With a different kind of anticipation than I had for the Barbarian Kargar, I watched Paladin Leon’s first mission.
While Kargar had no real technique due to his innate physical abilities, I was deeply interested in the combat style of a Paladin, a class that didn’t exist for Hunters.
“Let’s get some business hints.”
Through the real-time hologram broadcast, a terrified rookie Hunter sent a request to hire Leon as a mercenary through the Rocket Store.
As soon as the request was accepted, Leon and Albert appeared beside her in a flash of holy light.
They opened their eyes wide, seemingly startled by the bizarre landscape surrounding them.
It looked like they were just as surprised as the person who had summoned them.
“Where… is this place?” Leon asked the Hunter cautiously.
Albert also took a defensive stance, scanning the surroundings.
“Well, that’s the normal reaction.”
Kargar was such a simple-minded Barbarian that he hadn’t cared at all about being transported to another dimension.
It wasn’t that Kargar was special; Albert’s reaction was probably the most common one.
“Is it correct that we were summoned by your call? Are you the one who hired us? What is the mission I must perform?”
The rookie Hunter looked visibly flustered by the barrage of questions.
“What? Yes… I hired you. You’re the ones from the Rocket Store, right? Right now, we’re on the 3rd floor of the Tower, in the Red Fang Forest! Please help me clear this place.”
At her words, Leon and Albert nodded and quickly assessed the situation.
“I see. Understood. We will prepare before commencing the mission. Albert?”
“Yes!”
As his squire, Albert didn’t just follow Leon around.
“Could you lend me the weapon you use for a moment?”
“Huh? Here it is.”
Albert took Leon’s weapon, his own equipment, and even the rookie Hunter’s gear, meticulously wiping and maintaining them.
“It doesn’t look like he’s just wiping them.”
Every time Albert’s hands touched them, the armor and blades began to shine.
“Could he be applying a buff?”
In our world, there were no buffs other than those provided by a Buffer.
However, just like the Halfling’s cooking, this observation proved that other worlds had their own unique methods.
“Observing those from other worlds is definitely meaningful.”
When Albert finished maintenance, a faint radiance emanated from the Hunter’s weapon and armor.
The rookie Hunter couldn’t hide her amazement at the equipment, which now sparkled as if it were brand new.
As Albert gave a light nod, Leon stepped forward this time.
“Now, could you hand your weapon to me for a moment?”
“Yes!”
Leon received the Hunter’s weapon.
Holding the sword with both hands, he closed his eyes with a solemn expression.
“O Artemia, Goddess of Light and Justice. Purify this blade with your noble and pure light and illuminate our path. Grant this edge the power to pierce through darkness and destroy injustice. I command in your name, let the wicked monsters blocking the path of your servant fall before your judgment.”
As the low prayer flowed from Leon’s lips, an intense light burst simultaneously from his weapon and the one the rookie Hunter held.
The light enveloped the entire weapon before sinking deep into the blade.
The Hunter’s eyes widened again as the sword glowed even brighter than when Albert had finished cleaning it.
“Wow! That’s amazing!”
I was just as surprised.
“There’s a skill that applies a buff directly to a weapon?”
Until now, Buffers on Earth used magic to strengthen the target’s physical abilities.
A buff that infused power directly into a weapon, like the one Leon performed, did not exist.
It was a style of buff entirely different from the Halfling’s cooking.
“That means there’s a possibility they can stack.”
As expected, this world was filled with methods far more diverse and interesting than I had thought.
I felt this could be another great idea to apply to the business.
“If I can contract a High Priest from Leon’s world, it might become a mandatory course for boss raids, just like Finch’s case.”
After that, the battle for Leon’s party, now equipped with enhanced gear, began.
This was also very interesting.
Leon chose to withstand the Red Wolves’ attacks firmly rather than dodging them.
He immediately healed the minor wounds he sustained by chanting healing spells.
This instantaneous recovery ability, performed intermittently during battle, turned him into a terrifying tank.
“A tank that heals himself while holding the front line. That’s a totally broken class.”
As the Red Wolves’ onslaught grew fiercer, Leon created some distance and pointed his sword forward.
“Artemia, shine your light upon our path.”
As Leon muttered the prayer, his blade glowed faintly, and the fur of the Red Wolves in front of him lost its luster.
“He can even cast debuffs by himself?”
Albert, standing behind, wasn’t just idling either.
After casting a spell for a short time, a flash erupted from Albert’s hand, temporarily blinding some of the wolves ahead.
During the brief moment the wolves clutched their eyes and stumbled, the rookie Hunter and Leon safely took down the Red Fang pack.
Furthermore, Albert provided strategic support from behind Leon, handing him necessary potions or distracting the monsters’ aggro.
While there weren’t overwhelming combat scenes like Kargar’s, Leon’s party successfully cleared the 3rd floor step by step.
“Considering the hiring cost and Leon’s stable style, I think more Hunters will prefer him.”
Looking at various reviews, Kargar possessed overwhelming power but had the flaw of blindly charging whenever a monster appeared.
“It’s only because Kargar is overwhelmingly stronger than the monsters he faces. In party play, that’s the worst way to act.”
“Leon, Albert. Thank you so much. Thanks to you, I cleared the 3rd floor safely! The Rocket Store is seriously amazing. Can I hire you again if I have the chance?”
“I am also grateful. Please call us whenever you need us.”
“Oh, you’re so handsome and your personality is so nice! Leon, you’re exactly my type!”
After the mission, the rookie Hunter showered Leon with cheers, impressed by his outstanding combat skills and handsome looks.
She expressed her gratitude shyly, and Leon responded with a bright smile.
“What’s this? The atmosphere is heartwarming, I got the coins, and the job ended well… but I feel strangely annoyed.”
While I was the one stuck in this room.
Leon was using his handsome face to capture the hearts of the opposite sex even across dimensions.
Is being handsome really the best?
“Tsk. It’s not like I have an ugly face.”
As I muttered to myself while looking in a small mirror, Aria suddenly popped up beside me with a bright expression.
“That’s true, Guardian!”
“Right?”
Just as I was about to feel good and act smug.
“But Leon is way more handsome!”
My expression froze at Aria’s next words.
“…I know that too!”
Just then, a growl echoed from my stomach.
Since I had watched the entire 3rd-floor clear, it was natural to be hungry.
It was time for a late lunch.
I remembered the Sweet Potato Pie that Aria had luckily managed to reserve yesterday.
“Should we have the Sweet Potato Pie for lunch today?”
“Yes, that sounds great.”
I cut a slice of pie and handed it to Aria.
As soon as she put a piece in her mouth, her eyes widened, and she expressed her admiration with her whole body.
“Wow! Seriously amazing! This is so delicious, Guardian! It’s the best pie I’ve ever eaten in my life!”
Aria made a huge fuss while stuffing the pie into her mouth.
I quietly ate my portion and thought.
“I’ve succeeded in recreating about 80% of the original Halfling-style Sweet Potato Pie I had before. For being made with limited ingredients, this is a good effort.”
It was delicious, but it didn’t reach the perfect flavor of the original pie I had eaten previously.
Aria then tilted her head in confusion.
“Guardian, this isn’t 100%?”
“Well, the ingredient supply for the Rocket Store isn’t perfect yet.”
At my words, Aria’s eyes sparkled with even greater anticipation.
“Really? Then how much better does the 100% version taste?”
A smile formed at Aria’s pure excitement.
“Once the Rocket Store has all the ingredients related to the recipe and Chef Hunters on Earth can make it, let’s eat it again.”
At my promise, Aria clapped her hands with a face full of joy.
“Wow, really? I’d love that, Guardian!”
After filling my stomach, I looked for Leon’s reviews that must have been posted while I was eating lunch.
Sure enough.
As soon as I logged in, a post with a noticeable title was at the top of the popular posts section.
Even though it was a very recent post.
[Rocket Store’s new mercenary Leon review! So handsome!]
I just got back from clearing the 3rd floor, and the new mercenary is incredible! First of all, his face literally glows, but his skills shine even more. He maintained my gear and even put a buff on my weapon. Plus, he even healed me! Is he actually an angel? The squire Albert was cute too. He didn’t just play around in the back; he maintained equipment and provided support with light magic during combat. Anyway, a solo hunter like me wouldn’t have even dreamed of doing this, but I cleared it thanks to Leon. When I told him thank you so much, he gave me a bright smile… Wow. Seriously, I’m only hiring Leon from now on.
– Does he really look like that in person? No photo fraud on the Rocket Store?
L(Author) Totally the same. If anything, the photo didn’t do him justice.
L I’m making the next reservation.
L Get in line. I’m first.
– With that face, is his personality sweet too?
L Being handsome and having a good personality? That’s cheating.
– I want to be saved by Leon too.
L You sound pretty gay.
L Still, he’s a Paladin who serves a God. Do you think he’d go for that?
[Following the Barbarian and Halfling, we have a human too?]
Kargar is a Barbarian and the Halfling chef is a demi-human. But the mercenary who came this time is a human just like us? I wonder if there are various kinds of humans from different worlds like in novels or movies.
– That gives me goosebumps. It could really be true.
– Seems like the worlds they live in are quite different though. Seeing as there’s a Goddess.
L I want to see the Goddess. She’s probably pretty, right?
L Is that all you can think about?
L Isn’t she a literal Goddess?
L Actually, I’m curious too.
L Same lol.
– But seriously, how many worlds is the Rocket Store owner interacting with?
L – Based on what’s confirmed right now, isn’t it four?
L Five.
L Five? Isn’t it four—Halfling, Barbarian, Halfling, and this mercenary?
L No, no. Among the potions newly stocked last time, there’s a Snake Scale Shield Potion made by a Lamia.
L I didn’t know that. Learned something new. Thx.
Besides these, there were many posts analyzing cost-effectiveness and efficiency by comparing him with Kargar.
[Leon Cost-Effectiveness Analysis]
I read through the reviews and comments that just went up. While Kargar has overwhelming power, Leon seems to be a stable mercenary specialized for ideal party play. Since he can handle direct combat as well as healing and buffs, I think he’s perfect for tackling most monsters.
– Fr fr. Solo challenges are hard because of the offense/defense balance, but Leon stands in front as a tank while handling DPS and healing all at once.
– He’s not exactly at the level of a professional Buffer, but considering the 3,000 coin cost for blessings and equipment maintenance, isn’t the cost-effectiveness insane?
L Since the only baseline we had was the Barbarian, it’s hard to make a simple comparison. It’ll probably depend on which floor you’re challenging.
L Yeah, since high floors require raw combat power anyway, Kargar was better.
L By the way, why was Kargar’s contract only temporary?
L Who knows? He probably has his reasons.
– You have to see Leon as specialized for the lower floors. Isn’t his hireable range only up to the 10th floor?
L Correct. For anything below the 10th floor, Leon is definitely better than hiring Kargar. Both in terms of cost-effectiveness and stability.
L Fr, this is it.
[More importantly, isn’t the Rocket Store owner watching this?]
People asked for cheaper mercenaries, and he actually added one. Don’t you think the Rocket Store owner is reading the posts in this community?
– No way. It’s probably just a coincidence.
L If it’s true, that’s insane.
L But what if he really is watching…?
L (Author) I’m half-doubting it myself, which is why I wrote this.
– If you’re really watching, can you add a Lizardman mercenary? Or other beast-folk? Please. I have plenty of coins.
– You’re a suspiciously wealthy furry.
L I just want to see a reliable Lizardman. Don’t slander me.
L Sure you do.
– I wish more Halfling dishes like the pie would be added.
L Fr, I keep thinking about that pie.
L All of you are just showing off that you’ve eaten it.
L Kim Yu-seong makes and sells them. Just buy and eat those.
L Even those reservations are overflowing. Should’ve done it on the first day.
I flashed a satisfied smile seeing the heated reaction from the community.
If I continue to add mercenaries of various races in the future, my passive income will grow even faster, right?
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