21st Century Archmage

pan>I was just someone they met on the road, so I didnt expect them to be totally happy to see me, but their idea of hospitality was to immediately point arrows at my face. It was no different from getting a gun leveled at you in Harlem, New York.

‘Ara? These guys are–?

I was about 50 meters away, and from there, I could see that a few of the mercenaries who were pointing their fully drawn bows towards me had very familiar faces.

“Eh? Arent you that kid?”

“Arent you that brat with the big head from that village in the middle of nowhere?”

“Leader! Leader! Come over here!”

They recognized me too.

‘Aw shit, whyd it have to be these guys…

It was the self-styled Black Wyvern third-rate mercenary group, which had guarded the Daron Merchants at the village.

“Hey! You kiddo with no manners! What are you doing, coming here without fear!”

“Puhaha! Ron, you better be careful tonight. The kiddo mustve come for revenge.”

‘Haahh, this can only be called fate.

The pot-bellied Ron wielding an axe came to the forefront and gave me a nice(?) welcome. Apparently the others hadnt forgotten the events of that day, because they raucously made fun of him.

“Whats going on?” queried the mercenaries leader, having come after being called.

‘Aint it obvious? Im clearly a homeless runaway delinquent!

“Haha! How have you been, Leader? Im dreaming big this time and would like to devote myself to the mercenary life. If you havent forgotten your promise from before, Ill run this body of mine ragged for you.”

“Devote? Haha! Youre a funny guy. Come here. It seems youve run away from the village; have you already eaten?”

‘Its good for me if he makes that assumption. It put me at ease that no one knew I was a mage. I still didnt know enough about this world. There probably wasnt anyone who knew more in that regard than these mercenaries, who traveled the world.

“Thank you very much!”

Even while talking, I had ridden bit by bit closer to them, so now we were 20 meters away. The onlooking mercenaries lowered their bows, and eventually, I was standing next to the leader of the Black Wyvern Mercenaries.

“Did your parents give permission?” the Leader asked, clearly not knowing much about me.

‘Would your parents give the OK? The leader threw out such an obvious question.

“If youre a man whose junk stands tall from the break of dawn, you should follow the path of a man rather than listening to your parents! Leader, didnt you also say you ran away from home when you were 15 years old?” said the sweating Ron, his vulgar words cut short by panting breaths.

“Indeed. Welcome. Im the leader of the Black Wyverns, Heath.”