Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Searching for the Crows (3)
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[Forest and Earth Goddess Rinshaka has taken an interest in you.]
The letters were ancient script formed from the divine power of Rinshaka flowing out of the Purification Tree.
Taken an interest... huh.
‘Is it because I gathered her followers for her?’
I glanced up at the Purification Tree, then gave a slight bow.
It was because I recalled the saying that Rinshaka watched everything through the leaves.
A goddess taking an interest in a human wasn’t always a good thing.
The moment I did something that didn’t please her, I might face terrible divine punishment.
Along with the hope that Rinshaka would lend me her power, a heavy burden now weighed on my shoulders.
‘I need to watch my actions from now on.’
Since Rinshaka was a typical good-aligned goddess, it was best to be cautious in advance.
‘It might help when dealing with the Crows...’
I still didn’t know the Crows’ true nature exactly, but since they were tied to Rasgal’s cultist followers, Rinshaka would surely judge them as ‘evil.’
If things aligned well, it would definitely be a big help.
Well, beyond that... as a druid, receiving Rinshaka’s blessing was nothing but good.
I opened the old book.
Sure enough, thanks to Rinshaka, a new trait had appeared.
[Child of the Forest]
[You receive the blessing of Forest and Earth Goddess Rinshaka.]
[Rinshaka’s divine power dwells within you.]
[The impure fear you.]
A god’s ‘divine power’ was something only priests who devoted body and soul to a temple could wield.
Yet I had received the gift of ‘divine power’ directly from Rinshaka.
Using the divine power granted by Rinshaka would dramatically boost the effects of my healing skills from now on.
That meant my value had risen to the level of a ‘priest.’
Jackpot?
“Thank you, Mother of Forest and Earth.”
I murmured a short prayer of thanks, then turned away. I chatted with the high priest about this and that as we returned to the temple, but a crowd had somehow gathered in front of it.
Word must have spread about the Saint of Purification arriving.
The life of a celebrity is exhausting.
Drawing too much attention wasn’t ideal.
“Um, sorry, but I’d like to slip back in quietly.”
I pulled my hood low and whispered to the high priest. He nodded, handed me off to a young priest, and headed toward the crowd alone. We took the opportunity to enter through the back path.
“Then rest well, Sir Theodore.”
“All the grace you bestow, I thank you for.”
“No need for such words. Think of it as your home and stay as long as you like.”
Entering the lodging, I saw El and Aila waiting for me. Only then did I pull off my deeply hooded cowl and sit comfortably in a chair.
“Master, I took good care of Storm. I even properly maintained the wagon.”
“You did well. Have you eaten?”
“Not yet. Aila made sure to eat, but I didn’t.”
“I should’ve told you to eat first if I knew it’d be this late.”
I asked a priest for a meal. The food at Rinshaka’s temple was much simpler than at Arjan’s temple, but it was incredibly clean and tasty.
Like temple rice, I suppose?
We finished our modest meal and wrapped up the day.
Tomorrow, I planned to scout ships heading to the Ekaitz Confederation and buy supplies for the journey.
‘I need to find a decent ship...’
I hadn’t been on a boat in this world yet, but my real self got terribly seasick.
Even when my dad begged me to go fishing on his boat, I couldn’t...
‘Ah, I should’ve gone with him as filial piety...’
If I’d known I’d die in a car accident and end up in another world, I would’ve done all the filial stuff and then died...
Swallowing a bit of regret and sorrow, I drifted off to sleep.
* * *
The next day.
I took El and Aila to the harbor. A young priest offered to help, but I turned him down—wandering around with a priest would draw too much attention.
“Hmm...”
Arriving at the harbor, a familiar fishy smell greeted me.
‘Already feeling seasick.’
I took a long, deep breath at the sight of all sorts of ships bobbing on the water.
“Are there ships going to the Ekaitz Confederation?”
At my question, a boatman who’d been scribbling something looked up at me briefly.
“You don’t look like a merchant.”
“Correct.”
“What are you shipping?”
“I plan to ride it myself.”
The boatman, engrossed in his writing again, looked up at my words once more.
“Yourself?”
It was understandable to be suspicious. People coming and going from the Ekaitz Confederation and other nations were mostly merchants or mercenaries.
“It’s an expensive city for tourism.”
“I know.”
“Entry permits are tricky too.”
“That as well.”
I subtly pulled out my mercenary badge from my pocket.
“Didn’t peg you for a merc—guess I was wrong.”
Only then did the boatman set down his writing and start dealing with me properly.
“One adult, one kid, one dog.”
Hearing me, the boatman let out a chuckle.
“Two people, one monster, right?”
Ah, I forgot for a moment this was a pseudo-medieval land without a concept of ‘children.’
“Yes. Two people, one monster. How much?”
I asked the price without haggling.
“2 gold.”
Nice try.
The boatman must’ve taken me for a greenhorn mercenary.
No fancy weapons in sight, plain clothes and all.
“Too steep.”
I let the first one slide.
“Monster transport hazard pay.”
“It’s already tamed.”
“Take it or leave it.”
This old geezer...
I had the 2 gold, but it was obvious he was trying to fleece a sucker, so I didn’t want to give in.
“1 gold 50 silver. No more.”
“Hmph! Too bad.”
The boatman waved me off like shooing a fly.
Should I just deck him?
“Huh, you?”
It was then.
A quite familiar voice rang out.
“Ah, you’re...!”
Fox-like face, short stature, plump build, loaded with jewelry on hands and neck...
“Theodore!”
It was the merchant from the Ekaitz Company I’d escorted across the Golden Road.
Even after quite some time, the merchant remembered my face.
“Long time no see. I hope you’ve been well...”
“Of course! It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say your protection got us through our deals safely!”
“You flatter me.”
“What brings you to Rabata?”
“Heading to the Ekaitz Confederation.”
“The Confederation? Looking for work?”
“Something like that.”
At my words, the merchant was thrilled.
“Good heavens, a talent like you could find work anywhere in the Confederation! No, wait—let me introduce you! How about working for our company?”
“Ah, that’s...”
“You have no idea how much I praised you to Lady Katarina. She showed great interest too!”
Katarina... the cat beastkin company head?
“Thank you just for saying so.”
“No time to stand around. Got a ship yet?”
“Not yet...”
“Then ride with us! I’ve been regretting not paying you properly back then—this works out perfectly!”
He was drumming up a storm all by himself.
Sailing with the merchant would surely be a hassle. But glancing at the boatman gawking with his mouth agape, I wanted to flatten that red nose.
“Hahaha! Shall we?”
I cheerfully accepted the merchant’s offer and grinned at the boatman.
“Old timer, your jaw’s gonna drop.”
Should’ve kept the greed in check.
I followed the merchant with El and Aila.
‘I am curious about Company Head Katarina.’
A beastkin woman running her own company in the Ekaitz Confederation.
Plus, connected to Black Opium.
‘That tea leaf deal had Black Opium mixed in.’
She might know something.
Could get hints on the Crows too—perfect.
“The ship leaves in two days. Come to the harbor then.”
“Thank you again.”
“No big deal. Glad to have a good companion for the boring voyage!”
After checking out the ship the merchant recommended, I left the harbor for the market.
The merchant promised a smooth trip, but you never know with people, so I wanted to prepare adequately.
‘Need to make seasick meds too.’
In my old life, I could just buy them at a pharmacy.
Cheap ones too.
Here, I had to make them myself.
Ingredients...
Dried ginger, dried peppermint, and honey.
Grind the dried ginger and peppermint into powder, mix with honey to make candies—done.
Ah, make a bunch and sell them on the ship?
I bought three times the amount I’d planned, then looked at other foodstuffs.
‘Food’s an issue too.’
Shipboard eats were pretty limited.
Whole wheat biscuits, dried jerky, pickled fish...
Pickled fish was a hard no.
No harm prepping emergency rations.
With the subspatial ring, I could make packed lunches for the next two days.
El eats about three servings per meal, so factor that in...
Fresh meat for Aila, tree fruits for Pip...
‘Family’s growing—lots to prepare.’
A bit of a hassle, but not bad.
Keeps the loneliness at bay.
After buying everything needed, I returned to the temple lodging.
I had El sort the luggage, then prepared a bath as usual.
Once on the ship, no leisurely baths for a while—better enjoy now.
-Pip!
“What, you wanna bathe too?”
Pip, who’d been playing with herb leaves floating in the water, fluttered up and landed on my head.
“Why not turn the bathwater into life water like last time?”
-Pip?
“Then I’d be done suffering. Huh?”
-Pip.
“Fine, fine.”
After the incident where Pip turned the bathwater into life water, we always bathed together, but it never happened again.
At this point, I wonder if it was all my imagination.
This little guy’s definitely got something to him...
“Sigh, think about it later.”
Crows and Origin God quest took priority now.
I closed my eyes quietly.
It was a peaceful night after a long time.