Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Sweet Rest, and Then?
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We arrived at Rabata, the port city of Roshan.
Thanks to making it to Rabata without so much as a speck of damage, the caravan leader seemed extremely satisfied. On top of that, the escort unit captain was so impressed with my skills that he put in a good word with the caravan, resulting in pay even better than the original contract.
With the long journey over, it was time for some proper rest. Following the caravan's recommendation, I rented a room at the best inn in Rabata. Since the escort job had dragged on for quite a while, I unusually chose a bath over dinner first. I wanted to soak in hot water, check my finances, and review my skills.
"Let's see, my level's at 28 now..."
I carefully scrolled through the list of available skills.
The [Dimensional Garden] I'd gained at level 26 was exactly what it sounded like—a skill that created a 'garden' only I could access. With this garden, I could grow any plant in optimal conditions, free from interference.
'I'd gotten it but hadn't made the garden yet.'
Finally, I had a place to cultivate all the seeds I'd collected so far, especially the 'Black Opium' from Khalid.
Since the quality and size of the [Dimensional Garden] depended on my own prowess, it was best to create it after sufficient rest, in peak condition. That's why I hadn't used the skill yet, even though I'd acquired it during the escort mission.
But right now, everything was perfectly peaceful. The ideal moment to make the Dimensional Garden.
Seated cross-legged in the wooden bathtub filled with warm, rippling water, I focused my mind.
I slowly drew up the pure, clear energy from within my body and prayed to Linshaka...
"...Garden Open."
Whispering with the most refined mana gathered, the carefully selected mana spread out in all directions before converging again. Slowly opening my eyes, a vast expanse of land stretched before me.
"This isn't garden-sized..."
Not to brag, but objectively speaking, this was no 'garden'—the cute word didn't fit. It wasn't even a field; it was a massive plain, so huge its edges were beyond sight.
"...I could live here. Yeah, live here."
It was too vast—way too vast. Stunned, I let out a hollow laugh before wandering the 'garden' for a bit. Mild weather, fertile soil. Nothing better for growing things.
"Hm? What's that?"
As if to prove my thoughts right, something was already sprouting in the middle of the plain. A tree? I'd never heard of anything like this growing here...
"..."
But uprooting something already growing felt wrong. And with the land so ridiculously expansive, giving it a spot wasn't an issue. I used [Breath of the Forest] to gather dew and sprinkle it over the tree, then exited the Dimensional Garden.
"Whew... Anyway, now's the time to learn [Moon Light]."
[Moon Light] was exactly that—borrowing 'moonlight' from Nemeya, goddess of the moon and mercy. Moonflower would bloom, emitting moonlight that burned away the impure with silver flames.
It required the specific ingredient of moonflower seeds, but as a druid, that was no challenge for me.
[Moon Light] had powerful effects against demons and undead, much like the [Radiance] used by priests, making it a great skill to pick up now.
'I have plenty of moonflower seeds. I can grow more in the Dimensional Garden.'
Soaking comfortably in the warm water, I savored the languid sensation.
Everything was going smoothly. Perfect.
"Master?"
"Hm?"
"The time you mentioned has passed."
"Already?"
I'd only been checking skills, and an hour had flown by.
I rose from the tub, tidied up a bit, and stepped out. El was still unpacking.
"El, wrap it up and come down. I'll order food."
"Yes, Master!"
Seeming excited for a lavish meal after so long, El replied loudly.
This escort job had been a long one. As a major caravan, food hadn't been scarce, but it wasn't great either. As preserved rations tended to be, the bread was crumbly, the jerky tough, and the stew bland. I'd shared lunches from my magic pouch now and then, but it wasn't fully satisfying.
I headed to the inn's restaurant first. Fine dining was the pinnacle of true rest. I ordered a cool beer right away. I'd remembered a mercenary raving about the beer made from red wheat grown near Rabata, with its unique flavor.
-Gulp, gulp, gulp.
"Graah..."
Sure enough, as befitting a seasoned drinker, the red wheat beer was bittersweet yet nutty and tangy—bursting with character. I couldn't stop and drained the whole glass.
I ordered another beer. Following the innkeeper's recommendation, I got fresh reef turtle steak, cream soup packed with shellfish, and coral shrimp tempura. El came down late, drooling, so I added five sea quail roasts.
We started with the sea quail roasts that arrived first. Small but chewier and tastier than regular roast chicken, they were oiled lightly and slowly rotated over charcoal.
"Eat slowly."
"It's just so good..."
The kid chowing down with juices and grease all over her mouth was the [Silver Lion Reinhardt]? Hard to believe, even now.
But it wasn't far-fetched—El was growing steadily. Eating well, sleeping well, training almost daily had built muscle and improved her skills. Feeding her was paying off.
I tossed the last sea quail roast under the table to Ayla, who waited patiently, then sliced into the reef turtle steak. Simply salted and peppered, it tasted like veal mixed with lobster. Not a huge portion, so I followed with a hot bowl of soup. The cream soup, simmered long with heaps of shellfish, warmed my insides and eased my tension.
"Ow, hot!"
"Told you to eat slowly."
El, blindly copying me and gulping soup, yelped loudly. Tsk tsk—hot food tolerance was a Korean trait. Noblewomen like her, obsessed with etiquette, usually ate cold soup.
I handed El water and squeezed a lemon. Lemon juice rained over the coral shrimp tempura, filling the air with salty, sour zest. My mouth watered involuntarily. I dipped the crispy shrimp in thick sauce and popped one in. Ah, this was it... Came to the sea for a reason.
"El, speak up if you want more. I'll get it."
Never skimp on food. Especially for El in her growth spurt—keep her full for muscle gain. That was all~ part of raising [Silver Lion Reinhardt].
"Um, then one more sea quail roast and a bowl of soup..."
"Innkeeper, three sea quail roasts and two soups. A milk and blackberry juice too. Oh, another beer."
Sipping beer with the shrimp tempura, I pondered.
'First time in a port city in ages—maybe scout for a caravan heading to Lüset?'
The elven nation of Lüset overflowed with quests. Unlike Roshan, good for leveling in danger zones by region, it was the opposite. Waiting for an escort to Lüset might be smart.
'The quest to find the Origin God's temple is clearly endgame content.'
Challenging endgame at my level would be insane. For now, focus on leveling...
"There's a druid here, they say."
...Huh?
A group of mercenaries entering the inn asked the innkeeper outright. The only druid in this inn—no, this city—was...
"Over there."
...me.
The innkeeper's gaze naturally turned to me, as did the mercenaries'. Wait, this vibe's off. I casually chugged the rest of my beer.
-Step, step.
-Clink, clink, clink.
Those guys were fully armed.
Ayla, munching sea quail under the table, started growling lowly at the approaching mercenaries.
'Trouble.'
Lucky the meal was wrapping up. I slowly reached for the dagger at my waist. If things looked fishy, strike and...
"Are you Sir Theodor?"
...flee? Sir Theodor?
Mercenaries rarely used honorifics like 'Sir' except for nobles, knights, the famous, the rich, or the insanely strong.
I fit none. [Saint of Purification] title or not, I'd only cleansed part of a cursed land in Roshan's boonies—not 'famous' yet.
Yet, Sir Theodor?
"...Yes. I'm Theodor."
The leader glanced at our table and continued.
"Sorry. You just arrived and haven't rested."
Polite speech for a mercenary—educated one. I eased my hand from the dagger and nodded.
"True, but it's fine. State your business."
The mercenary paused. Hesitant, whatever it was.
"We're from Rabata's Mercenary Guild."
Rabata's guild meant local-only, unlike roaming ones—more legit, like guards.
"Not interested in recruitment."
"Heavens no. Sir Theodor's too exceptional for a place like this. The Ekaitz caravan's escort captain said the same."
"Too kind. I'm flattered."
"But could you help us just this once?"
Here came the point.
As the mercenary spoke, the old book in my pouch trembled. Wait, could this be...
"Please purify the mine. Saint of Purification."
Quest?!
I hurriedly pulled out the book and opened it. Familiar text emerged from the blank pages, glowing.
[Quest: Rabata Mine Subjugation Operation]