Chapter 99: Solen Again Part 1

Darion, this guy has changed quite a lot too.

I gave him a friendly smile and patted his shoulder.

But more importantly,

The important topic hasn't come up yet.

With a subtle smile, I tightly gripped his shoulder.

"Darion."

"Yes?"

"No matter how close we are, we need to settle things properly."

"…Yes?"

"I mean the payment for the job, the reward."

That's right. Since I successfully completed the task assigned by the Sylvanus family, it was time to receive my reward. Looking at his dumbfounded face, I laughed heartily.

"Well, it's easy to forget. We've been through a lot, after all. But even though we're close, I can't just let it slide, you know?"

"Y-Yes…!"

"I accept checks and I accept cash. Cash is better."

"I'll prepare the reward right away!"

"Yeah, yeah. As you continue your adventures, there will be times when you receive requests, and you shouldn't just let it slide. You have to take care of your own share, understand?"

"…Yes!!"

I gave him another life lesson.

After Darion left, I received the promised reward from the Sylvanus family. It was a whopping 250 gold coins. It was an amount that an ordinary adventurer couldn't even dream of. Maybe it's because they're from a powerful noble family in Lysette, their spending was extraordinary.

Actually, I wasn't in a desperate situation for money.

I had earned money over time and lived quite frugally, so my finances were in good shape.

However, with the quest to find the fragments of the Origin God ahead of me… it was uncertain whether I could continue to take on jobs that provided regular and stable income. So, the more money I can get, the better.

This money already has a place to be spent.

Although 250 gold coins was an enormous amount, it would disappear quickly once I bought some decent magic tools in Solen.

Why buy magic tools?

Because from now on, I need to actively conquer dungeons.

The fragments of the Origin God, which held great power, were likely hidden in notorious dungeons.

But for now, my party consisted of only three members, including myself.

There were many cases where these notorious dungeons could not be conquered even if the country sent in hundreds or thousands of soldiers.

Until now, we had been lucky but there was no guarantee that our luck would hold.

It would be good if we could recruit one or two more companions.

Even though Lloyd and I could handle a hundred men each, the situation was still quite burdensome….

I should try to find at least one wizard if possible.

It would be a good idea to ask around to see if there are any talented people while regrouping Solen.

Setting aside the magic tools, recruiting companions will also cost quite a bit of money.

Even these 250 gold coins would vanish in no time. I let out a light sigh.

"…"

But if it meant returning to my original world, what were 250 gold coins, magic tools, and the cost of recruiting companions?

We were given a grand reception in Lysette and then traveled to the border in a carriage provided by the queen. It was the border that touched both the Barak and Solen countries. We switched to the horse and carriage Katharina had prepared in advance and headed for Solen.

"Storm! It's been so long."

Storm who still boasted his magnificent mane snorted forcefully and rubbed his head against me. Seeing this, Lloyd raised an eyebrow and said,

"That horse…"

"Ah, you've seen him before, right? I met this guy when you stole the horse I bought in the Cursed Lands."

I was the type to hold grudges. At my words, Lloyd averted his gaze slightly and said,

"…There were circumstances then."

"Yes, of course. Well, in the end, it turned out well for me anyway. Since I met Storm and all."

Watching Lloyd, who was usually so dignified and rarely flustered, lose his composure made it impossible to hold back my laughter.

"I'm joking, just joking."

"…You have a knack for making jokes sound serious."

"Yes, it's quite useful in various situations."

I replied with a chuckle and hopped up onto the carriage.

"Alright, let's set off for Solen."

Since we already had mercenary certificates, it was easy to enter Solen.

When we arrived back in Solen, the preparations for the autumn festival, the Harvest Moon event, were already underway. Haaah, it felt like only yesterday when we first arrived in Solen, but so much time had passed already…

Will the festival mean more people?

Before securing lodging, I headed to the town center to check the request board. The festival had indeed brought more people, but it didn't seem like there were any "useful" ones among them.

Still, I should check it every day while we're here.

I headed to the inn where we stayed during our last visit. Fortunately, the innkeeper seemed to remember me well and greeted me warmly. We secured three small rooms, unpacked our belongings, and had a simple meal in the first-floor dining area.

Perhaps it was because I had only eaten the refined and elegant food of the royal palace in Lysette, seeing the hearty and humble food of the inn rekindled my forgotten appetite.

After frying onions for a long time, they added plenty of potatoes and beef, poured in a generous amount of beer~ and let it all simmer into a rich stew. The stew was even accompanied by hearty rye bread with a thick and crispy crust.

"Ah, now I feel alive."

I devoured the stew as if it were a hearty soup, dipping the rye bread into it which made for an incredibly satisfying meal. With fresh cheese and pickled olives on the side, it was a meal as splendid as any royal cuisine from the Lysette palace.

"A glass of beer, please."

"Coming right up, a cold beer!"

"Lloyd, would you like a beer?"

Lloyd shook his head. He subtly declined. Playing hard to get, I see. I took the beer, which was so cold it made my hand ache, and gulped it down. Ah, this is what life is all about.

For dessert, we had cinnamon rolls generously coated with white icing. The strong taste of sugar and cinnamon woke me right up. This is perfect. While I was patting my full stomach, I heard whispers from somewhere.

"Can you believe it, a Kraken appearing in the Echaits Sea?"

"Nonsense, man! This isn't the Abyss; how could a Kraken appear in the Echaits Sea?"

"I'm telling you, there are sailors who saw its tentacles!"

"Ridiculous. If that were true, they'd already be dead."

"Come on, it's reliable news! If we play our cards right…"

"News, my ass. It's just a wild rumor, man. Now, let's finish our meal."

The conversation at the next table sounded ominous. A Kraken appearing in the Echaits Sea… Lloyd, El, and I exchanged glances for a moment. Could it be "Ken"? Maybe he was feeling restless in the dungeon? There would be no benefit to him showing up in the sea…. Anyway, from what I heard, it seemed he wasn't harming people. That was a relief. Tonight, I decided I would try to communicate with Ken's spirit, check a few things, and give him a warning again….

"For now, let's get some rest. We're all tired from traveling, aren't we?"

"Agreed."

"Yes, Master!"

After finishing our meal, we each returned to our rooms. Ah, time for a bath. We hadn't had the chance to bathe while traveling. A bath after a meal at the inn was just what I needed. I asked the innkeeper for some hot bathwater and unpacked my things.

"Ayla, do you want a bath too? It's been a while."

-Kuuun!

Ayla barked once, seemed uninterested, and curled up to sleep. Well, her fur seemed fine, so I decided to leave her alone.

Once the bathwater was ready, I added plenty of herbs and salts to the hot water and got in. Aaah, my body felt like it was melting away. I leaned back in the tub and closed my eyes.

Should I try communicating with Ken?

I clasped my hands together and quietly began chanting an incantation. I felt myself sinking deeper and deeper. Slowly, slowly…

"..."

When I came to my senses, I was Ken. The sensation of multiple tentacles fluttering felt strange. My vision was different from when I was human, which was confusing at first, but I quickly got used to it. I looked around.

As I thought, this isn't inside the dungeon.

Had this guy already hit puberty? There had been so many things to deal with in Lysette that I hadn't been able to pay proper attention to him, and now his wild instincts seemed to be kicking in. I grumbled as I swam slowly. This place seemed to be quite a distance from the deep-sea dungeon. No, it wasn't just a distance.

It feels like he went quite far to the east…

The surrounding scenery was becoming increasingly intimidating. The Abyss must be right in front of me. I knew Krakens were fast, but this fast?

How long had he been swimming? While swimming through the dim deep sea, I saw something sparkling in the distance. The emotions I felt at that moment were "expectation", "joy", and…

Excitement.

I could feel Ken's entire body brimming with joy. What could it be? Was it something he liked to eat? I, or rather "we", cut through the water rapidly, almost like a bullet.

And when we arrived, something completely unexpected was waiting for us.

A female Kraken…

Male Krakens had pointed heads that looked like they wore conical hats, while females had smoothly rounded heads. The one in front of us now was a female Kraken with a smoothly rounded head. She was slightly bigger than Ken.

This guy really is going through puberty.

I had thought his growth was fast…. but this was unexpected. I never anticipated he would find a mate already. Krakens grow at different rates and have varying limits, so finding a mate must be difficult. He was lucky.

Ken who was overwhelmed with joy was flailing his conical head fins and tentacles wildly. However, the female Kraken showed no reaction. She was just blinking her eyes as she looked at him.

Oh dear…

So this was the situation. It seemed Ken hadn't made much of an impression on the female Kraken. He was just happy, and that was it. Poor guy. I waited until Ken finished his emotional dance.

All things considered, I am just like Ken's dad… I had to help, right?

But I have no idea how to woo a female Kraken…

It was clear that just dancing wouldn't make her budge. So then, as expected!

Sharing food is probably the best way to gain her favor, right?

Going simple is best. Just trust your dad, Ken!