ALL NOVEL
Chapter 110.1
In the center of Keril Village, there is an area lined with elegant stone buildings.
This area is said to be home to high-end shops and luxury inns,
and it is also where knights and administrators sent by Marquis Filsach reside.
The inn that Brent recommended was also in this area.
Several carriages were lined up in the spacious horse stop within the premises,
and there was even a security hut set up as a theft deterrent.
As I passed through the double entrance, a man at the reception counter called out to me.
He was smiling but quickly appraised me with a glance.
For some reason, despite my shabby appearance, he politely asked if I was there to stay.
Could he discern my status just from my demeanor?
This place definitely isn’t just a village.
“I’m Tenko, a D-rank adventurer. I have a letter addressed to the Larsen Trading Company’s caravan. Brent from the guard told me they were staying here.”
“I see. Please wait a moment.”
The receptionist rang a bell and gave instructions to a young employee.
I waited in silence, and soon, the employee and a man descended the stairs at the back.
The man saw me and immediately exclaimed, “You!”
It was the magician from earlier.
I introduced myself and explained my business.
The magician listened with wide eyes and then cautiously opened his mouth.
“You’re a D-rank? Really?”
That’s the issue, huh?
I silently pulled out my adventurer’s certificate, but he still looked incredulous.
Seeing the magician’s reaction, the receptionist and the employee began to look at me suspiciously.
I really want to get this over with.
This is becoming a bit of a hassle.
I sighed lightly and stared at the magician.
“My original request is separate. The letter delivery is just a side job.
You can send me away if you want, but I’ll report what happened to President Lauri of the Larsen Trading Company and the Serene branch of the Commercial Guild. Frankly, I’m tired. Decide quickly.”
“Understood! I’ll guide you!”
The magician hurriedly ran up the stairs and disappeared in no time.
I held my head in my hands.
Does he not know what guiding means?
The receptionist told me which room, and I slowly climbed the stairs and proceeded down the hallway.
But why was he so scared?
[Wind Bolt] is indeed invisible, but once you get used to it, you can generally guess from the caster’s gestures, gaze, and atmosphere.
The flight speed isn’t very fast, so even in that situation, Sechius or Barna could evade it, and Markant and the others could intercept it—ah, that’s why.
I did something equivalent to a B-rank powerhouse.
Moreover, what I used was [Wind Fang Running Bite].
It requires proficiency in [One-handed Sword], [Wind Magic], and high agility.
It’s difficult and not well-known.
If the reason for the dispersing magic wasn’t understood, it’s no wonder he was scared.
As I walked down the hallway, I heard shouting.
When I turned the corner and appeared, the warrior clicked his tongue openly.
“It’s really that brat from earlier.”
The warrior shoved the magician aside and blocked my path.
“Leave. I’ll forgive your rudeness from before.”
He indicated with his chin.
Why is this taking so long?
All I need to do is deliver the letter and have them decide about the cargo.
“Is that your employer’s will? Then give me a note saying you sent me away without reading the letter.”
“You little—”
“Holger, let him in.”
Just as the warrior reached to grab me, a voice called from inside the room.
The warrior called Holger looked surprised and peeked into the room.
Realizing he hadn’t misheard, he made a bitter face.
“Don’t try anything funny.”
I was surrounded by Holger and the magician as I entered.
The room was spacious, as expected of a high-end inn.
Elegant furnishings lined the walls, and in the center, a middle-aged man sat on an exceptionally luxurious sofa.
The only people in the room were those who had harassed me at the guild and the middle-aged man.
“I’m Raymond of the Larsen Trading Company. Show me the letter.”
The middle-aged man, Raymond, motioned lightly for me to hand it over.
I took out two letters from the magic bag Telpars Bag and handed them to one of the guards.
Raymond read the letter from President Lauri of the Larsen Trading Company, then the letter from the Commercial Guild.
His expression twisted with displeasure.
“Do better. Did you think I’d be fooled?”
He spat out the words and threw the letters away.
I picked them up and read them.
I see, no wonder he’s angry and doesn’t believe it.
The content was as I had heard.
Both letters instructed that if there was trouble transporting the cargo, it should be handed over to me.
The problem was Lauri’s wording.
It was almost the same, but with an added line: “if I request it.”
Lauri was entrusting the decision not to the responsible Raymond but to a D-rank adventurer.
This was tantamount to saying he was useless.
As the one in charge of the caravan, this was more than just annoying. No wonder he didn’t believe it.
But—something’s off.
This isn’t like Lauri.
I looked back at Raymond.
He was quite old, around the same age or a bit older than Lauri.
Too old to be entrusted with a caravan on a long journey.
“You even prepared such an elaborate letter. You can’t be alone. Tell me where your companions are. If you do, you won’t get hurt.”
Raymond threatened, and on his signal, the guards blocked the door.
I sighed inwardly.
I’ve been used.
“Are you related to Lauri?”
“What are you talking about? Your companions are incompetent, not even knowing that. I’ve served the Larsen Trading Company since the previous president. Longer than Lauri.”
“I see. I understand.”
Lauri used me as a touchstone.
A man who has served since the previous president, harboring dissatisfaction.
Clearly an old nuisance, but if he’s competent, a merchant would use him.
He was entrusted with the caravan to observe, then got stuck in a landslide.
Taking advantage, Lauri sent a rude letter to see how Raymond would respond.
I am the second son of a baron and an adventurer, also connected to the Commercial Guild.
It’s natural for a big trading company to be aware of such clients.
Even the inn receptionist saw that I wasn’t just any adventurer, and Lauri entrusting a letter and judgment to a child adventurer is unusual.
There were plenty of chances to realize who I was.
Still, I felt a bit sympathetic.
Since Lauri hasn’t cut him off, Raymond must be competent.
Accumulated dissatisfaction, fatigue from the long journey, and frustration from being stuck.
Various factors distorted what should have been the correct answer.
Raymond stared at my silent self and sighed theatrically.
“Not willing to talk? Do it, Holger.”
At the employer’s command, Holger approached with a grin.
And without hesitation, he swung his fist.
“—!?”
I activated [High-Speed Movemen]t and easily dodged his fist.
As Holger’s fists repeatedly cut through the air, the others jumped to catch me.
I increased my speed only during the evasive moments, teasing Holger and his men.
I didn’t need to go full speed or even use [High-Speed Movement] to handle them, but—
Let’s stop.
The flustered Holger and his men tripped over the carpet and crashed into the furnishings, causing loud destruction.
Raymond grew more irritated with the clumsy guards and pointed at the magician.
“You help too!”
The magician, standing by the door, hadn’t moved.
He was supposed to block my escape, but being ordered by his employer, he had no choice but to act.
Though reluctant, the magician concentrated, but when our eyes met, he hurriedly stopped.
“It’s dangerous to use magic indoors!”
Everyone was taken aback.
That’s true, but you say it?
Naturally, Holger and Raymond were furious.
Despite repeated orders, the magician kept saying, “It’s dangerous!” and refused to move.
With that farce, Holger and his men soon ran out of breath and collapsed on the floor.
Even Raymond finally seemed to grasp the difference in ability.
When I looked at him, he flinched and clung to the back of the sofa.
“You read the letters, right?”
Raymond awkwardly nodded.
“I don’t demand the handover of the cargo. This concludes my business.”
I was about to leave but paused.
“And—Lauri might have valued you. Maybe.”
I left the room with those words.
As I walked back down the hallway, I thought of the merchant with a face as stern as a warrior’s.
If any harm came to a baron’s son, the trading company would suffer greatly.
Lauri must have trusted Raymond to know he wouldn’t do something so foolish.
Skilled in business, but not in reading human emotions.
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