Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master-Novel

Chapter 251 – Fundraising 2

To put it bluntly, I have known the Seven Heroes since I was a child. He is my childhood friend’s father.

Of course, he also knew what I did in the Graduation Match.

If he found out, I would be arrested and possibly deported.

I’m sure my father and mother would hear about it, and I honestly don’t want to see them.

In addition……

『…… Child…』

“Yes…”

『The matter of a Six Supremacy working along the Archmage … that personage is a General whom I recognize, talented, capable, and powerful… feared by mankind…』

“Well, I’ve only heard the name before, but… she’s that great, right?”

『Mm-hmm. Well, she was also worthy of the title of Six Supremacy… but… well, how should I put it… I doubt she would be exemplary for the education of children today.』

One of the Six Supremacy, who was conducting a joint investigation of the ruins that was also our destination, was acting with Uncle Ben.

Although she was a former subordinate of Tre’ainar, he had a sour expression.

“I mean, Jamdi’el, Paripi, isn’t there a decent guy among the Six Supremacy!?”

『From my perspective, the Seven Heroes are much the same!?』

Even so, recently, with back-to-back battles against the Six Supremacy and encounters with father and mother, I’ve had my fill of legendary warriors.

I can easily imagine a development that will surely not be peaceful if we meet, so I was hesitant and so was Tre’ainar.

And then, I thought again.

This time, the destination is the former city of Sorcery, Shiznautmy.

The existence of ancient ruins that are said to lie underground was something that Tre’ainar was concerned about.

But, the new government of the Demon Realm and Imperial officials were now investigating.

Then, by any chance, would we be unable to enter the place while they are investigating?

『Hmm… child…… speaking of the master key, Paripi said that he would contact you about how to receive it, but he has yet to do so. With the magic crystal…』

“No, I don’t want to contact him from here… I don’t know, but… since it’s that guy, if I contact him, he may think that I trust him somehow, and I don’t want to…”

『Well, hmm… certainly, considering the current situation… there is no need to hurry so…』

Yes, although Tre’ainar was interested in the ruins, he’s not in a hurry to get there.

『In particular, without the Master Key for the deepest part of the ruins, they will be unable to investigate the its depths… if so, tis better…』

“Yeah, it’s better to go after the hindrances leave…”

『Hmm… we need not take risks on non-essential errands.』

So, rather than forcing yourself to go and risk running into them, why not just take it easy and go after they’ve left and everything’s settled down?

That being the case———

“Hey, brother! Bring me those boxes of bait, one at a time! And a net too!”

We concluded that we didn’t need to hurry to get there now.

So that’s how we decided to stay a little while at the port town we arrived in.

“Aiyo!”

“Hey, kid, don’t push yourself to carry them all! One by one… whoa?! Seriously! Just one box is heavy, but you lifted all six at once!?”

“Captain~, should I take this on board?”

“Ah, oh, yeah! Good work! Ah, hey, carry the sorted boxes over there!”

“Right away.”

“Oh, don’t carry them all at once! They’re for sale, so carry each box carefully! Don’t drop them!”

“Eh~, it’s such a pain… ah~, fine!”

“Hey, when you’re done, bring me some ice from there!”

“Yes Yes”

I arrived in a foreign land. A different continent east of the Empire.

It was the “Avosoa Continent” that we arrived at in a few days by ship from the Empire of Depaltia.

It was a large continent that had developed cultures different from that of the Empire, such as the Kingdom of Japone, which was also Shinobu’s home. It’s the first time I’ve landed there, too.

And the ship arrived at “Ghenkan”, a bustling port town with a huge fishing port.

Countless fishing boats of all sizes were anchored, and once ashore, a huge fish market was spread out before my eyes, and everyone was moving in a hurry.

It’s completely different from the peaceful port town I set off from.

I didn’t have much money, and on top of that, I needed funds in order to live from now on, and even to pass the time until the Empire and the Demon Realm investigative team return…

“Hey, the captain is calling for you over there. He wants you to help unload the cargo.”

“Oh.”

The old sailors had talked me into doing some work at the fishing port.

I took off the academy uniform I had been wearing until now, wrapped a washcloth around my head, and started running around the fishing port doing the heavy lifting and unloading.

“Phew… I always ate fish without thinking about it, but it’s a lot of work~. If I hadn’t been doing muscle training at Cacretale, I would have been pretty tired.”

『Well, being a fisherman is hard work.』

“Sure, they all have good muscles, and so did the fishermen of Cacretale.”

『Indeed. Moreover, fishermen are early risers. You need great mental and physical fortitude.』

“And even though I’m only doing odd jobs, the money I get from working all day… compared to the allowance I got at home…”

『Cur, never mention that in public. It will worsen the atmosphere.』

“Because… even if I get a day’s pay, it will disappear with the cost of food… after that, the lodging fee… also, if I buy extra books…”

『Uwa! No, books are not superfluous! Books are a source of knowledge, and there is nothing unnecessary about incorporating them! Alternatively, you should have stayed at a cheaper inn!』

“Because that first inn I saw was shabby, the beds were hard, and the rooms were infested with crusty black bugs… compared to that, the Cacretale church was always clean~……”

『Where did you lose the survival spirit you tried to acquire when you met Aka?!』

“Ah~ah… normally, I would have registered as a Hunter, killed powerful monsters and hunted bounties, and made loads…”

『No choice. You cannot register as a Hunter.』

“Argh~. I forgot that I couldn’t register as a hunter in the city of Honeyborough because I didn’t have an ID card…”

At first, the old men at the fishing port were like, “Is this kid gonna be okay?”, but now that I have trained with Tre’ainar, I can do simple tasks without any problems.

If I had any complaint, it would be that the pay I could receive for a day’s work, which was nothing but chores, weren’t that much.

But, while saying that I was dissatisfied…

“Heeeeey, brother! Get your ass over here!”

“Hmm? Oi, are they calling for you over there again?”

“Oh, ooh, obuh. If I don’t listen to them, they’ll nag and nag and nag, those old men… Aiyo, what is it?”

“Hey, you can go home today. Good job.”

“Oh…”

The old man hands me a dirty, sticky bag with hands that are rough and rugged from labor.

It was the pay for a day’s work, and the moment I received it, even though the amount itself shouldn’t be much, I felt the weight of the bag, and at the same time, I felt somehow fulfilled.

“Brother, you ate lunch yet?”

“Hmm? No, I’ll go to the restaurant later…”

“Then come with us! I’ll treat you!”

“Eh, is that okay!?”

“Gahahahaha, you’ve been working hard for the last two days! I heard you’re from the Empire, so I was worried about the type of riffraff you might be, but you’re alright! You’re welcome to work again tomorrow!”

He crumpled my head with his dirty hands. But it didn’t feel bad.

“Geez………… Hehe…”

Yeah, that’s right. I had never worked to earn money for myself before.

『Oi, do not squander money, you hear? Funding is essential for the journey ahead. Tis better to have savings.』

“Oh, I know. The money I got from the Go game with Shinobu three months ago is gone with the cost of the ship to get here…”

Work to earn money by yourself. Living on the money you earn. This kind of thing made me feel like I’ve grown up a little bit, and it felt good.

『And by considering things carefully, that you have been empty-handed on the journey so far was a problem. As such, it would be best to procure the essential ‘items’ for the trip at the equipment shop here.』

“Kuhahaha, that’s true. I should have done that at Honeyborough or Cantidan!”

『After your meal with the fishermen, we will go to the equipment shop in this town. See what is available, and I shall see what I can find for you.』

“Hehe, I’m not an adventurer or a hunter, but… preparing for a trip? That sounds like fun, too.”

And even though I was worried about the money I had, I was kind of excited to know that I would be able to get the things I would need from now on with the money I had earned.

Before I ran away from home, I was receiving pocket money every month, so I didn’t have to worry about money. I could usually buy whatever I wanted.

After running away, I survived a little in the mountains, but I met Mr. Aka, who gave me a hot meal and a place to sleep for free.

From there, we camped out during the journey to the next town, but Shinobu, who was secretly tracking me from the shadows, regularly gave me rice balls.

After that, there was a brawl in the Cantidan, and then I was kidnapped by Jamdi’el, and ended up in Cacretale, where I was served breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the church every day without having to do anything for my meals.

So this was the first time I had done anything like this.

……That’s right……I mean……

“Somehow, it might be late, but… I feel like my journey has begun.”

『Hmph, tis really late now.』

Yes, our journey was just beginning!

Such a refreshing feeling…

[Hihahahahahahaha~~, hey~, boss~! Hello ♪ It’s the boss’ reliable right-hand man~!]

…… Such a refreshing mood was ruined by the voice that came from the magic crystal that I had tucked away in my pocket just in case.

『………… child…』

“…… ignore it…”

I can’t hear it. I didn’t hear anything…

[Hmm~? You can hear me, right~? Hihahahaha, pretending you can’t hear me? I’ll keep talking until you respond~?]

Damn, even though I finished my work, refreshingly dripping with sweat!

[Hey, where are you now~? Well, from the port where I had Bro meet you… the destination of the liner is… around the port town of Ghenkan, right?]

And how do you know? I mean, that’s why I’ve had it with the Six Supremacy!