In Search of Work
I woke up without anyone having to rouse me and without any smartphone notifications. I sat up slightly and looked out the window. The blizzard had finally stopped. The weather was calm, as if the storm had never happened, and the sun shone brightly. It was time to leave. Parting with cute Ameri was a shame, but I had to do what needed to be done.
“Ugh!” When I got out of bed, every muscle in my body screamed in protest. Ah, right. Last night I’d made that stupid bet with Tirga and we’d gone at it like animals until late. Satisfying her wasn’t difficult, but making her submit through sex was another matter entirely. As expected of an SSS-rank monster, she was no easy opponent. Her strength and stamina were monstrous; she didn’t tire easily, while I was just a frail human. At some point we’d both forgotten the bet and simply lost ourselves in raw, beast-like frenzy. Maybe that was for the best. I really shouldn’t gamble unless I’m certain of the outcome. Stupid Marquelon. Did you already forget the gamble you made back at the Xeno Prison Camp?
“Boss, breakfast is—oh my!”
“Gah.”
Of all times, I had to flash Lati while completely naked. Worse, my body was covered in nail marks and hickeys, making it painfully obvious what had happened. Lati’s face turned bright red. She flailed for a moment before slamming the door shut and fleeing. So much for maintaining any dignity as the boss.
“Mmm? Master, what’s wrong?”
“It’s time for breakfast. Get up.”
Tirga rose from the bed, rubbing her sleepy eyes before stretching languidly. Her body bore just as many marks from last night’s heat as mine did. I hadn’t planned on going that far, but our compatibility had been too good and things had spiraled. We dressed in the comfortable clothes Ameri had made for us and headed to the kitchen. Ameri truly was a master of life skills—there was nothing she couldn’t make. Architecture, cooking, even sewing.
“Good morning. Come sit and eat.”
Ameri greeted us cheerfully and even pulled out chairs for us. In this otherworld full of lunatics, her untouched purity and kindness still felt unreal. Breakfast was roasted potatoes, bread, and mushroom potage. The thought that I wouldn’t get to eat Ameri’s delicious cooking anymore made my eyes sting.
“The weather’s cleared up nicely.”
“It’s time we left this place. Thank you for everything.”
“Oppa, you’re leaving already?”
“Yeah, Ameri. Don’t worry. I’ll come back later.”
Ameri’s ears drooped, her disappointment plain. I understood how she felt. Out here in the middle of nowhere, with only Admi for company, she had to be lonely. But I couldn’t let sentiment get in the way of business. After our final breakfast, we prepared to depart. Ameri and Admi came over carrying armfuls of supplies.
“If you want to survive in this freezing north, thick, sturdy clothing is essential. Change into these.”
“And I packed my special backpacks full of food and supplies.”
They handed me a warm fur coat, pants, sturdy winter boots, a ushanka hat, and gloves—the full set. Once I was dressed, I felt like a proper resident of Mother Russia. Well, we were in the north, so it suited the place. Tirga refused the winter gear, complaining it was too stuffy. Whether she truly didn’t feel the cold or was just prioritizing fashion and exposure, I couldn’t tell. Women were strange creatures sometimes. Even in the dead of winter they’d wear skirts or pants that left their legs bare. Tirga was exposing her stomach and chest too. How was she not freezing? Was being the strongest really enough to overcome the cold itself?
In the end, only Lati and I wore the winter outfits Ameri had given us. We divided the survival supplies among three backpacks and made sure everything was secured. Even though Lati was our pack mule, dumping everything on her risked disaster if the party ever split up. It was better if I carried what I needed myself.
“You have to come visit again. Oppa, Lati, and Tirga too.”
“Of course.”
“Then I wish you luck. Here’s a map of the area. It should help with your journey.”
“Admi, you can’t make something like a minimap?”
“Marquelon, that falls outside my jurisdiction, so it’s impossible.”
Damn, what a waste. Maybe that annoying dwarf would make one if I asked? Having to rely on a scrap of paper was inconvenient. At least we had a compass. With Admi and Ameri seeing us off, we left the mansion behind, heading for the camper that would become our second home. I put Lati in the passenger seat and sent Tirga to the living area in the back. I needed a smart navigator, and since Lati was from the north, she’d be useful.
“If we keep going this way, there should be a small village.”
“Good. Hopefully there’s work that pays well.”
I’d used up what little money I had left to refuel the vehicle. Money. I needed to make money. It had been too long since I’d done any real economic activity. Would a bandit take pity on my empty pockets and just let me go? No—if I ran into bandits, I’d rob them instead and fill my own pockets!
Following Lati’s directions, we eventually spotted a village surrounded by wooden palisades. It was hard to tell if it was a village or a fortress, but Lati explained that without the walls, monsters would overrun the place. Driving the camper straight in would draw suspicion, so we dismissed the vehicle some distance away and approached on foot. To the locals, that massive truck would look like a monster.
Two guards at the entrance leveled their spears at us.
“Halt. Who are you?”
“Good work in this cold. I’m a mercenary passing through. I was hoping to find some work here.”
“A mercenary?”
They didn’t look convinced, so I zapped a branch lying on the ground with a small bolt of lightning. Purple electricity flashed and the branch instantly turned to ash. The guards lowered their weapons.
“Very well. Welcome to Dereb Village. If you’re looking for work, speak with the village chief. The tallest house inside will be easy to find.”
“Thank you. And if you keep staring at another man’s woman like that, you’ll end up like that branch.”
“Ahem.”
The guy had been ogling Tirga’s body without shame. I wanted to fry him the same way, but I let it slide this once. People kept staring at us like they’d never seen outsiders before. The cause was obviously Tirga. A beautiful woman with a great figure walking around half-naked in freezing weather was bound to draw eyes.
“Tirga, put something on.”
“No.”
“Then I’ll dismiss you.”
“Tch.”
She grumbled but shrugged on a long coat. I wondered where summoned beings stayed when dismissed. Judging by how much Tirga hated going back, it probably wasn’t pleasant. Following the guards’ directions, we reached the chief’s house. It was noticeably larger and taller than the other buildings—either a display of authority or proof he’d been skimming plenty. Village chiefs were usually corrupt, and this place seemed no different. The gap in construction quality between this house and Ameri’s was staggering.
Luckily, the gate opened just as we arrived, and I came face-to-face with an old man.
“I don’t recognize you. Who are you?”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m the mercenary Marquelon. Are you the village chief?”
“I am. A mercenary, you say… Did you come looking for work?”
“That’s right.”
“Unfortunately, this old man has nothing to offer. Instead, help the villagers in my stead. While you’re here, would you like some tea?”
“I’m fine. I’ll go speak with the residents.”
The chief’s face didn’t look like that of a bad person. Maybe I was being overly sensitive because of what happened when I first arrived in this world. Of course, that tragedy had been caused by a corrupt chief who’d hired adventurers and heroes to trample my innocent heart. I wasn’t the type to kill people or commit crimes for no reason just to feel excitement or pleasure. Who did they think I was, some plague-spreading psychopath?
Anyway, I needed work. Without money, I couldn’t survive. Without money, I couldn’t roll for convenient, stylish, or powerful summons! Should I just summon a tank and threaten to level the place if they didn’t pay up? No—robbing a remote village like this wouldn’t yield much anyway. Following the chief’s advice, I went around greeting villagers and asking if anyone needed help.
Eventually, a hunter gave me a quest.
“Lately, the number of animals we catch in the hunting grounds has dropped sharply. If this continues, the village won’t have enough meat. Find out what’s causing it and fix the problem.”
“Understood. Where are the hunting grounds?”
“Head northeast from the village and you’ll find them. It used to be a place where moose appeared, but they’ve all disappeared.”
“Hmm. Could it be monsters?”
“There are no traces of monsters. If it were a yeti, for example, it would have eaten only the meat and left the hide and head behind.”
It seemed like another predator had appeared. We had no choice but to investigate the site. Following the hunter’s directions, we left the village again and headed for the hunting grounds. We had the vehicle, but the trees made driving impossible, so we had to walk. I considered summoning a quad bike, but it was too small for Lati as well. Other vehicles existed, but causing unnecessary commotion might interfere with the investigation. In the end, we had to go on foot.
After walking for a while, we reached a frozen lake and what looked like the hunting grounds.
“It should be around here.”
“Indeed, Master.”
From what I knew, adult moose were fast and ferocious enough that even most carnivores avoided them. If it wasn’t monsters, then it had to be humans.
“Master, there are footprints here. Let’s follow them.”
Tirga pointed to tracks that looked like they belonged to a dog. Or maybe a wolf. I let Tirga take the lead and followed the prints.