- VOL 1 – THOSE UNITED BY THE FATE -
Chapter 1: A New Journey! (5/10)
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"By the way, I'm Yumi. You look quite young. Where did you come from? Did you cross the forests by yourself?''
Shin was surprised that the woman next to him suddenly asked so many questions. However, he didn't mind meeting someone new.
''I'm Shin. Nice to meet you Yumi-san. I think you're a little too curious.''
He said this sarcastically, and there was no expression that indicated he was uncomfortable with the conversation. So she kept up with him and continued.
''Hehe. I guess I am.''
''I left my village and came to the city to make a new beginning. And yes, I crossed the forest alone.''
''Hmm... I guess you chose a bad place for a new beginning.''
The woman reacted with a sad expression when she heard that Shin had just started his journey and this was the first place he had come to.
''I've heard that before. I think the Ardevant Kingdom used this city in a bad way. But now that the war is over, I also heard that this place will develop like the rest of Ardevant.''
He had learned this information while talking to Xilam. Apparently, the reason for this celebration in the city was the end of the war. According to what he learned, this city was a standby and accommodation place for the army during the war.
Since the war was with the elves, they were waiting in this city close to where they lived. In fact, at the very beginning of this war, the city of Katim was established as a retreat zone in the middle of the war. However, as time progressed in this war that lasted for centuries, it turned into a completely independent and large trade city.
When the war became unnecessarily protracted, the city's inhabitants suffered. The army constantly drained the city and despite this, the city did not receive any aid from the kingdom. This city, which was already built in the middle of the vast plains, weakened even more when it gave its resources to the army.
Since there was no central administration in the city, the people met all their needs by themselves. For this reason, they made continuous progress in terms of trade, but they were unfairly taken by the army. The reason for today's celebration was that it was thought that this city would be liberated at the end of the war.
‘Heh, I guess the war was going on for no reason. This kingdom is corrupt... It was unlucky that they attacked us when the war was about to end, but many other people were also affected by this war. They even used the people in the city they had built...’
After Shin said his last words, the atmosphere was silent for a while. While he was thinking about the absurdity of this war in his own head, Yumi sighed and continued the conversation.
''Hahh... I think we can really develop the city now. The guilds and trade here are quite advanced. Now that the war is over, everyone can focus on their own business...''
Shin sensed from Yumi's voice that something was still wrong. Apparently, although the war was over, there were still problems in the city. After waiting for a while, the blonde-haired woman took off her unpleasant expression and returned to her smiling face.
''There is no point in thinking about the war anymore. It's already over, and that was the reason for the celebration. The city will definitely develop further. In fact, that's why you might have a great chance of coming here. You might get a good opportunity before everything is in place. Would you ever consider joining a guild?”
The chestnut-haired boy looked a little thoughtful at her last question.
‘I think Yumi-san is right. Xilam-san invited me to the guild where he worked. Right now the guilds must be looking for new people to expand. If I can make use of the disorganized state of the city, I can really get to a good place. But what was my purpose in coming here in the first place? To join a guild and make good money? I guess I won't push myself too hard for now.’
Shin was strangely good at business. His father was a merchant who traveled all over the kingdom, but he could not be said to have taught him much. Still, on his own, he had a grasp of his father's business and made some small deductions about the way the trading business worked. He was also physically confident and had already thought of a few plans that he could implement with his physique. One of these plans was to harvest the riches of the wild and unforgiving lands around the city and offer them to the guilds.
However, he had not come to this city to make a lot of money or particularly to trade. He just wanted to embark on a new adventure. So for now, he decided to calmly examine his surroundings and take firm steps forward.
''Someone else invited me to the guild where he worked. I think there may be good opportunities for newcomers to the city at this time, as you said. I haven't made a decision yet, but I will probably join a guild eventually.''
''So that's how it is. I'm a counselor working for the Golden Raven Guild. There are three big guilds in this city. These guilds are the Fierce Lions, Crimson Jewels, and Golden Ravens. These three guilds have been active since the founding of the city, and although there is no particular authority here, the three big guilds are in charge of most areas in the city. In addition to the big three, there are many little or large trade and adventuring guilds. Some were formed with external investment, while some smaller guilds were founded by individuals. If you want to join a guild, I recommend you to join one of the three big guilds. Because I don't think you can learn much when you join other guilds, especially when you are new here. You are responsible for your own actions and you can only train yourself on those guilds. If you join one of the three big guilds, you can slowly get to know the city and improve yourself further with the help of the guild members.''
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‘Hmm... It really seems like there are a lot of options...'’
After Yumi's long speech, Shin was a little more silent and began to think about the new things he had learned. In fact, the action that was common to all guilds was ''Trade'', which seemed to be a very simple thing.
But even for this simple action, many different communities had been established. Shin had a little idea about these communities in his mind.
Basically, since there was no real authority in this city, everyone would be working in a way that would benefit them the most. Although a few ideas formed in his head, Shin opened his mouth, thinking that it would be better to get precise information instead of guessing.
''Yumi-san, which of the three big guilds should I go to? These guilds should be the three big buildings in the center of the city. All of them really show their size. However, I don't want to randomly join any of them. It would be best to join after considering and deciding between the three.''
''Yes, you're thinking quite logically. I guess even though you're young, such things don't escape your eyes.''
The blonde-haired woman said this with a slight smile and was lost in her thoughts for a few seconds. She was surprised that the boy in front of her actually evaluated what was in front of him instead of going on an action-packed adventure and chasing excitement without thinking too much. Carelessly wandering around was dangerous anywhere in the world, but in this city in particular, not knowing what you were doing could have very bad consequences.
Indeed, this city was unlike any other. It could be considered lawless, simply because there was no ruler. Even if you got past that, the guilds here were unlike any adventurer's guilds in other cities, and you couldn't make money if you didn't know exactly what to do.
Yumi had gathered the simple but most important information in her head after her little surprise. After seeing the thoughts of the boy in front of her, she really wanted to teach him something important. However, just as she was about to open her mouth, a voice from behind the booth interrupted their conversation.
''Hey kid, what was your name again?''
The black-haired woman had returned from wherever she had gone with a book in her hand. Shin stopped his conversation with Yumi and started talking to the woman in front of him.
''My name is Kahon Shin. I was wondering if you found anything."
''It's strange, but I didn't find any information about this fruit in any book. I only came across a few things that I can call interesting. A few open-ended things about fruits like this... And because of this, I need to know more about this plant from you.''
''Of course. I don't know what to tell you, but if you ask me a few questions, I'll try to answer them as best I can.''
The black-haired woman, whose name was Riki, spoke in a tone of voice that could be considered formal. Hearing her like that, Shin also started to speak more seriously. However, this seriousness was broken by the other person in the environment in a way that the two did not expect.
''Hey, Riki! You asked Shin-kun for his name and you haven't even introduced yourself! You're really rude when you're on the job! You're also talking too seriously!"
The blonde-haired woman scolded the shop owner in an angry tone. Actually, Shin had no problem with this serious atmosphere. As long as he could satisfy his curiosity and do his business, he didn't care what the atmosphere was like.
In fact, according to him, he didn't even need to know their names. Of course, there was also no problem in learning it, but the important thing for him right now was the reason he came here.
In the end, Yumi was the one who destroyed the seriousness of the conversation. The black-haired woman on the other side of the booth looked at her and spoke.
''I guess you're right Yumi.''
The seriousness on her face was suddenly replaced by a sincere smile. Seeing this, Shin was quite surprised because the personality of the woman in front of him had changed in an instant. What surprised him was that he did not feel any fakeness from this change. Despite changing her mood so quickly, the woman seemed to be behaving quite naturally.
Even though he was surprised, he kept up with the situation and went back to the way he was talking to Yumi just now.
''Forgive me for my rudeness, Shin-kun. My name is Riki. Even if you don't know much about this plant, you brought it here. That's why I think you can help me understand what it is. You can also fulfill what you wanted in the first place."
She was really sincere when she said that. Apparently, as Yumi had mentioned, Riki was very curious about plants she didn't know. From her voice and posture, it could be understood that she wanted Shin's help more for her own curiosity than for work.
''Of course, I'd be happy to help, Riki-san. After all, I don't know what this plant is either, and I came here because I was curious about it."
''You're finally smiling.''
After Shin, the woman who led the change in the atmosphere spoke. She seemed to be satisfied with the situation. She chatted with the duo for a while, but soon she said that she had her own business and left the shop.
---
''So this fruit comes from the forests in the east.''
The woman in uniform focused all her attention on the answer of the boy in front of her.
''You already mentioned that it came from there, but I have a doubt...''
The boy had simply mentioned where he came from but did not go into detail about it. Because the great war in Ardevant especially involved elves and there were elven forests to the east of this city. There were not many known people living there, so it was hard not to be suspicious of someone who said that they came from the east. In addition, the fact that she could not find any information about this fruit also strengthened her suspicions.
''By any chance, did you pass through the forests of the elves or something?''
When she said that, there was a bit of concern as well as suspicion on her face. Shin was also worried when he noticed her expression. As he thought, there must have been many people who harbored great hostility towards the elves, and he himself had lived quite close to them. So logically, it would be natural for other people to not even know about the existence of that village.
‘I don't know where I have passed through exactly, but could it be that they have targeted our village all over the kingdom? Just because I came from the east, would they react as if I were an elf? I guess I'd better not let others know that I'm from the east of the city.’
Shin was lost in his thoughts for a while. As such, the woman's emerald green eyes widened with even greater concern.
''Shin-kun?''
The chestnut-haired boy, who was awakened from his thoughts by being called out, was able to gather the words to explain the situation simply in those few seconds.
''Riki-san. I really don't know where exactly I came from, but I guess we won't be able to unravel this mystery until I tell you the path I traveled.''
The calm atmosphere was slowly returning to its former serious state. Even this person, whom Shin had thought was completely serious and cold, had somehow looked anxiously at just the word of a forest near the elves. Shin had therefore firmly decided that he would not tell anyone anything clear about where he had come from. However, he now wanted to conclude this conversation he was in. So he decided to at least tell everything he knew about the fruit.
''Now that Yumi-san is gone, we can get back to business in all seriousness.''
An emotionless smile formed on Shin's face. Seeing this, the worry on the woman's face also strangely disappeared and turned into an emotionless smile.
''If you say so, I will listen to you very carefully.''