But there's no reason to refuse what's given. It's my first time taking a real spirit elixir. Who knows, maybe taking this will help me regain my strength too.
Besides, this elixir is....
"Wow, the Ivory Pill! This is a precious elixir that can only be made from the essence of elephants!"
Hilde, who had been sniffing, recognized the identity of the elixir and exclaimed in admiration. She was genuinely admiring it, but she also showed the reaction the other party wanted to draw out a conversation.
It was an ordinary social skill, but the other person was a regressor farthest from ordinary. The regressor answered indifferently.
"That's right."
"How did you get it? They say elephants treat the corpses of their kind with special care, so it's hard to even pick up a freshly dead one!"
"Picked it up somewhere."
"Wow. That's an answer reeking of strong intent not to tell me, so totally insincere! 'Picked up a demon god,' 'picked up an elixir.' What on earth do you guys trust in a guy like this to travel with him?"
Tir received Hilde's grumbling.
"I'll answer 'bond', and if that's lacking, I'll add 'spiteful bond'. It wasn't much, but we matched quite impressively, after all."
'S-Spiteful bond...?'
The part that shocks you is weird, you know. Of course it's a spiteful bond. Did you think it'd be a loving bond?
"Anyway, Shei. I heard that elixirs must be taken in the most comfortable and stable state possible."
"That's right."
"However, no matter how I think about it, a carriage shaking this roughly doesn't seem like a 'stable state'. Before taking the elixir, shouldn't we move Hui to a place that doesn't shake first?"
"We should."
"For example, a calm and comfortable place like my coffin would be enough..."
'My coffin is no different from my body. I can make it so there isn't even the slightest vibration. Hehe, I've wanted to put Hui in my coffin just once. A good opportunity has come.'
"Ah, that won't do. To digest the qi, it's best to do it on bare ground."
"...Why?"
"If you're moving, the qi doesn't settle well. Especially, there will be a slight problem using Gon Qi Gong with that qi. If possible, it's better to absorb it slowly after stopping."
"Even in my coffin?"
"A coffin moves too, doesn't it?"
Slightly disappointed, Tir answered sullenly.
"Then, since we won't stop, Hui won't get to take the elixir."
"No. The day is gradually ending, and we're now in the Yul Kingdom's sphere of influence, so let's rest a bit before going. The golem has also reached its communication distance limit, right?"
The golem just held the steering wheel without answering. Seeing that even static wasn't coming through, it seemed the limit had been reached long ago.
"Didn't you say we were busy? Is there a reason to rest?"
"Yeah. In the Yul Kingdom, it's generally better to travel during the day. You'll probably know right away once you see it..."
That was true.
The Yul Kingdom is a land where everything changes. The terrain is no exception. A today no different from yesterday does not promise an unchanged tomorrow. Because everything changes, this is a land of distrust where nothing can be believed.
"There. It looks like someone has already set up camp, so let's drop by."
The regressor muttered, looking at the campfire flickering in the distance and the faint silhouettes of people there.
Usually, in unfamiliar lands, one would be wary upon meeting strangers. But in the Yul Kingdom where everyone wanders, everything is unfamiliar, and everyone except oneself is a stranger. Even unfamiliarity becomes familiar when encountered often.
Until we approached closely, they didn't overly guard us. They simply watched while sitting on their rides, ready to flee at any time.
"Hey there. I'd like to ask something..."
However, the moment the Caterfract fully revealed itself under the light, they ran away without even looking back.
About ten rides scattered in all directions. Their movements, using each other as bait, were quite organized. Watching them flee like a pack of rats, the regressor clicked his tongue.
"Tch. I was just going to ask for directions. Did they get wary because we're riding a Caterfract?"
"The Caterfract doesn't matter. Weird-looking rides are common in the Yul Kingdom."
In other words, unless it's Juggernaut-class, nothing is special. Wanting to just take the elixir and rest quickly, I groaned from muscle pain and gave orders.
"Mr. Shei. Bring out the miscellanies. The least precious ones, type doesn't matter as long as the volume is big. Tir, cover it with darkness to make it look like there's a lot of it. Aji, you... right. Just climb to the top and sit there."
"Huh? Why?"
"They ran away because our wagon looked empty. Even now, we need to make ourselves look as wealthy as possible."
"Then won't they try to rob us?"
"At the very least, they won't think we'll rob them. A well-fed beast tends to be generous."
Following my words, the regressor took out Alchemy Steel from his pocket and stacked it here and there. Tir also covered it with darkness. Aji jumped up and sat on top of it.
With Aji sitting at the top of the mountain of miscellaneous items, bathed in the campfire light, our Caterfract looked exactly like a treasure mountain. The regressor didn't like the sight.
"Looks like a jackal that pulled off a proper heist and came back."
"That's the goal. What the Yul Kingdom fears most is a hungry neighbor, and what they like most is a full neighbor. The more full they are to the point of not being able to eat more, the better."
"A hungry neighbor is fearsome because you don't know what they'll do, but why a full one?"
"Because their stomachs are full, they won't think of slashing open other people's bellies. I'd slit them if I were to."
Just as I said. The jackals that had fled hovered in the distance, and when the Caterfract looked full of something despite being covered in darkness, they cautiously crept back.
"They're really coming back?"
"It doesn't look like there's any more space in the cargo hold, right? Thinking rationally, they'll think we won't covet their stuff. Because they have nothing, and we have no space to store it."
Just as I said. A man who had clearly approached closer poked his head out and shouted.
"Hey there, are you coming back from a raid in the Military Kingdom?"
In times like this, it's better for me to handle it than the regressor. I stepped forward in the regressor's place and waved my hand.
"That's right. Are you guys on your way there now?"
"Of course! The pillage guarantee came down the day before yesterday!"
"Pillage guarantee?"
At my question, the man looked at me with suspicious eyes and asked.
"You don't know about the Pillage Guarantee Right?"
'A right that promises to purchase all items I plunder in bulk. It's a pillage guaranteed by the Golden Palace. It's a chance to make a fortune without worrying about being robbed, and it's safer because many people go together. But you crossed the border for a raid without that?'
A right that guarantees against having one's plundered goods stolen out of worry. What a wondrous right. Also, the fact that it can actually move people is surprising.
Anyway, I read it, so I'll answer.
"Why wouldn't I know? It's an insurance that guarantees plundered goods, right?"
"If you know, why..."
"But why do you need that? How little confidence must you have to worry about such things while plundering?"
When I gave a glance, Hilde understood my intentions, smiled threateningly, and emitted killing intent. The basics of Geon Qi Gong, the qi spreading through space, sharply pierced the skin. Cowed by Hilde's aura, the man trembled and thought.
'What an incredible aura...! She's not just a jackal! She's an apex predator! I'd better give up any thoughts of stealing!'
The man, who had been contemplating ripping us off, changed his mind and made a fuss.
"You are a brave one! How impressive!"
"Just knowing is enough. I let you know so we can avoid troublesome situations for both of us."
'She's telling me not to even dream of stealing our stuff. Well, as long as they don't mess with us while we're heading out to the Military Kingdom, there's no reason to poke the beehive...'
The man gestured that it was okay, and accordingly, the fleeing jackals slowly gathered back to the camp. Numerous rides gathered in a circle again around the campfire.
The trees of the Yul Kingdom have high caloric value, so a small campfire is enough to warm everyone. Camping in a circle like this to block the wind and using their respective rides as pillars to pitch tents was the camping method of the Yul Kingdom wanderers.
The sun was still setting, but there was no need to push forward. In the Yul Kingdom where everything changes, the only things you can trust are your own two eyes, and the possibility of accidents increases exponentially once it gets even a little dark. Even if your body is fine because you've learned Qi Gong, if your ride breaks down, it's as good as death.
The sun is getting off work, ordering everyone beneath it to prepare for sleep. Then I should oblige. The day is waning, so let's just take the elixir and rest.
"Okay. Go do your business."
As I turned around to go in, the man who had been hesitating gathered his courage and spoke to me.
"E-Excuse me. If I may be so bold, could I ask you one thing?"
"What is it?"
"Is it true that in the Military Kingdom, steel rolls on the ground? Steel refined with magic power?"
That's the question he finally gathered the courage to ask? I looked into the man's eyes and read his thoughts.
'I'm going to the Military Kingdom because I heard the rumors, but it'll be troublesome if there's nothing to fleece. I can run away, but if I return empty-handed after going so far, it's no different from dying!'
It's my first time hearing such a resolute determination from someone going to plunder.
Now, let's see. He's a human of the Yul Kingdom. What he likes is steel that's easy to convert. Or substances that are easy to use for alchemy. He'd probably like alchemy coins too. But he wouldn't place as much value on it as the Military Kingdom. Just something heavy and useful is the best.
Then what would be the appropriate answer?
"It's a bit different. Rather than rolling around, it grows all over the Military Kingdom like plants."
"P-Plants? Like trees?"
"They suddenly sprout up as streetlamps or fences. They also say they use Alchemy Steel for building pillars, right? So go with the mindset of a lumberjack rather than a warrior. You'll make much more money that way."
"O-Oh! Thank you! I'll keep this valuable information in mind!"
"Well, I didn't give the information for free; we have something to ask too."
"Ask me anything!"
I gave the answer he wanted and laid the groundwork. I beckoned to the regressor.
"Mr. Shei. Go do your business. I'll be pitching the tent."
"Got it."
'...Hmm. I have to admit she's useful. She's not even threatening them with force, yet she can extract information so naturally from someone she just met? And from a Yul Kingdom jackal who would backstab her given the chance?'
Wouldn't doing the opposite of you work?
And you know, I envy you. Threatening with force is much easier than bothersomely reading the other person's mind and fabricating the right answers to carry on a conversation.
Leaving the regressor behind, I returned near the Caterfract, and Hilde had already finished pitching the tent. It was beyond skilled; it was swift. They say Jang Seong is bad at construction, but I guess it's different for Yuk Jang Seong.
As soon as I pushed open the tent flap and entered, Hilde greeted me with her hands gently clasped together.
"You've worked hard, Father! Welcome back!"
"I'm back. Phew. That was tough."
On one side, Tir's coffin was parked, and in another corner, Aji was stretching his back. I plopped down on the spot with two blankets laid out. Hilde placed a cup of water and a lantern in front of me and sighed.
"I never expected an order from the Golden Palace to come down. The border area is going to be in chaos~. I feel so sorry for the Military Kingdom citizens."
Curious, Tir asked.
"What is this Pillage Guarantee Right?"
I washed my hands and feet with the water Hilde brought and answered.
"Well, it's complicated to explain. Simply put, it's an order saying, 'Plunder this guy.' Then the jackals scattered all over the Yul Kingdom hear the rumors and swarm in to tear them apart."