Garden Colony #4

 

Inside the barracks.

The captain’s adjutant handed us two heavy bags of money.

“This is an incentive to commend the achievements of the two adventurers.”

“You have acquired 5,000 gold.”

It’s really convenient to be able to know right away how much I received without having to count it all.

“And there’s more. Come this way.”

Flora and I followed the adjutant.

Squeak—

The door to the underground storage room inside the barracks opens.

The adjutant lit a torch and stuck it into the wall.

“This armory holds the equipment our guards use. While not all of it is expensive, it’s all Imperial-made equipment, so you’ll have no shortage of use.”

Swords, spears, armor, and shields are lined up neatly on each shelf.

Flora looked around the warehouse with a look of wonder on her face, as if she had never seen so many weapons stored there before.

“Please choose the equipment you want one by one and tell me. You’ll have plenty of time, so take your time looking through it. Then—”

The adjutant nodded and stepped back.

“Wow! I can have anything, Estelle! What should I choose? What do you think would be best?”

Flora couldn’t hide her excitement and stamped her feet in place.

Even I, watching, secretly smiled at the innocent sight of a child visiting a buffet for the first time in his life.

“Do whatever you want, senior. Be careful not to hurt your hands when taking out the equipment.”

“Huh- they all look great… but I’m having trouble deciding-”

I left Flora to choose the items on her own, and I went on my own to find the items I was after.

The Imperial Steel Sword and the Sharpshooter’s Bow stored here are also good items to use in the early to mid-game, but…

I already have a rough outline of Estelle’s direction in mind.

When growth is complete, the peak of a wizard is a lich that can pierce the sky.

Of course, it would be most efficient to follow the path of a wizard.

In other words, it is a lottery ticket that is guaranteed to win first prize in the future.

“This helmet is cool! Hehe… What do you think, Estelle? Do I look like a soldier? Ahem-“

Flora, wearing an overly large helmet, was unable to bear the weight and swayed like a grasshopper.

Looks fun.

Yeah, as long as you have fun, that’s fine.

“Oh, that’s good.”

He answered dryly while looking for the item.

It doesn’t matter to me what he chooses.

We won’t be seeing each other for long anyway.

“How about this? Shoot magic from afar, then when the enemy gets close, slash them with this sword like this- Or with a spear? Phew phew?”

⋯It doesn’t matter. Really.

“Or? Hiding behind a giant shield—wow, heavy! The world’s first giant shield wizard! Doesn’t that sound cool?”

“⋯Senior, put that down.”

Oh really.

I tried not to care, but I can’t stand it anymore.

I want to train a dog.

“Listen carefully, Senior. It’d be great if you could use all that. That’s fine, but you’re a wizard. What would happen if you were forced to wear heavy equipment when you’re weak?”

“Uh… It must be hard, right?”

“It’s hard. That’s only natural. It slows you down, and even spellcasting is hindered. If you just carry around whatever looks good, you’ll end up a useless human who’s neither a senior nor a wizard nor a warrior.”

When Wadada shot at her, Flora just blinked blankly with her big eyes.

“Come here.”

I took Flora’s hand and walked to a shelf on one side of the warehouse.

“Of all the equipment you can choose from here, this is the most useful for a wizard: Imperial Silk Gloves.”

Wrist protection with a thin iron plate attached to the back of the hand.

I’ve only been looking at this one from the beginning.

Most wrist armor items don’t have any special additional options until the mid-game.

However, the “Imperial Silk Gloves” come with excellent options even though they can be obtained very early on.

In particular, there is a high probability that the “Magic Boost” option, which increases the magic power, the lifeline of the wizard, will be attached.

After carefully examining several pairs of gloves, I handed one to my senior.

Imperial Silk Gloves

—Armor items

—Durability 15/15

-Increases physical defense when equipped

—Soft and durable gloves. Crafted with the Empire’s sophisticated technology, they boast superior defensive capabilities to those of even the most basic leather gloves.

—Additional option: 「Magic Boost」 「?」

—Magic Boost: Increases magic power by 12% when equipped.

“There is an unknown ability hidden within you.”

The gloves were engraved with a faintly shining pattern.

Light green. This means it’s an intermediate rune.

These gloves are good enough to use with just low-level runes like “Magic Boost,” but on top of that, they’re guaranteed to have intermediate runes.

It’s a shame to hand it over to Flora.

I could have just wiped my lips and taken care of it myself…

‘That would have been the case if I hadn’t had these gloves.’

Leaving Flora behind, who was delighted, I laughed quietly.

I also have the same “Imperial Silk Gloves” in my hands.

But…

「—Additional options: 「Magic Boost」 「?」 「?」

—Magic Boost: Increases magic power by 14% when equipped.

“An unknown ability is hidden within this item. A particularly powerful aura emanates from it.”

There are two unidentified runes here.

One of them is a green rune, but the other is a purple rune.

“Crazy. A purple rune appears here? Then it’s guaranteed to be a higher-level rune.”

I was so incredibly lucky.

I had a burning desire to feel emotions right away.

There are no NPCs in the pioneer area who can appraise items, so I guess I have no choice but to learn the “Appraisal” magic and open them myself.

Wait, it’s magic.

Maybe⋯?

“senior.”

I called Flora, who was completely enamored with her new gloves.

Flora puts on her gloves and wiggles her fingers at me.

“Estelle, these gloves are amazing! The design is just my style.”

“I’m glad you like it. But, senior, do you know how to use emotional magic?”

“Not yet.”

Wow.

I knew it.

I have no choice but to get the magic book and learn it myself.

***

The captain of the guard was secretly curious.

What equipment will the two adventurer girls choose from the armory?

When I realized that the only equipment they had chosen was gloves, I felt a little let down.

“It’s not a bad choice, but are you really okay with it?”

I wanted to give a hint subtly.

You might not know, since they look like novice adventurers at first glance.

If you look closely, there might be some precious items with low-level magic runes among the equipment that haven’t been appraised yet. Wouldn’t it be better to reconsider?

Perhaps it’s because I lack experience. I still lack the discernment to appreciate the true value of things.

“It’s okay, Captain. I like this.”

“Well, if that’s what you guys want, do whatever you want.”

The captain shrugged.

“I have one more favor to ask. Could I borrow the key to the underground sewer for a moment?”

“⋯Underground waterway? Why?”

“I accidentally lost something. It seems to have drifted into a canal. It’s precious, so I want to find it myself.”

“hmm-“

I thought about it for a moment.

The canals that run haphazardly along the underpass are like a maze.

Even soldiers who knew the way were often unable to get out once they entered, so the door was usually completely closed.

In principle, it is something that adventurers should not be allowed to do.

“I understand the situation, but I heard there are monsters in the underground waterways. It’s too dangerous.”

“It’s okay. I won’t go too deep. I’ll just search around the door and then come back out.”

I thought that would be okay.

“And what if a monster appears? Captain, we’re adventurers too. It’s our job to take the lead and take risks on behalf of the good citizens. Isn’t that right?”

“⋯That’s right. You’re right.”

The captain of the guard was quite impressed by Estelle’s words.

He was so small that he didn’t even reach his shoulders, and he had no experience—

The girl in front of me was already a full-fledged adventurer.

‘I should follow suit.’

The captain of the guard handed the key to Estelle.

“But remember. Never push yourself too hard. If you sense something unusual, run away immediately. Got it?”

“Yeah, I will.”

The two adventurers turned away, and the captain of the guard turned his chair and looked out the window for a moment.

A gloomy sky. A uniform landscape of the frontier.

“I hope nothing bad happens.”

There was no one else in his office, but the captain muttered as if talking to someone.

“Honestly, I liked them both.”

I’m not talking about rational attraction.

I felt a purely human affection for him.

Adventurers were mostly people who were only interested in their own interests, regardless of their abilities.

The two ladies were different.

Flora was a pure and bright sight to behold.

Estelle spoke informally to me on such a small topic, which was embarrassing at first, but I also found that part of me funny and cute.

And that delicious dish, what was it called, curry—you know how to make curry too.

“And there’s more, those kids look just like you, Yuria. If you ever met them, you might get along well.”

The captain looked at the small framed photograph in front of the window.

There was a moment of silence…

Soon his shoulders began to shake slightly.

“Yuri… please tell me some news. Where are you now…?”

***

First night at the shelter.

Fortunately, no one was snoring in our tent, but for some reason I couldn’t fall asleep easily.

I left Flora sleeping, oblivious to the world, and went outside.

‘It’s a tent for female adventurers only, so I guess it’s okay to leave it alone.’

Sometimes it feels really good to walk in the cool night breeze.

Today went as planned.

I also successfully cleared the quest “Corruption in the Cafeteria”.

I’m happy with the money and equipment I received as a reward, but my goal was the key to the underground sewer.

The captain is right. The underground waterway is dangerous.

But at the same time, it is also a honey hunting ground.

“Hunting grounds with so many monsters gathered in such a narrow space like an underground waterway are rare around here.”

The pioneer area and surrounding areas are vast.

The monsters are spread out in groups of two or three, like grains of rice scattered on the ground.

It takes a lot of time to search for them all, and the competition among adventurers is fierce.

On the other hand, the underground waterway is a hunting ground that only I can monopolize.

“It’s like a hyper-burning hunting ground. I can never give in.”

But what I’m worried about now is a different issue.

Okay, what should we do?

Should I take Flora to the underground sewer or not?

‘It will definitely help.’

Although she may seem like just a nice girl, Flora is a magician.

It wouldn’t be easy to find companions like this in the pioneering area.

And above all⋯

‘A certain level of trust has been built.’

No matter how capable a colleague is, there’s no guarantee that he won’t hit you in the back at a crucial moment.

No, rather, it is more correct to say that the more competent your colleagues are, the higher the risk of being betrayed.

In that respect, Flora was trustworthy.

After observing her while accompanying her for a day, I have a rough idea of what kind of person Flora is.

‘A girl whose head is a flower garden.’

I don’t even know how to think about deceiving others.

Rather, I am worried as I watch.

I wonder if I’ll ever go somewhere and be treated like a fool and get glared at.

Okay, I decided.

We’ll have to attack the underground waterway together with Flora.

As I was walking with those thoughts in my mind, I found myself at the cafeteria tent before I knew it.

‘Come to think of it, I heard a different chef will be in charge of the cafeteria starting tomorrow.’

Well, the quest is over, and what happens next is none of my business.

I’m sure you’ll figure it out.

But, I’m strangely concerned about the garbage bags lined up outside the tent.

It feels like something strangely magnetic is pulling my heart.

I walked towards the trash bag like I was possessed by something.

What’s here?

There’s nothing to see. There’s only garbage left over from cooking…

Why do I have this feeling that my soulmate is buried inside there?

Why is that?

Potato peels?

Dirty toilet paper?

⋯No, this is it.

An empty can that contained curry powder.

This guy was calling me.

The next moment, a message came to mind.

“I have discovered a new candidate for a reliquary suitable for containing the soul.”

“Would you like to replace the reliquary?”