9 – Episode 9
#9
In a nutshell, the Rabbit’s Foot Trading Company managed by Rick is a floating stall of luck.
Here in this world, where traveling equates to suicide, selling goods in other towns is a magnificent madness.
Is it sane to embark on a journey fraught with danger, let alone packing up valuable goods for sale?
There’s no golden goblin or golden carriage to help.
However, on the flip side, if one can beat all sorts of thieves and monsters and safely arrive at another village, one can earn a considerable profit.
After all, goods are limited, and buyers are plentiful!
And so, by circulating from village to village selling commodities, in 3-4 years upon returning to one’s hometown, one would have morphed into a substantial magnate.
This is common knowledge to any merchant dealing with market prices. But the probability of this becoming a reality is exceedingly low.
Firstly, the idea of getting through clusters of thieves and monsters is nonsensical.
Once your wealth increases and the seed of becoming a magnate sprouts, you get weeded out by the nobility.
Hmm? You’re a wanderer? And you’re rich? Hand it over then.
Nobles are robbers who forgot to carry swords. They rob you of your money on their own lands and they aren’t so different from bandits. They also carry swords from time to time.
So, when the merchants’ businesses start to flourish, they approach nobility to form alliances.
They conduct their business only in areas permitted by the nobility, and they hand over a substantial part of their earnings to their noble backers.
It’s not for nothing that the nobility, who only eat and play, are wealthy. They seize the hard-earned money of the merchants.
Hence, it takes a very long time to become a magnate.
But from another perspective, this implies that it’s not entirely impossible.
Today as well, dreamers of becoming magnates, just like the Rabbit’s Foot Trading Company, load their goods onto wagons and travel through the empire.
“So, that’s why there are so many people here.”
The bustling tavern? The reason is Rabbit’s Foot Trading Company.
Affiliated laborers of the company and a considerable number of armed escorts.
Let’s refer to those armed escorts as mercenaries, not warriors, for the latter sounds like something out of a martial arts novel.
“So, you’re heading north?”
“Yes, I plan to.”
“Then come along with us.”
Rike suggested he join them.
For very reasonable and convincing reasons.
“That mountain in the distance, it’s called the Earth Dragon Mountain.”
“Dragon Mountain?”
There were many places in the empire named Dragon Mountain. It’s a name given to places where dragons live or used to live.
Incidentally, there’s a Dragon Mountain in Korea too, called Yong-san (it’s for real).
Anyhow, Yong-san is a common name, but the real places inhabited by dragons are few and far between.
Unfortunately, the Dragon Mountain to the fore was not one of them.
“They say drakes come out of the Earth Dragon Mountain.”
One would think then, isn’t it the Drake Mountain?
Whether it’s a dragon or a drake, the danger is the same.
‘A Drake…’
Ian recalled the little stories Erédis used to tell during classes. When lessons grew dull, she would perk up the atmosphere with tales of the world.
Scaled monsters are mostly dangerous, but the most common and dangerous can be narrowed down to three types.
First, dragons.
‘A dragon is evil that we must avoid at all costs.’
The cruelty and malevolence of dragons bred a tendency to kill creatures for pleasure. They were insanely powerful that regular armies struggled to bring them down.
Therefore, if a dragon’s nest was found, one must never approach it. If it was absolutely necessary, nobles would forge a coalition, rally knights and launch an attack.
Second, wyverns.
‘It’s safe as long as you don’t approach. But it’s also hard to approach.’
Wyverns, known as Azure Dragons, live at the top of steep cliffs. They are creatures who enjoy soaring on strong winds, and they hate descending to the ground below.
Thus, to meet a wyvern, one has to traverse the dangerous mountains. Despite their carnivorous nature and ferocity, they rarely kill humans.
Finally, the third, the drakes.
Known as wingless dragons, drakes live in deep caves in the ground.
They are more peaceful than dragons and wyverns but kill humans as often as dragons do.
This is because they live near human pathways and often encounter humans.
However, thanks to their relatively mild temperament, it’s okay if one quietly passes by them.
Ian seemed to grasp why Riku wanted to bring in travelers.
It was like gathering people before crossing a mountain in the Joseon era.
Back then, because there were many tigers in the mountains, it was easy for a lone wanderer to become prey. Hence, gathering about ten people to cross together was the standard.
‘Help Wanted for Panting Hill crossing! (7/10)’
‘Legendary tiger sighted ahead!!!’
Of course, there’s nothing ten people could do against a tiger the size of a house.
But while one falls prey, the rest can escape safely. One could assume the same for why Riku was recruiting travelers.
“The odds of escaping are higher when crossing as a group.”
As Ian said this, Riku nodded.
“There’s that too. But there’s more than one fool who ends up provoking a drake while foolishly trying to cross alone.”
“I see.”
Plus, to prevent trolling.
“I’m wrapping up business soon. I’m thinking of crossing tomorrow or the next day.”
Riku looked at Ian with a ‘you’re coming with, right?’ expression.
Ian saw no reason to refuse.
“Yes, I will go with you too.”
The next day, as scheduled, the Rabbit Foot Trading Company set out towards Dragon Mountain. There were seven people from the company, four mercenaries as escorts, and three travelers. Although there were fourteen people in total and four armed mercenaries, the chances of winning against Drake were still zero. Drake was a notorious monster in the empire, even making other monsters shudder in fear. He was the true master of Dragon Mountain. All they could do was pray that nothing would happen.
“Let’s take a brief rest.”
Dragon Mountain was more like a neighborhood hill (from a Korean perspective). Despite its name, it didn’t feel much like a mountain. To the locals, it was a mountain; but Ian barely perceived it as such which was a typical train of thought from a country where mountains made up 70% of the land.
“Ah, I’m tired.”
With the break time, a woman named Emily took off her boots, revealing her bare feet. The trading company people looked sidew
Captain John kneads Emily’s leg as if it were a kneading bread. Emily teases him, arousing his desires. The prostitute receives money for every soldier she serves. As the mercenaries begin to tire of her body, she sets her sights on one last exploit.
“Hey, Cash! How about a massage for you too?”
A lascivious glimmer flashed in John’s eyes.
The woman known as Cash is a stunning beauty. Although she half hides her face with a travel hood, everyone has already seen her bare face. She emanates elegance from her subtly defined features and gaze filled with superiority. It’s a purity that worn-out prostitutes like Emily could never feel. It’s a pristine whiteness that she desires to trample and defile.
“John? What are you doing? Knead harder,” Emily yelped, grabbing his chin.
Though boiling with jealousy towards Cash, Emily resists showing it outwardly. Whether Emily indulges in acts or words, John’s gaze is fixated on Cash. Emily secretly bites her lip.
“Thanks, but no thanks,” Cash declined John’s proposition like an arrogant cat. Her rejection only fueling his desires even more.
“She’s playing hard to get, that damn woman.”
Yesterday, John proposed prostitution to Cash. He would pay her if she would embrace him. However, Cash declined. John couldn’t fathom why a woman traveling alone would refuse a man’s protection.
It would be more beneficial for her to stay with the mercenaries. Why refuse? They would protect her as long as she offered her body. To reject such an offer…
“He should undress her before crossing the hill.”
John was about to rise from his seat to systematically seduce Cash. However, at an inopportune moment, an unexpected voice rang out.
“Yes?”
It was Leek. And the person Leek conversed with was…
‘Little one?’
The third traveler, Ian Raven, diffused the smell of a child.
Just before, Ian and Rick had shared some light chatter.
Rick, being a tradesman, had no friends, and Ian, a stranger, knew no one. Naturally, the two became conversational companions.
“But what do you do that has you traveling alone?”
One couldn’t possibly guess Ian’s identity just from his appearance.
Not a knight it seems. Nobility? But if he were nobility, he should have a servant. Then maybe a wandering bard or a scholar?
At Ian’s next words, Rick was utterly taken aback.
“A mage.”
“… Pardon?”
Mage. This simple word held a powerful resonance for the empire’s people.
As soon as he heard the word mage, Rick, like one under a hypnotic spell, began to formally address him.
Huh? It’s common sense to honorifically address a mage, isn’t it?
“Sir, sir, sir… you’re a mage?”
With a tilt of his head, Ian looked at Rick, who seemed to have suddenly broken down.
This guy. Fell apart over hearing just one word, ‘mage’. Somehow frail indeed.
But that was a presumption made out of ignorance of Rick’s circumstances.
In the empire, a mage was just as a noble. No, a mage was a noble.
A commoner like Rick could be obliterated with a simple hand gesture from a noble.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, no… I, I was extremely rude…”
“Just say it as you usually would. I’m a commoner. I’m Ian, the son of a farmer.”
Ian tried to speak as gently as he could. He still wasn’t quite accustomed to the social hierarchy.
Yet already, Rick was shivering as he recalled the 39 mistakes he had made so far with Ian.
‘Damn it…! What have I done…!’
How dare he disrespect a wizard.
How dare he provide a wizard with an uncomfortable bed.
How dare he fed a wizard with the poorest porridge!
Truthfully, it was more Ian’s fault for not mentioning right from the beginning that he was a wizard. Rick was an innkeeper, not a mind reader. How was he supposed to know what Ian was thinking?
Yet, Ian who still hadn’t adapted to this medieval fantasy world, didn’t have such simple thoughts.
Whether Ian used the respectful form of speech or not, Rick should have shown him respect. It was the wizard’s special status.
And there was one more thing.
Among the citizens of the empire, there was a false knowledge that was generally accepted, which was the belief that ‘all wizards are eccentric maniacs’.
This fake knowledge twisted in a strange direction, reaching the conclusion that ‘a wizard who doesn’t behave strangely isn’t normal’.
A wizard who behaves kindly, politely, and sensibly is ignored by the majority.
It was a result of the psychology, ‘my wizard can’t be this nice!’
Conversely, if a wizard does something crazy, people laugh and reassure themselves that ‘Yes, that’s a proper wizard!’
It was a seriously twisted image.
‘But is he really a wizard?’
Rick was slightly suspicious of Ian.
Because… Ian didn’t seem that eccentric!
Rick was a victim of this misguided knowledge. Yet, he refrained from voicing his doubts.
If Ian indeed was a wizard, he had to be a 100% eccentric, and could even kill him for daring to doubt him.
“No, it’s not like that…”
“Honestly, can’t you just call me like you did earlier?”
Ian, who still had a loose concept of a hierarchical society, wanted to remain as just regular traveling companions with Rick.
But Rik, having realized that Ian was a wizard, certainly wouldn’t feel at ease enough to speak his mind freely.
“Argh! I’ll die at this rate!”
A noble is akin to a bonfire.
They illuminate the darkness, chase away beasts, and provide warmth.
However, if you get too close, you’ll be burned to death.
Those who’ve crossed the line throughout history have all died. This has always been the case, and it will continue to be so.
Rik had no inclination whatsoever to play a game of tug-of-war with Ian.
“Do as you wish. That’s it.”
Ian had given up after repeatedly offering his advice to no avail.
‘…Huh?’
Feeling a wave of staring eyes, Ian glanced around.
People’s gazes had shifted.
He felt fear and suspicion in the eyes of those looking at him.