Reincarnation of a Hunter

Episode 10: Blessing 

Before leaving the port with my group, I called Chloe.

 

She’d taken care of my wedding plans with the help of servants and slaves I gave her.

 “Chloe, after hiring a maid, buy some new clothes and stay at a luxury inn. Do you know what I mean?” 

She’d pretend as a Vassal of a wealthy estate, and she needed to look like one.

 “Yes. Sure. I’ll take care of it.” “I’m looking forward to that, and add this to your expenses.” 

I pulled out a fistful of money from my pocket and handed it to Chloe.

 

A pouch full of silver coins, warmed by the heat of my body.

 “…I will make good use of it, my lord.” 

Perhaps it was embarrassing to feel the heat of my skin. Chloe bowed her head with a puzzled expression.

 “I swear with my life that I will complete my mission.” 

Swore with your life…

 

In this world, god exists.

 

We are certain of this because it proves its existence in the form of a ‘blessing’.

 

Those blessed gained power, such as invulnerability, and necrotic or healing skills, as if they were awakened as a Hunter. 

Gain various types of abilities, such as awakening.

 

After all, if she swore an oath even though you know God exists, she must be serious.

I answered with a slight smile,

“Don’t swear, stop being too hard on yourself. I’ll be waiting for you in Marseille.” 

She turned right around and headed off in the direction of downtown, while I went with the rest of the group to the harbor.

  “My lord, that’s the boat.” 

The boat pointed out by the servant was an old but large vessel. Roughly, it looked like 1,500 tons.

 

I told the ship’s crew to bring the captain.

 

Later on, a man with a bushy beard and the look of a pirate captain from a fairy tale came running up.

 “I’m the captain, and you are?” “I am Viscount Eric, Lord of Marseille. I have a letter from Count Michael of Westphalia.” 

The ship was owned by Marseille, so the captain was an official of the estate. The least I could do to convince him was to show him the Count’s letter.

 

Without even looking at the letter, the captain looked at me and smirked.

 “Oh my, Master Eric, you’ve grown so much!” 

Who’s so pleased to see me?

 

I tried to recall the captain’s face, but I couldn’t remember him.

 “What’s your name? I don’t recognize you.” “This is Adrienne.” 

I stepped back and looked at the captain again. I couldn’t believe this pirate-looking guy was Adrienne.

 

Where’s the handsome young man who taught me to fish when I was a kid?

 “I didn’t recognize you with the beard. How’s your mother? I think she used to own a store.” “Oh, you remember all of it.” 

Adrienne, filled with emotion, burst into tears when he saw my mother, Maria, and Commander  Pierre.

 “Whoo— Welcome back, Maria, you’ve finally come home.” 

After comforting Captain Adrienne, who was in tears, Eric and his crew boarded the ship.

 

The ship soon departed, and if all went well, it would take 14 hours to reach Marseille.

 

In the meantime, I asked Adrien Marseille’s situation.

 “How’s the estate doing?” “It’s good that you’re going back. There’s always a problem.” “What’s the matter?” “There’s a lot of stealing in the administration.” “Stealing?” 

In this world, theft in administrative positions always happens.

 

Captain Adrienne sounded furious as if something bad happened.

 “Everything has a tax. Marriage tax, stamp duty on everything, and taxes on Windows, roads, toilets, and chimneys. There’s even a retirement tax – when you turn 60, you have to pay taxes, and it’s obviously an embezzlement, because they’re taking so much and the estates are not developing.” 

I had many close friends in the Westphalian administration.

 

By compiling the information provided by each official, it was not hard to figure out Marseille’s financial situation.

 

But I’ve never heard of taxes like that before.

 

It wasn’t the kind of stealing you’d normally expect to be tolerated.

 “Is this the work of the acting administrator?” “The administrator and the tax collector are holding Marseille tight right now. Other officials just pretend they don’t see it.” 

I understand why they pretend to be blind about it because if they disagree, something bad might happen to them.

 

A little corruption might be understandable, but it’s a small estate and salaries might not be paid on time.

 

But stealing while making something that didn’t exist was a different story.

 

I should blow their brains out when I get there―

 

‘Wait a minute. Only an administrator can make that mess. That’s weird. There’s something to this.’

 

Anger was a quality a lord should not possess.

 

I calmed down and thought slowly. Surely there must be someone behind the administrator.

 

Finding out who was behind the corrupt officials was more important than taking them down.

 

To find out who was manipulating Marseille and why, I came up with a plan.

  

Early the next morning.

 

We arrived at the port of Marseille. I was filled with emotion as I looked out at the port from the deck.

 

The view had faded from my memory since I left Marseille when I was a child.

 

At one end of the harbor, I could see the landmark of the city, which was a large pyramid

 

The long shoreline was lined with docking facilities as proof that it was once a busy port.

 “Captain Adrienne, the port looks to be more than 10 days.” 

“

It’s 12 bays, so 12 ships can dock at the same time.” 

Currently, only two ships are docked in Marseille Port.

 

It’s a port that was very small for its real purpose.

 “Why did they build it this small?” “The pre-war lord tried to make it a big trading port, a dream that never came true.” 

Something I didn’t know before because I’m not interested.

 

I said to Adrien with a smile,

“I’m going to make it happen.” “Hahaha, you’re smart enough to do it. I’ll do my best to help you!” 

Marseille’s basic infrastructure, including the port, was well established.

 

It’s one of the reasons I’m confident that I would be able to advance quickly.

 

As long as I build good relations with the neighboring provinces, I’m sure to be in a position to succeed greatly in trade.

 

On the other hand, the harbor was so wide that there was plenty of room to maneuver. Tugboats had a short distance to pull us in.

 

But there were a lot of people at the port, standing and staring at the ship as if they were waiting for us to board.

 

The bland color of the place made me feel creeped out, like I was watching a zombie horde.

 “Adrienne, who are those people?” 

When I asked him about the crowded port, he replied,

“They come here to look for work like unloading ships, running errands, then collect their wages.” “Why are there so many? I don’t recall ever being told there were a lot of unemployed people.” “What? The administrator didn’t report it on purpose, to hide his mistake.” 

That acting administrator should have reported something properly.

 

The House of Westphalia either knew and let it slide, or they didn’t care.

 “I guess so. Are you going to create job opportunities?” “I was told there is no budget or staff to create jobs right now.” 

The situation at Marseille’s estate was serious.

 

If we don’t cycle capital fast by increasing agriculture and new businesses for profit, I don’t know what the angry people might do.

 

‘If we just leave that alone, it could cause a riot. We’ve got a year to fix it.’

 

A few moments later, the steps were lowered from the docked ship.

 

We were about to get off, but Captain Adrienne stopped me.

 “My Lord, can you offer a prayer for this ship?” “Prayer… prayers to the God of the Sea?” “In here, he is the God of Abundance.” 

Marseille’s popular church was the God of Abundance Cathedral. Most Gnomes believe in it.

 

It was natural in a region where the lords didn’t enforce God’s worship, and most of the population worked in farming and herding.

 “But I have never prayed before.” “Here’s the prayer.” 

I took the old paper that Adrienne held out.

 

「Praying to Annapurna, the goddess of abundance, please shower your blessings on this ship and protect it from the rough waves.」

“That’s a very sacred prayer.” “Hehe, that’s what sailors do.” “Okay, I’ll change it up a little bit.” 

Eric held onto the railing of the boat with one hand and his other hand toward the sky and began to pray.

 “Dear Annapurna, the merciful and wise goddess of abundance. Please bless the people gathered here and this ship, grant them good health and a safe voyage.” 

As soon as we finished praying 

 

A ray of light came down from the sky.

 

It touched my hand and spread all over the ship.

 “Oho, the gods have responded!” “A blessing has come!” “Hail, Lord Annapurna!” “Long live my the Lords!” 

The harbor was in commotion and later on, people gathered to the front of the ship and prayed.

 

‘What is this? This is unbelievable. Am I blessed?’

 

Then a system message popped up and blocked my view.

 [System alarm!!!]

Permanent buff received from Annapurna

[Noble Soul]

.

The permanent buffs

[Strong Body]

and

[Noble Soul]

received from Annapurna are combined and replaced with registered similar skill

s.

You have learned the passive skill

[Immunity to Status Ailments]

.

Create and equip skill slot #3.

Annapurna has changed the magic skill

[Loose Golem Transformation]

to

[Useful Golem Transformation]

.

《Hunter rank changes from Class E to Class D.》

 

We’ve all heard stories of people who have been blessed, like winning the lottery. But in most cases, the blessing was unclear.

 

But I have a hunter system, that made the blessing specific and visible.

 

‘After all, the system was created by a being equal to or greater than God. It turns blessings into skills. But when do I put my arms down?’

 

My hand was still shining brightly. More people came to see the light.

 

Shortly, they joined the crowd praying with me. I couldn’t help but look away and put my hand down.

 

‘Ugh, I’ll hang on to this for a while. I’ll just look at the skill bar.’

 

➺New added skill –  Passive Skill

[Immunity to Ailments]

.

 

Immunity to physical ailments such as curses, poisons, slows, and sleep, as well as mental ailments such as hallucinations, hypnosis, mesmerization, and mind control.

 

This ability was expected to create safer situations in both daily life and battle.

 

‘I also had the buff

[Strong Body]

buff, that’s why I survived after taking the poison that killed the ogre.’

 

I’ve tried to think of other blessings I had since I’ve been reincarnated, but I couldn’t think of any.

 

I guess my mother may have done something.

 

She was the only person who cared and loved me.

 

‘I’ll need to ask my mother later.’

 

I also looked at

[Useful Golem Transformation],

but there were no changes to the words.

 

I have no choice but to study the golem.

 

Anyway, my hunter rank increased as I gained different skills from my previous life. Only time could tell what other mastery I would get soon.

 

I’m sure that it’s not a one-time event. I’d continue to receive blessings and be able to level up.

 

‘I don’t know God’s plan for me, but if it makes me stronger, it’s worth the price.’

 

I looked up at the sky and said,

“Dear God, please make this easy for me.”