Chapter 124: The Remitter’s Name Is the Problem

Even after two weeks, Gail’s barrier still hadn’t gotten any stronger.
He said he wanted to study my dome as a reference, but… my dome may be sturdy, yet it has a bit of give to it too.

And since it’s basically an air dome, it feels firm to the touch but doesn’t have the solid, heavy hardness of a massive boulder.

When I stroked it, rubbed it, and even pressed my cheek against it, Steve and the others laughed at me and said, “Do that with a real rock over there,” pointing at a nearby boulder.

Apparently taking their advice and finding a big boulder, repeatedly stroking its hard surface to fix the image in my mind, paid off.
After just over three weeks, Gail was able to form a tough barrier dome.

When my bullet bounced off it with a satisfying clang, Steve and the others congratulated him, and Mintz and Scott praised it as an invincible dome, which made him really happy.

But things get difficult from here.

I know a lightning magic user and I’ve given Gail some advice, but if he can’t use even a tiny bit of it, words alone aren’t enough.

I asked Mintz and Scott if they knew any lightning mages, but unfortunately both of them used to be knights and mainly collect herbs now, so they don’t know anyone in that field.

The only person I know is Fang’s comrade Graze, and he’s in the royal capital.

“Even you can’t handle this, Leon?”

“If he could use even a little of it, I could give him advice, but teaching from scratch is a bit…”

“But the barrier worked out somehow by following your instructions, didn’t it?”

“That’s because he could already release magic power and he had some image from seeing my dome and shelter. But he couldn’t have managed the durability part. Since he could already form a dome, everyone’s advice helped him make it stronger.”

“That’s true. You taught me everything—from how to find my magic power, to how to control and release it.”

“With lightning… well, it’s lightning. Even if I tell him, ‘remember what lightning looks like,’ the lightning that falls far away…”

“You can drop lightning that far away?”

“Yeah, probably impossible.”

“If you have the Barland Duke’s ID…”

“Oh right. Count Arklight magic corps might have someone. Should I ask Eugene?”

“That guy? He’s the Count’s butler—he’s annoying about everything.”

“Use the Duke’s ID. Count Arklight owes him a favor, so he won’t refuse.”

“I owe him a small favor, so maybe he’ll listen. I’ll visit the mansion when he has time and ask.”

Since I told everyone I’d be taking two or three days off, I got up late and changed into my town clothes… but something felt off.
Not sure what.

Anyway, I grabbed a carriage near the market and headed to the Commercial Guild.

When I entered the guild and approached the cashier, they stood up the moment they saw me and greeted me politely.
It felt a little creepy, but then I remembered their attitude changed after they learned how much money I had deposited.

Today, too, when I asked for a balance check, one clerk exchanged glances with another, who slipped into the back.
The remaining clerk’s face stiffened, and their hand trembled as they filled out the form.

When the lady clerk brought me the balance sheet like it was some holy offering, she said, “Sir Leon, here is your current balance.”

A question mark floated in my head, but when I looked at the paper, I understood.

The Kingdom of Holtland had transferred 1,000,000,000 Dala as a demonstration fee.

A billion Dala—10,000 gold coins.
Yeah, that would definitely explain the attitude.

“Excuse me, Sir Leon.”

I lifted my head and saw a plump, glossy-skinned old man smiling and rubbing his hands together.

“And you are?”

“I am Raymond, Guildmaster of this Lynas Commercial Guild. May we speak briefly in the lounge?”

I knew exactly what he wanted to ask, so I nodded and followed.

The so-called lounge was surprisingly luxurious.
As I sat on the sofa he gestured to, he cleared his throat.

“To be blunt, we received a transfer of one billion Dala from the Kingdom of Holtland in your name… may I ask what for?”

He probed me with cautious eyes, so I silently placed my Adventurer Guild card on the table.

“A Grade-1 Gold rank, I see. Very impressive for someone so young, but…”

He didn’t get it, so I took out the ID I received from Chancellor Brighton and placed it next to it.

“What is this?”

“Pick it up and check.”

He timidly took it, muttered something, and—oh, wow—the kingdom’s crest shimmered into view.

So it had this kind of mechanism.

“I showed the Adventurer Guild card because I received that money as payment for a commission, which means I can’t discuss its contents. The kingdom ID means Chancellor Brighton also commissioned me separately. Do you still want to know more?”

The Guildmaster paled.
Trying to pry into national secrets—he’d lose not only his position but possibly his life.

“If you looked at my deposit history, you’d see entries from the Kingdom of Sutherland, Duke Berlant, and the Kingdom of Holtland. If you’d checked, you wouldn’t be asking unnecessary questions.”

“Please forgive me. It was foolish of me!”

Great—his head is down. Perfect timing.
I placed ten leather pouches I’d taken from Count Fleming on the table.

“While I’m here, please deposit these as well.”

The Guildmaster let out a stupid “huh?” sound.

Two thousand gold coins. If it’s now, I can deposit them with no questions.

When I asked, “Is it a problem, or do you need an explanation for the source?” he shook his head violently.

He hurriedly summoned a clerk, handing them my guild card and instructing them to deposit everything.

Now I can deposit the rest without explaining anything… though probably not all at once.

While three people counted the gold coins, I told the Guildmaster I wanted to buy a house where my sister could run an apothecary shop.
He immediately called someone over.

Gold’s power? Or the kingdom ID’s? Hard to tell.

It was someone from the real estate department, so I explained I wanted a building with an apothecary on the first floor and living space upstairs for a family of six.

I warned them not to come to the house, though.

Next I’ll hear my sister’s and mother’s wishes for the layout, get my father’s approval, and then choose a house.

Back home, I changed into my adventurer clothes and finally realized the discomfort.

My adventurer gear was made loose on purpose, but when I changed into town clothes for the first time in a while, they were tight.

… I’m growing!
Well yeah, I’m still 19 and in my growth period ♪

On my next day off, I’ll need new clothes… but getting the tailor to visit this house is not ideal.

I’ll ask the Commercial Guild about it instead.

Then I grabbed a carriage and headed for the Arklight estate.

At the side gate, before I even showed the Duke’s ID, the guards let me in and sent for the butler, Eugen.

“Sir Leon, what can I help you with?”

His attitude had completely changed since the last time.
Honestly, it tickled a bit.

“I have a small request. Is the Count in?”

“No, we received word that he moved from Blange to Emilia. Why?”

“Does your house’s magic corps include someone who uses lightning magic?”

“They do, but they’re in Emilia with the Count.”

Right, I forgot.

I thanked Eugene and headed to the Adventurer Guild.

When I asked the bored herb-buying old man at the counter, “Could I see the sub-master?” he smirked knowingly and went to the back.

“Yeah? What do you need?”

“Is there a lightning magic user who frequents this guild?”

“There is, I think. Why?”

“One of my companions was granted barrier magic and lightning magic but doesn’t know how to use lightning magic.”

“You want someone to teach him? You know how it is—mages don’t like teaching others.”

“That’s why I just want someone to show us. I’ll pay a viewing fee, of course.”

The sub-master disappeared for a moment and returned.

“There’s a guy called Terry—‘Wrath of the Thunder God’. He’s a lightning mage. Unlike you day-trippers, they show up every three or four days. If you want to summon them, that becomes an official request.”

“If someone from their party can spend one day showing us lightning magic, I’ll pay two gold coins. Can you just pass along the message? I’ll be here with Mintz and the others this evening.”

“If you bring me twenty Chikki-Chikki Birds, I’ll tell them.”

“I bring them occasionally.”

“Ever since you came back and started bringing in Chikki-Chikki Birds and Runner Birds again, all the rich folks won’t stop pestering us for more.”

“Well, I’ll do my best to hunt some. Please handle the message.”

When I told Gail about the arrangement with the sub-master, he was overjoyed.
Since he had been practicing releasing magic, I offered to appraise his magic and mana.

Mintz and Scott were shocked that I could do a personal appraisal, but I told them I’d done it once before.
I’d been practicing for herb gathering, come to think of it—I never mentioned that.

When I told Gail his appraisal: barrier magic, lightning magic, and magic power 69, he was thrilled that his magic power had increased by five.