After commissioning Jevan, the mercenary captain, to create a fake identity.
I continued to wander outside to familiarize myself with the geography.
Before long, I had explored so much that I could roughly memorize routes even without a map.
“You learn quickly!”
“Do I?”
Of course, I wasn’t just wandering around during this time.
Lowell had hired an instructor from somewhere to teach me basic knowledge.
“They told me you had no common sense at all, so I was worried, but you understand quickly, and your memory is excellent.”
“Thank you.”
“Haha!”
The instructor was a man in his mid-twenties, with brown hair and a scholarly appearance.
His name was Eric Brown.
He told me to just call him Eric, but I kept addressing him as “Instructor”.
“So, Instructor, what kind of monsters are typically found in the mountain ranges?”
“Haha, feel free to just call me Eric.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
Today’s lesson was on the geography of the Adel Kingdom, specifically the capital, Kaine, and the adjacent Kaine Mountain Range.
“The Kaine Mountain Range can be roughly divided into three zones.”
Eric drew a large mountain shape on the prepared chalkboard and marked three lines through it.
“The lowest zone is the lowlands, where lower-class monsters like goblins and kobolds reside. It’s the area most mercenaries frequent.”
Goblins and kobolds.
Names I had grown sick of hearing.
If I tallied the number I’d slain in the Colosseum, it could fill a truck.
“The middle zone is home to mid-tier monsters like mountain orcs or werewolves. Sometimes, they descend to hunt lower-tier monsters or cause trouble for mercenaries.”
More familiar names.
Well, where else would the Colosseum have gotten its monsters from?
Most likely, they were captured from this very mountain range.
“The higher up you go, the more dangerous it becomes, but rare herbs are often found there.”
“There must be many fatalities.”
“Yes, the monsters in the highlands are formidable even for Gold-ranked mercenaries.”
The highlands…
The first monster that came to mind was an ogre.
Even if there were ten Gold-ranked fighters like Jevan, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
The last ogre I saw had already lost a hand and had been drugged heavily during its time in the Colosseum.
A real ogre, untouched and reigning in the mountains, would be far more terrifying.
I couldn’t fathom how the Colosseum handlers managed to capture one in the first place.
“Also, beyond the Kaine Mountain Range, on the Lunaria Grasslands, orcs who lose their territorial battles often cross over and settle.”
“And they become mountain orcs if they survive?”
“Yes, but if their numbers grow too large, hunting competitions are organized to control them.”
“Ah, I’ve heard of those.”
Orc hunting competitions.
These events involve hunting orcs that cross over from the Lunaria Grasslands and looting the villages they’ve established.
The Lunaria Grasslands are a dangerous plain teeming with orcs, but the treasures they bring back are valuable.
This is why the kingdom periodically organizes these hunts—to manage the ecosystem of the mountain range and profit from the loot.
“It seems about time for another hunt.”
“Is that so? When do you think it will happen?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ve been hearing reports of mercenaries being affected by orc attacks lately.”
Using reports of orc attacks to predict the timing of the hunt…
Well, Silver-ranked mercenaries shouldn’t struggle against orcs.
Let alone mercenary groups, whose strength lies in teamwork. For them to fall prey to orcs would indeed be unusual.
“Probably this year or next.”
“Does the Boyd family participate often?”
“Yes, most noble families join. Even the royal family sends representatives.”
“Oh…”
It must be a significant hunting event.
Well, it’s essentially a treasure raid.
Noble families participating as units would ensure safety.
Would they include me in such a hunt?
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have been sent, but judging by how they’re educating me, it seems they plan to use me soon.
Lowell had even hinted that they’d openly pay me for tasks in the future.
“During the last hunting competition, a troll suddenly appeared from the mountain heights…”
Anyway.
Eric went on to share various incidents that had occurred during previous hunting events.
Though his lectures often drifted off-topic, I found him to be an excellent instructor.
*
After finishing the class.
“Did you enjoy your lesson?”
When I stepped out of the drawing room where the lesson had taken place, Lowell was waiting outside.
“Oh, yes, I did.”
“Eric praised your quick understanding.”
“Well… the material wasn’t too difficult.”
It’s not that I lacked intelligence, just knowledge.
The lessons covered local geography, basic history, and information about nobles.
Honestly, it felt like listening to a fantasy world’s background lore, which was entertaining.
“At this rate, we may be able to ask for your assistance sooner than expected.”
“Weren’t you planning to ask tomorrow anyway?”
Tomorrow marks exactly a week since Lowell mentioned it.
Time has flown by between lessons and strolls.
“I originally planned to start you off with something simple, but that doesn’t seem necessary anymore.”
“…I just hope it’s not too difficult.”
“As long as you do well, the rewards will be substantial.”
He didn’t say it would be easy.
Then again, why would they bother training me this extensively if it were a simple task?
After all, tasks requiring a well-trained Aura user who obediently follows orders are rarely trivial.
“By the way, did your outings yield any results?”
As we headed to the training grounds after the lesson, Lowell asked about anything I might have gained during my outings.
Results, huh. Well, there was one thing.
“Do you remember the mercenary group I mentioned before?”
“Yes, I recall. They’re quite well-known in the capital.”
“I instructed their captain to create a fake identity for me.”
Stop.
Lowell froze mid-step at my words.
“…Is that something you should be telling me?”
“I prefer not to create secrets I can’t manage. Still, please don’t mention this to anyone else.”
A watchdog secretly creating a fake identity.
From any perspective, it’s a clear overstep.
If I get caught, the consequences would be severe. It’s better to inform Lowell upfront.
“What are you planning to do with it?”
“It’s not for running away. It’s just in case something comes up. A pre-established identity gains credibility over time, doesn’t it?”
A hastily made identity can’t compare to one that’s been in use for years, with a history of activity to back it up.
“Do you think they’ll make it properly?”
“I think they’ll do their best, but could you verify it for me?”
“…If it’s something like that, we could’ve handled it ourselves.”
“Would you have done it?”
“Yes, though it would require some complex procedures to keep it hidden.”
“Verification seems simpler.”
For complicated tasks, outsourcing is always more convenient.
The upper management only needs to inspect the results.
And…
Honestly, part of my reason for creating the identity is in case something goes wrong with the Boyd family.
Instead of being too entangled with them, I opted for the freedom of a mercenary identity.
It would also make transitioning to an adventurer easier if needed.
“Hmm.”
Lowell seemed to understand my reasoning.
“Well, do as you please.”
He’s likely letting this one slide because he knows me well by now.
“…Thank you.”
“Given you have time for such preparations, I’m confident we can assign tasks sooner.”
…He’s letting it slide, right?
“What exactly are you planning to have me do that you keep dropping ominous hints?”
“A simple investigation.”
Investigation, huh.
He makes it sound simple, but if Lowell wants me to do it, it’s probably not lightweight.
“I’ll give you the details tomorrow. Just be prepared.”
“Understood.”
Well, if Lowell thinks I can handle it, it should be manageable.
“For now, let’s start with training.”
After that, I spent the day receiving training from Lowell.
The next day.
“You’ll be assisting here.”
Lowell handed me a map with a marked building.
“And where is this?”
“It’s the Astra Trading Company, a business run by the Boyd family.”
“Ah, I see.”
At first glance, it seemed like some kind of subcontractor.
“And what exactly am I investigating here?”
A trading company?
Was I supposed to conduct an audit or something?
That seemed like a heavy task for someone who had only just started learning basic common sense.
“You’ll be working with pre-assigned agents to conduct an investigation in the underground facilities.”
“…Underground? Isn’t this a trading company?”
“On the surface, yes. But in reality, it’s an intelligence network secretly operated by the second young master.”
…Did I just stumble upon something huge?
The second young master—that would be the young lady’s older brother.
I’ve never even seen his face, but now I know about his secret operation.
“Wouldn’t I just be dismissed as insignificant if I showed up there?”
“I’ve already informed them you’ll be acting as my representative, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Wow.”
I thought I was being sent on an errand to a subcontractor, but it turns out I’m being parachuted in as a representative of the main family.
“Can I throw my weight around while I’m there?”
“As long as it matches your skills.”
“Perfect. I’ll just shake things up a bit.”
With Lowell backing me, I could definitely walk in with confidence.
“Just don’t cause too much trouble.”
“Understood.”
“Before you go, let me quickly brief you on what you need to know.”
Anyway, that was it.
After hearing a few simple warnings from Lowell, I headed to Astra Trading Company.
(TLN: Changed “demon worshippers” to “devil worshippers”)
