"Dick, while you were cleaning the laboratory just now, I went out and bought food. And I was so hungry that I didn't wait for you. You don't mind, do you?"
"Of course not."
Dick knew Xiya was teasing him again. He sat down opposite the apprentice sorceress as well, picked up a butter roll, and began eating.
During the meal, the apprentice sorceress asked, "Dick, do you think the people coming to assess you will cause trouble for both of us when they arrive?"
Before the witcher could answer, she continued, talking to herself. "Even if there is trouble, it'll all be yours. Why should I worry so much?"
Then she spoke to herself again. "But I was technically the one who reported you, so this really is trouble I caused."
"Look, we managed to complete two commissions in a day, and they won't arrive for a while yet. If we complete more commissions in the meantime and improve my reputation, the assessment will naturally go smoothly."
"You're right about that. I really was worrying over nothing."
After the meal, Dick rose and said goodbye to the apprentice sorceress.
Xiya lounged in her chair without getting up.
"Oh, Dick, what are you doing tomorrow?"
Dick paused briefly. "Looking for commissions, of course. I'm going to check the market in Odinburg. There should be a noticeboard there. Lots of ordinary people post the difficulties they're facing on it, written on sheets of rice paper."
"All right, then. Let's meet at eight tomorrow."
"You're coming too?" Dick looked back in some surprise.
"Of course. Helping you is helping myself, don't you know? We're partners this time.
"If you perform poorly, it'll drag down my grades when I return to the Magic Academy, so don't hold me back."
"Then it's a deal."
"It's a deal."
Back in his room, Dick had intended to keep studying the witcher notes to prepare for the unexpected, but to his surprise, his head began throbbing unbearably after he had read for only a short while.
"Have I overworked my brain?" Dick shook his head with a wry smile. All he could do was wash up and go to sleep.
Early the next morning, he arrived at the market and went to the same breakfast stall as before, choosing a seat at random.
After he had eaten breakfast and paid.
This time, the vendor was noticeably less wary and fearful than before, and as Dick left, he said sincerely, "Lord Dick, please come again tomorrow."
Dick smiled faintly at that and nodded, then headed toward the noticeboard.
He began looking through the sheets posted there, searching for witcher commissions.
But after quite some time, he had found nothing.
The only thing there worth keeping in mind was a notice warning people to watch out for the Jatu.
He turned to Xiya, who had just arrived. "I'm afraid there aren't any commissions today."
"So we're not doing anything today?"
"No, I plan to leave Odinburg and check the nearby villages for commissions. Do you want to come along?"
Before the apprentice sorceress could answer, a male voice sounded beside them:
"Master witcher, I have a commission. Would you be willing to take it?"
The voice was hurried and urgent. Dick turned to look at the newcomer.
He was a thin boy of thirteen or fourteen, dressed in coarse linen clothes.
"Young man, tell me what the commission is first, and then I'll decide whether to take it."
"All right, master witcher. Here's what happened. My name is George.
"My dad went out to chop wood yesterday afternoon, and he still hasn't come back. Could you help me find him?"
"Hm? Of course, but do you have enough crowns to pay my fee for finding someone at your young age?" Dick asked in return.
"I don't have much money, but when my father comes back, he'll pay you."
"That works too. Where did your father go to chop wood?"
"My dad went into the Black Forest east of Odinburg. He's always chopped wood there, and he usually comes back right on time without any trouble. I don't know what happened, but something went wrong this time.
"Oh, and my dad's name is Banyang. It's the name of a warrior from ancient mythology!"
At those words, Dick inwardly tensed:
Wasn't the Black Forest to the east where I killed the Broom Witch when I first transmigrated here?
Could those two witches have come for revenge early and run into poor Banyang?
His expression remained unchanged, however. "Understood. There's no time to lose. We'll set out now. Just wait here and don't worry."
"Then I'll leave it to you, master witcher."
Dick and the apprentice sorceress then headed east, preparing to leave through the city gate.
But they had barely taken a few steps when several soldiers stopped them. The man leading them was none other than Captain Fisher from the fortress.
"Captain Fisher, what can I do for you?"
"Dick, I don't have any witcher commissions for you this time. I've come on Baron Odin III's orders to take Miss Xiya with me."
"What do you need me for?" Xiya asked in confusion.
"Here's the situation, Miss Xiya. A small band of Jatu raiders attacked villages near Odinburg two days ago.
"And last night, someone reported signs of raiders in another nearby village. Our lord would like your help dealing with them."
"I'm sorry, but I'm under no obligation to assist the lord and his army. I only came here to gain experience, work with a witcher, and deal with the monsters in the area."
"Miss Xiya, our lord Odin III mentioned before that your mentor is Barbara, correct?"
"That's right. Barbara." As she said this, a trace of longing and respect crossed Xiya's face.
"Your mentor Barbara is the court sorceress to the queen of Ravenstern. As her apprentice, wouldn't it be perfectly reasonable for you to help one of the queen's lords while Lady Barbara is away?"
"Well..." Xiya hesitated at his words.
Seeing this, Fisher pressed further. "I've also heard that you came here for your graduation assessment, which is extremely important to your advancement to sorceress.
"And one of the assessment requirements is a written evaluation from Baron Odin III.
"If you help our lord, I'm sure he'll give you an excellent evaluation when the time comes."
Tempted by his words, Xiya turned to the witcher. "Dick, I might not be able to help you this time."
"That's all right. This commission is only about finding a woodcutter. I can handle it myself. We'll have to part ways here, then."
Fisher interjected again. "Baron Odin III's troops are waiting outside the gate. Thirty cavalrymen and seventy foot archers have been specifically deployed to deal with these raiders."
"Can so few soldiers handle those Jatu raiders?" Dick asked.
"Witcher, you may be highly skilled at dealing with wraiths, but you're a layman when it comes to marching and fighting.
"Let me put it this way. Odinburg and its surrounding villages have a total population of fewer than ten thousand, and Odinburg's standing force consists of only thirty cavalrymen and two hundred foot archers. That's already a powerful force.