Setting Out for Home
"A thousand gold..."
Elsid took the leather pouch filled with the proceeds from selling his training hall. His hands were trembling.
"To think that selling an entire building would only bring in a thousand gold."
One gold was what an adult man on the Carnea continent could earn by doing ten hours of manual labor. A thousand gold wasn't a trivial sum, but it felt far too little when it came from selling a whole building.
"The building's been empty for months, and it belonged to someone who fell out of the crown prince's favor. I factored all of that in for a fair price. Honestly, anyone else would have driven the offer even lower."
Standing before Elsid was the same woman who had shown him the building a year ago and was now helping him sell it again. Her name was Oh Sim-cheong. She had crossed over from the East Continent about ten years ago and had since become the most famous real estate broker in the city. It was said that nearly half the buildings in this trade city of Craig had passed through her hands. That alone told you everything about her skill.
Elsid had first met her when he arrived in the trade city looking to buy a facility to help with Luke's training. He'd brought every coin he owned and asked around until he found her. Thanks to Oh Sim-cheong, he'd been able to purchase the building he needed.
"Well, I don't really have anywhere to spend money these days, so I suppose this is fine."
Even though he'd just sold the training hall for one-fifth of what he'd originally paid.
Incidentally, the woman standing before him looked no older than a girl in her early teens, but she was the same age as him—twenty-three.
"I suppose that's true. You've never been the type to spend money on yourself, Elsid. On others, maybe, but not on you."
Perhaps because they were the same age, they occasionally drank together at the tavern like friends. To avoid any misunderstanding, it should be noted that her younger brother, Sim-hyeon, always carried his unconscious sister home on his back, so nothing ever happened. For those who might be curious, Sim-hyeon was a child who hadn't even reached ten years old.
"And unlike some people, you won't be buying three hundred sacks of ceremonial rice anytime soon."
"Why are you suddenly bringing up your own story, Sim-cheong?"
Elsid played along with her offhand remark.
"You've told that story every time we drank together."
It was the tale of how she had crossed from the distant East Continent to this land of Carnea. Since he'd only heard it while she was completely drunk and rambling, he didn't know the full details.
She said something about nearly drowning in the sea, only to be saved by the Dragon King. Then the Dragon King personally brought her father over, and now the whole family lives happily together on this continent.
From what he'd gathered, her father was blind, yet less than a year after arriving he'd started a new family. The man had talent. He'd even married someone from the Ain race, and the child from that union was Oh Sim-hyeon, Sim-cheong's younger brother. Her father was supposedly fifty-three years old, yet he still seemed remarkably vigorous.
"It's surprising, though," Oh Sim-cheong continued while Elsid was still mentally reviewing her family history. "When Luke was competing in the imperial martial tournament, you followed him all the way to this trade city of Craig. You even spent your entire fortune buying a training facility. I thought you'd join the imperial expedition as well... Why didn't you go?"
"It's his path now. He has plenty of far better mentors than some half-broken trainer like me. There's no need for me to follow him anymore."
The arrogant, inexperienced boy had become the champion of the imperial martial tournament. He was no longer a child who needed looking after. He was a fine adult walking his own road. That was why Elsid had chosen not to follow.
"I see. Well, never mind that. The cost of disposing of all the leather sandbags from the training hall comes to five gold. I'll bill you separately."
"You were the one who asked the question, and now you're back in business mode already?"
Before he could even sink into sentimentality, Oh Sim-cheong shoved reality right in his face. True to her reputation as a thorough real estate professional, she held out her hand, demanding payment for disposing of the hundred-plus oversized sandbags he'd destroyed during training.
"You're really something."
"Father's having a celebration soon, and it's my brother's birthday too. Plus, my stepmother's wedding anniversary is coming up. There are more than a few places where money needs to go."
"Doesn't that tire you out?"
"They say the saint who lived three hundred years ago kept celebrating children's birthdays in the slums even after she turned a hundred. Taking care of my family's special days is nothing in comparison."
Oh Sim-cheong smiled brightly as she spoke.
"Ah, I see."
Elsid gave a short reply to that radiant expression and took five gold coins from his pouch, placing them in her hand. During his year living in Craig, Oh Sim-cheong had helped him in countless ways, both small and large.
"Then I'm off."
Remembering his grandfather's advice that farewells should be quick and without lingering attachment, Elsid gave a light wave, turned around, and walked away.
"He's really leaving."
Oh Sim-cheong murmured as she watched his retreating figure.
"It's going to feel rather empty around here."
A hint of regret crossed her face, but it lasted only a moment. She too turned and went her own way.
The Coachman's Guild in the trade city of Craig.
After parting with Oh Sim-cheong, Elsid had come here. He'd chosen a carriage as his means of travel back to his hometown.
"Welcome. I'm Lars, a first-class coachman with the guild."
When he arrived at the waiting area, a sincere-looking young man with brown hair greeted him and introduced himself.
"I'll serve you with all my heart, sir."
The young man welcomed him warmly as a customer.
"Before we depart, I'll need to ask a few procedural questions. Is that all right?"
As expected of a coachman from a trade city, he followed the procedures meticulously.
"Name: Elsid. Age: twenty-three. You made the reservation yesterday, correct?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Understood. Let me give you a quick explanation. First, we'll need an advance payment of one gold. The final fare will vary depending on the travel duration. Additional luggage beyond a certain amount will incur extra charges..."
After confirming his identity, the coachman Lars explained the safety rules and required fees for using the carriage.
"Haaam~"
The detailed explanation from the professional coachman was so tedious that a small yawn escaped him.
"Haha, it seems I've gone on too long while keeping a valued customer waiting. There will be plenty of time to explain during the journey, so let's leave it at that. Shall we get you aboard?"
Having finished his explanation, Lars pointed to one of the carriages waiting in the lot—a vehicle pulled by two horses. Elsid climbed into the passenger compartment while Lars took the driver's seat.
"Now that I think about it, I forgot to ask the most important thing. Sir, what is your destination?"
Lars asked from the driver's seat.
"Ragna Castle."
Elsid answered the question directly.
"Did you just say... Ragna Castle?"
"Yeah, I did."
The sudden change in Lars's tone made Elsid stare at him for a moment before nodding lightly.
"Not Lime Village, famous for its pies? Or Raft Village, with its vast, untouched nature?"
Lars kept naming other villages that began with "Ra," sounding as though he desperately hoped he'd misheard.
"Are you truly, truly heading to Ragna Castle? The one where monsters swarm so badly that three hundred and fifty days out of the year are nothing but battles and conflict?"
"Yeah, that's the one. You know it well."
Elsid didn't deny any of it. In fact, he thought to himself that the man knew it so well there was no need for further explanation.
"Um, what business do you have in Ragna Castle?"
The coachman stammered as he asked about the purpose of the visit.
"It's my hometown. I'm returning after a long time."
Elsid answered with a perfectly calm expression. There was no reason to hide it.
"That place is so dangerous that even C-rank adventurers or higher barely manage to hunt the monsters there..."
"I know."
Though it was indeed infested with monsters, even the most remote places usually had an adventurers' guild building. But Elsid didn't bother mentioning that.
"When I was little, I used to go orc hunting with my grandfather."
He didn't add that he'd only been around ten years old and had merely finished off the orcs his grandfather had already incapacitated. It was hardly proper hunting.
"I-I see. Hunting orcs since you were a child... That's impressive."
Whatever he was imagining, Lars's voice shook as he offered the compliment.
"Well then, I won't ask any more questions."
Perhaps the story had helped him accept the situation. His voice had grown calmer.
"Master Elsid, I will escort you safely to your destination of Ragna Castle."
With those words, Lars took firm hold of the reins and urged the horses forward. The carriage wheels began to roll, and they set off.
As the carriage moved, Elsid began his journey home.