Chapter 39 – Autonomy (Start)
The next day after returning to the town, the sky over Ricca town was once again filled with snowflakes. Rumont was standing at the window in a room on the 2nd floor. Quite interested in the moment and appreciating the snowscape.
Although this was already the 5th time that Ricca town had welcomed snow this year, it could also be the final snow of spring. However, Rumont’s interest today was still quite high. Taking a roast duck from within his spatial region, a bottle of Maotai1, Rumont ate and drank amidst the snowscape.
Able to officially become a Rank 2 Druid, in regards to his lifestyle, it could be said to have changed enormously for the first time. The disparity between Rank 1 and Rank 2, was only a difference of 1 and 2. Yet the fact of the matter was that wishing to cross over was an absolute difficulty.
Not only for a Druid, even if it was the other professions it was also like this. Every Rank that was advanced was absolutely not an easy affair (apart from a Warrior which was slightly more yielding). Each advancement would also at the same time represent an advancement in status.
In fact, when Rumont attained Rank 1 as a Druid, he ought to have been considered as a professional. After all, he already gone to the Adventurers Guild and undergone the registration, his status also got verified.
However, because of his debt, even till now he still wasn’t considered autonomous. As one without autonomy, they couldn’t be a professional. This was the matter that was always causing complications for him.
As for now, his debt was already completely cleared. Wanting to obtain the status of autonomy, as well as his professional status, it would both be immediately be recognized in advance by the Lord.
With this status, even if Tax Officer Barcus and others wanted to again makes things difficult for him, it would no longer be an easy matter.
Dredging up the moment of the Tax Officer Barcus’ and that Priest’s expression of astonishment and disbelief, when they saw his Rank 2 symbol, the corner of his mouth would jerk in an upward direction.
Yeah, who would have thought that the one who was abandoned by their teacher, a kid without whatsoever background connections, would have been able to with their own capability advance themselves so quickly? They definitely wouldn’t have thought of it right?
Ruthlessly biting into the roast duck, Rumont began to calculate about whether he could easily obtain his autonomy status.
Also at the same time, within the Baron’s castle not too far away from Ricca town, a middle-aged person whose body was slightly overweight, was currently sitting within a warm room, casually browsing through an accounting book.
“Guess who I am?” a small pair of warm and smooth hands suddenly attacked his eyes.
The middle-aged man said indulgently: “let me take a guess……mm, is it my little girlie, am I right ah?”
“Father, you’ve guessed it right again!” the girl possessing the countenance of an angel pouted her mouth, coquettishly removing her hands and coming out from behind.
“Eleni, shouldn’t you be reading at this time? Why have you run to your father here?” The middle-aged man, who was Ricca town’s territorial Baron Lord, asked inquisitively.
Eleni faintly smiled while handing over a coil of leather to her father.
The Lord Baron curiously opened it and after scanning through, knew that it was the information of the individual, Rumont.
“Rumont? He’s already reached Rank 2 as a Druid?” seeing this, even the Lord Baron was astonished at the person’s innate skill.
“That’s right father, furthermore, all the debts he owes has already been cleared. I think that we should grant him his autonomy status right?” Eleni proposed.
“Is that so? Then it’ll be granted.” in regards to this daughter of his, the Lord Baron utterly doted on her, furthermore, granting autonomy status to someone that had already attained the acknowledgement of their profession, was merely a simple and justifiable matter.
“Thank you father.” Eleni faintly smiled while hugging her father, kissing his loving expression.
“It’s already the 3rd day, I don’t know whether Miss Eleni has informed the Lord Baron of my situation, I don’t know what the situation is like……” within a room on the 2nd floor of Mort’s Inn, Rumont at this time was currently awaiting anxiously.
The initial excitement had pretty much all faded away with the passage of time, instead he was now waiting in torment.
Rumont clearly understood that the status of autonomy had a significant amount of importance for him. Different to regional boundaries on Earth, on this world, as long as one obtained the status of autonomy, and so long as they didn’t leave the country, they could live freely within any area in the country. So long as one showed their proof of autonomy, as well as handled the formalities of registering their names, it would do.
If he wished to continue living even better, then it was necessary to strive to make oneself stronger, striving to improve one’s own status. As for one that didn’t even possess autonomy, they would not have the qualifications nor the above-mentioned.
He needed to become more formidable. As for this autonomy status, it was his first step in becoming stronger.
Freedom. This matter that practically didn’t need considering in his previous life. In this world, it was frequently threatening him. Without the autonomy status, even if he obtained the proof as a Rank 2 Druid, he would still encounter a lot of inconveniences. Only if he became a Rank 5 Druid, would he automatically obtain the whole continent’s pass of autonomy privileges.
Yet currently, without the autonomy status, he also did not have enough power. A couple of years into the future, innumerable amounts of inconveniences could occur baselessly. The biggest annoyance was that he would have no way of freely going to places he wanted to go to. In regards to a Druid that required going through a continuous search of new varieties of plants to increase his own strength; the influence it had on future advancements in Ranks was practically fatal.
Thinking of the antagonism to him by the Priest and the Tax Officer, Rumont’s sense of danger was unprecedentedly intense.
“Rumont!” amidsts his wild imaginations, someone suddenly yelled out his name downstairs.
“Coming.” Rumont roused himself and promptly tidying up his clothes, he exited out of his room.
“Rumont, the Shrine just sent someone over, telling you to take a trip there.” knowing that Rumont had already become a Rank 2 Druid, and although Mort addressed him like this because Rumont insisted on not changing it, in approach it was already comparatively more cordial. Seeing him come down the staircase, he promptly passed onto him the message.
“Did they say who was looking for me?” Rumont went down and asked.
“It’s Miss Eleni!” Mort rubbed his hands and said.
Rumont immediately understood that the matter must be about his autonomy status. He reluctantly stayed to finish listening to Mort, before saying thanks and rushing out.
Practically running to the exterior of the Shrine, only when at the moment he wanted to enter, did Rumont come to a halt.
“Can’t allow anyone to find a fault……” Rumont knew it was more so at this moment, knowing he needed to be more calm. He relieved some of his nervous feelings, before once again examining his clothes as to whether it was tidy and without filth. Once everything was ready, he strolled on in.
“Rumont, you’ve arrived.” Eleni wore from head to toe a Priest’s adornment; because of the persuasion of a Priest. The clothes looked thin, not at all afraid of the cold climate. At this moment, she was in front of the Shrine’s garden admiring the as before splendid blossoming flowers; that was protected by the divine spell. Seeing Rumont enter, she immediately gave a smile as she turned around.
“Miss Eleni, sorry to keep you waiting.” Rumont had right away returned a brilliant smile.
Being momentarily influenced by Rumont’s smile, Eleni smiled with an increasing happiness.
“Do you know why I called for you yet?” Eleni laughed, surprisingly keeping the suspense.
Or perhaps at this time, even herself was not consciously aware, she unexpectedly made an exception in displaying her lively and mischievous side in front of another.
“This……” Rumont was stunned by the other person’s sudden cute blossoming smile, somewhat at a loss for words for a while.
It wasn’t until this moment when Miss Eleni was aware of her gaffe, she was feeling a bit upset inside. Simultaneously, she brought out a document within her bosom, directly handing it over to Rumont: “for you, from this moment on, you’ve got your autonomy and you’re no longer restricted, a nationwide pass, able to carry out commerce and travelling. You can enjoy all the legal privileges!”
The document was out of sheepskin, marked with his full name, gender, occupation, as well as the presiding Feudal Lord’s signature.
“With this document, you can then file it away at the Adventurers Guild, furthermore, new information can then be entered into the Adventurer Guild’s card, this way you don’t have to always take out the original.” Miss Eleni being more familiar, informed him.
Rumont nodded, taking out the Adventurer’s card to attentively look at it, he found that the Adventurer’s card was indeed similar to his former identity card.
Anyway, Rumont was quite clear that this Adventurer’s card was installed with the capability of evaluation. Furthermore in this world, inspecting one’s identity credentials also had a lot of specialized magic apparatuses. Under comparison, it was actually harder to fake these credentials than on Earth; at least before Rank 5 it was impossible. As a result, that was why he needed to obtain his autonomy status.
“Many thanks Miss Eleni, this time it’s all thanks to you.” Rumont gave her a look, while earnestly putting the document and token away. Afterwards, he gave thanks towards Miss Eleni.
“No need for thanks.” Miss Eleni faintly smiled. “Oh right, I almost forget this.” appearing to have thought of something, Miss Eleni suddenly took out another roll of leather, neither looking at it and directly handed it over to Rumont. “Take a look at what it is?”
There was still something else? Rumont received the leather parchment, opened it out, and looked at for a few glances. His face displayed a pleasantly surprised expression. “This is……”
“This is the permit for opening up a store within Ricca town, knowing that you wanted a store, might as well just give it to you all at once. Hopefully it’ll be of assistance to you.” Miss Eleni once again gave another faint smile.
Ha, this was simply like speaking of the devil2. Rumont at this moment really wished to embraced her, and give a kiss. However, he still endured it, only his manner was even more joyous: “I’m really too grateful for this Miss Eleni, you really are an angel!” once these praising words were said, her face immediately turn red.
“Actually, you don’t have to be too thankful to me ah, it was no trouble on my part. Even more so, you and his confrontations, it’s also because of me, thus……you don’t have to be so thankful to me.” Miss Eleni’s face was red once again as she discussed abruptly. Afterwards, she gave a mischievous smile. “In short, you have to run your store well okay, don’t let a one time setback make you cower.”
Rumont busily nodded, seeing her turn around to leave, he still stood at his former location for a good while in a reverie. How did Miss Eleni surprisingly know about it? She actually knows about it?
She too was an intelligent person. After being aware of the Priest’s hostility to him, how would she not figure out the underlying cause!
Like this, the angelic like girl, he feared that under the silent and graceful appearance, it still contained a type of wisdom with a staunch clever mind?
Rumont thought inwardly.
“Right, tomorrow at midday, the Shrine will conduct a small banquet in celebrating your obtainment of autonomy status and as a Rank 2 Druid, by all means don’t be late okay.”
A crisp pleasing voice arrived, carried over by the breeze. Rumont raised his head and looked over, and saw Eleni’s sweet smile amidst the hundreds of flowers, waving towards him, before then leaving swiftly. He watched in a daze for a good moment before he recovered. Afterwards, he confirmed the two proofs and left the Shrine excitedly.
Meanwhile, from within a corner that Rumont couldn’t see, a young Priest’s fingernails pieced into flesh.
“Rumont……” he said this name out in a low voice.
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Original author note: it’s embarrassing, but I’ve amended the title.
1. [Brand of baijiu, an alcoholic drink]↩
2. [想啥來啥 – whatever thought of, whatever has come]↩
Bo~ 