Leaving Town (Part 1)

Thorn Forest was unusually lively that year. Though the season had turned bitterly cold and the snow lay thick in the forest, making the townsfolk reluctant to set foot inside, wave after wave of adventurers had arrived, restoring the forest's bustle from the warmer seasons. As a result, Rika Town outside the forest had also come alive again that winter.

Because of the adventurers' arrival, Romon, who had long been harassed by the tax officer, found a new opportunity to make money. As his healing spells grew more proficient, his business flourished as well.

A friendly Druid healer charging reasonable prices was far better than facing a temple priest—at least one did not have to feel so ill at ease.

However, while tax officer Bakasi did not dare offend the many adventurers merely to make trouble for Romon, he made a great fuss over taxes. At first, he demanded one-third of Romon's income. Later, he brazenly produced some so-called tax regulations, declaring Romon's work illegal. Though there would be no heavy punishment, he would have to pay even higher taxes.

Of the five silver coins charged for each treatment, four had to be handed over under Bakasi's so-called new rules.

This time, even Romon, who had always endured on the surface, was beside himself with rage. Healing consumed immense strength and mental energy; it did not come without a price. How could they do this?

"Romon, hurry down!" Just as he sat in his upstairs room, pondering how to resolve this crisis, someone suddenly called for him below.

"Coming!" Romon quickly answered.

Before he had even descended the stairs, the stench of blood rushed straight into his nose. Romon hurried down several steps, and sure enough, reality confirmed his suspicions. Several badly wounded people lay flat in the middle of the small inn.

"Romon, they ran into a ferocious Magic Beast and were all seriously injured. Come take a look!" The captain named Burke, who had been introduced by the captain of Haiwavi's mercenary company last time, shouted the moment he saw Romon come downstairs.

"So many people were injured this time?" Romon's gaze merely swept over the wounded men's injuries, and his heart tightened.

If his previous treatments had only been about healing wounds, then this time, it truly felt like he was saving lives.

There were five injured people in total. The other four were manageable. Though their injuries were severe, a first-level Druid's Cure Minor Wounds spell could still handle them.

But the man closest to the stairs, lying flat atop a huge beast hide, was much too badly hurt.

"Why didn't you go to the temple?" When it came to healing, professional priests were still stronger. Even Romon would not deny that. Besides, although Priest Tennis was not the best person, at twenty-nine he was already a fourth-level priest. Priests were unlike Druids; their healing spells were more powerful. A fourth-level priest had already mastered Cure Light Wounds, a spell Druids had to reach level five or six to learn—so-called light wounds were already enough to deal with injuries of this severity.

"Romon, the temple priests have already used up their healing spells for today. Their lives are in your hands now!" Since all those injured this time were members who had followed him from the beginning, Burke was terribly anxious. Seeing Romon hesitate, he immediately cried out.

"All right. I'll do my best." Since that was the case, Romon nodded and went first to the most severely injured man.

The instant he examined him, his expression darkened. The man's abdomen had been clawed open by the Magic Beast, leaving a huge gash. Though it had been bound with clean strips of cloth, blood still dripped steadily down.

As a first-level Druid, Romon could use healing magic to close small wounds, but with such a massive gash before him, he was powerless.

"Romon, please help him. He's my friend's younger brother. If you can save him, I'll pay you three times as many silver coins." Though Burke understood that an injury of this degree was difficult for Romon, at this moment he could only pray for a miracle.

After all, aside from priests, Romon was the only person in town they could find with decent healing magic. As for Druid Jefa, who had always been hostile toward adventurers entering the forest to seek profit, they had not even considered him—he would be doing well not to attack them instead.

Romon nodded and told them to quickly prepare needles, thread, and strong liquor for disinfection.

Burke knew about the use of strong liquor. Last time someone in his team had been wounded, it was because they had used strong liquor that the wound healed faster. But what were the needles and thread for?

Healing in this world remained confined to divine magic, supplemented by herbs. Since its effects were so good, Earth's surgical methods had naturally never developed deeply. The methods used on Earth when no divine magic was available were unknown here, and even less understood.

But based on his trust in Romon, Burke swiftly prepared everything. In fact, Motte Inn had all these things. Since they were willing to pay for them, Mr. and Mrs. Motte were naturally delighted.

That was also why, although the townspeople all kept their distance from Romon, Mr. and Mrs. Motte still allowed him to stay here.

There was affection, but there was also profit. Because Romon was here, adventurers gathered here in greater numbers, and supplies of every sort sold like hot cakes.

Otherwise, with wounded people making the inn a complete mess every day, no matter how kind Mr. and Mrs. Motte were, they would not have tolerated it.

The operation went very smoothly. Though Romon had never studied medicine, the medicines in this world were remarkably effective. Under countless astonished gazes, he stitched the man's wound shut with needle and thread, then applied a thin layer of ointment. This time, he used the very best ointment. With such a grave wound, he could not afford to be careless.

After applying it, Romon held out his hand, and a faint green glow immediately appeared in his palm. The green light flashed, then subsided. In a few days, this horrifying wound would presumably heal.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Romon said, "It's done. Don't drink alcohol. Rest for ten days, and it should mostly heal."

"That did it?" Burke stared, dumbstruck.

Romon's deft movements as he stitched flesh together still made Burke's heart pound when he recalled them. But seeing the wounded man's breathing grow visibly steadier, Burke immediately seized Romon's hand and thanked him again and again.

Romon blushed slightly and hurriedly said there was no need. He had them prepare more strong liquor, then, just as before, treated the others' wounds as well.

Once he had finished, Romon could no longer hide the exhaustion on his face. In truth, it was mainly his first time stitching up a wound, and he still had trouble adjusting to it. But no one else knew that. Seeing how exhausted he was from healing them, Burke's face filled with gratitude. He insisted on leaving fifty silver coins before departing with his men.

After some thought, Romon gave forty silver coins to Mr. Motte and asked him to pay the taxes for him. Sooner or later, he would reclaim this money with interest, but the time was not yet ripe.

"Romon, I heard you actually saved a fellow whose guts had been torn open by a Magic Beast?" News always spread quickly through the small town. In less than half a day, nearly everyone in town knew of the miraculous magic of Romon, this first-level Druid.

The captain of Haiwavi's mercenary company even came to the inn. After some teasing, he delivered an important piece of news to Romon.

"But fifty silver coins, and you actually have to hand over forty? That's far too much of a loss. Why not register officially with the Adventurers' Guild? With your current abilities, your business will definitely do well in the future. Things can't go on like this." The captain of Haiwavi's mercenary company spoke with a grin.

From him, Romon learned that the healing business he currently ran would indeed be heavily taxed if conducted by someone without a profession. But if he joined an organization such as the Adventurers' Guild, things would be different. Then his healing work would be reasonable and lawful, and tax officer Bakasi would have no excuse to levy exorbitant taxes. In the future, he would only need to pay one-tenth of his healing income.

Romon thanked the captain of Haiwavi's mercenary company. He also learned from him that there was an Adventurers' Guild not far from Rika Town, and that Barnel's merchant caravan would be heading there soon.

When Romon met Barnel, he mentioned that he wanted to travel with him to the small city of Apus. Though Barnel had also distanced himself from Romon somewhat because of tax officer Bakasi, Romon's recently revealed healing talent made him feel there was no need to make their relationship too strained. Besides, Romon merely wanted to travel along the same route with them; it was not too difficult a request. After thinking briefly, Barnel readily agreed.

Busy days always passed quickly. Before long, it was time for Barnel's merchant caravan to set off.

Romon washed up early in the morning, ate breakfast, and waited at Motte Inn.

"Romon, sorry. There was too much cargo, so we're late." Only after quite a while did merchant Barnel arrive at Motte Inn, leading the caravan.

"So much stuff?" Though Romon knew Barnel's business was considerable, he was still somewhat surprised when he stepped outside and saw more than ten large wagons.

"Isn't it winter now? The small city is short on cloth and grain reserves, so we can barely make a little money." Barnel spoke modestly, but his face showed considerable pride.

Romon did not spoil the mood and continued praising him a few more times. At once, the distant and awkward atmosphere that had existed between him and the merchant caravan vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed at all.

The weather was good that day, with gentle winds and bright sunshine. The caravan's goods were pulled by animals resembling Earth's oxen and horses. The wagons were spacious, so Romon was fortunate enough not to experience the suffering of traveling on foot.

Sitting in the open wagon, his breath steaming in the air, Romon was in an excellent mood. It was not only because of the purpose of this journey, but also because this was the first time he had traveled so far since coming to this world.

Everyone had curiosity, and Romon was no exception. He was eager to learn what the world outside truly looked like.

The wagons rolled along at an unhurried pace, and Romon chatted intermittently with the caravan's people. Though these travelers who had journeyed north and south lacked much learning, their experience far surpassed that of anyone in the small town. They had visited many cities and met many people. From talking with them, Romon gained some understanding of the outside world. To him, these things could not be found in books, yet they would surely be useful in the future.

They chatted and laughed along the way, and the journey did not feel tiring. After a full day, when towering city gates and walls appeared before them—far from magnificent compared to buildings on Earth, but far grander than even the tallest structure in Rika Town—Romon knew they had arrived.