Chapter 10

# 10

Chapter 3. Chicken and Falenqu

"That's right here in this Lemon Forest."

"Here?"

When Mr. Knoel replied, I pointed upwards. I could see a Falenqu perched on a bamboo, exhausted from flying.

"The news that Falenqu appeared here before was quite helpful. There really were Falenqu. When I said I got a Falenqu through someone else last time, it was actually a lie. I'm sorry."

"Hmm, even if there are Falenqu in this forest, they are creatures that can't be caught by the naked eye. You want to distribute such creatures in the market?"

"It's possible. Well, it won't be as easy to find as Uka or Uba meat, but at least in this region, we can make them sell. "

"How exactly?"

I moved the massive mana circulating throughout my body. They know I'm a magician, but they probably think I'm just a mediocre one.

I used the high-class magic Tempest Blaze to make high-temperature flames dance around me. As I adjusted the mana, the massive flames burst out according to my will.

The destination of the flames was the top of the bamboo forest. The surrounding Falenqu fell to the ground, reduced to ashes. The flames that appeared around me were massive, and controlling them like limbs consumed a considerable amount of mana. A mercenary wouldn't be unaware of this.

"This is!"

"Mr. L.C.!"

The couple shouted in shock simultaneously.

"I've sealed the entire Lemon Forest with a magic that prevents monsters from escaping. If we let them lay eggs and hatch, the Falenqu ecosystem will continue to cycle. Moreover, Falenqu are wild monsters. They grow on their own without being raised. After they grow, we catch and sell them. That's the idea. If we expand the habitat within a manageable range, the population will increase, and it will develop into a number that can be distributed."

Mr. Knoel couldn't close his mouth. He seemed more shocked by the magic than by my words.

"Are you a high-class magician? As far as I know... such magic!"

"Hey!"

A startled Mr. Reine grabbed Mr. Knoel's arm. Her eyes said, "How can you speak so carelessly?"

"Mr. Reine, it's fine. It makes me uncomfortable if you worry too much."

"But... a high-class magician is no different from any noble..."

"Mr. Reine."

"Yes...?"

"Mr. Knoel retired from being a mercenary for Mr. Reine, didn't he?"

"Yes, yes! That's right."

"I retired from being a magician because I wanted a normal life. A normal life of selling food at a restaurant. That's why I'm happier now than when I was called to use magic. I'm happier now than when I was strutting around. Do you know what it was like to fight as a magician? I just endured. I endured even as my comrades died, convincing myself that it was inevitable in a battlefield. All that was left was a sense of futility. It was even worse when my class was weak. It was the same even when it was high. People only tried to use me. They always talked about the safety of the people, but in the end, they only wanted to use the power of the magician to increase their own power. I was tired of that life. If you hate such people, you'd have to destroy the world. But it's endless, so I chose a normal life. As a mercenary, Mr. Knoel, can you understand my feelings?"

This is sincere. If I wanted to, I could destroy an empire or a kingdom. But it would only cause more headaches. I wouldn't be able to find this small happiness.

"You had such a past?"

Fortunately, Mr. Knoel returned to his original attitude. Or rather, he crossed his arms and nodded, as if understanding everything.

"So, please treat me as just the owner of the restaurant beyond the hill. Especially Mr. Reine! Why are you suddenly so stiff? Mr. Reine and Mr. Knoel, didn't you come to Grac City to find a small happiness like me? It would be too hurtful if we were in the same situation."

Mr. Knoel and Mr. Reine looked at each other. Mr. Reine spoke first.

"Are you happy now?"

"Yes. Did you see the kid in the restaurant? Well, I'm happy."

"Oh!"

Mr. Reine nodded. It seemed she felt a similar situation. That's why she apologized with a face full of regret.

"I'm sorry! Then I'll forget everything I just saw."

"Sure, sure, understand it. Mr. L. Reine was just momentarily stiff because of some nobles. "

"Hey!"

Mr. Reine glared at Mr. Knoel. Mr. Knoel scratched the back of his head and hastily corrected himself.

"Ah, let's pretend I didn't say that."

A story of a past he clearly didn't want to talk about. I have a past too. There's no point in digging it up. So I nodded.

"Well, the past is something to forget. I didn't show you the magic for a random surprise. I want to catch the Falenqu in the Lemon Forest with magic and distribute them through Mr. Knoel's shop. That's why I brought you here. Will you sell the Falenqu? I plan to split the profits fifty-fifty."

"Wh-what?"

"What?"

The couple shouted simultaneously. Their voices were so loud they almost burst my eardrums. Anyway, they're a well-matched couple at times like this.

"That's impossible. Why should we take half of the profit from your magic? If you ask me to sell it, I'll sell it. But a fifty percent commission is ridiculous!"

Mr. Knoel said firmly. So I answered firmly.

"My restaurant doesn't sell raw materials. So I don't plan to sell Falenqu meat at the restaurant. It wouldn't sell anyway. But Mr. Knoel's shop is different. It's a butcher's shop. You have a distribution network. I think it's a fair price to use that network, and you'll have to manage and store the meat. The restaurant is getting too strange as it is. It's because I made a mistake in thinking. Falenqu here, Falenqu there. I want to make it so that if someone in Grac City wants to get a Falenqu, they can. For that, I need Mr. Knoel's help. I think it's a fair amount."

"But...!"

"Anyway, we can't distribute them in large quantities, so the numbers will be limited, and it won't be a huge profit. Instead, use that money to buy better meat. That way, I can make better dishes. Isn't that right? Is there something wrong with what I'm saying? It's a path for everyone to develop. If we make a little more profit, you can give me the meat at cost. Ha ha."

Mr. Knoel and Mr. Reine looked at each other again. Mr. Reine pulled on Mr. Knoel's arm and nodded.

"Maybe, if selling Falenqu helps sell other meats, you could buy more clothes for Mr. Reine. How can you treat such a beautiful person so poorly?"

"What the hell! That's not your problem! But if you really think that way, I'll sell the Falenqu. I'll sell it!"

"Is it really a benefit to me? You're being too grateful."

"I didn't say I was grateful. What are you talking about, you!"

"It says 'grateful' on your face. Why are your eyes twinkling?"

"Mr. Reine! Let's go back. We'll be busy!"

"Oh, dear. There's something on your face."

"Is it raining?"

"Oh, dear! Mr. L.C., let's talk again later. He's really... "

Mr. Reine shook her head and followed her husband.

It seems the deal is done. Of course, I didn't reveal one truth. The method to catch the Falenqu.

Honestly, I can't catch Falenqu with my magic. It's impossible. Fire magic turns them into ashes, and Ice magic freezes them solid. Thawing them is several times harder than normal. Moreover, the skin and cells freeze, and even if thawed, they lose their value as food. It's different from regular freezing.

In the end, to preserve the taste, the Dragon has to do the work.

I couldn't reveal the Dragon's identity. So I just made it seem like it was my magic. Whatever, the people looking for Falenqu will disappear, and the Falenqu in the market will make money. It's like pocket money.

I hummed a tune as I returned to the shop and sat on the bed where the Dragon was still sleeping. Today, her black hair reminded me of home. Her black hair, identical to that of Koreans, felt especially familiar.

"Gororong, gorororong, phew-"

Rulin, always making the same sound, was dozing.

When I gently brushed her hair, she suddenly opened her eyes and sat up groggily.

"Is that you? Where have you been all day?"

She must have known I went out and came back, even while sleeping. I often left for the market without waking her, so she often slept through it. But today, I came back later than usual, so she was worried.

If you're worried, you should get up and look for me. Sigh.

"I made some pocket money. And I dealt with some annoying things."

"Pocket money?"

"Yeah, it's not necessary, but if we accumulate more, I'll give it to you when you rebuild your lair. I'll turn it into treasure."

"Huh? Treasure? Is that true!"

Her groggy eyes started to shine. The Dragon's love for treasure couldn't be resisted. I nodded and combed her messy hair. The Dragon leaned closer to my chest and started to ask.

"Will you come when I rebuild my lair?"

"No, I'm staying here."

"What? Then it's not necessary."

"Will you have to go back there eventually?"

When I touched on a sensitive topic, Rulin's expression suddenly darkened. She turned her body, furrowed her brows, and looked at me directly.

"I don't want to. Don't tell me you're going to betray me!"

"Of course not. But if I don't follow the clan's orders, it will be troublesome."

"If you betray me, I'll willingly take out my heart and self-destruct with you. You said it, didn't you? If I eat more Dragon Hearts, my body will explode."

The Dragon's eyes, those black eyes, were shaking.

"What kind of betrayal talk is this? I fought the clan for you."

I grabbed her fingers and messed up her black hair, which I had just combed. This Dragon always ruins the mood.

"Ah! It hurts! I was just saying. If you don't betray me, that's enough! So give me food! Baap! And wash my hair again! You messed it up, so it's your responsibility."

"Sure, sure. Let's go."

For the Falenqu distribution, Rulin's Dragon lair will have to keep working. Hehe.

Oh