Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 15: Big Water (2).

Allen and Charlotte’s group arrived in Reubala, and on the fourth day, they left the trading city early at dawn.

Sitting on the edge of the carriage, rolling a cigarette and puffing away while looking at the receding city, the archer Jullie flicked the nearly burnt-out stub with her fingers, blowing out the last puff of smoke. Like the dawn sky, the grey smoke trailed behind the carriage before it vanished.

The somewhat distant dawn scenery evoked a strangely poignant emotion even in the dried-up hearts of the mercenaries. Dawn had that kind of magical power.

Allen, too, gazed at the fading city walls from atop the rattling carriage, lost in old memories.

‘My homeland, Earth. Once detestable, always regrettable, often pitiful, yet still emerging, beautiful, my longing blue star.’

Soon, dawn broke.

Ji-hoo’s faint sentiment quickly faded in the sunlight. He returned to reality once again.

…Allen felt something inside him fading away.

There was another 15-day-long journey.

But this time, they did not encounter any thieves. Instead, they found the remnants of a merchant group that had been utterly destroyed. …They must have been attacked by a band of bandits.

There were no goods or survivors, just corpses rotting under the sun. However, they did not have the luxury to bury the bodies.

Instead, Worshipper Manuel offered a single prayer for their journey to the afterlife. No one knew if it would truly help them. Still, it somewhat lightened the hearts of those departing.

After such a long hardship, they safely arrived at the mid-sized city of Berge.

The city, which they reached after a month, was unchanged, just as it was before. It remained a peaceful southern city.

Stepping off the carriage and facing the mansion after a long time, Allen felt something changing within him. However, he still didn’t know exactly what that change was.

“Ugh—.” The mercenaries stretched their bodies and groaned as soon as they got off the carriage.

“Everyone really worked hard. I’ll pay you now.”

The group leader immediately paid the mercenaries their wages on the spot. They gratefully accepted the money and went their separate ways. Only Aiden, who had signed a long-term employment contract with the mercenary group, was the sole person guided to the mansion’s guest room.

Allen was sick from travel fatigue, but still, he took the report he had prepared in advance and went to meet Baron Pomwell. Even if not for that, he had to at least pay a visit to his father as a son returning home.

As expected, Baron Pomwell was working in his study again this time. However, the baron treated his son, whom he was seeing for the first time in over a month, with indifference, as if he had just seen him a moment ago. Of course, the son knew his father’s temperament well and did not expect a warm welcome.

The baron meticulously examined the report Allen handed over. His gaze lingered especially long on the section about the war in the eastern region.

“…War, you say?”

“Yes. That’s why the prices have risen too much, failing to meet the expected amount. And it wasn’t a situation where bargaining would work either.”

The baron did not complain about it at all. Although he was obsessed with money, he was not a despicable person to the extent of insisting on the impossible. It was a situation that could be fully understood, and thus, he accepted it. This was a situation that could not possibly be resolved by an individual’s power.

“I understand. …But, what is this at the end? Leaving? You’re saying you’ll leave this place? Tomorrow, immediately?”

When the baron asked, Allen thought that the expected had happened.

“Ah, that…, yes.”

“Why? Is there a need to abandon your homeland and go to a strange place?”

The baron’s tone was sharp. It meant he could not understand Allen’s decision.

If it had been the timid Allen of the past, this would have been practically the end, but the current him was different.

He had decided to leave, and whether the baron agreed or disagreed, he had no intention of changing his decision. Even if it meant being disowned by the family… Of course, the baron wouldn’t go to such extremes.

“To grow big, one must go to bigger waters. Berge is too small for me now.”

“Do you really need to go into the mercenary business? You could succeed greatly in other ventures.”

“Then, is the Pomwell Trading Company a major trading company now? Is it recognized in other regions as well?”

The baron closed his mouth and glared sharply at Allen. It seemed he had touched a nerve.

However, Allen did not stop. He did not avert his gaze. It was all about moving forward now. He didn’t think about anything else.

“I have no intention of being trapped here. Seeing Reubala made me realize. Someday, I will go to the heart of the Empire. No, I must go.”

He stood with his index finger raised, stabbing the ground repeatedly as he shouted vehemently.

For the first time in his life, in front of the baron, he raised his voice, which he had never dared to raise before.

“In the Empire—! My name—! Allen, Dewise, Pomwell—! I will make sure there is no one who does not know it—!”

And then, silence followed.

For a long while, the two just looked at each other without saying a word. The baron’s sharp gaze pierced Allen’s face for a long time.

The first words after the long silence were the baron’s.

“…Good…”

It was an affirmation at first.

However, he was worried about what would follow.

“Then remember this.”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

Baron Pomwell lightly thumped the table with his fist. His eyes shone fiercely, and his sharp jawline seemed more intimidating today than usual.

“Until I hear your name, don’t think of coming back.”

Father,

“Your name, Allen, Dewise, Pomwell—!”

with each name, pounding his fist,

“This means, if you don’t reach that far, don’t come back.”

said.

“Do you understand?”

After a brief silence,

Allen nodded without a hint of hesitation and replied.

“I understand.”

“Good. You may leave now.”

“Yes.”

Allen bowed lightly and turned to walk briskly towards the study door. And the moment he grabbed the doorknob, a voice called out from behind him.

“…Have breakfast before you leave tomorrow.”

The son turned towards his father and this time, bowed deeply.

And then he left the study.

The baroness cried her eyes out throughout the meal. Even though she was known as a lady who only enjoyed teatime gossiping with other noblewomen, it didn’t mean she lacked maternal love. Having her husband and children always by her side, she had simply taken it for granted.

“Wife, please stop. It’s embarrassing in front of the children.”

“But, sob, but….”

The lady, who usually hung on every word of the baron, couldn’t easily stop her tears this time.

Unable to watch any longer, Allen gave a faint smile and comforted his mother.

“Mother, it’s not like I’m never coming back. I’ll send letters often.”

“Yes…, of course, you should. My son. Huhuhu.”

In the end, the baron also gave up and focused solely on eating. Still, the brother who had once felt a bit of brotherly love did say a word of encouragement, but the sister seemed to hope this time would pass quickly with an annoyed expression.

Thus, the tearful meal ended, and Allen prepared to leave.

The baroness, waiting at the entrance, ran to him as soon as she saw Allen and embraced her son.

“My son. Ah. Come back soon, you hear? Don’t worry me too much. Okay? My son. My beloved son. Ah. God, please bless Allen.”

She kissed her youngest on the forehead repeatedly.

“Don’t worry too much, Mother. I will definitely return as a better son.”

“Yes. I believe in you. I trust you. This mother will pray every night. May you achieve what you wish for. I love you, my son.”

Allen broke free from his mother’s embrace.

It was Borner’s turn now.

“Your brother will also pray for you. Stay safe. I hope to see you again, Allen.”

“Yes. I’ll definitely return, Brother.”

The two brothers embraced tightly before parting.

“Ah, also, father gave you this. He said it’s the fee from the last job. He added ten more gold coins specially.”

Borner handed Allen a purse of money. He took it and put it inside his backpack. His shoulder felt quite heavy.

“I’ll be going then.”

Allen said his last goodbyes to his mother and brother and turned around. Aiden, who had been waiting at the mansion’s main gate, naturally fell into step beside him.

“I’m envious.”

“It’s a divine gift, indeed.”

The two walked straight to the east gate to join the group of merchants they had asked to reserve two spots for them yesterday. They soon boarded the wagon of the group waiting on the outskirts.

‘…It’s going to be a tough journey yet again.’

He could foresee the hardships of a forced march even before the travel fatigue had fully worn off. However, Allen thought that once he had made up his mind, he shouldn’t drag his feet.

‘Mother, Father, I will become the best and return. I promise….’

The group soon set off. Berge became more and more distant.

To clear his complicated thoughts, he counted the commission money he received from his father one by one inside his backpack, out of sight from others.

…Father said he definitely put in ten more, but it seemed three were missing.

Three…, three…? If it’s three….

“Ah fuc—.”

The request for the bribe reimbursement was rejected.