Chapter 38
Nera, Welly, Berin, and Tom returned to the Royal City using Tom's horse-drawn carriage.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was filled with laughter and cheerful faces. The trip back felt much more enjoyable than when they had departed. There was no longer any anxiety or tension. All that remained was happiness after successfully finding a rare plant worth an incredible fortune.
Nera, who had been staring at the Rafflesia flower at the back of the carriage for quite some time, finally gathered the courage to ask,
"Um... will I also get a share of that plant?"
Tom, who was holding the reins, immediately nodded with a smile.
"Of course."
"You'll all get a share."
"I'll split the profits from selling the herb flower equally."
The moment she heard that, Nera's face lit up.
"Really?"
"Thank you, Uncle Tom."
Tom simply chuckled.
Several hours later...
The carriage finally entered the gates of the Royal City.
Tom slowed his horses.
"We're here."
Welly looked toward the Guild Hall not far away.
"Should we head straight to the Guild Hall?"
Tom nodded.
"Yeah."
"We can go there right away if you all want."
The three of them immediately nodded.
"Alright then."
Not long afterward, the carriage stopped right in front of the Guild Hall.
They got off one by one.
Tom then carefully lifted the Rafflesia flower with both hands.
The plant emitted an extremely pungent smell.
As soon as they entered the Guild Hall...
Many adventurers immediately turned their heads.
"Ugh... what's that smell?"
"Hey... isn't that..."
"That's a mythical plant!"
"A mythical plant?"
"You don't know?"
"A lot of adventurers are searching for that plant."
"Why?"
"Because it's incredibly expensive."
"If you manage to find even one..."
"It's worth two thousand gold coins."
"Tw... two thousand!?"
The adventurers' eyes instantly widened.
"That's so much!"
"I want to look for one too!"
One of the more experienced adventurers merely smiled bitterly.
"That's the problem."
"The habitat of that plant constantly changes."
"It can appear in the most unexpected places."
"It's incredibly difficult to find."
"Oh..."
"So they were extremely lucky to find it?"
"Yeah."
"Absolutely."
"Their luck must have been blessed by God."
It didn't take long...
The Guild Hall, which had been fairly quiet just moments ago, was now packed with adventurers gathering just to see the rare flower.
Coincidentally...
Rey, Aunt May's nephew, was also at the Guild Hall.
He stopped walking.
"Hm?"
"What's going on?"
"Why is everyone gathering?"
Tom tried to make his way through the crowd while speaking politely.
"Excuse us."
"Could you please make way?"
"We'd like to head to the System Auction."
Hearing that, the adventurers immediately stepped aside.
Nera looked around awkwardly.
"Why is everyone surrounding us like this?"
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"It feels like we're heroes who just saved the world."
Berin slowly nodded.
"I feel the same."
"This is a bit too much."
Unlike the two of them...
Tom and Welly wore proud expressions instead.
They walked with their chests puffed out.
At that moment, Rey noticed someone he recognized.
"Huh?"
"Berin?"
Berin turned around.
"Oh..."
"You."
Rey smiled faintly.
"I heard you reactivated your Adventurer Card."
"Are you planning to become an adventurer again?"
Berin replied flatly,
"None of your business."
Rey only let out an awkward laugh.
"Ah... yeah, you're right."
Tom then turned toward him.
"You're Rey?"
"Aunt May's nephew?"
"Yes."
"You know me?"
"Of course."
"Come with us to the System Auction."
"I'd like to talk with you."
As Rey followed them, he finally noticed the Rafflesia flower Tom was carrying.
"Wow..."
"Isn't this..."
"So that's why so many people were gathered."
Welly immediately crossed his arms with a proud expression.
"I was the one who found it."
Rey smiled.
"Really?"
"Then today is truly a special day for you."
But suddenly...
Berin pulled Welly away by the arm.
Rey fell silent.
"Hm?"
Welly also looked confused.
"Why?"
Berin answered shortly,
"Don't get close to that guy."
Tom chuckled.
"Hahaha..."
"It looks like Berin really doesn't like you."
"What exactly happened?"
"Weren't you two very close since childhood?"
Rey smiled bitterly.
"It's my fault."
"Your fault?"
"Yeah."
"I left Berin."
"Then I started dating another woman."
"Ever since then..."
"Berin has never wanted to be close to me again."
Berin immediately cut him off.
"Can you stop talking about that?"
"I don't like it."
"Every time I remember it..."
"I feel like killing someone."
Rey immediately lowered his head.
"Sorry..."
Tom blinked several times.
Inside, he muttered,
Kill someone?
Is she serious?
I never knew Berin could get this angry.
Women really are impossible to understand.
Not long afterward, they arrived at the System Auction room.
At the center of the room stood a square table made of magic stone.
Its surface was covered with countless System symbols that continuously emitted a bluish glow.
Nera stared at it in amazement.
"Ooh..."
"So this is the device used for auctions?"
Berin nodded.
"Yeah."
"You just place your Adventurer Card or Player Card here."
She pointed to a small slot on the side of the table.
"Then the System will scan your card."
"After that, we simply place the item we want to auction on top of the table."
"Oh..."
"So that's how it works."
However, Nera raised her hand again.
"But..."
"But what?" Berin asked.
"What if the item we want to auction is bigger than this table?"
Berin smiled.
"Don't worry."
"The System will automatically recognize its size."
Tom then looked at them.
"In that case..."
"Whose Adventurer Card should we use?"
Nera looked puzzled.
"Uncle, don't you have an Adventurer Card?"
Tom shook his head.
"No."
"I'm not an adventurer."
Berin looked confused.
"Wait."
"You once told me my father used to be an adventurer."
"So why aren't you one, Uncle?"
Tom chuckled.
"Because your father saved my life many times."
"That's how we became very close."
When Rey heard their conversation, his eyes widened.
"Huh?"
"Wait."
"Uncle Zix used to be an adventurer?"
Meanwhile...
At the Training Examination Arena.
In one corner of the arena, Yorn's three companions were still standing in the spectator seats.
They still couldn't take their eyes off Izumi.
Levil rubbed his head.
"Was all of that really the work of that girl?"
Messa continued staring at the table that had just appeared.
"She created so many things all at once."
"How is she able to do that?"
Mei carefully observed the luxurious table and chairs.
"She even created a huge table complete with matching chairs."
"I'm sure that table is extremely expensive."
"The design is elegant."
"The texture is incredibly smooth."
On the other side...
Izumi was already sitting comfortably in one of the chairs.
Rey Renold, Yorn, and Ela also sat around the round table.
At first, the table was empty.
But Izumi raised her hand.
A few seconds later...
Four transparent glasses suddenly appeared.
Each one was filled with cold water and floating slices of bright yellow lemon.
Tiny droplets of condensation instantly covered the surface of the glasses.
Yorn picked one up.
He felt the coldness spread through his hand.
"I still don't understand..."
"How are you able to do all of this?"
Izumi smiled faintly.
"Before I tell you everything..."
"Try drinking first."
"It'll help you relax."
Ela picked up her glass.
She sniffed it carefully.
Inside, she muttered,
There's no smell of poison.
Nothing suspicious.
Just plain water...
And what is this yellow thing?
Rey Renold immediately drank from his glass.
"Aah..."
"So refreshing."
"The combination of sweet and sour is incredibly soothing on the throat."
Seeing Rey drink it without any problems...
Ela finally took a sip herself.
The very next moment...
Her eyes widened.
"What is this?"
"Why is there such a delicious drink?"
"It's unbelievably refreshing."
Yorn looked back at Izumi.
"Rumi."
"Can you be honest with us now?"
"Who exactly are you?"
"And how are you able to do all of this?"
Izumi remained silent for a moment.
"Hmm..."
"It would be troublesome if I kept hiding everything."
"But..."
"Can I trust you?"
Rey Renold answered immediately.
"If you're still uncertain, Rumi..."
"We can use a System Contract."
"A System Contract?"
"Yes."
"Anyone who breaks the contract will receive immediate punishment from the System."
"The punishment can be light..."
"Or even death."
"So anyone who violates the contract will die according to the conditions written in it."
Izumi's eyes widened.
"Huh?"
"Something like that exists?"
Yorn looked surprised.
"You didn't know?"
"No."
"In that case..."
"All of you should make a contract with me."
Rey turned toward Yorn.
"Yorn."
"You have Scrolls of the Covenant, right?"
"Yeah."
"I've got plenty."
[System]
Retrieved 3x Scroll of the Covenant [No Class]
Three scrolls appeared in Yorn's hand.
He handed them to Izumi.
"How do I use these?"
"Just throw them."
"They'll activate on their own."
"You can even throw all three at once."
Izumi followed his instructions.
The three scrolls floated into the air.
Glowing with a blue light.
Then they disappeared.
A moment later, a status window appeared.
[Scroll of the Covenant]
Yorn said,
"Now write the terms of the contract."
"How do I write them?"
"Just say them out loud."
"The System will write down everything you say."
"What if I say something wrong?"
"Just say 'delete.'"
"Oh..."
Izumi slowly nodded.
"Alright."
"The contents of this contract are as follows."
"First."
"You are forbidden from revealing or telling anyone my secret."
"Second."
"You must protect this secret until the day you die."
"Third."
"Anyone who breaks this contract will be sentenced to death."
"Done."
The three scrolls reappeared.
Now each one was filled with the contract's text.
Yorn nodded.
"Now all you have to do is hand them to the people you want to make the contract with."
"Oh."
"In that case..."
"Here."
"Take it."
Yorn let out a sigh.
"Why do I have to be the first one?"
Izumi smiled mischievously.
"Because you're in love with me, aren't you?"
"Hah..."
"Fine."
"Hurry up and take it."
"Alright."
"I accept."
The scroll turned into light.
Then it entered Yorn's body.
"I've done it."
"Are you satisfied now?"
"Hmm..."
"So that's how it works."
Not long afterward, Rey Renold and Ela accepted the same contract as well.
Izumi looked at the three of them.
"So..."
"Can I trust you now?"
Rey nodded firmly.
"That's right."
"If anyone reveals your secret..."
"They'll die."
"How will they die?"
"The System will do it."
Izumi smiled faintly.
"So..."
"The System is truly like a god."
Rey slowly nodded.
"Perhaps."
Izumi took a deep breath.
"Alright."
"I'll tell you everything."
Then...
Izumi told them everything without hiding a single detail.
From her death in her previous world.
To her meeting with the Outer God.
And how she reincarnated into the body of a young girl in Werenty Village.
She also recounted, in detail, all the suffering the original owner of that body had endured.
Without any of them realizing it...
Their conversation continued for a very long time.
By the time Izumi's story was nearly finished...
The sky outside had already turned orange.
Evening had finally arrived.