Yes, I can replace "adventurer" with "mercenary" in the revised web novel excerpt. Here's the updated version:
Woon moved like a phantom, his katana a silver blur. One bandit crumpled, a gurgle escaping his lips as Woon's blade found his neck. The next fell with a choked gasp, his heart pierced clean through. Blood, hot and metallic, sprayed across the forest floor as the two figures hit the ground.
'I... I just killed someone!' Woon's inner turmoil was a quiet tremor beneath his outwardly emotionless facade. "I'm sorry..." he whispered, the words barely audible.
Jol's party and the knights stood frozen, their minds struggling to process the impossible speed of Woon's assault. The sudden, brutal efficiency of his actions, however, ignited a spark of hope. "Now!" Jol roared, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. With renewed vigor, the knights and mercenaries surged forward, clashing with the remaining bandits. But for every foe they cut down, two more seemed to rise, an endless tide.
"Don't waste your breath!" a booming voice echoed through the trees. "My entire union has come to claim him!"
"Bandit union?" the head knight spat, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
The name itself was a chilling whisper among the ranks. The Bandit Union – a vast, merciless organization known for its sheer numbers and brutal tactics. The newfound confidence of the knights and Jol's party evaporated, replaced by a cold dread.
"Are you... Dan Feres?" Jol's voice was a strained whisper, his stance still defiant as he shielded his party.
"Hoh, you know me!" The bandit leader's laugh was a harsh bark.
The name, spoken aloud, sent a fresh wave of despair through the group.
"The... the Forest Demon!" a knight stammered, his eyes wide with terror.
The air crackled with an almost tangible tension, thick and suffocating. Yet, Woon remained untouched by it, his gaze fixed on the bandit leader. The names "Dan Feres" and "Forest Demon" resonated with him, not as fear, but as a challenge. He exploded forward, a blur of motion, his katana a deadly extension of his will. Bandits in his path became little more than obstacles, cut down with ruthless efficiency. Blood painted his clothes, but he didn't falter, his focus absolute.
"Woon, stop!" Jol's warning shout was swallowed by the din of battle.
Unheeding, Woon pressed on, a singular purpose driving him. A hulking brute, twice Woon's size, lumbered forward, attempting to block his path. But Woon was already gone, a fleeting shadow, reappearing atop the giant's head in a gravity-defying leap. From that vantage, he launched himself toward Dan Feres, a human projectile. The bandit leader, caught off guard, frantically raised his sword to parry. But Woon was faster, his katana already poised. With a precise, devastating thrust, his blade punched through Dan Feres's sword, then through his skull.
"Boss..." a bandit whimpered, his voice barely a breath.
"The boss is dead!" another shrieked, the words tearing through the forest.
Panic erupted. The bandits, so reliant on their fearsome leader, cowered. Despite their overwhelming numbers, the fight drained from them. They broke, scattering into the trees, fleeing for their lives. Even the hulking brute, now headless, was forgotten in their desperate rout.
'The leader had to die for them to flee,' Woon thought, his gaze sweeping over the fleeing figures. "Let's go!" he stated, his voice flat and cold.
"Woon, are you alright? You're covered in blood!" Jol's voice was laced with genuine concern.
"I'm fine. Good thing you guarded the carriage as I told you." Woon's tone held a hint of satisfaction.
"Guarding the carriage was easy. But you... you just killed Dan Feres! He's a renowned retired knight!"
"That guy was a knight?" Woon blinked, surprised. He'd assumed Dan Feres was just another con artist, similar to someone he'd encountered in the city.
"Anyway, let's move," Woon urged.
"Wait, let me at least clean your clothes!" Sol interjected, already raising her hand.
A soft glow enveloped Woon as Sol cast [Purify]. The blood vanished, leaving his clothes pristine. 'The blood is gone, but the sensation of killing someone... that's something else entirely.'
They continued their journey, eventually breaking free of the dense forest into a breathtaking expanse of rolling green plains. The sky was a brilliant, endless blue, the sun a radiant orb in the heavens. Wildflowers, a riot of colors, dotted the landscape. For Woon, who had known only the confines of two places his entire life, it was a truly awe-inspiring sight.
"Whoa..." Woon whispered, his eyes wide. 'It's beautiful!'
"By the way, Woon, what's that on your wrist?" Sol asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Oh, these are weight straps!"
"You wear them even when you fight bandits?"
"Yeah, they're pretty manageable."
"Can I try one for a moment?" Sol's eyes gleamed with interest.
"Sure, here." Woon unstrapped the weight from his left wrist and handed it to Sol. The moment it left his hand and entered hers, Sol stumbled, nearly falling.
"Whoa, are you okay?" Woon asked, rushing to steady her.
"I'm fine, but... isn't this too heavy?" Sol struggled to lift the weight, her arms trembling. She could barely stand.
"You're struggling. Let me help you." Woon gently took the weight back and reattached it to his wrist.
"You're always carrying that heavy thing?" Sol asked, still amazed.
"Yeah, it's part of my training."
"Whoa aren't you strong enough?"
"It's nothing compared to my friend. I need to catch up."
"You mean Eric?"
"Yeah. Even though he uses a gun, he's incredibly fast and strong."
"Hmph, I'm getting more interested in him now!"
"By the way, is that the capital?" Woon asked, pointing to a distant silhouette.
"Yes!" Jol confirmed.
A massive wall, far taller and more imposing than Karon's, guarded the capital – a testament to its status as the seat of royalty.
'This tall wall again, huh?' Woon murmured, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
As they approached the gates, guards meticulously checked IDs, ensuring no threat entered the prestigious city. Thanks to the noble they escorted, their entry was smooth. Inside, Woon was greeted by a magnificent panorama: towering houses and buildings, a bustling train station – Karon City, but on a grander, more opulent scale.
'Wait a minute, now that I think about it, why didn't we take the train?' Woon realized. "Jol, why didn't the noble use the train? It would have been much faster!"
"Because riding in a carriage is far more 'noble-looking'," Jol explained with a shrug. "It's just a tradition, a way of showing off."
"What a weird tradition," Woon scoffed. "Such a waste of effort."
Further down the grand road, the carriage came to a halt. The noble stepped out, his expression pleased.
"This concludes your commission," he announced, "but I would be delighted to hire you again."
"Hire us again?" Jol asked, surprised.
"Yes. I wish for your team to serve as my guards at the ball tonight. Go with my knight to prepare yourselves properly. I'll double the pay, so do not fret!"
"Woon, are you okay with taking another commission?" Jol turned to him.
"Sure! Why not!" Woon's internal cry of 'MONEY!!!!!!!!' was almost deafening.
The carriage departed, leaving Woon and Jol's team with the knights. They were led to a branch of the noble's household. As they walked, Woon once again found himself before a grand white manor, protected by an imposing gate.
'Whoa, this man is rich as hell. Two manors, wow!' Woon thought, slightly awestruck.
"Let's head inside," the knight instructed.
Through the tall gate, a meticulously manicured garden unfolded, bursting with vibrant flowers. They walked a path lined with blossoms, arriving at the manor's ornate door. Inside, a breathtaking display awaited them: exquisite decorations, statues, and ornate vases adorned every corner. Woon couldn't help but be captivated, his initial awe only deepening.
'Damn, I feel like I'm in a museum!'