“Are you stupid? When exactly did I use magic? Did you hear me chant a single word? Or do you have any proof that I cast a spell?”
“Wow, that’s quite the taunt—more like outright provocation.”
“He just casually mentioned chanting, didn’t he?”
“Nah, come on, Leon just got splashed with ale. The people around him will back that up.”
“Before you start picking fights, maybe practice walking without bumping into people, you piece of trash!”
The dining hall went dead silent. Everyone was holding their breath, eager not to miss a word of the exchange.
Right then, the gruff dismantler uncle showed up, completely oblivious to the tension, carrying the assessment sheets.
“What’s going on, Leon? Something happen?”
“Oh, nothing much. Just a kind soul trying to teach me the proper way to drink ale.”
I gave a quick glance toward the guy gritting his teeth through ale-soaked clothes and pretended not to notice.
The assessment sheet I received had some very nice numbers on it. I thanked the old man and handed one copy to Jake.
Chikki-Chikki Birds: 26 × 71,000 = 1,846,000 dara
Runner Birds: 32 × 43,000 = 1,376,000 dara
Green Birds: 17 × 31,000 = 527,000 dara
Red Chickens: 14 × 28,000 = 392,000 dara
Total: 4,141,000 dara
Including my existing guild deposit, I had a little over 12,000,000 dara.
A Rank 5–10 Magic Bag with an additional twenty hours of time delay for storing game would cost ninety-two gold coins.
If I also added another ten hours to my Rank 3–20 Magic Pouch for food storage, the total would be 104 gold coins, or 10,400,000 dara, leaving me roughly 2,000,000 dara.
“That’s quite a sum. Are you sure?”
Jake asked as he passed the appraisal sheet around his party.
Their appraisal was impressive as well:
Horn Rabbits: 18 × 6,000 = 108,000 dara
Hedgehogs: 7 × 22,000 = 154,000 dara
Small Horn Boar: 1 × 38,000 = 38,000 dara
Medium Horn Boars: 2 × 55,000 = 110,000 dara
Large Horn Boar: 1 × 86,000 = 86,000 dara
Medium Elk: 2 × 52,000 = 104,000 dara
Brown Sheep: 2 × 54,000 = 108,000 dara
Prairie Sheep: 3 × 63,000 = 189,000 dara
Killer Dogs: 5 × 19,000 = 95,000 dara
Fang Dogs: 8 × 24,000 = 192,000 dara
Total: 1,184,000 dara
Everyone was smiling as they read their totals.
“Yes, the payment for the birds is more than enough for me,” I said.
“As for Lindy’s remaining training, I’ll finish it together with Bord of Strongarm. Until I meet Olga and the others, I’ll only make day trips outside the city.”
The moment I finished speaking, I heard Lindy give a surprised “Huh?”
Then another mug of ale was poured over my head.
“Oh, sorry there! My hand slipped while I was going to teach you how to really drink ale! I’ll go grab a refill!”
Laughing like an idiot, the man walked toward the counter. He seemed to have forgotten that Wind Magic wasn’t the only magic in the world.
“Leon, are you okay?”
“That bastard’s completely mocking us.”
“Hey, you scum and your companions! Settle this with us in a mock battle!”
“Jake, please don’t get involved,” I said calmly.
“Leon, you’re just gonna take that?”
“Not at all. I’ll make him and his companions regret this outside the city.”
At that moment, however, I decided to deal with him here without anyone realizing I was responsible.
He returned carrying drinks and grinning. A few meters before reaching us, he suddenly groaned, dropped both mugs, and desperately shoved his fingers into his mouth.
He would never guess that a small ball of [Water] created with Life Magic was blocking his throat.
The mugs clattered to the floor, his strangled cries filled the room, and then he collapsed with a thud. The hall erupted into chaos while I continued sipping my ale and pretended to know nothing.
His face lost its color, his body convulsed, and then he went limp.
His companions rushed over, shouting, “Bill! Hey, what’s wrong, Bill?” but he was already dead.
Guild staff hurried over. When I quietly released the mana from [Water], he coughed up a little liquid, washing away the evidence.
Witnesses could only say that he had suddenly begun choking and collapsed a few steps before reaching me, so the staff concluded that some hidden illness had struck and ended the inquiry.
Jake and the others regarded me with faint suspicion, but because they believed I could use only Wind Magic, they didn’t question me further.
They would never imagine that even a simple Life Magic spell could become a weapon, although its range was limited to about four meters.
It had taken me more than eight years merely to double that distance.
Jake’s party had business the following day, so we agreed to meet again at the guild in two days and parted ways.
I gave the appraisal sheet to the woman at the settlement counter, collected the full payment, and told her that I would withdraw my entire deposit the next day. Then I headed to the hotel Jake had recommended.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
I rented a room at an expensive hotel favored by high-ranking adventurers and asked the manager to arrange a hired carriage and direct me to a magic-tool shop.
After a leisurely breakfast and tea, I visited the guild during its quieter hours and withdrew my entire deposit.
The adventurers around me stared as I filled my purse with stacks of gold coins.
Ignoring whatever greedy thoughts the sight inspired, I boarded the carriage and asked the driver to take me to Molphet Magic Tools on Ruricot Street.
The clerk frowned at my shabby appearance when I stepped out of the carriage. Still, an adventurer arriving at a magic-tool shop was plainly a customer, so he maintained his composure.
He asked in a flat voice,
“May I help you with something?”
“I’d like to buy a Rank 5 Magic Bag and have the time delay on my Rank 3–20 Magic Pouch extended.”
He pushed open the door and called out to a man inside to guide me in.
Even an adventurer should dress better when visiting a shop like this. I reflected on that again as I was shown to the counter.
“I understand you’re interested in a Rank 5 Magic Bag,” the attendant said politely.
“How much would a Rank 5–30 Magic Bag cost?”
“A Rank 5–10 Magic Bag costs seventy gold coins. Adding twenty hours of time delay, including the handling fee, costs another twenty-two, for a total of ninety-two gold coins.”
I decided to purchase it. I removed a leather pouch from my purse and began arranging the gold coins on the counter.
I had received 4,141,000 dara the previous day and withdrawn 8,258,500 dara from the guild, for a total of 12,399,500 dara.
I also had about 800,000 dara in spending money, so even after this purchase I wouldn’t have to worry about food for quite some time.
I also had another thirty hours of time delay added to my existing Rank 3–20 Magic Pouch.
With a total delay of fifty hours, I could store plenty of food without worrying that it would spoil anytime soon.
The Rank 3–20 Magic Pouch would hold food, personal belongings, and weapons, while the Rank 5–30 Magic Bag would carry game and the portable cabin.
Now I only needed to save roughly 10,000,000 dara for the cabin itself.
After the new Magic Bag had been registered to me and restricted to its registered user, I placed it inside the Rank 3–20 Magic Pouch and returned to the hotel.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
The next morning, when I headed to the guild, Jake and the others were already waiting in the dining hall. I grabbed a bowl of stew and some bread, then joined their table.
“Leon, you’ve become the hot topic around here.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes. Someone saw you withdraw all that money yesterday and has been telling everyone that you stuffed your purse with gold coins.”
“Of all people, it had to be that blowhard everyone calls a liar.”
“We know you make good money, but when you’re moving big sums, use the Merchant Guild. It’s safer.”
“I bought a Magic Bag yesterday, so I don’t have any money left,” I replied flatly.
“Even so, the rumor that you’re carrying a fortune won’t disappear anytime soon.”
“Things might get troublesome for you.”
“Just look around.”
I didn’t need to look. I had felt people sizing me up from the moment I entered the dining hall.
Perhaps I should meet Olga and the others, finish the remaining magic training, and then leave town.
Until that was done, I would remain in Roxanne.
Anyone who bothered me could receive a tiny [Flame!] inside his mouth.
If no one was watching, he could enjoy a long flight through the sky instead.
“I’m broke after buying the Magic Bag. I’ll just head to the plains and earn some cash.”
“What, you’re not coming with us?” Jake asked.
“Given what we just discussed, it would be safer to travel separately for now. Could you check the guild every morning until I meet Olga?”
“Will you be alright on your own?”
“It’s easier to keep secrets when you’re alone. Lindy, continue practicing with as little mana as possible. After that, you and Bord will complete the final training together.”
I told them I’d stop by the dining hall every couple of days, then left the guild.
After buying a generous amount of food in the market, I set off toward the plains.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
As expected, I felt several people watching me while I shopped at the market, and their attention followed me out of the city and along the highway.
A bad smell has to be eliminated at its source.
I would deal with it before the stench had time to spread.
After walking east along the Blange Highway for about an hour, I left the road and jogged through the northern grassland toward the forest.
Every so often, I glimpsed movement in the grass or behind a shrub—my pursuers.
I let them see me often enough to keep following without giving them a clear opportunity to catch me.
When I sensed two separate groups rapidly closing in, I couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
Blinded by greed, they had no idea what they were walking into.
I moved quietly, took cover, and waited. Before long, a group of rough-looking men appeared.
“He’s a fast one. Finally caught up to him.”
“Gotta thank the kid for making us work up a sweat.”
“He’s got a cute face. Let’s have a little fun with him before we’re done.”
So one of them was that kind of predator as well.
Fine. Every one of them would regret choosing me as a target.
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