Chapter 23: The Talk of the Town

“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 the amount already deposited in the guild, it came to a little over 12,000,000.
Buying a rank 5–10 magic bag and extending its time by 20 hours for carrying game would cost 92 gold coins.
A rank 3–20 magic pouch for food storage, with a 10-hour extension, brought the total to 104 gold coins (10,400,000 dara), leaving about 2,000,000 dara in pocket.

“Quite a sum. You sure about this?” 

Jake asked as he passed the paper to his party.

Their own results weren’t bad either:

• 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
• Big 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, I’m fine with just the bird portion,” 

I said. 

“Also, as for Lindy’s follow-up job, I’ll handle it together with Bord from the Strongarm team. Until I meet with Olga and the others, I’ll be doing day trips only.”

Just as I finished saying that, I heard Lindy’s surprised “Eh?”

—and suddenly, ale poured down 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 guy walked off toward the counter. But magic isn’t just about wind spells, you know.

“Leon, are you okay?”

“That bastard’s completely mocking us.”

“Hey, you trash and your pals—let’s settle this with a mock battle!”

“Ah, Jake, please don’t get involved.” 

I said calmly.

“Leon, you’re just gonna take that?”

“Oh, not at all. I’ll make them regret it—outside the city.”

And right then, I decided: I’d deal with him here and now, without anyone realizing it was me.

He came back with drinks in hand, grinning, but a few meters away he suddenly groaned, dropped his mugs, and jammed his fingers into his mouth in panic.
He’d never guess that what was clogging his throat was just a little “Water Ball” from basic life magic.

The clatter of mugs and his choked screams filled the air, and then—thud—he collapsed. The hall erupted into chaos, but I just kept sipping my ale, feigning ignorance.
His face drained of color, body convulsing, then went limp.

His companions rushed over—“Bill! Hey, what’s wrong, Bill?!”—but yeah, he was done for.

Guild staff came running, and when I quietly dispelled the magic, he coughed out a little water, washing away any evidence.
The only testimonies said he suddenly choked and fell over a few steps before reaching me, so they chalked it up to some preexisting condition and ended the inquiry.

Jake and the others looked at me with faint suspicion, but since they knew I could only use wind magic, they didn’t dig deeper.
They’d never imagine that even a simple life spell could become a weapon—though it only works within a 4-meter range.
It took me over eight years just to double that distance.

We parted ways with a promise to meet again at the guild in two days, since they had business tomorrow.

I handed the assessment slip to the lady at the counter, took the full payment, and told her I’d withdraw all deposits tomorrow. Then I headed to the hotel Jake recommended.

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I rented a room in a high-class hotel favored by upper-rank adventurers and asked the manager to arrange a carriage and direct me to a magic tools shop.

After a leisurely breakfast and tea, I went to the guild during its quieter hours and withdrew everything I’d deposited.
As I stuffed piles of gold coins into my pouch, the adventurers around me stared wide-eyed.

Ignoring any greedy thoughts they might be having, I climbed into the carriage and told the driver to take me to Molphet Magic Tools Shop on Ruricot Street.

When I got out of the carriage, the clerk frowned at my shabby appearance—but seeing that I was an adventurer headed into a magic shop, he kept his composure.

In a flat tone, he asked.

“May I help you with something?”

“I’d like to buy a Rank 5 magic bag and order a time-delay enchantment—3-20.”

He pushed open the door and called out to a man inside to guide me in.

Even though I’m an adventurer, I really should dress better for these kinds of visits. I reflected on that again as I was shown to the counter.

“I heard you’re interested in a Rank 5 magic bag.” 

The attendant said politely.

“How much for a Rank 5–30?”

“If you take a Rank 5–10 magic bag and add a time-delay enchantment of 20 hours, that’s 70 gold coins for the bag, plus 22 gold coins for the enchantment and handling fee — a total of 92 gold coins.”

I decided to just go with the Rank 5 magic bag for now. I pulled a leather pouch from my money bag and began lining up the gold coins.

Yesterday, I’d received 4,141,000 dara, and I’d withdrawn 8,258,500 dara from the guild — 12,399,500 dara in total.
With another 800,000 dara as pocket money, I didn’t need to worry about food for a while even if I spent everything.

I also ordered a Rank 3–20 magic pouch with a 30-hour time delay enchantment.
With a total of 50 hours of time extension, I could safely store plenty of food without worrying about it spoiling.

The Rank 3 pouch would hold food, personal items, and weapons, while the Rank 5 magic bag would carry game and the portable cabin.
All I needed now was to save about 10,000,000 dara for the cabin itself.

After registering myself as the authorized user and setting user restrictions, I stuffed the Rank 5 magic bag inside the Rank 3 pouch and returned to the hotel.

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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?”

“Yeah. Someone saw you withdraw all that money from the guild yesterday and’s been telling everyone you stuffed your purse full of 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, that rumor won’t die down anytime soon.” 

“Things might get troublesome for you.”

“Just look around.”

I didn’t need to — I could already feel the stares sizing me up the moment I walked into the dining hall.
Maybe I should finish business with Olga and the others, complete the extra magic training, and then skip town.

Until that’s done, I’ll stay in Rosenne.
If anyone tries to mess with me, I’ll drop a little Flame spell right into their mouth.
If no one’s watching, well… they can enjoy a nice long flight into the sky.

“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 talked about, it’s better if we split up for now. Could you guys keep checking the guild every morning until I meet with Olga?”

“Will you be alright on your own?”

“It’s easier to keep secrets when you’re by yourself. Lindy, keep practicing using less mana. After that, you and Bord can do 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.

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Just as I expected, I felt multiple eyes on me from the moment I started shopping at the market — and even as I left the city and walked down the road, the feeling didn’t fade.

If something smells bad, you’ve got to eliminate the source.
Before the stench spreads, I’ll take care of it.

After walking east along the Blange Highway for about an hour, I stepped off the road into the northern grasslands and jogged lightly toward the forest.

Every so often, I caught sight of movement in the grass or behind shrubs — my pursuers.
I made sure to let them glimpse me just enough to keep them chasing, but not so much that they’d lose me completely.

When I sensed two separate groups closing in fast, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Blinded by greed, they had no idea what kind of situation they were walking into.

I moved quietly, hiding behind cover and waiting. Before long, a bunch of scruffy-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’s that kind of creep too, huh.

Fine. They’ll all regret ever targeting me.