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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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The gray castle walls, showing the passage of time, were visible.
I finally arrived. It was quite difficult to break through the forest where there was no road, maybe because my level was low.
My body is heavy. It’s like a child crying that he’s tired is clinging to both arms.
But when I see the wide open gate between those castle walls, the fatigue seems to disappear a little.
Groaning, I moved my steps to the front of the gate, and two guards who were guarding the front blocked the way.
“Stop. Who are you and where are you from? Why did you come from the forest?”
“Ah…”
What should I say.
I don’t have anything to prove my identity. I looked through the inventory list just in case, but there were no related items.
This damn game company didn’t even give me the things I needed to proceed with the game.
Even after time passed, I didn’t answer, so the two guards exchanged glances.
He looks suspicious, so let’s catch him and get a reward!
And then I saw them slowly reaching for the swords on their waists.
I don’t want to cause trouble, but what should I do? At that moment, I saw a grimoire in my hand.
From ancient times, magicians who deal with magic are often outsiders who are out of society.
They have a quirky personality and devote their lives to exploring the truth.
If such a magician suddenly popped out of a forest or cave, it wouldn’t be strange.
“Wait, I’m…well, I’m a magician who lived in the forest…I’m running out of daily necessities. I came to buy things.”
“…? Excuse me, can you show me a simple magic?”
At the guard’s request, Seryu simply created wind, fire, and ice.
The two guards looked at each other again, nodded, and asked if I had anything to prove my identity.
Of course not, that’s why I lied. But the two guards were more flexible than I thought.
One of the guards took me to the paperwork side, looked around, and spoke secretly.
He said he would secretly let me through if I gave him some money or a mysterious item.
‘Is this okay?’
These guys who are supposed to be gatekeepers are so corrupt. When I made that expression, the guard scratched his head awkwardly and said that all the visitors here are adventurers, so there is no problem.
What can I do about that? I threw one of the gold coins that were overflowing in the inventory and he let me through easily.
When I entered the castle, there were more people wandering around than I thought.
Most of them were adventurers wandering around rather than residents of the castle.
Maybe that’s why, or maybe it’s because it’s a game, there were many inns, taverns, and general stores on the street.
I looked around and decided to stop by a moderately old and large inn because I was tired.
But as soon as I entered the entrance of the inn, I had to frown at the loud noise.
I definitely chose a moderately old-looking inn, but maybe it’s a famous place, the first floor was crowded with people.
Judging from the fact that everyone has weapons on their waists or backs, it must be a place frequented by mercenaries or adventurers.
I was thinking of going somewhere else, but I changed my mind when I saw the clerk running towards me.
The clerk spoke with a very bright face.
“Welcome! You’re lucky, sir! There’s just one room left. Will you be staying? Or just eating?”
“I’ll be staying and eating. I want to eat first.”
“Excellent choice! Come this way. Oh, I’ll bring you the menu, so please wait a moment!”
The place where the clerk guided me was a very noisy place.
People were sitting at all the tables in front, behind, and next to me, talking.
I don’t really like this kind of noise, but unfortunately, this is the only empty table.
While I was sighing, the clerk came back and handed me the menu.
It seemed that the letters were engraved on a thin wooden board using a sharply sharpened stone. I looked at the menu and ordered foods with plausible names.
It takes some time for the food to come out. That’s a natural story, so I nodded.
When the clerk left, Seryu rested his chin on his left hand, tapped the table rhythmically with his right hand, and closed his eyes.
When vision disappears, hearing becomes sensitive. Words that were close to noise are clearly heard in my ears.
If those people are adventurers, I can definitely get information from their words.
Among them, I listened to the words of two men who had just started drinking.
They met after a long time, asked each other how they were doing, and talked about what they were doing these days.
It was a trivial story, but it seemed that it was worth listening to, and finally, a useful story seemed to come out.
“Have you heard the rumor?”
“What rumor?”
“I heard a story at the castle below. The princess of Eisenstein finally suppressed the rebellion and became queen.”
The man who was drinking alcohol on the other side was dumbfounded.
“What are you talking about? Tsk tsk, I’ve heard that since a month ago. You’re late with the news, huh?”
The man who spoke scratched his head in embarrassment.
Then, as if he remembered something, he stuck out his head, making an ‘Ah!’ sound.
If a pretty girl stuck out her face, I don’t know, but when a middle-aged man stuck out his head, no matter how much he was a friend, he couldn’t bear to see it, so he frowned and leaned back.
“Then how about this? You know that orcs in the west are appearing a lot around ‘Kajark’ castle these days. Do you know why?”
“Hmm, I don’t know. There’s nothing to eat in the western forest?”
The man wiggled his fingers.
“No, no, they came down because they were chased by something. That’s why there are so many orcs outside Kajark Castle. The number is increasing day by day, so the lord of Kajark Castle is recruiting mercenaries and adventurers.”
“…Who said that?”
The man shrugged and said that an adventurer said so. So he is going to go to that castle and apply.
Seryu, who was eavesdropping on this, thought, hmm, and thought it was a good idea to come here.
In addition to that, there was a lot of useful information when I listened to stories from other places.
If I gave them some gold or bought them a drink, I could get the information I wanted.
Considering that it’s false information and the depth of the information is superficial.
“Hmm, what should I do.”
But aside from such rumors, there was something I had to do first.
First, I opened the inventory.
Most of the item lists are marked in red, as if to say that they cannot be equipped.
I looked at it for a while, closed the window, and stared at the ceiling of the tavern.
“As expected, I need to raise my level first.”
As the saying goes, a pearl necklace on a pig’s neck, no matter how many items you have that you can’t use, it’s useless.
Even if it’s something that can kill even gods, it’s meaningless if you can’t use it.
Yes, let’s raise the level first.
Even if I know the location of the treasure, I won’t be able to get it unless I have a certain level.
And while raising the level, let’s practice using magic more efficiently and skillfully.
To do that, I needed to find a suitable hunting ground. Come to think of it, didn’t I hear a little while ago that a large number of orcs came down to Kajark Castle?
‘I need to catch orcs. If I’m lucky, I might be able to get another fragment of Jinmara there.’
I still don’t have a clue what Jinmara’s fragment is, but it was definitely an important variable in playing Norse mythology.
If I can get closer to the truth that the quest content says, it wouldn’t be bad to collect it.
When I was thinking like that, the food I ordered came out.
The clerk, who busily placed the warm food on the table, said, ‘Enjoy your meal!’ and moved busily to another table.
I picked up the cutlery and was about to eat the food I was waiting for, when someone pulled out a chair and sat across from me.
It was a suspicious person wearing a hood deeply. I was wary for a moment, thinking that it was a colleague like the Norn I met half a day ago, but I didn’t feel that unique divinity.
“Excuse me for a moment!”
“…?”
It was a pleasant ringing voice that was bright and cheerful. Much more than the clerk a little while ago!
But before that, I wondered who this impudent woman was.
“I’m sorry for sitting down without any manners. But I’m that impatient!”
“…I’m glad you know. But who are you, no, before that, for what reason did you sit down?”
“I have something I’m curious about. And before I introduce myself….”
She drew something with her index finger on the table where the food was laid out.
Then the surrounding noise was completely blocked. It was a silence as if I had come to a cafe, not a tavern.
Only then did Seryu realize that she was not an ordinary person.
“It’s interesting. I don’t think it’s magic.”
I muttered in a small voice, but she heard it somehow, and she said.
“It’s runes. But you don’t need to be wary. This is just to talk to you.”
I narrowed my eyes and kept looking at her, and she said ah! and held out one hand to shake hands.
“Are you going to embarrass me by not accepting?”
“Yes. I’m a little hungry, so I don’t want to put down my cutlery.”
“You’re too much. You have no affection. You have no manners! You shouldn’t live the world like that!”
“Well. I don’t think it’s bad to live like this.”
I fixed the steak-like grilled meat with a fork and gently sliced it with a knife.
It seems that this job, ‘the one who handles all weapons’, recognizes forks and knives as weapons.
I just sliced it lightly, but the meat was neatly cut. If I misadjust the force, I think I’ll slice the plate as well.
I carefully cut the lumps of meat into bite-sized pieces, picked them up with a fork, and put them in my mouth.
Chewing the meat, I looked at the opponent across from me. Judging from the shape of her face visible in the hood, she seems to be a considerable beauty.
But the important thing is what purpose she sat down with me.
“Anyway, I was very rude on my first meeting. I have a personality that can’t stand it if I’m curious about something.”
“Curious…? What? And before that, can’t you take off your hood?”
“Ah, this hood? It’s difficult, hmm- wait a minute.”
She engraved runes on the table once more.
Seryu, who is ignorant of runes, couldn’t know what effect it had.
“I made it so that others can’t see me. Surprisingly, I’m a celebrity, so it’s annoying if people recognize me.”
Heh heh, she said with a laugh.
She’s too conceited. She slowly removed the hood she was wearing.
Lush blue hair came out of the hood. As expected, no, she was a great beauty beyond what I thought.
Wavy blue hair, red eyes that would be attractive with an eye smile.
A straight nose and lips as small as a baby, certainly, the moment I saw her face, I felt a favorable impression without realizing it.
But it wasn’t enough to stop chewing the food I put in my mouth and lose my mind.
Unfortunately, while playing Greek and Roman mythology, I seem to have developed some resistance to beauty.
I don’t know if I should be happy or sad about this. She gracefully placed one hand on her chest and bowed her head.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Kvasir~”
Kvasir…?
I had to think for a long time after hearing her name.
I’ve heard that name somewhere, I looked at her with a frown.
Kvasir, Kvasir – Seryu, who repeated her name several times, soon remembered her.
There was a war of gods in the early days of Norse mythology.
This war was the first and last war between the Vanes, who symbolize abundance and pleasure, and the Aesir, who symbolize war and death.
If I explain in depth, the content will be enormous.
The point is that these two forces fought for a long time, and when the damage on both sides became too great, they made a peace agreement with each other.
At that time, Odin, the leader of the Aesir, said, “Let’s end all the bad feelings by spitting in one jar,” and brought a large jar and spit first.
Then all the gods spit. This jar containing the spit of both the Vane gods and the Aesir gods was rediscovered by Odin after a long time.
Water and mud were put into this spit to create a person. The person born like that was loved by all the gods and had outstanding knowledge that was second to none in the nine worlds.
As far as Seryu remembers, that person’s name was ‘Kvasir’.
“Have you heard of it?”
“…No, I haven’t.”
Seryu answered bluntly. And he also dropped the honorifics.
Loved by all gods – that was the same as Seryu in Greek and Roman mythology.
On the outside, he looked calm, swallowing the meat he had put in his mouth and picking up other food, but his heart was not so comfortable.
Could it be that Odin sent Kvasir because he killed the Norns? Did he notice already?
I believed it wasn’t. No matter how much Odin has Hlidskjalf, the dragon throne that can watch over the nine worlds, he couldn’t have seen that moment.
One of the items Seryu has, the ‘Orb of Freedom’, as long as it exists, there is no being who can peep with clairvoyance.
Thinking that far, my anxiety subsided a little.
“You really don’t know me?”
“I’m sorry, but I really don’t know.”
I don’t know. Maybe what I remember is wrong.
And this is the first time I’ve met her, so it’s not a lie to say I don’t know.
It’s just wordplay, but she seems to be a little shocked that I don’t know her, her lips are open and her eyes are blank.
That look made me chuckle a little, as if saying, ‘How can you not know me?’
Hearing that laughter, she seemed to come to her senses, closed her blankly open mouth, and leaned against the table.
“Well, whatever. Hmm~ You’re too much. When such a beautiful woman sits in front of you and talks to you, you eat as if you’re indifferent.”
“Because I’m hungry, the timing of your visit wasn’t good.”
Even though I dropped the honorifics, she didn’t seem to care at all.
Rather, she sneakily reached out and ate one of the foods.
Seryu was dumbfounded by that too natural appearance, but he’s not a narrow-minded person to say anything about eating one food.
“That’s right. Ah, shall we get to the point?”
“I wish you would. For your information, I’m going to go straight up and sleep as soon as I finish my meal.”
So speak quickly, I didn’t say the last part.
Anyway, I didn’t doubt that she would fully understand the meaning of the words.
She nodded as if she understood and drew a smile with her small lips.
“Originally, I was just going to look around this castle and leave. I didn’t feel any curiosity or interest in the adventurers, even though there are many of them.”
“Wait, saying that, are you also an adventurer?”
“Hmm- how should I say it, you can see me as a wanderer. I am a person who wanders aimlessly without any purpose.”
“You’re here when you’re supposed to leave, does that mean you’re interested in me?”
“Yes, of course, it’s not like I’m interested as a man, so please don’t jump to conclusions. Hehe. Let me introduce myself again.”
What? I heard the name Kvasir.
But what is she going to introduce again.
“I am the one born into the world with the love of the gods. My name is Kvasir. I am not a child born as a result of the love and union of a man and a woman, but a being created by Odin, the king of all gods.”
“….”
“And I, who was born like that, believed that I was the one and only being loved by all gods in the nine worlds until just a few hours ago. Until I met you.”
I see, if that’s why she’s interested in me. Is this it?
It’s amazing if you really detected the blessings of Olympus gods that are always activated.
“It was amazing. As I was walking down the road, there was someone like me, no! It was similar. It’s the first time I’ve felt the power of many gods, not just one or two.”
“It can happen. It’s not impossible at all.”
Kvasir wiggled her beautiful, long index finger.
It was an action that seemed to say – don’t try to gloss over it.
I frowned at that action, but I ignored it and ate the food.
There is not much food left on the table now. It’s enough to eat in 2-3 minutes at most.
“Of course. If that were the case, I would have just greeted you and passed by. But the scent of the gods you feel is so unfamiliar. The many scents are harmoniously swirling around your body, but I can’t know who any of them belong to. It’s impossible for me, who is loved by all gods, Aesir and Vane, not to know a god.”
She added, “And this isn’t even the scent of giants.”
I stopped stuffing food into my mouth like a pig and put down the cutlery.
I still have food left, but I don’t want to eat anymore.
Kvasir’s two eyes stared at Seryu’s eyes. In her eyes, there was strong interest and a desire to know the truth.
“Who are you?”
“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of revealing my identity to someone I don’t even know.”
There is no more conversation.
Seryu gathered magic in his hand. When the undulating magic covered his hand, he released it on the table, precisely on top of the runes that she had engraved a little while ago.
With a light wave, a cool breeze spread around, and the runes disappeared.
When the runes disappeared, the power of mystery disappeared, and the surroundings were filled with noise again.
“Can’t you tell me? It’s not that difficult, is it? If you need a price, if there’s something you want, I’ll give it to you.”
“You seem to be mistaken about one thing, I’m not a teacher. If you come to me with something you don’t know and ask a question. Did you think I would pat your head, saying you’re admirable, and tell you the answer with a warm smile?”
“That’s…”
“If you’re curious, find out for yourself. If you find the answer, I’ll praise you then.”
Seryu didn’t say anything more and got up from his seat and approached the clerk who was resting in a corner.
Kvasir, who was left at the seat, could only watch Seryu, who was being guided to the upper floor.
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