The Regressed SSS-Rank Water Mage Wants To Live a Calm Life-Chapter 21: The Seventh S-rank!

"And I was already deep into the military, a renowned captain. A fragile, coreless one, so I couldn’t easily retire. Luckily for me, the ’Great Orcan War’ ended back then, and when I finally got my time off, that was when I met my wife. So you see, she persuaded me to quit the military. After all, there was nothing left for me there. We’d gotten married and were even expecting a child at the time, and we needed a source of income. And.. I had no other ability apart from practiced brutality with my sword. And so I decided to become a mercenary."

"So you see why she hated it and was against it in the first place?" Vin sighed. "I could get killed any day as a mercenary, just like I could on the battlefield." The man’s voice grew solemn now. "She hates that fact, knowing that we have two children now who need their father. It must be painful for her, watching me go out every single day, and hoping I come home that night. And I didn’t even make much, just enough to keep us four afloat. But now, Max! Ah, I’m sorry, I’m going to thank you again."

"What? No!" Maxwell raised a hand, almost sweating in nervousness. "I– I never knew that was what you’d been through. Knowing this now, it makes sense you’d hate nobles, people who have easy lives from the very day they’re born."

Vin chuckled, shaking his head.

"No, that wasn’t the reason. It wasn’t because they have it easy and still take pride in themselves, no. It’s because I didn’t have a life like theirs. It’s because I was jealous. But... ’was.’ I’ve had a change of heart, now I believe that not every..." Vin gazed at Maxwell intensely now, a bright light shining in his eyes. "Not every noble is the same. Actually, not every man is the same. And I should work to improve myself, instead of envying those who have it better than me."

Maxwell nodded, quite pleased.

"You’re a good guy."

Vin raised a brow, smirking.

"I’m not."

"Sirs, would you like the cash in silver or in gold?" The receptionist suddenly asked, pulling the mercenaries out of their conversation.

Maxwell and Vin turned to the young lady, their faces carrying heavy expressions that made her gulp.

"Gold."

"Silver."

The receptionist blinked.

Vin and Maxwell gazed at each other, then, simultaneously, they frowned.

"Gold’s better, no?" Max asked.

"No," Vin shook his head. "I think it’ll be better if it’s silver."

"But gold has more worth."

"But the silver will be plentiful. More quantity."

They glared at each other. Then, they turned to the receptionist once more.

"Gold."

"Silver."

The young lady shook her head, sighing as she wiped off sweat.

"Which is it, sirs?"

Maxwell suddenly chuckled, waving a hand.

"Fine. Silver it is."

Vin blinked.

"No, make it gold."

Maxwell gazed at Vin, raising a brow.

"Okay, fine."

The receptionist’s shoulders slumped, and her professional smile found its way back to her lips.

"That’ll be 250 gold coins each, sirs!" The lady dropped her pen, and she stood up. "Please wait a minute while I bring the rewards from the vault. And the licenses."

Maxwell nodded, and his gaze returned to Vin as the receptionist left.

"So, your wife. She’s satisfied with your promotion and the possible executive offer?"

Vin’s eyes widened.

"Mn," he nodded. "She’s happy for now. Guess you could say the positivity of getting the promotion clouded the negative fact that it’ll only get more dangerous."

"Exactly what I wanted to say."

"That’s why I’m going to retire early... once I get enough money, of course. I’m giving myself four years."

Max’s eyes widened.

"Why?"

At that moment, Frilo, the spirit of eternal waters, awoke from Maxwell’s hair, flying high, and it began to drift, flapping its tiny wings as trails of azure energy leaked from it. A low buzzing sound echoed. But superseding the buzzing sound was a cute-sounding squeal. It smiled and danced in the air as it spotted the brown-haired, middle-aged mercenary speaking with its master.

Hurriedly and merrily, it made its way to the man. Vin.

And... sat on his hair.

"Why?" Vin chuckled, sniffing. His smile reached his eyes, and he raised an arm, moving his fingers through the air as if trying to touch something he couldn’t quite sense. "Because I want to see my little boy finally take his first steps. I want to watch him grow, I want to be a present father in his life, even teach him swordsmanship if possible. I want my daughter to be proud to call me her father, to be able to brag to her peers that her father loves her unconditionally. I want to fulfill all the promises I’ve made to my wife. The ones that I wasn’t sure I could ever keep until now. I want to travel the world with her, and experience countless thi–"

"So, you’re doing it all for love?"

Vin raised a brow, then furrowed said brow. He then curved his lips downward a little, then nodded. Finally, he smiled, and his face brightened.

"Well," Vin scratched his head. "I guess you could say that. It’s a beautiful thing, this love. I never expected a washed-up soldier like me could ever find it." He chuckled, and then he gazed at Max, who smiled... sadly. And he asked, "What about you, Max? What do you know about love?"

Maxwell blinked, then smiled a somber smile.

"Love, huh." He shrugged. "I know nothing of love. It’s.. beyond me, beyond reason, if I can say. It’s one of the few things I haven’t — and I’m not sure I’ll ever — grasped. But you’re right. It’s really, really beautiful."

Vin noticed Maxwell’s last sentence, and he grinned. A mischievous, knowing grin.

"You speak like a man who’s been in love," Vin said. "Have you been in love, Maxwell?"

Max turned away, cold sweat gathering at his neck.

Just then, the receptionist arrived, holding two heavy brown sacks in both arms.

Maxwell exhaled in relief.

"She’s back."

Vin turned toward the lady.

Reaching the desk, she dropped the sacks on top. And from within the pockets of her uniform, she brought out two cards and placed them on the table.

One was gold, and the other was silver.

Maxwell and Vin gazed at the cards. Their new licenses. Even Frilo gazed at them with wonder.

"Congratulations!" The receptionist cheered.