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Chapter 45 – Witch (1)
“Dear customer, your body is hot,” said the prostitute that was laying under Urich. The mercenary group took a short break while supplying themselves in Balgma. They planned to depart the next day.
“I am a hot man,” said Urich while smirking. The prostitute let out a voice then shook her head.
“Not like that. Your body is actually hot. Your complexion isn’t that good either. Are you sick?”
“Huh?”
The prostitute put her hand on Urich’s forehead. She was startled and looked at Urich.
“E-Excuse me, your forehead is really hot.”
“R-Really?”
Urich stopped and touched his own forehead. Even he thought it was like a ball of fire.
“Huh?”
Urich wavered. He started breathing quickly. The moment he realized it, the symptoms arrived.
Thud.
His body leaned against the wall. His vision was blurry. It felt like the floor and the ceiling switch positions.
“Dear customer?”
The shocked prostitute covered herself with the bedsheets.
“I’m fine. It’s nothing. Since I paid for it, we should keep going
 Uhh? Huh? Bwargh.”
Urich placed his hand on the wall and bent over, throwing up his breakfast.
‘What’s happening to my body?’
The prostitute scowled.
“I-I’ll return your money, so go back. Right now!”
The prostitute spoke with the intention to call her pimp. Urich nodded and wobbled back to his dormitory. There were a few mercenaries in the rented inn.
“Urich?”
The mercenaries all looked at Urich. It was clear that he wasn’t in good condition.
“I just have a bit of a fever. I guess the injuries from last time festered or something,” said Urich. He returned to his room and lay on the bed. The mercenaries started to whisper to each other.
‘Urich is sick.’
It could just be a simple body ache. If he was able to wake up the next day and be fine, that would be the end of it.
Urich was unable to wake up the next day as well. Rather, his condition got worse. The mercenaries gathered to discuss. Fahel and Phillion were also with them.
“How’s Urich’s condition?”
“I don’t know. What if the wound really festered? He was a complete mess last time.”
“We should call a doctor. Since it’s a city, there should be at least one or two around.”
Bakman quickly took action and asked around for a doctor. One was able to visit them before nightfall.
“What? I’d get better if I just slept. Why call someone over?” said Urich. Bakman grimaced.
“Shut up and get examined.”
“Haaah, okay, okay. Why don’t you examine me, then? I’m healthy. I’d probably be all better in a day.”
The doctor, after hearing Urich’s whining, glanced at the mercenaries.
“Why doesn’t someone block the patient’s mouth? He’s the type to keep chirping even on his deathbed.”
“Haha. Cough.”
Urich coughed in the middle of his laugh due to chest pain.
“Your body is a mess. Did you escape from torture or something like that?” asked the doctor. Fahel, who was standing behind them, flinched.
“I wasn’t tortured, but I did get my skin cut by some iron,” responded Urich. The doctor rolled around Urich’s body and examined it with detail.
“Fuck. Everyone! Make sure to keep a close eye on him! I think this doctor is aiming for my butt!” shouted Urich. The doctor, after hearing that, slapped Urich’s back.
“Why would I grope around a man’s body if it wasn’t for gold coins? Hm, I don’t think any of his wounds festered. Would it be an internal injury from a broken bone?”
“I didn’t break any bones.”
“It looks like you’re low in energy then.”
“What?” retorted Urich, thinking it was absolutely ridiculous.
“You told me that you weren’t tortured, but your current body is comparable to someone’s that just came out of severe torture. It’s easy for those types of bodies to become weak and get infiltrated by diseases. From the way you’re speaking, I can tell that you’re a barbarian. Barbarians often fall ill to endemics.”
“‘Disease’, my ass! I’ve never gotten sick in my life!”
Bakman laughed after hearing that.
“You probably never got sick because you’re a child that hasn’t reached their twenties yet. Don’t do anything, and just lay down on the bed. Rest is best,” said Bakman.
The other mercenaries laughed at Bakman’s words.
“No matter how healthy someone is, your body becomes weaker when you’re injured and tired. Get some rest and drink clean water. I’ll prescribe you something to reduce your fever.”
The doctor pulled out a pill made of clumped herbs, and Bakman paid him.
“You heard what the doctor said, right? Get some rest, little bro,” said Bakman.
He closed the door and left. Urich closed his eyes. He was overwhelmed by drowsiness because of his exhaustion. No matter how much he slept, it still wasn’t enough. It was because his body was just that tired.
The mercenaries gathered and discussed.
“Urich’s condition looked quite bad, right?”
“The only thing that was alive about him was his mouth.”
“It might not be bad to prepare a new leader just in case.”
The mercenaries liked Urich. But even then, they had no plans to follow a sick mercenary leader.
“Everyone, shut up. Urich is going to get up soon. Just make sure you’re well-prepared to leave soon. It’s only a minor delay,” said Bakman as he walked down to the first floor. The mercenaries didn’t respond to that.
‘Damn it.’
Bakman only cursed in his head.
‘There’s nothing to blame them for. It’s obvious. If you’re weak, you step down.’
The reason Urich was acknowledged as the leader was because he was stronger than anyone else. Even Donovan couldn’t say anything about Urich’s combat abilities.
‘If Urich collapses, the next mercenary leader will be Donovan.’
Bakman was anxious. He had no confidence that he could keep going with Donovan as the leader.
‘You can’t die, Urich. Please.’
Bakman bet everything on the barbarian ever since they were gladiators. His gamble was successful, and he was able to become one of the executives of the group by becoming Urich’s confidant.
“Bakman.”
Fahel called him over.
“What’s the matter, young master?”
As Bakman raised his head, Fahel gestured with his head to follow him.
Creak.
Bakman entered Fahel’s room. Inside was also Phillion.
‘Bakman is Urich’s closest confidant.’
Fahel and Phillion also somewhat figured out the power dynamics of the mercenary group.
‘Urich and Bakman have a close relationship. Donovan isn’t one of the pro-Urich groups but has remarkable skill and has influence within the mercenary group. Sven is the third influence in the group as the leader of the Northern barbarians.’
Bakman looked back and forth between Fahel and Phillion before sitting down.
“What’s the matter, Sir Phillion?”
“I called you over separately because I had something I wanted to ask.”
“It’s not a good look to the mercenaries outside if we meet separately like this. We should finish our talk quickly.”
“If Urich doesn’t recover, who do you think would become the next mercenary leader?”
Phillion cautiously asked that question.
“Even if I wanted to become the mercenary leader, the other mercenaries won’t accept me. Sven and Donovan are the next candidates, but Sven isn’t interested in becoming the leader. That man has an ascetic side to him.”
“Then if Donovan becomes the next mercenary leader, do you believe he would continue our request?” asked Fahel from the back.
“While it is practice to continue the request even if the mercenary leader changes, I don’t know about his thoughts that well either. Before that, if Urich dies, I will leave the mercenary group. I wouldn’t be able to take any money since I’m leaving in the middle of a request, but it’s much better than working under Donovan.”
Bakman smiled bitterly. He stood up from his seat and left the room.
Fahel and Phillion remained in the room to continue discussing their future plans.
“Your Royal Highness, it might not be a bad idea to hire a new mercenary group. I will inquire about them.”
As Phillion finished his words, Fahel shook his head.
“Urich didn’t die yet. You’re thinking too far ahead, Sir Phillion.”
Fahel spoke resolutely. Phillion flinched.
‘I can’t believe His Royal Highness said something like that.’
It was different from the resoluteness he showed before when he whined to get his way. Fahel made his judgments and thoughts clear to him.
“Then do you have another plan, Your Royal Highness?”
“Sun God Ru is watching over us. We will become corrupted if we even think about breaking our vows. We are in Balgma. There are a lot of travelers in this city because it’s close to the border. I will search for someone who might be able to heal his disease, so I want you to be wary of the mercenary group’s movements, Sir Phillion.”
“As you command.”
Phillion took a slight bow to show his respect. He was getting choked up.
‘As expected, the royal blood flows through him. The issue was with his surroundings.’
Fahel looked out the window. His blue eyes were clear and shining.
“Mercenary Leader Urich is a man with integrity. His skills are outstanding as well. As long as we have come to an agreement, he will risk his life to save me. Even if we hire another mercenary group, we will never be able to find a man like him. Rather, we would have to be wary of them as if they were the members of the pursuit party that trailed us.”
Fahel saw it with his own two eyes. Urich risked his life to protect him. The barbarian had many opportunities to turn him over, but he didn’t do it.
‘A noble mind is something like that. You don’t have a noble mind just because you are called a noble.’
Urich’s existence was a massive shock to the prince.
“Please be careful, Your Royal Highness.”
Fahel slipped out of the inn with one of his guard knights. He visited various taverns to search for people with medical knowledge.
“Even the doctor was unable to come up with a particular conclusion. Wouldn’t it be the same with other people?” asked the guard knight. Fahel shook his head.
“Barbarians would know more about a barbarian’s body than the civilized. He might take their medicines better.”
Fahel had read it in a book before. He had read both the Records of the Northern Campaign as well as the Records of the Southern Campaign. They were books that the former emperor wrote while conquering the barbarians, documenting their customs and behaviors.
“Still, we have to be careful about leaking your true identity. We have crossed the border, but Duke Harmati wouldn’t have given up.”
“I know.”
Fahel entered the next tavern. It was a place that had a foul stench mixed in with the smell of alcohol.
“Hm.”
Fahel did his best to calmly enter the establishment. The people scanned him.
“A drink,” said Fahel as he sat down. The tavern’s owner scowled.
“Dear customer, you are only ordering one beer despite being a party of two.”
“
Give me two drinks.”
“Here you go!”
Only then did the tavern owner smile and hand forth overflowing mugs of beer.
Fahel listened to the various voices around. On the second floor, there was the sound of a couple embracing each other. Fahel carefully looked around. Before he knew it, his mug was empty.
“What are you looking for, dear customer?”
The tavern owner filled up Fahel’s mug without asking.
“I am looking for a barbarian healer. Do you know someone like that?”
“A barbarian healer, hmm
 You mean someone like a shaman. I’m not sure. Hey! Where are you going, Juniva? You have to give me thirty percent. Where do you think you’re going?!”
The tavern owner shouted when he saw the woman walking down from the second floor. He was a tavern owner and a pimp.
“Don’t misunderstand. I was going to give it to you. I just really needed to go to the bathroom.”
“The only place that would hire a barbarian bitch like you is here. Just give me the money.”
It almost sounded like the tavern owner was stealing the woman’s money. Juniva obediently handed over some coins.
“Oh my, what a handsome young master. How about it? Would you like to go upstairs with me?” said Juniva while looking at Fahel. She had a Southern accent. The Northerners’ accent was rough and stiff while the Southerners’ accent was high-pitched and soft, as if they were singing. Because of that, women who had the Southerners’ accent were popular.
“I didn’t come here for that. Are you a barbarian?” asked Fahel while looking at Juniva. The tavern owner answered for her.
“She’s just a barbarian prostitute. There’s no reason to be interested in her. She’s a bitch that will do whatever you want as long as you give her some money. And if you do get close to her, she’d just rob you blind and run away. If you’re looking for a barbarian healer, I’ll ask around for you. A lot of barbarians visit here.”
The tavern owner spoke with clear contempt towards the woman. Juniva just kept smiling at Fahel while slit-eyed, as if she was used to it.
“I’ll leave it to you. I will come again tomorrow.”
Fahel stood up with his cup still half-full of beer. The tavern owner put the leftover beer back into the beer barrel.
“Come again, dear customer!” said the tavern owner to Fahel’s back.
Step, step.
Fahel stepped out of the tavern and into an alleyway. The guard knight then whispered into his ears.
“The prostitute from before is following us.”
Fahel turned around. Juniva, who was behind them, stopped and gave a slight bow.
“I heard that you were looking for a barbarian healer, young master,” she said with a laugh.
“Yes. I am not looking for a prostitute.”
“A good healer means a skilled shaman. And a skilled female shaman knows techniques to squeeze out men. Young master, comforting the injured warriors that returned from the battlefield is also the role of a healer.”
Fahel thought for a moment. He had read something like that in a book before.
‘It was written in the book that there are a lot of female barbarian shamans, and those female shamans healed both the bodies and hearts of the warriors.’
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