Chapter 44

After collecting materials centered around herbal studies for a while,

"Here you go, please."

I placed the bag swollen with sap on the counter of the stone shop. It made a wet thud.

Gustav opened the bag and checked its contents. He poked his finger in and pulled it out, red sap clinging to it. After squishing it between his index finger and thumb, he nodded in satisfaction.

"No garbage, no impurities. This is top-notch."

"I collected it as you instructed, but what is it used for?"

This red liquid is the sap of a willow tree. However, it's not an ordinary willow, or at least not like any I've seen before. The bark is red.

When you wound the red willow in the mountains, sap spurts out like blood. It drips rhythmically, like real blood, and we were instructed to collect it in a large snake's water bag.

Gustav wiped his fingers with a rag and poured the sap from the water bag into a large bottle. He placed a wooden lid on the bottle and covered it with paper, tying it with a string while answering.

"This will become an ointment for horses."

"Only for horses?"

If so, it's quite a specialized medicine.

"For all running animals. It suppresses inflammation in the legs and extends the distance they can run."

"An anti-inflammatory? Can it be used on humans?"

"It's not meant for humans. Besides, I've never heard of it being used that way. It might be useful, though."

That's pretty vague...

"Here's your reward."

With those words, a silver coin split in half was placed on the counter.

"That's a fair amount, but is this all I get?"

"It's a medicine used in large quantities at once. Even this is a bit on the low side."

"How do you usually secure it?"

The bag we used is from a large snake I hunted before. It was processed, with a string through the mouth to tie it shut, and even a shoulder harness to carry it.

Even with the bag, which is about the size of my torso, filled with sap, it's still not enough.

If it's used in such large quantities, there must be a way to secure it.

"It's used in large quantities, but not often. Collecting it bit by bit is enough."

Gustav smiled and sealed the bottle.

He then pushed it to the wall and sat back at the counter.

"By the way,"

I began.

"How are Hailo and the others doing?"

I haven't seen them recently, but how are they doing?

"Of course they're doing well."

"Well, with your management, I'm sure they are."

He gave a puzzled look, but that's true.

I don't think this old man would mismanage his people. As long as they don't slack off, they'll be fine.

"By the way, what do they do?"

I realized I had never asked. I see them in town sometimes, but I only ever see Hailo running around. It seems busy, and it's hard to approach them.

"Courier work in the city."

"Courier, like delivering packages and letters?"

I pictured a man in a loincloth running with a letter tied to a stick. Hailo's attire wasn't like that, and there's no loincloth culture in this town, so that's not possible.

"Yes. Hailo runs back and forth between the factory, warehouse, and shops, delivering messages. Rico assists him."

"Is it okay to trust them...?"

It's not unreasonable to doubt the reliability of children from the slums. If Hailo and the others deliver messages, they could be accused of tampering with the content, making it hard to function as couriers.

"There were issues at first... But it's been months. People have gotten used to it, and there are no problems now."

"I see."

I sighed in relief. It seems not everyone in town is bad.

And I feel hopeful. If Hailo and the others can find jobs, I can too. I hope so.

"See you tomorrow."

"Sure. The town is getting more crowded, so be careful."

"More crowded...? Why?"

Gustav looked momentarily bewildered before returning to a serious expression.

"Right, this is your first winter in town."

"Does something happen in winter?"

"Yes, the nobles gather for the New Year's celebration. There's a festival-like event as well."

It's like the sugar craft festival in the pioneer village.

I remember using it to get clothes.

"People come for the festival."

"Exactly. You should see the fireworks and other grand celebrations."

It's probably like fireworks.

"Sure, if I feel like it."

I'm not sure if I'll go, but I'll try if I can.

Just as the conversation was winding down and I was about to leave,

I felt something approaching.

I didn't hear anything, nor was there any vibration or warning.

But I could feel it. Something was coming. From the east.

"Something is coming!"

I shouted and ran outside.

I opened the door roughly and looked up at the sky. It was a clear blue sky with not a cloud in sight.

But it was different. The eastern sky looked unusually white.

Gustav must have sensed something was wrong and came out too.

I think this is the first time I've seen Gustav outside the shop, but now isn't the time for such thoughts.

...Kiiiiiiii...

A faint sound could be heard. It became clearer this time. The sound of something slicing through the air.

The air began to move. The gentle breeze grew stronger and more violent.

"That's it!"

Gustav shouted almost simultaneously as the sky turned white.

The wind grew stronger, lifting the sand and dust on the road. The cloth covering the nearby abandoned houses flapped loudly.

I used telekinesis to protect my eyes from the sand and kept my gaze on the sky.

The faint sound had turned into a roar, the high-pitched noise hurting my eardrums.

The violent gale almost blew us away, but I used telekinesis to anchor Gustav and myself to the ground.

Despite the strong force at our feet, Gustav didn't take his eyes off the sky.

Then, the light in the sky disappeared.

It became a thin, intense line of light and then blinked out.

The wind stopped immediately. The sound was gone. The sky was back to normal.

But Gustav was staring at the sky with a stern expression.

I've never seen such a phenomenon.

"What was that?"

I couldn't help but ask Gustav. He seemed to know something.

Gustav continued to look at the sky, then eastward.

He muttered softly.

"...It's a mountain breach..."

"Mountain breach? What is that?"

Before I could ask for more details, Gustav shouted at me in a hurry.

"We don't know what's happening! I have a request for you, go investigate!"

He seemed shaken, but the situation must be urgent.

I nodded in agreement.

"Who should I contact? Niksky? No, he... If it reaches the town... Through the guild, if it's him..."

He returned to the counter and continued muttering.

He spread a piece of paper and repeatedly tapped a quill pen soaked in ink. He seemed to be struggling with what to write. Instead of words, meaningless stains spread on the paper.

I couldn't understand his muttering, but it was probably best not to interrupt him.

"Wait a moment! I'll call another person. You'll go with them."

Gustav, who had been deep in thought, suddenly turned to me and shouted.

He then ran to the back of the shop. He must have decided on the message.

I wasn't sure what was happening, but it seemed I would go with someone else.

I believed I would get more details once the other person arrived.

I decided to wait.

The door opened.

I've been in this situation before. The last time, I was bedridden with a fever, and Niksky was called to guide me.

So, it must be Niksky today.

I looked up at the person who entered.

"Old man, it's an emergency request, right? Is it about that light earlier?"

There stood the explorer who had beaten Hailo half to death.

It was the 'Hound' Rashid.