Taking the Mercenary Exam

Danny POV

After said and done. I didn't really trusted any of Mel's word. I don't think she trusted mine either.

I don't who's pawn is she. Is it from another prince? Man, I got a lot half-siblings. Or from the consorts? I got a lot of step moms too who at fighting for the throne. From the empress? Is she the Red Witch? The empress most trusted companion? Obviously fcking no. Just because its Red doesn't mean the Red Witch has red hair.

I doubt the empress is willing to send her most trusted aid just to fcking kill me. I'm not even Roy's worst competitor.

Anyhow, I still took the risk and kept my enemy closer.

Currently, we are riding horses that we bought earlier at the capital.

We are heading to the southern province, managed by Marquis Gareth Swordstar. Yes, A relative of the Swordstar. He is actually a brother of the current emperor. He supported my father's rise to power, he got rewarded with a major province and position of a marquis when my father won the crown.

"So, Where are we going?" Mel asked.

"To the southern borders," I answered.

"Isn't that where the conflict is getting intense between the empire and the elves?"

"Yes. That place is filled with dangers, a great way to gain experience. The south branch of the mercary association is definitely having a lot of requests right now."

"Isn't your brother at the southern border too? Trying to mediate the conflict between the empire and elves?" She asked.

"You seem to know a lot. He is indeed at the southern border." I nodded. There is nothing much to hide since almost everyone basically knew where my brother is. He is like a superstar back at earth, he got "fans" everywhere.

"So, are we going to join his party?! The Hero Party??! " Mel tone seems a bit excited, oh well.

"Not now, we still have to prove our worth." I said to dampened her enthusiasm but it seems unaffected. She kept rambling the Hero party's achievements. Especially the latest one, the Necromancer.

"What class are you?" I asked, trying to change the topic.

"I'm a mage. What about you?"

"I'm a magic swordsman." I said.

"Oh really? You don't look like a swordsman to be honest."

"Well, I got it alright. I just trained for months. I'm not exactly a skilled swordsman but I got magic to assist me." I said.

"I don't think we have a bright future together."

"You're the one who chose me you idiot."

"I thought you would be some kind of hidden expert or something. Now that I notice, you really look like a rookie swordsman. You're not actually acting!!!?" Mel stopped her horse and looked at me stupefied. Oh great, she just "realized." Well, in all honesty. I'm not exactly powerful nor a skilled swordsman or a experienced mage. I'm actually going to depend with Zadicus. Since he got the Demonic Key. My real class is actually a summoner.

"Stop acting. I know that you know." I said.

"What? What do you know that I know that you know?"

"Nevermind. Let's just continue with the journey silently."

I realized later, Mel is a person who didn't like silence.

***

After a long journey, we finally reached Ashgreen City. Actually, the city is more of a fort because it's near the elven border, many hoped that the Ballistas would never be used. Percy and Zadicus went silent for some reason. I tried calling them but nobody responded. Yo shit! Thankfully I can still feel the demonic key which means they are still there. I tried using the demonic key but I'm not as a proficient compare to Zadicus. Oh well, He is connected to the key.

Anyway First thing we did, reaching the city, the two of us decided to take a rest in a famous inn. After cheking in, We look around the city. There are a lot of elves here and a variety of other races. But the most dominant are elves and humans.

Peaceful, quite strange isn't. They said that the conflict between the elves and humans are intensifying but look at this city. What conflict I'm I seeing?

In any case, The citizens doesn't really hate each other. It was the Nobles between Elves and humans are not in the good terms. I don't doubt those nobles are already spreading rumors around to create conflict. That's why my superstar brother Roy was sent to the elves as an ambassador.

I remember he actually managed to charm the elven princess. HA! I must say, what a typical

Now that I think about it, I don't feel the hate and rage of Zadicus. Oh well, this is better.

"Don't you think we look like having a date?" Mel suddenly said out of nowhere.

"Now that you mentioned, Oh yeah." I nodded. I don't really care.

Mel suddenly hold took my left hand and started leading the way.

"Since we look like having a date. Let's have a real one." she said, showing her smile that can captivate anyone.

"Alright." I smiled too.

***

After a long day of a date. We went back to the inn. Drunk as hell. We even kissed for a bit, I felt that spark, She's an energetic lady I must say, her lips tasted like wine, looking at those ocean eyes I felt like I am drowning in pleasure.

We are together for some time now. Both of us didn't trusted each other but no doubt, we feel this attraction. This might lead into something interesting but I still feel the strong resistance of Percy. A line I musn't cross huh.

So I stopped it, Not today. I carried her to her room. Nothing else happened.

"Percy, you really love Lea that much."

***

Next morning.

Mel doesn't look good, she looks a bit annoyed at me. But I just shrugged it off.

"Not now," I said.

Mel just shook her head and ordered me to get something to treat her hangover.

After eating our breakfast and taking the expensive bath prepared by the inn, we went to the Mercenary Association building.

"So, you're here to take a mercenary license? Please take this number token and wait for the examiner at the training hall. " The receptionist kindly lead us to the lobby.

There are only quite a lot of people waiting. The others warming up, some are talking, and a guy even slept.

We are quite behind the number but I don't mind the wait. Mel's been grumpy so I could only comfort her.

The examiner finally showed himself. He looks like a guy in his thirties with a kind smile, he has a long hair with a short beard. He looked has a sword in his waist. He looks like a magic swordsman.

The exam is simple, you just have to spar with the examiner, some passed, some failed. It went smoothly until the sleeping guy's turn.

The guy was around my age, he looks slim but lean. He had a neat short hair. His expression stoic and he only has a left arm.

"Zack Wells." He bowed and drawn his sword.

The examiner nodded.

"You may start."

Zack charged with ferocity that made the earlier examinees nothing.

Zack crossed the distance with a few seconds. The examiner was surprised but he reacted quickly. He successfully parried but Zack recovered.

Zack attacked for a second time but this time it's faster. The examiner parried it again but Zack recovered.

It went on and on until I could not even see their swords.

The examiner seems excited and started to take the fight more seriously. The two looked like battle junkies giving their all. The examiner managed to get through Zack's defense and managed to punch his face but Zack gritted. The ground shook, Zack's feet sunk to the floor.

Seriously, this is just a spar. Why do you need to fight to the death?

Zack kicked the examiner's shin causing the examiner to kneel.

Zack disarmed him and gave him a knee to the face. The examiner flew away. If killing the examiner would actually give you a perfect score.

There was a loud bang and everything went silent. Everyone was shocked by the intensity of the fight. They never knew that the guy sleeping was actually that strong enough and had the guts to knee an examiner's face.

Another examiner went to the scene and passed Zack.

The Examiner who tested Zack laughed and congratulated him. He seems fine. Except for the broken wall and floor, everything seems fine. Some people went to Zack, trying to recruit him to their guilds.

Ah yes, this is one of the purpose of mercenary test. For the Mercenary guilds to pick talents from.

It's Mel's turn. This was another examiner since the first one got ballistic. He is probably getting reprimanded by his superior because of the ruined floor and wall.

"Wish me Luck." Mel smiled at me and prepared her wand.

"Good Luck.", I wonder if she is going to win, she must beat this examiner, at least to prover her qualifications to join the hero party.

The examiner seems to be a mage just like Mel but he instead carries a staff.

A mage duel huh.

"Melanie Sara Lanceford." Mel bowed and gently raise her wand.

The examiner nodded.

"You may start."

***

Mel's POV

I must beat this examiner to prove my worth to the hero's party. So I don't intend to hold back.

"Fire Bats!"

I conjured fire bats, to block his sight so he can't see me preparing a wood spell.

I immediately chanted the spell.

"Wood Bind!"

Wood suddenly erupted under the examiner's feet but before the wood bind him, he disappeared from his place and appeared at another direction.

He can use spatial magic huh... What a special examiner. Damn it.

I chanted another spell,

"Fire Shield." I didn't see what spell he conjured but I felt a disturbance.

Bang!

Looks like he thrown a standard fire ball, thankfully my shield blocked it.

"Burning Treant." I conjured a burning treant, and let it charged towards the examiner.

The Treant roared and used it's fiery vines to block any escape route. Even if you used a water spell to quell the fire, the treant's just going to absorb the water you throw and even make it stronger.

"Strength of the Water Fall" The examiner shouted. A huge gash of water suddenly flowed it like a damn fall. The fire in the treant's body went out but it can't move. The Treant rooted it's foot to the floor, trying to endure the unending stream of water! Seriously!

Damn it!

The spell 'Burning Treant' already used up a half of my mana essence. LET'S FINISH THIS!

"Branch of the World Tree!" with that spell, It strengthen any nature related spell! With this spell, my treant will be stronger than even before!

The Treant roared that echoed throughout the entire building. The Treant's body got bigger and stronger, It even reached the high ceiling.

The Examiner was shocked silly but he reacted, using blink to evade the vines that are trying to capture him.

"Mermaid's Hand!" Suddenly another a gush of water but larger was thrown at the treant!

"Sigh of the Ice King!" A second spell was chanted immediately!

Before the treant could absorb the remaining water, water was turned ice, restricting the treant's moving. The water fully turned ice and it even turned the treant into an Ice sculpture!

Suddenly, from the side, The examiner didn't notice that me already throwing a straight punch to his face. He didn't notice me moving since I didn't use any mana essence. Using all the smoke to cover my body, I got close.

Damn! This for the hardwork you made me do!

"PLUS ULTRA!!!"

And throughly gave all my strength to this punch!

Mother, Father, Brothers and sisters, this punch is for you.

***

(Danny POV.)

Everything went slow-mo. Mel's vibrant smile with her fist straight to the examiner's ruined face. Mel is gonna pass with flying colors, with this, she can be closer to the hero party.

This world is indeed fascinating. Just now, Zack's amazing strength, Mel's quick-witted spells. I can definitely see them the both of them as amazing strong characters in a story.

I wonder, what I am in that story?

Perhaps, I'm a side character or the secret villain.

Anyway, after that amazing duel, Mel was surrounded, trying to recruit her but she pushed them all away, saying that she will think about it. The scouts didn't pressed her either, afraid of displeasing her.

There was another change of examiner.

Now it's my turn.

***

After a lack luster duel compare to the first two. I still managed to pass. I didn't used the demonic key. I just genuinely fought with all I got, with all the training I got back in the royal palace. I must say, it's a good result.

Mel looked at me, very seriously. For the first time, She looked at me with serious eyes.

She seems contemplating.

"Now? Are you regretting that you chose me?" I smiled at her.

"I was wrong. You're not anything special. I thought you were." She said seriously but she doesn't seem to mock me or regret her decision.

"Seems you're not a threat." She smiled brightly again.

"So, you're finally revealing your true colors." I smirked.

"Well, You're a suspicious guy but when I saw you fight. You didn't hide anything, you even expend all of your mana essence. You're a rookie through and through." She said without pretense.

"Well, I am a rookie, I only trained for months. So, are you still planning to stick with me?" I asked.

"Well, I'm planning to join the hero party but it seems you can't." She frowned. She seems to bs in a dilemma.

"Are you planning to spy on Roy right?" I asked out of nowhere.

She didn't say anything too.

"I too wanted spy on him." I said.

"Both of us are in different factions but we have the same goal. To gain the information right. " I said.

I know you are damn spy, so I'll act with the same goal with you.

"Who are you and what faction are you in? " She asked me a surprising question. I thought she already knew my identity but it looks like she only knew I was inside the palace. Not I am prince, she's probably wasn't updated with the new prince named Percy.

"I can't tell you nor you can tell yours. Things are getting more chaotic in the palace, there was even a new prince, son of Maria Ashton, favorite consort of the Emperor. He is strong contender. My master is quite impatient and crazily seeking out infotmation all over the place." I lied.

I studied her expressions. And oh my, she is damn suprised with the information, she even restrained her self and asked me in a hush tone.

"A new prince?! What the hell?! Are you sure??!" She reacted pretty intense. If she is acting, my god, she is the god of acting. It felt genuine.

***

(Mel's POV)

No wonder her highness sent me out. The fight for the throne is indeed getting intense. I was right, Daniel's a spy from another faction but looks like we have the same goal.

I asked Daniel a lot of details about what is happening in the palace. I don't know how much info was true but this is good enough. He didn't ask about my informations though.

"I don't need your info since I don't know how much truth you would tell."

"Oh come on, it's not like everything's gonna be a lie."

"Right there! That's a fcking flag. Everything you will say will be lies." He suddenly laughed.

I felt weird since he was right. I was going to lie about everything.