We didn't get the news about the Elder's decision until the next day at noon, and I was not too happy to hear the results to say the least.
"What do you mean Froggy has to be one of the people that search for the rouge witch?! We've already done our job, we got a few witches to work with the Royal Family. It's not our fault that they wanted to test you further."
"I'm sorry Trader, but that's what the Elders decided."
Catherine said it with an understanding voice trying to calm me down. But it was not working, this was a dangerous job that didn't require Froggy's help, so why put him in such a team?
Something smelled fishy and I didn't like it.
I looked at Froggy who seemed to freeze at the responsibility that was suddenly placed upon his lap.
"Wh-what if I don't go?"
"Then you'll be exiled from the Clan."
"Ok, that's it. I can see when someone doesn't us around. Froggy pack your bags we're leaving."
Catharine started to panic at my sudden decision, but before she could speak, Froggy was the first to stop me.
"No Trader, I don't want to leave the Clan yet."
I stopped, and looked back at him, trying to understand what he was thinking from the expression on his face.
I saw stiffness and fear, but I also saw a light shining in his eyes.
All this time he's been seen as someone who has higher connections, as someone who can make high-level potions, but nobody besides his friends saw something as him.
The system cursed him with levels of brewing, he didn't work hard like others to reach that level.
The Elders didn't care that much about what he could do, they cared more about how close was with the Royal Family.
But this was a chance to prove to the world and to himself that he has an identity of his own, hes not just a snowflake that's being pushed by the wind.
Sure it's dangerous, but what isn't in this world?
So with a firmer voice, he spoke once again.
"I want to go in search of the rouge witch as well."
His back was straight, his eyes were looking into me to show that he wouldn't back down, and I could only sigh in defeat.
Froggy was my friend but also someone with his own goals. It's not my job to protect him from the world, he lived fine until now, and he can keep going like that until he dies of old age.
"Fine, well stay some more in the Clan. But with one exception. I'll come with you on the hunt as well."
Catharine seemed to be relieved about us not leaving the Clan until she heard my terms, which made her make a complicated expression.
"I'll have to speak with Elder Flora about this. Please don't leave before I'll get an answer."
With that, she left to report the sudden news leaving me alone with Froggy.
"Trader, you don't have to do this, they only wanted me to join the hunt."
"Froggy I'm you're friend, and as your friend I will help you if it's in my power to do so. Plus this whole thing smells fishy, and I don't want you to face whatever they planned alone."
Froggy only nodded in understanding as we waited for Catharine to come back with the response.
It was only half an hour later when she was back.
"Trader, Elder Flora wants to talk with you in private."
Private?
Was she planning on intimidating me into backing down?
If so I'll greatly disappoint her with my loaded crossbow.
While it would be a shame to leave this place that is rich with knowledge, that doesn't mean I'll be passive like last time.
This time I have the armor, I have the weapons and I have the pickaxe to get out of any situation.
There won't be a second Sandstone Palace incident.
Catherine didn't need to guide me since I was already familiar with the place in the past few days.
I still like to borrow some books when I can.
*knock knock
"Come in mister Trader."
I opened the door and saw Elder Flora as usual behind her desk.
"I heard you were not satisfied with our decision to send Froggy on the mission."
"I don't see a reason for him to go at all, we already connected you with the people you needed, what happened afterward is not our problem."
Flore got up from her chair and turned her back to me while looking out the window towards the compound.
"Mr. Trader, I know you are a very good friend to Froggy and you're only concerned about his safety, but I also think you realized that Froggy wants to have a connection to his people. And when he first came here, everyone wanted to be his friend, not because he was a social boy, but because he represented a promise, a promise for a better future."
She stayed a little silent after saying that, before turning back towards me, where I could see she had a serious expression.
"But as more people talked with him the more they realized that he's not up to their imagination. The kid was isolated for a few years, only visited by people who wanted to exploit him, but he was too scared to get out of his comfort zone, he's too scared now to do something for himself. He's always looking for someone that tells him what to do, and the other Witches realize that. They now think that Froggy got those connections by luck, and once his job is done, he will be forgotten or worse. Taken advantage of."
She took another pause for me to digest the argument, and I couldn't say too much against it.
I know Froggy can be passive, but I didn't realize it was that bad.
He doesn't like conflict so he usually isolates himself to not get in trouble, and that works if you're a nobody.
But Froggy isn't a nobody anymore, he knows me, he knows Bobby who's the right hand of the future Queen, he even knows the hero.
You can't just stay out of problems if you stay around the people who tend to get themselves into them.
"I want to use this mission as an opportunity to make Froggy grow a spine. To make his own identity and not lean on others ideas. Do you still think that's a bad idea, Mister Trader?"
She looked intently at me, waiting for my response.
"I can see your point of view and I appreciate the thought, but I still want to go with him on this mission. Not as a helper but as a backup in case something happens."
She gave a big sigh of frustration and messaged her nose bridge.
"Mister Trader, I respect you as a scholar and as a person. I know you're not a noble, we tried to look after you but nobody matched your name, and it's weird for people to not know about a noble with such unique looks as you. But whoever saw you and managed to remember it was always with iron armor and with another person who was probably the prophesied hero. Nobody knows about you, but we can deduce enough not to mess with you. So I think your presence would do more harm than good for Froggy."
Looks like they did look after me.
I'm surprised they managed to find out about the hero but not about me.
It's probably because most that saw me are in the desert.
But that doesn't mean that I trust them to educate Froggy. I know Flora won't try anything, but what about the other Witches? Sure I won't be able to stop everyone by myself, but two against four is better than one.
"I insist on going."
"Ok Trader, what will you bring to the team? "
That took me by surprise.
But after a few seconds of silence, I could give an answer.
"I can make an enchanted iron armor for everyone at the party."
This time Flora was taken by surprise at the sudden offer.
"10 sets of Enchanted iron armor."
"5, there's no need to have so many of them."
"8, I need to convince the other Elders as well."
"6 and I'll do the weapons as well."
"Deal! I want them to be finished before the team leaves."
"Sure, but I'll need to borrow Brutus Enchanting's table."
Flora sat back down and started to think.
"I can do that, but you'll need to make a set in plus."
"You don't have to give me the iron for crafting."
This took her by surprise, and she looked intently at me to be sure I knew what I was talking about.
But I knew that I could do it with no problem, so only confidence was on my face.
"I can talk with Brutus to let you borrow his Enchanting Table then."
"Pleasure doing business with you."
I held my arm for a handshake and she started to laugh while giving me her hand.
"Your name fits you Trader, I think we should do this more often."
"Only when I'll have the high ground next time."
She laughed harder but I didn't stay in the room to hear her finish.
I know I got taken advantage of with this deal, but I kind of forced myself into their plans so I'll give it to them.
It would only take me a few days to finish everything since I'll have to mine it myself.
I wonder if I can buy some iron from the miners.
My skill set was valuable after all.
I don't know if anyone from this place has the necessary levels to craft iron items, and since they don't have the trading system anymore the only way to get them was by buying overpriced items from the shops in the big cities.
As for the Enchanting level, I'm sure that nobody in this compound has it. After all, it got replaced with a Maxed level of Brewing skill.
I do wonder why Brutus has an enchanting table with him if he can't use it.
It doesn't matter anyway, I made the deal and I'll make the most of it.
Recently I learned a few more enchantments from all the books that I borrowed from Flora, and I wanted to exercise my hand with them.
I was back at Froggy's place to tell him the news, and he was surprised that I managed to get myself on the team, and a little happy.
"But I won't be there to help you, I'll only be there in case anything goes wrong. Let's hope it won't get to that point."
Flora was right. Even though it's probably not her full intention to let Froggy grow up, it's still a good opportunity for him to learn something.
Who knows, maybe one day he'll be on the chair for Elder.
With how much he wants to befriend the people from here, there's a chance he'll decide to stay here in the end.
I have a mixture of emotions about that, but I'll cross the bridge when I get there. There's no need to overthink stuff now.
He seems less enthusiastic about this but still happy that I will be with him.
After I chatted a little more I decided to get back to my home.
I wanted to start mining tomorrow, but that doesn't mean I couldn't start working today at the enchantments.
Unfortunately, books are expensive so I can't use a lot of them, I'm not at the palace anymore where I could just get them easily, and I don't have a librarian here to trade with.
So most of the enchantments will be at level one and a few two's here and there.
Good thing that she didn't mention how powerful they had to be.
With that, I was back in my home with paper and pen on the table.
I started to write everything I knew down and even looked through some books to be sure.
I didn't have my book with enchantments after all so I had to be very careful.
When the sun was almost down, I already had a few enchantments ready, so I decided to stop for the day and go to sleep.
Tomorrow I'll do some mining so I needed a lot of energy for that.
Once the blanket was over me, I slowly started to lose my focus before finally falling asleep.