Chapter 4

This is the second update for today.

Bal returned to his daily routine as if nothing had happened.

He did not prepare for the unpredictable anomalies that might occur.

The residents of the neighborhood were simple and easygoing, but due to their long acquaintance, they might sense even the slightest changes.

Therefore, Bal carried out his usual day labor.

Today's task was to gather medicinal herbs.

Not the high-grade herbs bought by the residents of the noble district or the first-class area, but the cheaper materials bought by the common people in the second and third-class areas.

Since it was a job that anyone could do, the pay was not good, and those with any particular skills would not take it on.

That's why Bal took it regularly.

The delivery destination was the town's apothecary.

"You're a lifesaver, Bal. There aren't many people who take such a mundane and low-paying job seriously."

"I have to do these kinds of jobs seriously to make a living."

He smiled modestly in response to the apothecary owner's expression of gratitude.

Of course, it was just a facade.

The amount of money he received as one of the Eight Gods was more than what the royal family received in annual pensions.

He used that money for charitable activities and lived a simple life himself.

"It's complicated. I think you should settle down at your age, but I'd be in trouble if there were no one to do these jobs."

The apothecary owner crossed his arms and said.

"How about your son?"

In response to Bal's question, the owner made a grim face.

"He's no good. He says he can't run a poor apothecary in town and that being an adventurer is more exciting. I tell him to stop saying such foolish things, but we end up in a big fight."

"An adventurer, huh..."

Bal nodded in understanding.

If he could get customers in the first-class area, it would be different, but doing business in the second-class area didn't bring in much profit.

The apothecary owner himself wore a used shirt and an apron, looking rather shabby.

On the other hand, while adventurers faced the risk of death, they could potentially rise to the noble class if they succeeded.

"The current Emperor is a fine man, but I sometimes think the creation of the adventurer system was unnecessary."

The apothecary owner grumbled, "Thanks to it, my son is having strange dreams and causing trouble."

"The original aim of the adventurer system was to create a place for those who are good at their craft but don't fit well into group actions or find the organized order suffocating, to control them to a minimum."

Bal spoke in defense of the Emperor.

"Well, it's a problem if people who have experience in the military are left to their own devices and become bandits or cause trouble."

The apothecary owner nodded in agreement.

It seemed he didn't entirely want to criticize the adventurer system.

(It seems he still doesn't know about the information that monsters have started appearing.)

Bal judged that the citizens of the capital still didn't know because the topic hadn't come up.

If the number of battles against monsters increased, the demand for medicine would naturally increase, so the apothecary wouldn't be unaware.

The speed of information dissemination among adventurers was still in its developmental stage.

However, it would be a problem if the Emperor's information network was outmatched.

"Bal, can't you say something to him?"

"Even if I say something, I doubt he'll find it convincing."

Bal smiled wryly at the apothecary owner's request.

If he spoke as one of the Eight Gods, his son would listen solemnly.

However, he didn't think the son would take the words of an unsuccessful middle-aged man seriously.

"Hmm..."

The apothecary owner seemed to decide that Bal was right and didn't ask any further.

Bal finished his work and headed home slowly.

He casually surveyed the safety of the entire capital and its surroundings, but no one noticed.

If anyone could notice, it would be a member of the Eight Gods or someone of equal strength.

However, they were scattered throughout the empire, and the remaining forces in the capital were the royal guard and the knights tasked with defending the capital.

(...Monsters are approaching from the sky. There are about 2000 of them. They were summoned in a group from a few kilometers away.)

Bal perceived the presence of the monsters as usual and analyzed them roughly.

The capital was still unaware.