Chapter 42: Finding the Crows Part 3

[The goddess of the forest and land, Lynshaka, is watching over you.]

The letters flowing from the Purification Tree were ancient words composed of Lynshaka's divine power.

Watching over me?

Is it because I've gathered her more believers?

I glanced briefly at the Purification Tree then slightly bowed my head.

This reminded me of the saying that Lynshaka watches over everything through the leaves.

Being under the watchful eye of a deity isn't always a good thing though.

The moment you do something displeasing to the deity, you might receive a severe divine punishment.

Along with the expectation that Lynshaka might lend me her strength, a sense of burden also weighed heavily on my shoulders.

I must be careful with my actions from now on.

Since Lynshaka was more of a lawful good deity, it would be better to be cautious in my actions.

She might be of help when dealing with the Crows though…

Although I still didn't fully grasp the true nature of the Crows, since they are also connected to the followers of Rasghal, Lynshaka will judge the Crows as "evil".

If things aligned well, it could prove to be a great advantage.

Well, besides that… as a druid, receiving Lynshaka's care could only be beneficial.

I opened the old book.

Sure enough, a new trait had emerged thanks to Lynshaka.

[Child of the Forest]

[You receive the protection of Lynshaka, the goddess of the forest and land.]

[Lynshaka's divine power resides within you.]

[The Unholy fears you.]

The "divine power" of a deity was traditionally something that only priest who had devoted their bodies and minds to the temple could wield.

Yet, I had received the gift of "divine power" directly from Lynshaka.

With this divine power bestowed by Lynshaka, the effect of my healing skills would greatly increase going forward.

This meant that my worth would rise to the level of a "priest".

What a windfall!

"Thank you, Mother of the Forest and Land."

I muttered a short prayer of thanks and then turned around. And while talking about various things with the high priest, we returned to the temple only to find the crowd in front of the temple had somehow grown.

It seemed word had spread that the Saint of Purification had arrived.

The life of a celebrity is indeed exhausting.

Attracting too much attention isn't great either.

"Excuse me, but I'd prefer to leave quietly."

I pulled my hood down further and whispered to the high priest, who nodded his head and handed me over to a young priest before advancing alone toward the crowd. Seizing the opportunity, we slipped through a back path into the temple.

"Then rest well, Sir Theodore."

"Thank you for all the kindness you've shown."

"Don't mention it. Think of this as your home and stay as long as you like."

Upon entering my quarters, I saw El and Ayla waiting for me. Finally, I could relax, remove my hood, and sit comfortably in a chair.

"Master, I took good care of Storm. And I've fixed the carriage properly."

"Well done. Have you eaten?"

"Not yet. Ayla ate some food, but I haven't eaten."

"I should have told you to eat first if I knew it would be this late."

I requested a meal from the priest. The food at the Lynshaka temple was much simpler than what was offered at the Arzan temple, but it was exceptionally clean and delicious.

It had a certain monastic quality to it, perhaps?

We finished our simple meal and called it a day.

The following day, I planned to ask about a ship heading to the Echaits Union and purchase supplies for our journey.

Finding a decent ship is a must…

Although I had never been on a ship in this life, in reality, I suffered greatly from seasickness.

Even when my father had so eagerly suggested we go fishing on a boat, I couldn't bring myself to join him.

Ah, I should have gone with him as an act of filial piety…

Had I known I would die in a traffic accident and end up in another world, I would have devoted myself to being more filial in my final days…

I drifted off to sleep with a mix of regret and sorrow.

***

The next day.

I took El and Ayla and headed to the port. The young priest offered to help us, but I declined, fearing that being accompanied by a member of the temple would attract undue attention.

"Hmm…"

When we arrived at the port, a familiar fishy smell greeted my nostrils.

I feel like I'm going to get seasick already.

I took a deep breath as I gazed at the variety of ships bobbing gently in the water.

"Is there a ship heading to the Echaits Union?"

In response to my question, a sailor who had been busy writing something glanced up at me.

"I don't think you're a merchant?"

"That's correct."

"What are you planning to send?"

"I intend to board the ship myself."

The sailor who had resumed his writing looked up at me again upon hearing my response.

"In person?"

It was a reasonable question. After all, those who traveled between the Echaits Union and other nations were typically merchants or mercenaries.

"It's an expensive city to visit."

"I know."

"And it's difficult to get an entry permit."

"I know that as well."

I subtly pulled out my mercenary badge from within my clothes.

"I thought you were a weakling, but I guess not."

Only then did the sailor put down what he was writing and began to talk with me properly.

"One adult, one child, and one dog."

Hearing this, the sailor burst out laughing.

"Two humans and one monster, you mean."

Ah, I momentarily forgot that the concept of "children" doesn't exist in this quasi-medieval land.

"Yes, two humans and one monster. How much will it cost?"

I asked for the price without any fuss.

"2 gold coins."

Well then.

The sailor must have taken me for a rookie mercenary.

Probably because I didn't have any expensive-looking weapons and my clothes were quite plain.

"That's too expensive."

I'll let it slide this time.

"It's a surcharge for transporting the monster."

"It's already been tamed."

"Take it or leave it."

This old man, really…

I wasn't short on money, but the clear intent to take advantage of what he perceived as a naive mercenary made me reluctant to give in.

"1 gold and 50 silver coins. Any more would be unreasonable."

"Humph! That's too bad then."

The sailor waved his hand dismissively as if shooing away a fly.

Was he really going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers?

"What's this? Who do we have here?"

It was then.

A familiar voice reached my ears.

"Ah, it's you…!"

With a face like a fox, short stature, a somewhat chubby figure, and a lot of jewelry on his hands and neck…

"Theodore!"

He was a merchant from the Echaits Union, with whom I had once undertaken a request to escort across the Golden Road.

Despite the passage of time, the merchant seemed to remember my face.

"Long time no see. Have you been well all this time?"

"Of course! It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the trade was successfully completed thanks to you!"

"You flatter me."

"What brings you to Rabata?"

"I'm thinking of heading to the Echaits Union."

"To the Union? Are you looking for work?"

"That's the idea."

When he heard my words, the merchant was visibly delighted.

"Good heavens, someone of your caliber could easily find work in the Echaits Union, and then some! No, wait, even better. I'll introduce you! How about you take on some work for our guild?"

"Ah, that would be…"

"You have no idea how much I've praised you to Lady Katharina. She showed great interest too!"

Katharina… could that be the cat merchant's guild leader?

"I'm grateful for the offer alone."

"This isn't the time to just stand around. Have you secured passage?"

"Not yet…"

"Then you can travel on our ship! I've always felt bad for not being able to compensate you properly last time; this is perfect!"

He was making a fuss all on his own.

It's obvious that sailing with a merchant will be a hassle. Yet, seeing the sailor gaping at this turn of events, I felt an urge to deflate his earlier smug face.

"Hahaha! Perhaps I should?"

I readily accepted the merchant's offer and looked at the sailor with a wide smile.

"Careful, old man, your jaw might drop."

He should have been less greedy.

I followed the merchant along with El and Ayla.

I am quite curious about the merchant's guild leader, Katharina.

She was a beastkin who owned her own merchant guild in the Echaits Union.

Moreover, she was connected to Black Opium.

Because Black Opium was mixed in the tea leaf trade.

She might know something.

I could even get a hint about the Crows.

"The ship will depart in two days. Please come to the port by then."

"Thank you once again."

"It's nothing. I'm pleased to have good company for what would otherwise be a tedious voyage!"

After inspecting the ship introduced by the merchant, I left the port and headed for the market.

Although the merchant had promised a voyage without any shortcomings, it was necessary to properly prepare for the voyage since one does not know what will happen when it comes to human affairs.

I also need to make seasickness medicine.

I could have just bought it from a pharmacy back in my previous world.

And it was cheap too.

However, here I had no choice but to make it myself.

The ingredients were…

Dried ginger, dried mint, and honey.

All it took was grinding the dried ginger and mint into powder and mixing it with honey to make it candy-like.

Ah, should I make a good amount and try selling some on the ship?

I ended up buying about three times the amount of ingredients I originally intended to buy, along with other groceries.

Eating is also a problem.

The food options available during the voyage were quite limited.

Whole wheat biscuits, dried jerky, pickled fish, and the like…

I might be indifferent to the rest, but I definitely refuse to buy pickled fish.

There's no harm in preparing emergency food in advance.

With the space ring at my disposal, I could spend the next two days making plenty of packed lunches.

El eats about three servings in one meal, so I had to account for that as well…

And I had to prepare raw meat for Ayla and fruits for Beepy…

With more members in the group, there's a lot more to prepare.

It might be a bit troublesome, but it's not too bad.

Because it could soothe the loneliness.

After purchasing everything I needed, I returned to my lodgings at the temple.

I left El to organize the luggage while I prepared for a bath as usual.

Since I wouldn't be able to enjoy such leisurely baths once aboard the ship, I decided to indulge myself in advance.

-Beep!

"Why, do you want to bathe too?"

Beepy who had been playing with the floating herb leaves fluttered up and perched on my head.

"Why don't you change the bathwater into a water of life like before?"

-Beep?

"That would make things much easier for me, right?"

-Beepy.

"Never mind, it's okay."

Since the incident where Beepy transformed the bathwater into the water of life, we've bathed together regularly, but such an event has not occurred again.

Now, I wonder if it was all just my imagination.

There's definitely something special about this little one…

"Ah, I'll think about it later."

The Crows and the Origin God quest are more urgent right now.

I closed my eyes quietly.

It was a comfortably peaceful night. One that I didn't have in a while.