Chapter 20:First Mission (Please add to your favorites)

To most mercenaries, this rating was an eye-feast.

Rare Harvisa action; Alicia’s style etched deep.

Magic-martial fusion combat—crowd worshipped.

Instant hot topic: Alicia and Harvisa.

“Decisive, swift strikes—beautiful.”

Longsword sheathed, Harvisa approving smile.

“I lost, Miss Alicia. Congrats passing mercenary rating.”

“Master Harvisa flatters. I all-in; you held back.”

Alicia faint smile; [Magic Sword · True World] faded magic glow.

Itztis auto-contracted, back to hand.

“Trumps exist for moments—no play, no trump.”

Harvisa shoulder pat, laughed.

Alicia nod courtesy, turned to approaching Moros.

“Congrats, Miss Alicia. By performance, as Winterhold president, grant Jade Steel mercenary rank.”

Alicia took cyan-green metal badge symbolizing status, strength.

Guild ranks eight: Porcelain, Obsidian, Hill Copper, Jade Steel, Silver, Mithril, Gold, Platinum.

Rating not pure strength—task completion, society contribution.

Jade Steel reasonable.

“Cosette, Miss Alicia—strong, but recruit fast rebuild.”

Moros stroked white beard, advised.

“Individual power limited; group not one-two run. Year-end far, but frank—not optimistic escape disband.”

Alicia solemn nod.

Knew challenges ahead.

But manpower—no quick fix.

Just her, Cosette—rash mass recruit risky.

First: cliques, split voice.

Second: picks. Mercenaries pragmatic—strong resent below, weak freeload.

Stable growth hard.

Empty shell no—needed experience, energy; Moros doubt reason.

Rating done, Alicia task board scouting.

“Stage now—clear monsters only.”

Pile tasks—picked goblin subjugation.

Not no higher—manpower limit, others time-heavy.

No reward chase, fast guild points—grinding fit; goblins born for it.

Task taken, straight guild armory.

Low task, no slack.

Walt funds—spend or waste cute coins.

“Just goblin nest clear, Miss Alicia—no need mobilize? These costly.”

Cosette toyed single-action revolver, sweatdrop.

“Goblins low, but dumb not stupid—close but careless loss big.”

Alicia checked items, explained; donned riveted chain hauberk, coat over.

“Magic power big, but chant, mental drain. Guns different—even child lethal, convenience magic no match.”

Excited revolver spins, grave to Cosette.

“Plus, spell one hand, draw shoot other—cool?”

Alicia lost world; Cosette helpless sigh, silent gear up.

Still think mere goblins need this?

…

Target goblin nest northwest Winterhold mountains.

Former pioneer point—snow disaster pre-build, beastmen south raid, abandoned.

Later goblin occupied.

Mountains fine, but now raid villages, fields.

North Valanvis martial— no tolerate; armed resist.

Initial repels—goblins vanish, villagers thought end.

But shifted.

No front clash—ambush lone, capture women, night arson fields.

Border troops beastman watch—no time small fry.

Harassed villagers pooled, guild solve.

Background grasped—Alicia headache.

Brief wordy, key info zero.

Nest where unknown, numbers unknown, shaman/giant unknown.

All unknown.