CHAPTER 98: SHOP’S NAME

Up until now, Gara hadn’t named his Merchant House. He knew how terrible he was at coming up with names.

Herb House was what their partners had casually called them, but that was never official and honestly, it didn’t sound right for a proper shop name.

Seeing her master lost in thought, Hilda didn’t interrupt. Names were important. A shop’s name would follow them forever.

A shop’s name... Gara mused.

In his previous world, shops, restaurants, or similar establishments often took their names from the owner’s children, or from short forms of their own names.

My children’s names... or a mix of it? Gara considered the idea seriously.

The silence stretched for several minutes. It might have felt dull for anyone else, but Hilda simply waited, patient and professional.

Finally, Gara spoke.

"I’ll name it... Alrova Shop."

It was taken from Aldwin for Al, Arion for ro, and Ava for va.

"That’s a fine name, Master," Hilda praised with a composed smile.

Gara couldn’t tell if she meant it sincerely or was just being polite. Still, he thought Alrova wasn’t half-bad, especially for something he had cobbled together in mere minutes.

Maybe I do have a knack for naming things... He chuckled to himself.

"Then the Merchant House will also be called Alrova Merchant House, Master?"

Gara nodded.

Once that was decided, he headed to the Slave Trading Association to officially register Fian under his ownership.

The reason given was simple: Fian couldn’t support himself and had relied on Gara all this time. He would continue depending on him in the future.

Cases like this were rare and often raised suspicion of coercion.

But because the Association knew Gara had been the one to rescue Fian—and even freed him from slavery once already—the doubts were dismissed, even if it still sounded illogical.

Leaving the Slave Trading Association’s building, Gara patted Fian’s shoulder. "Once Bota Village’s state returns to normal, I’ll cancel your slave status."

"No need," Fian replied.

Madha, who had been following quietly the entire time, froze in surprise. The elf could speak. It was just that he chose not to.

Gara, on the other hand, remained calm. He heard it a few times.

"I’d feel uncomfortable if I didn’t." Gara glanced at Fian with a firm gaze.

He then saw the faint heart icon above his head, which glowed with an affinity of 80%—a very high number indeed.

He didn’t need the slave status to prove his allegiance.

From there, the three made their way to the Town Hall.

Kala, welcomed them. Her brows lifted slightly at the unfamiliar face standing beside Gara and Madha, but she showed no discourtesy.

"When can you depart, Gara?" she asked once they were inside the Liners Affairs Office.

"I’ll leave this evening."

"That soon?" Kala blinked in surprise. "The senior Liner meant to assist you hasn’t even been assigned yet."

At that moment, Kala’s gaze shifted to Madha, who immediately spoke up.

"I’ll be the Liner accompanying Gara on his first mission, Madam."

"But didn’t you just officially join the town guard? Will you even get permission to head to Bota Village?"

"I’ve already been posted to Bota Village," Madha answered firmly.

"What a convenient coincidence," Kala said with a pleased smile, unaware that it was no coincidence at all.

She continued, "This mission to provide water is rank E. It’s meant for newbie Liners. And it comes with two options. Ten days earns you one point, and thirty days earns you two. Which will you choose?"

Though he asked, Kala already assumed they’d pick the ten-day route. Newbie Liners usually avoided spending too much time on a single mission.

But Gara replied, "We’ll take the thirty-day option, Madam Kala."

The middle-aged Liner blinked in mild surprise, but quickly noted down the choice.

"Madam Kala," Gara went on quickly, "aside from providing water, I’m also a healer and a herbalist. I can make herbal concoctions, and my water has healing properties.

Could I also be registered under that mission as a healer and herbalist, earning three points in total? That way, it would count as two missions."

This time Kala was more than just a little surprised, she was genuinely impressed. She had assumed Gara would waste a month on a single mission, but instead, he was making the most of his time.

"That can be arranged. But at the end, you’ll need to show proof that you truly worked as a healer and herbalist."

"I’ll use my abilities properly there," Gara answered with determination.

"You really are talented, Gara. Even your water has healing effects. Once you finish the initial missions, you’ll be free to go anywhere you want."

Kala praised him once again, convinced this young man would rise high in the future.

"Thank you, Madam Kala." Gara felt a bit embarrassed under such praise.

Smiling gently, Kala reached for the crystal stone on her desk. "Your Liner Id card, Gara."

From his cotton pouch, Gara pulled out the the wooden card he hadn’t touched in a long while.

Kala pressed it against a palm-sized blue crystal. The small thin light line in the corner of the card flickered to life.

"Your mission is now registered. This will also grant you entry to Bota Village." She returned the card.

Gara nodded, staring at it. Somehow, it all felt more real now. He was truly a Liner, leaving his own mark on the world.

But he didn’t dwell on it for long.

"There’s one more thing. He..." Gara glanced at Fian. "He awakened his Bloodline and Talent a while ago, but for certain reasons, he’s never officially registered as a Liner."

Kala’s expression brightened. "A self-awakened Liner, then?" Gara nodded.

She explained, "There’s actually no difference between those who awaken in the ceremony and those who do so on their own. Either way, they must complete their initial Liner mission within six months of taking their first mission."

"Fian will come with me to Bota Village and help provide water," Gara added quickly.

"That’s fine. But before that, there will be a short interview and test to verify his Bloodline and Talent," Kala clarified.

This marked the beginning of Fian’s journey as a Liner.

...