Clean up requests for deliveries received today at Adventurer Guild. Apparently the destination was just northwest of Wangdu. Sounds like a rush request, but well, if it arrives by the end of the day, you won't have any complaints.
Make sure your luggage is in the magic bag and you're all set. The guild leader is pushing me just in case I don't open it. I don't have to tell you to open it... but if you tell me not to open it, it's the humans who want to open it. Well, I can't open it.
"Well, let's go"
"You don't have to be so uptight. We'll be there in a minute. I'm not that far from the city I've been to before."
Lily seems to have been to Linares as well, so she asked Lily to take the lead again this time.
From the seaside city I went to before, I ran for about two hours. The smell of the tide grew stronger and stronger. Is it because there is a salt field nearby?
Soon afterwards, artifacts were seen along the coast. There is a build-up of red tea water in a compartment that is squarely separated like a plow, about one house in a single compartment, and that's massive anyway.
And the moment I stepped into the salt field zone, I felt strong signs approaching from the front.
When I turn my attention in that direction, I see a mass of hot, bitter muscles with a full grin by the unnatural, walking (...) and (...) coming with tremendous momentum. You just look like you're walking, but you're at a hell of a speed.
"Hey, hey, you don't seem to be from the city! Are you lost?
In a slow tone, he stood before us with a smile on his face. I'm not sure if he's human, but if he's human, he's a guy around thirty. If you come close, you'll see that it's pretty big. Nearly two meters tall, the gorilla also wears surprising muscles.
I'm not balancing my smile with my physique. The atmosphere is also suspicious. He doesn't see an intimidating attitude, but the outing is already intimidating. Is there a guard or something?
"... who?
From him, I'd feel more "who," but I had to see what this unknown creature was.
"I'm late for my offer, I'm Simon the saltmaker! Greetings!"
He seems to be a creature called Simon. Looking down at me, he quietly offered me his right hand. I guess you're looking for a handshake. You mean you're barely human?
The unusual atmosphere emanating from him has been felt somewhere before...... It's Mr. Bonanza. That man is also a race between man and something else. I feel that vibe from Simon.
Well, it doesn't seem like a bad person. I hold back the right hand I was offered.
"It's Koh the Adventurer. Nice to meet you."
"Adventurer!!"
Big voice! Simon's gripping power grew much stronger when he opened his eyes and shouted in surprise. If it's about an apple, it's strong enough to grip it gently.
"An adventurer isn't that rare."
"No, I'm a part-time business and an adventurer! You're one of us!
I narrowed my eyes and laughed, waving my grabbed right hand up and down. It's not a good grip to exert when you're grabbing people's hands, but I don't feel malicious. I guess I'm tense to find my own junior.
It is not particularly unusual to be a part-time adventurer. It's like our Claire's making potions. But if you have all this power, it seems like it would be more profitable to focus on adventurers. I wonder if salt making is that profitable.
"That's good, but it's time for you to get your hands off me"
"Ahhh! Excuse me for this!
Simon releases his hand with a hazy look on his face. The movement is exaggerated. I know it's no offense, but it's a little depressing.
Looks like you figured out we're not suspicious people, so let's just get out of here.
"Well, I'll give you a tour for a while. If you're in the way, tell me."
"Maybe you're interested in making salt, too?
Shit, they ate me. Simon has a happy look on his face and his hands on his hips.
"It's not as interesting as it sounds. I just wanted to see it."
"Making and selling salt, it's something an adventurer can't go through! You'll have a different kind of fun than adventurers! I get it! I'll show you!
I think that's a very grateful offer. But... it's a little too hot. This tension, for a long time, is a little... pretty hard. Make up a good reason and say no.
"Because of the offer, I'm in the middle of a request right now. I don't have much time."
I still have time, but I'm not lying about being in the middle of a request. I want to deliver it before sundown, so it's also true that I can't even relax much.
"Really...... too bad! Need help!?"
Simon unfortunately wrinkled between his eyebrows and has made such an offer. He's not sure. Is it a bottomless favorite because it doesn't look like there's a back to words and deeds?
"It's not necessary. It's just a delivery."
"Okay! Well, take care and go!
We walked out with our heels back, but Simon was smiling and waving until we were out of sight.
I've been smiling ever since we met until we broke up. It's a refreshing smile that reassures people, but it scares me the other way when it's so thorough. You've gotten to know a weird guy...
After breaking up with Simon, he walked slowly toward the city through the salt fields that even continued. No matter how much you look at it, there's just a whole bunch of wide puddles. By the way, there are puddles of different colors, but what does that mean...
What kind of work are we doing here? What procedure does it use to make salt? I can't even guess just watching the puddle. I guess I should have taken Simon's offer. I don't know anything without an explanation.
"... Shall we go to the Adventurer Guild first? Looks like today wasn't a good day to visit."
"Right...... You can always come, so let's change the day."
Claire's right, metastatic magic has allowed her to come anytime. Make up your time and readiness and ask Simon to show you around.
I kept walking for a while and saw a big barrier in the distance. Looks like we finally made it to the city. He gets a monkey test at the main entrance and enters the city.
Once inside the city, things seemed a little different from the one I've been to. Vibrant, but not busy anyway. The people in charge of the heavy bag and the people who pulled the rear car are moving around because of it. "Rural with so many people," such an image.
As I ask Simon for a description of this city, I head to the Adventurer's Guild first.
Inside the guild, it is not particularly different from other cities. I didn't take the request, so I went straight to the counter where my uncle would sit.
"Deliverables. Here, okay?
"Ah, yes. Good luck. Let me rephrase the contents, please go to the reception room."
Apparently, he's checking inside in our presence. I guess we'll find out if there's any trace of the opening or if there's any dirt damage. Neither, naturally, but it's natural for the recipient to look into it.
"Okay."
That's what I'm saying, I'm going into the room where I was guided. Inside is the same as the reception room of the guild of the King's Capital. I sat on the couch with a trick I was used to.
Alliance officials sitting across from us untie the strings tightly tied. Then a bunch of paper came out of it. It seems it was just paperwork that we were transported. If it's just the paperwork, I don't have to think about it, but I guess there's a reason why it's not working on the transcriber.
Alliance officials are looking through the first sheet of paper. I changed my complexion and turned bright blue to see what was written there. And scream with a trembling voice.
"What the hell!!"
"What's up?
"No, it's none of your business, but the amount of salt you buy will be greatly reduced..."
... Is that it? This is...
"How could you do that?
"No, it seems that a large quantity of salt was bought by the state. It says it's to secure its financial resources."
Wow... it's my fault. Shit.
"I see. That's tough..."
It's a big deal. I have a little something to do with it, too. Because I'm the one who brought in that salt.
"Ha... don't worry about it. It's none of your business. But don't say anything else."
I let my mouth slip, and when I scratched my cheek with a bitter laugh, I continued my words in a whisper.
"Ha... I have to tell this to the salt making guild..."
I lost my temper from the face of the Alliance staff. Apparently the Adventurer Guild even has to give a message. It's a job to tell people things that are hard to tell. I'm going to bald with stress...... Officials can do such an important job.
"Tell me if there's anything I can do to help you."
"It's not about you feeling responsible. I definitely received the package. Give this to the King's Guild."
A man at the counter gave me a piece of paper. They say this is the receipt certificate. Thin, dirty, poor phase pieces of paper, but with fine patterns stamped on it, counterfeiting would be difficult. If you give this certificate to the Guild Commander of the King's Capital, my mission is over.
"Okay. Thanks."
That's what I said and turned my back on the counter clerk, but I feel an indescribable bitterness. The aftertaste is very bad when you go home like this...
Leaving the Adventurer Alliance and moving to a place where there is no popularity. After me, everyone followed me in silence. I guess we all have something to think about.
I stopped and turned around and called out to everyone.
"You got a minute?
"... of your letter..."
Luna says so at first sight.
"Right. I'd like to think it wasn't my fault, but I also think I might be the cause if I traced it back. I just want to do a little research, okay?
"I'll tell you what, Coe, it's not like you feel responsible. This is the royal castle's decision. Responsibility lies with the royal castle."
Mr. Lilly tells me to tell you, but I know that too. Whatever the cause, it was the royal castle officials who made the decision to 'reduce the amount of the purchase'. Nevertheless, this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't sold salt.
"It just seems foolish to me, no matter what I think. If I knew the royal castle would make such an asshole mistake, I wouldn't have sold it to the royal castle or anything."
The price of the salt I sell is paid for over a year. This will mean that this reduction will last for a maximum of one year.
Significant income reduction in a year. Salt makers will be devastated. Perhaps a lot of people get lost on the street. schematics such that only some vendors with gold will survive. One of the causes is the salt I brought in, but the biggest problem is the king's failure.
The salt I brought in is only for this one time, so salt production in this city must continue forever. Yet it launched a policy that would put the survival of salt production in jeopardy. If this stops salt making in this city, we will be hit by a serious shortage of salt after next year.
"I wonder what the king is thinking..."
I was frightened and my voice leaked. I wonder if he's an asshole. No, you're an asshole. Confirmed.
"Just give me a minute. I don't think that king would do such a nasty thing. Don't you have any ideas?
Ha, ha. I got back to Mr. Lily's words. I'm a little sorry to admit it, but that king turns his head. I don't think I would implement a policy like this without thinking about it.
"Sure, there's going to be something behind it"
Crush the salt maker and what the hell do you want? If possible, I guess the nationalization of the salt fields. If you plan to make salt production a national business, private contractors will get in the way. Maybe it means' crush it first '.
Or... maybe you're thinking about trading with Mirzia. When it comes to importing cheap salt from Mirzia, domestic salt makers absolutely rebel. It is not strange that the judgment 'Shut up and crush it' has been made.
No, even if it did, with this reduction, the state should get a huge backlash from the craftsmen...... Running off with a rebellious man guilty of something like treason? I don't care what you think.
All right, let's harass the king!
"Hey, what are you laughing at...?
Claire cautioned me. Looks like he was laughing by accident.
"I'm going to stay in this city for a while, okay?
"You came up with something again... Fine. We'll hang out!
When Claire snorted with a wicked grin, everyone else was in tune with it.
If that's what you decide, let's go see Simon first. I don't know what the king is up to, but I'm gonna scratch you around with all my might.