Chapter 87: The Impoverished Viscount’s Second Son Searches for the Eye 9
＊
“Thanks, that was a big help, Masked Man.”
The one who thanked me like that was a bearded, slightly older male adventurer.
Judging by his large muscles and the low intensity of his Physical Enhancement for his age, he probably became an adventurer recently.
As an aside, it seems that the earlier one becomes an adventurer, the less likely they are to develop large muscles, strangely enough.
I don’t know if it’s true or not, but according to my master, using Physical Enhancement magic from a young age increases muscle density instead of size.
As I took the man’s arm from his bearded companion and reattached it, I inwardly tilted my head, wondering, what exactly is muscle density?
This happened after dragging the man, who was screaming “My armmm!”, out of the forest.
Although I think I can boast a little about my Healing Magic and Physical Enhancement magic, unfortunately, I’m not very good at using Healing Magic on others.
Since it was a cleanly severed arm, Erika probably could have reattached it instantly on the spot.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t confident I could leisurely reattach an arm in a forest teeming with Monsters trying to lop off our heads and arms.
That’s why I had the man’s companion hold the severed arm and dragged the screaming man out of the forest.
By the way, he was already the fourth person.
Since I’ve hunted twenty Jewelhead Bunnies, that means someone’s arm or leg goes flying for every five bunnies.
I sighed as I watched the bearded man, his arm now reattached, lead his companions back into the forest.
“You’re very kind, Masked Man.”
The one who said that to me was a male Merchant standing in front of a small Freight Wagon.
If fools gather in the Forest of Fools, then it means wise men who make money off them also gather.
“It’s part of managing my well-being. Waking up feeling bad isn’t good for the body.”
Saying that, I handed the man an amber-colored jewel.
It has almost no value, like trash, but Merchants can sell even trash.
“Thanks for your business.”
While receiving an amount of money not worth risking one’s life for, I watched the amber-colored jewel get carelessly tossed into a barrel.
Apparently, it will be processed into buttons.
“By the way, have there been any adventurers who’ve hit the jackpot recently?”
“I don’t recall hearing about any recently.”
The man answered my question.
“I see. Well, I think you’ll hear about one soon.”
When I said that during a short break, the man narrowed his eyes and looked at my face.
“Do you have some secret plan?”
The look on the man’s face as he asked seemed to say, “Not again.”
He must have heard similar things from countless adventurers. I understand how he feels.
For some reason, baseless confidence is common among adventurers.
Boasting, exaggeration, bluffing.
I recall the tall tales I heard from senior adventurers at the Faltar Adventurers Guild.
Things like, “My left arm was full carrying stuff, so I defeated the dragon with just my right arm,” or…
“I beat a Golden Ogre in a bare-handed fistfight.”
Even for “showing off” to a young adventurer like me, that was quite the boast.
Since they were “friends of my master,” they all had strong personalities.
But I’m not a muscle-brained type like them.
I’m the theoretical type.
“Actually…”
I said it carefully, making sure no confidence leaked into my voice.
That would make it sound cheap.
“I’m lucky.”
“–Huh?”
I explained the truth of the world to the surprised man.
“Because I was able to marry the world’s greatest woman (Erika).”
Leaving the man speechless at the truth of the world I had explained, I entered the forest again.
＊
After that, right after entering the forest, I found the bearded man who had gotten his arm lopped off again, and his companion holding the severed arm with a troubled look, so I turned back.
After being sarcastically told “You’re lucky, aren’t you?” by the Merchant, it was quickly lunchtime.
I sold about forty additional amber-colored jewels to the Merchant and gnawed on some dried meat for lunch.
This dried meat I bought at the West Gate Plaza is pretty good.
Call it strong commercial spirit, or perhaps there are quite a few “wise men,” as food stalls even appeared at noon trying to sell lunch to the fools.
The bearded man, whose arm I had reattached a total of three times, called out from his seat at a stall, “Thanks, Masked Man!”
After giving a casual wave in response, I called out to familiar faces standing beside the stall.
“We meet again, Ezz, Pal.”
Apparently, Ezz and Pal, despite being adventurers, were on the side of the “wise men.”
They seemed to be guarding the food stall.
It seems the two-day trip from Hecate is worth it, as the request fee is apparently quite good.
Just how much are these fools here being fleeced by the wise men?
“Um… Masked Man, are you aiming for the jewels?”
Perhaps following the bearded man’s example, Ezz called me Masked Man.
That’s right. I am Shin Longdagger, formerly Jin Goldendagger, and now, the Masked Man.
“Masked Man, this is thanks, please take it,” I gave Pal the fruit I received from an adventurer whose leg I had reattached.
“Thank you very much,” Pal said gratefully, biting into the fruit. Thinking he looked like a rodent, I nodded in response to Ezz’s question.
“Shi– If it’s you, Masked Man, wouldn’t you earn more going to the Demon Realm?”
“It’s not about earnings, I need the jewels.”
A ring with the value of the ‘Priestess’ Eye’ or something comparable would cost a considerable amount.
Moreover, the overall value of Magic Stones has dropped recently.
Setting aside Designated Subjugation Targets that come with bonus rewards, trying to earn that much purely from the value of Magic Stones would require taking considerable risks.
I wouldn’t hesitate to take risks for Erika’s sake, but now that demand is somewhat satisfied, it would be beyond a joke if my risky efforts didn’t align with the demand.
Therefore, aiming for jewels is the logical choice.
Besides, I am a lucky man.
The odds of success are high.
I nodded at Ezz, who seemed to be asking “Are you sure?” with just his expression, without voicing it.
I am the Theory (Erica) type.
There are no oversights.
By the way, when I asked Ezz why he mistook the Masked Man for someone named Shin Longdagger.
After looking a bit troubled, he answered, “Well, if someone has the same equipment as the adventurer rumored about in town, and also carries a scabbard with Tepe Torr Rosso’s crest, wouldn’t pretty much anyone misunderstand?”
I see, so it’s Tepe’s fault.
Which means it’s okay, my theory isn’t flawed. It’s not my fault.