Preparing for the Travel and Contract Conflict
旅の準備と契約の紛争
“I would like to sign up for the Escort Job.” I asked the old man attending the booth.
“Do ya know who you’re escorting?”
“A high noble lady, I believe.”
“Have you ever guarded anyone before?”
“Yes, a Lady and a former Baron.”
The nods the old man gave me came off as positive vibes. I’ll probably get hired.
“’lright, ya hired. The quest is to take them High Noble Lady to the Royal Academy due east from ‘ere.” The old man attending the booth gave me brief and straightforward details of the quest. “Tomorrow the High Noble Lady’s attendant’ll give other details. Don’t be late.”
From there the recruitment went viral. The venture to escort the noble lady to Levantis Royal Academy started only with 8 persons, but when other people saw we were given 10 Large Silver coins in advance to gear up. More people wanted to sign up, however only two were added to the roster.
Since I was already given an amount of money to gear up, I should take on the offer and replace my gear for something suitable. My current get-up is the usual-only-cleaner-equipment as they had some touch from professional laundry care from Lady Anna hands. I will have to use the money received to augment something better.
Since I still need to learn more functional blacksmith craft, I decided to just buy off equipment for now until I can fully prepare my own weapon and equipment.
“Off to the Weapon Shop, we go.”
*****
“Are ya Hunter per chance…?” the elderly weapon merchant beckons me to his shop. “…or per’aps one of the daredevils escorting miss nobility?”
For some reason I could not give any smart comebacks from his brilliant comment. Truthfully, I can get by to Levantis Royal Academy without having any problem. I could just get the general direction and speed my way through using Flash Step, but for some reason, I get the feeling that I should help this noble lady. Since I still trust my instinct, I decided to take on the escort quest.
For that, I decided not to bother too much about the weapon merchant’s side comments and focus instead on his wares. After a couple of minutes browsing his collection.
I was able to buy off a few equipment to augment my defenses:
.EQUIPMENT {
- HEAD
- Face : NONE
- Ear L : NONE
- Ear R : NONE
- ACCESSORIES 01 : MONOCLE OF APPRAISAL
- UPPER BODY
- INNER : PLAIN WHITE SHIRT
- OUTER : LEATHER COAT
- ACCESSORIES 01 : NONE
- ACCESSORIES 02 : KNIFE POUCH
- ARMS
- HAND L : WOODEN TRIAL SERIES NINJATOU
- HAND R : WOODEN TRIAL SERIES NINJATOU
- ACCESSORIES 01 : RING OF CONCEALMENT
- ACCESSORIES 02 : RING OF BARRIER
- ACCESSORIES 03 : LEATHER ARM GUARDS
- ACCESSORIES 04 : NONE
- ACCESSORIES 05 : NONE
- LOWER BODY
- TRAUSERS : DEMIN PANTS + under garments?
- LEGS : LEATHER LEG GUARDS
- ACCESSORIES 1 : KUNAI BELT (10 pcs)
- ACCESSORIES 2 : KUNAI POUCH (10 pcs)
- FEET
- SHOES : BLACK LEATHER SHOES
- ACCESSORIES 1 : NONE
- ACCESSORIES 2 : NONE
The things I bought at the weapon merchant were a Leather Coat, a pair of Leather Arm Guards and a pair of Leather Leg Guards all of which according to the MONOCLE of APPRAAISAL are Item Rank F and have add-ons of Phys STR +3.00%, Phys DEF +5.00% and Mag RES 2.00% a total 10% add-on per equipment.
Truthfully, they were below my WOODEN TRIALS I used on the Nameless Dungeon but for the moment, they will have to do. Once I get my hands on materials, I will craft ‘Rank E’ equipment with a total Add-on of 15%.
“This should do for now.” Done with the purchase, I decided to hand him his pay: 4 Large Silver Coins, 5 Silver Coins with a total of 4,500 Pera for all the equipment.
He was dissatisfied with my purchase though, truthfully, he had a lot of equipment with higher Add-ons that were well within my budget, but since I am just equipping for temporary usage ‘till I can craft better equipment I did not bother with the pricier wares.
To chip some of his dissatisfaction I also bought a few replacement throwing knives and some metals that I could melt and cast into SHURIKENS and KUNAIS later and remove another 20 Silver Coins in my purse.
With the primary preparations complete, I went and rented a room in cheapest inn and rested for the journey riddled with uncertainties.
Which left me 3,000 Pera. This should be enough to give me a decent cover unlike my treetop escapade the night previously.
*****
The next day, I went to the same place I had accepted the quest. The booth was gone however and the elderly man that had interviewed us stood before us. From the looks of things, I am guessing he was the ‘Village Elder’ or something equivalent as he was the one dealing with nobility. The job was probably pushed to him, now he was pushing giving of the details of the mission to someone else as he presented us to the High Noble Lady’s attendant.
“This person ‘ere is the attendant to the High Noble Lady, Sir Redus. Ya’all head his words.”
The butler-like elderly named Redus then stood in place of the elderly villager. While he looked older much like the village chief, he however had more elegance compared to the one who introduced him. I guess even though he was commoner by birth, he could not be dirty and ragged in front of nobles.
Redus then gave us a rundown of the quest’s details which can be summarized to the following:
- Make the Noble Lady’s life a priority.
- To follow every command from the Noble Lady.
- Betrayal and desertion are breach of contract and so nothing will be paid at the end (well betraying and deserting a noble is simply out of the question); and
- In the event that the Journey ends with a success, 20 more Large Silver Coins will be awarded completing the 20,000 Pera Contract (added to the 10 Large Silver Coins we received yesterday).
“In the name of the Goddess of Bindings and Contract, Symvasi. We adhere to all the details of this quest.”
After what was for me quite embarrassing, the others started to head for the wagon, which we will be riding.
“If there are no more questions.” taking the reign of the coach, Redus then moves the carriage the High Noble Lady is riding. “Let’s move!”
*****
The Journey to Levantis Royal Academy started pleasant, according to the locals who joined us as escorts, monster often do not stray from roads where there are a lot of human traffic, so it should be relatively safe at least halfway through.
“Maybe we can get support from the Hunters when we get to the next town…”
“Shhh! What if they heard ya and get cut from this job…”
“It would not matter, as long as we get to the next Town, the Local Militia or knights might deploy support for travel of a Noblewoman and her butler.”
“What about us?”
“We are under a contract, not even nobles can retract that.”
While moving a 9-Bell travel towards the next town, the people were fretting about their status when we get there. It would not pose me any problem should the contract gets null and void but, these family men are probably worried that the money promised to them will get wasted.
Thankfully among the hired escorts was a middle-aged uncle who is quite knowledgeable about contracts and pacified the worries of the others.
As I am not from this world, it was refreshing to learn something new. As I was listening to them, I learned that the Gods and Goddess that protects this world supervise different aspects of life.
One of this aspect is keeping good on contracts. A long time ago, the ancient nobles would get by anything when dealing with merchants and commoners alike. They would not go along with their promises, and the merchants and commoners would not be able to defy them as it would be considered treason.
The heavens had heard the cry of the people and the Goddess Symvasi, took on the woes and presented herself as the Goddess who would honor all contracts as binding and legal when directed under her name may they be in written or in oral. With this, even nobles will not be able to null any contract as long as all details clear.
Now, I finally understood why we had to pray for the Goddess Symvasi earlier. It was to ascertain the escorts that the High Noble Lady will not betray their trust.
I am guessing that only a select few nobles would actually do that as most probably will protect their own profit over lowly commoners. I am glad I took on this quest. I learned something from this excursion.
*****
After a few more Bells, we arrive to the town of Merlow. This is where we will replenish our perishables and other necessities. This is probably where we could get reinforcement.
The one to welcome us is a fat high strung middle-aged man wearing gaudy military outfit. He introduced himself as a high-ranking officer of the knights stationed in the town of Merlow, but the weighed and the overly excessive decoration in is already gaudy uniform made him looked more of a bureaucrat rather than a knight.
“Good day! I heard that the Pr…” He could not finish his words as the Redus glared at him with extreme contempt and immediately corrected himself “…Daughter of Baron Sharliez has arrived safely on our town.”
The information was definitely vital not only to us, but also to the other on lookers. Clearly, Redus had made sure to stop the Knight Adjutant from leaking it.
“Okay you lot, your work is done…” Just as the escort recruits have feared the Knight Adjutant assigned on this town had deliberately casted us aside like we are nothing. “From here on, the knights will handle the job.”
“How about our pay?” well if we are going to be sack anyway, they should at least pay us for the almost 6-Bells of travel from Olgore Village to this town.
“What are you talking about?” but the Knight Adjutant was starting to spout words even I cannot condone. “As peasants, the honor of escorting a noble should be reward enough.”
Of course, that did not sit well with any of the escorts, but as soon as they started to move forward, the Local Militia at the Adjutant’s rear raised their swords.
“Wait… wait…” this was getting a bit dangerous in a whole different level, so I decided to intervene. “I heard that contracts are inviolable even by nobles or are the Gods bias…!?”
Hearing my words, the Adjutant finally realizes that he was at a disadvantage as he looked at the crowed and saw Priests and devotes amongst them looking very displeased with his action and most probably my words. Right, I was not trying to save the escorts. I was more troubled that everyone would attack the Adjutant leading to chaotic conflict between nobles and the civilians in the end.
“D-don’t worry.” Redus who finally got leeway to speak intervenes and conveyed the message for his employer. “My lady will make sure to adhere to the contract she had gone through the Goddess of Bindings and Contract, Symvasi. Knight Adjutant you too be careful with words.”
“I-if there is a contract then we can’t do anything about that, we leave after the lady gets a full night rest.” Fearing for his life he finally flees for safety. “Your ladyship, we will make sure that the Knight Escort will be ready for your travel.”
“You’ve done well lad.” The middle-aged uncle who gave me the hint earlier was among the ones who got agitated. “To think that even I would lose composure after giving these guys that assurance earlier.” I simple nodded at him.
Apart from when the priest tried to warn me not speak blasphemous remarks about the Gods again, relief finally manage to enter our mindset.
While our escorted Lady went to the towns mansion to get a full night’s rest. We also decided to take rest ourselves in an inn. Some of the escort replenished their goods. I on the other hand bought only food for the travel.
The next day as was decided, all parties involved, meet at the front gate. The same Knight Adjutant greeted us.
However, what happened next was all sorts of surprise. The Knight Adjutant had introduced us to the Knight Escorts who will be joining us. They will be sending together with us… more like students… all were young about a few years older than Ran and Len.
“My Lady, these boys have been trained to the arts of combat and will be much help in your journey.” He tried to assure the Lady.
Well, if you look at it on that level, these youngsters are probably experienced in combat compared to the mish mash group of villagers. But for some reason, they do not show it, hopefully they are just nervous and will regain their confidence once the battle starts.
So, we leave for the next destination… Levantis Royal Academy.