Chapter 63 - 61: Mirana’s Purpose

Chapter 63: Chapter 61: Mirana’s Purpose

Leaving the weapon shop, Lu Wei headed straight for the Adventurer’s Tavern, where he learned from Clara that Furen had gone to the abandoned mill.

So he hurried off to the mill.

But he didn’t see a single soul.

With no other choice, he could only head back to the small wooden cabin for now, deciding to figure things out after lunch.

He had to admit, communication these days was a huge problem.

For long distances, you had to write letters. For short distances, you had to find someone to deliver a message.

He’d heard there was a type of Magic Stone that could transmit information instantly.

But those, like Space Backpacks, were both extremely rare items.

Forget Heitai Town; you probably couldn’t even find one in all of Kalin Port.

It was nothing like the Cultivation Realms from the web novels of his past life, where things like Storage Rings and Sound Transmission Jade Tubes were easy to come by.

’This is ridiculous. I can’t even find anyone. What if there’s an emergency?’

’This won’t do. It looks like we’ll have to try our best to stick together from now on.’

’Especially in the forest.’

’Good thing Bai Ya seems to be pretty disciplined, at least for now...’

Walking along the gravel path, Lu Wei saw smoke curling up from the distant wooden cabin and silently quickened his pace.

It was already noon when he left the weapon shop. After that, he had run to the tavern and the mill, losing an hour. By now, he was starving.

However, after a few more minutes, he turned onto the dirt path leading to the cabin and suddenly froze.

The front yard of the small wooden cabin was exceptionally lively.

Bai Ya was cooking under the shed.

Furen was drawing water by the well.

And aside from the two of them, six or seven small figures were bustling about the yard, apparently pulling weeds.

There was even a familiar figure sitting on a rock next to the yard gate.

A closer look revealed it was Mirana.

???

Staring at this scene of one big, happy family, Lu Wei’s mouth hung open, his face a mask of utter confusion.

’Wait, what is this? What’s going on?’

’Are they throwing a party behind my back?’

...

...

In the wooden cabin’s scant twenty-odd years of history, a scene this lively had only occurred four times.

The first was for the former owner’s parents’ wedding, when friends and family came to celebrate.

The second and third times were for the funerals of the former owner’s mother and father, when friends and family came to mourn.

And today was the fourth.

About fifteen minutes later, a large pot of stew was giving off a tempting aroma, and the bread, lightly toasted by Bai Ya, had become fragrant and crisp.

The cabin was too small to accommodate so many people, so the group ended up eating lunch in the yard.

"Look how hardworking they are!"

"They’d already pulled all the weeds in the yard before you even got back!"

"And they don’t eat much, plus they’re obedient..."

Holding a large wooden bowl, Furen sidled up to Lu Wei and once again spared no effort in pitching the little slaves.

Anyone who didn’t know the backstory would have mistaken him for a slave trader.

"I already told you, they’re not a good fit."

Glancing at Zovir, who was squatting by the fence and wolfing down his food, Lu Wei said helplessly, "I do need employees, but do you really think they can handle the conditions in the forest?"

"Not to mention, if they run into some customers with bad intentions, they probably wouldn’t even be able to stay alive."

"That’s what I’m here for!"

Furen puffed out his chest. "I’ll protect them!"

Lu Wei gave him a sidelong glance. "So, you’re saying I should spend money to hire employees, and then also have to provide Guards for them?"

"Er..."

Furen was instantly at a loss for words.

He had thought he was doing a good deed, but now that he thought about it, he realized he was putting Lu Wei in a difficult position.

After all, unless you were running a Black Factory that couldn’t care less if its workers lived or died, hiring a group of runaway child slaves was an endeavor where the returns didn’t justify the investment.

And Lu Wei was clearly not some heartless Crafty Merchant.

’So... is there any other way?’

’And how am I supposed to tell Zovir and the others?’

’These poor little slaves have nowhere else to go. If they can’t find a place here, they might really starve to death.’

Furen lowered his head, lost in painful turmoil.

Just then, however, he heard Lu Wei’s voice again.

"Fine. Let’s give them a trial period."

"During that time, I’ll only be responsible for their food and lodging. No salary."

"If they perform well, they can stay."

"...Lu Wei, my friend! I knew you wouldn’t just turn a blind eye!"

Furen froze for a second. Though he didn’t know why Lu Wei had suddenly relented, he was instantly overcome with excitement.

"Don’t worry, they’ll definitely work hard!"

’You don’t have to tell me that.’

’Because under me, there’s no such thing as an employee who doesn’t work hard.’

’That goes for child laborers, too.’

’Also...’

"Ahem. Anyway, after we finish eating, talk to them first and see if they agree to the terms."

"Okay!" Furen nodded excitedly.

"If they agree, then find out what skills each of them has."

"Okay!"

"Then lend me a Gold Coin."

"Okay... huh?"

...

...

Unsurprisingly, Zovir and the others readily agreed to Lu Wei’s terms.

They were so grateful, you’d think he was some kind of great saint.

To this, Lu Wei could only say that they were celebrating too soon.

Because while he wouldn’t be as cruel as a Slave Master, he would never "discriminate" against an employee based on age.

’Just look at your "colleagues"!’

’Furen!’

’Is currently paying for the privilege of adventuring!’

’Bai Ya!’

’Her 37-Gold-Coin Rare Pendant has been confiscated, and whether she’ll ever get it back is anyone’s guess!’

’Mirana!’

’Uh... she’s not actually your colleague yet.’

’Right, what is she doing here, anyway?’

About fifteen minutes later, as he was picking his teeth after the meal, Lu Wei finally remembered Mirana.

He’d actually asked her why she was here when he first got back.

But she had told him she’d talk to him after he finished arranging his other business.

Then, without even eating, she had just sat silently on the rock outside the gate, to the point that Lu Wei had almost forgotten she was there.

’Wait, she couldn’t be here to settle a score with me, could she?’

’Probably not. After all, I didn’t... hmm?’

’Wait a minute...’

Suddenly recalling the Blacksmith’s Hammer he’d seen at the Black Market that morning, a flash of surprise crossed Lu Wei’s eyes. It seemed he was starting to guess what had happened.

After another moment, he got up, walked out of the yard, and approached Mirana.

"Sorry to keep you waiting so long."

"...It’s fine."

Mirana looked up at him, her expression as deadpan as ever.

But it was somehow different from her usual expressionless state.

After a moment, she said calmly:

"Tock and Storm are dead."

"..."

The crooked fence cast a long shadow, drawing a stark line.

Within that line were an excited Furen and the children, who were joyful at the prospect of work.

Outside the line was the blinding sunlight, and the silent Lu Wei and Mirana.

The air was filled with the scent of sun-warmed pine needles, earth, and wildflowers. An old bell hung on the yard gate. It was probably rusted shut; no amount of wind could make it ring again.

’Sigh... Just as I thought.’

His guess confirmed, an indescribable emotion welled up inside Lu Wei.

After a long moment, he asked quietly, "Were you attacked by monsters on the way back?"

Mirana glanced at him. "You don’t seem surprised."

Lu Wei answered truthfully, "I saw Tock’s hammer at the market this morning."

"I see... We were ambushed by bear goblins."

Mirana nodded, speaking softly as Lu Wei watched in surprise. "Kairos was gravely wounded, so I didn’t have time to retrieve Tock’s and Storm’s bodies."

’So Kairos is the young man, right?’

"You’re lucky you managed to escape at all."

Lu Wei shook his head. "How is Kairos now?"

"He’ll live, but the bear goblin bit off both of his legs."

Mirana subconsciously clenched her fists. "I plan to take him to be treated with Regeneration Magic."

"..."

’His legs are gone? Regeneration Magic??’

In the span of two short seconds, Lu Wei’s expression shifted from sympathy to utter shock.

The sympathy, of course, was for a young man who had become disabled.

The shock was because Regeneration Magic was, without a doubt, Ring Seven Magic!

’Ring Seven Magic!’

’Anyone capable of casting Magic of that Level has a title that starts with "Great"!’

’Great Mage, Great Priest, High Druid...’

’To put it bluntly, these were all top-tier Professionals capable of influencing the fate of a region, or even an entire duchy!’

’Ordinary people would be lucky to even catch a glimpse of such great figures, let alone ask them for help!’

’So how could Mirana say something like that so calmly??’

’More importantly...’

’What does this have to do with me?! Why are you here?!’