Not an Exclusive Monopoly - 1
About two months had slipped by since I took up residence at the Eastern Merchant Guild.
I had just wrapped up Sowol's daily training regimen and retreated to my quarters for a quiet cup of tea when So Jung-yang sent for me. It was unusual, to say the least. He rarely summoned me in person unless a serious issue had cropped up.
Wait... could it be? An event quest?!
Back in the game, sudden events would pop up out of nowhere, and clearing them always yielded a handsome haul of rewards. The thought of passing up free loot was out of the question, so I wasted no time heading straight to his office.
"Master Lee! Welcome, welcome. Haha. Care for a cup of tea?"
He clearly had something on his mind, yet seemed hesitant to broach it. Why lay down such elaborate groundwork just to make a request? I quietly sipped the tea he poured, patiently waiting for him to break the silence.
He didn't utter another word until my cup was completely drained. At last, he let out a heavy sigh and opened his mouth.
"A request has arrived from the Lord."
"From the Lord?"
The Lord? He was referring to the territorial ruler I had crossed paths with during the raid on the Skull Bandits. From what I understood, he shared a close relationship with So Jung-yang and granted the merchant guild plenty of favors.
"Word is that an evil cult has been stirring within the fiefdom."
I knew it—it really is an event!
Still, an evil cult was nothing short of a headache. Those cultist bastards were needlessly covert and relied on all sorts of obnoxious, gimmick-heavy techniques, making them some of the most infuriating mobs to deal with back when I played the game. I briefly debated whether it was worth the trouble, but a quest was a quest. Considering the rewards on the line, letting it slide simply wasn't an option.
"Where did this intelligence come from?"
"It was discovered in the Skull Bandits' mountain fortress. Turns out the bandits were members of the cult as well."
"Is that so?"
"Indeed. Deep inside their lair, the search team uncovered traces of sacrifices offered to an evil deity. Furthermore, a letter retrieved from the site revealed that cultists are actively operating within the territory as we speak."
From the Lord's perspective, cultist activity was a nightmare. Evil cults practiced human sacrifice, tanking local public order and eroding the loyalty of the populace. Naturally, having such vermin running wild across his domain would gnaw at his nerves.
"Why bring this to the Eastern Merchant Guild, though?"
"A considerable number of territorial guards were wounded during the last raid. Lacking sufficient manpower to conduct an investigation, the Lord reached out to us for assistance."
"I see."
"Which brings me to my request... If it wouldn't be an imposition, Master Lee, would you be willing to look into this matter on our behalf?"
Hunting down cultists was practically guaranteed to yield rare item drops. Some of those drops would accelerate Sowol's growth, so securing them while the opportunity presented itself was the sensible choice.
"Very well. I'll handle it."
"Thank you, truly! As for reinforcements—"
"No backup needed."
A few cultist stragglers? I could wipe them out on my own with both hands tied behind my back.
"Master."
I had just returned to my room, mulling over where to begin digging, when Sowol popped in. Lately, she had developed a habit of visiting my quarters whenever the mood struck her, and today was no different. Sliding into the seat across from me with practiced ease, she tilted her head.
"I need to make a quick trip to town. If you don't mind, would you care to accompany me?"
I had already been planning on heading out anyway. If whispers of cultists were circulating throughout the territory, the town gossip mill was the best place to sniff out leads.
"Sure."
"I suppose I should be prepared to treat you to a drink as well?"
"Look at you. Pretty sharp today, aren't we?"
Lately, Sowol had been treating me remarkably well. Was she really that desperate for Praise Stickers? Well, whatever. I was in a generous mood.
"Ah."
"For reading your master's mind so well, here's a Praise Sticker."
"Thank you, Master!"
Carefully peeling the sticker from her forehead, she stuck it into her notebook like a sacred relic, beaming with quiet satisfaction. Shaking my head with a chuckle, I rose from my chair and stepped out of the merchant guild compound with her by my side.
"So, what's taking you to town all of a sudden?"
"All that training was getting rather stifling. I figured I needed a brief breather... Is there a problem?"
She flashed an innocent smile, cheekily teasing with the tip of her tongue. It was undeniably cute.
"Not at all. When it's time to rest, you ought to rest properly."
"I knew you would say that, Master."
Nodding in satisfaction, Sowol naturally slipped her arm around mine. But as soon as we crossed through the town gates, her brow furrowed.
"The atmosphere feels rather grim today, doesn't it?"
She wasn't wrong. Foot traffic was noticeably sparser than usual. With the Skull Bandits wiped out, the town should have been celebrating, yet a somber pall hung over the cobblestone streets. It was very likely the cult's doing.
"Let's check the market first."
"Yes, Master."
We headed toward our usual candied-fruit stall. The familiar vendor greeted us with a welcoming smile, but even his grin was shadowed by lingering dread.
"Strawberry for me, please."
"Grape for me."
While waiting for our usual orders, I examined the glistening fruit skewers and casually struck up a conversation.
"How's business been lately?"
"Aigoo, don't even ask, sir! It's an utter disaster. A total disaster!"
"Did something happen?"
"People have been vanishing into thin air these past few days!"
Passing a strawberry skewer to Sowol, the vendor handed me my grape skewer while letting out a soul-crushing sigh.
"Disappearances?"
"Yes, sir! Men, women, young, old—two or three people go missing every single night! Folks are terrified out of their wits to step outside, so business has gone straight down the gutter. On a normal morning, I'd have sold twenty skewers by now, but you two are only my third customers of the day!"
Glancing around the market square, I realized he wasn't exaggerating. The usual bustling crowd had dwindled by more than half.
"On top of that, rumors are spreading like wildfire that ghosts stalk the alleys after dark, snatching up anyone caught wandering about... Opening the night market is completely out of the question now. The Harvest Festival is right around the corner, too. What on earth are we supposed to do...? Tsk, tsk."
Shaking his head with another deep sigh, the vendor placed the treat firmly in my grasp. Crunching into the hardened sugar coating, I strolled through the market stalls with Sowol.
"The other merchants seem to be whispering about the exact same thing."
"Seems like it."
Finishing off the sweet snack, I steered our path toward the local tavern.
"Master Lee!"
Right then, a bright voice filled with genuine delight rang out behind us. Turning around, I spotted a female knight clad in polished armor jogging in our direction, accompanied by a squad of armed soldiers.
"Uh... Anne, was it?"
"Yes! You remembered my name!"
She wasn't freckled or frail like the famous orphan from Green Gables, but she did have vivid red hair, which made her easy to remember. She was one of the territorial knights who had participated in the bandit raid.
"Lady Sowol... it has been some time."
"Indeed. It has."
The look Anne directed at Sowol was distinctly chilly, and Sowol returned it with an equally frigid stare. Thanks to the murderous tension crackling between the two young women, the already oppressive street atmosphere plummeted below freezing.
"So, what brings you out in full battle gear? On a mission or something?"
I chimed in to break the suffocating silence. Anne grimaced slightly, letting out a muted sigh.
"Unsettling rumors have been spreading across the territory lately. Have you heard about them, Master Lee?"
"If you're talking about the disappearances, yes, I'm aware."
"That isn't all. In connection with the Skull Bandits—"
"I know about the cult ties uncovered during the fortress investigation, too."
"You already know?! As expected of Master Lee!"
It really wasn't that big of a deal, but sure...
Gazing at me with sparkling admiration, Anne subtly shifted her eyes toward Sowol.
"May I ask if you have come to town to resolve this matter personally?"
"I wouldn't say no to that. The Lord personally asked the head of the Eastern Merchant Guild for assistance, so I decided to lend a hand."
"Is that so?! What fortunate timing! I am investigating the matter as well. If it pleases you, would you consider joining forces with us?"
Join forces? Why bother?
I glanced at the soldiers standing stiffly behind her and gave a firm shake of my head. There was zero reason to drag an entire entourage into this. More people just meant diluting the rewards for nothing.
"...I see. Then will you be handling this investigation solely with Lady Sowol?"
"I suppose that's the plan."
I would harvest the item drops, and Sowol would rack up practical combat experience. For us, this was essentially a tailor-made growth event. There was no way I was letting anyone horn in on it.
"...Why...?"
"Hmm?"
"It is nothing. In any case, if Master Lee is personally handling the matter, that is wonderful news. I suppose the territory has nothing to fear after all."
Offering a strained, awkward smile, she gave a polite bow and turned on her heel. As she marched away with her squad, Sowol delicately pinched the sleeve of my robe.
"That woman harbors open hostility toward me."
"Most likely."
"Might I ask why?"
It dated back to an incident shortly after we wiped out the Skull Bandits, when Anne had paid me a personal visit. Puffed up with pride after earning knighthood at an exceptionally young age, she had boldly challenged me to a duel. Naturally, etiquette dictated that one never refuse an incoming challenge, so I utterly dismantled her on the training grounds. The very next morning, she showed up at my doorstep, begging to become my disciple.
Naturally, I turned her down. With Anne's level of talent, reaching the heights I demanded was an exercise in futility. It wasn't that she lacked aptitude entirely—she was slightly above average—but that fell far short of what I needed.
"...Is that so?"
Listening to my explanation, Sowol broke into a radiant, self-satisfied smile. Why was she looking so pleased? Come to think of it, it made sense. In a way, I had just openly validated the overwhelming gulf in talent between the two of them.
"Then that means I am your only disciple, Master."
"For now, yes."
At my response, the smile gracing Sowol's lips deepened into an intoxicating, possessive curve.