Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Rice Farming with the Devil! #1
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"Did you hear? The atmosphere in Cunning Town ain't right."
"A large subjugation force has been put together."
"Fucking bastards! Hope they all get wiped out this time!"
Just walking through the Thieves' Guild in the Great Wall had all sorts of info pouring into my ears.
Apparently, Cunning Town was in total chaos.
"Hey, little bro, did you cause some trouble in Cunning Town?"
Germain sis crossed her arms and asked.
Me? Cause trouble?
I'd been living as saintly as possible lately.
"Nah, nothing like that."
"Really? You might've heard too, but Cunning Town's a mess right now."
"Yeah, everyone's talking about it."
"Word I picked up is some 'dragon' showed up?"
Dragon? That guy we ran into while trying to activate the underground magic circle?
The one that turns stuff to stone with beams from its mouth.
Sounds like that bastard turned Cunning Town upside down.
But it wasn't just the dragon.
"Talking beasts are showing up too, total pandemonium."
The beast army of the Water King.
Yeah, I sent those guys.
"No idea what you're talking about."
So I played dumb and tensed up, but Germain sis just chuckled.
"Whatever, it works out great for us!"
"...Why?"
"Rice demand keeps rising every month, and now suppliers are dropping? Prices skyrocket, obviously!"
Ooooh.
That explained why the thieves in the Great Wall guild looked so chipper.
Word was, rice that went for 50 gold per sack was now up to 60.
"Might as well let that shitty town just collapse already."
Germain sis was from Cunning Town, right?
Guess she hated her hometown.
"Anyway, little bro, what brings you to the guild?"
Germain sis finally turned her gaze to me.
I glanced around casually and asked.
"Looking to buy some flowers. Figured maybe they don't sell 'em here?"
The Great Wall Thieves' Guild sold all sorts of stuff.
Flowers too, maybe?
But nope, didn't seem like it.
"Flowers?"
Germain sis raised an eyebrow.
Debora, sitting on her chair, scowled too.
"Look at this cheeky brat. Flowers? All you got in that head is that stuff!"
Come to think of it, buying flowers around here meant soliciting prostitutes.
Everyone was misunderstanding, so I hurriedly clarified.
"No, real flowers. Something a girl might like—"
Damn, worded it wrong. Awkward.
Better bail quick.
But first, one thing bugging me.
"Germain sis, why's Debora here?"
Debora was an evil, nasty thief.
I'd kidnapped her and brought her here—honestly didn't expect her to still be alive.
Germain sis chuckled at my question.
"We got money matters to hash out."
Money problems were important, sure.
With that, I headed to the Great Wall brothel.
"Flowers for sale."
"Buy some flowers."
Tons of flower-selling sisters.
Just walking this hallway made my face burn.
The place I went was Clara's room.
For reference, Clara was blind.
Germain sis's friend, and on good terms with Felix too.
"Clara, it's Yor."
"Ah, Germain's apprentice—"
"Got any flowers for sale? Not the metaphorical kind! Real live ones!"
"Oh, that... "
Clara groped around and touched the vases.
"Here, take this one free."
Free flowers? In this world?
Suddenly felt great.
Didn't know what kind, but white petals with yellow stamens—pretty cute.
"Yor, got a girl you like?"
"Nope."
"I've got good intuition. Can tell a person's mood just from their voice or footsteps."
True sixth sense, huh.
I rubbed my nose sheepishly.
I set off with light steps.
Nimble was still catching rats in the warehouse.
"Nimble."
Planned to give the flower to Nimble.
And straight-up ask what we were.
But now that it was right in front of me, I realized just how reckless this plan was.
Me, who'd never confessed to anyone, giving a girl flowers?
What if she rejects me?
That'd be a lifelong black mark—!
"What's that? A daisy?"
Nimble's sharp nose spotted the flower in my hand.
"Just picked it up on the way."
"My favorite flower."
A single wildflower.
I awkwardly held it out, and Nimble opened her mouth wide—aaah—and ate it.
Crunch crunch. Nom nom.
Ding...!?
Never saw that coming.
'Is this a good reaction or bad?'
So what happens now?
I waited with pounding heart.
Nimble eyed me with narrowed gaze.
"I ate it since you gave it, but it's way too soon."
"Too soon...!?"
"Yor, you still have that contract, right?"
The soul contract from the devil deal.
Said Ashibar would show something fun if I had it.
"Hand it over now, and I can pretend it never happened."
Her tail wagged wildly side to side—whoosh whoosh.
Overlooking a theft? Generous.
Flower bribe working?
'Who knew one flower could erase a prior offense!'
If I'd known sooner, half my 14 priors gone.
Bribes were key.
"...What if I lost the contract?"
"—I'll kill you."
"Here."
I handed the contract back to Nimble.
Ashibar wanted that 'contract,' but oh well.
First, deal with Nimble trying to kill me.
Nimble tucked it tightly into her waistband.
"Well, guess I should head back now."
"Home?"
"Yeah. Unless you wanna—"
"Yor! You here?"
Door opened as Nimble started to say something.
Hammer came looking for me.
"Yor, time to deploy! Sun's up in the volcanic zone!"
Deploy?
Couldn't pass that up!
Gave back the contract, so time to rake in Ether big.
"But Nimble, what were you about to say?"
"Nothing."
Nimble was hiding something, but hard to pry.
Anyway, I followed Hammer to the strategy room.
Felix was waiting, scowled when he saw me.
"Why'd you bring him?"
"Him?"
Patter patter.
Nimble had followed behind me.
Then Hammer dropped a bombshell.
"Nimble, right? Wanna deploy with us?"
Nimble deploying?
Felix looked shocked, like he couldn't believe his ears.
"For real?"
"Hermit's laid up, so we've got an open spot anyway."
To me, deploy team was like car tires.
Four's ideal.
With Hermit sick, our party had a gap.
Like a car missing a wheel.
Nimble in that spot?
No clue if it was smart.
"Nimble, wanna hunt with us?"
Hammer asked Nimble.
Her ears perked up—twitch.
"Hunt?"
Grin.
Fangs bared in a sharp smile.
"Awesome, my body's been itching!"
Whoosh.
We deployed to the volcanic zone.
Huge rock-shelled snails everywhere.
Nimble's eyes gleamed.
"What're those guys?"
Nimble was forest-born, little outside experience.
I explained simply.
"Rock Snails. Low attack, but high defense."
Minimum recommended hunt level 13.
Shells super tough.
Hammer laughed heartily and clapped my back.
"Yor, you've done your homework!"
"Heh heh, gotta study monsters to rake in Ether!"
"Then let's see this 'druid's' skills."
Felix scoffed.
Nimble growled low.
Transforming into that pissed-off wolf again?
As I thought that, Nimble reached out.
"<Thornwood>."
Rustle rustle.
Spiky vines sprouted fast on the barren volcanic ground.
Huge range.
Park-sized.
—Squeee—!
—Squeee—!
Snails impaled out of nowhere tried fleeing desperately—but.
Vines stabbed deeper, killing them all.
[+300 Ether]
[+300 Ether]
..
..
Ching ching ching—.
Ether rained down in seconds.
Fireworks exploded in my head.
'Nimble can do that too!?'
Even Felix, wary of her, showed surprise.
"Not bad."
—Grrr—!
Wolf-form Nimble now.
Darted through snails, smashing shells with front paws.
"No need for me to protect her!"
Hammer marveled.
He usually stuck by close-range-weak Hermit.
Nimble handled melee fine, freeing Hammer up.
"Hahaha! I'm joining the attack!"
Hammer swung his hammer, smashing snails.
Short time, 500k Ether earned.
[Prismatic Ore x187]
[Sturdy Shell x201]
[Advanced Shoe Enchant Scroll x3]
Snail shell innards yielded valuables galore.
'Advanced Shoe Enchant Scrolls' went for 1 mil Ether each.
'Earned at least 3.5 mil—!?'
Insane money-making!
Brain felt microwaved.
"Huh, this..."
Then Nimble spotted mushrooms rising in the volcanic zone.
Spiky like thorns, creepy.
She sniffed—sniff—and snapped one off.
"This is a 'Baal Mushroom'? Heals most wounds right up."
Mushroom that heals wounds?
Like potions!
Hammer was shocked.
"This kid spots useful plants too?"
Poke.
Hammer nudged my side.
"Yor, sweet-talk this Nimble into sticking with us!"
"Sweet-talk?"
"Keep her as backup manpower!"
Deploys were 4-man standard.
But sometimes, like today, you'd borrow a spot.
Injuries common in explorer life.
So a reserve member wasn't bad.
Hammer got serious.
"Yor, finding a Night Land plant expert? Like striking gold!"
"For real?"
"After bosses and chests, what's next for Ether sweeps? Plant gathering!"
"Ooooh!"
"But not just anyone. Mess up Night Land plants, and they turn dangerous!"
Needed a 'gathering expert.'
Impressive, but was it that big a deal?
Reading my face, Hammer explained.
"That mushroom Nimble grabbed? At least 5 mil Ether."
—Fuck!?
For real?
But Hammer wouldn't lie.
He chuckled happily.
"This is huge Ether haul! We can all hit level 15!"
Level 15 got us to Rose Instructor's zone.
'Rose Instructor said she'd buy me drinks.'
Date-drinking with Rose Instructor.
Just thinking made my lips curl up.
Problem: convincing Nimble to join.
'She said she's going home.'
'Steal the soul contract again?'
Pondering that till lunch.
"Hey."
Nimble approached first while I sorted Ether and junk.
"That metal lump said this Ether haul's thanks to you?"
Whispered slyly.
"...Ahem, any chance I could join your crew?"