Chapter 200

Moonstone Village.

The only moonstone mining site on the continent of Salevania was visited twice a month by officials dispatched from the palace. Their purpose was to check the total production and any issues in the production process. Naturally, this included verifying if any moonstone was being smuggled out.

However, it was also clear that the Camilton imperial family placed considerable trust in the residents here.

"If they didn't, they would have sent their own people directly. Building a village here, securing residents, and entrusting them with the work, must be for a reason.," Seojin commented after reviewing the information Montblanc and Kartna had gathered.

Securing moonstone was pretty much a given at this point. They only had to avoid the times of the imperial manager's visits, and that was precisely why Seojin was cautious.

"There could be more hidden here. Anyway… you two have been through a lot, so rest here. I'll go by myself."

"By yourself? Are you sure you can handle it?"

"It'll be tough for you! We should help…."

"It's okay."

Unlike the two, this wasn't Seojin's first time here. He knew what kind of situation a foreigner visiting this place would face. And that began as soon as he descended to the second floor.

"Oh my, look who it is! When did you get here? I would have prepared some warm soup if I had known!"

"Roosevella! It's been too long."

"Just wait, I'll be right back…."

"I'm not hungry, thank you. How's Tyren?"

"He's been excited since he heard you were coming. Everyone else too. They even prepared two pigs for a feast… Oh, what am I saying? Should I call everyone together?" Roosevella asked with a radiant smile, her joy at seeing Seojin was palpable.

So, the situation was like this: Moonstone Village was an isolated countryside village. For them, a visitor's story was practically the only means to satisfy their curiosity of the outside world.

'It's uncomfortable if you're not used to it.'

Right now, it was just Roosevella. But she was already asking if it was okay to bring others over.

"Of course! I'll wait here."

"You've become so much more mature since we first met. Have you seen much of the world?"

"Quite a bit. Probably much more than you're expecting, Roosevella."

"Then I have no choice."

Roosevella rolled up her sleeves as if she had made a decision, nodded vigorously, and announced,

"Today's food is on the house! Shall I show off my cooking skills?"

"What about drinks?"

"That, I have to charge for. Otherwise, those drunkards will end up headfirst in the beer barrels!"

Roosevella laughed heartily and left to gather people.

'How many were there'

Seojin pondered. When he first started Midgard, during the tutorial, the questions Seojin could answer were limited. They were mostly trivial matters as well—common knowledge that any player would know.

'That took several hours back then. This time, it might even last until morning.'

He didn't know then, but he was aware now. The residents here were not in an entirely normal situation either. The Empire respected them, but this respect did not extend to the freedom of movement.

'This isn't just about satisfying curiosity.'

It wasn't just about hearing interesting stories, expressing amazement, and participating in conversations. When they listened to Seojin's stories, the emotion in their eyes was clearly one of longing.

'…Maybe.'

Seojin looked outside. In the distance, he saw Roosevella leading a crowd of villagers. It probably wasn't all of them either.

'Messing with a few nobles might have been just a means to get here. To really get something, I have to do something here.'

Purchasing moonstone was easy enough. But it was clear that the villagers' would influence the amount of it and the method of transportation.

"Look who's back!"

"Let's start cooking. I'll help. Would you like to help as well?"

"Roosevella alone can't handle all of it. I'm going too."

"What about me?"

"Don't even think about coming to the kitchen. Just chat here. Do you plan to feed us burnt stuff again?"

Laughter erupted from a dozen people. Some busily headed to the kitchen, while others firmly took seats next to Seojin.

It was a lively scene, as if welcoming a much-missed guest.

And Seojin,

"It's really been too long. I'm genuinely glad to see everyone."

In the midst of everything, sensed a clear dissonance.

* * *

The inn, run by Roosevella, seemed like it was swept through by a storm due to its unexpected bustling activity. It was a peculiar kind of prosperity, but nonetheless, it had been a long time since the place had seen such an influx of people.

"Everyone talks too much, don't they?" Roosevella muttered as she cleared the clutter of dishes left behind. Seojin was naturally there, lending a hand.

"Seems worse than before. I didn't expect everyone to dote on me so much."

"It's their way of showing that they're glad to see you. They're curious about the outside world. But they should know their limits."

"Well I don't mind talking. How did you manage to clear the space?"

"I had to kick them out, how else?"

Roosevella picked up a tray full of dishes. Judging by the amount, cleaning up would take a couple of hours. This meant Seojin had that much time to engage in conversation.

"I felt the same when I first left. Excited."

"When you came here?"

"When I left here. Tyren led the way to another path."

"Ah, that time. Everyone feels that initial thrill… Do you still have that feeling?"

"Yes, it's still there. No matter how much I wander, there's so much in the world I don't know. Just when I think I understand, a headache-inducing problem arises, and just when I think I've overcome it, something else holds me back."

"I can imagine."

"Such experiences accumulate into wisdom, allowing me to adapt even in complex and troublesome situations."

"That's how it is for everyone. Though the extent varies… Oh my, how much did they eat?"

Roosevella lifted another tray, returned to the kitchen to neatly place it down, and came back to the table. That's when she noticed Seojin's odd look.

"…Got something to say?"

"Don't you want to leave?"

"Leave?"

"The village, I mean."

"Well, leaving home brings hardships."

"Do others think the same?"

"I guess most of them do? Not everyone, though, but… at this age, even moving to another city feels like an adventure. Managing all this is hard enough…"

"You're tied down here, aren't you?"

Trying to circumvent the question didn't work. Seojin's inquiry hit Roosevella hard. It was evident, considering Roosevella and the villagers' attitude towards outsiders, and the fact that no one had left the village.

"Even in the same situation, people perceive differently depending on how they think, right?"

"Well, how do you see it?"

"We… Let's drop it. This kind of talk doesn't lead anywhere good. You'll understand once you experience it yourself."

"Has anyone else come here before me?"

"There were others."

"Adventurers, I suppose."

"If you call folks like you adventurers, then yes. There was no one else otherwise."

This confirmed Seojin's suspicion that other players might occasionally start at Moonstone Village. But there was a difference between Seojin and them.

"They didn't return, did they?"

"You're the first to come back."

Seojin was the only one to return here. And during his tutorial phase, he hadn't revealed so much.

"Are we allowed to leave here?"

"…Yes."

She murmured in response, as if it was obvious. And this was another aspect that irked Seojin.

"Who decided that newcomers starting here can be sent outside?"

Seojin had gone through a tutorial here. Not all players did, but he wasn't the only one either.

Upon completing basic training, players were transported to their starting nation via a "portal." It was a bizarre situation taken for granted by the villagers.

To this, Roosevella reluctantly answered,

"His Imperial Majesty must have ordered it."

"His Imperial Majesty?"

"If not him, who else?"

"Right. So, His Imperial Majesty ordered those adventurers arriving here be properly trained and then sent out?"

"…I suppose so."

That was a vague response. Roosevella herself wasn't sure, but it was as if that was the likely explanation. While logical, this left Seojin in a difficult position to probe further.

"Does anyone know exactly?"

"It's better not to be too curious about these—"

"If I hadn't delved into my curiosities, I wouldn't have been able to return here."

Roosevella fell silent, her busy hands stopping.

Her gaze scanned the floor, and Seojin continued, "I'm an adventurer. That's what adventurers are, and only by being so can they grasp what they desire. My return here is part of that journey."

"Are you looking for treasure?"

"I suppose you could call it treasure, but it's not gold. I've already amassed enough of that. In fact, the amount of gold I've gathered is enough to…"

Seojin grinned, perhaps sounding arrogant to some. Yet, the real significance came in his next statement,

"…for every villager here to leave safely and live abundantly elsewhere."

"That's not a problem money can solve."

"I only mentioned the financial aspect. Whatever is necessary, I have it. At least concerning the safety of the villagers here."

That wasn't entirely true. He hadn't secured everything. There was still the final step, which Raul was doing right now

'Anyway, that's only a matter of time.'

Confidently, Seojin gave Roosevella time to think, as she still seemed lost in thought.

'Understandably, she wouldn't trust me.'

How could she? A mere adventurer was claiming to guarantee safety from the emperor.

Then,

"That's some remarkable confidence."

A rough and heavy voice came from outside.

The worn wooden stairs creaked, and a man entered through the gently opened door.

"You're a lot different tone from what you showed during the day."

"What does it matter what I said then? Entering here uninvited already raises many questions."

Seojin was familiar with the man. He was one of the miners here, and always cheerful. He had personally guided Seojin to the warp to Valaran after the tutorial.

"Tyren, you seem quite different from this afternoon as well. Such a stern expression."

"Better to smile through life when possible."

"So, I've caught your interest?"

"There are exceptions to every principle. Now, stop bothering our gentle innkeeper."

Roosevella sighed lightly as Tyrone sat down beside her.

"Talk with me. So, what can you do again?"