Chapter 153: Chapter 152: A Strange Helper

"I know there’s an Orc Tribe at the foot of World’s Roof Mountain. This Half-Orc gentleman must be trying to get there, I assume," Ale said, making short work of the grilled Silver Scale Salmon before her with a dinner knife.

Her movements were unhurried and quite elegant, yet the Silver Scale Salmon was vanishing with surprising speed.

"Yes."

"I want to go there too, so I’d like to hire you as guides. The locals have no interest in showing the way, and I haven’t seen many other Adventurers around," Ale said. "I can’t offer much in the way of payment, but I’m a Warlock who can cast Tier Two Magic. I should be able to make your journey a little easier."

’A Caster who can use Tier Two Magic?’

’That would be a huge help to the team. After all, we don’t know what’s really happening at the foot of World’s Roof Mountain.’

Colin asked, "Not much in the way of payment... How much are we talking, exactly?"

"This."

Ale took out a cloth bag and placed it on the table. The bag looked perfectly ordinary, not unlike the hemp herb sack Colin had snatched from the goblins.

Kase said, annoyed, "Isn’t this just a worthless bag?"

"Wait, Kase, it’s a Magic Item," Colin said in a low voice.

[Dimension Bag/Non-Ordinary Magical Item]

[Spatial Storage: The bag’s interior is far larger than its exterior. It can hold items weighing up to 500 pounds, with a total volume not exceeding 1.5 cubic meters. Regardless of its contents, the bag always weighs 15 pounds.]

"So why us?" Kase asked, giving the Half-Elf an annoyed look.

He despised Elves, and by extension, Half-Elves.

"Because I’ve seen this gentleman around a few times, and I believe you’re trustworthy. Besides, there are no other Adventurers for hire... I’m sorry, what should I call you?" Ale said, looking at Colin.

"I’m Colin. The Half-Orc is Kase, and the Tiefling is Orelia," Colin said, making a simple introduction.

Kase continued to nitpick. "Well, can you teach my buddy here some Magic as payment? Seeing as you’re both the type to fool around with Cantrips."

"Warlocks and Mages are different, Kase."

Colin said, "They cast using their bloodline. Their Casting method is different from a Mage’s. Nearly every Warlock’s gestures and Spells are unique; they’re impossible to learn. They can also empower their Magic—like casting two at the same time."

"The drawback is that the Magic any Warlock can learn is determined from the day they’re born. We can’t use a Spellbook to learn a wide variety of Magic like Mages," Ale explained. She took a sip of beer, her tongue flicking out to clean the foam from her upper lip.

Kase glanced at the Half-Elf, and for once, actually seemed to think it over. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He relented, "Alright, you decide, Colin. If it’s a good deal, then let’s bring her along."

With that, Colin was sure to agree.

’Team morale is a minor issue. Boosting our combat strength is the top priority right now.’

’Having a powerful person willing to join is definitely a good thing, especially with a reward on top. Still, there are some issues to sort out.’

"How should we handle splitting the loot from this part of the journey?" Colin asked.

"Just treat me as a member of your party."

"In that case, here’s how it would work: after we kill a monster, I’m the one who gathers the materials and gives them to the others. You can either take a one-fourth share of the materials, or I can pay you in cash."

"Oh, is that how it works?" Ale tilted her head, her face expressionless.

Seconds ticked by, but she remained silent.

’The terms are pretty good, aren’t they? Don’t tell me she’s one of those collectors who insists on keeping all the monster parts?’

Just as Colin was about to concede, Ale spoke again. "Can you sell monster parts for money? I don’t remember my book saying anything about that."

"Book?"

"That’s right. The ’Guide to Human Society Life’." As she said this, she actually pulled out a thick book and flipped through a couple of pages.

Colin snuck a peek. The cover read, *The High Society of Thousand Masts City*. ’It’d be a miracle if that book mentioned how to deal with monster parts!’

"In that case, this all seems a bit complicated," Ale said, putting the book back in her bag. "How about this: I might need to hire you again in the future. When that time comes, you can help me for free as payment."

"That... works, I guess." Colin nodded.

’She must have read about how the nobles of Thousand Masts City trade favors in that book of hers.’

’This Half-Elf really is a strange one.’

Colin felt a mix of emotions. She’d be considered the weird one even in his own party.

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[Quest: Escort the Half-Elf]

[Rating: 0]

[Reward: Not Started]

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"Then it’s settled. We’ll go together," Colin said. "What kind of Magic do you specialize in?"

"One of my ancestors was a Dragon Descendant from a Golden Dragon bloodline, so I inherited the ability to control Flame. That makes me a ’Dragon Vein Mage’," Ale explained without hesitation. "As for my specific Magic, it’s better to demonstrate in combat. I specialize in ranged attacks, though."

’I’ve definitely read about them,’ Colin thought.

Because they inherit the blood of Giant Dragons, Dragon Vein Mages are exceptionally tough. Even bare-skinned, their hide is as durable as an Ordinary person wearing Studded Leather Armor and Cotton Armor. Their physical constitution is also superior to most.

’What a useful ability. No wonder this Half-Elf isn’t wearing any Armor.’

In addition, there are many kinds of Giant Dragons in this world.

Most Giant Dragons have their own preferred habitats and dispositions. For example, the White Dragons often found in Snow Deer Valley prefer to live in frozen wastelands and have an icy breath, whereas Golden Dragons breathe Flame.

’In that case, her Magic must be focused on Flame Damage. I’m pretty much certain she’s the infamous arsonist we’ve been hearing about on this road.’

’And from the looks of her, compared to a pragmatist like me,’ Colin thought, ’she’s probably more of a traditional Caster.’

"So what are you planning to do next?" Ale asked.

"We’ll rest here for a few days, make preparations, and then set out," Colin said.

"That works too."

With that said, Ale slung on her backpack and briskly headed for the second floor, presumably to get her own room.

Seeing her go, Colin breathed a sigh of relief.

’If she had insisted on sticking with us right away, I wouldn’t have known how to make contact with the people from Five-Stringed.’

’Then again, this Half-Elf is a dangerous person who goes around starting fires, though she doesn’t seem like a bad person.’

After watching Ale head upstairs, the group quickly finished their meal.

Unsure of how to get the Wandering Poet’s attention, Colin could only stare intently at the man. Noticing the stare, the poet immediately stopped playing. He went to the bar, ordered a beer, downed it in one gulp, and then strode out the door.

Colin feigned a lazy stretch and led his companions to follow.

The Wandering Poet walked a short way down the main street before ducking into a small alley.

Then he opened the cellar of a house and went inside.

Colin, of course, led his group to the cellar entrance.

He was reminded of the thrilling secret rendezvous scenes from the movies, and couldn’t help but feel a little tense.