“What’s going on with what I said?”
“I finally got a lead after many inquiries; it’s rumored to be found in the northern mountains.”
The northern mountains, huh.
“Why would it be in such a place?”
Well, at least it’s fortunate to have caught a clue after a week. If I leave right now, I might manage to make it on time.
“I guess I need to prepare to depart.”
“Right now?”
“I could hesitate, but if I just hesitate, I won’t gain anything.”
Especially if I want to negotiate with that guy, it’s better to move quickly. Since I’m meeting him a year earlier than in the original story, I can’t exactly grasp the situation right now, but if I don’t negotiate soon, I might not be able to meet the time.
“Haha, I’ll fetch a carriage going north for you.”
“Thank you.”
“But are you going alone?”
“Everyone is too busy to come with me.”
It’s not like I’m going on a vacation, plus my pets are students, so of course, they can’t come, and Sif has to handle things as my representative, so I’m basically going alone.
Well, what can I do? I can’t drag anyone with me.
Anyway, after living alone for 10 years, I’m more used to acting solo.
“I see… but going alone isn’t going to be easy. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
“I plan to find a local collaborator there.”
Though I’m not sure if there will be one since I’m going a year early, at least I had a potential candidate to look for.
“Then take this with you.”
I received a token from Principal Merlin. It sparkled emerald green and was the size of a palm.
“Are you really giving this to me?”
“Use it in times of trouble. At the very least, the mage guild in the north won’t turn you away.”
“…Thank you.”
I didn’t expect to get this just by obtaining a complicated linked quest. Guess I’m luckier than I thought. I tucked the token of the Grand Magician into my pocket.
“Don’t lose it. It’ll be a hassle to get it reissued.”
“I’ll return it in pristine condition.”
“I’ll be counting on you. And be careful on your journey.”
——————-
“Johann, where are you going?”
“I’m heading north.”
“North?”
At my words, Millia stared in the direction of the north. But all she could see was the wall. After all, the windows only face east and west.
“Where in the north?”
“Mont Blanc.”
“Mont Blanc?”
“That’s in the northern snowy mountain region. They say it’s so cold that water freezes instantly.”
“Really? I want to go…”
Well, since Millia has never been to the snowy mountains, it’s understandable she’d want to visit at least once. I haven’t seen snow in ten years, so going north means seeing a landscape covered in white garbage, no, pure white snow.
[Contractor, when? When? Let’s go quickly! I want to see snow~]
Since I mentioned the snowy mountains, Rue has been quite excited and openly showing her enthusiasm.
If I said I didn’t want to go, I felt like she’d brainwash me into going, so I had no choice but to hold her wiggling body with my hand.
“I’ll take you once you graduate.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
I thought I’d also let her travel the world after the ending.
Once I see the ending, I wouldn’t be stuck in the confines of the original story anymore. Of course, since I must aim for the true ending, I won’t be sure whether it can end up as a perfect happy ending, but I guess the world won’t be completely destroyed.
“Then it’s a promise! Take me to the snowy mountains when I graduate!”
I blankly stared at her outstretched hand. Is it the same here to pinky swear on promises?
Or maybe it’s because the game developer is Japanese. I chuckled and linked my pinky with Millia’s tiny finger.
“Alright.”
“I, I, want to go too…”
When did you arrive?
I looked at Elisa who was shyly pulling my sleeve. With her face turning red, it seemed she was quite interested in visiting the snowy mountains as well. I nodded happily.
“Alright. I’ll take you too.”
“Thank you…”
“Next time, you can be a bit more assertive with your requests. It’s not exactly a strange request.”
Given her innate timid nature, it’s unreasonable to expect her to ask assertively like Millia, but since we’re getting closer, I hope she doesn’t act too shy around me. Living timidly in a rough world can only lead to losses.
“Johann?”
“What are you doing here?”
What’s going on? Why are you all gathering here? I scratched my head at the sight of the girls clustered in the corridor. This seemed like it was going to turn into a hassle.
“We were talking about going on a snowy mountain trip with Johann! He said he’d take us after graduation!”
“A snowy mountain?”
At Millia’s explanation, Karina’s eyes widened as she looked up at me. Her golden and pink eyes staring at me was quite adorable. Honestly, she looks better without a veil.
“She said she wants to see snow. We agreed to go together after graduation.”
“The snowy mountains…”
Is Karina interested in going too?
By that time, her legs should be fine, so she’d probably be able to go without a problem.
“Do you want to go too?”
“Y-Yes?! Uh, um… Yes…”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to gather everyone and have a graduation trip together.”
“That’d be fun!”
“A graduation trip… It’ll be cold.”
Since Renny had been a mercenary, she probably went there before.
I turned my gaze away from the excited atmosphere flowing through the corridor and looked out the window. All I could see were trees stained brown.
I wish that by then, no one would get hurt and could participate in the graduation trip.
That became a new wish of mine.
For now, it was just hope.
———————-
“So, you’re saying I should be gone for a couple of months and take care of things in my place?”
“Yes.”
“What if they take advantage of me? Like not paying me…”
“If they have their wits about them, they won’t be doing something stupid like that.”
It’s not like the principal of the Kalon Academy would want to make an enemy of the head of a major trading company.
I’d be leaving in a week, but I should settle things before I go. I watched Sif sip her juice while I downed my own.
Ugh, sour!
“Okay… I understand. Since I’ve already agreed, I’ll do my best.”
“And I’ve told the head of the Bern Trading Company to find you a decent place to stay, so you’ll be living there from now on.”
“What?”
Sif looked at me wide-eyed, her tail perked up indicating she was surprised. I added to her stunned expression.
“You can’t stay living in the slums forever.”
“Well, that’s true… but giving me a house… you’re not cutting my pay, right?!”
“It’s the same as usual, don’t worry. Since you’re now my assistant, you need basic protection.”
“Oh, is that so?”
After all, it would be troublesome if Sif got kidnapped or something.
I couldn’t leave Sif, now that she’s mine, in a dangerous place. Given the money she took from me, she was always in a state where being kidnapped or robbed wouldn’t be surprising.
“Here’s the key.”
I placed the shiny silver key on the table. Sif carefully picked it up and examined it from every angle, staring at it intently.
She looked like a curious cat fascinated by a shiny object, and it made me drink my juice smilingly. Distracting her with something else made things a bit easier.
“Are you really giving this to me?”
“Do I look like someone who jokes around?”
“No, but still…”
“It’s not as great a house as you might be imagining, so don’t get your hopes up too high.”
It’s just a modest house where she can live with her siblings. Roughly twenty square meters or so.
Come to think of it, my room in Yeomyeong-gwan is pretty big. It must be about fifteen square meters.
“By the way, the house is a brick house located in the west street of Kalon; just turn right after Fred’s jewelry store.”
“That area is busy!”
“Because the security is decent there.”
I had already told the head of the Bern Trading Company, so she shouldn’t get kidnapped while I’m gone. I recalled the shabby, crumbling mud house Sif lived in from the original story and addended that thought.
“Gifted to you is a sign for you to work hard. Got it?”
“Of course! I’ll work like a dog!”
I chuckled as I watched Sif with sparkling eyes wag her tail.
“Well, I’m off. Go look around your new house with your siblings.”
“See you later!”
She sure is quick. I waved goodbye to the excited Sif as she sprinted off into the distance and turned my attention back.
Now, is the surrounding cleanup mostly done?
All that’s left is to finish preparations for heading to the snowy mountains. I began making my way back to Yeomyeong-gwan, recalling what I needed to pack.
Before I head out, there was one last thing I needed to do.
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