Chapter 99
Chapter 99
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Back to Solen (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘Darion, you’ve changed quite a bit yourself.’
I flashed him a friendly smile and patted his shoulder.
By the way.
‘The important talk hasn’t come up yet.’
With a subtle smile, I gripped his shoulder tightly!
“Darion.”
“Yes?”
“No matter how close we are, we still need to settle what needs settling.”
“……Yes?”
“The reward for the successful commission. The reward.”
That’s right. I’d successfully completed the job commissioned separately by the Sylvanus family, so it was only natural to receive the payment now. I gave him a bright smile as he stared at me with a dumbfounded look.
“Well, it’s understandable you might forget. There’s been so much going on. But no matter how close we are, I can’t just let it slide. You know that, right?”
“Yes, yes……!”
“Take the check, and cash too. Cash is better.”
“I’ll prepare it right away!”
“Good, good. You’ll take on commissions yourself as you adventure from now on, so don’t let them slide. You have to claim what’s yours. Got it?”
“……Yes!!”
Another life lesson imparted by yours truly.
After Darion left, I received the reward promised by the Sylvanus family. A whopping 250 gold. An amount no ordinary adventurer could even dream of. Being a prominent noble house in Lüset must make them spend like there’s no tomorrow.
Truth be told, I wasn’t exactly strapped for cash.
I’d earned plenty so far and lived frugally, so my finances were quite comfortable.
But with the quest to find the Fragment of the Origin God still pending…… it was uncertain if I could keep taking on periodic, stable commissions for income going forward. So, more money was always better.
‘This money already has a set purpose.’
Even 250 gold was a massive sum, but it’d vanish quickly once I stocked up on decent magic tools in Solen.
Why magic tools?
‘From now on, I need to actively conquer dungeons.’
The Fragment of the Origin God, with its immense power, was likely hidden in some notoriously dangerous dungeons.
But right now, my party was just three people, including me.
Even countries threw in hundreds or thousands of soldiers and failed to conquer those infamous dungeons.
I’d been lucky so far, but who knew if luck would hold.
‘It’d be great to recruit one or two more companions.’
Even with Lloyd and me handling the work of a hundred each, it was still a heavy burden……
I should aim for mages, at least one if possible.
It’d be smart to scout for talent while reorganizing in Solen.
‘Magic tools aside, recruiting companions will cost a fortune too.’
250 gold would melt away in no time. I let out a light sigh.
“…….”
But to return to my original world, what were 250 gold, a few magic tools, or recruiting companions?
* * *
After receiving lavish treatment in Lüset, we rode the carriage provided by the queen to the border. It was the border touching both Barak and Solen. We switched to the horses and carriage Katarina had prepared in advance and headed for Solen.
“Storm! It’s been too long.”
Storm, still boasting its magnificent mane, snorted loudly and rubbed its head against me. Lloyd frowned with one eyebrow raised at the sight.
“That horse…….”
“Oh, you’ve seen it before, right? The one I met because you stole my horse back in the Cursed Lands.”
I hold grudges a bit. At my words, Lloyd averted his gaze slightly.
“……There were circumstances back then.”
“Sure, I bet. Well, it worked out since I met Storm because of it.”
Seeing Lloyd, who rarely showed fluster and always stayed dignified, get flustered was too amusing to hold back laughter.
“Just kidding, kidding.”
“……You have a talent for making jokes sound serious.”
“Yeah. Useful in all sorts of ways.”
I chuckled and hopped onto the carriage.
“Alright, let’s head out. To Solen.”
* * *
With our mercenary badges already, entering Solen was a breeze.
Solen, upon our return, was already preparing for the autumn festival, the Harvest Moon event. Wow, it feels like just yesterday I first came to Solen, and yet time has flown by like this……
‘Will the festival bring more people?’
Before even booking an inn, I headed to the village center to check the job board. The festival had indeed increased the crowd, but no sign of any ‘useful’ talent.
‘Still, I should check it daily while we’re here.’
I went to the inn I’d stayed at last visit. Luckily, the innkeeper remembered me clearly and greeted me warmly. We took three small rooms, unpacked, and had a simple meal in the first-floor dining hall.
Having eaten nothing but prim and fancy palace food in Lüset’s royal palace lately, the sight of the hearty, humble inn fare awakened my long-forgotten gluttony.
Stew made by frying onions long, stuffing in potatoes and beef, then pouring in beer and simmering slow~! And hearty rye bread with its crisp, thick crust!
“Whoa, now I feel alive.”
I shoveled the stew like it was noodle soup. Dipping the rye bread in it made it unbeatable. Fresh cheese and olive pickles too…… This meal rivaled Lüset’s palace cuisine.
“One beer, please.”
“Ice-cold beer coming up~!”
“Lloyd, want a beer?”
Lloyd shook his head. Playing hard to get, huh. I chugged the beer straight from the frosty mug that chilled my hand. Ah, this is what life’s about.
For dessert, we each had a cinnamon roll slathered in white icing. The rich sugar and cinnamon woke my senses right up. Perfect, just perfect…… As I patted my full belly, whispers drifted from somewhere.
“No kidding, they say a kraken’s appeared in the Ekaitz sea.”
“Hey now! How’s a kraken gonna show up in Ekaitz sea when it’s not even the Abyss?”
“No, really, sailors spotted tentacles!”
“Ridiculous. If that’s true, they’d be long dead.”
“Come on, it’s reliable info. If played right…….”
“Info my foot. Just baseless rumors. Eat your meal.”
The talk from the next table sounded serious. A kraken in Ekaitz sea…… Lloyd, El, and I exchanged glances. It’s gotta be ‘Ken,’ right? Was the dungeon getting cramped for him? Showing up in the sea wouldn’t bring good…… Anyway, seems he’s not harming people. Good. Tonight, I’ll soul-link with Ken, check in, remind him to be careful……
“For now, let’s rest well today. We’re all tired from the trip, right?”
“Sure.”
“Yes, Master!”
After eating, we returned to our rooms. Ah, time for a bath. No chance during travel…… Inn meal then bath—classic combo. I asked the innkeeper for hot bathwater and unpacked.
“Isla, wanna bath after so long?”
-Woof!
Isla barked once disinterestedly, then curled up into a ball. Her fur looks fine, so I’ll leave her be.
Once the bath was ready, I added heaps of herbs and salts to the steaming tub and sank in. Ahh, melting away. I leaned back and closed my eyes.
‘Time to link with Ken…….’
I clasped my hands and quietly chanted the ritual. My body felt like it was sinking slowly. Slowly, slowly……
‘…….’
When I came to, I was Ken. The sensation of multiple tentacles waving felt weird. Vision different from human form disoriented me briefly, but I adapted fast. I looked around.
‘Not the dungeon interior, huh?’
Had this guy hit puberty already? I’d been too busy in Lüset to check properly, letting his wild side flare up. Grumbling, I swam slowly. This was quite a distance from the deep-sea dungeon. No, more than that.
‘Feels like I’ve come far east…….’
The surroundings grew scarier by the minute. The Abyss was close. I knew krakens were fast, but this much?
How long did I swim? Deep in the pitch-black depths, something glimmered far off. The emotions hitting me then: ‘anticipation,’ ‘joy,’ and……
‘Excitement.’
I could feel Ken thrilled to his core. What the hell? Favorite snack? I—no, ‘we’—shot through the water like a bullet.
And at our destination waited something I never expected.
‘A female kraken…….’
Male krakens have pointed, conical heads like hats; females, gently rounded ones. The one before us had a gently rounded head—a female kraken, slightly larger than Ken.
‘This guy really hit puberty.’
I thought he grew fast, but…… This was unexpected. Already finding a mate. Krakens vary in growth speed and limits, making pairing rare, but he got lucky.
Ken thrashed his conical head-fin and tentacles wildly in joy. But the female showed no reaction. Just stared blankly, blinking.
‘Oh boy…….’
So that’s the situation. Seems Ken hadn’t impressed her much. Just flailing happily…… Poor thing. I waited for his tearful dance to end.
Still, as his sorta-dad…… I should help, right?
‘But I’ve got no clue how to woo a female kraken…….’
Dancing alone clearly didn’t budge her. So, obviously!
‘Sharing food’s the best way to win favor, right?’
Simple is best. Trust your dad, Ken!