Chapter 12 - Exploration (1)
In the end, Dorn took 3 gold out of her pocket and handed it to me.
Dorn's lips, which had been flushed with buoyant dreams for the future, pouted.
It was a look that clearly showed she was deflated.
“Then I'll be back. It'll probably take about three days to find a magician, so let's all see each other then.”
Taking the 3 gold, I revisited the Hay Merchant in the northern part of the city.
Just in time, a new batch of Blue Butterfly Grass had come in, and the warehouse was full.
For some reason, I bought all the butterfly grass from the old Hay Merchant, who was making a peculiar face, and made Blue Ointment to deliver to Eric.
“Here you are, Big Brother.360 gold.”
Eric handed me the bundle of gold with a greasy smile.
“A man who earns so much money should buy some clothes.”
He nagged as he said it.
At Eric's words, I looked down at the clothes I was wearing.
Worn-out and tattered clothes that a Porter might wear.
“Shall I do some shopping after visiting the office.”
After all, I now had enough money in my possession to live and play freely for a year.
Let's buy some armor and, while I'm at it, some clothes and daily necessities.
With that thought, I immediately headed to the Mercenary Office.
Then I filled out two documents and submitted them to the Mercenary Office employee.
“Is this the receipt for an exploration proposal and a magician designation request?
Please confirm.”
The female employee sitting at the reception counter said in a business-like manner.
Exploration proposal.
When explorers set out on an expedition, they must fill out and register an exploration proposal with the office.
This was because about 100 years ago, when the Dainas royal family granted the fief to the Count of Shupel, they also issued a decree containing the following matters.
[The Forest of Vanity is the territory of the Dainas royal family. Therefore, all relics and income obtained from the forest belong to the royal family. However, as the royal family cannot step forward to excavate all relics and manage the income, the ‘excavation rights’ are transferred to the unspecified masses who explore the forest.]
Because of this decree, when the city of Shupel was first established, it is said that the fief collected all the relics and paid the explorers in gold.
As a result, the Count of Shupel's household always suffered from a shortage of gold.
Since currency wasn't circulating, the economy of Shupel naturally collapsed.
Because while unique relics were piling up, there was no gold to buy food.
In the end, the previous Count of Shupel protected the economy of the Shupel fief by legalizing a 30 percent tax on the profits from expeditions for currency liquidity.
Of course, it wasn't a policy that simply ripped off fees from the explorers.
Explorers could receive various benefits if they reported to the office before leaving on an expedition.
“You've written that the total estimated expedition completion period is 3 weeks.
If you do not return even after 3 weeks have passed from the expedition start date, which is 3 days from now, a rescue team will be dispatched, so please check again and fill it out carefully.”
First, a minimum level of safety could be guaranteed.
“Also, by filling out the proposal, you can use the mercenary request service provided by the office. You have designated a magician with a designation request form; do you have a desired meeting date with said mercenary?”
One could receive the manpower services provided by the office.
“Please relay that I'll meet at the time and place the designated magician desires.”
“Yes, understood. If the departure date changes due to the schedule of the newly joining mercenary, please submit a correction form. The place you've entered on the proposal is the depths of the Forest of Vanity. This is a place that requires at least one D-rank mercenary in the expedition team to enter. Please submit the mercenary badge for proof and a fee of 2 silver.”
“Here you are.”
Lastly, while the office provided various convenience services, it was also attempting to prevent the needless deaths of explorers blinded by greed by introducing a mercenary rank system.
‘It means, don't die, explore places that match your level, and pay more taxes.’
In reality, here in Shupel, the income is miserably low, excluding the taxes collected from explorers' ruin excavations and monster byproduct sales.
It wasn't as if agriculture, forestry, or mining were developed like in other fiefs, nor did the Count of Shupel's household operate a separate merchant guild, so there were no other special sources of income.
But the surprising thing was that with just the income from explorers, they were generating an income nearly three times that of other fiefs.
With that high income, they train high-quality soldiers under the pretext of protecting the city from monsters, and with that high military power, they rescue explorers whose return is delayed or punish explorers who do not pay taxes.
It's a virtuous cycle if you can call it that.
“Ah! Please relay to that magician to respond to the meeting if they want to get a chance to research the ‘Heart of Eden’.”
“Yes, the Heart of Eden. I will relay it. Once an appointment is set, we will send a person to the inn written on the proposal to let you know.”
“Thank you.”
If she heard about the Heart of Eden, she would definitely come.
I received my mercenary badge back and left the office.
The day was very clear.
“It's a good day to spend gold like water.”
Compared to my big talk, I didn't spend a lot of money.
I purchased a set of tanned leather armor and a few modest articles of clothing and returned to the inn where Dorn was staying.
When I actually looked, there was nothing I really needed, and nothing I really liked.
“Is that guy named Savior even coming? Why is he so late?”
“I… I don't know? But I'm sure he'll be back.”
As I opened the inn door with the purchased goods in my arms, I saw a tall, slender red-haired woman berating Dorn.
“Oh! Mr. Savior!”
Dorn, who spotted me, immediately called my name.
At the same time, the red-haired woman who turned her head toward me frowned and shouted.
“You're the one! You're the E…….”
“There are many eyes watching. Let's go up and talk.”
I frowned and cut her off.
Perhaps having become aware of her surroundings, the woman chewed her lip once and stood up.
I rented a small room from the innkeeper for three days, and in that small room, Dorn, myself, and the red-haired woman sat around.
“Reckless. How many people are downstairs?”
“……Sorry.”
“You didn't happen to leak information like this while waiting, did you?”
“N-no, I didn't.”
The woman strongly denied it.
However, without listening to her answer, I immediately asked Dorn.
“Ms. Dorn, is that true?”
“Yes, yes! That's right. She didn't say anything in particular.”
Only after hearing Dorn's confirmation did I look at the woman again.
“Well, it seems your head isn't entirely empty.”
The woman's face crumpled at my sarcasm.
The woman tried to open her mouth again, as if to say something else.
I cut her off again.
“But what is this? I'm sure I relayed through the office for you to set a time and place you desire? Why are you barging in here and harassing my comrade?”
The woman's face flushed red, as if she had finally realized her mistake.
Dorn's eyes also widened.
Why was she surprised again?
I don't know the reason, but she's cute, so let's just move on.
Just then, the woman who had been silent for a moment opened her mouth.
“N… no, that's not it. When the story of the Heart of Eden came up, I got hasty without realizing it.”
“Is that a reason to be rude to me and my comrade? If so, that's too bad. Because of your attitude just now, you've lost the chance to research the Heart of Eden. Go back, there's nothing more to say.”
I deliberately spoke more coldly.
The woman hurriedly bowed her head.
“I'm sorry. I apologize. I have a bit of a hasty personality. Sorry.”
“You're still using informal speech. Are you really sorry?”
“I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. I think I got too hasty at the thought of being able to research the Heart of Eden, which I've been searching for my whole life.”
The woman repeatedly bowed her head to me and Dorn.
I glanced at Dorn, and this gentle soul giggled and gave a small nod.
“I-it's okay with me. I wasn't really that angry. You're the magician Mr. Savior designated because he needs you, right? So why don't we calm down and talk now?”
“An… an angel?”
The red-haired woman was moved.
“First, introduce yourself.”
“First of all, I am a 3rd Circle Fire-attribute Magician, Etiang Parsia. I'm twenty-three years old….”
The Flame of Healing, Etiang.
Etiang, who would later sacrifice her own life to save tens of thousands and earn the title of Archmage, appeared before me in this life as well.
The attribute of the magic she used was fire.
Fire, by nature, is rife with destructive and aggressive magic.
But Etiang's thoughts were different.
I remembered what she said at the end of her life when she saved tens of thousands of dying soldiers with a self-sacrifice spell.
‘A flame is a semi-permanent life, Savior. As long as there is something to burn, it will burn forever and illuminate the world. And now, I will become a flame. I will become the flame I have researched and been with my whole life and illuminate the world. So don't be too sad.’
The first magician to convert the life force of fire into healing power.
Etiang Parsia.
And her other title.
The Red Saint of the Battlefield.
Her final image flickered before my eyes.
“After learning about the Heart of Eden from an ancient text, I have been researching it ever since. My personality is a bit strong and hasty, so I was rude at our first meeting. I'm sorry. But if the research I'm doing succeeds and all of humanity can be transplanted with the Heart of Eden…….”
Etiang, who was introducing herself, soon transitioned the topic to a story about her dream.
Her eyes, as she spoke of her dream, sparkled beautifully.
“Therefore, if you know of the Heart of Eden and give me the chance to research it, I will dedicate my entire being to contribute to the expedition……”
Every single word was steeped in desperation.
“Yes, I understand. I am a D-rank mercenary named Savior.”
“D-rank? You look so young.”
Informal speech popped out of the surprised Etiang's mouth again.
When I frowned again, she immediately apologized.
This kid is really nice, but…….
“Ah! I'm sorry. It's a habit…….”
“This is the Archaeologist, Dorn. You'll probably need to get on her good side more than mine. The person who knows where the Heart of Eden is isn't me, but Dorn.”
“What? It's not certain yet….”
Dorn looked at me in surprise at my words.
“I told you, Dorn. I believe in you. The Heart of Eden will surely be there.”
“Uh… yes, y-yes!”
Dorn replied, her face blushing again.
“No, wait a minute. So you told me you'd give me a chance to research the Heart of Eden with a heart you haven't even obtained yet?”
Etiang's eyes turned into triangles.
“Ten million gold.”
Thud.
I took out a piece of parchment from the bundle I had bought shopping and spread it on the table.
And in front of Etiang, I wrote a number on the parchment and showed it to her.
“This is an officially certified trade contract from the Magic Tower. If you do not get the chance to research because we fail to obtain the Heart of Eden on this expedition, I will immediately pay you ten million gold.”
“T-ten million gold?”
Etiang's triangular eyes became round again.
Of course, I don't have ten million gold on me.
But the Heart of Eden is definitely there.
Ignoring Dorn's pitiful gaze as she whined, as if worried about this situation, I looked at Etiang.
Etiang will definitely go.
Because she is that sincere about her dream.
“Alright. I'll join you.”
Etiang signed the contract, and I extended my hand for a handshake.
“We depart in three days. See you then.”
The woman who would one day be called the Red Saint of the Battlefield had joined the expedition team.