Chapter 21 – Anxiety (1)
After measuring the dimensions, blacksmith Marlton began adjusting the leather armor.
Marlton’s wife, Anne, brought a car for me and the Seris sisters who had to wait. Appearing to be in her early thirties, she was a married woman with ponytail hair and prominent breasts.
“Does it fit in your mouth?”
“Yes, it is delicious. Much better than what we had at home!”
Kara said as she sipped her tea. Seris was a bit sullen, but I agreed with Kara’s words.
Unlike Serice’s tea, which had a strange taste, this tea had a savory taste.
In the first place, it is strange to compare our tea with a normal car and the leaves picked from the back mountain.
“Thank you. For adjusting the equipment at my house.”
Ann said, glancing at us as we savored the tea. I waved my hand.
“No. It’s good that we buy good things cheaply. I’m sorry that I’ve caused you any damage.”
“Whoa, that’s a good thing. Thank you for saying that.”
Ann smiled lightly, then put her chin on her chin and she looked at her husband.
“My husband works really hard. I do well…”
There are a lot of really bad people in the world. She murmured softly. I asked if that meant the Captain’s Guild, but she just smiled and didn’t answer.
After a while, Marlton finished adjusting the armor.
Kara and I wore leather armor, and Seris wore leather pants, quilted armor, and chain armor. We were still awkward wearing them, so Marlton and Ann helped.
“Can I really wear this…”
Seris, wearing chain armor over quilted armor, spoke.
“Since you’re a avant-garde, it’s only natural that you wear them.”
Seris’ armament was determined by her shield and sword. That’s why she automatically took over her avant-garde. Since she was in the most dangerous position, she also put on her armor.
“Uh…Can I do it well?”
“Is that the story again? I told you. You can do well.”
“But…”
Seris hesitated and picked up her chain mail.
“This is expensive. If you break it…”
“I owe you 20 silver.”
“Hey…!”
Seris freaked out and let go of her chain armor that she had picked up.
“I’m kidding. I just gave it to you, so don’t spare it. Because nothing is more important than life.”
“Uh… But…”
“Don’t be embarrassed. You just have to do as well as you received.”
“…Yes!”
Seris nodded her head with her eyes full of determination.
We finished calculating the price for the armor and said goodbye to the Marltons.
“Take care of yourself~.”
“Don’t forget your promise.”
“Yes, I will come again.”
I waved to the two and headed for the inn.
“Me, Yoosung…”
Seris called me right in front of the inn. She said, wiggling her hands.
“I, that’s it, buying equipment…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll lend you money for dinner and lodging tonight.”
“Thank you…”
Her determined gaze did not last long.
* * *
“Brother.”
“Why?”
“Are we able to work?”
“…I know.”
Iron flip.
Kara slammed her face into her table. And muttered to himself.
I sighed and leaned against the back of my chair.
‘I expected it, but I didn’t expect it to be like this.’
We came to the adventurer’s guild early in the morning to find a good request. At the same time, I tried to find a temporary colleague to be with me.
However, it was impossible to find a temporary mate.
‘Thanks to the equipment, the first reaction wasn’t bad…’
As soon as he realizes that he is an inexperienced newbie, his attitude changes. Most of them expressed disapproval or avoided the seat saying they had business to do. In severe cases, there were even cases of cursing.
‘We can’t do well-paid quests by ourselves. Should I start by collecting herbs?’
After thinking for a moment, I shook my head.
Herb gathering is a low income compared to the time and hard work it takes. The money we currently have is the 2 silver I have. To live a stable life, collecting herbs is not enough.
And above all…
‘Can’t get karma.’
From experience so far, karma can only be obtained by killing a living, breathing creature. There, the pun that “Plants are living beings” Was not used.
In the end, it meant that a request like collecting herbs would be a loss in any aspect.
How could there be no other way? While I was rolling my head like that, the receptionist I had seen yesterday approached me with a murmur.
“Han Yuseong.”
“Mr. Or? What are you doing?”
“I kept watching from a distance. Aren’t you going to save your comrades?”
“Yes. It’s not easy because I have no experience.”
“Because this is what I do at the risk of my life. Naturally, adventurers with no track record were reluctant. Why don’t you start with things like building security and city patrol?”
I shook my head at Orr’s suggestion. The reason is similar to herbal gathering.
“Is there any other way than that? To be honest, it’s a little cramped.”
“Umm… It’s another way… That’s dangerous… But Mr. Han Yoo-seong says that Mr. Belita’s skills aren’t bad… It’s okay, right?”
She spoke to herself and convinced herself. She must have thought to let me know that the reason she approached me in the first place was the way she was.
Orr came up to me and whispered in my ear the way she thought.
* * *
“Yoosung, are you really planning on doing that?”
Seris, who was dipping bread into the soup, asked in a low voice.
“Are you worried?”
“…Yes, to be honest, I am a little worried. To catch the goblins in the ruined castle? It’s impossible for us alone.”
The method that Orr had told me was to hunt the goblins living in the ruined castle two hours away from Kalita.
If you kill them, other adventurers will recognize your skills?
It wasn’t a bad offer because you could get karma. However, as Serris feared, he could fall into a dangerous situation.
“Anyway, my sister is too scared.”
“Kara?”
“That’s right. It’s like yesterday when we sparred, and it’s like how we bet on a fixed story today. Aren’t you a good match for adventurers?”
“That…”
Seris looked at me and said firmly.
“No. If she puts her mind to it, even her older sister, she can do it.”
“So what?”
“Huh..? No, that’s…”
Seris hesitated and avoided her answer. I sighed and joined the conversation.
“Both of you, stop. I haven’t decided yet.”
“No?”
“Oh, no. I guess I’ll have to think about it a bit. So don’t argue and have a meal.”
“Okay…”
After the noisy meal, Sister Ceris went up to their room.
I looked around without going up. Even though it was evening, the inn was noisy. It’s because the people who stay here drink and talk.
I approached the man who was drinking alone and sat down in front of him. He was a man in his forties, with an impressive beard.
“Sorry, but I want to drink alone right now.”
He glanced at me and said. I raised my hand and called the maid.
“Two glasses of ale.”
“Two glasses of ale!”
The waitress who took the order returned.
“…It’ll be fine for a while.”
The man raised the corner of his mouth.
We chatted lightly until the ale we ordered arrived.
The man’s name is Patrick, and he’s in his 40s, as I expected. He was already married and had a daughter, but it has been 10 years since he jumped into the adventurer industry for his livelihood.
The grade is Bronze, which is said to be one step higher than the Iron grade.
“Ten years…You’ve been a long time.”
“Yes. I’ve seen more than half of the silver ranks in Kalita since I was a newbie. …It’s already been that many years.”
Patrick fiddled with the handle of the ale glass with a vague expression.
“Come to think of it, I’ve heard rumors that the silver grade is amazing, but how good is it? Because I’ve never seen it.”
I’ve heard a few rumors that it’s comparable to a knight. However, since it was a rumor circulating in the slums, the credibility was low.
“It’s amazing. It’s not for no reason that the nobles are trying to keep them in their estates.”
Patrick shook his hand as if to stop talking.
“Is that enough? I thought only the gold level would be possible without paying attention to the nobles…”
“That’s right. No matter how silver you are, you can’t stand up to a noble. I mean, they’re just that good guys.”
“The ale you ordered is here!”
The waitress left two glasses of ale on the table. Patrick took a gulp of the new ale.
“Then let’s hear your story. What do you want to ask me?”
I told Patrick about my situation. He listened intently to my story while drinking ale.
“I heard that a new iron-level recruit came in this time, so that was you.”
“Has there already been a rumor?”
“Sounds natural. Adventurers are the next most sensitive to rumors after merchants. It’s because you die if you get stuck. Well, I heard from Belita.”
Patrick chuckled. I was a little surprised that the name Belita came out of his mouth.
“Are you familiar with Belita?”
“Everyone knows. Because I’ve known him since he was a newbie. It was really cute back then, but now that I’m grown up, I want…”
Can I get married or something like that? Patrick clicked his tongue.
“Well, what is Ms. Belita’s grade? Is it silver grade?”
“They are in the same grade as me.”
“Okay.”
I asked in case, but it was as expected. If the bronze grade is that strong, how strong is the silver or gold grade? I didn’t get a good feel for it.
“Well, it might not be long before you reach the silver rank. There is already no one in the same level who can beat him. So don’t be too disappointed.”
“Yes?”
“Isn’t that what you were thinking, ‘Am I just being pushed that far by the same grade?'”
“It was similar, but I didn’t think of it as ‘something like that.'”
“That or that.”
Patrick chuckled.
“Even though he is young, he has been here for more than five years. That guy praised you, so he can be proud of you.”
“A compliment?”
“They said that a not-so-bad guy came in after a while.”
“…Is that a compliment?”
“That’s pretty generous for him. Rather, let’s get back to the main topic. Do you want to get some advice about the goblins in that ruined castle?”
“Yes. Advice from a 10-year veteran like Patrick is very helpful.”
“I prefer chicken soup to flattery like that.”
“…”
“I also like ale very much. Do you hate it?”
“…I like it too. Very.”
* * *
“You ate well. When you come back safely, let’s work together sometime.”
“Yes, please go in.”
Patrick went home, and I went upstairs and knocked on Sister Ceris’ door.
The door was slightly open as if he hadn’t slept yet. Seris peeked out her face through the gap.
“Because I will cover my face.”
I hurriedly went into her room in case anyone would see.
“Brother? What’s going on…Ugh smells like alcohol. How much did you drink?”
“…A lot?”
“Very! What is it, if you’re going to drink, let’s drink together. Why are you drinking alone?”
Kara grunted to show off her pout. I stroked Kara’s hair and ruffled her hair.
“Ha, don’t!”
“Sorry. Let’s drink together next time.”
“Did you promise?”
“Yes, yes.”
When I promised Kara and her little finger, she looked at me happily and smiled. I looked at her and smiled as if she was a little drunk.
“Kuh, keuhum!”
Seris coughed.
“So Yoosung. What are you here for?”
“Oh right. Let’s go there tomorrow.”
“Are you there?”
“The ruined castle.”
“Uh? Let’s go?”
“Huh. I think you can go.”
“Oh yea!”
Kara shook her body in her excitement. She looked at it and smiled as she asked Cersei with her worried face.
“Isn’t that too dangerous?”
“Are you okay. I heard a lot of advice from my adventurer senior before that.”
Patrick’s advice was helpful. He deserves the chicken soup and ales he bought him.
He talked about the overall outline of the ruined castle, the atmosphere, and the power of the goblins living there, along with experiences. Although that was not his experience.
Thanks to that, I got a sense of what to do, and there was no reason to be reluctant to do it.
“Don’t worry too much, I’ve got everything set up for you to act.”
“Yes, got it.”
Celis had a slightly uneasy face, but she nodded her head. It was that she respected my judgment, and she was proud of it, albeit a little.
I talked to Sister Ceris for a bit, then went to sleep in her room.
And the next day, we headed to the abandoned castle.
