Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Unwrapping the handkerchief, a transparent stem the size of a palm was visible inside.

“The bamboo is transparent.”

At a glance it looked like a glass craft, but just seeing the touching light mysteriously spreading to the surroundings, it wasn’t an ordinary item.

“Glass bamboo. A spiritual tree called by the name Bitran, they said. Asking a mage knowledgeable in materials, since it’s non-attribute, it will have sufficient value to any magic practitioner, they conveyed.”

A spiritual tree without attribute.

The master doesn’t like progressing too far ahead so I don’t know in detail, but the story that magic practitioners need such precious materials to raise their realm was famous.

Since considerable magic power will enter awakening path seeds and opening conduit roots, probably used then...

“I heard, if a magic practitioner can’t find a spiritual herb of matching attribute, or obtained several spiritual herbs of matching attribute but one is lacking and there’s no promise when it will be obtained. Then a non-attribute item like this displays its true value.”

“I really like it.”

“There is one skilled herb gatherer in the ducal territory. He often goes back and forth to the deep parts of that forest and brings such precious spiritual herbs that magic practitioners would want.”

The Duke pointed at the glass bamboo.

“I said I’d give big money to the herb gatherer, so try bringing something magic practitioners would be interested in once. So he dug up one like that. Glad you like it.”

The lord pushed the rolled parchment in front of me.

“Then check this too.”

Unfolding it, it was some map.

The ducal territory was in a place biased south, going up north from there there is one mountain range, and the map contained the waist area of the mountain range greatly enlarged.

“This is a map the herb gatherer drew. Paying big money and attaching a cartographer, he made it sincerely.”

The written name is Rogis Forest.

Starting from the forest entrance, he wrote topographic features that could be markers at certain distances, and the word written at the end was Spirit Vein Forest.

“Resources are many but it’s a very rugged place. Lumberjacks and hunters who find it hard to flee carrying loads mostly don’t even approach, only herb gatherers who know the way well risk their lives going back and forth.”

Certainly, looking at the things marked on the map and the various explanations written beside, it’s a place overflowing with dangers from beasts to poisonous insects, swamps, rock hills where big snakes live.

But near the Spirit Vein Forest, a question mark was drawn.

The Duke pointed at one point on the map.

“The herb gatherer said he can only go back and forth up to here, the entrance.”

Spirit Vein Forest with glass bamboo at the entrance.

What is sleeping inside.

“Drawing the map is recent, but knowing that location wasn’t only that herb gatherer. It was being orally transmitted around knowingly or unknowingly. But why don’t they know what’s inside.”

The Duke’s finger that was pointing the map slightly went up.

Above the question mark.

“There is an unknown beast. No one has seen it but from the traces stamped around and those who entered inside not returning, one can sufficiently know its danger.”

The Duke looked at me and smiled.

“But thinking that if a powerful magic practitioner, one could check inside, I prepared this Spirit Vein Forest map.”

“Thank you.”

“There is a proposal.”

As expected, though he said he would give a gift, a big shot of that degree won’t just put out something like this.

“If you go there and it was a beast that is also a threat to you, tell me. I can completely withdraw interest in that place, so as the price of the information I’ll send good liquor.”

“Was it a place you originally had interest in?”

The Duke nodded.

“I attached the herb gatherer and sent a few mercenaries. Sending knights seemed not investment but gambling so I didn’t try.”

“Understood. If there is a beast dangerous even to me, I’ll convey.”

Even with what received, it sufficiently does that value.

“Thank you. And if, a beast that is no threat at all to you, it’s okay to leave it as is. Since that guy will guard so others can’t approach like now, you can periodically stop by and freely gather.”

Essentially it was saying it’s okay even if I monopolize.

“However, if it was cumbersome and you had to cut the guy, tell me and leave the management to me.”

This is the main point.

“Didn’t you say it’s rugged? Will management be possible?”

“Then I’ll have to assign herb experts and knights. I’m confident in that part.”

The Duke continued.

“I’ll periodically gather and sell the spiritual herbs or spiritual trees, their fruits that naturally grow in that land, the herb gatherer said if some herb grows in the fields the efficacy is low and only used as tonic, but if grown in the Spirit Vein Forest the efficacy rises enough to manufacture potions. I’m thinking of cultivating and selling that.”

It seems he already came with a business plan.

“Like this, half of all profits coming from the Spirit Vein Forest as your share.”

A very good condition.

Opposite to what was done in the Valdemar Count’s territory, the Duke takes charge of operation and I receive part of that income.

“However, the condition is that if such a dangerous guy appears again next and settles, come and clean it up. When the local owner disappears, another local owner settling isn’t something that doesn’t happen, right?”

“That’s right. If it becomes a business, some degree of management will naturally be needed? If so, I’ll also lend a hand.”

Since I know a mercenary whose personality is a bit dirty but skill is certain, if really busy, it’s okay to ask him.

If more bothersome and cumbersome work continues than imagined, I can just sell the shares.

If shares of the Spirit Vein Forest business, even Equira would welcome with open arms.

A proposal with nothing bad to receive.

“Good. I’ll go once and contact.”

“Haha, the conversation communicates well. Again, it’s okay even if you eat alone. It’s not coercion.”

“Understood. Thank you, Duke.”

“Then have all the fees to pay been paid.”

The Duke smiled as if relieved.

“The Equira request completion fee should have arrived by now.”

He said he would recognize the request as successful and pay the price even before destroying the coffin, and it seemed he sent money to the Equira family even before gathering priests and performing the rite.

“Well then, let’s stand. Rest as much as you want, and when leaving be sure to tell me.”

The work was finished and everything to receive was received, so I quickly finished preparations.

The Duke gave travel expenses once more when leaving.

A person who knows well how to gain favor.

Receiving the send-off and climbing the carriage, not long after coming out of the ducal territory, I dropped Morris off in one quiet village.

“Leave the investigation to me.”

“This area isn’t it so there won’t be much information. Just if there are rumors flowing, listen to a few.”

I asked for some investigation on the Carpenter Viscount family, the next request area.

The carriage departed again, and stopped near the mountain entrance marked on the map.

“When night comes, beasts come down to this area, they say, so return to the village and stay with Morris.”

“Understood, family head.”

The coachman turned the carriage and returned, and I held the map in hand and entered the forest.

***

A quiet office.

The elder was reading the things written on the paper again with a puzzled face.

“Additional payment of request fee... While putting the youngest son into the sword institute, supporting considerable sponsorship money to Equira...”

And the letter.

[Thanks to the outstanding magic practitioner sent by your family... With excellent insight and ability... The Westeros Ducal family deep gratitude...]

“What is this guy saying.”

“He is saying he sincerely thanks the Equira family for sending a skilled magic practitioner.”

At the words of the magic practitioner who brought the documents, the elder lowered his gaze and confirmed the clearly stamped Duke’s seal.

“Didn’t we send only one purple? Herdrode’s disciple.”

“Yes.”

Purple means a newbie who hasn’t completed even one diagram.

Essentially can’t even be called a magic practitioner...

“Skilled magic practitioner? Is the Westeros Duke originally a bit hazy in spirit?”

“No. He is known as a person overflowing with vitality and intelligent.”

The elder quietly looked down at the letter.

“I can’t understand.”

***

Lowering the body and pushing through the bushes, I walked for a long while.

I don’t particularly like it, but strangely there are many times to roll in the forest.

Getting up from the grassy field and dusting the body and walking the steep hill, a wolf’s howl echoed from afar.

They’ll come soon, those.

As expected, not long after, wolves poured in.

But wolves are clever and recognize mana.

Especially blue is certainly recognized, so I raised mana without circulating the Magic Root.

The point to be careful at this time is not to wrap with a thrifty, faint light.

Since they don’t recognize even how meticulously one uses mana, just pull out as brightly as possible so the leader over there can see well and gauge.

The large wolf took strength out of the tail that was extended horizontally, then trudged back.

The guys rustling in the bushes grew distant one by one.

I continued walking the path.

Even moving following the path drawn as a reasonably safe route, I cut the neck of a snake trying to bite the ankle several times, and struck a spider rustling under the fallen leaves and jumping in with the scabbard and crushed it.

Those kinds, if cut, poison might splash, and even if wiped hard, sticky stuff remains on the sword for a long time so it’s very uncomfortable to sheath again.

Entering deeper and deeper into the forest like that, as marked, I pushed aside the blue leaves hanging like a curtain and looked inside.

My gaze was drawn to something sparkling receiving the moonlight.

Here it is.

Bitran. Transparent bamboo was growing sparsely.

Examining the surroundings, I entered inside.

Now the Spirit Vein Forest entrance.

Going in a bit more, that dangerous something will gradually appear.

I put the map into my bosom.

From here it’s not drawn on the map so I have to find the path myself.

Going in a bit more, there was a mushroom cluster.

The space was filled blue with light from spores spread in dots.

Beautiful, but if crossing it seems not good for health at all, so I pushed aside the leaves hanging beside and moved my steps.

And discovered a magic power spring.

Flowers and butterflies grown beside a thin river stream were faintly glowing receiving the red moonlight.

Raising my gaze following the river stream, there was a magic power spring at a high position over there.

It seemed part of it broke and magic power flowed along the gap forming a stream.

“...Flag?”

Seeing a flag stuck in the middle of the flower field, it’s a place someone managed.

But the emblem visible on the flag fluttering riding the cool mountain wind over there is not in my memory.

That means it’s not of a family active at the current point.

The state seems fine as if treated, but just looking at the stems and leaves wrapped around the flagpole, it wasn’t stuck recently.

From the decorated style or the colors used, it seems an item at least thousands of years old...

Shall I look closer.

Moving my steps toward the flag, something popped out from the bushes beside.

“You’ve come.”

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