expert on noble crests. It’s well-made, so I’ll take it at face value.
So, Retnark has been active in Donditch.
Donditch is a major power north of Brenark and Retnark. It’s a country with little interest in foreign affairs, so we’ve never had any significant interactions. I’ve never heard much about it, nor have I been particularly interested. I didn’t think we’d have any dealings with them.
This meeting is turning out to be more interesting than I expected. I thought they wanted to join our Kikyo Society or be hired by us, but it seems they’re here for a different reason. We’ll get to the main point later.
"What about your combat record?"
I’m curious about their experience. Even if they have a contract to repel an invasion, they might not have seen much action if the enemy never attacked their area. Their primary task is defense, after all.
"We’ve participated in two major invasions and have experienced over a dozen skirmishes. Our expertise lies in magical attacks and support, and we take pride in our contributions to the frontier baron’s defense."
Surprisingly, they’ve seen a lot of action. A year’s worth of experience is impressive. And magic, huh?
"Your combat record is solid. One more question: What about the armor? It looks like you’re designed for close combat."
I want to know about their combat style. It’s rare for a mercenary company to specialize in magic, especially as a group. Individual members might be skilled, but it’s unusual for the whole group to be proficient.
Ingrid’s serious class president face took on a slightly mischievous tone as she answered.
"To be honest, it’s a bluff. The armor is designed to enhance physical defenses in long-range combat, but the main purpose is to mislead the enemy. Few of our members excel at close combat, and we prefer to take down our opponents before they can engage us in melee."
Ah, a bluff. Indeed, the armored look suggests they’re skilled in close combat, and most people would assume they’re at least competent in it. This misconception can be lethal for enemies who foolishly charge into melee, only to be taken down by magic. It’s a clever tactic.
"I must say, it’s impressive that you formed a female-only mercenary company."
"Actually, it’s a coincidence. We started as a small group of friends, but as more female friends joined, it grew into what it is now. Initially, there were male members, but they left, probably discouraged by the increasing number of women. By the time we heard about the Kikyo Society, we had already become what we are."
A coincidence, huh? Are female mercenaries more common in Donditch? I wondered if they were trying to emulate us, but it seems that wasn’t the case.
They only heard about us later, and it influenced their direction to some extent. Despite that, the fact that they’ve managed to maintain a female-only company is impressive. They must have strong leadership and a solid reputation, especially since they were hired by a frontier baron.