Contamination in the Lord's Rye Fields

Having confirmed that the lord's rye fields were contaminated, Vulcan immediately prescribed two remedies.

He had used alchemy to craft the potions. At first, he considered pouring holy water or using purification potions on the tainted soil.

But Vulcan focused on the fact that the contamination had gone unnoticed despite the Radin Temple's presence. If it were something healable by holy power, it would have been resolved long ago. After all, the priests of Radin—who received massive funding from Raseu Count in exchange—periodically blessed this land.

That's why he opted first for alchemy-based disease healing potions, which ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn't rely on holy power.

"Got it!"

Vulcan's skill rank was still too low to craft anything beyond low-grade potions, but that was enough. They clearly had no intention of blatantly ruining the fields, so the disease aura in the rye wasn't that potent. It was cured in one go, and Vulcan followed up by pouring low-grade growth potions to invigorate the underdeveloped rye.

The system promptly graded Vulcan's answer. It wasn't a full revival of the entire rye field—just a portion—but uncovering the secret behind the abnormal growth earned him recognition.

"Now it's time for some tightrope walking?"

Along with it came the hidden quest. According to it, he should rush straight to Raseu Count and report the issue.

But Vulcan knew that was a trap.

If I scurry off to the lord as the quest says and spill everything...

The reason Raseu Count lavishly funded and favored the Radin Temple here was precisely to protect this granary region. Yet the temple, rooted right there, hadn't even noticed the soil contamination? It was a massive stain on their honor, a humiliation.

If Raseu Count learned of it now, he'd be furious and might reconsider the temple's usefulness.

But the lord can't outright fall out with the Radin Temple either.

Could he completely abandon them? Sever ties and cast them out in one go? No. At best, he'd cut funding or gain leverage in subtle power plays with the temple. But to maintain production in this granary region, he still needed them—he couldn't fully let go.

Reporting it directly might earn the lord's trust, but it would definitely sour relations with the Radin Temple side. And there was no guarantee the lord would keep protecting him forever. No matter how big a feat Vulcan pulled off, he was just a wandering ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠adventurer who'd eventually leave this place, while the temple was a long-term partner.

He could end up awkwardly straining their relationship and putting himself in a tough spot for nothing.

- What're you gonna do?

"Well, no need to hog all the credit, right? The main scenario quest is already tangled up, so boosting intimacy with the Radin Temple ain't a bad idea."

So Vulcan chose to slightly sidestep the quest. To secure evidence, he plucked some contaminated and healed rye samples, then hurried not to the Lord's Castle but to the Radin Temple.

He laid out everything he'd discovered for Shairun.

"The soil's contaminated? Impossible! That's where our temple periodically bestows blessings and casts purification spells. We even nurture the rye with holy water sometimes—how could it be tainted?!"

"It might not be the soil—could be the water. The land's well-managed, but they can't control underground flows."

"Water...? Underground water could be the issue?"

Shairun exploded in denial at Vulcan's explanation, but when Vulcan presented evidence and demonstrated, he adopted a grave expression. A disease-like affliction was plausible enough. Their holy spells sanctified the land and crops, but they'd overlooked disease-related factors. The fertile soil and blessing aura had warded off pests anyway.

But if it was water—especially groundwater—that held water. The dam for irrigation was managed by the water temple, no issue there. But groundwater? Different story. Perfect control would require managing wells and sewers, and haughty priests wouldn't dirty their hands with such filth.

"Come to think of it, I've heard complaints lately about foul smells rising from the sewers..."

And this nagged at him. Recent reports of stench from the sewers. Plus, rats swarming, stirring up the grain warehouses.

Could Vulcan be right—something wrong underground?

Suspicion sprouted, but Shairun grimaced. He couldn't send Radin priests into filthy sewers.

Water-related, so request the water temple? They'd never accept gladly.

Just bury it? If groundwater was truly tainted, pin it on the water temple.

But as recipients of massive funding from Raseu Count, ignoring it...

"If you'll permit, in Lord Radin's name, I'll investigate."

"...Do you know what you're saying?"

Vulcan stepped forward, as if reading his thoughts. He'd handle the dirty work, but credit it to the Radin Temple—in Radin's name.

"Of course. The 'rye field incident' was graciously assigned by you, Shairun, so this follow-up investigation naturally falls under the 'temple's' will. Ah, of course, only if you permit."

"...Fine. I specially permit you to act in Lord Radin's name on behalf of the bishop. If you succeed again and uncover something, I'll inform the lord of how diligently you served Radin's will. Now go inspect the sewers and find the disease's source. Speak if you need anything—the outer priests will support you."

Falling for Vulcan's rhetoric, Shairun pretended reluctance and clasped his hand. If it panned out, it was his achievement; if not, just wash hands—no loss. Thus, he even offered a favor-not-favor: mentioning Vulcan to the lord if successful. He wouldn't hype it too much for his own credit, but that sufficed.

Vulcan aimed for the lord's quest, and while direct approach worked, a 'Radin Temple recommendation' was another path.

"Thank you."

Vulcan smiled in satisfaction. The deal was sealed as desired.

Straight to the sewers? How many steps did I skip? And a bishop-level recommendation, not even a regular priest.

The Special Odd Jobs Man quest reward was upgraded beyond what was listed upon acceptance. But more thrilling: skipping a bunch of miscellaneous precursor quests.

Normally, you'd do pest control, fertilizing, etc., through multiple farming stages just to get the warehouse keeper quest. And I skipped even that in one go.

Originally, after tedious, dirty quests, you'd finally get the warehouse keeper quest: guard the grain—not outside, but inside. The point? Nightly thieves weren't people or monsters, but rats. Not ordinary ones—their consumption was insane, so no one suspected them. Vulcan failed it multiple times, raised favor via other quests, retried, and figured it out.

Wonder if anyone's cleared it yet?

Back then, only his party uncovered it. The prerequisites were so grindy and rewards meager, most quit midway or before identifying the thief. Who knows now.

I went through hell back then just for one Sun Sword...

The Sun Sword—obtainable via temple favor and contribution—was still top-tier here. But now, comparable or better swords were around, so maybe no one bothers. It might be known now, but Vulcan hoped not.

The warehouse keeper led to 'Sewer Cleanup'—exterminating rat nests.

Overlapping routes could get annoying.

If someone cleared warehouse keeper, they might cross paths in the sewers. Other ways in existed, but who bothers with a filthy, low-reward sewer?

"...?"

Thus thinking, Vulcan left the Radin Temple and headed to the sewer entrance. There, someone was watching it.

What? Why the sewers?

Guarding a useless, stinky entrance? Nah, illusion or coincidence?

He doubted his eyes, but the gaze was fixed on the entrance.

Waiting for a party member inside? Or... the mastermind?

Thoughts swirling, Vulcan couldn't wait.

"Shadow Assimilation."

Slipping from view, he activated the Shadow Hound set's Shadow Assimilation skill. Nighttime boosted it to mid-grade stealth, letting him approach undetected.

A player, huh.

Thus, he gleaned info. Confirmed player, not NPC. Gear emblem revealed guild: Vanguard Guild.

Vanguard Guild...

Vanguard Guild. Big shots in 200s region, likely the ones who tasked Napas Guild with fetching Blizzard Staff for him.

They've been monopolizing the info.

New Age Guild's 3rd army equivalent. Vulcan intuited they knew and exploited the sewers—his and his party's once-unique quest, now theirs.

Time to wreck shop, then.

Obviously. He wouldn't let them profit off his hard-earned, shit-covered discoveries.

Vulcan advanced with steely resolve. Under Shadow Assimilation, he stealthily infiltrated the sewers.