Chapter 06: Stars

Looking toward the sound of the commotion, Drozz and Sorin saw a man slumped on the floor in the remains of a broken table that had been near the entrance.

And at the entrance to the establishment there was a blond man in his twenties who had his left leg raised, leading to believe that he had kicked the other man towards the table that broke.

"Don't stand at the entrance like an idiot blocking our way": Said the man as he lowered his leg and entered the establishment followed by seven people who appeared to be members of his group.

Seeing the man who looked to be in his twenties lead his group to an occupied table, Drozz saw the mercenaries at the table quickly vacate it and make room for the group to sit down.

(Drozz): "Who are these people? "

(Sorin): "They are a group of star-ranked mercenaries called forest ravens. And they are very famous in the city, as they are one step away from becoming a two-star mercenary group."

(Drozz): "Two stars? Is this a mercenary strength rating? "

(Sorin): "Hmmm... Instead of strength, the rank of mercenaries is based on achievements. But it's possible to estimate a mercenary's skill based on that."

(Drozz): "Explain to me in more detail"

(Sorin): "More details? Well, to do that, we're going to have to go back to the monster classification explanation."

Taking a deep breath, Sorin looked at Drozz. And she started to explain to him about the strength of ranked monsters.

(Sorin): "The lowest class of monsters, class one monsters, are generally harmless to humans, but there are some reported cases of them managing to seriously injure an average adult male when trying to defend themselves from being hunted by peasants. But seriously injuring an adult peasant is the most monsters of that rank can do."

(Sorin): "As for monsters of class two or higher, only mercenaries and gentlemen can fight them, because monsters of that level can kill people"

(Sorin): "And the strength level of a rank two monster is enough to defeat even an armed group of four adult peasants without too much trouble. While rank three monsters can annihilate entire villages if left alone. "

(Sorin): "And taking into account the damage capacity that these monsters can cause, you can classify the mercenaries who have earned stars as incredible, because in order to acquire a star it is necessary to meet a monster hunting goal established by the service association mercenaries"

Coming to the mercenary classification explanation part, Sorin started to get excited, talking about the subject with a bit of passion.

(Sorin): "The necessary requirement for a group of mercenaries to acquire their first star is to be able to kill ten tier three monsters and fifty tier two monsters within a single year. And to get a second star is even more difficult, as it requires the mercenary group to kill five rank four monsters and sixty rank three monsters within a single year. And it's worth remembering that a rank four monster alone can destroy a small town in the countryside, in addition to being able to fire offensive magic from its body "

(Sorin): "And the more stars a mercenary group earns, the stricter and more difficult the requirements needed to acquire new stars."

(Drozz): "I more or less understood the forcing of a star-bearing mercenary group. But what is the maximum limit of stars that a mercenary can acquire? "

(Sorin): "Hmmm... There's no set limit on the stars a mercenary can earn. But the mercenary group with the most stars on this continent is the dragonheart group. They are the only eight-star mercenaries that currently exist on this continent."

(Drozz): "I see. And what is the necessary requirement to become an eight-star mercenary? "

(Sorin): "It's killing a rank seven monster"

(Drozz): "Just a rank seven monster? "

(Sorin): "Yes, and there is no time limit for this to be done"

Hearing Sorin's explanations, Drozz's curiosity regarding rankings increased even more. And when he was going to ask for more details, Drozz saw Sorin look towards the stairs and there he saw Rose coming down the stairs accompanied by a slow-bodied man with gray hair who appeared to be in his fifties.

(Grey-Haired Man): "So, which one of you killed the emperor boar? "

Going to the other side of the counter, the gray haired man questioned Drozz and Sorin, while he was joined by the attendant Rose, who was carrying a bag of coins with her.

(Drozz): "It was me"

Hearing Drozz's response, the gray haired man looked him up and down. Before scratching her chin and signaling Rose to pay.

Placing the bag of coins on the counter, Rose looked at Drozz and informed him of the bag's contents.

(Rose): "There are seventy-four gold pieces, one large silver piece, and three small silver coins in that bag. This is the prize for the emperor boar monster core."

(Sorin): "Wow!"

(Rose): "Mister Drozz, would you like to put the history of this cassada in your mercenary record? "

(Drozz): "I don't have a mercenary record"

(Rose): "Don't you have one? Are you a knight by any chance? "

(Drozz): "No, I'm a wandering mage from another continent"

Upon hearing Drozz's words, Rose and the gray haired man were stunned.

(Grey Haired Man): "Are you a noble?! "

(Drozz): "No, I am not a noble. And I am also not affiliated with any country or any organization of any kind."

(Gray Haired Man): ".... I understand, but what made you come to this region? "

(Drozz): "I was sent here, against my will by my... Master"

(Grey Haired Man): "Master? Are you also a disciple of a mage sent here to challenge the dark forest like Sorin? How old are you? "

(Drozz): ".... I'm seventeen years old"

(Rose/Sorin): "Seventeen?!"

Upon hearing Drozz's age, Rose and Sorin exclaimed in amazement. And they looked at Drozz's face in utter disbelief.

(Grey Haired Man): "I am surprised. Although, I suspected he was young. I didn't expect him to be so young"

(Rose): "Yeah, I thought he was in his twenties or older. But it never crossed my mind that he would be seventeen."

(???): "Rose! How long are you going to make us wait? We want to be taken care of"

Hearing someone's complaint, Rose, Sorin, Drozz, and the gray-haired man stopped their conversation and looked toward the voice, and saw a broad-faced blond man at a table of eight looking at them with a dissatisfied expression.

It was the mercenary from the forest raven group, who had previously caused a ruckus at the entrance to the tavern.

(Grey Haired Man): "Rose, go meet these people"

Upon hearing her father's order, Rose made a sad expression, before bowing and heading to the table where the mercenaries are.

Seeing Rose off, Drozz turned his gaze to the gray haired man and asked him a question.

(Drozz): "How many people work there? "

(Grey Haired Man): "Currently, just me and my daughter"

(Sorin): "Huh?! Just you two? What do you hear about the other two who worked here last month? "

(Gray Haired Man): "Oh, you mean Charles and Rudiger? Well, Charles got involved with a knight's wife and ended up being killed by him two weeks ago. And Rudiger got into an argument with a drunk mercenary and ended up getting both of his legs broken, forcing him into early retirement a week ago."

(Rose): "Ah! "

When the gray haired man finished answering Sorin's question, Rose's scream was heard by all three. Making them furrow their brows, before they looked towards the scream and saw the blond haired mercenary who had called out to Rose, grab her ass as she tried to take the group's order from the table.

(Rose): "Edgar, please let me work"

(Edgar): "And I'm letting you. But your fat, hot ass keeps asking me."

Slap!

(Rose): "Ah! "

Releasing Rose, Edgar slapped her ass, causing Rose to let out a scream. While Edgar and his friends laughed.

(Sorin): "So Edgar is still forcing Rose to be his mistress"

(Grey Haired Man): "Yes, unfortunately"

Hearing the little exchange between Sorin and the gray-haired man, Drozz turned his gaze to the two and out of curiosity decided to ask about the matter.

(Drozz): "Is that kind of thing allowed here? "

(Grey-Haired Man): "Normally not, but how not to many who can fight a master of rule in this city. It ends up happening"

(Drozz): "Rule master? "

(Sorin): "Yes, Edgar is one of the strongest rule masters in the forest raven mercenary group. And it is said that he is a user of the law of cutting, who was once able to cut through iron like butter with his sword."

(Hmmm.... By the standards of humans in this world, these mercenaries are considered elites. But in my eyes they are very weak. Although there is something that catches my attention which is a weak strange aura, which differs from magic, coming from the body of the mercenary named Edgar. And come to think of it, Sorin also had an aura somewhat similar to this leaking from his body. So I'm supposed to assume that this power is something that belongs exclusively to a master of the rule they just talked about? If so, then I need to investigate somehow): Drozz thought as he returned his gaze to where Rose was with the mercenaries.

(Edgar): "Rose, how about you come with me to my house after your shift? "

Hugging Rose from behind, Edgar slipped his hands under her leather apron and cupped her enormous breasts, all the while whispering in her ear an invitation to accompany him into the night.

(Rose): "B-But if I do that, I might end up getting pregnant"

(Edgar): "Yes, so what? "

(Rose): "I can't do that, my husband and I are no longer financially able to support one more child of yours"

(Edgar): "Hahaha! Of course you can, that coward of a husband of hers had never challenged me. So until I get tired of his body, your husband will raise as many of my children as I want. Haha ha...! "

(Drozz): "Hey! Let her go"

(Edgar): "Huh!?"

Hearing Drozz's voice, Edgar stopped laughing. And he looked towards the voice and saw Drozz standing not far from him.

(Edgar): "Who are you? "

(Drozz): "I am Drozz. And I want you to stop abusing this woman."