Chapter 12: Rosenne
When I took out my robe from the magic pouch to dry it, I remembered the small leather pouch I’d received and decided to check what was inside. To my surprise, there were twenty silver coins in it. No wonder it had felt heavy. But twenty silvers just for that little favor?
Checking my wallet pouch, I found that I still had a bit over 840,000 dara. Together with the money I had deposited at the guild, I could afford to extend the time enchantment on my magic pouch. Since I wasn’t wanted anywhere and this was Radcliffe County’s territory — the city of Werner — I decided to visit a magic tool merchant while I was here.
After a late breakfast, I went to the adventurers’ guild to check my account balance. I had saved up about 1,870,000 dara, so I withdrew 1,200,000 in gold coins and asked for directions to a magic tool shop — but it turned out to be quite far away.
Since I didn’t know the city well and it would take time to get there, I decided to stay one more night.
The hotel staff gave me directions, but it still seemed far and time-consuming, so I decided to hire a carriage. The daily rental fee was 40,000 dara — ridiculously expensive. Still, better than getting lost. Before the merchant could dismiss me as some kid adventurer, I flashed my gold coins.
When I told him I had come to request an extension for a Rank 3 magic pouch, he invited me in with a sour look. He probably didn’t get many adventurer customers, and his attitude was dismissive, but I endured it for the sake of keeping my supplies fresh.
In the end, I didn’t leave Werner until the third day before noon, but I stocked up on plenty of food from the market, so I wouldn’t need to stay in another town anytime soon.
After leaving Werner, I traveled eastward, keeping a reasonable distance from the main road. I made a magic dome in a hidden spot to test its durability.
Since I only made it to avoid getting drenched in the downpour, I hadn’t done a proper stress test, and I wasn’t sure how strong it actually was. It could probably handle wolves, but I wasn’t confident it could withstand a Big Horn Boar’s charge.
From the grasslands to the forest edge, I hadn’t encountered any monster stronger than a Big Horn Boar. Other adventurers spoke of monsters like Horn Rhinos or rhino-like monsters and massive, aggressive Armor Buffalo, but those were apparently rare, so I wasn’t worried.
If I did meet one, I’d tear it apart with wind rings or blow it away with a tornado.
If that failed, I’d simply pour more magic power into it until it worked, though I’d better hide inside my dome first so I wouldn’t get swept up myself.
Also, during that night attack, I realized I should find out how far my magic can actually reach.
For the strength test, I shot a rock about the size of a man’s head at the dome. The sound went from thud to boom, but it didn’t break.
As for the whirlwind spell, I could summon it accurately within 40–50 meters. Beyond that, accuracy dropped, and I’d likely need a larger-scale spell.
I had no way to measure the maximum range, but I intended to test it someday.
Either way, I’d keep the magic I show others limited to the dome, whirlwinds, and defensive rings to avoid attracting attention. From what Mintz and Scott had said, nothing good comes from standing out too much.
I skipped the city of Folka and headed for the next one — Rosenne.
It was part of a Marquis territory, and I planned to sell my recent game and earn some travel funds there.
At the city gate, the guard eyed me suspiciously. I was just a kid with no luggage and only a knife at his belt. But when I showed my bronze guild card, he looked surprised and let me through.
Adventurers passing by recognized me as one of their own by my clothes, but since they didn’t know me, their appraising stares were unpleasant.
When I entered the adventurers’ guild, it was still early afternoon. At the buyback counter, an idle-looking clerk sat waiting.
“I’ve got a lot of game to sell. Can I use the disassembly area?”
“Huh, haven’t seen your face before. How much is ‘a lot’?”
“About ten horned rabbits, a few hedgehogs, a small elk, a horn boar, two types of sheep, and four or five each of runner birds, red chickens, and chikki-chikki birds.”
“That’s pretty vague. You’re telling me you’ve got runner birds and chikki-chikki birds?”
“Sure do. I just tossed them in my pouch, so I don’t remember the exact count.”
“Let’s see them, then. Show me your runner and chikki-chikki birds.”
He clearly didn’t believe me, so I pulled out the runner birds, chikki-chikki birds, and red chickens and laid them on the counter.
“Hey, look at that! He’s got runner birds and chikki-chikki birds — even red chickens!”
“Looks like he’s a solo adventurer. Pretty skilled, huh?”
“Never seen him before. You?”
“Nope, first time.”
“Alright, fine. Take these and head to the disassembly hall.”
He pointed me down a hallway, already turning to question the next guy in line.
Impatient old man.
I repacked the game into my pouch and followed the passage — the layout was just like the guild in Lynas, so it was easy to find.
There was one group ahead of me, chatting with a butcher over a Big Horn Boar, with several elks, fang dogs, and carrions lined up beside them.
“What’ve you brought, kid?”
“A small elk, a horn boar, two kinds of sheep, runner birds, red chickens, and chickki-chikki birds — about four or five each. Oh, and horned rabbits and hedgehogs. Where should I put them?”
“Line the runner and chikki-chikki birds along the wall, red chickens in front of them, elk and horn boar by that pillar, and the sheep beside them.”
I set everything out:
- Chikki-chikki birds: 8
- Red chickens: 11
- Runner birds: 6
- Horned rabbits: 17
- Hedgehogs: 9
- Elks: 2
- Horn boar: 1
- Brown sheep: 2
- Prairie sheep: 1
“Hmm… not a single wound on any of them. How’d you hunt these?”
“I launch stones with whirlwinds.”
“A wind mage, huh? Don’t see many of those.”
He muttered as he jotted down the list — the type, number, and price of each item.
“Here’s the total. If everything looks good, hand over your guild card.”
I skimmed through the appraisal sheet and everything looked perfect. Feeling quite satisfied with a job well done, I handed him my guild card.
Appraisal Results:
- Chikki-Chikki Birds: 8 × 63,000 = 504,000 Dara
- Red Chickens: 11 × 24,000 = 264,000 Dara
- Runner Birds: 6 × 38,000 = 228,000 Dara
- Horned Rabbits: 17 × 7,500 = 127,500 Dara
- Hedgehogs: 9 × 22,000 = 198,000 Dara
- Elks: 2 (31,000 + 33,000) = 64,000 Dara
- Horn Boar: 1 × 35,000 = 35,000 Dara
- Brown Sheep: 2 (53,000 + 58,000) = 111,000 Dara
- Prairie Sheep: 1 × 63,000 = 63,000 Dara
“Huh. You’re already a Bronze-ranked adventurer? Not bad for someone so young — especially a wind mage.”
He said that as he returned my guild card along with the appraisal sheet. My name was listed under “Recipient,” and the appraiser’s signature read Gregg.
I thanked him and took the paperwork to the settlement counter, telling them to deposit the full amount.
Total earnings: 1,594,500 Dara.
With my previous deposit added in, that brought me up to roughly 2,200,000 Dara.
If I keep working steadily, I might be able to afford a Rank 5 magic bag sooner than expected.
Now that I’m camping regularly, my biggest problems are the blinding morning sun and the risk of heatstroke once summer hits. The dome gets as hot as a greenhouse.
Even with a tarp overhead, the humidity’s unbearable. I should really set up a proper shelter for camping, something like a small cabin to hole up in.
If I add a bedroom and a toilet compartment, the total length would exceed three meters. another reason I’d need at least a Rank 5 magic bag.
Those Rank 5–10 bags go for about 7,000,000 Dara, which isn’t out of reach.
The area around Rosenne is rich in bird-type monsters, so if I hunt modestly without overdoing it, no one will complain.
Planning to stay in Rosenne for a while to earn money, I went to a tavern to find a guide and ordered an ale and a steak.
I sipped my ale slowly while scanning the room. It was still early, so the place wasn’t crowded.
The locals’ suspicious, appraising stares made it clear they didn’t like outsiders, so I decided next time I’d come later in the evening and for now, I just finished my meal quickly.
As I was about to stand up, a voice called out from a nearby table.
“Hey, haven’t seen your face before. Where’d you come from?”
It was the same group of guys I’d seen earlier at the disassembly hall.
“From Lynas.”
I replied.
“We saw you at the hall earlier — good work. If you’re on your own, why not team up with us?”
“I’ll try hunting along the highway for a while. If it looks promising, I’ll think about it.”
“Oh? So you weren’t hunting around here?”
“Nah, everything I sold was from along the road between Werner, Folka, and Rosenne.”
There were seven of them, and two gave off a nasty vibe — definitely not people I’d want to team up with.
They didn’t press the issue, so I just picked up my plate and mug and took them back to the counter.
As more adventurers returned from their hunts, I could feel their eyes on me — sizing me up. Being alone felt uncomfortable.
Back when I was with Mintz and Scott, they acted as my shield, I realized now.
Before the city gates closed, I slipped outside and wandered into the nearby grasslands to find a spot to sleep.
The star-filled sky was breathtaking, but without any familiar constellations, it was just beautiful — and boring.
Once I’ve saved up a bit more, I should buy some liquor for the nights.
Morning comes early for adventurers.
That line popped into my head as the blinding sunrise woke me.
I’d planned to visit the guild tavern in the evening, but thinking it’d be full of drunkards, I decided instead to check it out early in the morning.