Volume 4 Chapter 19-2 Modest Triumph
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ms. Nina probably doesn’t have much time left. I need to blitz through the puppeteer’s dungeon, make her immortal, and then we’ll all live happily ever after in Uno’s nest.
* * *
I finally slept deeply after a long time. Woke up to the morning sunlight outside the tent, and I scrambled out of bed. Watching the sunrise on the grassland feels amazing. We never saw the sun back at Uno’s place, so it’s even more special. The damp tent drys quickly in the morning sun. The sun truly is great.
I decided to leave 3 Antfolk girls in charge of the camp. There’s a well, and around here, there are tons of quail. Ms. Ant and the others should be able to live off what’s here easily. If we’re short of something, we can send someone to Toyata village to pick it up.
I want to check out info on the doll-keeper dungeon. So, Ms. Nina and I will go back to the village once. We’ll ride with Ms. Claire ── she can carry both of us. Ms. Nina is light, so it’s no problem for Ms. Claire.
Having real horses around would be handy. They eat grass, so as long as we’re in a place like wall barley grows, we won’t worry about feed. The horses Justice and the others’ slaves took with them, I won’t sell those. Instead, I plan to keep using them. But… I wonder if those horses, with skills sealed, can reach Toyata village safe and sound.
On the way, I ran into Ms. Joa from the village. She almost bumped into me because she didn’t notice I was there. We need some kind of communication tool. Maybe I’ll make a quick dummy arrow or something soon.
The Dragon God’s Herb seemed to work instantly. Ani-Ani is recovering well, so that’s a relief.
Ms. Nina swapped onto Ms. Joa’s ride. Ms. Nina tends to avoid physical contact. I don’t think she hates me, but maybe riding together was too close. After all the lovey-dovey stuff with my wives, maybe my idea of proper distance with the opposite sex got a little mixed up.
We arrived at Toyata village before noon. The quail I saw earlier today, I ignored them for now. Probably won’t get meat from them anytime soon anyway. Sucking on sugar is easy on my stomach, so I’ll buy more candies and sugar soon.
Walking under the old forge’s door. Zenom, the blacksmith, was sharpening a grindstone in his shop. He saw me and silently held out his fist. We lightly bumped fists──like some kind of ritual. Maybe he’s saying he’s proud I finished a big job. Nice move, old man with the beard.
Woke up not long ago. Felt tired already, so I went straight to the attic and collapsed into my bed. Definitely more comfortable than camping in a tent. Without Water of Life, my strength is about this much.
Or maybe I just have jet lag or something. When I opened my eyes again, it was evening. I smelled something good, and Ms. Nina was cooking what looked like stew. Apparently, in this world, it’s like porridge for sick kids──forced to eat it. Mr. Zenom didn’t like it and ran off without eating, but it wasn’t that bad. Anyway, I can eat even Earth’s nasty oatmeal, so I’m fine. Most porridge-like foods are okay for me. Since I can’t eat much at once, I’ll try eating more small meals throughout the day.
Now, I tried to improve the mystery porridge with Ms. Nina’s help. Main reason people hate it is probably because it’s a nasty herbal stew. Also, dumping wheat flour directly into hot water seems weird.
Toasting the wheat flour in oil and making a roux made it way tastier. Would be nice to add potatoes or milk, but potatoes can’t grow because of wall barley, and raising too many livestock invites monster attacks, so dairy is precious.
The reason potatoes die out is being researched by Ms. Hóa. It’s some kind of allelopathy, maybe bacteria or nematodes. The link between monsters and livestock sounds crazy, but they believe it here. They’re wary of breeding animals──probably because dirty farms attract monsters, they say.
Ms. Hóa knew about bacteria and germs too. I bet the science in this world isn’t much different from Earth’s. But high-level knowledge is hoarded by the elite, while commoners live in superstition. Is this what they call “keeping the masses ignorant”?
Anyway, Mr. Zenom was taste-testing an improved bowl of porridge when Mr. Laken dropped by.
”This is payment for the Dragon God’s Herb.”
He said, placing 3 gold coins on the table.
”Hey, what’s this joke? The quest reward was supposed to be 30 thousand common gold coins!”
Mr. Zenom furrowed his brow.
”You should keep quiet. It’s confirmed that your subordinate didn’t take the quest.”
”Huh?”
Mr. Zenom stared at me in disbelief. Did I mess up? I didn’t go to the Valley of Trials just for the gold. But still, if I had taken the quest, it would’ve been 30 thousand coins… I kinda regret it now.
”Sending the item without taking the quest is a basic mistake. That must’ve cost a lot in tuition fees.”
Mr. Laken said with a victorious tone, a bit excited. I guess anyone would feel excited if they could buy a 30-thousand-gold item for just 3 coins. It’s like those online shopping mistakes where you get something for a fraction of the price. But when you’re the one benefiting, not paying the right amount feels pretty shameless.
”Now, now, even if it’s a joke, it’s not right to say that to the person who saved your granddaughter’s life.”
”I’m grateful, but that’s that, and this is this.”
It’s typical of Mr. Laken, but it’s starting to piss me off. Even if he did bring 30 thousand coins, it’s too much money to just take. I don’t want to be tricked into looking like a fool. Maybe I should threaten him a bit and make him cave.
”If it’s about the quest, my agent took care of it properly. Justice, the guy at the Adventurer Guild in the capital──”
That’s the truth. Justice and the others challenged the Valley of Trials because they were blinded by the quest’s high reward.
This is one of those first-come, first-served quests. Anyone can take it, but only the first one to finish will get the reward. Time’s running out, and it’s fine if someone acts as a proxy to deliver the items. Ms. Joa, who delivered the Dragon God’s Herb, and Justice, who took the quest──both are my slaves, so it’s all good.
”What the hell…?”
Mr. Laken collapsed, his legs giving out beneath him. He muttered something about bankruptcy. Looks like he’s really overextended himself with the reward, especially since it’s out of season.
I considered letting it slide since the medicine probably hit him too hard. But with 30,000 gold coins, I could buy a magic crystal. Ms. Nina’s extended life might cost a fortune too, so I’ll take the money for now. If there’s any left over, I’ll return it. This was money Mr. Laken was supposed to pay if someone else completed the quest anyway. So he’s probably still got plenty left.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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