Chương 249: Chapter 247 – Mercenary Tryouts.

"The pay better be good."

"Hey, stop shoving or I'll stick my boot up your ass!"

"I'd like to see you try!" Grown men shouted at each other as the crowd thickened near the guild's outer courtyard. They were far from orderly, and on this day tensions were running high. There were over a hundred people here, many of whom had not been in the settlement before the announcement. It seemed the locals were clashing with the new arrivals, as if they were trying to take away their chances at securing a position.

'Are they going to fight?' Rusty stood among them, his posture relaxed and his presence deliberately unremarkable. His armor was hidden beneath a loose fitting robe, and he leaned against a wall in the shade. To anyone watching, he was just another mercenary hoping to earn a quick coin. Today was the day a new company of mercenaries would be chosen, or so he believed. The place was rowdy, with factions already forming among the groups as the adventurers glared at one another. It was not just adventurers either.

Old soldiers and even disgraced knights had gathered here in hopes of finding a position. They all knew that this new mercenary band would have special privileges, much like the Black Hounds. They would be untouchable within the settlement due to their ties to the baron, and the pay would be good as well. To Rusty, this was a strange thing humans did. Taking part in dungeon raids and battles was the best way to grow stronger. Humans were not truly motivated by growth, though.

Instead, they were driven by money and prestige. As mercenaries, they would likely not grow much stronger, but they would not have to work as hard or risk expeditions into dangerous dungeons. A sharp crack echoed through the courtyard. Someone had shoved too hard. A burly man with a scarred jaw staggered back a step, then lunged forward and grabbed the front of another mercenary's tunic. The second man did not hesitate. His fist came swinging.

"Say that again!" He shouted as the punch missed its mark.

"I said you're gutter trash pretending to be a fighter!" The other man swung back, and his punch connected. Shouts erupted as the crowd formed a loose ring around the two. Some cheered. Others taunted. A few stepped back, unwilling to get dragged into the mess. Rusty did not move. He simply watched, always finding these humanoid displays of dominance rather interesting. To him, a monster that only cared about fighting monsters or individuals to gain experience, this made little sense.

The humanoids, on the other hand, loved throwing themselves into petty squabbles that rarely ended in anyone's death. It was all to show dominance and raise their social standing within the group. The winner earned cheers, while the loser was mocked and humiliated.

'Waste of time. They don't even train their skills properly during those.' The two men traded blows, neither particularly skilled. It was nothing but brute strength and pent up frustration. One of them reached for a dagger at his belt. That was when the mood shifted. Several others tensed. Hands moved to weapons. The invisible line between a brawl and bloodshed was about to be crossed, but Rusty knew better.

"What are you lot doing? Sheathe your blades!" A booming voice cut through the courtyard, sharp and commanding. The man with the dagger froze mid motion. Not out of obedience, but instinct. Heavy footsteps followed as a group of heavily armored men approached. At the front was the one who had shouted, clad in expensive looking armor that made Rusty's helmet shift slightly.

'That man… he looks stronger than the hound's leader.' This was a knight, and one of high rank at that. Rusty had some understanding of the noble power structure. At the bottom were the city guards, poorly equipped and barely trained compared to real soldiers. Above them stood professional troops and veteran mercenaries. Then came the knights, who served directly under nobles. This man commanded those knights.

'If I remember correctly, knights are divided into ranks. This one is probably a Knight Lieutenant.' A knight needed at least D-rank strength to earn the title. Above them were Knight Lieutenants, who stood at the peak of D-rank power. Then came Knight Captains, supposedly C-rank, followed by Knight Majors at B rank, and finally Knight Commanders at A rank. There were exceptions, of course. These humanoids sometimes elevated weaker individuals, and the opposite could also happen.

To Rusty's knowledge, there was a Knight Captain somewhere in this settlement, likely the strongest humanoid fighter around. This man, however, was only one of his subordinates. The armored knights stepped forward. There were exactly seven of them. They spread out to the sides, ensuring their leader could walk through without obstruction. The crowd of would be mercenaries fell silent, watching him with clear unease. Perhaps not fear of his personal strength, but of what he represented. The noble.

Rusty adjusted his stance slightly, still leaning against the wall, his attention now fully fixed on the knight. The man's armor was not just for show. Even without activating any form of identification, Rusty could feel it.

'Let's see…' Classification: Hamund Burtone [Knight L 45] Type: Human Class Path: Fighter - > Squire - > Knight Description: A Knight is a D-rank class focused on heavy armored combat. It is proficient with a wide range of weapons and is often considered a jack of all trades among martial paths. Balanced between offense and defense, a Knight can adapt to most battlefield roles while maintaining strong survivability. Rusty looked at the window and read through it.

Knight was a D-rank class with few clear weaknesses, but also few standout strengths beyond its proficiency in fighting while wearing heavy armor. Further class advancements would allow knights to specialize in different combat styles, whether with shields, swords, or blunt weapons. In time, they could even become champions, crusaders, or paladins capable of wielding divine magic. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

'His level is above Varkas, but not by much. I should be able to take him.' The urge to fight him came instantly. Rusty wanted not only to defeat the man but also to take whatever skills he possessed. As a living armor monster, gaining abilities from humanoids who wore heavy armor was one of the most effective ways for him to grow stronger. Still, he was not here to cause trouble.

His goal was to be hired by the mercenaries, and although he believed he had enough strength to become their new leader, he was not certain that would be the right move. The knight's visor was raised, revealing a stern face shaped by years of training. He appeared to be in his thirties, his gaze sharp and assessing. His eyes moved across the gathered crowd, and Rusty caught something in them.

'Is it disgust or dissatisfaction?' It was clear the man did not want to be here. From what Rusty knew, knights and nobles often looked down on adventurers and common mercenaries. They saw them as expendable and avoided associating with them unless it was absolutely necessary.

"You come here to sell your blades, yet you turn them against each other before even being chosen?" His voice was controlled, though the earlier force behind it still lingered.

"If this is the quality of men gathered here, then I worry about the safety of this settlement. You should consider yourselves lucky that we need more men. Otherwise, you would all be disqualified immediately." The adventurers frowned at his tone. Still, he was not wrong. If not for the looming orc attack, these knights and nobles would never have considered forming a new mercenary company from such a disorganized group.

Some looked down while others clenched their jaws, clearly unhappy but smart enough to stay silent. The earlier fighters had already separated. One clutched his bruised jaw while the other wiped blood from his lip.

"Can they start the selection process already? This is taking forever."

"Patience, Rusty. We will deal with these fools later."

"There will be no dealing later Aburdon. It is just an old military tactic to see how well new recruits handle orders." Alexander replied to Aburdon, as they were among those waiting. It seemed the knights were testing the patience of the new mercenaries. Vague orders and long delays were common, and the ability to endure boredom was part of the job. Even so, battle strength remained the most important trait.

"Listen up, ingrates. If you are C-rank or above, step forward. The rest of you will remain where you are until called. Anyone who disobeys will be removed." The knight's voice carried across the courtyard with absolute authority. There was no hesitation in his tone, no room for argument. Yet no one stepped forward. No one here held that rank.

"Figures…" The Knight Lieutenant clicked his tongue when no one moved. This was a remote settlement, far from the larger cities where higher ranked adventurers gathered. A C-rank had better places to be than fighting orcs here and serving a corrupt baron.

"Very well. We will proceed with D-rank evaluations first. Step forward if you are D-rank. Remember, if you overstate your rank, you will be punished for wasting our time." It seemed the lower F and E-ranks would have to wait. Rusty remained still for a moment, watching adventurers and vagabonds step forward. Most of those gathered were E-rank. As for D-ranks, there were around twenty, including him.

"Move it!" No names were called. It seemed they only wanted to divide the groups first and determine who was fit for a leadership role. Finally, Rusty pushed himself off the wall and stepped forward. To be safe, he dismissed his two guides, unsure what might happen next. His head still bore Edmund's appearance, and with his possession skill improving, it looked more lifelike than ever. Around him, the other D-ranks carried themselves in different ways.

Some walked with confidence, others with forced bravado, and a few with the quiet caution of those who had survived more than their share of close calls.

"Twenty or so… the strongest seems to be that woman." When he arrived, he made sure to scan for potential opponents. The D-ranks here were roughly on par with those he had faced before, with only one standing clearly above the rest. Classification: Galiena [Heavy Axeman L 39] Type: Human/Beastman Class Path: Fighter - > Axe Fighter - > Heavy Axeman Description: The Heavy Axeman is a D-rank class that specializes in wielding large axes for devastating strikes.

Unlike standard fighters, this class emphasizes raw power over speed or finesse, relying on strength and momentum to overwhelm opponents. Heavy Axemen can cleave through shields, armor, and even multiple targets with a single swing, making them ideal for frontline assaults and breaking enemy formations. Rusty appreciated how far his identification skill had developed, allowing him to examine even humanoid classes. The woman was larger than most of the men present, with patches of fur covering parts of her body.

She appeared to be a mix of human and feline beastman. Her ears and eyes were distinctly catlike, though she seemed to lack a tail. Her build was muscular, and she wielded twin-bladed axes, each nearly as long as her forearms. Rusty tilted his head slightly as he analyzed her stance. Unlike Varkas, who relied on agility, she seemed to focus entirely on raw strength.

'She seems strong. I want to fight her.' To Rusty, she was the only opponent worth facing. He would soon get his chance as the Knight lieutenant raised his hand to silence the group.

"Listen closely, D-ranks. You will be tested to determine your strength and establish your ranking. The strongest among you will become the new mercenary leader. This position will be temporary. Later, we will test your obedience, teamwork, and strategic ability. For now, focus only on winning your battles. Each of you will spar one on one with another D-rank recruit. Do not kill. Excessive force will be punished. Understood?" A few nodded nervously, while others muttered complaints under their breath.

Some had likely assumed that reaching D-rank alone would secure them a position. Still, none stepped back. At this stage in their lives, they were all seasoned fighters, and the role promised greater prestige. There was no drawing of lots or calling of names. The Knights simply chose the order of combatants.

"You and you, step forward." The large woman he had been observing was selected first. Her opponent was the man who had earlier dodged a punch to the face. Rusty watched as the two D-ranks moved into the cleared space in the courtyard. The crowd fell quiet, the chatter fading into the sound of shifting boots and the occasional muttered curse. The woman's axes gleamed in the morning sun, while her opponent gripped a heavy longsword. Her opponent was close to her size, and his class was that of a heavy swordsman.

His level lagged behind hers, and soon the knight ordered them to start.

"Begin!" The man did not hesitate. He charged forward with his sword raised high above his head. It was a blunt practice weapon given to them by the knights, but it carried heavy momentum and was reinforced by a skill. Galiena did not step back. Instead, a grin spread across her face as she hurled herself forward with all her might. The muscles in her arms bulged as one of her axes met the descending blade. The clash rang out, and sparks burst from the impact.

The ground beneath their feet cracked slightly, and the man staggered back two full steps. His breath turned ragged, and it was clear he had not expected to lose a contest of strength.

"Weak!" The muscular woman shouted as she pressed the attack with savage swings of her axes. Her speed was not remarkable, but each strike carried enough force to shatter bone. The man tried to block, but it was a mistake. With every hit he absorbed through his sword, the strain on his hands increased until he could no longer hold on. His weapon spun out of his grip and flew through the air.

"Stop!" To everyone's surprise, the woman still stepped forward, clearly aiming her axes at the man's neck to cleave him in two. Her eyes glowed red, as if something had taken hold of her. Luckily for him, she managed to stop herself just before the blow landed.

"Control yourself!" The knight shouted but the woman only shrugged, still smiling. The test for mercenary captain had begun, and the one closest to claiming the position appeared to be a wild beast.