Chapter 9:

Chapter 9:

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule:

Illustrations: None.

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Rick's Rabbit Foot Company, in a nutshell, is simply a lucky peddler.

In this disastrous world where traveling equals suicide, venturing to another village to sell goods is an act of great madness.

Who would dare travel carrying valuable goods, when safety isn't guaranteed even for a small journey?

It's like having a golden goblin or a golden carriage.

However, on the flip side, if one manages to evade all sorts of thieves and monsters and safely reach another village, they can make a killing and earn a fortune.

With limited goods and many buyers, the profits are immense!

Thus, traveling from village to village, one could return to their hometown after 3-4 years as an incredibly wealthy individual.

This is common knowledge among merchants who deal in market trends.

However, the likelihood of this becoming reality is extremely low.

First of all, the idea of getting through thieves and monster hordes is absurd.

Even if one somehow amasses wealth and dreams of becoming a great merchant, they are often cut down by nobles.

'Oh, you're a wanderer? But you have a lot of money? Then hand it over.'

Nobles are like robbers who forgot to carry swords.

Sometimes they do carry them, making them no different from ordinary robbers.

They snatch away money from anyone wealthy on their land.

Therefore, merchants, as their businesses start flourishing, seek the backing of nobles.

They conduct business only in places sanctioned by nobles, offering a significant portion of their earnings to them.

The nobles, who do nothing but indulge in leisure, are wealthy for a reason: they seize the hard-earned money of merchants.

That's why becoming a great merchant takes an incredibly long time.

But it's not an entirely impossible feat.

Today, aspiring great merchants like Rabbit Foot Company continue to load their wagons with goods and travel across the empire.

'So, that's why there are so many people here.'

The reason for the crowded tavern?

It was due to Rabbit Foot Company.

The company's workers and a considerable number of escorts.

Let's call them mercenaries instead of martial artists, to avoid sounding like a martial arts novel.

'So, you're planning to cross to the north?'

'Yes, that's the plan.'

'Why not join us?'

Rick proposed joining forces.

For a very rational and valid reason.

'That mountain you see ahead is called Earth Dragon Mountain.'

'Dragon Mountain?'

There are many places named Dragon Mountain in the empire, named after places where dragons live or lived.

By the way, there's also a Dragon Mountain in Korea, called Yongsan (it's true).

Anyway, while Yongsan is a common name, there are only a handful of places where dragons actually reside.

Unfortunately, the Dragon Mountain ahead was not one of them.

'Earth Dragon Mountain is known for its drakes.'

Shouldn't it be called Drake Mountain then?

But whether it's dragons or drakes, the danger level is insanely high.

'Drakes...'

Ian recalled stories Eredith would share during classes.

Whenever the class became tedious, Eredith would liven up the atmosphere with tales from the world.

Scaled monsters are mostly dangerous, but the most common and perilous ones can be narrowed down to three types.

First, dragons.

'Dragons are evil beings that should not even be associated with.'

Dragons, with their cruel and wicked nature, have a habit of killing creatures for fun.

And they're disgustingly strong, so much so that even a considerable army might only barely manage to defeat one.

Therefore, if a dragon's den is discovered, it's absolutely forbidden to approach it.

In unavoidable situations, nobles would unite and summon knights for an attack.

Second, wyverns.

'Safe if you don't approach them, and it's hard to even get close.'

Wyverns, also called lesser dragons, reside at the top of high cliffs.

They enjoy soaring on strong winds and detest coming down to the lower mountains.

To encounter a wyvern, one had to seek out the rugged cliffs of treacherous mountain ranges.

Despite their carnivorous and ferocious nature, their killings of humans were extremely rare.

Lastly, the third type, drakes.

True to their nickname of wingless dragons, drakes dwell in deep underground caves.

Although milder compared to dragons or wyverns, they killed humans as frequently as dragons did.

The reason was their proximity to mountain trails, leading to frequent encounters with humans.

Still, thanks to their relatively mild nature, one could be safe if they passed quietly.

Ian seemed to understand why Rick wanted to take travelers with him.

It was like the logic of gathering people before crossing a mountain in the Joseon era.

Back then, mountains were infested with tigers, and crossing alone was a surefire way to become a tiger's meal.

Hence, the norm was to gather about a dozen people to cross together.

'Looking for people to cross Huldaeng Pass! (7/10)'

It was Ian Raven.

Just moments ago, Ian and Rick had been engaged in light chitchat.

Rick, being the owner of the trading company, had no friends, and Ian, as an outsider, knew no one.

Naturally, the two became companions in conversation.

"So, what do you do that has you wandering around alone?"

From appearances alone, Ian's identity was a mystery.

Not a knight, it seemed.

A noble?

But he would have been treated with disdain if he were.

Then, a bard?

Or a scholar?

Ian's next words took Rick by surprise.

"I'm a wizard."

"...What?"

The word "wizard" carries a profoundly powerful resonance among the empire's citizens.

Upon hearing it, Rick automatically switched to formal speech as if under a spell.

Huh?

Speaking formally to a wizard is just common sense.

"A, a, a wizard, you say?"

Ian tilted his head, puzzled at the suddenly malfunctioning Rick.

Just the word 'wizard' and this guy breaks down.

How fragile.

But Ian didn't know Rick's circumstances.

In the empire, wizards are like nobles.

No, they are nobles.

For commoners like Rick, a wizard is someone who could erase them with a mere gesture.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, no... I was just too rude..."

"Just speak as you were. I'm a commoner. Ian, a farmer's son."

Ian spoke as gently as possible, still not fully adjusted to the class system.

However, Rick was already shuddering, recalling the 39 mistakes he had made towards Ian so far.

'Damn it...! What have I done...!'

How dare he speak informally to a wizard.

How dare he offer a wizard a poor bed.

How dare he feed a wizard pig slop!

Truthfully, the greater fault lay with Ian for not starting the conversation with 'I'm a wizard,' right off the bat.

Rick isn't a mind-reader; how was he supposed to know Ian's thoughts?

But Ian, still unaccustomed to this medieval fantasy world, hadn't thought of that simple fact.

Whether Ian used formal speech or not, Rick was obliged to use honorifics with him.

That's the special status of wizards.

And another thing.

Among the citizens of the empire, a certain false belief was commonly accepted as truth: 'All wizards are eccentric lunatics.'

This misconception has bizarrely evolved into 'A wizard who doesn't act strangely isn't normal.'

Absurdly, a kind, polite, and sensible wizard is disregarded by the public.

'It's impossible for my wizard to be this nice!' was the prevailing sentiment.

Conversely, when a wizard does something insane, people laugh it off, saying, 'Yes, that's how a wizard should be!' and feel relieved.

It was a seriously twisted image.

'But is he really a wizard?'

Rick was slightly skeptical about Ian.

Because... Ian didn't seem eccentric at all!

Rick was a victim of this misguided belief.

However, he wasn't foolish enough to voice his doubts out loud.

If Ian were a real wizard, he'd definitely be a crazy eccentric, and Rick feared that any hint of suspicion might provoke Ian to kill him.

"Ah, no, not at all..."

"Really, can't you just speak casually like before?"

Ian, still loosely grasping the concept of a class-based society, wanted to remain simply travel companions with Rick.

However, now that Rick knew Ian was a wizard, it was impossible for him to speak informally.

'Aigo! If I did that, I would be putting my life at risk!'

Nobility are like campfires.

They illuminate the darkness, ward off beasts, and provide warmth.

But if you get too close, you get burned.

Throughout history, those who crossed the line with nobility have perished.

It has always been this way, and it will continue to be so.

Rick had no intention of walking a tightrope with Ian.

"Do as you please, then."

After several attempts at persuasion were ignored, Ian simply gave up.

'... Huh?'

Feeling the weight of many gazes, Ian looked around.

The way people looked at him had changed.

In their eyes, he sensed fear and suspicion.