Ch.10Chapter 10 – Traveling with Serin Ekatos (2)

After filling our hunger with bread that had transformed from hard and dry to soft and chewy, Serin and I continued our journey to Belsalem.

“Come to think of it, why are you trying to go to Belsalem?” Serin asked, looking at me as we walked.

It seemed she was curious about my reason for wanting to go to Belsalem.

“I heard that in Belsalem, I can meet merchant groups that supply goods to Glesius Academy.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Serin looked slightly indifferent at my answer.

“Is there a particular reason why you’re trying to go to Glesius Academy?”

“Huh? Is there some problem with that?”

Was there a reason I shouldn’t go to Glesius Academy?

I looked at Serin and asked why she had posed such a question.

“Unless you’re trying to enroll at Glesius Academy, there’s no reason to go there.”

To Serin, I didn’t appear to be someone trying to enroll at Glesius Academy.

I had simply told her that I wanted to go to Belsalem and then to Glesius Academy.

But how did Serin know that I wasn’t trying to enroll at Glesius Academy?

“Couldn’t you have thought that I was going to enroll at Glesius Academy?”

“Pfft! You really don’t know anything, do you?”

“What? What don’t I know…?”

“Glesius Academy absolutely never accepts students by any means outside the official enrollment period. And right now, it’s been over a month since the enrollment period.”

Serin’s point was surprisingly valid.

Since the enrollment period for Glesius Academy had passed, I didn’t appear to be someone trying to enroll there.

“And, no matter how much money or power you have, Glesius Academy absolutely never accepts students outside the set enrollment period. That’s common knowledge.”

It seems that in this world, it’s common knowledge that Glesius Academy doesn’t accept students outside the enrollment period.

Since no part of the game I played covered this aspect, it made sense that I wouldn’t know.

It’s not like I know everything related to Erasto Chronicle.

I didn’t live and breathe the game enough to remember every single detail.

“Is that so? I didn’t know much about that.”

“That’s possible. Even though Glesius Academy is famous, information doesn’t necessarily reach remote mountain areas.”

Surprisingly, Serin was understanding about my lack of knowledge.

Indeed, is she kind-hearted because she’s beautiful?

“So, why are you trying to go to Glesius Academy? You’re not enrolling, and you don’t seem like you’re just going for sightseeing.”

Serin asked again about my purpose for going to Glesius Academy.

One might be suspicious of her motives for probing into my purpose, but according to the heroine description, Serin Ekatos was known for her curiosity.

That’s why she left her family and became a mercenary, unable to resist her curiosity about the world.

So it wasn’t strange for her to be interested in my purpose.

“You know my ability, right?”

“I do.”

Since Serin Ekatos had a rough idea of what my ability was, she nodded and answered.

“I’m trying to use it to earn some money.”

“Money?”

When I said my reason for going to Glesius Academy was to make money, Serin tilted her head slightly with a puzzled expression.

“Yes. Rather than sitting idle and letting my ability go to waste, isn’t it more reasonable to find a place where I can earn more money?”

“So, you’re saying you’re moving to find a place where you can best utilize your ability?”

“That’s right.”

“Hehe. As I thought. I like that.”

It seemed my answer pleased Serin.

In fact, there were a few things in our conversation while eating bread that allowed me to infer Serin’s personality.

She’s someone who believes in using her abilities or status appropriately.

I just utilized that fact appropriately, and that’s probably what she liked.

“Well, truthfully, my ability isn’t one that can be directly used or applied in combat. So I’m thinking of finding what I can do with my ability and trying that.”

“Just the fact that you’re venturing into areas where you can actively use your ability is courageous enough. Hearing that makes me like you even more.”

“Hahaha. Thank you for seeing it that way.”

Was my answer appropriate?

Serin and I were able to create a cheerful atmosphere, laughing together as we headed to Belsalem.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

Serin Ekatos.

The daughter of Count Bellum Ekatos, the current head of the Ekatos family, and an operative of the information broker organization known as Black Feather.

She was currently heading to Belsalem as the escort for a man called Patos, following a cooperation request from Justin, the head of the Black Feather Belsalem branch.

The content of Justin’s cooperation request that came to her was as follows:

[To Black Feather operative Selen. A man called Patos will be heading to the Whirlwind Inn where you’re staying. Before the mercenary broker introduces someone else, volunteer to be his escort. You can accept a slightly lower fee than the standard. The Belsalem branch will compensate for the loss. Approach the man called Patos and find out his purpose for going to Glesius Academy, his future plans, and various other information. As of now, the importance level of this individual has been elevated to Alpha grade.]

Serin, known as Selen within Black Feather, knew well about the person called Justin, the head of the Belsalem branch.

She knew that he was the branch head in charge of Black Feather’s Belsalem branch and had temporarily come to Oak Tree Village for an investigation.

She also knew that he was soon to be promoted to the Glesius Academy branch.

Therefore, she was well aware that this man named Justin wouldn’t assign an investigation on an individual for trivial matters.

There were only two types of targets that would interest Justin:

Those whom Black Feather could gain an advantage by obtaining information first, or those who needed thorough investigation due to their connection with the Demon Cult.

After reading through Justin’s request, Serin decided to see the individual in person before making a decision.

So, when she came down from her room, she discovered who the man called Patos was.

The man who had demonstrated an incredible ability at the Whirlwind Inn in the morning and left was the very man Justin had requested information on.

So she approached Patos, mentioned the morning’s incident, and was able to have a conversation with him, becoming his escort by lowering the basic fee.

In truth, Serin wasn’t in need of money and could have worked without payment, but she felt that would undervalue her abilities, so she deliberately accepted just a few silver coins.

And as she moved toward Belsalem, confirming his abilities once more, a thought crossed her mind:

‘If I utilize this man’s ability, could he repair our family heirloom?’

It was about the heirloom of her family.

The divine sword “Storm Guide,” the heirloom of the Ekatos family, was said to have been received from a god by the founder of the Ekatos family.

However, even this item had deteriorated over time, and it was broken when the previous family head was defending against a demon attack.

So she left her family and joined Black Feather to find a way to repair the Storm Guide.

But now, there was a person before her eyes.

A man named Patos, who claimed to have the ability to repair any item.

He had reportedly repaired the helmet, a memento left by the vigilante Hans’s younger brother, making it as good as new.

What if his ability could repair not just ordinary items, but divine swords as well?

‘I must keep him by my side by any means necessary.’

He was someone who should be sought after, with people coming to him of their own accord and paying large sums to employ him.

Of course, since he wasn’t famous yet, he had to go around seeking work himself…

But what if he established himself near Glesius Academy, where many talented individuals gather, and showcased his ability?

‘Any faction with money and power would definitely try to recruit him.’

But this would only happen if he truly had the ability to repair all items, as he claimed.

Therefore, at this point, Serin still needed to observe him.

However, if he proved his ability as he claimed?

Then Serin’s perception of him would completely change.

From ‘a target for information gathering’ to ‘a talent that must be recruited at all costs.’

Serin could only hope in her heart that he truly had the ability to repair everything.

But soon, she would encounter an opportunity to confirm that his ability was real.

“My, my sword?”

Her beloved sword, the famous “Diamant,” had finally broken while protecting Patos from a monster.