Chapter 137: Highly Effective Medicine
It had been a while since I last visited the Adventurers’ Guild in the royal capital, and since I hadn’t been around recently, I felt many piercing glances sizing me up.
When I received my ale and turned around, I heard someone calling me.
It was Nanga and the others, still eating quietly in the corner of the guild cafeteria as usual.
“Long time no see.”
“I’ve heard the rumors,”
They said.
“Apparently, you were the hero in the dragon hunt.”
“That’s amazing.”
“I heard that with your Whirlwind technique, you were able to handle armor buffaloes and dragons with ease.”
“Not surprising that you can go anywhere, even places with Fangs or Ironhorns around.”
“Why don’t you sit in the middle of the cafeteria?”
“I actually came to see Jaeger-san of the Fangs, but… oh, there’s Gains. I’ll go say hi for a bit.”
“Hey, you guys know him?”
“Uh… yes. I’ve helped him a little before.”
“Are you sure this is Leon of the Gentle Breeze?”
“He’s on good terms with people from the Fangs and Ironhorns, so it must be him. He even catches goblin mobs and carrions with his Whirlwind.”
“That delicate-looking guy?”
“Delicate? More like a little brat.”
“Well, with that face, being called Gentle Breeze isn’t weird at all.”
“I even heard he can fly.”
As I headed toward the table where Gains was sitting, I felt a sharp gaze.
It was scout Eric, and when our eyes met, he grinned.
“Leon, the rumors about you are incredible.”
“Hey, long time no see.”
“Gains, it’s been a while. Didn’t you get caught up in the compulsory summons?”
“Don’t be silly. I was near Korche with Jaeger and the others. I heard all about you and that mage Lindy—quite the reputation.”
“And the mage Boldo you were with too.”
“Then I even heard you’re flying now… is that true?”
“Well, that’s why I’ve been busy with all sorts of requests. How are Jaeger and the others doing?”
“As usual. I saw them two days ago, so they should show up in a couple of days. Do you need something?”
“I had a request from before.”
“By the way, have you done anything recently?”
Gains lowered his voice, his eyes sharp. Since we had parted before, he probably hadn’t said anything because I hadn’t been pursued.
“Did you see something?”
“I saw that guy everyone’s talking about.”
“Could it be… that too?”
“Don’t worry, I haven’t consulted the submaster.”
“But when I heard you handled armor buffaloes and dragons with a giant Whirlwind…”
“When you were with us, you only hunted birds with a cute little Whirlwind.”
“Wow… I didn’t think you were that skilled.”
“I knew you were good, but I’d been completely fooled.”
Not wanting the conversation to go in a dangerous direction, I returned to Nanga and the others, taking a gulp of ale.
Until I met Jaeger, I decided to stay at the Martins Hotel for the first time in a while and pick up some souvenirs from the capital.
On the fourth day, Nanga told me he saw Jaeger and the Fangs heading into the disassembly area at the guild.
Sipping ale slowly, I waited and waved as Jaeger and the others approached the cafeteria.
“Hey! Why is the Dragon Slayer drinking in a corner like this?”
“Eh, I just helped out a little.”
“Don’t play dumb. You teased the armor buffaloes before, but then I heard you blew them all away and even threw dragons around?”
“And that you can fly freely?”
“You’ve improved a lot since just jumping before.”
“It seems you were waiting for us—what’s up?”
“I got that thing you wanted.”
“Oh, that’s great. You went there?”
“There’s an elf village north of Roxanne, further back.”
“Ah, that’s where the dragon alarm came from. Flying makes it easy to reach the forest interior.”
“Let me see it.”
Jaeger and I went to the training grounds, taking the Golden Goat and Shams out of the dust-filled dome.
“Ah, quite the Shams. Should I just pay the guild by transfer?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
Returning to the cafeteria to meet Nanga, I was pulled aside and made to talk about the dragon hunts.
Apparently, they had heard that I knew all three parties that defeated dragons, and they asked in detail about Farana’s dragon hunt.
Greiz looked disappointed, saying he missed a chance to strike a dragon because I was there.
Back in Lynas, I landed in front of Count Arklight’s side gate and said I had come to see Eugen.
I was immediately allowed inside and guided to the inner entrance.
“Lord Leon, how may I help you?”
“I brought Golden Goats and Shams as a thank-you for the congratulatory gift.”
“Golden Goats and Shams? The Count will be pleased. I’ll inform him… please wait a moment.”
“Please convey that from Eugene. Also, I have a request.”
“A request?”
“Yes. My sister Belinda is about to become independent after finishing her service, but the situation is a bit tricky.”
“Tricky?”
“Yes. I hear she’s receiving a lot of passive-aggressive remarks—about the help she got during training and not repaying her debts, even asking to repay past expenses.”
“That’s odd. Service has a fixed period; there’s no need for extra obligations. They were paid a low wage, and the pharmacist guild benefited. I’ll inform the Count, so don’t worry.”
Good! Since I provided the “snuff powder,” the Count wouldn’t ignore it.
I went outside the city once, landed near the entrance gate, and headed in.
“You just came down from the sky,” said a guard, suspiciously.
I showed Count Arklight’s ID, and he immediately quieted.
“Why do you have this?”
“Eugene delivered it.”
“Eugene… wait a moment.”
He ran to the office, probably to verify authenticity.
Soon he returned with his superior, saying, “I understand. Please use the nobles’ passage.”
“Thank you. I’ve informed Eugene, but I sometimes descend from the sky, so please be aware.”
“From the sky?”
“Yes, I have permission to land at my residence, but usually I enter from here.”
I showed my guild card and was allowed in.
“Master, Lord Leon delivered Golden Goats and Shams.”
“What? Is that true?”
“Just delivered moments ago.”
“We must thank Lord Leon.”
“He said it was a thank-you for the gift and the ID, and he had business at the guild, so we let him go.”
“I see… let’s have the Golden Goats and Shams displayed.”
A storage mage brought the animals to the backyard.
The Count examined them and murmured.
“Golden Goats are fine, but the Shams must be offered to the royal family.”
“Yes, Lord Leon came flying from the capital, as a thank-you for the ID,”
Explained the assistant.
“Perhaps observe for a while.”
Two days later, my sister returned from the pharmacist guild.
“Today, EugenE came to the guild and spoke with the guildmaster.”
EugenE had acted quickly—the snuff powder worked even better than potions.
“You said you’d use authority?”
“I made them smell the powder—it’s a very effective medicine.”
“Thanks to that, she said she doesn’t have to come tomorrow.”
“When I asked Eugene, he said there’s no need for the service period. Since she worked for low pay, the guild made enough profit.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I heard it directly—no mistake.”
I asked the purchasing clerk to call the submaster.
“Leon, what’s this about?”
“I have items to sell, but need advice. If I bring them straight to the disassembly area, it might cause a commotion.”
“Wait, these aren’t the usual birds?”
“I have birds too, slightly larger ones. Can you call him?”
“Exaggerating about a commotion, but you’re the dragon hunt hero. Wait here.”
The clerk went to the submaster and returned, who now looked serious.
“Leon, what now?”
“What now? I always seem to stir up trouble.”
“I called you here; I won’t allow just ordinary birds.”
I whispered, “Shams and Golden Goats,” and the submaster glared.
“Not lying?”
“Bring a dragon too.”
“Oh right, you’re the one who supposedly threw a dragon. Both are auction items?”
“I’m not selling. I just want the meat quietly.”
The submaster’s eyebrows shot up.
“You think that’s allowed? Don’t you want to contribute to the guild?”
“Listen first—if you quietly process the meat, I’ll provide the same items to the guild afterward.”
His eyebrows jumped again—what expressive eyebrows.
“You have two of each?”
“Yes, after quietly processing the meat, I’ll give the remaining ones.”
“Leave it to me. Let’s go to the disassembly area!”
At the back of the disassembly area, I called the chief and ordered a blindfold setup to prevent visibility from outside.
“What’s this, submaster?”
“This guy brought Shams and Golden Goats.”
The chief raised his eyebrows.
“Auction items? That’s a first in Lynas.”
“I don’t know about that, but process the meat discreetly, then supply the same to the guild.”
“Two of each, huh?”
“Yes, prepare a place for them.”
The chief got excited, yelling at his staff to set up blindfolds—drawing attention.
Once scolded by the submaster, he quieted down.
When the Shams and Golden Goats were lined up, the chief and submaster groaned in unison.
“When will the meat be delivered?”
“Wait three days for discretion. Come for it just after noon. And you really do have another of each?”
For the suspicious chief, I quickly showed a Golden Goat and retracted it—he groaned again.