The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 32



Only Noblemtl

Episode 32. If I go, I have to go somewhere else.

“Whew, I really thought I was going to lose this time.”

Hela rose from the rubble of the collapsed building.

As she spoke, she kept coughing up blood.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

“After shedding so much blood?”

“It’s common for mercenaries to get hurt on missions.”

Waver quickly raised the hand that was binding his chest with a bandage.

“Then, my junior, I feel like I’m going to die, so can you support me?”

“Be there for life.”

It was an act that wouldn’t even make sense.

Waver laughed heartily and jumped up.

“I’m sorry about this. It’s revenge that our mercenary group must take, and I owe you a debt.”

“It happened during a mission. It’s not something you feel indebted to.”

In terms of being related to spirits, it was actually a case that I had to deal with.

Even though he was just telling the truth, Waver, who didn’t know the circumstances, looked very touched.

“Isn’t this guy a good guy? I guess you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.”

“If you only believe what you see with your own eyes, then you’re a person who is getting help and doing a good job while trying to become a member.”

“I didn’t know he was such an outstanding talent.”

Waver responded calmly to the grumbling Hela.

He clearly seemed to have been badly injured, but now I see that he is moving his body normally.

‘No, you’re still doing that even though you’re injured.’

The wound on his chest cut deep into the muscle, and blood was seeping through the bandage.

And yet, he moves his body normally as if he doesn’t feel any pain.

‘Hela is not at the level to belittle people as carnivores or bandits.’

So, you will continue to raise enemies in the mercenary group, and after disbanding, you will gain fame.

‘Drake’s Mercenary Corps.’

I still don’t feel like belonging, but I’m gradually becoming curious.

I felt like it was time to stop by and check out the Greenwood staff.

‘I need to think about it.’

Whether or not it is in my interest to prevent the disbandment of the mercenary group.

***

“If it’s the leader-level person of Quadraple, it would be Cole Camish.”

After hearing the explanation, Cromwell immediately deduced the identity of the captain.

“Are you famous?”

“He’s notorious for his dirty nature. Among the people in the industry who’ve dealt with him, it’s rare for even a corpse to come back intact. It’s hard to count the number of people who give up on a request just by hearing his name.”

It’s a werebeast.

Even if it transforms, it is a hybrid closer to an animal than a human.

It was not surprising that a beast driven by instinct would trample on its prey.

“Repelling Cole Camish, not a bad result.”

Cromwell’s muttering tone was significant.

“You’ve successfully completed a mission against Quadraple, so I think your skills have been proven. I’m sure many people will be interested in you in the future.”

“Nothing bad will happen to me, right?”

“If you find the effort of raking in money hard.”

I smiled bitterly.

If you’re joking, say it with a smile.

‘Anyway, has this achieved the goal I set out to become a contractor?’

Knowing the name will allow you to contact Greenwood directly.

There are many ways now so there is no need to obsess, but there was a sense of accomplishment.

‘No matter how much money you have, it’s never enough.’

Anyway, I am a resident of this city who has to eat and live.

For me, who did not have a home at the time, securing a steady source of income was a top priority.

If I were to receive a private commission, the unit of income would be different.

“Now that your qualifications have been verified, I should treat you accordingly. Next time you come, I’ll prepare a request.”

I quickly understood what it meant.

It was a private request arranged by a broker, not the choice of the contractor.

“Am I already at that level? It seems like only yesterday that you were criticizing me for taking on unofficial requests.”

“What you see is only your performance. Rather, being a rookie is a bonus. It’s rare for a rookie to defeat a black magician and even a quadruple.”

It was a reality that even back alley thugs were acting like hitmen and making a fuss.

Even though it may seem like the broker is the real boss, the real boss is the skilled contractor.

We had to hold on to any talent that showed promise.

There was also competition for recruiting from the same brokers and mercenary groups.

In order to prevent the talent I have discovered from being stolen by others, I will not be treated the same as before.

That wasn’t all.

‘The scope of activity will expand in the future.’

Things were different from before, when it was at best more like bounty hunting.

The private commission had deep connections to the city’s inner city.

This is a request you should avoid if you value your life.

But it guaranteed me that much income and fame, and I had a need to pursue it.

‘Since even the Quadraple’s leader is involved, it is certain that the circuit engraved on the spirit’s cocoon is deeply connected to the Centrim.’

A true number one company, it naturally has deep connections to the inner city.

It was impossible for an ordinary person to approach this.

The shortest route would be to gain a reputation as a contractor.

“Is there a specific type of request you’re looking for? If so, I’ll make sure to take note and narrow it down.”

I answered without hesitation.

“I would like to get a job related to a large company.”

“You only take requests from strange groups, but I guess you’re also attracted to money.”

Cromwell finally laughed.

Although he was skilled, he only took on requests from small groups, so it must have been difficult for the brokers who had to deal with him to deal with him.

If it’s a request from a large company, the difference is obviously money.

I’m glad that he saw a direction in which he could deal with me.

‘Illusion is freedom.’

I did not deny it.

It’s true that we need money.

But it is only a side income.

‘We are gradually approaching Centrim through requests from large corporations.’

I picked up the newspaper spread out on the bar table and unfolded it.

The headline and photo on the first page caught my eye.

“The Crown Prince of Centrim has concluded his treaty with the Winter City and returned in style!”

He was a young man with a sharp expression, like a knife.

My eyes narrowed at the sight of his sharply tailored suit and confident smile.

“The Crown Prince of Centrim, that’s the exact term. Since he came into action, Centrim’s prestige has grown even higher.”

I quickly replayed FP’s main story in my head.

Megacorp, the corporation that amassed the city’s capital, had a significant stake in the scenario.

There was this man in it.

“First of all, I think it would be good to aim to become big enough to be able to contact him.”

“i think so too.”

Although the goal was the same, the implied meaning was different.

‘If there’s anyone who’s plotting behind Centrim, it’s definitely this guy.’

Damien Graham is the main character in the main story who leads the scenario assigned to a large corporation called Centrim.

***

District 2 of Galaga City.

The streets of the nobility, where only the chosen ones were allowed to set foot, were extremely quiet, in stark contrast to the busy roads below District 3.

In the sky, an airship, the epitome of magical engineering, streaked across the sky, drawing long trails of smoke.

On the tracks connecting the buildings and towers, a locomotive ran, emitting compressed steam.

The only cars on the road were the latest models from companies costing hundreds of millions each.

Among them, the vehicle currently running on the road was a special product of which only one exists in the world.

A unicorn sculpture exposed on the bonnet.

It was a vehicle provided to only one person by Sentrim, the largest company in Galaga City.

“Sir, this is urgent news.”

The secretary’s embarrassed voice rang out in the quiet car.

“It is said that Delipher City’s production plant has been destroyed.”

“… … .”

The young man who had been blankly staring out the window slid his gaze to the passenger seat.

“Didn’t your factory get support from Quadruple?”

“They say that even Call Camish and his security team were all hit.”

“… … .”

The man, Damien Graham, asked after a brief silence.

“Who was that?”

“This is a werebeast.”

“Oh, that mongrel.”

Damien nodded absentmindedly.

His interest in Col. Camish was limited to that extent.

“I wonder who did it.”

“It is said that the one who made the request was an environmental group, and that the ones who carried out the request were contractors and a small number of mercenaries.”

“If it wasn’t a hostile company, then that’s fine. They probably had a grudge against Deliphery. What happened to the sample?”

“It was planned to be recovered along with the body, but… … .”

“Please take care to collect it without any scratches. This is an important item that will determine the fate of our company.”

“… … I have something to report about that.”

“What is it?”

The secretary moved her lips for a while before confessing.

“They say the recovery failed.”

“… … .”

At those words, Damien got up from where he had been buried in the sheets.

“Tell me more.”

“The field team has contacted us and said that it is impossible to determine whether the circuit was lost due to overload or was recovered by the other party due to poor circuit stability.”

“There’s no way that something that even the research team at the headquarters gave up on finding a scratch on would melt down due to circuit overload, and if it comes into contact with someone, wouldn’t the algorithm be set up to make that person the next host?”

“… … We will find the cause as quickly as possible.”

“Full moon.”

Damien’s eyes looking down at his secretary were cold.

“Come inside.”

“… … .”

“If you don’t want your neck to fly off.”

“… … We will prepare a report for you to review.”

The secretary trembled with a pale face at the chilling warning.

No matter how talented he was who had taken an elite course, he was just a stone on the side of the road to the leader of the dinosaur company called Centrim.

“I’ve come this far after grilling the snobbish city councilman. Soon we’ll have this city under our control, so do your best to keep any distractions out.”

“yes!”

Damien turned his gaze out the window again as he listened to his secretary’s resolute answer.

Scenes that we have seen so often that they pass by meaninglessly.

But it always felt new to him.

Because all of those landscapes will one day become yours.

***

I returned to the hotel after my conversation with Cromwell.

I still have business to attend to at the Draxia office, but I’m too tired to finish it.

I told Hela that I would come see her in three days, so I rested until then.

There was also a closer look at system messages.

I grabbed the doorknob of the inn.

Phew!

And then my heart sank for a moment as the iron pipe stopped right in front of my face.

“Oh, it was you, old man.”

“… … What did you do?”

“It’s a crime prevention measure.”

Sage said nothing and took back the iron pipe.

Are you trying to break my head first by doing a question-and-answer dance?

It was a classic, gritty, but surefire method.

“Nothing happened?”

“Yes, I stayed quiet and didn’t cause any accidents.”

I looked away from the red liquid at the end of the iron pipe.

If that’s the case, then so be it.

“How’s the magic progress?”

“First of all, I learned all the basic theories from the book the old man gave me.”

“good job.”

“… … I haven’t delved into the application yet.”

“That alone is great.”

Even though it was a basic book sold at a low-priced store, it was incredibly difficult because it dealt with magic.

It was a true talent to have attained enlightenment on one’s own without the guidance of a master.

“Besides, thanks to you, things went smoothly.”

“What is it?”

“I mean, enchantment. It helped me a lot.”

“… … Really?”

“That’s why it’s great.”

This means that the magical imprint of a wizard who was just beginning to learn the basics worked on the werebeast.

It was a talent that went beyond commercialism.

“I’m glad it helped.”

Sage’s face turned red as if he had finally accepted my compliment at face value.

“Then can I stay here from now on?”

It seemed like he wasn’t happy just because I praised him.

The condition I put forward for help was purely a transaction.

It was a statement made with great awareness of this.

“Even if it didn’t help, I wouldn’t have kicked you out.”

In fact, it was unconscionable to entrust the enchantment to a novice magician who hadn’t even received basic training.

However, the reason I had high expectations was because I believed in her future talent.

“I would have sold it instead of kicking it out.”

“No, I invested because I saw potential in the future.”

“… …What are you looking at me?”

“Talent is something that is naturally noticeable.”

Sage had a puzzled expression.

It’s okay.

Even though I didn’t believe it myself, I was convinced.

“Then it’s okay if I don’t show you this?”

“… … ?”

Sierra unleashed her magic.

A cool breeze blew from somewhere, gradually cooling my sweaty body.

Manifestation of wind, regulation of temperature and moisture.

Although the explanation is that it ends with a cool breeze, if you look at the theory and formula applied to it, it is not simple magic.

But somehow it felt familiar.

‘air conditioning?’

That’s it.

Sage, who had finished manifesting his magic, looked up with expectant eyes, panting.

“Well, when I come back from outside, it’s hot, it’s hot.”

I was out of breath because I had used up so much energy.

Are you trying to prove your practicality with magic?

It was good, but… … .

I scratched my chin and turned on the air conditioner.

“If it’s hot while you’re here, turn on the air conditioner.”

“… … !”

Sage had a look of astonishment.

I should have taught common sense rather than magic.

“My usefulness… … .”

“Don’t be disappointed. It’ll be useful outside.”

“… … At the factory?”

“I told you I wasn’t sending it.”

To this extent, it is a level of victim mentality.

“Even if you go, you should go somewhere else.”

Even though Sage did something stupid, it couldn’t be underestimated considering the difficulty of the stupidity.

He was indeed the next Matapju material.

“Where to?”

“Matap.”

A talent that stood out even after entering the magic tower at a late age.

Now that it has been confirmed that it is not a lie, it is quite early to expect how it will grow.

‘I’m not the one to teach.’

Since my job is my job, I can’t stay with them all day and teach them, and teaching is a different field.

If I instilled knowledge, Sage would realize it on his own, but this was not education.

At best, this was a repetition of the level she would reach in the future.

‘If you’re going to raise them, you should raise them well.’

At least you have to make it to the top to get your initial investment back.

“The Magic Tower… … .”

“Do you know where it is?”

Sage was speechless and could only nod his head.

Even if you don’t know about air conditioning, you’ve probably heard of a rooftop terrace.

“Me, the rooftop?”

What a child who has grown up with doubt needs is not a lot of evidence in words, but certainty.

“Your talent is enough.”

“… … .”

Sage stared blankly into space.

I also saw the imaginary girl who entered the rooftop.

I quickly shook my head to deny it, but it was a certain future.

He’s a guy who’ll pass the exam on his own anyway.

If only I could help a little bit, it would be the icing on the cake.

‘If you enter the rooftop without any support, you’ll have a hard time.’

Even though it is the headquarters of magic, the magic tower is also a place where people live.

There were many areas where I benefited from connections rather than skills.

Sage’s title is a lotus that blooms in the mud.

This refers to her slum origins, and is a self-mockery of the Ma-Tap era, which discriminates against talent while neglecting skills.

‘If you want to use the library at the top of the tower, you have to contact someone at the top of the tower.’

The greatest treasure trove of knowledge within the city.

Just like when I searched for the World Tree, I now feel the need to use it.

I scanned through the past system messages.

“The World Tree has met some of the conditions to grow into a nomad!”

“Requirements: Sufficient natural affinity, awakened spirit”

“Meet the remaining condition for the World Tree to grow!”

“Deficient Condition: Endless Spring”