The Skill Collector

Streets stretching west from the capital.

There is so much road that a larger carriage can afford to differ, and the ground is laid with stones for sale with solidity and sturdiness.

A square stone with one side about the length of an adult stride. Embed it in the ground side by side with ten, and connect it straight.

Distract me enough...

This street has an official name, but they all call it The Way of Salt. Because at the end of the streets stretching west is the sea.

You can reach the sea all the way down the well-maintained cobblestone path, all the way down.

If it's a carriage, it's a week early. If you're on foot... you should be prepared for a month, even if you're proud of your good legs.

It's going to seem like an interminable time, but still, it's only with this road. When there was not yet a salt path, it was said that it would take six months to reach the sea as early as possible.

It now exists as a matter of course, but it is told that this is a feat done hundreds of years ago by the king of the country over two generations.

"You're going to be fine."

Twenty people gathered in the middle of the salt path, eagerly staring beneath his feet, so he spoke.

"Oh, excuse me. That was in the way of traffic.... Oh, aren't you a collector?"

I apologize to the man who was giving instructions to the people around me for raising his face, but he looks at my face and breaks up with me.

This one also returns a grin and a meeting because it is the time to meet once a month.

"Shall we all take a short break? Because I need to talk to this guy."

"" "Yes, parent!

A musculoskeletal face replies vigorously to the tough face and moves to the side of the salt path.

There was also their carriage there, so I was removing the cloth from the carrier and wiping the sweat.

"Inspections and maintenance, thank you"

"Because this is what we do"

His face is a little proud to say so and smile.

"Thanks to you, we're very helpful. I really appreciate it."

From generation to generation, he is a clan of masons who maintain this Way of Salt.

Your ancestors, many generations ahead, may be one of the key members who created this path.

"Because this job is a family pride."

The expression pride, is not great.

If this path becomes unusable, distribution will be interrupted and it will involve the survival of the country.

Merchants like me in particular understood the gratitude better than anyone else.

"How's the road going?"

"Originally, I use pretty sturdy stone, so it's not a bit or softly lacking, but it doesn't stand the same as it used to..."

My parents are grinning bitterly and scratching their heads boldly.

Many people go to each other every day, hundreds of years later. It goes without saying that cobblestones will deteriorate if nothing is done.

"How many years have you been involved in this job?

"Is this a decade? It's thirty now, because I was twenty years old when I started."

Has he succeeded his predecessors, and it has been ten years?

He must have never been home since he started this job. Head west while researching the street and fix it on the spot when you find a place to fix it.

Repeat that every day, every day.

Do the same work every day, every year, until you retire.

"Don't you ever want to quit this job?

When everyone uttered the question they thought, their parents closed their eye lids and roared "hmm".

"Honestly, I even defied my parents until I inherited this job. All the way to retirement, what's life worth just looking under your feet and replacing stones! I used to rant about it."

You're reflecting on the old days, your butt scratching your head like it's bad.

I saw a similar sight decades ago. I can't help but feel the blood connection.

"But when I helped my father for six months before I was twenty years old, I reflected ferociously. We are reminded of how important our work is -"

"Oh, thank you for your hard work today. Eat this if you like."

It was a merchant waving in the carriage lordship coming from the west who blocked the words of his parents.

Stop the carriage near this one, stick your torso in the carrier and take out a small bag, and throw it over.

"This is a delicious fruit."

"I got it in the lodging town ahead of me. Don't worry, it's only half a day and the quality is fine."

"Thank you. You'll have it."

"It's this way to thank you. Thanks to you, this is how you can do business comfortably. Thank you to the King of the Great Path and your clan."

A merchant who slaps his plump stomach and laughs out loud.

The "King of the Way" the merchant spoke of is an alias that has come to be called after this feat. I refer to the two kings involved in the policy of the salt road, and I call them that.

The merchant then exchanges two or three words and goes down the street again.

Even after the merchant is gone, whenever adventurers and travellers who use the streets appear, those who offer something along with words of gratitude continue to do so.

The masons were thankful and had received everything without saying no to anything.

"You don't have to worry about starving to death when you do this job."

A young parent who laughs happily.

In just one hour, he was getting food that could afford ten masonry workers.

Don't worry about food, but don't worry about sleepovers.

The masonry sleepovers seem to be wild accommodation when the division of work is poor, but when they reach the cities and villages along the streets, they are provided with accommodation and meals free of charge.

"I am now more proud than anything of this job that people appreciate. Thank your ancestors and kings for accomplishing such a feat."

A prayer of gratitude to the deceased, who are no longer reaching the realm of worship, parents and masons.

Watching you look at that makes me feel indescribable.

"... thank you all for this path."

Merchants, hunters and travellers use maintained roads.

With that in mind, a lodge can be built by the street, people can get together, and a lodging town can be built.

The people who are benefiting, turn them in with generosity to repair. You can say it's a natural flow.

Accommodation towns are dotted at equal intervals half a day's walk away, so road users rarely go wild.

And there are further benefits to the salt path.

Low crime rates on the streets.

Though there are many streets with many users, there are not always people.

It is not surprising that there are people targeting merchant carriages and unarmed masonry groups, which are supposed to have an unusually low incidence of crime.

"Don't you encounter dangerous eyes?

"As I'm sure you know collectors, this stone contains traces of ingredients that you don't like demons. So no weak demons lean in, and no strong demons exist near this street."

It is true that this stone contains ingredients that can repel the demon.

It is an expensive and rarely valuable stone that should normally be used for parts of a cathedral or royal castle, but only some may know about it.

... because when this openly spreads, it's not strange for people to come out and steal stones.

Originally it was just a stone, but for some reason the demons added a frightening element. Well, now it doesn't matter.

"Uh, what's the damage to a burglar or something, not a demon?

"It doesn't either. Sure... my grandfather's days were attacked several times a year, so he also had an escort."

The young parent brings out memories of the past as they arm themselves and fly their gaze into the sky.

This street is frequently used by merchants and travellers.

So it's only natural that there's a bandit out there after all. This country is safer than the rest, but that's why a man like a burglar never disappears.

"You used to be. But if the king... whoa, rumors."

Close your mouth and stare gently forward.

There's a big, puffy rock on the plain a little off the street, but I felt multiple signs from behind.

Signs are rather faint that someone possesses' cover-up 'skills.

"The people there. Why don't you come out?

I'll put my hand on my mouth and call it out loud.

The masons are surprised by their sudden actions and just take a serious look at my face.

I'll wait a while for the reaction of the burglar-like guys, but they won't come out.

"Hiding behind a rock, you guys."

He seems to have given up when he makes that determination, and six men show up in slow motion.

Beard surface on bossy hair. Plus thin dirty leather armor and crude swords.

He is dressed as an easy to understand burglar.

"You're having a hard time fixing the road in a place like this. I don't need that stone, but would you like me to leave all the gold eyes behind?"

I throw up a classic dialogue and I'm getting a nibble.

This one's response to that......

"" "" Ha-ha-ha "" "

It was a big sigh.

"Oh, my God!

It seemed to be an unexpected reaction for a burglar, whose nigger surface instantly turns into a phase of anger.

Did everyone get what they deserved? Apparently you're serious about it.

"Uh, can I ask you one thing?

"Ahhh! Now it's too late to beg for your life!

Without even trying to hide my grump, my nose gets so rough and awesome.

Normally, you would remember the danger to your life and realize it, but both me and the masonry just look unusual.

"No. You're not from this country, are you? Like coming from towns and villages that perished in the war?

Under the influence of my sister, a certain country has put its hands on neighbouring countries, causing considerable damage.

Perhaps he was caught up in the war and collapsed into a bandit. The basis for this speculation is their skills.

"Agriculture," "Woodworking," "Calculation," "Quick Mouth."

I had everything I could do for other jobs such as this.

Besides - it's impossible for people in this country to attack masonry repairing roads.

"Yeah, you got it."

"Again, was it? By the way, do you know about them?

Looking back in motion like reaching out to a masonry organization.

My trick prompted me to concentrate the sight of the bandits on them, but I didn't know what that meant and I was leaning my neck.

"Isn't that just the guys fixing the road? I've been watching them since yesterday, but they're stupid without escorts."

"I see. Again, you don't know. Um, can I say something old fashioned? I'd rather not have my hands on them anyway, wouldn't I?

I kindly advised you with sympathy, but the response was a blast.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Oh, come on, are you out of your mind to be cornered? No weapons, no escorts. Tell them to be on their guard."

The opponent's leader-like beard surface is wiping tears in his eyes. They were funny enough to cry.

"If you attack them, you will surely... you will die"

When you activate 'Speech' and 'Intimidation' to make it powerful and whine, the bandits shut up and breathe.

"They have no special powers. It will be easy for you to win if you attack. But the king of this country is proclaiming it. He who harms those who repair the streets is as guilty as he is of hurting the king."

This is not a threat or a certainty.

It was actually a word spoken by a king several generations ago in front of the people.

"Oh, come on. Don't be silly. There's no way a masonry could be worth that."

and it is strong, but slightly but I can see the colour of fright.

"Well, naturally you can't believe it. But isn't it proof that no one was even on guard that they were defenseless?

…………

On that point, the bandits were also wondering, face to face with their companions and tilting their necks.

"This street - the path of salt - is the lifeline of this country. That's why I respect them for fixing the road. By the way, there have been a few burglars and adventurers who have attacked several masonry workers in the past, but the state has cited its total strength to secure the culprits. They were all decapitated after spectacular torture, and bodies were exposed to the side of the street to show off."

Talk pale and stare, the sound of drinking someone's saliva reaches your ears.

What the King proclaimed in front of his people was not a threat, it really did.

- Torture, is a lie, but you don't need to reveal it.

"Ah, brother, it's easy to hear that rumor. I heard it was a crappy joke."

When one of the robbers eared to the leadership, he saw blood draw from the area not covered with a mustache.

"So shouldn't we not get our hands on it?

Unlike earlier, the bandits, who were seriously listening to my suggestion, are gathered in one place to form a circle and talk to each other about something.

As for this one, I didn't have to rush it, so the masons went back to work, and I watched the work blurry.

"Hey, I've decided not to touch you guys."

As we were resting after lunch, the bandits walked over.

"Oh, really? Good luck."

He looks tired because he's been talking to me for quite some time.

"If that was a lie, I'll be sure to come back for it later. Damn, that was a waste of time. I hope there's some affordable prey out there."

Spit on the ground and the bandits try to walk away.

I threw a piece of stone underfoot at that defenseless back.

"Fuck."

You can't avoid an unintentional blow, everyone falls to the ground.

"In the end, you weren't willing to miss it, were you?... the collector is mean."

Make them smile at their bitter parents, without even being evil.

"There's no reason to leave the bandits alone."

I just gave up crime here, and I'll do it again somewhere, and I'm pretty sure I have a priori based on the feeling I'm used to the place.

The bandits were packed from the edge.

Put your hands on the collapsing neck muscles.

I'm just losing my mind because I have a pulse. Take this to a town or village jar and it will be about a penny.

"I was surprised to hear rumors about the first experience of robbery raids, but there have been developments where people from other countries have attacked us."

"Usually, bandits from other countries rarely influx, because the international situation is not good right now"

I had heard stories about soldiers being cracked in the fort's defense because of the rampant effects of that country, and more barricades being thin.

Although it was just unexpected that security was getting so sweet that we let a bunch of bandits through.

"As the collector said, we need to be more aware that we have an important mission to repair the salt path, the lifeline of this country."

He seems to be clenching his fist all the time and biting off his responsibilities again.

"The first ancestors, he said, were given the word directly by the king. This path must never be cut off. I will also take over the will of my ancestors and dedicate myself and move forward for my country!

Normally I would be impressed with a noble heart, but I had a bitter laugh in my head.

He tells me enthusiastically...... what would he think if he found out the truth?

The past, where the streets had not yet been made. Having exchanged words with the king and the first masonry in command on the spot, I know the real reason why this path was built.

The king... liked seafood.

So this road leads straight to the sea.

The real desire for pure food was before it was built to create a well-developed path for the purpose of smoothing the movement of people and the transport of supplies.

From Miguela Cibi, famous as a fishing village rich in seafood, the road was built to get ingredients a little faster. That is the truth.

By the way, the true origin of The Way of Salt is connected to the sea, not because.

The protesting prime minister and his clan all became personnel carrying stones as a workforce against the king who tried to connect the road to the sea with private lust.

In other words, the masonry ancestors are those who rebelled against the king.

Such tears and sweats of their humiliation fell to stone, and the evaporated salt stretched out like a straight path.

Therefore - the path of salt.

And many of the left-handed prime ministers and their clans possessed 'demon-free' skills.

There is only a small amount of fluids in the fluids of such people, but they have the power to keep the demons away.

Nevertheless, in small quantities it is only to the point of rest, but the massive amount of tears and sweat they shed fell into the stone......

That's why demons don't lean on this road.

In the end that fool king was deprived of his throne by the prince, but the hour was already late, and the path of salt had reached half.

The new king worried about whether to continue, but learned that the streets were still useful in their present state and improved the treatment of the masons. As a national government, he devoted himself to completing the streets.

Their generosity is also the sin of the royal family for what their predecessors did.

"Whatever the hang-up is, it's helping people, so it's definitely a feat,"

"What have you done?

The young parent is surprised, looking at me.

My heart's voice seemed to be leaking out of my mouth.

"No, I'd like some sea delights for dinner tonight."