The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 12



Only Noblemtl

Episode 12. It’s not easy to just attack at once

“When can I receive my salary?”

The office I visited to report on the completion of the request.

Cromwell, the broker, answered without even glancing this way.

“I need time to contact the client, so I should be able to receive it in three days at the latest.”

It is considered fast if it takes three days, including confirmation of successful request.

Indeed, he was a capable broker.

But I didn’t ask to know how fast Cromwell was doing things.

“I need some money urgently.”

I pulled up a chair in front of the bar table where Cromwell was standing.

His eyes, which were looking inside the glass with the light, slid down to me.

“I refuse to waste your time. I’ll show the client the results and collect my share of the payment myself.”

The idea was to reduce the hassle and save you money.

The excuse was perfect because I could get the money quickly too.

“You are asking too much.”

But Cromwell calmly rejected my offer, which concealed my true intentions.

“I told you I would save you some trouble when we are both busy?”

“You’re denying the existence of a broker. If you cause an accident, I’ll have to get out of this business.”

“… … .”

I washed down my bitter feelings with a glass of water.

‘It’s not coming over.’

I tried poking at an inedible persimmon and it was as expected.

‘If it was that sloppy, I would have closed the business long ago.’

It would be greedy to hope to do this work in partnership with normal human beings.

Trust is earned through performance, not appearance or character.

Now there was no way to trust a rookie who had just succeeded on his first request.

“Then I guess there’s nothing I can do. Instead, would it be okay if I just convey a word to the client?”

Plan A failed, so here’s Plan B.

In fact, the possibility of success was placed on this.

When I brought up the subject of concessions, Cromwell sighed.

The attitude was that they would look after all the real customers.

“… … I’ll listen and then decide.”

“Ask him if he knew that the requested objective was unusual.”

“What does it mean?”

“Some goblins are going berserk.”

“What if it’s a runaway?”

“There was even a guy who could destroy buildings with his strength. Isn’t this the first time you’ve heard of an obese goblin with gigantism?”

Cromwell’s eyes lit up with interest.

It was the first time I felt any emotion other than irritation.

“Are you a dark wizard’s test subject… … .”

“I don’t know about that, but the residents there all knew. Judging from the fact that they knew when it would run wild, it wasn’t something that happened in a day or two.”

“hmm…….”

Cromwell put down his glass and stroked his chin.

It was a look of deep thought.

“If that’s true, then there’s a problem.”

It was a natural thing.

The compensation is obviously subject to adjustment, and the difficulty of the request would have been different.

If it was hidden on purpose, it was a trick to discredit the broker.

“I’ll try to talk to you. I’ll adjust the salary to a reasonable level.”

“What are you going to do if you ignore me?”

“If you say no, then there’s nothing I can do.”

The follow-up remarks were important.

“However, there will likely be many difficulties encountered during the request process later on.”

Basically, it is said that in any industry, similar industries are narrow.

This tendency was particularly severe here.

‘Whether it’s competition between businesses or anything, we won’t leave alone those who try to destroy our rice bowls.’

Once the rumor spread, it was over.

Not only was it basic that requests were not accepted, but sanctions were also placed on the group’s activities as a backdoor measure.

It is a pressure that would make even a decent company struggle.

It was fatal for a powerless environmental group.

‘I don’t want Greenwood to go bankrupt.’

Curiosity was greater than the resentment of hiding information.

I benefited from this commission as I received various incomes including spirits.

There was a need to put the brakes on Cromwell’s mind, which was going to extremes.

“Do you really need to make such a big deal out of it? I’ll take care of the salary adjustment myself and make a separate proposal.”

“proposal?”

It is the opinion of the parties.

Cromwell didn’t let it slide.

“From now on, if you give me a request, make sure I get it as top priority.”

Did Greenwood really not know anything?

That couldn’t be happening.

‘Greenwood was the first to mention spirits.’

The request from that group happened to be related to spirits?

It was too artificial to be a coincidence.

‘And coincidences are rare in the game world.’

Basically, it is an inevitability that comes from the settings.

It’s hard to guess because even I, a veteran, don’t know the backstory.

‘It was suspicious that an environmental group made this request in the first place.’

It’s a question I’ve had before.

If Greenwood knew that the goblins of District 7 had a connection to the spirits, then the mystery is solved.

“Anyway, the broker has no complaints as long as he gets his commission. What do you think?”

“… … .”

It wasn’t a bad offer for him, since he was left to decide on the compensation adjustment.

“… … If that’s the case for the parties involved.”

Cromwell nodded after a moment of silence.

However, the suggestion I made was no different from a crazy one if you didn’t know the circumstances.

‘It’s like asking the person who fed you more shit after you’ve already eaten shit.’

Cromwell’s expressionless face towards me wavered.

He must have been internally adjusting his evaluation of me.

Definitely not in a good way.

“See you again in three days.”

It was a necessary but awkward misunderstanding.

I left the uncomfortable position.

***

“We have an interesting new recruit.”

After Allen left, Cromwell sent someone to check the results and leave a message for the client.

The time remaining until the client delivers the payment.

Cromwell stroked his chin, lost in thought.

It was about a newbie named Allen.

“After going through a disaster, you welcome it instead.”

Sometimes there were such seeds.

Those who entered the industry not to make money, but to test themselves.

They were usually foreigners from other cities, which ran counter to the city’s customs of focusing on gold.

However, Allen was different in Cromwell’s eyes.

“Greenwood, is there a purpose for this place?”

We are looking for overdue requests and want to contact the clients directly without going through an intermediary.

The purpose of the series of actions was so transparent.

“hmm.”

In fact, Cromwell was unaware of such circumstances.

Among those who made a living in the contract industry, it was rare to find someone without a story.

… … However, some of them were worth being considerate of.

“Judging by his appearance, he seemed like a guy who would last a long time.”

He has the eloquence and skills to be considered as someone well-versed in the industry.

Cromwell had confidence in his own vision.

And to his eye, a new recruit named Allen was a pretty good deal.

“They completely destroyed the building.”

The photo received showed a collapsed building.

It was not a change due to the passage of time, but an artificial result.

If there was a culprit, it would obviously be Allen.

“No traces of magic were found, nor any traces of martial arts.”

It was only a glimpse, but it was clearly an ability to manipulate plants.

It’s unique, but is it really that powerful?

Even Cromwell, who had seen many powerful men, could not estimate the number.

… … And that is why it was even more worthwhile to look forward to.

“If it’s a long-term connection, there’s no harm in helping out a little.”

The most important thing to consider when evaluating a broker is his or her connections.

This is based on the client and further includes the contractor.

Skilled contractors were rare.

They had strong pride and knew their place well, so they were even prickly.

The most effective secret to maintaining ongoing business with them was the favor given in the early stages.

“Greenwood.”

If you are going to be receiving frequent requests from clients, it wouldn’t hurt to find out in advance.

Cromwell picked up the extension phone connected to the lower level.

“Jack, I have something to investigate.”

***

A restaurant located in District 3.

I looked out the window, chewing the last bit of tough artificial meat left.

People with all sorts of unique personalities were constantly moving about.

It felt like I was looking into a different world, so it was fun to look at, but it wasn’t really something I did to kill time.

I stared blankly for a while, then relaxed my eyes.

‘There’s no way a piece of the spirit’s seal could be found just anywhere.’

If so, I would have discovered and studied it long ago in the many previous rounds I played.

Of course, there was a reason for acting this way.

‘I was worried that he wouldn’t come looking for me.’

There was a halo of light swimming across the palm of my hand.

It was a spirit that did not return to nature but relied on the World Tree.

Wouldn’t there be a similar situation where the pieces of Gochi resonated with each other the other day?

I had high hopes, but it was a dud.

‘But it’s a spirit.’

A beautiful scene of nature being restored that still comes to mind often.

It was a scene that accompanied the liberation of the spirit.

There were several facts that could be learned from this.

‘The absence of spirits has contributed to the decline of Mother Nature.’

As soon as the spirits were liberated, the great nature of Earth 7 was restored.

If you think about it the other way around, it could mean that the spirits have declined for some reason, and the city has become barren as a result.

‘To restore Mother Nature, we need to complete the spirit’s cocoon piece and revive the spirit.’

And the clue about the spirit can be obtained by waiting for Greenwood’s request.

It felt like the destination that had seemed so far away was now quickly approaching.

but.

‘What was that circuit?’

The unidentified circuit that covered the spirit’s cocoon fragments bothered me.

It was clearly an artificial trace.

‘Someone other than me touched the spirit’s shard.’

It also probably led to the rampage.

‘He must be my competitor.’

My attitude towards the spirit’s shards was at odds with mine.

Cooperation was impossible.

The crash was expected.

then.

‘I need to build up my strength.’

Apart from the growth of the World Tree, I was presented with another option.

I scanned through the past system messages.

“Each spirit possesses special powers.”

“Natural affinity gives special stimulation to spirits, promoting awakening.”

Now, the spirit that was running wild like a wild child could become my other weapon.

We need to increase our affinity for nature, and to do this… … .

“Are you feeling unwell anywhere, sir?”

“yes?”

It was at that time that I was worried.

The store owner asked with a worried look.

“You’ve been frowning the whole time. Is it because you don’t like it…?”

“Oh, that’s not true.”

The food quality wasn’t bad.

The seasoning was a bit strong, but that was to be expected considering that it was low-quality artificial meat.

“That’s fortunate. I was worried that it might have been a mistake on our part, so I asked.”

“It’s okay, that can happen.”

The lady manager cleared her throat.

I smiled politely on the outside, but looked puzzled on the inside.

‘Is this the first time the owner of this restaurant has spoken to a customer?’

It was a restaurant I knew from my experience in previous play sessions.

I’ve been here dozens of times as a customer, but this is the first time I’ve experienced an event like this.

“Oh, this is an expression of apology.”

“Why all this… … .”

“Anyway, it seems like you didn’t fully enjoy our food.”

Black water in a teacup and a subtle fragrance lingering at the tip of your nose.

It was coffee.

‘This is expensive.’

People joke that coffee costs as much as gold, but in this world it’s serious.

Since plant cultivation was not very advanced, coffee, made from coffee beans, was naturally a luxury item.

“If you don’t mind, can I ask you a few questions?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

I took a sip of coffee.

My heart was filled with joy at the aroma and flavor I was experiencing after a long time.

If the price of an expensive bribe was a few questions, it was a free gift.

“Do you live around here?”

“I haven’t decided on a place to live yet, so I’ll be staying around here for a while.”

Since I had no home, I had no choice but to move from hotel to hotel and inn to inn.

But that doesn’t mean you can just stay anywhere.

‘Even if you move to district 5 or 6, you won’t be able to buy a house with your current funds.’

No matter how much Cromwell exacted from Greenwood, it was nothing.

The same thing happened when I cashed in the items I had stolen from the goblins.

It was best to stay in the first accommodation until you made a lot of money.

“Then what about food?”

“If you’re not busy, you should eat it.”

“That’s great. Why don’t you stop by our store often? We’ll give you a special free service.”

It seemed like we were getting to the main point.

The lady’s voice lowered to a whisper.

“Why?”

“I think it will be good publicity.”

The lady’s eyes sparkled.

It was a gaze that seemed as if it was going to eat me, or more precisely, my face.

“I am confident that just having customers here will increase our sales.”

I realized the lady’s intentions.

It really meant that he was going to rip my face off and sell it.

‘It was somehow quiet.’

Before I knew it, the store was packed with customers who were glancing at me.

Is not gossiping the last bit of conscience?

Either way, it was a burden.

“The terms are further negotiable. Just tell me whatever you want.”

The lady boss was passionate.

I weighed things calmly, without being carried away by the heat.

‘Save money on food and avoid the burdensome attention you receive at every meal.’

Even without weighing the scales, the balance was tilted to one side.

“great.”

“You made a wise choice.”

The lady manager smiled brightly.

‘Interest ends when you become accustomed to it.’

Although the direction is different, the interest is enough to eat at the factory.

If I could save money that I already had, it would be better to take the risk.

“I will take good care of you.”

“It’s me.”

It was a satisfactory deal.

The businesswoman who was happily calculating the bill suddenly spoke as if a memory had occurred to her.

“Oh, by the way, I’m telling you this out of concern, but please be sure to keep your wallet with you when you come to and leave the store.”

When I looked puzzled, the manager explained.

“I heard that pickpocketing has been on the rise recently.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

I went out, taking my wallet, which had become even thinner.

‘Do I really have to be careful about pickpockets only when I come and go from this restaurant?’

Pickpockets are a common occurrence in this city and something to watch out for.

It was difficult to even count how many petty criminals there were.

‘Anyway, I unexpectedly saved some money for small expenses.’

Anyone who has ever lived alone will know.

How much of a portion of a household’s budget is spent on food?

Plus, it didn’t cost a penny to get the taste.

‘First, you have to solve the problem of making a living before you can do anything else.’

The convenience of living in the city comes from money.

Above all, solving the problem of consciousness was the most urgent task.

Bam!

While I was thinking, someone bumped into me.

It’s a common occurrence on the streets of overcrowded cities, but this time it was different.

Wham!

The movement of her hands digging into my arms very naturally.

Then his hand slipped out, grabbing my wallet.

The series of events played out in slow motion in my vision.

“The World Tree has discovered a crime and is warning you!”

I calmed down the World Tree, which was urging me to hurry and chase after it.

Actually, I was able to catch it right away.

Still, there was a reason for letting him go.

‘It’s annoying to have to worry about pickpockets every time I come to a restaurant.’

Rather than that… … .

‘It’s easier to just attack at once.’

That pickpocket would be a great guide to lead me to their hideout.