I’m a Rookie, but I’m an Experienced Professional - Chapter 40

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 40

Callix naturally took his seat at the head of the table.

Noah Roheim sat to his left, and Eileen sat next to him.

“Miss Eileen, you look pale. Was your bed uncomfortable perhaps?”

When Smith Viscount asked kindly, Eileen touched her gaunt cheek.

“No. I stayed up all night organizing materials.”

“Oh, does that mean you found something?”

Eileen answered with an ambiguous smile that was neither affirmative nor negative.

Shortly after, when the meeting began, she stood up from her seat and positioned herself in front of the blackboard behind Callix.

Then she drew a simple sketch on the blackboard showing the Raed River that cuts through the center of Nuviar city and the areas where flood damage was concentrated.

“Yesterday I looked around the areas with severe damage, and there was one common feature. There were scratch-like marks on the lower sections.”

Eileen explained what she had seen and felt at the scene through drawings in a way that people could easily understand.

Smith Viscount and the other managers listened intently to her story. Some even stood up from their seats to get a better look at the blackboard.

“This is still just my hypothesis, but it seems the Raed River is flooding because a large amount of water is being released from upstream for some reason.”

“The upstream of the Raed River… that would be toward the Undra Mountains.”

The Undra Mountains were a massive mountain range that crossed the eastern and northern regions, forming the source of the Raed River.

“Haven’t you figured out what the reason might be yet?”

At Smith Viscount’s question, Eileen nodded.

“Yes. That’s why I think we need to go on an upstream expedition. Only then can we know the reason for certain.”

As soon as Eileen finished speaking, Smith Viscount jumped up from his seat.

“Prepare for the expedition immediately so we can depart tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

“Monsters might appear, so I’ll send knights along as well.”

“It’s impossible to see the Undra Mountains and return in just one day, so we’ll need to find a place to rest on the way…”

The Nuviar managers were extremely excited and bustled about at the possibility of finally discovering the reason for the river flooding that had been troubling them for so long.

“…”

Meanwhile, Callix Crowbell leaned back against his chair and stared intently at Eileen.

His gaze was so piercing that Eileen tried not to look in his direction.

‘He told me to stay put, but I stepped forward anyway, so he must be quite upset.’

But what could I do.

I have to do what I need to do.

“Then I’ll prepare knowing that we’re going on the expedition early tomorrow morning.”

Feeling like she would get scolded by Callix Crowbell if she stayed any longer, Eileen quickly escaped to her room under the pretense of preparing.

* * *

Early morning.

The area in front of the Lord’s Gate was bustling with people ready to depart on the expedition.

There were ten people in total: a guide familiar with the Undra Mountains, a manager in charge, escort knights, and Noah Roheim and myself.

“Miss Eileen, do you know how to ride a horse by any chance?”

I shook my head at the manager’s question. The manager then stroked his chin as if troubled.

“I had a feeling, but as expected, you don’t know how.”

“What should we do now? The mountain path is too rough for a carriage…”

“We have no choice. You’ll have to ride with one of the knights. Or would Lord Roheim be willing to ride together?”

When the manager asked, Noah Roheim smiled awkwardly.

“I’d like to, but my riding skills aren’t very good… I’m sorry.”

“That’s fine. Then you’ll have to ride with one of the knights after all…”

At that moment, Callix Crowbell, who had been quietly observing the situation from behind, stepped forward.

“I’ll ride with her.”

Callix Crowbell wasn’t a member of the expedition team.

But now he was saying he’d come along. Everyone, including myself, looked at him in confusion.

“Why are you all looking at me like that? Are you dissatisfied with me coming along?”

“Of course not.”

Noah Roheim, who regained his composure first, answered.

“It’s just that Your Lordship said you wouldn’t go on the expedition, but now you’re suddenly saying you’ll come along, so we’re a bit surprised.”

“That’s right. And the journey will be difficult, so there’s no need for Your Lordship to go…”

“I’ve decided to go, so I don’t understand why everyone has so much to say about it.”

When Callix Crowbell spoke in an irritated voice, the manager immediately shut his mouth.

Noah Roheim also flinched, then spoke to the manager holding the reins.

“Since His Lordship is also coming along, please prepare a sturdy horse that can carry two people.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

The manager immediately prepared a new horse. It was much larger and more fierce-looking than the one they had brought earlier.

Callix Crowbell took the reins and skillfully mounted the horse.

Then he rode in a large circle around the area, nodded with satisfaction, and dismounted again.

“This one should work for riding together.”

But I don’t want to ride together…

I heard that it would take at least ten hours on horseback to reach the upstream of the river.

The thought of having to stick close to that man the entire time made me sigh involuntarily.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you getting on?”

“Oh, no. I’m getting on, I am.”

But since there was no other choice, I reluctantly forced my unwilling feet to move.

* * *

When we arrived near the Undra Mountains, the sky was filled with the colors of sunset.

Since it would be dangerous to climb the mountain after sunset, we decided to spend the night in a small village at the entrance to the mountains.

Since the village had no lodging facilities like inns, we had no choice but to borrow the homes of village residents.

The place where I would stay was the village chief’s house, where Callix Crowbell and Noah Roheim would also be staying.

‘This house is quite run-down too.’

The floor was especially worn out, creaking with every step.

The window frames rattling whenever the wind blew was also bothersome.

‘Usually when I enter houses like this, new sub-quests appear.’

[Q. Village Chief’s House: Repair the creaking floor.]

[Q. Village Chief’s House: Straighten the tilted barn door post.]

[Q. Village Chief’s House: Fill the wall cracks where wind seeps through.]

I opened the sub-quest window with some hope, and it was as expected.

“Would it be alright if I repaired the hallway and other areas?”

Before doing the sub-quests, I asked for permission from the village chief, who was the homeowner.

“You’re saying you’ll repair the house, young lady?”

The village chief looked at me with suspicious eyes as he asked.

I felt frustrated at his look that questioned how a woman could do such work, but I explained calmly.

“I’m a carpenter. If you ask other people, you’ll know that I’m quite skilled.”

It was embarrassing to say such things about myself, but I had no choice if I wanted to complete the quest.

The village chief still looked doubtful but nodded, telling me to do as I pleased.

I decided to start with the floor that bothered me the most.

I pushed thin wooden wedges between the gaps of the loose floorboards and tapped them very lightly with a hammer so they would fit completely.

When I fixed other areas the same way, the floor no longer made any noise.

[Sub Quest completed.]

[You will receive 1,500 points as a reward.]

“Great.”

As soon as the work was finished, the points came in immediately.

Seeing the points steadily increasing, I found myself humming without realizing it.

“Next, I need to repair the barn door frame.”

I took out nails from my bag and headed toward the barn.

I never thought the nails and hammer I brought just in case would come in handy like this.

“I don’t think I can do this alone.”

I need someone to hold the tilted post in place. Maybe I should ask the Village Chief.

“What are you doing?”

Just as I was about to go call the Village Chief, Callix Crowbell appeared.

“The barn door frame is warped, so I’m trying to fix it.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“I’m staying here for the night, so I’m trying to earn my keep. Since you’re here, could you help me out?”

It was just a casual remark, but Callix Crowbell surprisingly approached willingly.

“What do I need to do?”

“…You’re really going to help me?”

“You asked for help, didn’t you?”

I didn’t expect him to actually help.

“Here, push this tilted post this way to straighten it up.”

Callix Crowbell smoothly pushed the post I pointed to.

The post that had been leaning to one side immediately stood straight.

‘Wow, he’s strong.’

As expected, the final boss from the novel is different.

“Is this good enough?”

“Yes. Please stay still.”

I hammered nails into the area where the bottom of the post met the base.

Perhaps finding my work interesting, Callix Crowbell stared at me intently to an uncomfortable degree.

“Ahem, all done.”

This time too, the Sub Quest was completed immediately after the repair.

“Thank you for helping me. Well then, I’ll go repair other places.”

“You’re going to do more?”

“Yes. There are still places that need fixing.”

“Contrary to appearances, you really love working.”

Not particularly…

“I can make you work plenty when we return to Belheim.”

Callix Crowbell nodded as if satisfied.

“Ah, haha… Well then, I’ll be going.”

With an ominous feeling that I had somehow gotten myself into trouble, I smiled awkwardly and hurriedly left the spot.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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