C247, 248, 249
Chapter 247: Gnometree (1)
Alchemists.
Beings capable of transforming magic stones into matter.
Even in Lafdonia, there weren't many people with this profession, so they were considered a crucial resource.
It was even more so in Noark, which was much more impoverished.
“Good morning, Miss Marlene!”
“Are you running errands for the Alchemist? It looks heavy. I’ll carry it for you.”
That was why everyone in the city treated Marlene kindly.
She was the only apprentice of the Alchemist.
Someday, after inheriting all his knowledge, she would be responsible for this city.
‘Grandfather’s body isn’t what it used to be…’
Honestly, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t burdened by this position.
But there was no one else who could do it.
So she had no choice but to be responsible and do her best.
It wasn’t a position with only duties.
“Grandfather!”
“I told you to call me Master.”
“Okay. Master! So, what about that item? Did it arrive?”
“Of course, it’s here. There are quite a few, so take what you need.”
The Alchemist tossed a two-way subspace pocket, and Marlene caught it and checked the contents.
The items she ordered were inside.
“Please tell them thank you!”
“Okay.”
Marlene whistled as she transferred the items to her personal bag.
It was a clear privilege.
If it weren’t for her position as the Alchemist’s apprentice, she wouldn’t have been able to use a two-way subspace pocket, a strategic item, for personal use…
…and the infiltrators who went to the city wouldn’t have even listened to her request in the first place.
“Wow, Grandfather! Try this. This bakery makes amazing cookies!”
“I told you to call me Master. Ah, the cookies are delicious.”
“But what’s that? It looks similar to an elixir, but that can’t be…”
“Haha, you have a good eye.”
“Huh? Is, is it really an el, elixir?”
Marlene, who was casually eating a cookie, jumped up.
After all, an elixir?
It was something even her master had only made five times in his entire life because the ingredients were so expensive and the production process was so difficult.
‘He said he already used two…’
There were only three elixirs left in Noark.
And one of them was currently in her master’s hand.
What was the reason?
The master smiled and told her as Marlene’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“You should also follow me and learn. We’re going to give the Dragonslayer, Regal Vagos, an elixir today and try to restore his memories depending on his recovery.”
“Regal Vagos, that mister…?”
Marlene involuntarily frowned.
“Why? Don’t you like him?”
“…He just looks scary.”
“Don’t judge people by their appearance. It’s because of his injuries. I heard he was quite handsome before he was burned. Well, I don’t particularly like him either.”
“R, really? I’m not the only one?”
“Haha, you always only hear what you want to hear.”
“Because it’s not just his appearance. He’s so rude. And he even talks informally to you…”
“That guy.”
An awkward silence fell, and then Marlene heard the details from her master.
The reason why that Dragonkin received such a precious elixir was simple.
Well, at least on the surface.
“They said they need to replenish the Corpse Collector’s forces since they were significantly weakened this time.”
“Is he that strong? I heard he was weakened by the curse.”
“His Dragon Speech is still special. He can’t use it freely, but… they expect him to be able to use it a few more times after taking the elixir.”
The captain of Orculus personally requested an elixir from the Lord, and the Lord granted it.
It was a one-sided demand, but they couldn’t help it.
They were also responsible for what happened to the Dragonkin.
They tried to treat him, but his condition worsened for some reason.
“Tsk, I still don’t know what happened. There was no reason for that to happen.”
“I think he’s just acting! He’s trying to frame us and gain the upper hand!”
“…I don’t think it’s an act, but I understand what you’re trying to say. The Lord shouldn’t be manipulated by them forever.”
Orculus was like a poisoned chalice.
They knew it was harmful, but they couldn’t let go.
“Alright, then let’s go now that we’re ready.”
Marlene then followed her master to the Dragonkin’s room.
“Groaaaaan…”
He couldn’t even speak properly, lying in bed.
His limbs were stiff, and he could only move his eyes.
“I know your hearing is fine, so I’ll just speak. You must be happy. The Lord has bestowed an elixir upon you.”
“Groan…”
“Then let’s begin right away.”
For reference, there wasn’t much to the treatment process.
After all, an elixir wasn’t an ordinary item.
“…….”
Carefully feeding him the elixir so that he wouldn’t spill it was the entire process.
The Dragonkin was able to sit up and speak after waiting for about 10 minutes after consuming it.
However…
“Damn it, what the hell did you guys do?”
…that was the first thing he said.
“No, what kind of bullshit did you do to make me worse after receiving treatment?!”
Marlene wanted to say something, but she barely held back, remembering what her master said before they came.
“Haha, that’s why I brought the elixir. Be understanding.”
“Ha, if you weren’t an alchemist…”
“Alright, then let’s move on to the next step since your body seems to have recovered.”
“Next step?”
“What we were going to do back then. We couldn’t because you suddenly collapsed, but we have to try to restore your lost memories now.”
“Is it… safe?”
“It might fail, but it won’t harm your body.”
“…I’ll trust you.”
The Dragonkin nodded arrogantly. Marlene was annoyed, but she couldn’t say anything when her master was just standing there.
“Here, drink this. It’s a potion called ‘Curse of Lethe’. Ah, and it might hurt a bit, but you’ll be able to endure it in your current state, so don’t worry too much.”
The Dragonkin took the potion with a dubious look and swallowed it.
“…It’s bitter.”
“Lie down now, the pain will come soon.”
The Dragonkin obediently followed his instructions and lay down on the bed again.
And after some time…
“……!”
…the Dragonkin, who had been sweating profusely and groaning in pain, opened his eyes again.
“How is it? Have your memories returned?”
“…I don’t know. I think so.”
“It might take some time.”
“It’s a strange feeling. I can clearly remember things from when I was young.”
“That’s because it’s that kind of potion.”
“More importantly, do you have anything sweet? I want something to cleanse my palate…”
The master looked at Marlene at the Dragonkin’s request.
It was a sign for her to give him something if she had it.
“…I’ll get it.”
Marlene quickly returned to her room and brought the cookies she had left behind.
But her master was gone when she came back.
“Your master was summoned by the Lord. So, what about the food?”
“Here…”
Marlene handed him the few cookies that were left.
She didn’t want to, but what could she do?
‘They were from Amelia…’
The Dragonkin, as if he wasn’t satisfied with just one, ate several cookies in one bite.
And after some time…
“Ugh… my head!!”
…the Dragonkin suddenly clutched his forehead.
As if he was remembering ‘that day’s memory’.
“Th, that’s right…! It, it was him…!”
The Dragonkin then looked into the distance and cheered.
But his joy didn’t last long.
“Keu, keugh!”
He coughed violently with a pained expression.
It wasn’t like something was stuck in his throat.
His skin, which was already red and blotchy from the burns, was swelling grotesquely.
‘Gr, Grandfather didn’t say there were side effects like this?’
Marlene’s mind went blank at the unexpected situation.
And at that moment…
“You!!”
…the Dragonkin suddenly reached out towards Marlene.
It was a gesture filled with clear hostility.
Marlene, who had only ever learned alchemy, couldn’t even react.
But…
“Ugh!”
…his hand didn’t reach her.
Because the Dragonkin lost his balance and fell off the bed as he was getting up.
“Keugh!”
Saliva dripped from his wide-open mouth.
If she wasn’t mistaken, there was also blood mixed in.
Then what the hell happened?
“You… what, what did you put in the… cookies…”
“No, no? They’re just ordinary cookies…”
Marlene answered in confusion, and the Dragonkin completely collapsed.
“…Da, damn bitch.”
He was still looking up, his neck veins bulging.
Of course, it didn’t last long.
Thud.
He limply lowered his head.
“Dr, dragon blood… is… incompatible with cinnamon…”
He was allergic to cinnamon.
______________________
「The activation condition for the Star’s Blessing has been met.」
______________________
The third vine disappeared.
I didn’t know why.
I guessed that maybe he was struck by divine punishment while making another evil plan.
After all, it was a sacred relic imbued with divine power.
Anyway, the reason wasn’t what I should be concerned about.
‘Damn it.’
Now that Dragonslayer bastard could come after me at any time.
It meant I had even more to worry about.
‘It’s only been a month since the second vine broke.’
How did this happen?
I couldn’t help but sigh.
After all, I wasn’t fully prepared yet.
‘I think I can handle him if he comes alone…’
The problem was that there was no guarantee he would come alone to take revenge.
What if he came with the Clown bastard?
Or if he brought a lot of subordinates?
‘And it seems like the barrier will be broken soon.’
The royal family had even found a way to break Noark’s barrier.
If travel between the surface and the underground became possible, I might even encounter the Dragonslayer in the city, not in the labyrinth.
Of course, that wasn’t something I should be worried about right now.
‘Why here…?’
I let out a silent sigh and glanced around.
“Bjorn, don’t tell me…!”
Misha, who knew what the vine ring meant, was just shocked.
But what about the knight?
“…?”
He seemed confused, wondering what the hell was going on.
However, the paladin was different.
“…It’s a sacred relic of our church. And a type I’ve never seen before.”
Sven Parab, the vice-captain of the 2nd Paladin Order of the Leathlas Church, narrowed his eyes.
As expected of a religious person, he recognized it as a sacred relic.
“Don’t tell me the oracle that came down before…”
“Stop.”
“Ah… I apologize.”
The paladin shut his mouth, realizing his mistake, as I cut him off.
But it was already too late.
“Then the protagonist of that oracle…”
“…The foundation of an escort mission is confidentiality, so don’t worry too much.”
Don’t worry, my ass.
They would tell their superiors everything.
‘…Ha, this is annoying.’
Three knights and one vice-captain.
Only four people knew the secret, but it was obvious that the number would increase.
Just how long would it take for it to reach the chieftain’s ears?
‘…They won’t really kick me out of the tribe, will they?’
Well, I didn’t know.
But it would definitely cause trouble.
The chieftain already seemed displeased with me becoming a noble. It was a hassle to persuade him, using the excuse that it was for the tribe.
‘…It will take a long time to reach the 9th-stage engraving.’
It was frustrating.
Especially since there was nothing I could do about it right now.
They would all say they would keep it a secret in front of me.
“Then I’ll be going now.”
Therefore, I just left the Grand Temple without saying anything.
What could I do about it now that it had already happened?
‘I have no choice but to take over the tribe as soon as possible.’
Everything would be solved if I became the chieftain and changed the tribe’s traditions.
And in that sense…
“Misha, you go back home.”
…I had something to do.
“Huh?”
“I’m going to stop by the sanctuary for a bit.”
Strike while the iron is hot, right?
I immediately parted ways with Misha and headed towards the sanctuary.
The knights didn’t follow me inside.
Because the barbarian tribe still maintained the tradition of prohibiting other races from entering.
“Then we’ll wait here.”
“I’ll be out around evening, so rest nearby.”
“Yes.”
A forest, a sight that was rare in the city, appeared as soon as I entered through the open gate.
But could it be because of my warrior’s body?
For some reason, this place felt more like home than Lee Hansu’s room, which I went to every time the community opened.
‘The air here is nice.’
I soon reached the residential area of the sanctuary as I was walking along the overgrown path.
Huts built haphazardly without any standards.
“Bjorn, son of Yandel, is a warrior blessed by the ancestor god and is invincible!”
“He’s a god and invincible!”
“Now, I’m going to tell you the story of how Bjorn defeated the most evil spirit in the world, the Corpse Collector, so listen carefully!”
“Li, listen carefully? What does that mean?!”
“It means open your ears and listen!”
I saw young warriors receiving early education in a nearby clearing.
For reference, the instructor was…
‘Ainar.’
Ainar was different from when she was outside.
Her shoulders, which were always slumped in front of Misha, were now broad, and her expression was filled with confidence.
And she was carrying four backpacks.
After all, the number of backpacks was a symbol of success in the barbarian tribe.
She probably wanted to show off in front of her juniors.
It seemed like she liked that position, as it had become her daily routine to go to the sanctuary every morning.
‘…Let’s just pass by.’
Although I thought about greeting Ainar…
…I gave up because I felt like I would be drained.
I had another reason for coming to the sanctuary today.
I had to conserve my energy.
Swoosh.
I arrived at the chieftain’s house and opened the tent, entering.
It’s one of a barbarian’s advantages.
There’s no need to knock.
“Oh, it seems like your body has recovered.”
“It has.”
“What brings you here?”
As expected of a man at the top of the barbarian tribe, the chieftain got straight to the point.
I always liked how straightforward it was here.
I didn’t have to hold back either.
“I have something to say.”
“Say it.”
Honesty is a virtue in barbarian society.
“I’m here to inherit the chieftain’s position.”
I said it without hesitation.
“Inherit…”
The chieftain answered, taking out an axe that was leaning against a corner.
“Don’t beat around the bush, come at me.”
--------------------------------
Chapter 248: Gnometree (2)
The chieftain told me that day:
[If you want my position, become stronger, warrior. And prove that you’re worthy. I’ll be watching you.]
That he would hand over his position to me if I proved I was worthy.
Then how do you prove it?
I didn’t bother asking.
Because there was only one way for a barbarian I knew.
“Let’s move!”
“…You’re a wise warrior.”
The battle that was about to take place inside was moved to the outdoor clearing thanks to my insight.
And…
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!”
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!”
…the battle began with battle cries.
Kwaaang!
The chieftain swung his axe, the one he used to behead ‘Orm, son of Kadua’, mercilessly, and I fought back, using all the skills I had learned.
But to summarize the result…
“I won.”
…I lost after about an hour of fighting.
The reason for my defeat was my lack of specs.
After all, the chieftain was a similar type to me.
If our positions were completely different, there would have been variables, but there wasn’t a single unexpected turn of events since I was weaker than him.
‘As expected, it’s still not enough.’
I cleanly accepted my defeat.
Of course, the result might have been different if it wasn’t a spar.
I couldn’t use dirty tricks like spraying [Acidic Fluid] in his eyes, distracting him with nonsense, or biting his neck when he was on the ground.
In short, I fought with my ultimate moves sealed.
Then what about the ‘proof’?
“You’re still lacking.”
The chieftain then said to me,
“Become stronger if you want my position.”
Tsk, I thought the cutoff line was around the 6th floor.
I’m already at that level, aren’t I?
Don’t tell me I have to defeat him to inherit the chieftain’s position—
“To the point where you can’t even compare to an old man like me.”
Ha, as expected.
To defeat an 8th-floor explorer…
‘It will take more time.’
I dismissed my impatience.
It was also one of the advantages of being a barbarian.
I didn’t lose anything even if I failed to inherit the position.
No, I actually gained a lot.
Although my body was wrecked to the point where I had to drink several potions as soon as the fight ended…
‘But I’ve caught up a lot.’
It was different from back then when I was knocked out with a single punch.
We fought for almost an hour.
And…
‘I confirmed six of his essences.’
I confirmed several of the chieftain’s essences.
And I also memorized some of his fighting habits.
I would be able to fight him much more easily next time.
And…
“He fought the chieftain for an hour!”
“Look! That stingy chieftain is drinking a potion!”
“He might look fine on the outside, but he’s not. As expected, Bjorn, son of Yandel, is a great warrior…!”
The barbarians who were watching the spar didn’t seem disappointed by my defeat.
Well, I’m just a 1st-year, right?
“I thought it would take at least 5 more years.”
“Hmm, maybe the chieftain will change sooner than we thought.”
Even the elders were nodding in satisfaction.
Therefore, I gained a lot even though I lost.
On the other hand, the chieftain didn’t gain anything.
‘Yeah, so I actually won, right?’
I regained my motivation after my mental victory.
I got up and looked at the chieftain.
He seemed curious about what I was going to say, as I had been silent the whole time.
“You’re not discouraged, are you?”
“There’s no way.”
I chuckled.
And I said,
“One more time.”
It wasn’t every day that I could fight someone without worrying about dying.
____________________
I fought the chieftain three more times after that, and I lost every time. However, the spar time increased with each fight.
It was thanks to Lee Hansu’s strength, not Bjorn’s.
I’m good at self-reflection.
After all, I’ve experienced many failures in my life, and what I always wanted was to know the reason for my failure.
Finding the reason was my specialty.
‘He has a lot of tricks, as expected of someone with a lot of experience.’
The difference between the chieftain and me wasn’t just specs.
His skill as a warrior.
His situational awareness honed by experience.
His instinctive intuition that allowed him to catch openings even in the midst of battle, where thinking and reacting was too slow.
They were all things I had to learn.
It wasn’t efficient to just be a meat shield after absorbing the Ogre’s essence.
I had to become a better fighter.
It was also the way to protect my companions.
‘If my allies are in danger, I can just eliminate the enemy to make them safe.’
It was like a destiny.
A new destiny for me as a tank.
“…You look like you’ve realized something.”
“Ah, thank you. I’m learning a lot.”
“Haha, that’s what being a chieftain is all about!”
What is this man talking about?
He doesn’t seem like it, but he’s weak to compliments.
“Can I come back again?”
“Anytime.”
The sun was setting.
The barbarians, who had enjoyed the good show, all went about their business as the spar between the chieftain and me ended.
“Bjorn! Are you going home?!”
“Not right away. I’m going to look around for a bit.”
“Really? Can I come with you?”
Well, there was no reason why she couldn’t.
I moved with Ainar after the spar.
We didn’t have a specific destination.
We just walked aimlessly in the opposite direction of the city walls.
“It’s been a while since I’ve come this far.”
A dense, unkempt forest greeted us as we left the campsite.
The forest where the souls of countless warriors, including the elder who performed the ‘Soul Succession’ ritual on Ainar, were playing.
But I continued walking.
“There’s nothing but the barrier that way, why are we going there?”
“I’m suddenly curious about that barrier.”
We reached the place I wanted after walking for about an hour at a slightly faster pace.
Thud.
An invisible wall appeared, as if to say this was the last point allowed.
The forest continued beyond it.
“Eek! Bjorn! Wh, what are you doing! If the protective barrier is damaged, we’re all doomed!”
Ainar was startled and tried to stop me as I knocked on the wall with the back of my hand.
Well, it’s a world where we’ll all die if it’s gone.
‘Right, at least that’s what they say.’
It was a question I had after visiting Bifron.
Was the world outside the wall really in the state that the royal family claimed?
That’s when…
“Kekeke, warrior, it’s been a while.”
…I turned around at the presence behind me, and an old barbarian with an eyepatch was standing there.
“Shaman!!”
“Right, it’s been a while for you too. Ainar, the second daughter of Frenelin.”
It’s amazing every time I see him.
How can he walk around so well without eyes?
“What brings you here? Very few warriors come this far.”
“I just came because I was bored. What about you? What are you doing here?”
“Kekeke, what else would a shaman do in the forest?”
The shaman said so and showed me his hand, which was covered in white powder.
It was bone dust.
And not animal bones, but human bones.
“You were holding a funeral.”
The last step of the funeral was for the shaman to crush the bones of the deceased after their body was left in the forest to decompose and then scatter them throughout the forest.
“Do, don’t tell me it was Tohal’s third son, Kiduba’s, turn today?”
“He’s still far from returning to the forest.”
In other words, it meant we had to wait longer for the elder who acted as Ainar’s mentor to decompose.
“…I see.”
“I’m about to go back, how about you guys come with me?”
The shaman asked, and I answered that I would stay a bit longer.
“Really? If that’s what you want.”
The shaman turned around without hesitation.
And…
“Everything has its order.”
“…….”
“Warrior, it’s not time for you to be curious about what’s beyond that yet.”
…he left after those meaningful words.
___________________
“Huhu, come to think of it, it’s been a while since we were alone together.”
“Really?”
“How about a spar? You haven’t been playing with me lately, saying your body isn’t well.”
Ah, so she’s talking about a spar.
It seems like my fight with the chieftain earlier sparked her competitive spirit…
These damn barbarians.
“I’m not feeling up to it today, let’s do it tomorrow.”
“Alright. You already know, but I’m quite patient.”
Uh, yeah, yeah.
I casually nodded and continued observing the protective barrier. I felt a strange sensation because of what the shaman said.
But there was nothing I could figure out.
‘Phew, I wonder if I would have been able to discover something if I were a mage, not a barbarian.’
In the end, we turned back without any gains.
Although it was quite a distance from the protective barrier to the city walls, the way back wasn’t boring.
After all, Ainar was a chatterbox.
And she especially loved barbarian talk.
About equipment, about who fought whom and who won, about where they were making sturdy and stylish backpacks these days.
Or…
“Ah, did you hear? Karon is going to be a father soon?”
“What?”
I was genuinely surprised.
“How? He didn’t say anything in the labyrinth.”
“Huhu, it seems like he was meeting women as soon as he entered the 3rd floor. Ah, and he only heard about the pregnancy from the woman a few days ago, so he wouldn’t have had time to tell you.”
I then heard the details from Ainar.
The woman was a warrior from the tribe.
Well, it was only natural.
Humans can’t give birth to barbarians.
Although mixed-race children weren’t impossible, they would still be human.
And barbarians preferred their own kind.
Their standards of beauty were different from other races.
‘And most importantly, there’s no ideological problem with pregnancy.’
In human society, it’s considered proper to get ‘married’ and then have children.
But there’s no such thing in barbarian society.
The children are raised in the sanctuary, and women consider giving birth to be a matter of pride.
And there are even practical benefits.
Although it’s less than for humans, the royal family grants a two-year tax exemption.
‘And the pregnancy period is short.’
Although it varies from person to person, it takes an average of 4 months to give birth, and the recovery is very fast.
That’s probably why barbarian women are so open to childbirth.
Although it’s a bit strange to say this about childbirth…
Is childbirth always a noble process?
Regardless of pride, if the economic aspect isn’t resolved, the birth rate will inevitably decline.
“Come to think of it, don’t you have any thoughts?”
“…Huh?”
“About children. I heard the female warriors in the tribe are after you…”
Ah, so that’s what they were after.
No wonder they kept touching my muscles, saying how good they were. I thought they were genuinely complimenting them…
“I’m not thinking about it yet.”
“Hoo, why? I know it’s a bit strange for me to say this, but we’re late bloomers. There are even female warriors who are younger than us who have already given birth!”
Could it be because it’s my first time having this kind of conversation?
I was scared for the first time since coming to this world.
Of barbarians.
“…….”
Ainar, seeing me subtly trembling, said triumphantly,
“Ah! Don’t tell me it’s because of Misha? Don’t worry! Misha will understand. We’re barbarians! She can’t even give birth to anything but beastmen anyway!”
Ainar seemed different.
She said she was a cat person in front of the bear-like man, but she was actually thinking like this.
“I’m fine. What about you?”
I changed the subject since it was uncomfortable.
It’s the technique of ‘Shifting Flowers and Connecting Branches’, using the enemy’s strength against them.
“Me, me?!”
Ainar couldn’t hide her flustered expression as the arrow was turned back on her.
The reason was simple.
“I, I can’t even if I want to. What warrior would like a small woman like me…?”
Geez, those damn beauty standards.
I had unintentionally stabbed Ainar in her weak spot.
But just as I was about to apologize…
“And… I don’t want to either.”
Huh?
“Th, that’s right!! After being with you, all the other tribesmen seem young and unmanly!”
Ainar shouted as if she was frustrated.
I was also flustered and said she could just find someone among the older tribesmen, but…
“I don’t like older men!!”
…I received an unexpected answer.
‘She doesn’t like older men, and her peers don’t feel manly…’
It was a troublesome preference.
But to be honest, it was a good thing for me.
If she suddenly got pregnant and couldn’t enter the labyrinth for a few months, it would affect me too.
‘Uh, but how did the conversation even get here?’
The 29-year-old Lee Hansu had turned 30 in this world.
But…
“Anyway, tell me if you change your mind! I’ll introduce you to a good female warrior!”
…this kind of talk was still uncomfortable.
_________________
Two days later.
I went out alone after breakfast and a warm-up spar with Ainar.
Ah, ‘alone’ wasn’t exactly right.
“We’ve arrived at our destination. We’ve already searched the inside of the store, but please be careful.”
The knights’ excessive escort, which I was now used to.
“Right, thank you.”
I casually expressed my gratitude and got off the carriage, then entered the meeting place.
It was a tea house I had visited about three times before.
“Oh, Mr. Bjorn! Over here, over here!”
Shabin Emure, a 7th-grade administrative official, waved at me from a corner table.
Ragna, the librarian, was sitting next to him, looking quiet.
The members of our regular friend gathering were all gathered as I sat down.
“First of all, thank you for coming. You received the Viscount title, so I was really worried about whether it was okay to call you out like this.”
“You’re worrying about strange things.”
“That’s right, Shabin. Do you think this man would change just because he became a noble?”
Ragna said arrogantly as she sipped her tea.
She was right this time.
I didn’t intend to flaunt my noble title.
But…
‘Right, the Viscount title isn’t something to be burdened by.’
Her natural behavior showed how good her family background was.
Well, I didn’t know exactly what kind of family, but…
Judging by how she didn’t even react to the knights surrounding me…
‘I’m even more curious. What kind of family is she from?’
I then turned my gaze towards Shabin.
Unlike Ragna, he was subtly looking at the knights.
Well, it must be uncomfortable.
Let’s just get to the point.
“So what’s the reason you called me out today?”
“Heh, were we only supposed to meet if there was a reason?”
“You have a habit of twitching your nose when you lie.”
“Huh? Re, really? I didn’t know that!”
Well, of course, she didn’t.
“It was a lie.”
“Ah…!”
Ragna chuckled, looking at Shabin’s dumbfounded expression.
“It’s rare to see her like this.”
“That’s only for you. This is nothing to a barbarian.”
Indeed, most people, regardless of age or gender, make that kind of expression when I start acting like a barbarian.
“Enough, so? Tell me what you want.”
Shabin regained her composure at my words and said,
“I’d like to request something from you, Viscount Yandel, on behalf of the Administrative Office.”
Hmm, a part-time job…
Although I wasn’t short on money, money in this world was always lacking, no matter how much you had.
“Tell me, what kind of request is it?”
I should at least hear her out.
------------------------------------
Chapter 249: Gnometree (3)
The request Shabin made was quite simple.
“Just deliver this letter to Baron Nertobin.”
The mission was to deliver a letter.
The reward was 3 million stones.
But there was one condition.
“Ah, for reference, you have to deliver this letter directly to the Baron before he leaves Gnometree.”
That was the reason why a simple delivery mission had such a hefty reward. It was practically impossible for an explorer to enter Gnometree.
It was a district where only nobles could enter, except for the workers who worked on the farms.
“I understand the request. So tell me the details.”
Although the sweet scent of an easy mission was already wafting towards me, I didn’t get ahead of myself and calmly checked what I needed to confirm.
What was this letter?
They could just send it to the Baron’s house when he returned to the city, so why were they paying such a large sum to have it delivered?
Shabin answered my questions without hiding anything.
“I can’t tell you the contents of the letter. And the reason why we’re asking you to do this is because it’s clear that the Baron won’t read our letter even if we send it to his house.”
The Administrative Office had something important to tell the Baron.
But the Baron was ignoring them.
So they obtained information that the Baron was currently enjoying a vacation in Gnometree and came up with a plan to hand-deliver the letter to him.
“Gnometree is practically a vacation spot for nobles. And they can only bring three escorts with them. It won’t be a burden for you, Mr. Bjorn, since you can just approach him naturally and hand him the letter.”
Hmm, that’s true.
I nodded in understanding.
Indeed, it was troublesome for a noble to visit another noble’s house in the city. They had to have dinner together and greet their family.
It was impossible to just meet briefly and hand over a letter.
‘Then is the condition of delivering it in Gnometree for my sake?’
That thought briefly crossed my mind, but it probably wasn’t the only reason. They wouldn’t add a condition for my sake.
“So, what will you do?”
Shabin then handed over the decision to me, and I pretended to contemplate for a moment before answering,
“I’ll accept it.”
3 million stones just for delivering a letter in this situation where there was no other source of income?
There was no reason to refuse.
‘And I was planning to visit Gnometree anyway.’
“Ah, just so you know, I’m just delivering the letter, whether he reads it or not.”
“Yes, as long as you fulfill the request, there won’t be any problems with the payment, so don’t worry about that.”
Okay, then my last worry was gone.
I signed the contract Shabin brought and received the letter.
With that, the official business was over.
We chatted for about an hour and then disbanded, and I returned home.
And…
“Misha, pack your bags.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s go on a trip.”
We started preparing for a trip.
__________________________
We decided on a 2-night, 3-day trip.
Although it wasn’t a distance that required us to stay overnight, we also needed time to find the Baron there.
And…
‘There’s also a place I have to visit.’
Honestly, I wanted to take a more leisurely trip, like 5 nights and 6 days.
But the labyrinth was opening soon.
Well, we had already agreed to skip it this time…
‘It would be better to see firsthand how much force the royal family is deploying.’
“Gn, Gnometree!! Wow! I can’t believe I’m actually going there!!”
Although it was a sudden suggestion, Misha was excited and packed her bags as soon as she heard that our destination was ‘Gnometree’.
For reference, we could only take three people with us.
So I decided to take Ainar and Erwen and go on a family(?) trip together.
“Is, is it okay for me to… join you?”
“What are you talking about? Don’t come if you don’t want to.”
“I want to! I’ll go pack! How long are we staying there?”
Erwen, who pretended to refuse but then quickly got up and went to her room to pack, looked happy for the first time in a while.
Well, there hadn’t been many joyful events for her recently.
“Hey! I told you to pack properly!”
“I am…”
“You’re only packing underwear? What about your toothbrush and towel? Huh? Are you going to ask me to lend them to you every time?”
Misha then helped Ainar pack, and the preparations went smoothly. And the next morning…
“We’ll escort you to the front.”
…we headed towards Gnometree, escorted by the knights.
We arrived well past noon.
“Viscount Bjorn Yandel. Confirmed. Please come this way.”
We went through a simple identification process at the gate and then entered.
Ah, the escort knights didn’t follow us.
Because there was a rule in Gnometree that only allowed three escorts.
‘I feel a bit sorry for them.’
Actually, the knights wanted to fill all three spots themselves.
But I firmly refused and gave those spots to Misha, Erwen, and Ainar.
It would be difficult to move freely with knights around.
And besides, it was a place where I didn’t have to worry too much about assassins.
“If there’s any threat to your safety inside, please don’t hesitate to use this whistle. The Gnometree patrol will come to your aid.”
Since Gnometree was the district with the strictest security after the royal palace, the knights didn’t force us to cancel our trip, even though they were disappointed.
“Wow…”
The scenery of Gnometree, which we entered through the double gates, was so breathtaking that even I was speechless.
A straight road stretched out before us.
A refreshing green landscape unfolded on both sides, and the gentle breeze carried the scent of unripe grains and fruits.
“Oh! Look over there! It’s fairies!”
We continued sightseeing as the carriage moved. The most common sight was fairies working on the farms.
After all, they were specialists in agriculture.
The fairy tribe sent fairies who had learned special spirit magic to Gnometree and received a huge amount of support.
‘Geez, I’m envious…’
The vast wealth that came from Gnometree. It was also the reason why they could implement an interest-free tax loan policy for their tribe members, unlike barbarians.
“Erwen, how many years do you guys lend?”
“Three years.”
“Wow, I’m envious. We only got two years. They don’t really pressure us to pay it back, but after that, we have to take care of everything ourselves, whether we live or die.”
For reference, all races except for barbarians and humans had this tax loan policy.
It wasn’t just fairies who earned money like this.
Dwarves had signed an official contract with the royal family, having their architectural skills and metallurgy recognized. The windmills and watermills we saw were probably all built and maintained by them.
Ah, and beastmen…
[Moo—!]
“Mi, Misha! What the hell is that strange monster?!”
“Ah, it’s your first time seeing one? It’s a cow.”
“Cow?”
“It’s the meat you said was the most delicious. Ah, I’ve never had a natural one either…”
Beastmen were active in the livestock industry.
They were naturally good at communicating with animals, and thanks to the fact that there were enhancement-type Spirit Beasts that increased the growth and breeding rate of livestock.
‘But it’s the Dragonkin who are really making the money.’
If the other races were all working class, the Dragonkin were a bit different.
They were practically nobles who owned land.
After all, the agricultural district, Gnometree, was built on the Dragonkin’s sacred grounds.
‘…Why are barbarians the only ones who have nothing?’
I felt a sense of deprivation as I organized my thoughts, but what could I do?
Fighting was our only characteristic.
Rumble.
The carriage arrived near a mountain in the center of Gnometree and then started circling east.
And after some time…
“We’ve arrived.”
The coachman, who was also acting as a guide, informed us that we had arrived at our destination.
It was a residential area called ‘Kiarbys’, a historical vacation spot for nobles that existed even in the game, which was set 150 years in the past.
“Please come this way.”
We first headed towards our accommodation with the help of the coachman.
It was a place the Administrative Office had reserved for us…
‘Nice.’
…and it was much better than I expected.
We had an entire annex to ourselves, and we even had five servants.
I wonder how much this cost per night?
“Please have dinner first. We’ve prepared it for you.”
We ate first since we were hungry.
And…
“You’re saying there’s a hot spring…?”
…I immediately went to the outdoor hot spring and relaxed after hearing the servant’s words.
‘Ah, this is it.’
I should come back here even if I have to pay for it when winter comes. I came out after enjoying the hot spring for about an hour, and Ainar was waiting for me.
“Bjorn, why did it take you so long to wash up?!”
“Where are Misha and Erwen?”
“They’re still in there. I don’t understand. It’s just warm water…”
It seemed like Ainar couldn’t appreciate the true value of a hot spring.
Phew, these barbarians.
“Enough, just rest and play with them when they come out.”
“Huh? What about you?”
“I have to go to work. Why? Do you want to come with me?”
“Ah, no… I’ll just stay here and rest!”
She retreated, as if disgusted, and I chuckled and left the annex.
And I first looked around.
‘This is truly luxurious.’
As expected of a place designed as a vacation spot for nobles, it was full of luxurious facilities.
Hot springs, horse riding grounds, fishing spots, and so on.
If it were the modern world, I wouldn’t have thought of this as luxurious, but it felt different here.
‘They’re not just eating natural meat, they’re playing with it…’
99% of the people in this city ate meat and bread made from magic stones. Just look at Ainar, she had never even seen a real cow before coming here.
But what about this place?
There was even a place where they released pheasants and deer for hunting.
‘Hmm, then I guess I’ve seen enough…’
I headed towards my destination with the letter.
There was no need to ask around and find out where he was staying. There weren’t any titled nobles who were staying in rented
accommodations like me.
Most of them spent their vacations in villas they owned.
“He said you can come in.”
I arrived at the villa and sent word, and I soon received permission to enter.
Phew, at least he didn’t tell me to get lost.
“I was actually hoping to talk to you sometime, so this is a good opportunity. Haha, it’s good to see you, Viscount Yandel. But what brings you here so suddenly?”
“Ah, I have something to deliver.”
“Something to deliver?”
The Baron immediately opened and read the letter I handed him.
And he made a strange expression.
“Those Administrative Office bastards are really desperate. To even ask you to do this.”
“Well, I don’t know the details.”
“Hmm, and you still agreed? Why would someone like you do that?”
The Baron muttered as if he couldn’t understand.
Honestly, the answer was that I immediately accepted because they were offering 3 million stones as a reward…
…but it seemed embarrassing to say that, so I made an excuse.
“I owe them a favor.”
“Haha, you can just pretend you don’t know them later.”
Wow, is this a noble’s mindset?
I was impressed in a bad way, but I couldn’t say that to his face.
“A warrior never forgets a debt.”
“Hmm… that’s true. Haha! Interesting. A noble whose loyalty is guaranteed? Maybe many nobles will want to be friends with you.”
After the letter was delivered, the Baron offered to have a meal together, but I refused and left.
In the small world of nobles, if you become friends with just anyone, there would be consequences.
‘Anyway, the request is complete.’
It ended so easily that I wondered if it was really okay to receive 3 million stones just for this.
Then I was free for the rest of the trip.
‘I’ll go there later when it gets darker…’
I checked my remaining schedule and headed back to the annex.
That’s when…
…I saw a familiar emblem among the knights escorting the young nobles.
I felt cold sweat running down my back as soon as I saw it.
‘Aiphreya Baron family.’
The family of the ‘him’ who used magic to knock me unconscious and borrowed his face and identity to meet me.
‘…It can’t be. He said he was the youngest son? It must be his older brother.’
Even if my hopes were dashed, it was the same.
It was proven by quantum mechanics.
No one knows what’s inside a box until it’s opened.
Whether there’s a cat or something else inside is only proven after ‘observation’.
Fortunately, I hadn’t checked inside the box yet.
So…
‘Let’s go.’
I fixed my gaze on the ground and quickened my pace.
That’s when…
“Wa, wait! Are you Viscount Yandel…?”
…I heard a familiar voice from behind.
“Pl, please wait a moment! I, I heard you had a hard time because of that evil mage who disguised himself as me. I have to apologize…”
It was the real Hans A.