Chapter 67

[Quest completed.]

[Quest Name: Exploring Uncharted Territory]

"Truly remarkable! So the Bolton family's domain really was beyond the black fog..."

After returning to Hundred Flowers Valley, Woojin met with Charlson and completed the quest.

"Chason, how would you like to work with me? Plenty of people will want to visit the Bolton lands, and there will be all sorts of supplies to transport."

When Woojin handed over the recorded sea route to the domain, Charlson's eyes lit up. He took the hand of Chason, who stood beside Woojin, and spoke.

"You're the only one who can sail the Lady. It would be wonderful if you could make regular trips to the black fog... no, the Mist Archipelago."

"Me? But I..."

"Sounds like a decent offer to me. I know you want to leave the domain, but the archipelago needs developing, if only for Harper's sake. Harper is looking after it in your place, after all."

"... All right."

After a moment's deliberation, Chason nodded, apparently having made up his mind.

"Hahaha! Excellent, excellent! Now Azen will have a monopoly on trade with the Bolton family!"

'So that was what he was after.'

Woojin couldn't help chuckling at how shrewdly Charlson's business instincts worked even at a time like this.

"It's all thanks to you."

"Of course it is."

[Congratulations.]

[Your diplomatic standing with the Azen Trading Company has improved significantly.]

▶ [Current Diplomatic Standing: Friendly → Trusted]

[Charlson will now provide more information.]

[Items purchased through the Azen Trading Company receive a 30% discount.]

[Through the Azen Trading Company, you may establish diplomatic relations with one of several associations on the central continent.]

[Associations Currently Available for Diplomatic Relations]

1. Basilisk Trading Group.

2. Squall Ring.

3. Queen Leather Workshop.

That was the Azen Trading Company for you. It had connections with major NPC-run associations on the central continent.

'The Basilisk Trading Group is the largest NPC merchants' association on the central continent, and the Queen Leather Workshop makes all sorts of equipment.'

Both would be extremely useful while operating on the central continent. Yet it was neither of those two that caught Woojin's eye.

"Squall Ring?"

He had never heard of the organization.

"Ah... about them."

For some reason, Charlson looked uncomfortable and hesitated to answer.

"They run errands, of a sort."

"What kind of errands?"

"Ahem... Well... They move things from one place to another."

Woojin gave him a sidelong look.

"What do they move?"

"Hmm..."

Charlson glanced at Chason and Ruen, then beckoned Woojin closer and spoke too quietly for them to hear.

"People."

"What do you mean, move people?"

"Well..."

"Are you telling me they're human traffickers?"

At his tone, Charlson sighed in apparent resignation and nodded.

"Slave traders, to be precise. I suppose a smuggler like me is hardly one to talk, but you can't say they're entirely bad."

"What kind of bullshit is that? Are you saying buying and selling people is justified?"

"It's better than starving to death."

"... What?"

"Plenty of people choose to become slaves. Living on the central continent doesn't mean everyone is wealthy."

Charlson tried to defend them with various arguments, but Woojin's gaze had already turned cold.

"If information is what you need, establishing ties with Squall Ring wouldn't be a bad idea."

"I'm not particularly interested in getting involved with slave traders."

"Well, a mere slave trader might know more than the king of a kingdom with an army a million strong."

Charlson looked at Woojin.

"After all, tens of millions of slaves across the continent serve as his eyes and ears."

He wasn't wrong.

'Slaves exist everywhere on the continent, regardless of borders.'

"Otto Swallen, the head of Squall Ring. They say his connections extend even to royalty."

Charlson cautiously asked,

"If you like, I could write you a letter of introduction...?"

"I'll decide after I reach the central continent and see them for myself. I'll ask you again then."

"Of course. Do that. Anything you ask, I'll oblige."

Consumables, equipment, and information.

In effect, he was being asked to choose one of those three options. Woojin saw no need to rush into a decision.

"Will you be heading to the central continent now, then?"

"No. Unfortunately, I haven't gained enough experience to cross the portal yet."

"That's a roundabout way of saying your level is too low."

Woojin shrugged at Charlson's response.

"It's funny, though. Any nobody can pass through that portal, yet you can't, even after clearing the Ice Cave and exploring the black fog."

"The world has its rules. I'll be able to do it in time anyway."

Woojin answered as though it were no great concern.

'I only need four more levels, after all.'

Even allowing for Ruen's level, it wouldn't take very long. With the recent appearance of the Ice Cave, monsters were everywhere around Hundred Flowers Valley.

"Hmm... In that case, would you care to take a simple commission? With a little luck, you might be able to go to the central continent right away."

"Well... There's no reason to hurry that much... But I am curious what the job is."

"An escort mission."

"An escort?"

It wasn't a quest often seen in beginner areas.

"Who am I escorting?"

"Karlan Balan."

Woojin frowned slightly at the name. More precisely, it was the family name at the end that bothered him.

"You don't mean... the Balan family the Sword Emperor belongs to?"

"That's right. The renowned family of swordsmen."

Charlson nodded.

"But apparently his son has no talent whatsoever. He sent the boy to the Dark Forest to gain experience, but it was a complete flop."

'Right... She did mention something like that.'

At that moment, Woojin remembered what Irurin had said.

["My father wasn't very good at either swordsmanship or magic."]

He fiddled once again with the ring she had given him.

"He went out to hunt ice trolls, and would you believe it? He wet his pants and passed out on the spot."

"Ahem."

Apparently, his skills were even worse than Woojin had imagined.

"As the Sword Emperor's son, I suppose he had appearances to keep up, but he overreached. Trolls? The boy plainly couldn't even kill a single goblin."

"So what happened?"

"Well, it ended disastrously. Apparently, the Sword Emperor was furious and withdrew all his guards."

"He abandoned his son?"

Was he excessively proud... or simply uncompromising...?

Woojin cautiously began to speculate about the Sword Emperor's character.

"That's right. You have to cross the forest to reach the portal to the central continent, but the boy doesn't have the ability."

"So he put in a request."

"Exactly. But no one has applied to join his party, so he's been stuck here for days."

"Why?"

Charlson chuckled at Woojin's question.

"Isn't it obvious? The Sword Emperor withdrew his guards, and someone volunteers to escort the boy anyway? That would be openly defying the Sword Emperor's wishes."

Charlson swung his empty hand about as though slashing with a sword.

"If he finds out, you could lose your head."

"Hmm. And you recommended such a dangerous job to me?"

"I thought it might be different with you."

"You certainly know how to strain a friendship."

"Heh heh."

'Still, the Sword Emperor...'

Despite what he had said, Charlson's suggestion had indeed piqued his curiosity.

'I might even find a clue about Fenrir's nest.'

It was also a definite opportunity to meet Aswell Balan, known as the continent's greatest swordsman.

'Assuming he doesn't chop my head off, of course...'

It seemed worth a try.

"I'll meet him first. Where is he?"

"At the inn beside the trading post. You'll probably recognize him easily enough."

"How?"

"He's an absolute brat."

* * *

CRASH!!!

Woojin opened the inn door and sighed.

"Heaven must really have intervened for a genius like Irurin to be born to someone like that."

"You fucking...! Aren't you taking orders? Hurry up and bring me more booze!"

The customers whispered as they watched a boy fling the cups on his table to the floor.

"That brat is the Sword Emperor's son?"

"He is, but even the Sword Emperor seems to have given up on him."

"Can't blame him. Tsk, tsk. The little runt's barely out of diapers..."

"Still, keep your distance. You don't want to get caught up in trouble."

"Exactly. Good grief... He's nothing himself, yet he runs riot in Hundred Flowers Valley on the strength of his father's reputation... Honestly."

'... No, from Irurin's perspective, would that make it a curse from heaven?'

A child who looked fifteen at most, clamoring for alcohol... Woojin smiled wryly at the boy, who was even more of a brat than he had expected.

"Order yourselves something to eat while you wait, if you like."

"Slurp... Yes!"

Ruen wiped the drool from her mouth, her eyes sparkling.

"Hurry up and bring the booze!"

"Y-yes! Right away!"

At his shout, a server hastily filled a cup.

"One more."

Woojin snatched up the cup and spoke to the server.

"W-wait, that's..."

"It's fine. I'm drinking with him. I'll take it over."

The bewildered server glanced around, then filled another cup a moment later.

"Here."

Woojin walked to Karlan's table and set down the two cups he was carrying.

"You should have brought it sooner..."

Just as Karlan reached for a cup, Woojin picked it up and poured it over his head.

"...!!"

Everyone watching was stunned.

"Wh-what...?"

"Is he insane?"

"How does he expect to deal with the consequences...?"

The room erupted in an instant.

"You crazy bastard! What the hell are you doing?!"

"A kid like you kept going on about booze, so I figured you wanted to bathe in it."

"What?!"

"Karlan Balan."

He flinched.

Without his father's reputation, Karlan was a nobody, just as the other patrons had said. He had shouted as though ready to lunge at Woojin, but Woojin's presence instantly cowed him into silence.

"I'll take you home."

Liquor trickled down his forehead and dripped onto the floor. Karlan's pent-up anger burst out.

"I don't need your help! I don't know where the hell you came from, but do you know who I am?!"

"I just said your name because I do."

His threats did nothing to change Woojin's attitude.

"... Urk!"

Woojin grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close.

"And you're not a one-year-old baby. Aren't you ashamed of throwing tantrums in Hundred Flowers Valley because you can't even get home?"

"Wh-what?"

"If you had a daughter, what would she think of you right now?"

"Wh-what the fuck are you talking about?! How old do you think I am...?! I don't have a daughter!"

"Just saying."