Ch.90Starting City Potion Shop NPC (1)

# 2 Years Later

The door to the potion shop opened as an adventurer entered.

“Welcome to Jack’s Potion Shop.”

Alreina, who had been sitting in a chair by the sunny window, struggled to stand up to greet the customer.

“Is there something you’re looking for?”

Cradling her swollen belly, Alreina smiled at the adventurer.

“Ah, well… I’m planning to go south. This is my first adventure…”

“I see. Then I recommend the beginner package.”

Alreina took out a large box from the shelf.

Inside were several Healing Potions, a fishing rod, sleeping bag, flint, pocket knife, and other essential survival tools.

These were the items the old man had given Alreina for free when she set out on her adventure.

She could personally vouch for their usefulness.

“That’ll be ten silver coins.”

“Here you go. But…”

The adventurer turned his gaze to the continental map on the shop wall, specifically toward the southern region.

It was no longer the blank, unexplored territory it had once been.

Though partial, it now showed various topographical features, discoveries, and temporarily constructed roads.

“Is it still okay to go there now? I heard countless adventurers have gone south over the past two years.”

“The south is vast,” Alreina smiled.

“New discoveries are still being reported constantly. So no, you’re not too late. If you hesitate because you think you’re late, then you truly will be too late.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you!”

The adventurer left the shop with a bright expression.

Left alone, Alreina looked around at the empty shelves.

She had fully stocked the beginner packages this morning, but they were already sold out before sunset.

Typically, many adventurers depart for the south in the afternoon.

That’s when they need to leave to reach the next pioneer city before nightfall.

It wasn’t just adventurers.

Many men from the city had left dreaming of success in the south, and many had died.

As a result, there was now a severe shortage of men in the city.

With the gender ratio imbalanced, marriages and births had decreased, causing no small amount of worry for the mayor.

After all, a city’s strength comes from its population.

Anyway, perhaps she should close the shop early today.

She needed to start preparing dinner soon.

Being pregnant had made her body sluggish, so it would be better to start early.

Today was the day the Holy Knight would return from his pilgrimage after two years.

Unlike usual, she planned to prepare a lavish meal.

Just as she was about to turn the “Closed” sign, the door opened and a voluptuous woman dressed entirely in green entered the shop.

She was carrying a large, butchered and cleaned pork on her shoulder.

“Alreina!”

“Brasya? Why are you here so early?”

“Didn’t we agree to have something delicious for dinner tonight?”

Alreina smiled at Brasya’s words.

“That’s right. I was just about to start preparing.”

“I came early to help. You know everything’s harder when you’re pregnant. It’s the same with pigs.”

“Thank you, Brasya.”

Just then, the door opened again, and this time a small, armor-clad woman stomped in, clearly irritated.

“Ugh, seriously! What is this, housework?!”

“Miyumi? It’s not quitting time yet…”

“I don’t care! The captain told me to go!”

Miyumi answered sharply, baring her teeth.

It seemed Adelheid was worried about pregnant Alreina working in the kitchen alone and had sent Miyumi ahead.

Always cynical on the outside but warm-hearted inside.

The three women began preparing dinner.

“Hehe, Miyumi. You really don’t know how to use a knife, do you?”

“What?! What are you talking about! I’m incredibly skilled with a sword!”

“You might be good at cutting people’s necks, but not carrots, hehe.”

“Argh! I cut my finger! Stop talking to me, you pig!”

* * * * *

“Governor!”

An aide rushed in noisily and handed me a document.

“What is it?”

“It’s a first discovery report from the southernmost expedition team!”

I practically snatched the report upon hearing those words.

Let’s see, let’s see. Is it what I think it is?

Yes, that’s right.

The report detailed the discovery of a new subway station.

I had thought the south was vast enough that there might be another subway station somewhere, but I didn’t expect one to be found so quickly.

Of course, the report only described it as “stairs leading underground with unknown purpose.”

I’ll need to pass this to Adelheid so we can have it buried like the previous subway station.

Currently, the Starting Village is flourishing due to southern exploration.

At a time like this, we absolutely cannot allow people to learn about a transportation method that would let them bypass our city and penetrate deep into the south.

Two years ago, after escaping the Subspace of Sighs with Alreina and returning to the city, surprisingly, the south had regenerated.

What had once been nothing but wasteland suddenly sprouted mountains, flowing waters, and all kinds of flora and fauna.

There’s no way to know exactly how this happened.

Even when I asked the Witch of Sighs and her daughter, they said they didn’t know either.

When I asked how they knew about the situation here, I got a similar answer.

‘I don’t know what my mother was thinking or how far she could see.’

‘Then you don’t know why she made you wander in the subspace for 7,000 years?’

‘That was probably my mother’s mistake. Haha, sorry.’

Anyway, the south had regenerated, and Alreina and I went back down south.

After exploring the south for several months, we reached a conclusion.

The south was no longer the edge of the map or an unimplemented bug area, but had become a complete land.

King Beona, who had survived from the northern subway station, learned this fact and immediately took action.

She promoted the Starting Village to a second-class city and created the ridiculous position of Southern Governor, appointing me by royal decree.

Even after facing a near-death experience, Beona was that serious about southern exploration.

The Empire surprisingly didn’t intervene.

They had heard about how half of the Tanyashan Kingdom’s expedition team had recklessly entered the south and died instantly.

For the Empire, such massive casualties would have been too much of a burden.

Only someone obsessed with adventure like Beona would attempt such a thing.

And so, the south is currently being pioneered under the leadership of the Tanyashan Kingdom.

Several villages have been established in the south, with the Starting Village as the base point.

All of them are under the administrative control of the Starting Village and are distributed in various directions—west, east, and south—throughout the southern region.

The south is so vast that adventurers don’t just head straight south but spread out in all directions.

In these pioneer villages, adventurers can receive sufficient supplies.

Each village has small potion shops and plenty of pigs for food.

Thanks to the platoons dispatched by the Guard Regiment, it’s safe, and with various support from the Tanyashan Kingdom, countless adventurers from all over the continent are flocking here.

As a result, the Starting Village has now become a first-class metropolis, essentially serving as the gateway to the south.

A first-class metropolis is almost on par with a kingdom’s capital, excluding the Empire’s imperial capital, and is one of the few in the entire Empire.

The mayor here receives ceremonial treatment equivalent to a marquis and administratively controls numerous villages in the southern part of the kingdom, including Odelin City.

In this Starting Village, besides the mayor, there exists another somewhat suspicious position.

The Chairman of the Southern Exploration Committee, also known as the “Southern Governor.”

While the mayor is responsible for the Starting Village, the Southern Governor exercises authority from beyond the southern gate of the Starting Village.

Establishing villages, laying roads, mobilizing guards, and receiving initial reports of all discoveries.

An incredible amount of power that’s hard to believe belongs to a mere appointed civil servant.

In simple terms, you could call me the king of the south.

Damn it, I wanted to live comfortably and safely… I guess I’ll have to postpone that for a few more years.

Looking out the window, I see the sun has completely set. Time to head home.

Today is the day Liberone’s group returns from their two-year pilgrimage.

“Mayor! Mayor!”

I shouted loudly in front of the mayor’s office, but there was no answer.

When I opened the door, I found Bellamy trapped behind mountains of documents, having what appeared to be a very serious discussion with the deputy mayor and other staff.

“Governor. The mayor is quite busy at the moment… She says you should go ahead.”

One of the staff members relayed this message before slamming the door shut.

I’m insanely busy too, but it’s nothing compared to Bellamy.

Thanks to consistently taking medication, her depression had completely healed, but with the recent final promotion of the city to first-class status, she looks like she might relapse.

Perhaps that’s why she’s been quiet about the matter between me and Alreina.

In the past, she would have cried, screamed, and threatened suicide.

It’s not so much that she’s quiet as she doesn’t have the time to care.

Poor Bellamy. Despite graduating top of her class in the Imperial Civil Service Exam, she can’t escape and is stuck working endlessly.

* * * * *

As I left city hall and headed toward the street where the shop was located, delicious smells were already wafting through the air.

I wonder if Alreina is preparing something amazing.

“Jack.”

Turning at the sound of my name, I saw Adelheid approaching, leading a horse and wearing a magnificent cloak.

With our city becoming first-class, the former guard unit had been upgraded to a Guard Regiment.

Sir Hostante, a former Imperial Knight, became an advisor to the Guard Regiment, and with various functions added, our guard unit can now independently conduct long-range operations.

It all started as a vigilante group called the Potion Knights.

And Adelheid was once a troublesome mercenary captain being hunted by the Empire.

Who could have predicted we’d end up like this?

“Commander. I thought you’d be late.”

“It’s an important day. You’re the one who managed to make it on time.”

“Well, I’m just a guy who plays around all day.”

Though that’s just wishful thinking.

“By the way, Jack.”

Walking side by side toward the shop, Adelheid asked.

“Have you thought about what you’ll do when she arrives?”

“Well… I’ve considered various options, but I haven’t decided yet.”

“I see. But you need to make a decision now. If you show no reaction again today, she’ll surely be deeply hurt.”

“I understand…”

Opening the shop door, I saw people moving busily inside.

Brasya with a happy grin, Miyumi with a disgruntled expression, and…

“Mister!”

My wife Alreina, immediately rushing into my arms.