Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: It Won't Be Someone Else's Problem - 1
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Not long after I joined the Hero Party, most festivals across the countries were canceled starting from the Summer Festival we attended.
It was only natural.
If things followed the game script, the Demon King would soon turn the continent into a bloodbath right after the Hero Party formed.
They were too busy fighting monsters to even think about festivals.
Any funds meant for festivals were probably poured into battling those beasts.
Of course, there were scumbags who saw it as an opportunity to line their own pockets, but that's another story.
In any case, the kingdom halted most festivals after its early Summer Festival, leaving merchants deeply disappointed.
Again, only natural.
Festivals were a golden opportunity for merchants to cash in.
The capital already had a huge influx of people, and festivals drew even more, boosting customer numbers.
Plus, during festivals, you could sell anything for a hefty profit, even at inflated prices.
Guys on dates with their lovers would snap up expensive trinkets to impress them.
Drunks, fueled by the heat and festival excitement, guzzled more booze than usual.
People hired carriages to attend and contracted escorts for safety.
Those escorts beefed up their gear to prepare for dangers.
And that was just the start.
Parents bought kids snacks and toys they'd normally skip, just to enjoy the clowns and performers.
In short, a festival turned into an all-out spending spree.
That's why merchants had been eagerly awaiting the Summer Festival—a major event skipped during the Demon King crisis.
Cancel it now?
Merchants were probably more furious than I was.
If they were pushing for cancellation anyway, something was up.
"Please explain in detail."
"Uh..."
"I'm on the verge of losing my cool right now."
Thinking about it just pisses me off more.
These spirit-worshipping nobodies who didn't show their faces during the Demon King hunt, and now they dare get angry?
Should I just slaughter them?
"M-Master."
"Whoops."
I nearly lost it for real from the rage.
Calm down. Count primes in times like this.
I took deep breaths, counting primes, and only then did Lark continue.
"Countless people died at the hands of monsters, turning rivers red with blood. Holding a festival on a river soaked in their grudges would anger the river spirit."
So what if some stupid spirit gets offended?
But the priests insisted the river spirit's wrath could cause floods, leaving the kingdom stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Anything else? Is that it? Political reasons or something...?"
"That's the biggest issue so far. The kingdom wants to side with the priests for safety, but..."
Plenty of people are unhappy about it.
"Then I'll go check it out."
"Hm? You? But..."
"I know a thing or two about shamanism myself."
I shoved the last bread from my plate into my mouth and chomped it down.
"Taming one puny spirit is nothing."
I'd done it in the game and here too—river spirit issues were no big deal for me.
Back in my room at the palace, I pondered how to appease the river spirit's rage.
Not a lack of methods; too many old-timer tricks to choose from.
*Knock knock.*
A knock interrupted my thoughts.
It was Lucille.
"Um, Master."
"Yeah?"
"For this matter... when you go handle it, could I come along? It's a kingdom issue... might need some authority, and as your disciple, I can't let you go alone..."
She fumbled but rattled off reasons why she should join, far more persuasively than her old stammering days.
Convincing enough for me.
"You managed the Torett territory while I was gone? You've grown. Learned how to persuade, huh?"
"Y-Yes..."
"Magic?"
"I can now use advanced spells effortlessly, and even top-tier ones to some extent..."
"Good. Let's go."
Call it another lesson.
I took Lucille straight to the riverbank where festival prep was underway.
As the queen said, the mood was grim—merchants protested with banners.
- Kingdom Festival Prep Committee -
River spirit, begone!
- Kingdom Merchants' Association -
Priest who took our money for rituals, offer yourself and your family's bodies to appease the river spirit.
- Kingdom Tourism Council -
Finally a big score, and this lazy priest who's lounged around can't handle one thing... uh... anything?
- Kingdom Inn Association -
- Shh, sh-shh. Fuck off shh-shh. Fuck off. Shh. Sh-shh. Sh. Fuck. Sh-shh. Shh
"Oof."
They seem even angrier than me.
If the priest showed his face, they'd tear him apart in seconds—the crowd was seething.
"M-Master, is this... o-okay?"
"Should be fine."
Ignoring the massive pressure and killing intent, I tried entering the prep site with Lucille.
A hulking mercenary-looking brute stepped in our way.
Decent gear, but skills? Barely C-rank at best.
"No entry."
Hired by the priests? This burly, scowling merc was polite enough, but he'd bash us with that club if we pushed.
I glanced at him and his backup mercs, then smirked.
Lucille aside, not recognizing me screams amateur.
"Who are you to block the way in kingdom territory? Priest's private property?"
"Not exactly... but Priest Sasdin has managed this place for ages."
"So?"
"By convention, trespassing here invades the priest's domain. Which means..."
"Means?"
"You're enemies of Priest Sasdin."
"Whoa! So scary!"
Scary enough I wanna draw my weapon.
"Priest Sasdin has deep ties with many kingdom nobles. So..."
"Master, I've heard of him. Priest Sasdin's a skilled shaman who advises nobles and grants spiritual blessings..."
"I know."
Sasdin was an NPC I'd seen in the game.
Minor role—popped up briefly in festival events, gave nobles advice now and then.
"Then, would you kindly leave? Why else are they just protesting from afar?"
Most would back off here, but not my problem.
"Lucille. Lesson time."
"Y-Yes?"
"A count's dog thinks it's a count because folks avoid it."
"Critique of those clinging to power for protection?"
"Exactly."
Not just a newbie—smart enough to catch my mockery. He clenched his fist.
"Boys!!"
He yelled, and a mob of similar brutes poured out.
Let's see. E-rank merc level.
Weaker than your average battlefield grunt.
All gear, no skill.
I kept smirking despite their threats.
"But above a count? I can smack a count's pup. Don't you know who I am?"
"Ha! Like I'd know some nobody??"
Even if I'm famous, not everyone knows me.
Especially low-rent mercs like these.
These types die quick in real wars without learning their place.
As a vet protecting newbies, I can't stand by.
"Don't know? Then take a hit!!"
I nailed his jaw with Monk's Light Hook. As he crumpled unconscious, the mercs charged.
I switched Moonlight to staff form and swung.
"Lucille. Today's lesson. Listen up."
"Y-Yes! I'm all ears!"
"Dogs barking at anyone need a good whack—don't hold back."
"Ah, ahaha..."
Obviously, they couldn't touch me.
As the mercs groaned with broken bones, some watching merchants stepped up.
"Y-You okay... wh-what?! S-Sage?! Is that the Sage??!"
"Hm? Oh, Roswan. How've you been? Lord Astro of the Astro Guild doing well?"
Adventuring means getting chummy with merchant guilds, wanted or not.
I took any quest, building ties with high-volume ones.
Roswan from the Babylon Guild gawked, then asked.
"Ah, yes. But why's the Sage getting involved?"
"I slew the Demon King and brought peace. What I want is continental stability—including letting folks enjoy festivals and feel joy."
"Ah... such... noble intent..."
"Master..."
They gazed at me with sparkling admiration.
Kinda embarrassing.
"But those pests who skipped Demon King duty now whine about spirits and priests? Can't stand it. Time for some re-education, right?"
"Exactly!! Everyone!! The Sage agrees with us!!"
"Wooo!!"
"Really? For real?! The Sage??"
The protesters' morale soared.
They'd hesitated to enter due to priest pressure, but with me leading, they charged.
"Sage!!"
"Solve this, and everything's free at the festival!"
"No! Free stay at any inn in our association for a year!"
"Carriage rides free anywhere!"
"We...!"
They shouted excitedly, but the rewards? Meh.
I want one thing.
"Go post a guild quest!!"
"Yes!! Got it!"
Merchants rushed off.
Nice. Quest points secured.
"Haha... Master, you're amazing."
"This? You'll face tons like this as queen. 'Understand, he's noble friends.' 'Political issues, so yield.' Stuff like that."
"Y-Yes..."
"Sometimes you gotta yield."
I eyed the dozen new mercs charging—better than the last, but still meh for me.
"But know when you absolutely can't."
Like achievement hunts.
I switched Moonlight to mace and yelled at the rush.
"I'll heal any breaks."
Chance to grind healing proficiency.
After fending them off, bantering with Lucille outside, I spotted incoming figures.
Guild quest posted properly, huh.
"Pfft! Knew the Sage would step in for this."
Took the quest: Baltrin.
Hiring an S-Rank Adventurer.
Merchants went all-in.
I'm the princess's master, tight with kingdom, nations, and tribal elites.
With me involved, no noble backlash—they bet big.
Better blade cuts cleaner, right?
Baltrin as my blade to shred the priest.
Never mess with merchants...
Anyway, Baltrin chuckled, handing me the quest sheet—my name and Lucille's on it.
True S-Rank. No words needed.
"Heard a pretty redhead with the Sage—figured princess. How've you been, Princess?"
"Long time no see, Baltrin. Lukendi."
"Eeee~!! Princess~! Missed you~!! Even prettier now. Blooming like a rose~! Ready for marriage!"
"M-Marriage..."
Lukendi hugged Lucille, grinning. They got along oddly well—left 'em be. I Healed the downed mercs and strode in confidently.
Me, Baltrin, Lukendi, Lucille.
Inside the prep site, a wrinkled middle-aged man in white robes waited by a big tent, forcing a smile.
"I've heard much. Sage, shaman of the White Cloud Sect. I'm Sasdin."
"Cut the chit-chat. River spirit's too scary for a festival?"
"Indeed. The spirit rages now. Without purging the negative energy overflowing the river... no festival. Crowds on the bank would trigger floods, and they'd keep coming."
"Hmm... Sage. What now?"
"What else? Turn its rage issues into rage control."
I gazed at the leisurely flowing river.
Black as night, ignoring our commotion.
Caused the mess, now acts like it's not their problem?
Time to make it personal.
Author's Note
Hello! It's Malmulmalmul!
November's here! Hope it's full of good things!
See you tomorrow! Bye~!!