Generally, people tend to feel hesitant about killing any living being above a certain limit.
Especially if it’s their first time.
But to be able to do it without hesitation?
That alone could be considered talent.
“Is this your first kill?”
“Yes.”
Sowol started looking at her own hands with a slightly furrowed brow.
What could she be thinking now? Guilt for taking a life?
The thrill of killing a monster?
A sense of satisfaction for crossing the boundary between life and death?
“How was it?”
“Not much… I just feel like I knocked something down, that’s all.”
“Good. Keep maintaining that emotion.”
The best state is ’emptiness.’
One shouldn’t feel anything special about taking a life.
No guilt, no satisfaction. One can only grow straight and strong by not feeling any of these emotions.
If one feels guilt, it will become a burden and hinder one’s growth.
If one feels satisfaction, they might gradually start feeling pleasure in slaughter and become a crazed murderer.
That’s why ’emptiness’ is important. Only with ‘nothing’ can one have the composure to kill when necessary and abstain from it when unnecessary.
From this perspective, Sowol’s talent could indeed be considered outstanding.
“So, what’s next?”
“The physical training for today is over now. For the rest, you can do individual training or take a rest. It’s up to you.”
“Are you going to receive a salary from my father just for teaching this much?”
It seems she’s not happy with my answer. But what can I do?
Starting off too hardcore will only tire us both out.
“That could be the case, couldn’t it?”
“Then I’m going out, please come with me. I’d like you to help me with shopping.”
“Huh. Are you trying to use me as a pack mule?”
At my words, Sowol stuck the wooden sword into the ground and brought both hands to her face.
What is she trying to do now with that pose?
“I’m pretty, aren’t I? What if such a pretty girl like me gets kidnapped while wandering alone?”
At least smile a little when you say such things.
I didn’t particularly want to deny it, and I didn’t have anything else to do, so I decided to tag along with Sowol’s shopping.
Only after entering the Eastern Trading Company’s mansion did I understand why Sowol had made such a proposal.
“Oh my! Young miss! If you go out alone again this time, we’ll be scolded by the master!”
As Sowol was about to leave, White Warrior and other warriors rushed out to surround her.
So Sowol pointed at me.
“This mister said he’d go with me.”
“Ugh. This master? If that’s the case…”
Perhaps because I was going along, the one who had easily defeated White Warrior, they all retreated, albeit reluctantly.
This proved how much my skills were recognized in the Eastern Trading Company.
“Master. I’ll leave her in your care.”
“Haha. Don’t worry.”
Sowol needs to grow up well without any mishaps, for my sake too.
As such, while I do plan to throw her into controlled dangers for training purposes, I have no intention of letting her fall into kidnapping or other dangers.
“But shopping? What could the daughter of the Eastern Trading Company need to buy elsewhere?”
“Yes. Simple things like food, or accessories.”
“Can’t you use what’s in the company?”
“There might be things I like other than what’s in the company. Come to think of it, you haven’t been to the territory’s market yet, have you?”
That’s true. I came straight to the Eastern Trading Company’s mansion as soon as I arrived.
But I wonder if there’s anything special about the market.
When I didn’t pay much attention, Sowol grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
“Let’s go. It’s that way.”
As if it wasn’t her first time, Sowol skillfully picked the direction.
The inside of the territory we entered was just an ordinary territory, if you could call it ordinary.
In game terms, it was like a typical territory you might see in the mid-game. As we walked through this ordinary territory and entered a busy market alley, Sowol confidently walked to one side.
“What’s this?”
“Tanghulu. First time seeing it?”
“That’s not why I’m asking.”
It’s also one of the snacks that appears in the game. When consumed, it slightly recovers health and mana.
However, while there was only one type of tanghulu in the game, there was quite a variety here.
“I’ll have a strawberry tanghulu. What about you, mister?”
“Are you buying?”
“You came all this way with me, I can at least do this much, can’t I?”
“Then I’ll have a grape.”
Sowol nodded and took out her wallet from her bag. As she was about to pay a few coins…
“Oops.”
A man with a vicious look stretched out his hand to snatch Sowol’s wallet.
I had no intention of letting that happen, so I grabbed his hand. When the surprised guy looked at me, I smiled and…
– Crack!!
“Aaaargh!”
I broke his arm.
“Y-You crazy bastard!! What are you doing?!”
“That’s what I want to ask. I didn’t expect there to be someone who would dare to lay hands on the precious daughter of the Eastern Trading Company. Are you in your right mind?”
I don’t know where this drifter came from, but there’s no way I’d let a pickpocket get the better of us while I’m here.
I spoke to the guy with a smile, and the man who was wailing and holding his broken arm staggered to his feet and drew a dagger with his good arm to attack me.
Of course, I had no intention of getting hit by such a slow attack.
-Thud!!
My outstretched fist connected with the guy’s jaw. As he lost consciousness and crumpled to the ground, Sowol stared at him and tilted her head.
“That guy. He seems to be from the Skull Gang.”
Skull Gang? What’s that?
Seeing my confusion, Sowol stared at me and then sighed heavily.
“You’re probably the only person in this territory who doesn’t know about the Skull Gang. The Skull Gang is a famous bandit group around here. They have a large influence, and their leader, the Skull Warrior Lungbit, is said to be strong enough to use Aura. That’s why even the lord’s guards don’t dare to mess with them.”
“Is the Eastern Trading Company just letting them be?”
From a trading company’s perspective, there shouldn’t be anyone more troublesome than a bandit group.
When I expressed my surprise, Sowol shrugged her shoulders.
Does that mean she doesn’t know anything beyond that?
Anyway, that’s fine.
“If they’re stupid enough to come at me just to get revenge for a mere drifter like this, I’ll just have to show them how foolish that is.”
“That’s quite some confidence.”
“How about it? Isn’t it cool? This is your master.”
I boasted to Sowol, and she took her eyes off me and spoke to the shop.
“Two tanghulu please, one strawberry and one grape.”
Who are you talking to right now?!
We bought the tanghulu but didn’t go back.
It seems she has more to buy. Things like thin cloth, jerky, and various other items.
When we returned with Sowol carrying an armful of unnecessary things, White Warrior and several other warriors wore serious expressions.
“Did something happen?”
“Ah. You’re back. Have you heard the news? They say a Skull Gang member was caught in the market area today.”
“Yeah. I heard about it.”
And saw it too. As Sowol and I nodded, White Warrior let out a heavy sigh.
“Because of that, the Skull Gang has gone berserk. They say if we don’t hand over the person who messed with their subordinate, they’ll double the passage fee…”
“Mister. What are you going to do?”
“Double the passage fee, huh. Where are they staying?”
“A place called Moon Fang Mountain. It’s not too far from here.”
If it’s Moon Fang Mountain, it must be the mountain opposite where I came from. So they’re saying they’ll control that road to charge passage fees to get to the big city?
“Even the lord has become very resentful, and there’s talk of going on a subjugation mission with our company.”
“So that’s why everyone’s so busy.”
“Yes. So… Master, could you lend us your strength?”
“Ah. Of course. That goes without saying.”
“Thank you!”
It seemed that my joining, who had easily defeated White Warrior, greatly boosted their morale.
It turns out they were wearing such serious expressions earlier because they were worried I might refuse.
With hearts this weak, how will they survive in this harsh world?
I patted the shoulders of White Warrior and the other warriors.
“So when are we planning to go?”
“The company head said we’re planning to go on the subjugation mission three days from now.”
If we take down the Skull Gang here, the power of the Eastern Trading Company will become even stronger.
The company might be able to develop further by gaining control of the route connecting to the big city.
It was also a good opportunity.
“I originally said it was rest time, but the schedule has changed a bit. Let’s start training now.”
“That’s fine, but why?”
Why, you ask.
“Because we need training to prepare for the extra lesson.”
With so many practical teaching materials becoming available, we can’t skip the extra lesson.
“Then what kind of training should we do?”
I took Sowol to the garden behind the mansion.
As Sowol stopped in the spacious, open garden and tilted her head in confusion, I brought the wooden sword I had used earlier and threw it to her.
“More slashing and thrusting practice?”
“No. Endurance training.”
I quickly swung the wooden sword while holding it, and as Sowol barely blocked it and staggered, I said leisurely,
“It’s training to properly block my attacks. If you endure well, there’s even a reward.”
“What kind of reward?”
“Praise stickers. If you collect ten, I’ll grant you a wish.”
“…I don’t really need that.”
Don’t regret it later, take them while I’m offering.