Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Don't Mess with Your Subordinates. You'll Regret It Later. (4)
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"...Hoo."
Only a single day had passed.
Just one day, and I was already utterly exhausted.
What, you ask? Tired from just being escorted along?
"Hahat! Reina, Sonya! Take a look at this. Know what kind of herb this is? Heh heh heh. No idea, right? Only veteran adventurers would know something like this. It's called horein, and it sells for a whopping 3,000 bret..."
"Whoa, be careful. That's actually diforein, a poisonous plant. It looks just like horein, but it's totally different. Even touching it will give you blisters that'll hurt for three days."
"You look pretty beat yourself, buddy. Wanna rest here? There's a nice rock perfect for sitting on. My veteran adventurer instincts say this spot's safe..."
"Let's get out of here quick. Judging by the shape of those rocks, this is probably an orc rest area. Orcs could swarm us in droves."
...Haa.
I was seriously going to drop dead from exhaustion.
How the hell did that guy even make it to D-rank adventurer?
Do they rank adventurers based solely on combat ability?
I couldn't fathom how someone could have zero knowledge of the wilderness.
He called himself a veteran adventurer, yet he kept trying to do the most dangerous things.
Wait... was he doing it on purpose?
Was this some plot to lure me into a trap and kill me?!
Are you secretly an assassin sent by Sain to take me out?!
"......"
Every time I stepped in to correct him, he'd glare at me like I was pissing him off.
But since I was the paying client, he didn't outright snap at me.
"Wow... you're amazing, Mr. Kane. How do you know so much? Botany, monster ecology... you seem to know everything!"
"So cool... not just your looks, but your brains are sexy too."
Reina and Sonya didn't hold back on the praise.
This was all basic stuff any adventurer with a bit of experience should know.
For adventurers, knowledge was survival. You had to protect your own life.
I didn't think stuff you learned just to stay alive was all that praiseworthy.
...But Sonya had been acting a bit off since earlier.
Handsome this, sexy that... it was making me embarrassed for no reason.
Was she always the type to flirt like that?
"Fuck! Hurry the hell up and walk! If we're late, I'm docking your pay, you bitches!!"
That's when Kogel's fiery shout rang out.
Since he couldn't yell at me, he was taking it out on his own party members.
What a pathetic jerk.
"Sun's about to set soon. Is there a village nearby..."
"...Tch, I know that. That's why we're heading that way!"
He was on edge.
I could hear him fine without the yelling.
Was it that time of the month for him?
Anyway, we ran into another goblin pack midway, but it was only three this time, so we handled them quickly.
We barely made it to one of the villages under the Imperial Capital Carmen's control just before sundown.
Sodi Village.
It didn't have any special local products, but sitting on fertile land near the capital, it produced abundant crops.
Adventurers and travelers passing to and from the capital stopped by often, so the shops and inns were pretty well-developed.
...That's what I'd read in an administrative document called Empire's Cities and Villages.
True to its description as a bountiful farming village, green crops swayed in the fields visible from afar.
Crops growing as tall as a person in June... had to be corn.
Next to them, staple crops like spring potatoes were ready for harvest, their leaves gleaming fresh and green.
As we passed between fields, villagers were out harvesting or spraying pesticides to ward off pests, diligently tending their farms.
Villages really had a different vibe from cities.
Come to think of it, the corn from Nasrin Village in the marquisate was so good.
Were they harvesting it around now?
Lost in those thoughts, we soon reached the village entrance.
There stood two guards in leather armor holding spears—not as heavily armed as city watchmen, but decently equipped.
"Travelers?"
Used to outsiders, they asked a few questions, checked our IDs, and let us in.
"Three adventurers... and one regular adult."
...Regular adult? Made me sound like some unemployed bum. Kinda stung.
Oh wait, I was unemployed right now.
Anyway, once inside, the village unfolded wide before us—surprisingly spacious for a village.
I'd pictured villages as tiny places you could take in at a glance end-to-end.
This one? No end in sight. Even had two- and three-story buildings here and there.
Definitely capital-adjacent. Practically a town, just with fewer people.
Guards patrolling now and then meant security was solid too.
"So, how about we call it here?"
Kogel must've noticed too, suggesting we disband—for once, addressing me first.
...Hey, I was gonna let you guys go anyway.
Paying them didn't mean I owned them.
I'd planned to let them rest easy.
"I've got some urgent business."
No need for excuses like that—I was gonna do it anyway.
Now I sounded like some sleazy employer who'd drag them around the village and force them into the same inn.
"Sure, whatever."
"...Tch, let's go."
"Ah, uh..."
"......"
I shrugged casually to give permission, and Kogel shot me a glare, clicked his tongue, and started leading Reina and Sonya away.
But then, the two women glanced at me with troubled looks.
Hmm... those expressions were begging for help, right?
They clearly didn't want to stick with Kogel.
"......"
It wasn't really my place to meddle in their party drama.
But honestly, based on Kogel's behavior so far, I had a bad feeling something nasty might go down.
Well, in that case, time to help.
I'm not heartless enough to coldly turn down someone asking for aid right in front of me.
"Oh yeah, didn't you two want me to check out something you were gonna buy earlier?"
"...! Oh, right! There's stuff I wanna get. I was gonna ask your opinion, Mr. Kane."
"M-me too!"
They blinked at first, then caught on quick and hurriedly stuck to my side.
"...What the...?!"
Kogel scowled, opening his mouth to complain.
"Don't you have urgent business too, Mr. Kogel? Go on ahead."
I smiled and cut him off. He clamped his mouth shut, glared some more, then...
"...You two, we'll talk later."
Unable to backtrack on his own words, he just warned Reina and Sonya before stalking off.
"...Phew, sorry about that."
"Hope we didn't cause you trouble..."
The two looked worried for me.
No way he'd be dumb enough to mess with the client, right?
...Just in case, I'd lock the windows tight tonight.
"But it wasn't a total lie. We really do have business with you, Mr. Kane."
"...Huh?"
What business?
#
"What do you think of this one?"
I'd come to the village's weapon shop first to hear Reina's request.
She wanted to buy a backup weapon—a spear—and needed help picking one out.
...Hmm, weapons are best chosen by the user themselves.
Why me, specifically?
"I just had a feeling you knew your stuff about weapons too."
Not that knowledgeable.
My eye for them was no different from most people's.
"Oh, that iron rod? The raw iron quality looks iffy. The smith's skill seems decent enough, though... Go for that one over there instead. Probably the same smith—way better iron quality. Similar price too... and the tip's sharpened nicely, so it feels like a mix between spear and staff. Versatile."
Picking weapons was essential for martial artists or veteran adventurers.
I was just copying what I'd seen.
"...Buddy, you're something else. You can tell all that just by looking? You a master smith or something?"
"Huh? No... just a former instructor."
The shop owner eyed me in amazement.
No, master smith? No way.
A real pro could eyeball the iron purity and the smith's experience level.
"I-I'll take this one!"
Good thing my shallow knowledge helped anyway.
Reina picked the iron rod with the sharpened tip I'd suggested.
"Hehe, thanks."
She beamed and bowed her head, her twintails and innocent smile making her look like a pure village girl straight out of a storybook.
Once I taught her the basics of swinging a spear, she'd develop her skills on her own from there.
Enhancement magic, huh... Should I just mention she could try learning it?
Magic was tricky, honestly.
Explaining theory to a total novice wouldn't get you far.
"M-me next! It's my turn!"
Then Sonya bounced over, her blue bob haircut swaying as she clung to my arm.
H-hey, clinging that close with those sparkling eyes is a bit much...
"Help me practice healing magic!"
"Sure, wha—huh?"
W-wait a sec.
Practice healing magic?
To heal, you need an injury first—external or internal.
In other words, something that hurts.
D-does that mean... she'd hurt me and use me as a guinea pig?!
N-no, even if...
"Don't worry. I won't hurt you, Mr. Kane. Just watch from the side and give advice..."
"...Oh, right."
Yeah, that made sense.
What was with my wild imagination...
"But I don't know much myself... Can't offer any great advice."
All my knowledge came from books.
No real combat tips born from experience.
"What are you talking about? You're the one who told me I could use healing magic."
She grinned brightly.
Well... if my meager knowledge could help.
I'd assist as much as I could.
"Then shall we step outside for a bit?"
"...Huh?"
Outside all of a sudden?
For healing magic practice?
...Wait, though.
How do you even practice healing magic, anyway?
Hunt down injured folks in the village?
Or... some other method...?
"Hee hee. Healing magic... I hope I can do it. I'm so excited."
"Haha. Y-yeah..."
For some reason, her beaming smile sent a chill down my spine... Was it just my imagination?