Volume 7 Chapter 2 Rain Drop
"Welcome back, Al. You look happy. Did something good happen?"
Orson, who was drinking in the dining hall, called out to Al, who returned with a cheerful expression. Across from him sat a couple he hadn't seen in a while. He recognized their faces, but couldn't remember who they were...
"Yeah, I got my reward and bought a new spellbook."
"Hey, hey, you bought another one? You should save some money, you know? I know you're young and don't get it yet..."
As Al walked over to the table where the 3 were sitting, he listened to Orson's usual lecture. He looked at the man happily munching on meat and suddenly remembered. Oh, it's Madoc, and the woman is Najira. They were a couple of adventurers who stayed here when they first came to the (Red-Faced Sheep) inn. They had gone to the border city of Parker, if he remembered correctly...
"We arrived here in the afternoon too. Even though we said we were mercenaries, it was mostly just like being security guards. We didn't make much money, so we decided to wrap things up and come back."
Since Al hadn't had dinner yet, he decided to join the 3 at their table for a meal. Naresh had just left for the border city of Parker. He wonders what it's like over there now?
"I heard there's a war starting in the neighboring country, and they're gathering skilled adventurers in Parker. I thought this could be a great opportunity..."
When they reached the border city of Parker, they saw many refugees from a nearby country living in simple tents on the hills. There were thousands of them, possibly up to ten thousand. At the Adventurers' Guild, they noticed many requests from the church for help with food distribution, security, and keeping order in the area.
"I thought I was tricked. Well, it's not like I didn't want some skilled people for security jobs, and there's talk that a war might happen. I was watching things for a while, but nothing changed. I thought I couldn't take it anymore and came back here."
Hmm, maybe a war is coming. Al thought, but he didn't say it out loud. Just earlier, he had talked about that at the shop where he tried to buy a spellbook. If people thought he was loose-lipped, it could affect his trustworthiness.
"What about you?"
When Madoc asked, Al shared that he had participated in an expedition for frontier development. He explained that he knew Naresh, the lord's second son, and the head of the Levy merchant guild, which helped him get work. The two of them seemed quite envious.
"I see, connections like that are really important... If you have any work, we'll definitely ask you."
"Yeah, please do. But my current job is done, so I'll be looking for work again starting tomorrow."
If they needed something, it was definitely more reassuring to ask someone they knew rather than a stranger. The two of them seemed quite capable. Still, Al probably wouldn't be the one assigning jobs.
"Orson, do you have any good jobs? Something the 4 of us can do?"
Najira was drinking wine next to Madoc. Her face was already red, and she looked a bit drunk. Al also thought that once Orson got better, they could work together again...
"That's unusual, Najira actually wanting to team up with someone..."
Orson said in surprise. Madoc and Najira were childhood friends and had always worked together, but from what Orson knew, it was usually Najira who didn't want to include other members.
"Well, if we say we're magicians, it could open up more job opportunities. Plus, it might help people know our skills for future work."
Madoc smiled wryly at Najira's words. Orson crossed his arms as he thought.
"Yeah, it's about time we could aim for 'Raindrops'. Do you think this group can handle it?"
Raindrops are special materials found in the Margrave Rain forests. They work well as antidotes and are sold for high prices. Each raindrop is about 5 cm (� 2 inches) long and looks like a thin ball, similar to a type of mushroom. They got their name because they look like raindrops. Although they were first found in Margrave Rain, they were actually discovered in the forest east of the capital, Rain. This area is managed by officials, so collecting raindrops without permission is not allowed.
"Don't worry, Al. We won't go too far. Actually, there's a place in the Sipree Mountains where we can find them."
Orson saw that Al looked worried. He smiled and said, "The Sipree Mountains are a big forest area northwest of Lester, our border city. Channing Village, where you�re from, is also in that area. You grew up in the Sipree Mountains and did some gathering, but you've never heard of this place before. If I say there's a spot to find it, there must be one."
"So, I was thinking of giving up because of my leg, but Al, can you use that magic again? If you do, I can help guide you. There are strong magical beasts there."
That magic he mentioned must be the 'Carrier' spell. Well, if he uses that, he can carry Orson.
"Sounds good. Are we leaving right away?"
Orson shook his head at Madoc's question.
"You just got back today, right? How about we leave in 3 days? Plan for about ten days of preparation."
If they leave in 3 days, it shouldn't be a problem with his promise to Ruella. Madoc and Najira nodded in agreement.
"Did you find any delicious food in Parker?"
One of the joys of going far away is trying the food there. Al asked the two while receiving the dish Iris had brought him.
"Yeah, that border city Parker is next to a lake called Jewel Lake. You can catch a lot of fish there. I think it's called Prachon. There are some pretty big fish, about 60 cm long � 23.6 inches. The grilled fish was really tasty. Also, there was a popular soup called Gazpacho. I heard it's a dish brought by refugees. It's thick but refreshing, perfect for hot days. Both dishes are said to give you energy..."
Speaking of refugees, Al wonders if they are the people who escaped from Patricia's hometown, Count Senety. Would eating that make her feel a bit better? Prachon, Iris murmured beside her. She seems interested in the food talk.
"Do you know how to make that Gazpacho dish?"
The two of them tilted their heads. Al wonder if anyone knows. He looked at Iris. She tilted her head too.
"Um, I'll ask Papa and Mama. Just wait a moment."
Iris quickly headed towards the kitchen.
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