Chapter 10.1

“Should I believe him? Or is he hiding his true intentions?”

Using the max-level “Jack of All Trades” skill embedded in my body, I observed the expression of Knight Dominic (likely Balzac). There was no hint of deceit.

“Does this mean the Grand Duke’s disappearance in the original timeline hasn’t occurred yet?”

I was starting to get confused. Even so, I felt it was the right decision to join their party.

“I heard that Polly, the innkeeper, once served high-ranking knights and the Grand Duke herself on the battlefield.”

I carefully brought up the topic.

“That’s right. Though he retired due to old age, Polly was a great help to me and other knights from the High Tower.”

Thanks to the bond we’d formed over K-omakase, the conversation flowed smoothly.

“Would it be possible for me to serve the knights, like Polly did?”

“You?”

“Yes. As you know, I’ll soon be leaving this inn. I thought joining your party and traveling across the North wouldn’t be a bad next step.”

“Is there any reason to do so? Our journey is dangerous and grueling. Besides, aren’t you about to receive the title of Baronet? You’re already quite wealthy, too.”

It was a reasonable question—why would someone volunteer for hardship? The knights’ expressions weren’t skeptical but filled with genuine curiosity.

Even the Grand Duke, diligently cutting her steak, shared the same look.

“Before coming to the North, I was an adventurer. Although I wasn’t highly ranked, I enjoyed that life.”

To preempt any misunderstandings or prejudice, I added more explanation.

“Oh, but I wasn’t an adventurer sponsored by the Empire. Don’t get the wrong idea. Adventurers of my rank can’t even approach the Empire’s guilds.”

“No need to worry about that. But you do seem to have a restless spirit.”

Thankfully, they didn’t seem to mind much.

“Yes, I thought I could settle down in the North, but I’ve realized that staying put just isn’t for me.”

Even if joining their party didn’t guarantee I could prevent the Grand Duke’s disappearance, I couldn’t just sit idly by.

“Well, I understand. Restlessness is something we both share. It’s why I’m still working as an enforcer at my age when I should be spending time with my grandchildren. I just feel guilty for not giving my family the attention they deserve.”

It seemed my explanation had resonated with the knights.

“I’m skilled in more than just cooking. I can also provide decent healing and blacksmithing services.”

I continued to make my case.

“While I may not be much help in combat, I’m strong and resilient. I can also ride a horse. At the very least, I won’t be a burden.”

Instead of joining a mediocre mercenary or adventurer party, I wanted to clear my restlessness alongside a trustworthy group of knights.

“We’d certainly welcome someone like you in our party, but…”

My attempt to find a position was nearly successful.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Arina, who had finished her steak, was nodding seriously as if endorsing my request.

“We can’t give you a definite answer here. We need to discuss this among ourselves and consult the High Tower.”

Balzac seemed to take my proposal seriously and positively.

“That’s fine. I can wait.”

With success 90% in sight, I internally clenched my fists in victory.

Bang!

Suddenly, the inn door burst open.

“Huff… huff… cough!”

A man dressed like an adventurer staggered in, covered in sweat, dust, and minor injuries, as if he’d traveled a long, treacherous path.

Thump, thump, thump.

He walked briskly toward the knights seated in the inn.

“Hmm? Doyle?”

The knights, including Balzac, seemed to recognize him. From the way they addressed him as “Sir Doyle,” he was likely a knight himself.

“There’s trouble.”

Doyle spoke urgently before whispering something in Balzac’s ear.

“!!”

Balzac’s expression turned grim, a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor. He leaned toward Arina and whispered something to her.

Bang!

In an instant, Arina and the knights all stood up.

“It seems your request to join our party will have to wait. Here’s the payment for our meal. By the way, we likely won’t be visiting here often anymore.”

Balzac tossed me two silver coins before he and the knights swiftly exited the inn.

In a matter of seconds, the knights were gone, like a receding tide.

“Well then…”

Left staring at the empty chairs and half-eaten dishes, I stood there for a while, feeling dejected.

It was as if my nearly-secured job offer had been postponed indefinitely.

“Did my Luck stat act up?”

It felt like having a job offer canceled the day before starting work.

“Or maybe my Luck stat interfered, keeping me from joining?”

My thoughts were tangled, and for the first time in a while, I couldn’t ignore my Luck stat.

“No, the Luck stat is just a supplementary figure. I shouldn’t rely on it too much.”

I forced myself to dismiss those thoughts, instead focusing on the event that had just transpired.

“This is definitely connected to the disappearance incident!”

It was a classic cliché. My instincts confirmed it.

“In that case, I’ll pivot from finding a job to starting a business.”

The decision didn’t take long, and Plan B was quickly set into motion.

I trudged out of the inn and headed somewhere—Haven’s carriage depot.

* * *

In this world, long distances are covered by horse or carriage.

Of course, those without money had to walk everywhere, no matter how far.

But I had money. Quite a lot, in fact.

Given my fixation on production and crafting, I also relied heavily on equipment and materials.

In other words, having a horse and carriage was essential for transporting all my gear.

“Are all the carriages available for immediate purchase?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Do you have any special-grade horses suited for the Demonic Realm?”

“Such rare horses are managed directly by the High Tower, like the Winterhawks. They’re considered strategic resources and aren’t available for sale.”

At Haven’s carriage depot, I was having a conversation with the depot manager.

Even though inns could be large, they typically didn’t have space to store carriages.

Thus, carriages were left at depots like this one, situated on the outskirts of the city.

“Hmm…”

Depots like this often housed abandoned carriages.

Their owners might have succumbed to gambling, been killed in disputes, failed to repay debts, or ended up in prison for smuggling or tax evasion. The stories varied.

“I’ll take this one.”