Return to the North
The journey back to the North was smooth. In fact, it was so uneventful it bordered on boring. Even the most aggressive monsters weren't foolish enough to attack a group with two Transcendents. Thanks to Vergo's subtle aura, which taught the monsters some manners, nothing happened. We only raided hidden black mage hideouts whenever Adela and Beatrice caught the scent of dark mana. Aside from Arthur giving Count Harmun a heads-up when we passed through the gateway city to the North, the days repeated in a tediously identical manner.
"I already told your king, but just in case, I'll tell you too. People from various regions are planning to head to the North soon. Minimize the inspection procedures and send them through as quickly as possible."
"This Harmun will obey the orders of His Highness the Archduke, who is like the sky!"
It was impressive to see a border count of another country show such extreme respect to an archduke of a neighboring nation. The academy students who witnessed this were shocked at first, but upon seeing Arthur and Vergo's faces, they immediately understood. That was the highlight.
After a minor incident, we safely arrived in the North. Upon reaching our destination, the Edenberg territory, we disbanded. The members of the delegation were all elites. Gathered from across the North, each had their own region of activity, and they hurried back to fill the vacancies left by their colleagues who had joined the delegation. Let's not forget—the North suffers from chronic manpower shortages. Thanks to the volunteers I brought, we had some breathing room, but in the North, more hands are always better.
"Let's meet again if there's another chance!"
"If you come to our region, contact me. I'll treat you properly."
"If you ever have business in Edenberg, be sure to stop by the training grounds! I'll teach you properly!"
After parting with these fleeting connections, their chests pounding, we buried a small lingering feeling in our hearts and headed to the Adventurer Guild. The Edenberg Adventurer Guild branch needed to quickly fill the personnel gaps since all the key figures had joined the delegation. Of course, they had done handovers in preparation for their absence. Still, it's always easiest when the person themselves handles it. Above all, we were most worried about the staff who had been anxiously waiting to fill their positions.
Luna, Vergo, and the guild staff hurried their steps, and we followed.
"The Adventurer Guild, huh. I wonder what kind of place it is?"
"It's similar to the mercenary guild in the Central region, but I've heard the atmosphere is different."
"Whatever it is, it'll be full of powerful warriors."
It was because the students wanted to see the Adventurer Guild while reporting their requests. Perhaps due to their expectations of the Adventurer Guild, the students didn't notice Arthur's meaningful expression from behind. Arthur, who stayed behind on the pretext of having business to handle in Edenberg, met my eyes and sent a look of trust. I wondered where the dignity he showed at the continental conference had gone. Whether or not that was the case, as the worried staff hurried to the guild, the people walking on the streets spotted us and showed welcoming expressions.
"Luna unni! Did the delegation mission go well?"
"It's been a while, Lord Vergo!"
"Oh my! You all went down to the Central region and came back looking pale! Here, have some Elorn berries I picked this morning!"
"We appreciate your dedication."
Men and women, children and elders alike all looked at us with favor. Occasionally, people who pounded their chests in the warrior's salute appeared. The students wore expressions of disbelief.
"This kind of reaction comes naturally?"
"Even my father, who is considered a model noble, wasn't respected to this extent...."
"I heard the Northern culture is unique, but I didn't expect it to be this much."
Shocked by a sight rarely seen in the Central region, they quickly regained their composure. The students here were all ones the Lucy siblings approved of. At least in terms of character, there were no issues, and since they were nobles, they were accustomed to receiving respect from citizens in some way, so they adapted quickly. Some of them awkwardly pounded their chests in return, offering the warrior's salute. It was almost cute to see them wondering what they had done wrong when the citizens laughed and passed by.
Among the students who reacted like country bumpkins visiting the city for the first time, only the First Princess Karen maintained her composure.
"That's a really impressive sight. Could the Empire establish a culture like this too?"
She seemed to like the Northern atmosphere and wondered if she could introduce a similar culture to the Empire. I decided to give her a brief explanation of the proper form as a ruler.
"It might be difficult. The one who established this culture was the First Great Warrior."
"The First Great Warrior?"
"He's the most famous and respected great hero in the North. He was the first warrior who liberated the North from monsters during the Great Opening a thousand years ago, laid the foundation and culture of the modern North, and created the Northern Breathing Method, which he distributed for free. He's the focal point of the Northerners."
"What kind of superhuman is that."
Karen looked at me with an incredulous expression after hearing my explanation. Well, I don't believe it either. The biographies of heroes from fairy tales were impressive, but what the First Great Warrior accomplished made those heroes' achievements seem trivial.
"Setting everything else aside, to establish a similar atmosphere in the Empire, you'd need to create something like the Northern Breathing Method and distribute it."
"Why the breathing method?"
"The Northern Breathing Method has the effect of strengthening and maintaining people's minds in a healthy state."
This is the reason why there are particularly few villains in the North. The First Great Warrior, who directly proved humanity's brilliance, must have believed in human foolishness like I do. He created the Northern Breathing Method to ensure the North wouldn't collapse for thousands of years and added a special function to strengthen mental fortitude. Thanks to this, from a young age, people strengthen their mental power through the breathing method that replaces normal breathing, and if they risk straying onto the wrong path, the breathing method helps maintain a healthy mind to overcome it. This is why, even a thousand years after the First Great Warrior's death, the Northern culture from the Great Opening era could be maintained and developed appropriately.
You might ask if it's too cheat-like for a mere breathing method to have such effects. Well, because the Northern Breathing Method itself is imbued with a Mystery, such absurd things are possible. Just looking at how the breathing method itself judges and restricts learning to only Northerners shows it's no ordinary thing. The fact that outsiders need to live in the North for at least several years mingling with Northerners, or set a cutoff for hunting monsters, suggests the Mystery in the breathing method has quite a temper.
Karen's expression turned pale after hearing my explanation.
"At that level, isn't it mind control....?"
"It's absolutely not."
I answered with conviction to Karen's words. Matters related to the mind were sensitive, so the North had investigated the breathing method several times at a regional level. I had also suspected it slightly during puberty. But every investigation only revealed the greatness of the breathing method, and the Mystery imbued in it resonated with my soul to prove its innocence. The reassuring feeling of someone supporting me and the strange sensation that I could trust and rely on it in any situation was a trust that couldn't be explained unless one learned the breathing method, a trust that it wouldn't betray. Moreover, cross-verifying with the Mystery in me and my past-life memories showed no problems, so it's safe.
"If there had been a problem in the first place, Master-class powerhouses like Arthur or Vergo would have noticed long ago."
"That's true, then..... Huh? Is that the Adventurer Guild over there?"
"Yeah, we've already arrived."
While I was explaining to help Karen understand, we arrived at the Adventurer Guild. While the academy students were admiring the large and grand guild, Vergo, who had the familiar guild building in his sights, forcefully opened the door and entered.
Bang!
"I'm back!"
As he entered with a majestic shout, the gazes of everyone inside the guild turned to him at once. The adventurers who were wondering who had caused the commotion saw Vergo's face and showed welcoming expressions.
"The branch manager is here!"
"It's been a while, Branch Manager!"
"It's been a long time since I've seen all your faces!"
Greeting the familiar faces we hadn't seen in a while, we entered the guild. The adventurers, showing various reactions, skillfully led us to the dining hall. Since they throw parties whenever there's a chance, they probably plan to hold one today to celebrate our return. The adventurers who naturally seated us in chairs spotted the academy students who had awkwardly joined and showed interest.
"Who are these kids? They don't look like Northerners."
"They're my hometown childhood friends, Luna and Ruin's companions."
"Ah, the friends you always called the Lucy siblings?"
When I briefly explained about the academy students, the adventurers showed great interest.
"The Lucy siblings, was it? As expected of Argo's friends, the siblings are both Gold-class."
"I'm jealous. When will I reach Gold-class."
"Save the depressing talk for another time, today's a party!"
"Whatever it is, the number of people to enjoy the party has increased, that's what matters!"
"Ah, haha....."
The students wore awkward expressions, perhaps burdened by the adventurers' interest, but the adventurers paid no mind. If they were bothered by something like that, they couldn't have become adventurers. To adventurers who risked their lives fighting monsters every day, the students' awkward reactions were rather cute.
As the party began, the guild dining hall quickly became lively.
"Come on! Pour! Drink!"
"Neon! Wasn't there anything fun in the Central region?"
"If it's that, there's someone who can explain instead of me! The hero who received applause from His Highness the Archduke and the Branch Manager!"
"""Ooooh!"""
"Everyone sit down! Today, Adela will tell us about her amazing exploits!"
"Ahem!"
As Neon took the lead in livening up the atmosphere, the students who were initially awkward quickly got into the mood and enjoyed the party. Especially Shinshia, upon seeing Neon leading the party, wore a surprised expression before getting caught up in the atmosphere and leading the party mood with Neon. As I watched the well-matched couple with a pleased face, the Lucy siblings approached me.
"It's the lively atmosphere of our hometown that we haven't seen in a while."
"I missed this kind of atmosphere."
Parties are indispensable in the North. Because of an environment where death could come at any time, anywhere, a culture of celebrating together even for trivial occasions had taken root, and in our hometown, hunters would hold festivals when they brought back large prey. Luna and Ruin smiled softly as they enjoyed the lively atmosphere of the Adventurer Guild. It had already been a year and a half since the two entered Orbis Academy. It was a long time if long, short if short, but for the siblings who had left their hometown, today's scene would bring various new feelings.
To enjoy this lingering feeling, rather than participating in the party, I chose to enjoy the atmosphere and quietly clinked glasses with the siblings who had oriented themselves that way.
"Graduate from the Academy soon and come up. The North is always waiting for you."
"I'll graduate early and come up."
"As Uncle Werner said, thanks to learning various things at the Academy, we've become much stronger."
Recalling the uncle from our hometown village who recommended the siblings enter the Academy, I nodded. Indeed, the siblings' aura was impressive even to me, as if they had learned a lot at the Academy. How could they be similar to me, who fought monsters in real combat every day and drank elixirs like water. I could understand since they must have had a spectacular school life in the Central region. Rather, because of that, I was looking forward to how much they would grow if they operated in the North.
As I rolled the drink and ice in my mouth, imagining the Lucy siblings operating in the North, the siblings who emptied their glasses in one go stated their purpose for coming to the North.
"Actually, we didn't just follow because we wanted to come to the North recklessly."
"We're planning to stop by our hometown soon. Want to come with us?"
"I have a lot of work to do, but.... if it's stopping by the hometown, I should make time."
I nodded at the Lucy siblings' invitation. Thinking about it, I hadn't visited my hometown since changing professions to adventurer. I decided to go with the siblings on their way, and as I tapped my glass with my finger, I recalled the schedule ahead.
I still need to hunt the fire dragons that became targets of revenge with Calor. I need to research the use of the artifacts obtained from the altar. I need to inspect whether the fortress is being built well. Besides that, I need to handle requests in the North or get new armor that's completely tattered from fighting the Flame of Doom. I need to unlock or strengthen skills with the experience points gained so far. And regular contact with the guild informants who are secretly monitoring after planting tracking scent on the rat.....
'There's a mountain of work to do.'
I sighed at the situation where one task processed multiplied into two. It was my fault for putting it off without handling it in time. For the time being, I decided not to go to other regions and stay only in the North to solve things one by one. Before that, let's go to the hometown with the siblings and recover our spirits. With my mind lightly composed, I enjoyed the cheerful atmosphere and raised my glass.