The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 14



Only Noblemtl

Episode 14. Oh, What’s That?

“Here it is.”

The woman chose one of the belongings I had laid out on the table.

A wallet in a deep pink color.

It was something that made me think that these guys had even touched a little girl’s wallet.

“What, why.”

“… … No, it’s nothing.”

I swallowed my surprise at his blunt tone.

Everyone has different tastes.

Even though he looked like that, his emotions could still be sensitive.

“Oh, damn it. These guys are just so quick. They’ve already taken money out of my wallet?”

The woman took out her wallet and found that it contained only a few bills.

It somehow feels like he has less money than me.

The woman whose mouth was watering looked at me with a strange look.

“… … You didn’t steal it, did you?”

“If you’re going to be ungrateful, give it back.”

I saved a drowning man, and now he’s asking me to hand over my bundle.

If you think about it, it’s not even certain whether that wallet is really mine.

As I reached for my wallet in response, the woman pulled away.

“Or else what are you trying to steal?”

“Give it to me.”

“Well, I’m sorry.”

After a scuffle, the woman apologized.

But my gaze was not kind.

The woman changed the subject, as if trying to change the awkward atmosphere.

“Your skills are neat. You subdued them all in one go, except for one.”

“You have a good eye. I’ll look into it.”

“Because it’s similar to an occupational disease.”

It’s an occupational disease.

“Were you a contractor?”

“It’s a bit more sophisticated than that.”

“You’re a mercenary.”

“Correct answer!”

The woman grinned like a rascal.

Mercenaries. Similar to contractors in what they do, but different in that they belong to a specific organization.

If a contractor is a freelancer, a mercenary is a full-time employee.

Even if you are a newbie in the industry, your skills are guaranteed.

When I recalled the extraordinary momentum from earlier, I understood.

“That person… … must be a contractor. With this kind of skill, it’s unlikely that an ordinary person would do it.”

The woman frowned subtly at my silent affirmation.

There was a somewhat dissatisfied reaction.

“Did you choose the wrong job? It’s a shame to lose your face.”

His sudden approach did not give off a sense of distance.

Although less so than this industry, the mercenary industry also had a reputation for being fierce and brutal.

Perhaps because he had seen and experienced everything, his behavior was even bold.

“Because of circumstances.”

“It’s rare for people there to be so merciless… … It’s such a shame.”

“I have no intention of making a living by selling my face skin.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, I just thought it would hurt my heart if even a slight flaw was created.”

The woman turned the corpse’s clothes over with her toes.

The corpse’s forearm had a skull design drawn on it.

It was a symbol of being a member of the Brotherhood organization.

“Do you know what this is? It’s the mark of a Brotherhood member. If these guys retaliate against you, you’ll end up with more than a scar or two on your face.”

“What do you mean, they’re just a few low-level thugs?”

“But it’s the Brotherhood. Are you sure you can handle it?”

“Isn’t the Brotherhood a group so loyal that they would care about the deaths of a few of their lowest members?”

“That’s hard to say for sure. The branch manager here said he’s good at managing personnel.”

“I guess you’re a new branch manager.”

“He could be an ambitious guy aiming for a higher position.”

“A guy with such great ambitions makes his gang members obsessed with pickpocketing?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, I’m telling you to be careful.”

The woman didn’t seem to want to continue the conversation, as if she didn’t know anything.

“Or do you want to come to our office? If I recommend you, you’ll probably pass the training.”

“Did the mercenary group decide to recruit so easily?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be able to help out in our mercenary group.”

“What if my skills don’t meet the standard?”

“If it’s not that good, then at least let’s have Madam Face do it.”

If you only consider the conditions, mercenaries are better than contractors.

The advantages were numerous, including care at the office level, having colleagues to look after, and adjusting the salary.

I didn’t think long and just said it out loud.

“Thank you for the offer, but I have to decline.”

If money or safety is your goal, this is definitely a good opportunity.

But mercenary activity was contrary to my goals.

‘It depends on the office, but mercenaries basically have fewer options for requests.’

As a mercenary, it was difficult to take on Greenwood’s commissions.

Having finally negotiated with Cromwell, the mercenary campaign was nothing but a loss.

“… … Well, the choice is yours. I won’t recommend it twice, so don’t regret it later.”

The woman grumbled and left, upset by my firm rejection.

I also moved from the scene before anyone else started to cause trouble.

‘Brotherhood… … I have to be careful.’

It’s not that I’m afraid of conflict, but the best policy is obviously not to fight.

Since there are so many of them, like a pack of dogs, once they start causing trouble, it becomes quite annoying.

‘I shouldn’t go near Earth 4 for a while.’

Anyway, I have no reason to come to this red-light district myself.

I left District 4 feeling the strength of my heavy pockets.

***

Thud! Thud!

The gloomy streets of the slums were damp and dank even in the center.

It feels like wading through mud after a rain.

Mercenary, Hela whispered to her robed companion walking beside her.

“This neighborhood doesn’t seem to change even after a long time. The faces I see are all corpse-like.”

“… … .”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just die than to live like that? I don’t know why people live in pain. It makes me angry just to see them.”

“… … Hela, I can hear you all.”

“I’m saying this because it’s okay if you hear it. Do you think they’ll get mad if you do?”

As expected, the residents of District 7 showed no reaction.

The appearance of the two people initially suppressed the backlash.

One is a mercenary with a weapon, the other is an unidentified figure wearing a robe turned inside out.

Anyone who saw it would see that he was a precious person and a guard.

For the lower classes, the best thing to do was to pretend not to see it and ignore it.

“But why do you always come here? There’s nothing to see.”

“Wasn’t it the rule for Draxia’s mercenaries to just silently carry out requests?”

“I’m curious, right? We’ve only met once or twice, so can’t you tell me?”

The client was dumbfounded by the sly escort’s question and pointed out.

“… … Aren’t you embarrassed that you didn’t even arrive on time?”

“No, I said there were circumstances.”

Hela sighed in resentment.

Why would I get pickpocketed on my way to work?

I hope I get it back soon, otherwise I’ll almost ruin the request.

“That’s none of my business, is it? You should be grateful that I didn’t tell Draxia.”

“… … .”

It was a disaster when my client told his superior about my mistake.

Hela zipped her mouth to become a loyal Draxia mercenary.

‘In the end, I didn’t find out anything.’

It may be a personality thing, but the truth is, she didn’t start the conversation for no reason.

It’s already been more than ten times that Hela has received a request from the client in front of her.

During this time, the client had been strangely thorough in hiding information about himself.

‘The requests are always strange.’

Escort is a representative mission of mercenaries.

The reason why an escort is needed is usually because there is a risk of harm, not to enjoy a walk like this.

‘At least he seems to come from a good family.’

It was like that from the shadow of the robe that covered the face.

Even when light shone through, the inside was always dim.

It is a magic that hinders perception.

It was usually a trick used by the noble families to hide their true identities.

‘I don’t know.’

He might just be someone with unique tastes.

In fact, as a mercenary, there was no need to dig into the details, and all that was needed was to fulfill the performance records.

“……for a moment.”

“yes?”

The client suddenly stopped walking and put his hand on the stone wall.

Hela looked over her shoulder and said,

“It’s just moss.”

“… … Doesn’t something look different?”

“Is that so?”

Hela squinted her eyes and observed.

But still, it was just moss.

There was nothing special.

“The spirit… … .”

The mumbling client slowly raised his head.

It was a gesture of looking at something moving in the air.

However, Hela’s eyes did not see that something.

‘Are you crazy?’

I guess I got sick from just looking at the dull, gray-white scenery.

Hela clicked her tongue inwardly.

“Hela.”

“… … Ah, yes!”

Hela, who had been imagining something shameful, managed to answer.

“Have you heard anything about what happened here recently?”

“I heard you caught a bunch of goblins that were causing trouble.”

“I caught a goblin.”

It was a sound that gave off a sense of depth.

It was at that moment that Hela looked at her client who was gently stroking the moss.

‘uh?’

A halo of light appeared around the gloved hand.

However, there was something else that caught Hela’s attention.

‘homecoming…….’

A robe fluttering in the breeze.

The inside of the hat that covered his face was briefly reflected in the glitter of the halo.

‘Hey, I guess not.’

Hela shook her head.

I thought to myself that my eyes must have been deceiving me.

‘Do you think those pointy-eared nobles would call in mercenaries to stroll through the slums?’

Elf.

They are noble bloodlines, each and every one of whom exerts influence in the city.

A clan that abandoned tradition and chose civilization.

It was an odd combination for them, the noble figures who only showed their faces at city-wide events, to tour the slums.

“Let’s go back.”

“… …Already?”

“I have some urgent business to attend to.”

Why are you going back early this time?

I wonder if there was some kind of change of heart.

Hela followed her client, filled with unanswered questions.

***

“Here is your share of the compensation.”

I returned to the office three days later.

Cromwell kept to his deadline.

I said, picking up a wad of bills about the thickness of my fingertip.

“That’s a lot. Aren’t you taking too much in compensation?”

“If you cheat the broker and charge this much, it’s considered cheap.”

“Is it true that you hid the information on purpose?”

“I guess that depends on what you believe.”

Cromwell smiled slyly.

‘It gives me goosebumps.’

Now that there is a reason to squeeze it, they say they squeezed it out as much as they could.

Not only did I get my salary, but I also got a big chunk of it personally.

“Is the contract that I will take priority over Greenwood’s orders still valid?”

“Unlike a contractor, a broker’s credit is his lifeline. I won’t say the least.”

“Then show me the next request.”

I rested for three days and got my condition back.

Time was money, so I was ready to take on the next assignment.

“None.”

“… … None?”

“Yes, I’ll ask you when the time comes.”

Cromwell seemed to be asking why something so obvious was being asked.

‘There’s no next request.’

That wasn’t the only request from Greenwood that I remember, are you still gathering information?

My mouth was watering because my schedule was messed up.

‘No, there’s no need to be tied down to Greenwood’s requests.’

We already have a clue.

Even if it weren’t for Greenwood, I had a set number of requests I had to take on.

“Have you heard any rumors of runaways or monsters since I spoke to you?”

Harmony created by a piece of the spirit’s cocoon engraved with a circuit.

Aside from Greenwood, the quests I was pursuing were spirit-related.

“Well… … Well, I haven’t heard any rumors.”

Cromwell stroked his chin in thought, then glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.

“If you’re looking for a rampage monster, I have just the thing for you.”

Cromwell pulled a piece of paper from the cork board.

“Corrupted. This is a request to dispose of the warlock’s contaminated test subjects.”

***

Warlock.

They had a different path from other magicians who studied at the Magic Tower School.

Unlike regular magicians who are treated as high-level personnel wherever they go, this is a profession that is generally avoided by society.

The reason was the sinister nature of black magic itself.

‘Black magic does not seek mental cultivation or spiritual enlightenment.’

Common magical practices such as meditation or theoretical exploration did not help with black magic.

In black magic, only the direct experimentation and research of the magician guaranteed growth.

And the research required living organisms.

Innocent civilians who become the subjects of black magic experiments.

‘During gameplay, there was an event where you were kidnapped and became a test subject for a black magician with a certain probability.’

If you get kidnapped, it’s game over.

Even though they suffered terribly and barely survived, their bodies were ruined by the horrific modifications.

It was the higher-ups’ decision to keep such wicked black magicians alive.

‘A known black magician is a city council member or guardian.’

They carried out several projects with the black magician as a shield.

The creation of biological weapons, magical transplants, research into immortality, etc.

Numerous studies have been conducted by warlocks and have been rejected for ethical reasons.

Corrupted was a typical byproduct of such black magic research.

The Corrupted, who awoke in the workshop abandoned by the Warlock, would cause great damage to civilians.

In terms of a rampaging monster, this matched the request I was looking for.

‘It’s a different case from the monster I’m looking for, but… … .’

It was something I didn’t know about.

How might it be related to Corrupted?

Since this was an unknown area even with my knowledge, I accepted the request.

‘By the way, you said you had a partner, right?’

It was half anxiety and half anticipation.

Corrupted is a monster.

It was dangerous to handle it alone, so the office arranged for a colleague to help.

‘I hope he’s not a weirdo.’

I arrived at the meeting point.

And I witnessed a partner who would do this work together.

“Oh, what is it?”

Still a free-spirited look, with a ponytail that coolly reveals the nape of the neck.

“… … ?”

The mercenary I met a few days ago was there.