The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 98 Business
Listening to the rain gradually subsiding outside, Eric didn't get out of the bathtub until the water cooled down.

Hearing the commotion on his side, Kasha also got up on the other side of the curtain.

"Wait a moment, Mr. Eric."

"it is good."

The hanging curtain couldn't completely cover the other side. Eric wiped his body, watching two fair, delicate feet peeking out from under the curtain, sometimes standing, sometimes lifting. Judging from the sound, she was also wiping her body.

Eric wrapped himself in a linen robe, which felt slightly uncomfortable at first, but quickly became dry.

Two feet moved from under the curtain to the other side of the bathtub, and Kasha's voice came over, "I'm going to pour water, Mr. Eric."

He responded, and she tilted the wooden bucket, the water inside gushing out and instantly flooding his side. Eric pulled his robe up a little.

There was a drainage channel on the floor with an opening, through which all the water flowed outside the cabin.

Kasha lifted the curtain and smiled at Eric. "Pour the water here."

She was only wrapped in the same long robe as him, her wet hair hanging down one side, making it particularly shiny.

After leaving the bathroom, Kasha went up to the second floor of the cabin.

Eric quickly washed his clothes, strung them on a long branch, and hung them outside to dry.

The rain has stopped.

It was just a light rain in the early morning. The two of them had only been down from the cliff for a short time, around seven or eight o'clock in the morning.

After preparing some food, the female forest ranger said she was going to patrol the forest, which was her daily routine.

Eric following her would affect her efficiency—whether he just followed or rode her—and there was no need for it, so he stayed in her hut.

This is probably one of the advantages of being good-looking, he thought. Even if you don't do anything, you will always gain inexplicable trust.

There was a bed on the second floor of the cabin, and before Kasha left, he said he could go to the bed to rest.

The stairs seemed narrow, but Eric squeezed his way up to the second floor. The ceiling was lower than the ground floor, and the furnishings were simpler: a bed, a wardrobe, and a wooden crate.

The windows can be opened, and the air, carrying the scent of rain and earth mixed with the smell of trees, rushes in, fresh and peaceful, giving one the feeling that living here would be quite nice.

Eric wasn't sleepy and quickly came downstairs. He sat down for a while and soon dismissed his earlier thought.

—This is so boring.

A tranquil environment can only serve as a temporary respite from the hustle and bustle of life; if it remains constant, it becomes quite dull. Aside from daydreaming, there's practically nothing to do here.

Eric thought that only druids who could communicate with animals could stay here.

After the rain, the sun came out.

Eric went outside to check on the clothes he had hung out to dry. As he was about to go back inside, he suddenly heard a jingling sound. He turned around and saw a carriage coming down the path.

They were traveling merchants.

Eric didn't go inside, but waited for the other person to come over and stop outside the yard.

The driver of the carriage was a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. Upon seeing Eric, he dismounted and bowed, "Are you from the Earl David's household?"

Eric paused, realizing the other party had misunderstood, and shook his head.

The businessman was also taken aback for a moment. "Then what is your relationship to Miss Kasha?"

“We’re friends, I guess,” Eric said. “She’s not here right now, she’s out.”

Hearing that Kasha wasn't there, the merchant was somewhat surprised. He then looked at Eric more closely and muttered in a voice he could hear, "It seems that Miss Kasha has reached the age where she needs to find a home."

...What does this all mean?

Eric almost laughed, but he couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention.

The merchant, however, was unwilling to let go of any business opportunity. "Don't you see what I'm selling? These are all rare goods brought from the south. They're going to be transported to Lutia, but once they get there, the price will be different. You still have a good chance to get a good deal now."

“I have very high standards.” Even so, Eric walked over to his carriage, looked at the goods in the back, and his eyes widened slightly. “You have quite a lot of stuff.”

"I haven't sold many along the way, it's driving me crazy. I'm just hoping those noble young masters and ladies in Lutia will be generous with their money," the merchant said, telling Eric to pick up and look at anything he liked.

Eric picked up a bottle of blue powder, shook it, and asked, "Shall we sell it on the streets of Lutia?"

“That won’t sell. Don’t you know that a carnival will be held at Lake of Elf Tears outside Lutia on the upcoming anniversary of the exorcism? Even the royal family will be there, not to mention the nobles in the city. Even a handful of yellow earth from the south can fetch a high price there.” The merchant’s tone became more animated as he spoke. “So, you’ll have to get to Lutia in the next few days?” Eric put down the bottle of powder, more interested in the merchant’s destination.

If you can't find his horse, hitching a ride with this merchant is a good option; you can always give him some money.

The latter sensed his meaning, "Are you also going to Lutia?"

Eric nodded, about to state his plans, when he suddenly heard the clatter of hooves.

Turning his head, he saw Kasha riding her horse at a trot from the woods, and the horse she was riding was none other than his Lille warhorse.

The forester gave Eric a smug smile from afar. "Mr. Eric, is this your horse?"

“That’s right. Miss Kasha actually found her.”

It seemed she had gone out of her way to find a horse for him. Eric went to meet her and offered his hand as she dismounted.

Kasha's smile widened. He took his hand, jumped down, and patted the horse's head. "I found this child upstream on the river where Mr. Eric was found. It says it came from Lille."

Eric looked at his horse.

To be honest, he also wanted to hear what his horse could say.

"Mr. Deford, it's been a long time." Kasha greeted the merchant, apparently an old acquaintance.

Compared to Eric's nonchalance, she was much more interested in the dazzling array of goods on the merchant's wagon.

"What is this?" Kasha also picked up the bottle of blue powder that Eric had just looked at.

"The mages of Castelfel have developed a water-purifying powder. No matter how dirty the water is, adding a little of it will make it crystal clear and drinkable," said the merchant Defoe.

"Really? Can I try it?"

Defoe shrugged. "Miss Kasha, once the mages' stuff is opened, it won't fetch a good price."

“Okay.” Kasha said with some regret.

“This must be an alchemist’s product,” Eric said.

“You’re right.” The merchant bowed slightly. “However, to laymen like us, there’s no difference between mages and alchemists.”

“I’ll take it.” Eric bought the bottle of blue powder and handed it to Kasha. “It’s a small token of my appreciation.”

Kasha's eyes widened slightly. "Too expensive, Mr. Eric."

Eric leaned close to her ear, "Don't you know that the horse you found for me carries hundreds of Supreme God's Gold Coins?"

He pulled back a little, saying, "Compared to the losses Miss Kasha has saved for me, this is nothing. On the contrary, I hope you can pick out a few more items, otherwise I will always feel uneasy because I cannot repay Miss Kasha."

Kasha glanced at him, frowned, and laughed. "I've never seen a clergyman as glib as Mr. Eric..."

Eric bowed slightly, then gestured to the carriages beside him, inviting her to choose whichever she preferred.

The merchant Defoe's mouth was practically splitting open with a grin.

Finally, Eric gave him four Supreme God Gold Coins, and Kasha received from him a bottle of cleansing powder, several bottles of wood preservative, a long-lasting luminous stone, a huge high-grade fire crystal, and some alchemical junk that Deford offered as a gift.

"Well then, Mr. Eric, I look forward to seeing you again in Lutia."

Defoe bowed deeply to Eric and Caesar, then jumped into the carriage, turned it around, and drove off.

The remaining two looked at each other. "Mr. Eric, you're too kind."

"It's just a small token of my appreciation."

Eric performed a Yera ritual, saying, "Let's just say it's the arrangement of the true God Yera."

The female druid, carrying a pile of things, gently bumped him with her shoulder.

"I can't agree with that..."

The wood preservative is for coating the roof of the log cabin, the large fire crystal is to be buried under the floor to absorb moisture, and the luminous stone is to be kept for emergencies. As for the bottle of water-purifying powder, Kasha wants to try adding it to his brewing.

She asked Eric to stay another day, saying she would prepare a special gift for him.

(End of this chapter)