Chapter 32 : Chapter 32

Chapter 32: How a Mercenary Rests (4)

“They're a bit late.”

Early evening, as the sun set and the lamps began to be lit, Gerard, who was looking out the window from the lodge, muttered softly as he watched the door that remained unopened even after a long time.

“They're still not back?”

“No.”

“Should we try contacting them?”

“It's fine. With their skills, it would be difficult for anything to happen to them around here.”

There were no monsters near Pons.

The only threatening creatures were wild animals.

“What about the Magica Mercenary Corps? They only lost their mercenary authority, they're not dead. They might be grinding their teeth at Artier.”

“You only know one thing and not the other.”

“Huh?”

“This is a resort for mercenaries. Do you think those who've had their mercenary licenses revoked can even come near here?”

Moreover, this town was full of retired mercenaries and those who were once called legends.

To them, the Magica Mercenary Corps, who had killed their own comrades, were trash that evoked unpleasant feelings just by looking at them.

“Even if they managed to sneak in, only a handful from the Magica Mercenary Corps are skilled enough to defeat Artier.”

With Artier, a Supreme-Grade Mercenary, and Collie, a Spirit Creature, together, Gerard didn't even consider the possibility of them being in danger.

Creak.

Just then, the closed door opened, and Artier and Collie walked in, looking quite exhausted.

“Welco……. Did something happen?”

“Ah……”

“A lot of things happened. You'll be surprised when you hear it.”

While Collie had a slightly amused expression, Artier was scowling with all his might.

“That robe and hat…… It seems you've been to the Sage’s Tower. Did Collie register?”

“Yes, he did.”

“A good idea. The support from the Sage’s Tower is practically essential for mages.”

As befitting his class as a tactician, Gerard immediately grasped Artier's intentions.

“But then why is Artier so?”

“It's because Master's talent was excessively outstanding.”

“What……? Explain in detail.”

As Gerard sat down, Collie began to speak with a grin.

The Sage’s Tower's crystal orb had the function of identifying a mage's talent and showing it as a level of a special liquid that filled up inside.

But the moment Artier attempted the measurement, the crystal orb couldn't measure Artier's overflowing talent and ended up exploding.

‘I had forgotten……. The fact that I am the protagonist.’

The protagonist is set up so the player can choose any profession they want.

I should have realized when they said Artier had the once-in-a-century talent for taming a Spirit Creature.

Naturally, his talent for magic was bound to be outstanding as well.

“Of course, the mages there went crazy. They said an incredible newcomer with the makings of a Grand Magus had appeared.”

***

“Please, I beg you, please register with our Sage’s Tower!”

“I said I don't want to……!”

Artier's face contorted as he looked at the old men clinging to his trouser legs.

“In the first place, I'm not a pure mage, so can I even join?”

“That is……”

The mages immediately faltered and stopped.

The rules of the Sage’s Tower were absolute laws established by the Grand Magi.

No matter how many high-ranking mages flocked here, it was impossible for them to break such laws.

“But Master is half a caster, isn't he?”

Just then, Collie muttered as if to himself.

It was a very small voice, but the mages there caught it as if they were ghosts.

“What?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Brother, speak clearly.”

When on earth did they become brothers?

“The skill called [Wild Protection] he used last time is known as pure magic. Pure magic, not magic applied to a skill like other skills.”

“Collie, you stay quiet.”

Artier immediately glared and spoke, but the words were already out.

“Then that means you are a magic swordsman!”

“Don't you worry. If you're a magic swordsman, there's no problem with joining!”

“Wa-wait a minute. First, please listen to me……”

Artier tried to explain in a hurry, but they, burning with obsession, couldn't hear anything.

***

“So I made a temporary contract and came back with a ton of gifts.”

Thwack!

“Ack!”

“Things got complicated because of you……”

Artier sighed and said, but Collie, who got a flick on the head, looked wronged.

“But from Master's perspective, there's nothing bad about it, is there? It's a chance to receive support without having to fulfill the duties of the Sage’s Tower.”

He did receive a lot of gifts from the Sage’s Tower.

[Having joined the Sage’s Tower, the following benefits are applied.]

Basic magic [Telekinesis] is enhanced, allowing you to move living creatures. The opponent can resist using mana.

Basic magic [Mana Bullet] is enhanced, increasing its attack power by 1.5 times.

You can spend money at Sage’s Towers across the empire to receive benefits.

[As Collie has joined the Sage’s Tower, the following benefits are applied.]

Basic magic [Telekinesis] and [Mana Bullet] are enhanced.

Can receive benefits at Sage’s Towers across the empire.

Gains the right to speak as a mage belonging to the Sage’s Tower.

[Collie has learned Summon Familiar (Lv.1) by using a skill book.]

[Summon Familiar (Lv.1)]: Summons and controls small animals as your minions. Can have two familiars at the same time.

[Collie has learned Plant Talk (Lv.1) by using a skill book.]

[Plant Talk (Lv.1)]: Can converse with plants. Plants can answer simple questions but cannot understand complex content.

In effect, Artier, who wasn't a mage, had received all the rewards he could, and Collie was able to learn two new magic spells.

But Artier's expression was not good.

“They wouldn't make a contract that's only good for me. They have their own motives.”

“I know. They intend to make the empire treat Master as a mage, don't they?”

This might sound good, but it wasn't.

They intended to force the path of magic onto Artier, who could use both sword and magic, to eventually make him choose the path of a mage.

Perhaps from now on, all the requests that came to Artier the mercenary would be related to magic.

“But Master is now a Supreme-Grade Mercenary, isn't he? You can just demand quests where you can act as a swordsman. Even the Sage’s Tower cannot infringe on the Mercenary Guild's authority more than necessary.”

“……Haa, well, let's say that's true.”

What's the point of fighting about it now? It was all in the past.

Artier sighed and took out a thick book from his inventory, handing it to Gerard.

“This is?”

“I got it from the Sage’s Tower. I thought Gerard would need it more than me.”

Gerard casually took the book, and as soon as he checked its contents, he was startled.

“Is it alright to give me something so valuable?”

[Mana-Horse Red Grimoire (Magic)]

Magic Attack: 10~15

Option: (Mana-Horse) Casting Speed 15% reduction

A green jewel was embedded in the center of the antique Grimoire finished with red leather.

Similar to Collie's, it was one of the magic tools given to members of the Sage’s Tower.

“You're the only one in this party who uses a Grimoire anyway, Gerard.”

“……Thank you. I will definitely repay this debt.”

Gerard put his old Grimoire into his inventory and hung the new one at his side.

“Ah, I received a message from the herbalists at lunch today.”

“Really?”

“Unfortunately, it seems the spice you mentioned doesn't grow wild around here.”

At Gerard's words, Artier's body went limp as if all his strength had drained out, and he plopped down on a nearby chair.

“I guess so.”

“Spice? Was that what you were looking for in the forest during the day?”

When Collie tilted his head, Artier quietly affirmed.

“I wanted to eat something a bit stimulating……”

In terms of time, about a month and a half had passed since I came to this world.

Artier's tongue was starting to scream its limits.

How could a medieval diet, using only minimal salt without chili powder or pepper, satisfy a modern person's palate?

‘But the spices sold at the general store are too expensive……. It's like spending a whole week's worth of food expenses at once.’

So, I had hoped I might be able to gather chili peppers or garlic, known to grow in the wild, to use in cooking.

The result was a failure.

In the first place, it was unreasonable to expect that expensive chili or garlic would be lying around on the streets.

“I don't want to eat bland potato soup and mixed grain bread anymore……”

“Hmm, was the seasoning that weak?”

“I don't know.”

Gerard, Collie, and Jeina just looked on with expressions of incomprehension.

“You're from the northern region, but your taste seems to be closer to the south.”

“Leader, isn't there some way? I've never seen our little brother so down.”

“I don't know about southern food either, but……”

“I know, but you're a high-grade mercenary, Leader. Haven't you seen and learned various things?”

“I did not travel the empire for the sake of gastronomy.”

But Jeina simply continued to send him a pleading gaze.

Gerard, who had been ignoring her for a while, finally sighed and scratched his head.

“Artier, it might be a baseless rumor, but would you still like to try?”

“……What is it?”

“It's not treated as a spice, but they say there's a powder that, when added to food, gives it a stimulating aroma and makes you breathe fire.”

“Pardon?”

There's something like that?

Artier immediately shot up from his seat.

“What is it?”

“They say it's made by mixing Gnoll's blood with slime ooze, then drying and grinding it.”

Did I hear that wrong?

“Pardon?”

“……Didn't I say? It might be a baseless rumor.”

Gerard cleared his throat and added a supplementary explanation.

But it was already too late.

Everyone was looking at Gerard strangely.

“Don't look at me like that. I clearly warned you.”

“……Where is the source of the rumor?”

“A mercenary guild in the southern region.”

“Sounds like a lie? Leader, you know how many mercenaries talk nonsense.”

As Jeina spoke, Gerard also nodded his head.

“I know. The possibility of it being nonsense is high. But this is the only way we can get something to imitate a spice relatively cheaply.”

“……I'll think about it.”

As much as he wanted to eat something spicy, the thought of drawing blood from a walking hyena and mixing it with a squirming jelly mass made him lose his appetite.

Moreover, since it might be a baseless rumor, he couldn't help but hesitate.

“Alright.”

Gerard didn't insist.

He himself wasn't very confident.

“It's getting late, so shall we have dinner for now?”

“Sounds good! I was just getting hungry.”

“Wait. I'll bring it.”

Gerard, who went into the kitchen and came back with several plates, served a whitish soup in front of the party.

“Jeina caught some fish in the lake. So tonight's dinner is fish stew. There's one grilled piece for each of you, so come and get it.”

“……”

Artier looked at the soup placed before him.

There was no pepper, and even common vegetables were very scarce. Only onions and leeks were roughly chopped and thrown in.

The pieces of beef jerky added for flavor were still hard and tough, even though they must have been boiled for a long time.

‘It has no taste at all……’

The grilled fish was the same. It had a clean taste, but that was all.

The wild freshwater fish wasn't even very oily, so even while chewing, my mouth felt constantly dry.

“Gerard.”

“What is it?”

“Tomorrow, I'll go catch a Gnoll.”

“……?”

Gerard tilted his head as he watched Artier chew on the fish with a determined expression.

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