Chapter 111: Warfares
Kirk City’s mercenary guild extended its welcome not only to human knights but also mages like Sein, who could undertake quests to earn rewards.
However, the majority of mages who enlisted were initiates.
Full-fledged black mages seldom joined organizations primarily driven by reward incentives as they prioritized the pursuit of knowledge more.
In fact, a small mage council boasting an extensive private library was more likely to attract even full-fledged black mages above Rank Two.
In their eyes, knowledge held an unparalleled value.
Sein, enjoying his meal in a corner of the inn, showed little interest in the burly knights, including the mercenary leader who was an intermediate squire.
His previous combined efforts with Seven to capture and dissect a bandit of similar strength had already provided him insights into the power of battle qi.
The power of battle qi in the bodies of intermediate squires surpassed that of their junior counterparts, leading to more pronounced changes in their muscle fibers.
As a magic initiate, Sein found their approach of pushing the body’s limits through the power of battle qi intriguing.
While knights dedicated themselves to physical training, mages focused on deep exploration of their brains and mental focus.
Sein, for instance, possessed a physical constitution of just over ten, while his mental focus had already reached the fifties.
Despite Sein’s initial disinterest in the noisy group of knights, their loud conversation gradually caught his attention and caused his furrowed brow to relax.
In the north, war had erupted between the Zephyr Kingdom and the Ohrque Empire. This marked the third such conflict in the last two decades, reflecting the perennial wars and frictions among the three human nations north of Gloomhaven.
After a three-day respite in Kirk City, Sein set forth for the north.
Given the ongoing war in the region, he recognized the potential risks of travel alone near the border.
In light of this, Sein decided to join forces with a moderate-sized mercenary group, traveling with them toward the Lysian Alliance.
Despite the prevailing conflict in the north, there was a surge in mercenary quests that offered lucrative rewards.
Tasks such as supply transportation and personnel escort were in high demand at the mercenary guild, attracting experienced knights.
While some mercenaries hesitated due to their perceived lack of strength, others, particularly those who could harness battle qi, saw the war as an opportunity for wealth.
Wars between human nations often marked the decline of old nobility and the rise of new ones.
Unlike mages like Sein, who pursued knowledge and delved into elemental mysteries, these mercenary knights prioritized social status ascension, wealth accumulation and indulgence in life’s pleasures.
Participating in the war not only provided a chance for rewards but also an avenue to elevate their status among their peers and potentially joining the nobility.
Sein’s chosen mercenary group comprised twenty members, a size considered medium to low.
Their destination was the Lysian Alliance, with the primary objective of transporting a shipment of food and iron weapons.
Not all members of the group could harness battle qi, as this skill had specific prerequisites.
According to Sein’s conversation with the group leader, newcomers without battle qi had to serve in the mercenary group for seven years before receiving a battle qi seed and techniques from the leader personally.
Among the twenty members, only seven could harness battle qi, including the leader himself.
This included one intermediate, two junior, and four fresh squires, making up the elite combatants of the mercenary group.