Episode 265: If it exists (3)
“Will you tell me about the qualifications?”
Meister stared at his grandfather, sparkling eyes whose original color he could not remember. His eyes are filled with some anticipation and excitement.
“no.”
However, despite reading all of those emotions, Cheongsanho struck him down with a single sword. The meister’s expression, which he had been looking forward to, immediately cooled and he became angry. Not even his gentle brown or fluffy pink hair could hide his wintry expression.
“Why are you asking me to go then?”
Meister pressed up the bridge of his glasses with his middle finger. The way he raised his glasses with only his middle finger, with all his other fingers folded, was quite blatant.
“Where did you leave your feelings of respect?”
“I already sold it a long time ago.”
“….”
But I am well aware of my grandson’s temper. Cheongsanho let out a long snort and drank the tea his friend brought him. ‘Why don’t I give it to you?’ The grandson cursed with his eyes.
“Once again, I won’t tell you that.”
“yes. “I guess so… I guess.”
But that’s none of his business.
Cheongsanho made his decision. Whatever it is, he’s an extraordinary guy, so I think he would have understood it well if I’d told him this much.
“….”
In fact, his grandson stopped speaking and closed his throat as if he had realized something. Indeed, he was the kind of guy who managed to cover up his fatal flaws with two strengths – his intelligence and his dedication to his own cause.
Squeak. While the teacup was being refilled, Cheongsanho’s lips moved.
“But I don’t think this is a damaging proposition for you.”
“…why?”
“If you stay here, there’s nothing you can do anyway.”
It’s nice and warm. Cheongsanho took a small sip of the tea, satisfied with the warmth coming from his palm.
“It is a place where the workshop, materials, and money have all evaporated. “Given your personality, you wouldn’t have any savings, so you wouldn’t have anywhere to draw funds in a hurry.”
Of course, the smell and taste were poor compared to what I used to drink. Regardless of whether one liked it or not, it happened because the quality of the tea leaves was too low.
“Where can research be conducted in such a situation? What are you going to do with the products that were custom-made before the research? “It would be fortunate if the deadline could be extended due to the consideration of the orderer, but those who request a full refund would not have to pay the price.”
However, considering the current situation and future prospects, even this is considered a luxury.
Therefore, rather than expressing his dissatisfaction, Cheongsanho waited for his tongue to adapt to this low-quality product. Well, now that I look at it, it seems like I’ll get into the habit of not drinking tea before my picky tongue will get better.
“…It is true that I am going to experience such a problem right now, but isn’t that something that can be solved by following them?”
“Becoming a hero’s collaborator can be quite useful as an excuse to ask for understanding. “The moment you refuse, you may be suspected of being a heretic, so who would refuse?”
“That’s bullshit.”
“Why are you talking like it’s nothing new?”
“….”
Meister furrowed his brows at Cheongsanho’s words. I can’t deny it, but I still feel bad. I could feel that feeling between the wrinkles between my eyebrows. Anyway, he was a funny guy.
“Even if I ask for your understanding, I will take care of any problems that arise. “As a grandfather, I can tidy it up.”
“Is the damage greater there?”
“Do you think I will live in one place like you?”
Aside from that, this was sincere. After all, their magic tower is on the verge of collapse, but is it really possible that they have less money than a private business owner? Cheong Cheong-ho, how much wealth has he accumulated throughout his life, so how could one incident have left him penniless and without anything?
“There are investments made in other cities. “If we retrieve them and borrow money from other magic tower owners, we will be able to put out the urgent fire.”
“Oh…”
They say that even if a rich person goes bankrupt, it lasts for three generations. It was the same with Cheongsanho. Although his most important assets were gone, he still had diversified assets remaining.
“So don’t worry about this and follow them.”
“But…”
“More than anything, you probably have no desire to work for the people here.”
However, what surprised Meister the most was not the fact that he had money left, but the last statement made.
The raised eyebrows expressed slight surprise. It was something new.
“Are you asserting?”
“I know how much you hate the claim that it is a sacrifice for everyone. There is no way you would be willing to face this situation. “I probably didn’t love this city enough to overcome that dislike.”
From the first time we met until now, Meister’s likes and dislikes were quite clear.
In addition, Cheongsanho was able to understand his grandson’s preferences roughly, if not completely. So this prediction is not surprising.
“I’m not making any sacrifices.”
“But they will arbitrarily assign responsibility, right? “Because you’re so good, you can kill it the fastest.”
In addition, I had a rough idea of how people outside would use Meister. His grandson was truly unnecessarily talented.
“If you’re going to do something you don’t like, I’m telling you to just go. “Whether you stay here or follow that path, the difficulties in research will be the same, and in that situation, it would be better to give yourself plenty of free time.”
But should all that talent be spent on just this city?
Cheongsanho raised his head and looked into his grandson’s purple eyes. I saw eyes that were once speckled, but after erasing the aftereffects of the experiment, they were unified in one color.
He brought that child to this city because he wanted that child to live as he pleased, not to keep him tied to this city.
Just because he loves this city doesn’t mean his grandson has to love it too.
“They say if you have the ability, use it for the benefit of everyone. However, for those who say such things, there are few who remember that those with abilities are also human beings.”
“It’s human foolishness.”
“…I don’t mind if you say you want to stay because you genuinely care about this city. But if not, don’t worry and make better choices for your life. “This place is not at a level where it will be ruined even if you are left out, and even if you stay with only superficial good intentions, you will be treated with low wages and you will only be disappointed.”
“Even if you follow them, you won’t get paid for your labor.”
“I’ll be able to see the world that I couldn’t do instead. Considering that they focus on catching demons, they should be able to pick up quite a bit of the by-products.”
“…I think people in the city will curse.”
“So you’re worried about that and can’t go?”
“That can’t be right.”
okay. It should come out like that.
Cheongsanho looked happily at his grandson, who would only pick his ears when people criticized or slandered him. It didn’t mean much that it was an objectively bad character. As a grandfather, if his grandson could live comfortably, it was none of his business to know how the people who treated him would dress.
“But I don’t think there’s anything I can do by following the hero.”
“well.”
But still… I hope that the grumpy grandson doesn’t ruin someone’s outfit and instead helps him out. Cheongsanho put down his teacup, citing the main reason why he wanted to send his grandson out of the city.
“Isn’t there a request over there?”
“…Wait a minute, that is.”
“You have already received the money, and the request must be delivered.”
The divine power filter that the Archmage had requested be custom-made had to be delivered.
“It must be so.”
That was the only right thing to do.
* * *
Is it because I helped something that didn’t need help? The innkeeper was quite comfortable during my day.
Like serving a little more food or offering lemon water that would normally be sold for money. It was such a small level of convenience.
But if I receive something like that and stay still, is that me? It’s a concept, right?
So, I repaid the favor by helping to clean the service area or carrying heavy items… As a result, I ended up being introduced to your daughter. Even if her daughter hadn’t gone to work at the barracks, she would have been stuck like that.
“Why don’t you stay one more day… I can get it for half price.”
“Haha….”
Being able to stay an extra day for half the price is quite a fascinating story, but if you have to give in return, it’s a bit….
“I’m not just saying this for the sake of introduction. Are you saying you’re going to Young Manhafeld? How difficult is the road to get there now? “Didn’t you hear the rumor that a devil appeared in that alley?”
“Oh, that rumor.”
In addition, the debuff of the camouflage skill slowly rose to a dangerous level. Regardless of the decrease in defense and resistance and the increase in damage received, the dot damage received per second has risen to a level that can no longer be ignored.
I really have to leave now.
“I heard it, but… the city has sent a punitive force, so it’s okay, right?”
Fortunately, I heard while walking around yesterday that twenty soldiers prepared by this city and one knight sent from the city of Mannhafeld—they must have been sent this way because the place where the demon appears is closer here than Mannhafeld—are going out to hunt demons.
Wouldn’t it be okay if I did that? There are priests in that subjugation force and I have to get past them, but still.
“That’s true, but… wouldn’t it be better to leave after hearing the news that they’ve been caught?”
“I don’t have time for that.”
When I tested it in the Great Forest, I was able to maintain my camouflage skills with my sword for up to five days. So, in the line where you don’t die, you barely have half your HP left.
But will they be able to catch the devil and return within those five days? I don’t think so. It would take time to search for the demon, catch the demon, and travel back and forth to the city.
So if that happens, it would be better to leave early and pass them by. Because I won’t be harmed by the devil anyway.
“Stubborn…”
“Haha. sorry.”
“Don’t laugh, I’m being polite.”
“If I ever come to this city, I will come again.”
“Okay, okay. Come early if possible. “Before I get my daughter married.”
I smiled softly at the innkeeper, who couldn’t hide his desire until the very end. I probably would never come back here again, but it’s better not to know something.
“good bye.”
“You have to be healthy!”
“yes.”
I bowed my head slightly to the owner and adjusted my glasses.
It was time to head to Mannhafeld, a city located in the westernmost part of the East, unlike Bemurgen, located on the easternmost coastline of the East.
* * *
[You hid it well.]
Under the Milky Way, where dozens of chandeliers were connected to each other.
Someone sitting on a throne in a spacious hall opened their eyes. The horns that grew like a crown and the colorless white skin scream that it is by no means an ordinary human.
[If you hide, never come out. I will not die obediently to your anger.]
He let out a blue breath and lifted his body from where he was leaning against the backrest. On the back of the throne, which rises higher than his height, is a pattern of Venus carved to look like a halo.
The armrest he was resting his hand on was also unusual. It was created by combining the statue’s hand protruding from the wall with the chair. The hands made by blowing every single wrinkle and vein into the marble look as if they were decorating a corpse.
Ah ah ─
Thousands of angel statues carved on the wall behind the throne are only opening their mouths and filling the hall with chants.
[Adam.]
He held the scepter he was holding with one hand while appreciating the resounding song. Tung. When I lifted the scepter slightly and then slammed it down, the lake that had replaced the floor bounced the scepter away. The slight ripples slowly spread throughout the hall in concentric circles before fading away.
A huge shadow swayed inside the lake, so deep and dark that it was impossible to gauge the depth of the water.
─Did you call me?
Additionally, the surface of the lake began to bubble, and the bubbles depicted some kind of creature. The shape that repeatedly collapses and regenerates due to the low durability of the foam points to the wolves and lions.
[Prepare an old spell.]
He slowly crossed his legs. The hem of her skirt, which was open on one side, was folded several times, hanging loosely, and language that was not human flowed over her exposed white legs.
Protective occupation master. As each layer of old language was piled up, the magic engraved on the emblem that decorated the hall gave off a faint light.
[I will throw a stone of change into a world that has stopped.]
Pride. The last magic bloomed like a flood.