The Herb Alliance

[Host, wake up]

A mechanical voice resounded in Han's mind waking him up.

Han groaned and cursed his bad luck for having such a time-punctual AI.

Han got up from his bed and yawned. "Is the maid here yet?" he questioned, half asleep.

[Affirmative, Host. An hour ago, Blade entered the array]

"Oh," said Han as he lazily got up and walked towards the bathroom.

Han came from the bathroom a few minutes later, freshened up, and walked towards the patio.

A strong breeze blew, swaying Han's hair from right to left as he entered the patio. He walked towards the edge and, holding the railings, looked at his new hire doing his job.

Blade wore a green apron and held gardening shears as he continuously shaped the plants around the clinic.

"Hmm, that's weird. How come he's enjoying the work? How is anyone supposed to enjoy doing chores? I guess people in this world lack common sense. Anyways, let's get to work", said Han as he overlooked Blade from the patio.

The next second, Han took a gold bell from his pocket and rang it wildly, ensuring that Blade heard it.

**DING**DING***DING

Hearing the loud bell, Blade looked up to find his master calling for him. He immediately put aside his gardening shears and ran towards him. 

Meanwhile, Han, who was on the patio, rang the bell continuously. "Is this how it feels to be noble and have a servant? What an experience…" he said excitedly.

[Host, I recommend you focus on the task. And I think the master shouldn't show such a side to his followers]

Han immediately stopped smiling and held a stoic expression.

"I-I guess you're right. Let's keep the elegance of a noble", said Han as he got himself ready before Blade came to see him. 'I have to make him think I'm generous and a handsome master,' he thought.

After a few minutes, Blade came running to the 3rd floor, though before entering, he knocked on the door and asked permission to enter. 

"How may I serve you, Master," said Blade, slightly bowing.

"I was wondering if you can go to town with me to visit 2 places", said Han.

"Of course, I would be glad to escort, the master. It is my honor", said Blade with sparkles in his eyes.

"Is-is that so," said Han, speechless. 'Can you stop being so enthusiastic, it makes me so flustered…'.

"Where would the master like to go?" asked Blade respectfully. 

[2 New Quests Available]

[Quest Description: Visit for more information about The Herb Alliance].

[Quest Duration: 2 days.] 

[Reward: 2 Stat Points]

[Quest Description: Visit and Find out more information about The Alchemist Organization]

[Quest Duration: 2 Days.]

Reward: A Ticket]

Looking at the two new quest notifications, "'The Herb Alliance' and 'The Alchemist Organization," said Han.

Blade nodded his head.

"We will be leaving in 10 more minutes and before going I think you should go clean yourself", said Han seeing Blade in a messy state. He had leaves all over his apron, but he still had it on. 

Blade chuckled, embarrassed, and quickly exited the room. 

"What kind of ticket is there for the reward?" asked Han curiously.

[Host, it is a lottery ticket, and from the wheel, a prize will be chosen for you. It could be something useful or trash.]

"So, a 50-50 chance… I'll take that. Since I have no patients", Han sighed, remembering his slow and pathetic business. 'So much for the relaxed businessman vibe I was going for. Though I guess a nobleman vibe suits me better, he thought seriously.

[I think the Host should be himself], Sophie added.

"Stop reading my mind!" exclaimed Han.

[…For now, I will do as the Host pleases.]

"W-what do you mean by for now…never mind forget it.", said Han frustrated.

"Yosh, I'll make my follower publicize for the clinic tonight," said Han cheering himself up as he decided on his goal. "I wonder what the 2 places would be like after all they are the medical providers of this world. I bet they would be awesome using all kinds of different techniques, but…I still like my techniques better", he said, chuckling.

Siron City, Region A. Outside the Herb Alliance Branch.

Outside the magnificent three-story building, five lines of people stretched a few Kilometers were waiting to enter the store. Some had been standing in the line keeping their spot for days, and that line moved exceptionally slowly. But another line beside these five lines moved faster than them. They even had guards escorting them inside.

A particular group of people in the middle of the 5th line were discussing amongst themselves.

"Those damn nobles, When are they going to treat my daughter? At the rate this is going my daughter might even die before she gets the chance to enter the branch", sobbed a middle-aged woman carrying her daughter.

"I don't even think this old man Is going to get the chance to enter," said an old man.

"Why?" asked the middle-aged woman.

"I just saw a few people dragged away from the entrance because they didn't have the required coins to pay for the herbs. God is with us even if we get the chance to enter or for treatment. This is why In my opinion it would be better for your daughter to eat some herbs off a mountain, at least that would be easier than this", said the old man.

Hearing the older man, the middle-aged lady glared hatefully at the line of people with satin clothes and jewelry. She clenched her hand, seeing the fast-moving line.

"How dare these nobles, even during the war the king is favoring them. Is there no hope left for this kingdom?" the middle-aged lady asked hopelessly.

"Don't be like that the current king isn't that bad, in the past he was even worse. That tyrant did as he pleased but since the discovery of the new continent, he has calmed down a bit. He even declared that the war was going to end in a few months", said the old man.

The middle-aged lady scoffed. "If he didn't end the damn war by now, I would have led a rebe---. "The old man immediately shut the middle-aged lady's mouth before she could say anything.

The middle-aged lady muffled. The older man gestured to her, showing the guards overlooking the lines. For a minute, the guard squinted his eyes at them as he continued surveilling the lines.

As the guard left, the middle-aged lady immediately calmed down and thanked the older man.

"You should refrain from using such terms in public spaces.", said the old man with a kind smile.

As the middle-aged lady realized after standing in line for a long time, she sniffled a bit until she decided, "Why don't you come along as well?".

 The old man shook his head, "No thank you. I have an important reason to go inside the building".

The middle-aged lady nodded, reluctant to leave the kind older man behind, but since he didn't want to go, she couldn't convince him, so she left her spot in the line. The people behind her cheered as they got to move up the line. 

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the town.

"That is such an awesome spell. Is it a higher-tiered navigation spell, as expected of Master" said Blade seeing the blue arrow on the ground. 

Han smiled on the surface while inside, 'Why can he see the arrow? Can't I just see it? Sophie'.

[Host, please stop whining because that skill resembles a high-tiered spell. You can have a cover story of a genius mage and physician. That shouldn't stop you; it's not like he found out about me. But in the worst-case scenario, I would eradicate him for you if he did.]

Han's eyes brightened, hearing Sophie's idea. 'Now that I think about It, it isn't a bad story, but I think I'll say that I just learned a spell or 2 in ancient ruins. I mean usually main characters find such things in tombs etc. so they won't doubt me, at least I hope so and It's really cute of you to say you could eradicate a person for me. What are you trying to take over the planet….' he chuckled at his joke. 

[I won't take over for now; I guess that's a better idea. You wouldn't pass for a genius mage anyways.]

Han was stunned to hear such an insult from Sophie for the 1st time. Before he could say anything in return, he was interrupted by Blade.

"Master, this is 'The Herb Alliance', they are the only herb store who are certified to sell their herbs in this city and this kingdom. Though there were other Herb stores in the past, they used any means necessary to become the main supplier of this kingdom and they did. Since this is led by a big merchant related to the nobles; 'The Herb Alliance' was easily approved as an organization for beginner Herbalists", said Blade as he introduced the magnificent 3-tier building in front of them.

"You sure know a lot about this 'Herb Alliance'," commented Han, hearing Blade going on and on about this topic.

"My father tried sending me here to study before but I failed the test so…" said Blade sorrowfully.

"Ok, It's not the time for your pity story tell me more about the long lines that are lined up in front of the building and why there are 6 lines?" asked Han curiously, seeing the abundance amount of people waiting outside.