The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 3 (Part 1):

The ship arrived at Marshal Harbor City, the largest port in the New Continent, after a week.

Count Furst disembarked first. Less than an hour later, he brought a doctor.

The doctor checked my condition and told me I was fine, adding that I was very lucky.

With that, I disembarked along with the Count.

Marshal Harbor City was far more advanced than I had expected.

The buildings were so tall that I couldn’t take it all in at once, and I couldn’t tell what material they were made of.

Moreover, the buildings were so uniquely beautiful that it seemed there must be an abundance of artists.

The city, heralding the beginning of pioneering, seemed to have been built with great effort from the start.

Oshalo, who had disembarked first, was standing awkwardly at one side of the dock. Despite his large frame, he had his hands clasped together like a shy maiden, he looked laughable yet pitiable at the same time.

“Uh, R-Ran. Th-thank you.”

Humans are, after all, terrestrial animals.

Rowing, working on a ship, and becoming pickled in salt were all worse than any job on land, and even the dim-witted Oshalo understood this well.

I extended my right arm slightly and said,

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to help me walk?”

Oshalo’s face lit up instantly, and he soon shouldered my arm.

No, this was practically carrying me.

He walked like a waddling duck, making me feel like I was still on the ship.

“Follow closely. This place is practically a lawless zone where murders and thefts occur frequently. I’ll hire guards soon, but even guards can’t be trusted. The only one you can trust is yourself.”

“Yes, Count.”

Count Furst walked briskly ahead, his expression colder than ever.

With Oshalo’s help, I followed him.

As we walked through the city, the true face of Marshal Harbor began to reveal itself.

People sprawled out drunkenly.

Prostitutes openly lifting their skirts to solicit customers.

Sailors walking around with bare swords at their waists instead of sheaths.

It was as if all the beautiful and ugly aspects of the world had been thrown together in a chaotic mix.

Everything lifeless was glamorous, and everything living was unsightly.

As time passed, we entered a tall white building, precisely rectangular as if measured with a ruler.

The door alone was three times the height of a person, indicating that whoever built it must have spent a fortune.

The flags of the Baritone Empire fluttered in the sea breeze on either side of the door.

“What does that sign say up there? You can read, right?”

Oshalo, who had been walking quietly until now, looked at the sign above the door and asked.

Ah, that breath.

It hits my nose every time I forget.

“New Continent Trading Company.”

“Huh? Company? What’s that?”

“I’ve only heard about it, but I guess… Never mind. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained.”

Oshalo just stared at me blankly, looking puzzled.

When I tapped his shoulder, he supported me again, and we entered the building.

“Wow.”

Oshalo’s breath hit me again, but this time it was bearable.

Because the sight before me had completely captivated me.

I once visited the Royal Palace of Franche as a child, and it was impressive.

But the New Continent Trading Company building was three times more splendid than that.

The marble floor was so polished that it could be used as a mirror.

The walls were covered with various murals, and dozens of paintings were hung as well.

It was as if they had taken all the art and thrown it against the walls.

Moreover, everyone inside was dressed in antique clothing. Even the woman who seemed to be a maid moved with an air of nobility.

“Companions.”

At Count Furst’s word, the soldiers standing by the door snapped to attention. It seemed they had been about to throw us out, but I hadn’t noticed, dazed as I was.

Those giant stakes sticking out of the ground up to neck height, are those the muskets I had only heard about?

Count Furst asked one of the soldiers,

“I’m here to see Governor Krom. Where is he?”

The soldier glanced at another soldier before replying.

“The audience room is on the second floor.”

“Audience room?”

The Count’s usually unblinking eyebrows twitched slightly, indicating his anger.

He quickly regained his usual expression and walked formally toward the central staircase, and Oshalo and I followed.

When we reached the second floor, there was a door as large as the building’s entrance.

Count Furst boldly approached it, and the maids quickly said,

“Pardon us, but the governor has not yet received…”

Bam.

Perhaps influenced by spending over a month with the ship’s crew, the Count kicked the door open like a tough guy.

Oshalo and I slipped in before the door closed.

There were two people sitting on the luxurious sofa in the center.

A slightly chubby man in his forties occupied the main seat.

The other person’s long hair and side profile were the only clues to their identity.

It seemed like something was protruding to the side…

“Who dares to—hic.”

The man in his forties started with a dignified voice but ended with a cute hiccup after seeing Count Furst.

Everyone ends up like that when they meet Count Furst’s gaze.

I feel a bit proud for no reason.

“Governor Krome. It’s been a while. I heard from the soldier guarding the main door that this is the audience room? I don’t know when a pioneer governor was allowed to have an audience room.”

Governor Krome grinned like a dog meeting its owner.

“Hahaha. Audience room? Count Furst. It’s just an office. The friends outside seem to have misunderstood.”

At that moment, the person sitting on the sofa turned their head slightly.

“I wondered who was being so rude, and it’s the famous Count Furst.”

A beauty.

And long eyebrows and ears.

Too long.

So long that they could be tied back like a ribbon.

“Wow! An elf!”

I couldn’t contain my admiration.

As everyone’s gaze turned to me, I smiled sheepishly.

Count Furst took a step back with his left foot, placed his right hand on his belly, and bowed his head slightly as he looked at the elf.

The Count being so polite?

“It is an honor to finally meet the great elven mage I’ve heard so much about. I thank you on behalf of the New Continent Trading Company.”

Even though the Count greeted her politely, the elf’s gaze remained fixed on me.

My heart pounded, and I forced myself to stare back at her, not because I didn’t want to lose.

She asked,

“This slave? No way?”

Count Furst pointed at me with his left hand outstretched.

“I didn’t expect to meet you so soon, but yes. It’s a gift.”

“Oh?”

“I heard you wanted to take on a human disciple. A boy in his early to mid-teens. He might just barely meet your criteria.”

“You heard correctly.”

“You may teach him magic as you wish. But remember, his ownership remains with me.”

Wait a minute.

I was distracted by the elf’s gaze and didn’t realize it, but it seems the Count plans to give me to her!?

Dangun

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