Chapter 104: Fairy's Breeze

River Valley Town, Adventurers' Guild.

I had swords on my back, right hand protecting the bulging money pouch at my waist.

Squeezing through the crowd, walking out the guild door.

The frost the barbarian Forgan condensed very likely mixed with some transcendent power.

Even in midsummer with hot weather, and many days having passed since separation from the main body, the ice wrapping the goblinoid ears still showed no signs of melting.

Making me when carrying spoils to exchange for bounties, hand over almost two ice lumps.

Fortunately the guild front desk receptionist, that short-haired girl named "Molly," should have worked long enough to be well-informed.

Also didn't make things difficult. Just glanced twice before taking the ice lumps, carefully checking completeness, then with trembling hands threw the money pouch containing the bounty onto the counter before me.

I inwardly guessed the reason for such smoothness—the other party being this conscientious was one reason. On the other hand, possibly because last time to repay her helping me find buyers for fire garlic vine, I'd given that tip as high as one silver coin.

In any case.

Two bear goblins—20 gold.

Thinking, for safety's sake, I took down the money pouch at my waist, stuffing it deep in the backpack behind me.

Fingertips unintentionally touched that wolf fang the barbarian left as a token.

In my mind, couldn't help recalling yesterday at White Sparrow Tavern, memories of conversation with Forgan.

At that time, he'd clearly stated owing me a favor.

And at the time still immersed in having gotten 【Fang Hunt】 started, only the last step remaining from obtaining professional level—that joy.

Also didn't think much before making a request to him—could this favor be exchanged for another combat skill?

Regarding this, the barbarian didn't explicitly refuse but also didn't directly accept.

Just asked me three words in return:

"You sure?"

Then shifted his gaze again, silently watching that young wolf struggling with meat on the drinking table.

This was enough to show his attitude.

With post-death soul as price, signing a contract with 【God of the Hunt】 "Malar" to exchange for power—Forgan.

Before completing the "hunt," unless discovering prey traces, couldn't stay in the same place too long.

Returning to River Valley Town was also taking advantage of the hunting ritual nearing success, forcing the swamp druid to abandon the vast majority of power and be forced to reincarnate—that gap.

Purpose was to complete the half-elf's commission, helping me completely master 【Fang Hunt】.

And now after an unexpected yet fortunate battle, I'd prematurely mastered this combat skill.

Forgan naturally had no more reason to stay.

Of course, if I used the favor as price to forcefully demand.

He probably wouldn't refuse either.

Just then, I'd probably no longer be able to continue staying in River Valley Town training with those goblins, but would have to follow him living rough, embarking on the journey tracking the druid.

Not even mentioning whether my current physical fitness could support his daily travel intensity—just the harsh, complex terrain along the way and monster gathering places far more dangerous than Mist Forest outskirts would be enough for me.

Growing up in struggles with ice storms—don't expect Forgan to care much for me.

And on the other side, for me.

After that sentence slipped out, inwardly also felt rash, somewhat regretful.

Forgan certainly could casually leave behind a combat skill's training method then directly leave, letting me practice watching.

Just like 【Freylan Spear Thrust】 and 【Broken Blade Parry】 he'd mentioned before, clearly "Warrior" direction professional combat skills.

But the barbarian had also told me these combat skills didn't match my combat style.

Combined with 【Whirlwind Slash】 and 【Fang Hunt】 together, might even produce "1+1" less than "2" negative effects.

If this lifetime's only goal was becoming a professional, not demanding more, completely satisfied after obtaining professional level.

Then these considerations were naturally excessive.

But if still wanting to climb up a bit more, touching transcendent or even higher "Legend," especially for this body's current age under twenty.

This kind of eagerness for quick success was irresponsible toward my own future.

Through information the barbarian inadvertently revealed, combat skills not only concerned class-taking—after obtaining professional level they were also very important, possibly even related to professional advancement.

Must consider carefully.

Possibly feeling ending the topic this way was inappropriate.

After I withdrew the request, Forgan added a few more sentences.

Although with the talent I'd currently displayed, basically no such possibility.

But if before winter's arrival next year I still hadn't completed class-taking.

Go to Nyum once. At that time he'd very likely stay in the city.

Also didn't need to consume any favor.

He'd help me walk the last step.

"Say so earlier!"

Since the barbarian said so, I no longer hesitated.

An idiot would know how to choose.

Although combat skills for us ordinary people without backgrounds were rather difficult to obtain.

But also not completely without methods.

Especially widespread professional categories like "Warrior."

Working long in the adventurer line, would always have some

connections.

In comparison, a favor from a transcendent-tier existence even approaching legendary level was obviously much more precious.

Moreover, with the barbarian's personality, this kind of favor with a token left behind...

Probably even if you had him destroy the remaining half of Karanfor into ruins, he wouldn't bat an eye.

"Keep it—counts as a trump card."

I casually pressed the wolf fang deeper into the backpack, hiding it in the deepest part.

After confirming I'd truly mastered 【Fang Hunt】 and no longer needed cold energy guidance, the barbarian left River Valley Town with that fierce little winter wolf pup.

Same as when he came—wrapped in cold wind, silent as ice rock.

Only the frost covering the left hand pinky wound vaguely revealed beneath ice layers, the flame burning soundlessly.

"Mm, bounty collected. Next..."

My gaze swept across the lively, broad street before me.

After a moment's contemplation, I walked toward a remembered direction.

......

Fairy's Breeze.

As one of River Valley Town's most famous general stores, shop owner "Fario" supposedly once worked several years as an apprentice in Nyum's large pawn shop.

Quite good eye.

Even the most obscure, rare spoils he rarely mispriced.

Therefore, even though "Fairy's Breeze's" prices weren't generous, even appearing rather harsh at times.

Still under numerous adventurers' recommendations, made it onto River Valley Town's adventurer handbook recommended list.

I'd come once after my first adventure ended.

Used three pieces of malachite found in the bear goblin cave to exchange for 30 gold.

An income that whether then or now counted as generous for me.

Right now, carrying over twenty small stones of various colors and sizes but equally glittering, collected from goblin caves.

I returned here once more.

Different from the equally famous "Kukunur's General Store," "Fairy's Breeze" store's furnishings were obviously more concise.

Shelves just lined one row against the walls. Everywhere you could see inconspicuous yet ingenious decorations.

The store area wasn't large but gave a feeling of spaciousness and bright lighting.

Walking into the house, just one glance could feel its distinct difference from other general stores in town.

"Coming from the city, truly different."

I joked inwardly.

Carrying my bundle, vision swept a circle around the store but didn't see a single person.

With some confusion, raising my volume I called twice:

"Boss? Boss, are you here?"

"Coming, coming!"

As soon as I finished speaking, hurried footsteps came from the inner room.

Creak—

Made from Mist Forest's specialty oak, the dark brown door was forcefully pushed open.

Coming into view was a middle-aged man dressed meticulously, wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

Having come once before, I naturally knew the man before me was this shop's owner, the sharp-eyed "Fario."

Somewhat strange.

Compared to the serious, rigid personality in adventurers' mouths, and the meticulous, stable impression he'd left me in the previous transaction.

The current Fario not only had hair usually pressed tight to his scalp and combed neatly now disheveled, even several buttons on his vest were fastened wrong.

Giving a feeling of being tangled in miscellaneous matters with a dejected sense.

"Sorry, was handling some things in back." Fario's footsteps were hurried, coming behind the counter, asking me, "What does the customer need?"

Although feeling strange inwardly, after all this wasn't those games from my previous life where saying two sentences could trigger some side quest.

Didn't ask much. Seeing after sitting back at the counter, he seemed to have recovered to that composed posture from the first meeting.

I secretly felt relieved, taking out a small cloth bag from my backpack.

Also not pretending to be magnanimous by pouring it all out in one go.

Just carefully using fingertips to pinch, taking those glittering small stones one by one from the bag, placing them on the counter.

Fario looked to be in poor condition, but after entering his professional field, still displayed the serious attitude that got him onto the 【Adventurer's Handbook】.

Even facing those common crystals on the table surface that one glance was enough to see seventy-eighty percent, appraisal and pricing completed in a breath.

Still held a magnifying glass, carefully looking at each one, no possibility of omission.

"Two pieces of malachite, market price can give you 10 gold each."

"Rhodochrosite dropped quite a bit these two years, 8 pieces counts as 48 gold for you."

"Turquoise also no one's buying, jewelers in the city don't really collect them, 7 pieces 49 gold."

"Green quartz not bad—right now Nyum City's trending quartz jewelry. Although this stone type is the lowest-end among them, still quite a few down-and-out nobles wanting to buy to save face. Price rose considerably, 3 pieces 45 gold."

"Oh... also one moonstone. Pity it's small, can only be used for earring studs or ring faces. Ordinary quality, 35 gold."

"Total is 197 gold. Please count carefully."

Not having mastered bargaining-type conversation skills, I myself also wasn't the type who for one or two coins could spend an entire day in a shop.

Moreover, the reason he could make it onto the adventurer handbook with good reputation was naturally having obtained River Valley Town's vast majority of bottom-tier adventurers' approval—good reputation.

Even if prices weren't particularly generous, basically all were market prices with few oversights.

So I didn't haggle, nodding in agreement.

Then handed Fario three gold coins, receiving from him two crystal cards each storing 100 gold, exchangeable at banks.

Stuffing them in my chest, storing them close to my body.

With basic politeness, greeted him and left the shop with a calm expression.

Standing to one side of the street, deep breath.

Calming my slightly turbulent emotions.

"Two hundred gold! Two hundred gold! Two hundred gold!"

Even though because of malachite's previous 10 gold per piece selling price, I'd already mentally prepared for these glittering stones' value before coming.

But when I actually exchanged twenty-one small pebbles that couldn't even fill the smallest pocket for a full 200 gold.

My heart still couldn't help trembling twice.

And you had to know, this still wasn't my entire gains from this outing.

197 gold, plus two bear goblins' bounties, and similarly from that hobgoblin's savings—the thirty-plus gold already deposited at the bank.

Just this one outing, less than a week's time.

I'd earned over two hundred fifty gold coins.

Making my current assets reach unprecedented—

405 gold, 6 silver, 3 copper!

Equivalent to 6,750 bowls of fragrant, steaming cream mushroom soup, enough to dull blade edges—1,094 goblins' bounties, 8 bottles of healing potions, and...

One-third of a set of heavy full plate armor.

Uh, let's not mention that one.

You had to know, my main purpose this outing was following Forgan to learn combat skills.

Collecting spoils and such was just incidental.

Although the barbarian occasionally helped me preserve high-value monsters' bounty parts with ice crystals, aside from that, those massive numbers of goblins numerous as tides, and large amounts of heavy, crude weapons and equipment in nests that couldn't be carried.

Even if individual prices weren't high, added together was enough to accumulate into substantial quantity achieving qualitative change—counted as generous income.

Going deeper, the thorn demon I'd encountered on the road back to town.

Challenge rating as high as "2" probably also had decent bounty, or parts of its body that could sell for a price.

Just at the time I was rushing to escape, plus its entire body was severely eroded by spores—bringing flesh might infect me with spores, so I didn't collect.

Otherwise could have gained several dozen more gold.

At this point, only one thought remained in my mind:

"Having a big shot covering you, making money is so easy!"

Didn't even think about earning a few copper coins—just following the barbarian sweeping a few goblinoid nests earned more than risking life and death, fully armed staying in the forest ten days to half a month.

Couldn't help reaching out, touching the crystal cards inside my chest clothing.

As if suddenly remembering something, my expression accordingly stiffened.

This outing, made quite a bit of money, gains even more abundant.

Then, the cost?

Recalling the last mouthful of healing potion's sweet taste lingering on my tongue, breeze seeping through the armor surface's penetrating gap straight through to the lining.

Sweat dripped from my forehead.