Chapter 9

Rick's Rabbit Foot Company, in a nutshell, is simply a lucky peddler.

In this disastrous world where traveling equals suicide, venturing to another village to sell goods is an act of great madness.

Who would dare travel carrying valuable goods, when safety isn't guaranteed even for a small journey?

It's like having a golden goblin or a golden carriage.

However, on the flip side, if one manages to evade all sorts of thieves and monsters and safely reach another village, they can make a killing and earn a fortune.

With limited goods and many buyers, the profits are immense!

Thus, traveling from village to village, one could return to their hometown after 3-4 years as an incredibly wealthy individual.

This is common knowledge among merchants who deal in market trends.

However, the likelihood of this becoming reality is extremely low.

First of all, the idea of getting through thieves and monster hordes is absurd.

Even if one somehow amasses wealth and dreams of becoming a great merchant, they are often cut down by nobles.

'Oh, you're a wanderer? But you have a lot of money? Then hand it over.'

Nobles are like robbers who forgot to carry swords.

Sometimes they do carry them, making them no different from ordinary robbers.

They snatch away money from anyone wealthy on their land.

Therefore, merchants, as their businesses start flourishing, seek the backing of nobles.

They conduct business only in places sanctioned by nobles, offering a significant portion of their earnings to them.

The nobles, who do nothing but indulge in leisure, are wealthy for a reason: they seize the hard-earned money of merchants.

That's why becoming a great merchant takes an incredibly long time.

But it's not an entirely impossible feat.

Today, aspiring great merchants like Rabbit Foot Company continue to load their wagons with goods and travel across the empire.

'So, that's why there are so many people here.'

The reason for the crowded tavern?

It was due to Rabbit Foot Company.

The company's workers and a considerable number of escorts.

Let's call them mercenaries instead of martial artists, to avoid sounding like a martial arts novel.

'So, you're planning to cross to the north?'

'Yes, that's the plan.'

'Why not join us?'

Rick proposed joining forces.

For a very rational and valid reason.

'That mountain you see ahead is called Earth Dragon Mountain.'

'Dragon Mountain?'

There are many places named Dragon Mountain in the empire, named after places where dragons live or lived.

By the way, there's also a Dragon Mountain in Korea, called Yongsan (it's true).

Anyway, while Yongsan is a common name, there are only a handful of places where dragons actually reside.

Unfortunately, the Dragon Mountain ahead was not one of them.

'Earth Dragon Mountain is known for its drakes.'

Shouldn't it be called Drake Mountain then?

But whether it's dragons or drakes, the danger level is insanely high.

'Drakes...'

Ian recalled stories Eredith would share during classes.

Whenever the class became tedious, Eredith would liven up the atmosphere with tales from the world.

Scaled monsters are mostly dangerous, but the most common and perilous ones can be narrowed down to three types.

First, dragons.

'Dragons are evil beings that should not even be associated with.'

Dragons, with their cruel and wicked nature, have a habit of killing creatures for fun.

And they're disgustingly strong, so much so that even a considerable army might only barely manage to defeat one.

Therefore, if a dragon's den is discovered, it's absolutely forbidden to approach it.

In unavoidable situations, nobles would unite and summon knights for an attack.

Second, wyverns.

'Safe if you don't approach them, and it's hard to even get close.'

Wyverns, also called lesser dragons, reside at the top of high cliffs.

They enjoy soaring on strong winds and detest coming down to the lower mountains.

To encounter a wyvern, one had to seek out the rugged cliffs of treacherous mountain ranges.

Despite their carnivorous and ferocious nature, their killings of humans were extremely rare.

Lastly, the third type, drakes.

True to their nickname of wingless dragons, drakes dwell in deep underground caves.

Although milder compared to dragons or wyverns, they killed humans as frequently as dragons did.

The reason was their proximity to mountain trails, leading to frequent encounters with humans.

Still, thanks to their relatively mild nature, one could be safe if they passed quietly.

Ian seemed to understand why Rick wanted to take travelers with him.

It was like the logic of gathering people before crossing a mountain in the Joseon era.

Back then, mountains were infested with tigers, and crossing alone was a surefire way to become a tiger's meal.

Hence, the norm was to gather about a dozen people to cross together.

'Looking for people to cross Huldaeng Pass! (7/10)'

'Warning: ★Legendary★ tiger spotted ahead!!!'

Of course, against a tiger as big as a house, even ten people gathered together wouldn't stand much of a chance.

But while one became tiger food, the rest could escape safely.

Rick's reason for recruiting travelers could be seen in the same light.

"Crossing together increases the chances of escape."

As Ian spoke, Rick nodded.

"That's one reason. But there's also those who act tough and end up provoking a drake."

"Ah, I see."

Plus, it's a troll prevention tactic.

"Business is almost wrapped up. Planning to cross tomorrow or the day after."

Rick looked at Ian with a 'you're coming along, right?' expression.

There was no reason to refuse.

"Yes, I'll join you."

The next day.

As planned, Rabbit Foot Company set off towards Dragon Mountain.

The company had seven people, four mercenaries as escorts, and three travelers.

Despite being fourteen people with four armed mercenaries, the chance of winning against a drake was zero.

Drakes are among the empire's most infamous monsters, feared even by other formidable creatures.

They are were the rulers of Dragon Mountain.

All they could do was pray that nothing happened.

"Let's take a short break."

Dragon Mountain, by Korean standards, was like a neighborhood hill.

Despite its name, it didn't quite feel like a mountain.

To the locals here, it was a mountain, but Ian hardly felt the same.

His perspective was shaped by his origin from a country with 70% mountainous terrain.

"Phew. This is tough."

As they took a break, a woman named Emily took off her boots to reveal her bare feet.

The company's people glanced sideways, while the mercenaries blatantly stared at Emily's white and pretty feet.

"My legs feel like they're going to break."

"Our pretty girl, are your legs hurting? Should I massage them for you?"

Among the three travelers gathered to cross Dragon Mountain, surprisingly, two were women.

One was Emily.

The redhead was a courtesan accompanying the mercenaries.

She had joined them in the previous village under a contract and was planning to part ways in the next.

"Hmm, could you touch my calves, then?"

"Of course."

The mercenary leader John kneaded Emily's legs like dough.

Emily flirtatiously provoked John's lust.

A courtesan gets paid for each encounter.

Sensing that the mercenaries were beginning to tire of her body, she was aiming for one last profitable engagement.

"Hey, Cassie! How about a massage for you too?"

A lecherous glint flashed in John's eyes.

The woman called Cassie was incredibly beautiful.

Even though she half-covered her face with a travel hood, everyone had already seen her bare face.

Her delicate features and melancholic eyes exuded elegance, a purity far from a worn-out courtesan like Emily.

An unblemished purity that one yearns to tarnish and defile.

"John? What are you doing? Massage harder."

As John's attention shifted to Cassie, Emily, with a coquettish voice, fiddled with John's chin.

Her heart was boiling with jealousy towards Cassie, but she couldn't show it outwardly.

Whether Emily flirted or not, John's gaze was fixated on Cassie.

Emily bit her lip secretly.

"Thanks, but I'll pass."

Cassie, like a haughty cat, refused John's offer, only further inflaming his desires.

'Damn, playing hard to get. B*tch.'

Just yesterday, John had propositioned Cassie for prostitution, offering money for her to sleep with him.

But Cassie had declined.

John couldn't understand why a woman traveling alone would refuse a man's protection.

It would be much safer for her to accompany the mercenaries.

Why refuse?

Just one night would ensure her protection.

Yet she declined.

'I'll have her undressed before we cross the mountain.'

John was about to stand up to intensify his efforts in seducing Cassie.

But an unexpected voice interrupted at the most unexpected moment.

"What?"

It was Rick.

And the person Rick was talking to...

'A kid?'

The third traveler, exuding an air of naivety.

It was Ian Raven.

Just moments ago, Ian and Rick had been engaged in light chitchat.

Rick, being the owner of the trading company, had no friends, and Ian, as an outsider, knew no one.

Naturally, the two became companions in conversation.

"So, what do you do that has you wandering around alone?"

From appearances alone, Ian's identity was a mystery.

Not a knight, it seemed.

A noble?

But he would have been treated with disdain if he were.

Then, a bard?

Or a scholar?

Ian's next words took Rick by surprise.

"I'm a wizard."

"...What?"

The word "wizard" carries a profoundly powerful resonance among the empire's citizens.

Upon hearing it, Rick automatically switched to formal speech as if under a spell.

Huh?

Speaking formally to a wizard is just common sense.

"A, a, a wizard, you say?"

Ian tilted his head, puzzled at the suddenly malfunctioning Rick.

Just the word 'wizard' and this guy breaks down.

How fragile.

But Ian didn't know Rick's circumstances.

In the empire, wizards are like nobles.

No, they are nobles.

For commoners like Rick, a wizard is someone who could erase them with a mere gesture.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, no... I was just too rude..."

"Just speak as you were. I'm a commoner. Ian, a farmer's son."

Ian spoke as gently as possible, still not fully adjusted to the class system.

However, Rick was already shuddering, recalling the 39 mistakes he had made towards Ian so far.

'Damn it...! What have I done...!'

How dare he speak informally to a wizard.

How dare he offer a wizard a poor bed.

How dare he feed a wizard pig slop!

Truthfully, the greater fault lay with Ian for not starting the conversation with 'I'm a wizard,' right off the bat.

Rick isn't a mind-reader; how was he supposed to know Ian's thoughts?

But Ian, still unaccustomed to this medieval fantasy world, hadn't thought of that simple fact.

Whether Ian used formal speech or not, Rick was obliged to use honorifics with him.

That's the special status of wizards.

And another thing.

Among the citizens of the empire, a certain false belief was commonly accepted as truth: 'All wizards are eccentric lunatics.'

This misconception has bizarrely evolved into 'A wizard who doesn't act strangely isn't normal.'

Absurdly, a kind, polite, and sensible wizard is disregarded by the public.

'It's impossible for my wizard to be this nice!' was the prevailing sentiment.

Conversely, when a wizard does something insane, people laugh it off, saying, 'Yes, that's how a wizard should be!' and feel relieved.

It was a seriously twisted image.

'But is he really a wizard?'

Rick was slightly skeptical about Ian.

Because... Ian didn't seem eccentric at all!

Rick was a victim of this misguided belief.

However, he wasn't foolish enough to voice his doubts out loud.

If Ian were a real wizard, he'd definitely be a crazy eccentric, and Rick feared that any hint of suspicion might provoke Ian to kill him.

"Ah, no, not at all..."

"Really, can't you just speak casually like before?"

Ian, still loosely grasping the concept of a class-based society, wanted to remain simply travel companions with Rick.

However, now that Rick knew Ian was a wizard, it was impossible for him to speak informally.

'Aigo! If I did that, I would be putting my life at risk!'

Nobility are like campfires.

They illuminate the darkness, ward off beasts, and provide warmth.

But if you get too close, you get burned.

Throughout history, those who crossed the line with nobility have perished.

It has always been this way, and it will continue to be so.

Rick had no intention of walking a tightrope with Ian.

"Do as you please, then."

After several attempts at persuasion were ignored, Ian simply gave up.

'... Huh?'

Feeling the weight of many gazes, Ian looked around.

The way people looked at him had changed.

In their eyes, he sensed fear and suspicion.