“Do you think we should check out the area the shopkeeper mentioned?” Zero asked Lia.

“I know where that is.” Lia replied. “But with our capabilities right now, we’re just asking for trouble if we go there.”

Zero paused, lost in thought.

We’ve got no time to waste if we want to save the kidnapped children. But with just the two of us… what can we possibly do? He clenched his fist slightly. To make any progress, we need clues and proof that the nobles are connected to this case. In this city, we’re practically nobodies. Would anyone even believe us enough to lend a helping hand?

His gaze shifted to the guards and mercenaries patrolling the streets. They moved with a deliberate rhythm, their eyes scanning the crowds for any signs of trouble. Zero’s eyes narrowed slightly, an idea forming in his mind.

He turned back to Lia, who tilted her head, curious.

“Yes?” she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.

“I think I need to head back to the mercenary guild.” Zero said, a glimmer of determination lighting up his eyes.

“Ehhh… whyyy?” Lia’s voice rose with incredulity. “What could those unreliable mercenaries possibly do to help us?”

“It’s fine…” Zero replied, stepping closer to her. Lowering his voice to a whisper, he began explaining his plan, hiding the details from the reader.

Lia’s eyes widened in shock as he spoke, her lips parting in disbelief. But there was also a spark of intrigue in her expression.

“I suppose there’s no harm in trying.” she said reluctantly, crossing her arms. “Ugh… but I wouldn’t want to deal with that loser again.”

“Hehe ~ don’t worry,” Zero said with a mischievous grin. “Just leave it all to me.”

* * *

“Help!!!!” Zero shouted as he stumbled into the mercenary guild, his chest heaving, blood smeared across his clothes and skin.

The mercenary staff rushed to his side, trying to steady him as he gasped for air. Around them, mercenaries froze, their conversations halting as they stared at the boy’s battered condition.

“What happened?!” an older mercenary exclaimed, his voice thick with concern.

“L-Lia…” Zero croaked weakly, his voice trembling with pain. He clutched at his chest as if it might split open. “My friend… she was kidnapped…” His words wavered as he pulled out a bag heavy with gold coins. “…This is all I have. Please… help me…”

The room shifted at the sight of the glittering bag. Mercenaries began closing in, their curiosity quickly turning into interest.

“Show me where she was last seen, kid.” one mercenary said, swallowing hard as his eyes darted to the gold. “I’ll find her, no problem.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll have this settled in no time.” another added, his expression sharpening like a hawk that had spotted prey.

“Leave it to me!” chimed in a third, grinning widely. “There’s no one better at tracking gold—I mean, missing people—than me.”

The old mercenary sighed, shaking his head at the spectacle of his companions.

At that moment, the guild doors swung open, and a younger mercenary, R, strode in. His sharp eyes immediately fell on Zero, slumped and bloodied on the ground. Without hesitation, he rushed over.

“You, what happened to you?” R asked, his voice tight with urgency.

Zero’s fist smacked the wooden floor in frustration. “My friend… she’s missing…”

“Good timing, R.” the old mercenary said gravely.

R’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “Good for her.” he muttered under his breath, his tone laced with malice. But in an instant, his face shifted to feigned concern as he knelt beside Zero. “Tell me everything.”

Before Zero could answer, R cut him off. “No, that’s not efficient.” His eyes glows with violet color, an ethereal intensity as he locked his gaze on Zero’s.

The boy flinched but stayed still as R’s ability activated. The flood of images, memories, and sensations from Zero’s mind flowed into R’s own. He clicked his tongue in distaste as the vision ended. “Tch… so that’s what happened…”

“What did you see, R?” the old mercenary asked urgently. “Where is she? What’s going on?”

R leaned in close to Zero’s ear and whispered, his voice low and dangerous. “Fine, I’ll play along with your little game.” he said, a sly smile curling his lips. “But you’d better pay me handsomely for it.” His hand gripped Zero’s shoulder firmly.

Straightening up, R’s tone turned grim as he addressed the room. “It was gruesome. I saw everything in his memories… We need to act fast, or she might not make it.” He clenched his hand, a facade of determination.

Zero blinked, confused by R’s sudden change in demeanor. How does he know? Does he have memory-reading abilities? he wondered. Well, that’ll make things easier.

“Please… save her…” Zero groaned, his strength fading as he handed the bag of gold to R. Then, with a dramatic slump, he collapsed onto the floor. “The sewer… near the big manor…” he mumbled before closing his eyes.

R snatched the bag, standing tall with a flourish. “Let’s go!” he declared, raising his hand high. “Prepare for a raid. We’re taking on a noble!”

“What?!” Gasps rippled through the guild, mercenaries staring at him in shock.

“You can’t be serious, yeah, R. Are you out of your mind?” the old mercenary asked, his voice low and heavy with doubt.

R locked eyes with him, unwavering. “I’m dead serious. They’re behind the kidnappings. I saw it in his memories as if they were my own.”

The old mercenary’s face darkened as he absorbed R’s words. For a moment, silence hung over the room.

The tension broke as a mercenary murmured nervously, “Hey, hey, they’re nobles. If we raid them, we’ll be branded as traitors to the kingdom.”

“Are you chickening out already?” another barked. “We’re mercenaries. As long as we’re paid well, no mission is impossible!”

“Imagine what we could buy with all that gold..” one said with a wicked grin, licking his lips as he stared greedily at the bag in R’s hand.

“Come on.” said another, his voice rising confidently. “We were never the nobles’ dogs to begin with. As long as there’s a bounty and we’re helping people, isn’t that what we’re about? Right, chief?”

The old mercenary, the chief, glanced at Zero as the mercenary staff tended to him. He shifted his gaze to the motivated eyes of his comrades. The memory of the pain in the eyes of citizens who had lost their children resurfaced in his mind.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Gaius… look toward the future… the possibility that the future holds…” a man’s weak voice echoed in his memories. Blood flowed freely from his wounds as he spoke. “Heh, why do you look so sad? You’re the winner, yeah…” the man said with a faint smile before collapsing to the ground.

The old mercenary’s expression darkened as he recalled the words of his old friend—his rival.

“Future…” he muttered, his gaze locking on R. Slowly, a faint smile spread across his face.

A mercenary’s life is decided by a single coin, Gaius thought. Isn’t it obvious? And if that one coin could make the future brighter… wouldn’t that be the greatest trade of all?

Without warning, the old mercenary began to transform into his full class. Multiple weapons appeared strapped to his back: a spear, an axe, a crossbow. Swords and daggers hung from his belt alongside tools like a grappling hook. In his hand materialized a massive war hammer, almost as large as himself, which he lifted effortlessly.

He gently lowered the hammer’s head to the ground, the sound reverberating through the guild.

Other mercenaries followed his lead, transforming into their respective classes. Weapons shimmered into existence, tools and equipment clicking into place as they readied themselves for battle.

“It’s been ages since the chief used all his classes. This has to be serious.” one mercenary said, awe creeping into his voice.

“As expected of our leader—Chief Gaius, the legendary mercenary, the one who’s awakened every class in the mercenary tree.” another said with excitement.

“I’ve never liked those nobles treating us like hunting dogs just because they pay us.” another muttered, gripping his weapon tightly.

Gaius surveyed his comrades, now fully armed and determined. “It seems everyone is ready.” he said, his voice steady. “Alright, everyone! This is just another job for us, yeah? Get ready for the worst, and don’t you dare die. Hahaha!” His hearty laugh echoed through the guild.

“Hahaha, yeah!” the other mercenaries cheered, their laughter spilling out with a mix of courage and excitement.

R transformed into his own mercenary class, his eyes glinting with resolve as he joined the others.

Gaius noticed him and knelt down to his level. “Hey, R…” he said gently. “We’re just going to talk to the nobles, yeah? You should chill and stay here with your friend for now.” His smile was kind, but his eyes burned with seriousness.

R met his gaze, sensing the chief’s ironclad determination. “Fine…” he said reluctantly. “But don’t you dare die, or I’ll kill you myself.” he added with a sharp edge to his voice.

“Hahaha! I wouldn’t want to make you do that.” Gaius replied with a wide grin.

One by one, the mercenaries began to file out of the guild. Their march caught the attention of patrolling mercenaries nearby.

“Hey, hey, where are you all going without me? Don’t leave me out of the fun!” one of them called out, eagerly joining the armed procession.

Zero, who had been feigning unconsciousness, opened his eyes and peeked at the scene before him. “Woah…” he whispered in awe as he watched the legendary mercenaries march out.

“Oh, you’re awake.” the mercenary staff said reassuringly. “Don’t worry, they’ll save your friend.”

Zero turned to R. “You’re not going with them?” he asked, puzzled.

“We’ve got something more important to handle than joining them.” R said, his eyes steady as he looked at Zero.

Zero rose to his feet with the help of the staff. “Thank you, but I’m fine now,” he said politely.

The mercenary staff blinked, unsure of what to make of their cryptic exchange.

Outside, Gaius and his mercenaries marched toward the nobles’ manor. The sight of the armed group caused a stir among the citizens.

“Is there a raid going on?”

“Territorial war?”

“What’s happening?” murmurs rippled through the crowd as unease spread.

Gaius, ever composed, waved to calm them. “It’s fine, everyone. We’re just going to save kidnapped children, yeah?” he called out, his tone reassuring.

The patrolling guards stopped in their tracks, their jaws dropping at the sight. “Hey, mercs! Why are you heading toward the nobles’ manor?” one of them shouted.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Gaius replied casually, hoisting his hammer onto his shoulder. “We just have something to discuss.”

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, their confusion plain. They hadn’t been informed of anything like this.

One guard felt the tension rise as the armed mercenaries marched closer. Unease turned to resolve, and he stepped forward, blocking their path. “Hey, stop! Don’t try to go any further!” he commanded, gripping his spear tightly.

“Oh, come on.” a mercenary drawled sarcastically, twirling his dagger in one hand, his lips curling into a sly grin. “We’re just harmless little mercs, off to do a job. Nothing to worry about.” He licked the blade of his dagger for effect, his tone dripping with mockery.

“You!” the guard exclaimed, his expression shifting from confusion to determination. He transformed into his knight class, armor materializing around him with a metallic sheen. His spear glowed faintly, and he readied it with a steady hand.

“I’ll take care of this, boss.” the mercenary said, stepping forward eagerly, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he squared off with the knight.

“Just be mindful of the surroundings.” Gaius said calmly, his tone unshaken. Without stopping, he gestured for the others to continue marching.

“Alright, boss!” the mercenary called back, already lunging to meet the guard’s spear with a flick of his dagger.

As they pressed onward, more guards appeared, each trying to halt the relentless procession of mercenaries heading toward the nobles’ manor. The tension in the city escalated, sparking clashes between mercenaries and guards in the streets.

“Come now, we’re just doing our job!” a mercenary called out during one of the skirmishes, dodging a guard’s swing. “Careful not to harm any innocent civilians, okay?” he added, half-jokingly, as he parried with precision.

The guard, visibly frustrated, replied, “Must we do this? Just yesterday, we were patrolling the streets together and even had coffee!”

“Yeah, well…” the mercenary sighed, blocking another strike. “I don’t want to fight you either, but you’re trying to stop us from doing what we’re paid to do. Just make it easier for us, will ya?”

The guard’s eyes narrowed, his stance firm as he tightened his grip on the spear. “Armed mercenaries, marching toward the nobles’ manor? You can’t expect us to believe you have good intentions!”

With a faint shrug, the mercenary readied his weapon again, a smirk playing on his lips. “Well, you’re not wrong there, pal. But good or bad intentions, a job’s a job, and we mercenaries don’t back down from a job.”

* * *

“What do you think of my acting?” Zero asked, a mischievous grin on his face.

“Sucks.” R replied flatly, not even sparing him a glance.

“You’re no fun…” Zero pouted, crossing his arms like a child denied candy.

“Those people will die because of you.” R said bluntly, his tone devoid of emotion.

“I didn’t expect it to escalate like this!” Zero protested, throwing his hands in the air. “Weren’t you the one talking about a raid or something?”

“I told you I’d play along with your game, didn’t I?” R said, his voice dripping with nonchalance. “So, it’s your fault.”

“You! What if they actually die?” Zero’s expression shifted, genuine concern flickering across his face.

“If they die, they die.” R said, shrugging dismissively. He threw his hands up as if discarding the weight of the topic. “This world is just a game anyway.”

Zero’s mouth opened to retort, but he hesitated. His eyes narrowed as he studied R’s detached demeanor. “You…” he started, then stopped. He wanted to call R a monster but couldn’t. He wasn’t sure if it was because he didn’t have the moral high ground or because he understood R’s logic all too well.

Players. They were both players in this twisted world. Monsters in their own right.

“…” Zero fell silent, lost in thought.

“Between game and reality, what do you think of this world?” Zero finally asked, his tone quieter now.

“Of course, it’s a game.” R said without hesitation. “A shitty game.” His voice carried a bitter edge. “We’ve been stuck here for nine years. What else could it be?”

“…” Zero stayed silent again, chewing on R’s words.

“Well, whatever.” R said, waving off the heaviness of the moment like brushing away cobwebs. “Where’s that wench of yours hiding?” he asked impatiently. “We should hurry before the kidnapped children get teleported somewhere else.”

“Hey! Why are you so rude?” Zero snapped, glaring. “No wonder you’ve never had a girlfriend.”

“W-what?!” R spluttered, his composure slipping again. “What does that have to do with anything? And how do you even know that?!”

Zero smirked, savoring R’s flustered reaction. “It came up when I searched your name on the internet. ‘Why R Lucius Fidei Never Had a Girlfriend’—it was even suggested by the search engine.” he said, leaning in with a mockingly curious expression. “Your fans made a ton of theory videos about it. Don’t you watch them?”

R’s face turned red, his usual demeanor shattered. He looked like he wanted to sink into the ground and disappear.

“Never mind that!” R barked, his voice a little too loud. “Let’s just go!” He turned on his heel abruptly, trying desperately to change the subject.

“Well, I guess that means you’re joining our party now?” Zero said, trailing after him with a smug grin.

“Not like I have any other choice, idiot.” R muttered.

“Promise you won’t fight with Lia.” Zero said, tilting his head and giving him a pointed look.

“Shut up!” R snapped. “I’m not a kid! I know that!”

“Hmm… okay…” Zero said, eyeing him skeptically but letting it drop.

He glanced at R thoughtfully. I guess his mind-reading ability has limits. If he knew the meeting spot, he wouldn’t be rushing me like this.

“I’m Zerono Zeroz. Nice to have you around, R.” Zero said cheerfully, holding up his fist for a bump.

“Tch…” R clicked his tongue, but after a moment of hesitation, he returned the fist bump.

Hmm… I feel like I’m forgetting something… Zero mused to himself, a vague unease tugging at the back of his mind.

Across the skies of Lignivallum City, a young boy with fiery red hair streaked through the air, balanced atop a blazing sword. The weapon crackled with heat, leaving trails of ember-like sparks in its wake as it cut through the wind.

“Has it escalated this quickly?” the boy muttered, his voice barely audible over the crackling flames and the rush of air around him.