Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Apprentice Priest Armis
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"Urgh!"
"Ugh!"
'*Sniff! This is exactly the taste I was craving!*'
We entered the inn called Forest Rest Stop, where Zamer was staying, and immediately ordered a cool beer and assorted snacks.
I had no idea how they managed it, but even on this hot day, the beer was served ice-cold, numbing my mouth, and I was able to gulp down a glass refreshingly.
And that electrifying, intense aroma and flavor.
Unlike the beer I'd secretly sipped from my father's stash back in Korea, this one had a profound depth that proved it was properly fermented.
"Can I have another glass?"
*'When did he finish that?'*
In the time it took me to take two sips, Yans had drained the large wooden mug dry and smacked his lips.
"Haha, of course! Innkeeper, another beer here!"
Though he'd asked me, Zamer let out a hearty laugh and placed the order.
*'Feels good~!'*
Forget just the beer—it felt like I'd stepped out of the world entirely.
Once I'd built up some power, my next goal was a wider world.
Since I was already in Master Gandalf's homeland, I wanted to tour it properly.
"Eight gold is a fortune—why are you buying it?"
I asked Zamer, who wore an enigmatic smile.
I'd figured four gold would be a steal, but he'd offered eight.
Someone working for a major merchant guild wouldn't take a loss.
"Allow me a proper introduction. Zamer Vines, one of the twelve chief merchants of the Rubis Merchant Guild."
*'Chief merchant?'*
"Next month is the month of the Goddess of Abundance, Sepir. As you know, she's not only the goddess of plenty but also of festivals."
*'Know what? Bullshit.'*
The villagers were too busy scraping by day-to-day to know much about the world.
I'd invested all my time in magic and swordsmanship just to survive, so I knew little about the Kalian Continent myself.
"Also, from this month to next, the nobles collect regular taxes."
"Ah!"
Now I got it.
*'In short, the gods made it an official holiday season, but the nobles collect taxes too, so decent goods fetch high prices?'*
"Understand?"
"Yeah, I get the gist."
"I figured you'd catch on quick."
Zamer, just past thirty, spoke like a hearty fifty-year-old uncle.
*'Mana scent. Huh, a mage?'*
I hadn't scanned him, but the distinct smell of mana was unmistakable.
A merchant with secrets.
"From what I overheard earlier, you don't usually come to backwater territories like this...."
I probed cautiously, trailing off.
"That's true. Normally, small merchants dispatched to each territory buy up goods, we pick them up at designated spots, and sell to the nobles. But this year, good local specialties have been hard to come by. Especially Madir, Sharif mushrooms, Ludi mushrooms, and Ricom tea from Dafis Kingdom. The lords are too busy forming factions over the king selection to focus on monster and beast subjugation."
Zamer spilled more info than necessary.
*'King selection? Civil war?'*
A classic novel plot.
"Will there be a civil war?"
"Hmm... probably not that bad. Dafis is a small kingdom surrounded by powers—it won't self-destruct."
*'Headache. Not my problem anyway. But Madir, huh?'*
Madir was hard to procure.
I'd wrung every ounce of strength to catch one, so I knew how tough it was.
The damn things were so strong they'd flip any ordinary boat, and no mage or aura blade knight would stoop to fishing. Commoners alone couldn't manage it.
"Whew, I've told a near-stranger all this. Thanks for today—you got me top-grade Sharif mushrooms, so I've half-achieved my goal here."
Cool merchant on the outside, but worried like anyone else inside.
*'Even tycoons or beggars struggle with three meals a day, Grandpa always said.*
*The smart shit or the dumb shit, we all eat and crap the same. Just a matter of effort—gourmet meals and golden dumps, or rough grub and constipated turds.*
"Even if you catch Madir, distribution's the issue, right? Not winter, so it spoils easy...."
I tossed out another hook.
"Traditionally, during these three months when Madir pass through Tileman Sea waters, merchants with magic freezers station in fishing villages. But this year, sea monsters rampaged suddenly—few days safe to go out. Even fishermen who live by the sea don't want to die with eyes wide open."
"Right. Ten years ago, merchants came to our village with magic freezers and hunkered down this season. We barely caught any due to danger, but Madir days were village festivals."
Yans chimed in over his beer.
*'Magic freezer. Right, magic exists here.'*
21st century had electric fridges; this world had magic.
*'Heh, and I'm a genius mage.'*
Meeting Rubis Guild's Zamer was fate.
"Then prices must be high this year?"
"Top-grade over 100 kilos? Up to 35 gold each. Inland nobles without sea access must serve Madir at banquets."
*'Ooooo! 35 gold!'*
My mouth nearly split at the news a flopping tuna from village waters fetched over 30 gold.
"Not a few gold—30, 35 gold?"
Even Yans, who'd given me the wrong info, was shocked.
"Yes. Supply's short—name your price."
A high-up in the guild, yet Zamer used polite speech to villager Yans.
Big-hearted and decent character.
"How many magic freezers can you get in a few days?"
"Magic freezers? If you can supply Madir, hundreds on the spot. Why ask?"
*'Why? To make a killing.'*
"Might snag some Madir...."
I sipped beer casually, playing coy.
"R-really?"
Zamer, ever composed, shot up and shouted.
"40 gold each for 100-kilo-plus, top-grade with minimal damage. Deal?"
"45—no, 50 gold for that quality! You can really get them?"
*'Whoa! Ballsy!'*
An unexpected jackpot.
One tuna matching village taxes made sense.
Hundreds of Luna-like villages per noble territory, and nobles valued honor over coin.
*'Become a lord myself?'*
Lordship—a title like my paradise dream.
*'Yeah, why didn't I think of that!'*
To return to Earth, I needed 8th circle like Master—obvious.
Better build my paradise kingdom here than wait blindly for enlightenment.
No—my chest swelled, hope gushing like a faucet.
"Can't guarantee, but I'll try. First, pay for the Sharif mushrooms? Taxes and shopping...."
"Haha, of course! Terrison, bring the money."
"Yes, Chief Merchant!"
One of the watching merchants shouted and approached.
"59 total. At one gold each, plus sundries—call it 480 gold even."
"Done. Goods checked—pay 480 gold."
"Understood."
Clink.
Terrison whipped out a heavy pouch at Zamer's word.
He opened it, counting gleaming gold coins precisely.
*'Money! Gold! Muahaha!'*
No past-life money obsession, but the yellow shine parted my lips.
Who said it? Ghosts who died gorging—pretty sheen too.
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"Ka-Kaiyer, dream or real?"
Yans trembled, clutching his first fortune, eyes darting.
*'Shocked over this?'*
Still short of my life's worth.
Unique as I was, a few gold for my head? Nah.
"That's the administrative office, right?"
"Looks like it."
*'Lord holes up in castle mansion for years, while this administrator runs the territory and eats well, huh?'*
After Sharif payout, I'd gleaned territory info from Zamer and innkeeper.
*'Rotten bastard. Administrator's a civil servant, but colludes with Daron Guild to amass wealth?'*
Worse: he ignored villagers' lives, fleecing them with Daron.
"Halt! Who goes there?!"
*'K-knight! Finally, a knight!'*
Administrative building before the high-walled lord's mansion at town center.
Entrance guarded by a knight in solid silver armor and a dozen soldiers.
"Kaiyer, bow no matter what. Mess up with the knight, you're dead."
Yans bowed humbly, whispering warning.
*'Not 007 license to kill....'*
His genuine fear convinced me—I bowed too.
"W-we're from Luna Village, here for taxes."
"Luna Village? It still exists?"
Knight's reaction like gate guards.
"Enter."
"Thank you, sir."
*'Ugh, what? That knight's mana.'*
The guarding knight reeked of pitiful mana—no scan needed.
*'Could take him blindfolded.'*
Not arrogance—no thrill from such a knight.
Thus, I followed Yans inside.
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"From Luna Village?"
"Y-yes, sir."
*'That guy's the administrator?'*
I'd pictured potbellied rat-eyed toady, but this was a mid-forties knight.
*'Decent mana.'*
Far superior to the outer knight, aura radiating.
Even in office, sword at hip, square jaw exuding manly knight vibe.
"Hmm, couldn't tend the territory properly, but glad you maintained the village."
*'Huh? Real administrator?'*
Unexpected kind words, tone sincere worry for Luna.
"No, sir. Proud to be Piyor Viscountcy folk—we thank the gods."
Yans buttered well despite nerves—why Village Chief sent him.
"Grateful for that. This year's tax... here."
Felt off for administrator.
Refined speech, noble gravitas in every move.
"Total 30 gold—correct?"
"What? Th-thirty gold?"
He held a paper stating 30 gold—Yans panicked.
"Not right? 200 souls, meager output... independent village at 30% rate—too much?"
*'Teasing us?'*
This spring, he'd sent soldiers demanding 50 gold.
He eyed Yans and me alternately.
"N-no, it's... our village..."
Clatter.
As Yans nearly blurted 50, the door flew open.
"Gah! L-Lord! When did you arrive?!"
*'Wh-what! Lord?!'*
In waddled a potbellied, rat-eyed, greed-dripping man yelling "Lord!"
"What're you doing?! Daring lift heads before the lord?! Don't you know his face?!"
Fart-blame yeller raged at us.
"Haha! Trimo, it's fine. My fault for long capital stay."
"Hail the Lord!"
Yans knelt, forehead to floor like greeting king.
Crumple.
He yanked my pants—down I went.
"H-hail the Lord."
*'Ugh! Ego crushed.'*
First bow since New Year's cash prostration.
Had to show max respect to lord.
*'Damn! Lord—I'll devour you someday!'*
Another reason to become lord.
Commoner level? Bowing everywhere.
No groveling like asphalt gum.
"But Trimo, isn't Luna's tax 30 gold?"
Lord questioned tax with thick files.
"Y-yes! Merciful Lord's grace—30% even for independent village."
Trimo fidgeted, then brazenly replied.
*'Torch him?'*
Clear: skimming massive taxes behind lord's back.
"What'd you say before the lord?"
Trimo scolded us bowed heads harshly.
"Nothing."
"Right? Heh. Ignoramuses spout nonsense sometimes."
*'Ignoramus?!'*
Turning Kang Hyuk into worm kin—this cur administrator.
Burned his fat face into memory.
"Tax is 30 gold. Pay Trimo."
"Lord, to the mansion?"
"Yes. Zaigen's mealtime—don't want servants panicking."
"I'll visit shortly, sir."
"See to it."
"Farewell, Lord."
Some Zaigen needed lord-fed meals?
Thud thud.
Lord exited through open door.
"From Luna?"
"Y-yes, Lord—er, Administrator sir."
Yans, half-souled from lord, stammered.
"Don't blab what you heard. Tax is 50 gold. Merciful lord cuts taxes for useless lot like you, straining territory. I must do this—got it?"
*'Whoa! Shameless!'*
Steel-plated face—Trimo hiked 20 gold casually.
Hundreds villages per territory—skimmed fortune obvious.
*'Wait, punk. Not Yi Mong-ryong, but I'll send you to hell!'*
No hobbies fleecing poor commoners?
"