The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 28



Only Noblemtl

Episode 28. Killing Two Birds with One Stone

A factory raid is a kind of terrorist act.

Even if it was not a security issue, it was deserving of criticism as it involved destroying a perfectly good production facility.

However, it is not a rare request in the underworld.

Rather, it would not be an exaggeration to say that most proper requests are of this type.

After all, the requests for subcontractors are mostly battles for influence between companies.

There is no method more effective in destroying a business in a short period of time than destroying its facilities.

So while companies are instigating the downfall of their rivals, they are also devising ways to defend themselves.

Therefore, this type of request was a battle for money.

The one who throws more money and prepares more wins.

If the Delipher City factory had just received support from Centrim, it would have built a defense system that was better than that of most corporations.

“Have you heard any stories about Deliphersy?”

“I’m sure you’ve heard that we received support from Centrim. In fact, it’s probably because of that that things have gotten a bit more complicated.”

I accepted the glass that Cromwell offered me.

Today too, the contents were plain water.

“What does that mean?”

“I heard that Centrim’s security force has been dispatched.”

“The quadruple moved?”

“Unfortunately, it is excessive for a company that has just made an investment.”

The overflowing capital power even allowed companies to create armed units under the guise of direct security forces.

Unlike the mercenary group that guaranteed equal skill, the direct security unit had a clear difference in level depending on the parent company.

If Centrim’s security company, Quadruple, were to be released into the industry right away, it would be at the top.

‘I’ve fought directly with security companies of large corporations, even if it wasn’t Quadraple.’

Even in my vague memories, he was by no means an easy opponent.

“The number of personnel dispatched is roughly the size of a platoon, enough to protect one factory.”

“If you even figured out the size of the unit, you know the details.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Jack.”

“If it’s Jack, then the unemployed friend downstairs?”

“He’s a friend who does it when he has to. If he acts nimbly in normal times, he’ll be so nimble that you won’t have any wishes.”

“No one can be perfect.”

“So I’m going to leave it and use it.”

Cromwell shook off his regret and returned to his original position.

“I don’t recommend moving alone. You should move together like the last request.”

“If you had told me to go alone, I would have been the one who was disappointed.”

This isn’t a neighborhood hole-in-the-wall store, this is a request to destroy a corporate facility.

It wasn’t a scale that I could cover alone.

“If you wait a few days, you can prepare the personnel within that time.”

“Active?”

“Think of it as an investment in you.”

It pushes hard too.

‘I guess my estimate is finally set.’

The evaluation was that he was a person who would benefit if pushed.

Well, if a beginner can defeat a black magician, then it proves that he is good.

He intended to manage it himself to prevent it from being taken away by mercenaries or other intermediaries.

“It won’t take long. The pay is decent, so I’m sure people will be interested even without me recommending it.”

For an environmental group that is always strapped for cash, they put up a huge sum of money.

I’m worried that I might be overdoing it since I probably got ripped off quite a bit for the commission I completed last time.

‘I guess that’s what’s needed.’

It was not difficult to understand why environmental groups requested factory terrorism.

Because the factories of this world encourage pollution and evade all regulations in the name of development.

But it’s Greenwood.

It couldn’t have been that simple.

‘Could the Delipher’s factory also be connected to the spirits?’

The name Delifercy actually comes from the prosthetic hand stolen from Malay.

And Deliphercy is the new Centrim limb suspected of having made contact with Dalton Sunderland.

It was a request that had to be accepted even if it was a failure.

“I’ll come back in a week.”

“Stop bothering me and just find a contact number I can call.”

They are telling me to open a cell phone account.

The setting was that it was created in Galaga City and spread to other cities.

It would still be some time before it became popular, but it seemed to already be in use here.

“I remember it being expensive.”

“We’re not just meeting once or twice, so why are we going to meet in person and talk about trivial things like this? To be honest, it’s a hassle.”

To be honest, I agree with you.

Living in a world where you can even make video calls from the other side of the world, having to meet in person every time to talk was incredibly annoying.

“Talk to Jack downstairs. He’ll take care of it.”

“That guy even does something like that?”

“It’s less tedious than being an informant. It’s easier to leave the troublesome stuff like identity theft and money laundering to that guy.”

“hmm.”

It was a job that I had no choice but to get involved in while doing this kind of work.

Is it a system where you receive treatment at a hospital and get a prescription from a pharmacy in the same building?

‘Now that we’re on the subject, let’s take care of it all.’

There was a lot to do, including forging one’s identity, opening a cell phone account, and more.

I couldn’t live as a foreigner forever.

Shouldn’t there be some sort of status that you can claim when you’re not working as a contractor?

Ultimately, the city where I would put down roots was Galaga City.

“I know your face, can I get a discount?”

“It’s out of my control. You figure it out yourself.”

I don’t know if this face would work on a woman, but there’s no way this face would work on a man.

It’s not like I know any specific dealers.

I gave up and went to Jack to handle the matter.

***

dripping!

He came back from the office and knocked on my room door.

It was a strange situation where I had to knock on my own door, but I couldn’t help it.

Because we invited guests inside.

Squeak!

The door opened.

The one poking his head out through the small gap was the kid from District 7 that I had knocked out.

“You’re awake?”

“……yes.”

As I entered, the child sat down on a small bed that the bellboy had pushed in for her.

She was leaning against the wall, hugging a soft pillow to cover her body.

I smiled bitterly at that attitude that showed his wariness.

“I’m sorry I brought you here without any explanation. Were you surprised to wake up in an unfamiliar place?”

“… … Yes, I thought I was kidnapped.”

“I don’t think I’ll wake up anytime soon, so I went to do some business.”

“I guess so.”

The tone of voice the child spoke in was somehow like that of a resigned victim listening to the culprit’s ramblings.

“You don’t seem to believe me.”

“It’s not a situation where you can say you don’t believe it.”

As expected.

I raised both hands to express my innocence.

“Why would I do something like that? If I had such intentions, I would have done it in District 7.”

“That’s… … that’s right.”

The child lowered his pillow, perhaps feeling that my calling was persuasive.

What was revealed was a white face that was not befitting a child from the slums.

He had distinct features and was intelligent.

He looked difficult, but he didn’t seem that difficult.

“Are you feeling a little better?”

“Yes, I’m not hurt. My arms and legs feel refreshed, maybe because I slept in bed for the first time in a long time.”

The child wiggled his buttocks and bounced on the bed.

Although he still seemed wary, he seemed to be opening his heart little by little.

It’s been a long time since I slept in bed.

“How have you been?”

“I was homeless… ….”

“What about the money I got for turning in the goblin lair?”

“… … was stolen.”

The child bit his lips hard and spoke with slurred speech.

“There was someone who said he would help me. I thought he was a good person… … but I heard he was going to sell me out, so I ran away.”

“hmm.”

I thought he wouldn’t get into any big trouble because he had a good personality, but he was still a kid.

I gave advice as a senior in life.

“They say that leaving home is hard. It’s all an experience.”

“… … It was you who told me to come out of the house.”

“The World Tree criticizes the words as pitiful.”

It was better to offer no consolation than to offer only half-hearted comfort.

I avoided the glaring eyes of the child.

“Anyway, you found me while you were struggling like that, and it looks like you were following me, thinking about whether to ask me for help. Is that right?”

“That’s wrong.”

What’s wrong?

“I didn’t find you, I chased after you. So it wasn’t like I was following you, I was following you. It’s true that I was debating whether or not to ask for help.”

The child confessed calmly.

He confesses to his crimes very confidently.

It was so absurd that I tried to find out more about it but then stopped.

I decided to consider it as paying the price for knocking him out.

“You followed me?”

There was something else to investigate.

“how?”

If you had been following me since District 7, you would have felt my presence like this.

But the child said he chased me.

How many citizens live in this city?

It was difficult even for experts to single out me among them unless they followed me.

It wasn’t something a slum kid could do.

“That’s… … .”

The child hesitated for a while, then came closer to me and whispered.

“In my eyes, people look a little different.”

“… … ?”

“That, that light was just flickering. The old man was a strange, dim green color, so it was easy to follow.”

It’s a sound that I can’t understand.

Then, suddenly, my existing knowledge was combined with this and analyzed.

This is… … .

“You, can you see human magic?”

“I don’t know, is what I see magic?”

I stared intently into the child’s pupils.

A halo of light shimmered within the pupil, which was like a deep lake.

It was clear, this kid had talent.

‘Wait a minute, a great wizard from the slums with the talent to see magic with the naked eye?’

The combined circumstances pointed to one person.

I asked without being awkward.

“Come to think of it, I don’t even know your name yet. What is your name?”

“… … It’s suspicious that you keep digging up my personal information. Are you trying to sell me to the factory?”

“Your identity doesn’t matter when you hand it over to the factory.”

I did that.

The child responded with faith in my sincere words that were steeped in experience.

“Sage Dale Loafer.”

My eyes opened wide.

“It’s a name I made up because my parents didn’t give it to me.”

Sage Dale Loafer, the next generation of Matapju, is called the lotus that blooms in the mud.

And… …the wild artifact technician I was looking for.

Found a big thing in an unexpected place.

***

There is a wizard named Sage Daleoper.

He is a magician who went to Magic Tower at the late age of 17 and achieved remarkable results and rose through the ranks.

In terms of talent, he aimed for the Magic Tower, and in terms of performance, he surpassed his peers and overwhelmed established magicians.

What’s great about her is that she started from the bottom, behind others, with no foundation, and became self-made.

Her unique upbringing in a slum was also a unique background that made it impossible for the world to take notice of her.

‘That was the limit, though.’

Even lofty talent and mad passion for learning could not overcome realistic limitations.

He was introduced to magic late in life and had no connections within or outside the Magic Tower.

As far as I know, she remained only as a candidate without ever becoming the top candidate.

‘But the talent is real.’

When I tried to capture her, she worked her magic.

It was a skill that he revealed was something he had developed instinctively.

It is difficult to describe how great it was to embody through instinct alone the knowledge that requires systematic education.

‘Is the fact that their personalities are so different a change due to the hardships they will face in the future?’

The Sage I met in District 7 was kind-hearted and intelligent.

On the other hand, the Sage of the Tower was strict, anti-social, reserved, and exclusive.

‘We weren’t on good terms at the rooftop.’

He often caused trouble for me by mentioning the inefficiency of my research to my superiors.

In fact, despite his high reputation in the world, Sage was not a person who was highly regarded within the magic community.

Compared to now, when I first saw it and rated it pretty well, it’s a completely different car.

I wonder if this is him, but if I think about it, there have already been some changes.

‘He has become quiet and cautious.’

It was a place that would do that.

There was no future in the slums, but the outside world was not hopeful.

Right now, I too am a former worker who was sold to a factory, and if I hadn’t escaped, I would have died there.

After experiencing that several times, your innocence was bound to wear away.

“The World Tree greets you.”

“… … What is this?”

“The World Tree. It’s a plant that lives with me.”

The child was astonished.

“… … Does that make sense?”

“Does a werewolf or a vampire make sense?”

“That’s different. So you’re saying that when the full moon rises, you turn into a tree?”

There are dozens of immigrants living in the city.

It’s the same fantasy to me, but it seems like a different concept to the locals.

“If it gets bigger than this, it might turn into a tree.”

But there was a sharp part.

What will happen to my body when the World Tree becomes a sacred tree?

“……hi.”

Sage ignored me, as if he thought I was joking, and grabbed the trunk of the World Tree.

Judging from the way his eyes sparkled, it seemed like he was more curious than wary.

The World Tree, of course, was great.

“The World Tree is ticklish and twists its body.”

The world tree swayed under the touch of Sage.

Sage smiled at the sight and wiggled his fingers.

It was a strange feeling to observe such a friendly appearance.

If it were up to me to know her personality, I would have to say something disgusting and throw her out…

‘I’m glad we met again at this time.’

If we had met after going through more hardships, I would have experienced the same thing I remember.

It changed a little, but it was within the acceptable range.

There was still a purity that befitted her age.

“first of all.”

I decided.

“Stay with me for a while.”

It wasn’t a relationship we could just give advice and part ways with a passing favor.

Sage, the future great wizard, was destined to be my chosen one.

And if it could prevent future corruption, it would be even better.

“Really?”

The child’s expression was half joy, half caution.

He didn’t look entirely happy because he had almost been sold into slavery.

“Instead, I wish you would do all the hard work for me.”

This is not an unknown favor, it is a transaction.

Only then did Sage feel relieved.

“What should I do?”

“Read this.”

Sage leafed through the palm-sized book that came out of my pocket.

“What is it?”

“A book on basic magic theory.”

This is something I bought at the market on my way here.

He is a genius who instinctively uses magic.

This alone would greatly increase the number of talents she could accomplish.

“And after you’ve read all that, what you have to do is… … .”

I took the magazine out of the box in the corner.

“This is where the magic is imprinted.”

There are only a few days left until you can find a partner to act together on the mission.

If it was Sage’s talent, then we could have high hopes.

Sage, rest assured, I will strengthen my insufficient auxiliary weapons.

It was a strategy that killed two birds with one stone.

***

‘We’ve got the staff, so come and see us.’

It was Cromwell’s call that I received five days later.

I told Sage to review what he had learned and headed to the office.

‘There will be more than one or two colleagues working together this time.’

Disabling the factory’s facilities.

What was needed was overwhelming firepower.

It was likely that a wizard would join.

If not, firearms and bombs capable of generating that much firepower were essential.

It was rare for a busy and highly paid wizard to take on such a request.

The only exception is Laila, who personally took on the Brotherhood’s request.

Therefore, it was expected that many people would participate.

‘I hope they’re the real deal this time.’

It was terrifying to think that just like the last Brotherhood incident, only the beans would gather.

It is unknown how sticky the relationship will be, but it is a company with a megacorp as its backing.

This time, it was impossible for me to clean up the mess by myself.

It was natural that the request would fail if we worked with such irresponsible seeds.

‘I wish it was just one mercenary group that received the request.’

Working with people who are not like other stars, I can see how capable the mercenary group is.

I regret not recommending it to the Draxia Mercenaries.

He was the best candidate, as he had some familiarity with the group and Cromwell had even assured him that he had a good reputation.

‘Anyway, it’s in the past.’

The personnel has already been organized.

I had to do my best in it.

I finally arrived at the first floor of the office.

“Wow.”

As I opened the door, cheers erupted from a voice that I had heard somewhere before.

“I guess we’re meant to be? I never thought we’d meet again like this.”

The first floor of an office building commonly used as a meeting place for contractors.

A group of people, including Hela, waved at me from the center of the place and looked straight at me.