May Fortuna Bless Your Journey, Brother

Nono arrived back at the giant forest. But he was not just with Rodan, the mercenary troops had spent the night there as well. The giant tree proved to have enough empty space for them all. Bartz, their leader, promised that they will leave the day after.

Rodan, as the prime owner of the giant tree, accepted him and welcomed him... for a price.

Nono just climbed up the ladder to the tree, where the door was broken down by Bartz last night. There, he saw them mercenaries were working hardly in return for their stay in the tree. Some were constructing new rooms, and some were tasked to clean up and carry goods to fill in the space.

Though last night, Nono wanted to refuse to make them work like that. It was Rodan’s idea to make them do such thing. Nono remembered last night he quarreled with Rodan for him saying that he had some ‘business’ to finish with the mercenaries.

It was last night, when they were celebrating their leader’s return, and suddenly Rodan talked to them in a casual manner.

“Whew... I don’t want to rain on your glorious parade, folks. But I reaaally can’t believe what you’ve done back there, big guy. I’m impressed,” said Rodan complimenting Bartz.

“Heh-heh... I suppose it was all thanks to you, Sir Rodan. Your plans worked well, even opening the path for me to end his life,” Bartz replied while taking a seat on a bench...

...but suddenly, it broke in half due to his giant body.

“—Ah. I’m sorry, Sir Rodan.”

The nerves on Rodan’s forehead became visible. His eyes twitched, trying to hold in his burst of rage. “Y-Yeah... sure, right, it’s okay... goddammit now I must add more to my buying list?! First, the door, now my favorite bench, huff... last month’s savings gonna dry out instantly!”

“—Don’t worry, I will fix it,” said Bartz assuredly as he stood up.

“—Sir, sir, and SIR! Shut the traps, man. Rodan will be fine,” Rodan grumbled. He disliked being referred ‘Sir’ by him.

“A-Ah... I’m sorry. ...Ow, oww...”

Rodan looked at the group of mercenaries. All of them were concerning for their leader’s wellness. He noticed the injuries he sustained after returning from the burning mansion.

“Huff... Tell me, big guy, you don’t actually plan to leave this early in the morning, do ya?” Rodan asked.

“...Well, I wish I could leave as soon as possible.”

“Not with those injuries, I suppose. Not with your boys worrying about ya. In the meantime, till you get enough rest and patched up, why don’t you stay in my place?”

“Eh? A-Are you sure?” Bartz stuttered.

“We’re over fifty people, you know?” One of the mercenaries stated.

“HA! Don’t underestimate my house, youngsters. Do you think this giant tree, which is the most visible thing in this Red Forest, couldn’t house up to your numbers?!” Rodan yelled funnily.

“...Well... if you’d allow us to, then we will accept your offer,” Bartz stated slowly. Soon, he kneeled before the red-haired man and bowed before him.

“Thank you for having us, Sir Rodan.”

Shortly, all of his subordinates followed him and bowed before Rodan. Altogether, they said loudly, “Thank you for having us, Sir Rodan!!!”

Meanwhile, Nono was taking care of the horse that was ridden by Bartz to reach the giant tree. He glanced at those mercenaries who bowed before his senior.

“Roro... you actually have a noble heart, don’t you—eh, where’s he going?”

Suddenly, Rodan went to the tree trunk and opened a secret compartment. There, he picked a crate and returned back to the bowing people.

“...Then, big guy... if you’re gonna stay in my place, then let me borrow your men. You won’t mind, riiight?” he said while showing off hammers in both hands.

“Eh? EH?!” Nono didn’t realize his mouth was opened.

“Hmph... it appears you’re really a rascal, eh? Very well, then, my boys will do whatever work you give to them.”

Shortly, Nono rushed to Rodan and yelled rapidly. “Roro, what’s the meaning of this? They’re visitors, right? Shouldn’t we treat them with respect?!”

“Hah?! What are you grumbling about, Nono? They’ve accepted it, then so be it!”

“That’s not how you treat visitors, Roro! At least you—ah?”

Rodan crept to his ears and whispered rapidly: “Our house is a pretty mess now, right? Right?! Then, these fellas shall do the job in our stead! Moreover, for free! Our savings can be saved!”

“Ah, you’re right,” Nono replied quickly. He then took a quick turn to the mercenaries and said: “Well, then everyone, looking forward for your hard work!”

Everyone affirmed him and was eager to work that night. They chopped some parts of the tree from the inside to make new rooms, brought the goods into those newly made rooms, and tidied up the mess in Rodan’s tree house until daylight came.

And now, Nono felt a bit remorseful for making them work that way. But even though Rodan bossed them around, he did not give any work to the mercenary leader. He said to Nono that he just wanted to let him rest to recover his strength.

As the sun was above their heads, the mercenaries ended their work. They had lunch that was given by the Red Bean Debauchery community for free. Rodan had communicated of his massive amount of visitors to his friends and asked them to help out. Of course, the community accepted.

“Phew, glad we have Red Bean Debauchery in here. If we went to the city and ask for an ample amount of food for free, we would be suspected for plotting something, don’t you think, Nono?” said Rodan while embracing Nono by his shoulder.

“Well, that’s because you’re pretty notorious for your wicked attitude, Roro...” Nono replied.

“Humph... they’re just foolish to not understand how we do our lives. If they could understand us, the Red Bean Debauchery will never exist and then you and I would live on our own in this tree.”

“Grgh, you don’t plan to hang out in the city at all?” Nono retorted.

“Well, I’d love to, but perhaps when I want to.”

“H-Huh...”

When the sun went down, the mercenaries had done their job. Moreover, Bartz had enough of resting in the giant tree. His injuries were healed up, though not entirely. When he woke up, he saw many of his subordinates wore a headband and were working hardly. For the first time in many years, he conjured a smile.

As the sun prepared to sink below the horizon, Bartz and his mercenaries were preparing to go. They didn’t plan to stay for too long, or else the people in the city would know of their setup. He told every mercenary to carry a bag and carry their personal belongings and some supplies for the journey ahead.

After arraying his men, Bartz took some relieving breath and sat down on a huge branch facing the sun. The view was pretty clear as there were little amounts of red leaves on the branch.

“Leaving already?” Rodan asked. He suddenly appeared dangling from above the mercenary leader.

“...Yeah. We couldn’t afford to stay here for too long, lest we’ll endanger your peaceful life, Sir Rodan.”

“Just call me Rodan, big guy.”

“...I see. I’m sorry, S-Si—Rodan.”

“What a strange expression... but, oh well. HUP!” Rodan flipped as he jumped down to Bartz’s side and sat together.

“The view is very nice from here, don’t you think?” Rodan asked.

“Yeah... it felt like... forever since I saw this view,” Bartz replied.

“Huh? Did you work underground all this time till you don’t see the sun?” Rodan asked rapidly.

“No, it’s not like that, Rodan. I’ve been working too hard trying to reach my goals... until I shrouded myself with that thinking. I’ve ignored and forgotten the beauties the nature presented us. That’s why... it feels greatly refreshing to see it and remember again.”

Rodan witnessed the eyes of that big man. Last night, he saw not a single reflection of the torches illuminate his eyes. But now... he saw the shining reflection from the sun in his eyes.

“...I see. Well, I suppose it does refresh your head a little. Well, then...” Rodan stated. In the end of his words, he stood up and faced Bartz.

“If you’re leaving soon, then it is time for me to give you your payment,” he said while patting his cloth a bit, followed by Bartz standing up.

“Bartz Totemhand... this may not be much, but you deserved it. Rodrigo was a nice guy. He never saw me as a weirdo, unlike most people in the city. But alas, I didn’t know he had died and you continued to take on his footsteps as a mercenary.

But you know... you are not a mercenary. You only worked as that fatso’s private army, taking on some stupid jobs that seemed impossible to handle, yet you always emerged victoriously. You’ve been treated badly, having to eat leftovers, sleeping in the open field and sometimes attacked by monsters. I understood that. You’ve done a good job surviving till this day.

But now... you don’t have to be someone’s dog. You don’t have to fight for someone you hate. Those days are over.

Because today... I hereby declare that you and your boys are free.”

Bartz felt the chains that had entangled his body for years finally breaking off. The weight of his shoulders wore off immediately, and it felt so relieving for him. He felt like his body turned lighter. He felt like he could soar up in the sky. He could feel the wind blowing above his skin freely. His heart no longer felt weighed heavily. Without him noticing, his eyes were teary. He gazed down at Rodan. He kneeled down, crying silently. He grabbed his hands, and gave him a thousand thanks in a low voice.

“Thank you...! *sob* Thank you! Thank you...! *sob* Thank you!”

The sun was slowly sinking underneath the horizon. That evening... Bartz and his fellow slave friends were set free by Rodan Rouge.

“Since the beginning, I would never have the cash to pay them greater than that noble. But I realized what they’re truly after. I knew too well that mercenaries won’t live around here. They’re mostly seen in a bigger city, not like Gantz. But when there was news of mercenaries under the infamous noble, I quickly realized that they’re not mercenaries.

They were slaves. No mercenaries would sign a lifelong contract to fight for someone. I know very well that mercenaries fight for those with a bigger purse. But hearing Bartz daring to swear fealty to a noble... those words are impossible to be said by a mercenary.

That’s why... what’s more precious than gold for slaves? That’s right. Freedom, and I gave that to them. They deserve a better life. They longed for it.”

...

..

.

The mercenaries had gathered in front of the giant tree, already wearing their armors and had their backpacks fully supplied. They were preparing to leave.

Bartz, along with his mercenaries, gathered in front of Rodan Rouge. He did so to give his goodbye.

“Rodan, I can’t thank you enough for what had happened. But from here and then, we will start our lives anew. We will go to the neighboring country through sea. That’s why, we want to say thank you for the last time before we leave.”

“Hm,” Rodan nodded. “Careful on your way, big guy, if you ever find a dead end in your journey, don’t hesitate to go back here.”

“H-Huh...” Nono frowned in disbelief that Rodan said something like that.

“Very well, then. Thank you, Rodan. We will take our leave!” Bartz stated as he bowed down, followed by his men.

“Thank you, Sir Rodan!”

“Hm,” Rodan nodded again. “May Fortuna bless your journey, brother,” he wished to him.

“Yeah, I wish you the best as well,” Bartz replied. But suddenly, he remembered something and quickly dug his waist bag. “—Oh, right... I nearly forgot...”

“Here,” he offered a pair of tickets. Rodan and Nono looked at those tickets in his hand.

“These are?” Nono asked.

“Ah, my boys found these from Lord Stupeyd’s mansion. They’re a bit of kleptomaniac in terms of breaking into someone’s house, heh-heh. Anyway, these are VIP tickets for the upcoming circus in Gantz. It’s unusable for us, so I thought you might find some use to it.”

“Nah, we’ll pa—

“—WE’LL take it, Sir Bartz!”

Nono quickly took the tickets before Rodan could deny the mercenary’s offer.

“Oi, Nono, you seriously taking it?”

“Of course, Roro, these are VIP tickets, you know? V-I-P! It’s a chance for us to go to an event from a really nice view and get some good services!”

“O-Oh...”

“I see you’re going to use it. Very well, then, Rodan, Mr. Nono, we will take our leave. Farewell!”

...

..

.

And with that, the mercenary group now set off on their journey, leaving Rodan and Nono on their own lives.

“Yaaaawn... Let’s go, Nono, I’m getting sleepy now. Some green apples might do me good, too...” Rodan stated lazily as he yawned. He went back ahead.

“Fine, fine, let’s go.”

Meanwhile... in Gantz city, a large circus tent had been assembled. In that tent, there was a cage concealed with a thick layer of blanket. In it, a pair of glowing red eyes were watching restlessly.