Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Reward
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A new wind began to blow in Erkal.
A report on the ‘magi’ discovered during the reconnaissance of Broncerian Forest had been sent to the royal palace.
A Class 1 disaster.
That was the kingdom’s official designation for the magi-infested Broncerian Forest.
And so, the formation of a subjugation force began.
The atmosphere in the Neokalitz Unit was a little different from usual.
A bit chaotic, you might say?
“…Something about the mood feels off.”
“Don’t you think things have gotten pretty noisy?”
One of the squad members commented.
“Compared to them… it feels like we’ve gotten even more idle.”
Someone else replied.
“It’s only been a few days since Broncerian Forest was sealed off, and they’re already forming a subjugation force… They must have found something definitive during this last search.”
“They’re saying it’s a forest contaminated by magi. To think we’ve been operating in such a dangerous place all this time.”
“Damn it. Shouldn’t they be giving us more pay, like hazard duty allowance or something?”
“Hazard pay, my ass. We should be grateful they didn’t just throw us in prison.”
“Hahahahaha.”
Laughter erupted.
Hazard pay for the Neokalitz Unit, where service was an alternative to a prison sentence.
It was a stupid thing to say.
But at that moment.
“It’s a bit of a different story for the new recruits this time.”
“What is?”
A senior squad member asked in response to Dianal’s words.
Dianal glanced over at Demian’s empty seat.
“Demian and Kyle came to our unit voluntarily, didn’t they? If those guys asked for hazard pay… well, it might be possible.”
“Voluntary enlistment?”
“Into our unit?”
Quite a few of the squad members didn’t know that Demian and Kyle had enlisted voluntarily.
It wasn’t something one would normally consider. Besides, neither Demian nor Kyle had the personality to go around broadcasting it.
“…They must be out of their damn minds.”
“What’s there to see here that would make them enlist voluntarily?”
The squad members, now aware of this new fact, looked toward Demian’s seat and at Kyle, who was next to it.
They looked at Kyle and gave him a thumbs-up.
“What a guy.”
“Yeah! A true warrior. That’s a tough choice.”
In response to their reactions, Kyle simply blinked and stared back at them.
“Is something the matter?”
Kyle had only come to the Neokalitz Unit to follow Demian.
He had no idea what was going on.
* * *
Tarone looked at Demian and asked.
“What happened?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary, sir. We went deep into the forest for reconnaissance and encountered a squad of orcs that had been corrupted by magi.”
Demian gave a brief explanation of what had happened in the forest.
He included the part where the priest confirmed the presence of magi, which led to their retreat.
After hearing the story, Tarone gazed intently at Demian.
“…?”
His eyes seemed to say he had something more to say.
Demian waited silently for him to speak.
“The Erkal Guard Captain asked me to give this to you.”
Tarone then handed him a small box that had been on his desk.
Demian took it.
“What is this, sir?”
“I don’t know. But the man asked me to pass it on with his thanks. For that strict man to give such a gift… it seems you were of great help.”
“I was only doing what I had to do.”
Demian replied calmly.
It wasn’t anything special, nor had he done anything particularly outstanding.
Tarone nodded at Demian’s words.
“You may go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Demian turned to leave. But just then, as if remembering something he had forgotten, Tarone spoke.
“Ah, and one more thing.”
“…?”
“I heard the Guard is launching a major audit of the herbalists in Erkal. It seems they’re planning to cut the price of herbs in half…”
Tarone asked Demian.
“Are you involved in this as well?”
At the question, Demian unknowingly raised the corner of his mouth.
A faint smirk.
But…
“I don’t know anything about it.”
“Is that so?”
A faint smile touched Tarone’s lips at Demian’s reply.
“You’re dismissed.”
“Yes, sir.”
Watching Demian turn away, Tarone recalled his conversation with Basel.
—*From top to bottom, he’s no ordinary kid.*
—*What do you mean by that?*
—*I don’t know. It’s just… I’m certain he’s not ordinary. And did you know the kid uses mana?*
‘…Mana.’
He had thought the boy might have some special ability. But mana.
Tarone stared blankly at the sack of herbs Demian had brought back.
Just selling those at the market price in Erkal would fetch a considerable sum of money.
And yet, he had brought them back so casually.
—*Please use these for the injured squad members.*
He couldn’t forget the look on the kid’s face as he said it, as if giving alms.
Just as Basel had said.
‘He’s certainly no ordinary kid.’
Tarone agreed with Basel’s assessment.
* * *
After leaving Tarone’s office, Demian immediately opened the box from Basel.
He had barely managed to resist the urge to open it in front of Tarone.
‘What is this…?’
The small box was the perfect size to hold a ring.
‘Could it be a ring-type artifact…?’
That bastard.
Could he really have given him such a precious item just because he helped him?
With a sense of anticipation, Demian opened the box.
“…Huh?”
Demian’s eyes wavered slightly.
What was inside the box wasn’t an artifact.
“…An elixir?”
A slightly pungent smell hit his nose.
But he knew what it was at a glance.
‘A mana enhancement elixir.’
Something Demian needed even more than an artifact right now.
“Wow… I can’t believe he gave me this.”
It wasn’t just the price; more importantly, it was an item that was not easy to obtain.
And its color.
A faint blue light shimmered around the elixir, indicating it was of a fairly high grade.
He had no idea why the guard captain of a remote city would possess such a high-quality elixir, but.
‘I’ll make good use of this, thank you. Hehehehe.’
Demian let out a small laugh and headed for the barracks.
But just then.
“What’s got you in such a good mood?”
“Gah!”
“…Why are you so startled?”
“You surprised me. When did you get here?”
Demian asked, looking at Kyle.
Kyle saw the box in Demian’s hand and asked.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
“Ah… medicine from the Guard Captain. He said it’s good for internal injuries and that I should be sure to take it.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No, the battle was just a bit fierce this time. I think he gave it to me because of that.”
“Whoa! You actually participated in a battle?”
Kyle clenched his fists, looking envious of Demian.
“Man… I should have been there.”
Such was Kyle, who had a romanticized view of actual combat.
He looked genuinely disappointed, but.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be fighting so much you’ll get sick of it soon enough.”
Demian patted Kyle’s shoulder, and they entered the barracks together.
As Demian walked into the barracks.
“Demian!”
“You commendable bastard!”
The senior soldiers approached Demian.
“Heard you gathered a ton of herbs from the forest during the reconnaissance mission?”
“Hey, the word is out. You commendable kid! Where did such a clever one come from?”
Voluntarily enlisting in the Neokalitz Unit.
Donating herbs from a reconnaissance mission.
These two events combined had drastically improved Demian’s image among the squad members.
“That couldn’t have been easy.”
“Ah… those bastards from the Guard. They must have given our rookie a hell of a time while he was gathering herbs. I can see it now without even looking.”
“Demian, if any of those bastards said anything to you, let us know. We’ll go and break their legs for you.”
A boisterous atmosphere.
Demian grinned at the senior squad members’ words.
“The herbs in Erkal are just too expensive, aren’t they? I was thinking of the squad, so I just gathered a few.”
“Yeah, thanks. You have no idea how grateful the administration office was to you.”
The administration office was in charge of supplying provisions.
One of their biggest headaches was procuring herbs for the injured.
It wasn’t a large amount, but thanks to Demian, their situation had improved slightly.
Demian spoke to the squad members.
“And I heard the Guard is auditing the herbalists in Erkal and lowering the herb prices. You should be able to buy them for about half the previous price.”
“Is that true?”
“Half price?”
“Yes, I heard it from the Commander.”
Even at half price, it was still expensive.
But compared to before, the situation was much better, wasn't it?
The squad members nodded at Demian’s words.
“Those stupid Guard bastards are finally doing something decent for once.”
“Heh, anyway, good work.”
The seniors lightly patted Demian on the shoulder.
Amid the warm atmosphere, Squad Leader Aaron appeared and addressed the men.
“The subjugation force will likely be fully formed and mobilized within the month. Until then, aside from morning training, you’ll have free time, so make sure to use it wisely.”
“Ooooh!”
“One good thing after another, hehehe.”
The squad members burst into laughter.
“Keep your gear properly maintained at all times. We don’t know when we’ll have to move out!”
“Understood!”
“Yes, sir!”
Everyone answered with a roar.
And with the free time.
Demian went outside the unit’s grounds to purchase the herbs needed to create his own mana enhancement elixirs.
It seemed the news of the impending audit had already made the herbalists cautious.
“How much is this?”
“You mean the Greenraffle seeds? A pound for 12 sil… no, 6 silver… no, just give me 5 silver!”
“Pardon?”
“You’re a soldier from the Neokalitz Unit, right?”
The herbalist asked Demian.
When Demian nodded.
“Then please put in a good word for me up there. Tell them my shop never overcharges!”
“…Ah, yes.”
So the audit was already underway.
It seemed the Guard was working faster than expected.
However.
‘Mister, a pound of Greenraffle seeds originally costs 5 silver.’
To think he had been selling them for 12 silver until now.
It felt like there was still a long way to go, but at least a change was happening.
After purchasing the necessary herbs, Demian returned to the unit.
He then spread the herbs out in a sunny spot to dry.
Once they were thoroughly dried, he would grind them into a powder and form them into pills.
‘Once I make these… I should be able to progress a little faster.’
A contented smile already formed on his face.
Of course, the best method was to draw a magic circle using mana stones to increase the mana density, but.
‘It’s too conspicuous… and drawing a magic circle is no simple task.’
There was a hint of regret, but for now.
‘This is where I start.’
Demian took out the mana enhancement elixir he had received from Basel.
It was an item that could only be described as a stroke of luck.
Feeling grateful to Basel, Demian popped it into his mouth.
*Srrk.*
The elixir, upon entering his mouth, melted like a liquid and flowed down his throat into his body.
“Hoh…?”
It was an experience he had only heard about, never undergone himself.
Demian immediately sat down and began the Delft Mana Cultivation Method.
*Swaaaaaa.*
The elixir that had entered his body created a cooling sensation.
His entire body felt chilled.
But soon, a heat began to build in his lower abdomen, and Demian focused.
‘…This is more than I expected.’
It was an elixir with a large amount of condensed mana.
If he was careless, he could lose some of the mana during absorption, or in the worst-case scenario, he could even get injured.
‘Focus.’
Opportunities like this didn’t come around often.
The most important thing was to never let a chance slip by when it presented itself.
Demian closed his eyes and firmly grasped the mana flowing from the elixir.
‘I will not miss… a single drop.’
Inside Demian’s body, mana churned and swirled like a wave.