Chapter 57: Out into the World (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57: Out into the World (3)
Sember ran straight into the inner chamber, his mind racing with excitement.
‘Jin Runcandel! The peerless genius who became a 5-star knight at fifteen, and the savior of my life. To think that such a person would seek me out in the middle of the night to ask for help!’
He was moved beyond words. When Jin had rescued him in the past, he had been accompanied by Runcandel’s guardian knights—a luxury that no amount of money could easily buy.
What could be the matter? A young lord of the Runcandel Clan should have money to burn. Perhaps he needed it urgently while on a secret mission?
‘Whatever it is, I’ve played a small part in the great feats he will achieve. One day, when historians write a biography for Lord Jin, Sember of the Bill family might just get a line of his own.’
In the ten minutes it took to gather the money, his imagination ran wild.
When Sember returned, he was hauling a large leather bag stuffed with all sorts of valuables and gold coins.
“Huff, huff. Lord Jin. Here it is!”
It was far too much. At a glance, the bag easily weighed over thirty kilograms. There was no way Jin could carry all of that on his journey.
Jin sifted through the contents, taking a handful of jewelry and about five hundred gold coins. Even that small portion was a sum that commoners could never dream of seeing in their lifetimes.
“I’ll take only this much. It was good to see you, Sember Bill.”
“The honor was all mine, Lord Jin! I do not know what mission you are undertaking, but I pray you complete it in good health…!”
“Right, see you later. Ah, and as I was coming in, the guards at the entrance…”
“I know exactly what you mean. I’ll have it cleaned up neatly, so do not worry. Furthermore, I will keep my mouth shut about today’s events until you give me permission, Lord Jin.”
Jin hadn’t thought much of it when he happened to save Sember on the southern border of Jhan. Now, however, he decided Sember was a fairly useful acquaintance. The man knew how to repay a favor and had a quick wit.
‘I should look out for him later. Give him something.’
Sember waved his hand vigorously until Jin disappeared from view.
*
Runcandel reserve flagbearers usually spent their first couple of months in extreme poverty.
The children of a prestigious martial clan learned nothing from birth except how to beat, stab, and cut people, so their sense of financial management was typically nonexistent. It was only natural, as they were sent out into the world without ever having earned a single penny.
Consequently, they were forced to experience a life of hardship until they could collect the heads of Mamit’s leaders for the Viment investigation squad or save up money through mercenary work.
Munch, munch.
However, it was only their third day as reserve flagbearers. Jin, Gilly, and Murakan were currently devouring everything on the menu at the best restaurant in the Jhan Kingdom. They had ordered dozens of dishes, yet their bag of money remained virtually untouched.
“Murakan, don't eat too much. We have to take the teleport gate in an hour. If you throw up again like last time…”
“Quiet, kid. Even if I end up puking it all back up, eating for now is the way of a predator like me.”
“If you say so.”
“Young Master, please try this as well. The cuisine of the Jhan Kingdom isn't bad at all.”
“Khaha! Strawberry Pie. You’re eating quite well, considering you asked Jin yesterday, ‘Young Master, wouldn't that count as extortion?’”
The reason the three of them were using a teleport gate instead of riding Murakan wasn't because of Gilly’s fear of heights.
The Akin Kingdom, their destination, was a country where the dark organization Tessing ran rampant. But it was still officially a member of the Lutero Magic Federation, and the Lutero Magic Federation was entirely controlled by the Zipple Clan.
Furthermore, eighty percent of the dragons currently active were allied with the Zipple. Entering such a place while riding Murakan was no different from a declaration of war.
‘The reason Runcandel cannot break its covenant with the Zipple is precisely because of those dragons.’
And the gods who stood behind them.
While Jin was the only contractor of a god in Runcandel, the situation was different for the Zipple. Dozens of contractors supported their clan.
They were all just counting down the days until Cyron died.
Once Cyron was gone, they could destroy their rivals, the Runcandel Clan, whenever they pleased.
“It’s about time. Let’s go.”
It was three in the afternoon.
The three finished their meal and headed to the Jhan Kingdom’s teleport gate to complete the departure formalities. Since Murakan had no identification, he had to transform into a cat to board.
“The teleportation will begin shortly.”
Vroom!
As they took their seats in the quiet express waiting room, an attendant announced the gate’s activation.
A brilliant blue mana gently enveloped them, and when they opened their eyes a moment later, they were at the arrival desk of the Akin Kingdom.
“Welcome to the Akin Kingdom of the Lutero Magic Federation.”
Their fake IDs allowed them to enter without a hitch. As they stepped out of the teleport gate and onto the street, the stinging sunlight hit their eyes.
‘Has it been fifteen years?’
This was the capital of the Akin Kingdom, where he had spent the last year of his life before his regression.
Though there was a fifteen-year time difference from his previous life, the scenery wasn't much different. Street vendors were scattered everywhere, homeless people crouched beside them, and the people on the street had dark, weary complexions.
It was a landscape that created a sense of dissonance, clashing with the well-paved roads and the perpetually warm, bright climate.
‘It must be because of the Tessing bastards’ tyranny. I remember hearing it was especially bad during this period.’
Gilly also seemed to feel the dissonance as she carefully observed her surroundings.
“It’s a strangely dark city, despite the weather being so nice.”
“The mages of the Colon ruins used to say that while the scenery is beautiful, it’s not a place for people to live. Let’s find a place to stay first, then look for our prey.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
However, Jin had already decided on their lodging and identified their first prey.
The information dealer, Jet.
Jin had been quite close to Jet in his previous life. Shortly after arriving in Akin, he had settled down with Jet’s help.
But they hadn't been close in a good way. Jet was a man who excelled at stabbing people in the back.
‘That thug. Right now, he’s probably calling himself a top-tier information dealer while scamming idiots. Damn, just thinking about it makes me angry again.’
Jin had been one of those idiots in his first life. He’d lost count of how many times the man had scammed him while introducing him to Tessing’s underground auction house.
This time, Jin intended to fix the man’s habits right from the start.
‘Subjugating Jet and putting him to work will be useful in many ways. It’ll make it easier to convince Gilly and Murakan while we’re operating in Akin.’
Jin had no intention of revealing to Gilly and Murakan that he was a regressor. Therefore, every time he acted on information from his past life, he had to come up with a plausible excuse.
Just like right now.
“Kid, do we really have to find a place to stay in a shabby alley like this? There were plenty of good inns back on the main road.”
“I’m sure the Young Master has his reasons, Lord Murakan.”
“There’s no need to stay in a place like this when we have plenty of money, Strawberry Pie.”
“In this neighborhood where unregistered mages roam in packs, it would be just great to walk around reeking of money as soon as we arrive. Right, Murakan?”
“Ha! You’re saying that because of those mere insects, I, Murakan, have to sleep in a trashy inn that even an Orc would pass up?”
Jin was forcing an excuse to lead the two of them to Jet’s inn. He couldn't do this every time. However, once he had Jet working for him, he would be free from such problems.
‘Oh? Young Master, how did you know that?’
‘Kid, why do we have to do that?’
Every time Gilly and Murakan asked such questions, he could simply convince them by saying it was information he had gotten from Jet.
“Hmm, this place looks good.”
After an hour of bickering with Murakan, Jin finally stood before the inn operated by Jet. He felt as if he had walked for ten hours just from listening to Murakan’s grumbling.
[Please find Jet at the entrance]
Encountering that sign after so long, Jin let out a hollow laugh.
Whether then or now, it was a truly incomprehensible name for an inn. Though, considering it was actually an information brokerage, it might have been a decent name after all.
“Why here of all places?”
“The mages of the Colon ruins said… No, I just have a feeling.”
Murakan’s lips were still pouting as they entered the inn, while Gilly looked as if she trusted her Young Master regardless.
A lanky man with spiky hair was dozing at the counter. It was Jet. He didn't seem to notice their presence, snoring away while reeking of alcohol.
“Are you the owner of this inn?”
“Snooore— Gack! Ah, guests? Welcome.”
Jet sluggishly corrected his posture and gave the three of them a quick once-over. He immediately categorized them as fools.
‘A pretty boy, a novice swordsman in travel clothes, and a maid? The woman’s easy on the eyes. They look just like a bunch of nobles playing adventurer.’
That was what he thought, but outwardly, Jet flashed them a bright smile.
“Do you have any vacant rooms?”
“Well… they’re all vacant! You’ve come to the right place. I’m a man of pride, you see. Providing travelers with the best rest at the lowest price! Come, come, take a look at the rooms and pick whichever one you like.”
Jet jumped up and ushered Jin’s group toward the upper floor, telling them to pick a room and come back down.
Making them use the service first without telling them the price—it was a classic swindler’s tactic.
To go a step further, Jet quickly prepared three glasses of cold drinks while they were upstairs. He would offer them a drink to seem hospitable, then overcharge them later.
If his opponents had been reasonably experienced mercenaries, he would have stopped there.
But Jet had no intention of handling this naive-looking party so simply.
‘Once they come down and drink this… all three of them will head straight to the underground auction house to start their new lives. Hehe. What a windfall!’
Jet had made up his mind the moment he saw them.
He would knock all three of them out with sedatives and sell them as slaves to Tessing’s underground auction house. Quick planning and execution—this was the mindset that would eventually make Jet a major information dealer in Akin.
Of course, Jin was miles ahead of him.
‘He must be full of anticipation, thinking he’s going to fleece us with that same cliché tactic. Get ready to die, Jet.’
When they returned to the first floor, Jet greeted them with the drinks, just as expected.
“Oh my, your throats must be parched from traveling. Please, have a glass, hehe. It’s our inn’s special orange juice; the taste is simply superb. Even nobles often visit just to have a taste of this.”
The blessed bodies of the Runcandels had a natural resistance to most poisons, so a cheap sedative like this wouldn't work on him.
Jin pondered.
Should he gulp it down and then start beating the man, telling him the sedative tasted great? Or should he pressure Jet to drink it first and make him confess?
However, there was one fact Jin was overlooking.
“Has this insignificant insect lost his mind?”
Murakan had been in a foul mood for a while now.
And Murakan could clearly see the bubbles from the dissolved sedative floating on the surface of the juice.
“Hey, kid! You said you had a good feeling. While I beat this guy up, take some time to reflect on whether your feelings are actually any good.”
Creak.
Murakan spoke as he gently closed the inn door. Jet was destined to spill everything after failing to endure Murakan’s beating.