I Don’t Really Understand
It’s been half a month since then, every day I continued to accept commissions.
I go to the Adventurers’ Guild first thing in the morning, from the commissions that can be completed in one day, I choose the ones that give the most rewards.
From harvesting commissions like the one I did in the exam, to various DIY-like commissions downtown.
Because at times I finished in half a day, I’ll again accept another commission on those occasions.
Amongst the various commissions, there was one to be something like a waitress at a newly opened cafe. Although I was bound for three days, the reward was nice so I accepted it but…
It’s that. The shop was similar to the so-called maid cafes.
I heard one of the opening staff suddenly couldn’t make it or something like that, so it seems it was an emergency recruitment but…
Of course, because it’s that kind of cafe, they had uniforms, however, even the smallest size based on the standard of this world’s women didn’t fit. With me in a pinch, there was neither time or labour to prepare a specially ordered uniform. Even though it was too baggy no matter how you looked at it, I had to put on the maid clothes that didn’t fit and run desperately around the store.1
The lengths of the other waitresses’ skirts were near their knees, and yet even after doing my best to pull it up to my waist, the length just enough to not touch the floor. I had to desperately try not to step on the hem.
According to what the manager said afterwards, that appearance was very popular. A child that appeared to be trying to desperately help or something…
Maa, I received an extra reward as the result of attracting customers, since I received more than usual it was all right in the end…
Additionally, because I accepted a few E rank commissions, I should be able to rank up very soon.
The money I have saved up is now 1 gold and 40 silvers!
……I still have a long way to go…
The commission I accepted today is an E rank harvesting commission, named Ceribsa gra.s.s, it’s a medicinal plant that’s quite hard to look for. Ceribsa gra.s.s are very effective against external wounds, it can also be a powerful painkiller and healing medicine if you boil and drink it, it’s a medicinal plant similar to a strengthened version of Cebulj gra.s.s from the time of the exam. However, the requirements of its habitat are severe so its recognised as an expensive medicinal plant.
Although it’s difficult to search for this medicinal plant, I have powerful ally.
Right, my previous life’s knowledge!
I happen to know of the several places where Ceribsa gra.s.s could grow.
This commission rewards 15 silvers for every 1 Ceribsa gra.s.s, if I’m able to come across several of them then this will be very delicious commission.
Immediately, I begin to walk towards the locations I have knowledge of.
I did it! There’s so many!♪
From the locations Ceribsa gra.s.s were considered to grow, I had visited three which I had knowledge of and gotten six Ceribsa gra.s.s. That would be 90 silvers with just these.
Currently, I’m deep within a forest northwest of the Royal Capital, the same forest where I encountered that wolf from the time of the exam.
Because there aren’t usually beasts which attacks people, after that wolf had gotten exterminated, the forest is now safe.
Right, of the several places I had knowledge of, the depths of this forest was one of them.
Therefore, after I fini
sh harvesting, I’ll travel to the next destination.
Once leaving this forest, at a location approximately five kilometres north, there will be a slightly steep slope, descending down that slope then moving a little northwest will be the next location I have knowledge of.
The sun has gone down considerably, it’s becoming dim within the forest.
Looking at my wrist.w.a.tch, the time currently is 5 o’clock pm.
Although I have a camp prepared, I’d like to lie down on a bed if possible.
I hurry myself up a little.
Walking towards the outside of the forest, a light could be seen between the trees.
Could it be other adventurers…?
Being a little curious, I walk towards the direction where the light is.
Taking a closer look, it was small open area with a cabin built on it.
Could it be a hunter’s cabin? The light was leaking out from in there.
After I confirmed the source of the light and was about to walk away from cabin, a man appeared from within.
The man with a bad character looks around restlessly in front of the door, after surveying the surroundings, he discovers me in an instant. Making a surprised expression, he then puts on a suspicious expression and begins questioning.
「An? Who is it..? Oi, jou-chan, what are you doing here?」
His character seems bad for a hunter…
「Etto, I’m an adventurer. I’m in the middle of a commission right now. While walking in the forest, a bright-「An adventurer!? s.h.i.t! Have we already been found?」」
What’s this? Crying out all of a sudden.
「Oi, come out! It’s an adventurer!」
The man shouted towards the interior of the cabin, four men carrying weapons then came out from within.
The men who came out surveyed the surroundings, after looking at me, they questioned the first man.
「Oi, where’s the adventurer?」
「That brat is the adventurer.」
The men began to laugh after hearing that.
「Oi oi, no matter how I see it, isn’t that just a child~? There’s noo way this brat is an adventurer, don’t you think~?」
「No, I heard it in town. With long black hair, a woman who only looks to be a child was able to become an adventurer. That person’s features matches up.」
A commotion runs through the men.
「Is that true? Then this brat is really an adventurer?」
What’s going on, these people. They don’t seem to be hunters…
Could it be inconvenient that I’m an adventurer?
「Umm, is there a problem with me being an adventurer? And also, I can’t see you people being hunters, so what are you doing here?」
The first man has a doubtful expression towards my words.
「What are you saying? Even though you received a commission from the guild.」
Haa, certainly, I came because I received a commission but… For some reason our conversation doesn’t seem to connect.
「Oi, it doesn’t matter if it’s an adventurer or not, right? Our opponent is only one person. We can just capture and sell her just like the other children.」
After the first man said so, the other men also prepared each of their weapons.
「Oi! Be obedient and this will end without any pain. If you understand then raise both your hand and get on your knees!」
Eh? Wait, what is this? What’s this development.
「Please wait a minute! What are you doing all of a sudden? Please give me an explanation!」
Someone explain this please!
「Mu, are you intending to resist? Oi! It’s a beauty, so capture her alive if possible!」
Simultaneously with the voice, a man came slashing with his sword.
「Wait! Suddenly attacking me, isn’t that too ridiculous!」
I cry out while dodging the attacks.
「Shut up! If you want to feel some pain then keep resisting!」2
Ahー, mou! I can’t get through with words! It’s okay to counterattack right?! It’s legitimate self-defense!
「teyaa!」
Repelling the sword strike with my dagger, I gather up my ki and strike his defenseless solar plexus with a savate.
The man easily fainted.
「This guy! Oi, lets surround her!」
Looking at the man who fainted, the other men began to rouse up.
Four people began to spread out and surround me.
I take out my bokutou and prepare to fight back.
「Take this!」
The men at the front and back each began to attack.
「fu」
Stepping up and aiming at the man at the front, I swing my bokutou between his legs.
A somewhat unpleasant feeling transmitted through my bokutou, with this they’ve lost two people for their battle strength.
The other men stiffens up after seeing that.
「Uwa, how horrible…」
As the ones who suddenly attacked me, what are you saying?
With this chance, I face the man behind me and swing my bokutou.
Although the man tried to react, I strike his hands before he could grasp onto his sword.
Aiming at the area between his legs, I swing as I scoop up my bokutou.
The man immediately drew his feet back and sw.a.n.g his sword in order to defend.
Therefore I kick the ground with all my strength, using the momentum from the jump, I draw out my bokutou and take a swing aimed at his jaw.
Hit, and sink.3
The third person. Two people remaining.
The two remaining people started to attack mutually.
With the exchanges of each strike, I ward them off with my bokutou.
Mutually, yet cooperatively, their strikes are getting considerably severe.4
If I try to evade and counterattack the first person’s attack, the second person’s attack will come.
At times I cannot receive their attacks with my bokutou, although it’s hard, it’s still made from wood. It’s gradually being shaved off.
Because my bokutou won’t last at this rate, I’ll end it immediately.5
Infusing ki into my bokutou, I strike a single blow onto the stomach of the incoming sword, with his posture collapsed, I draw out mybokutou and take a swing aimed at his stomach.
With that, it’s the fourth person.
However, even with 4 men collapsed on the other side, the last person’s attack still came.
Although I instantly repelled it with my bokutou, the bokutou came to an end and broke.
When the fifth person saw that, he expressed a smile and a broad grin, the opponent can still swing his sword.6
With a fragment of my bokutou at hand, I aimed it at his face and threw it.
Kon!
The hit gave off a satisfying sound.
As he leaned back from the result from the impact, I elbowed his stomach. With his body slightly collapsing, I once again force my elbow into his solar plexus.
With this, the 5 people come to an end.
If they hadn’t been careless at the beginning and cooperated instead, I would’ve been in danger. Because of the three people that fainted from my surprise attacks, I was saved… Why would these people attack me?
For the time being, although I don’t understand the situation well, I decide to tie up these men with a rope. It would be troublesome if they woke up and attacked me again ne.
Because I had plans to descend down a steep slope, it’s a good thing I brought a large amount of rope.
I tie up the 5 men’s hands and feet, furthermore, I tie the ropes on their hands and feet together so that they won’t be able to get up.
It’s the so-called taiikuzuwari posture.
Finishing tying up all the members, as I was thinking back on what happened, the first man that fainted recovered this consciousness. Since this is a good time, I’ll listen his story.
「Good morning.」
The man who recovered his consciousness looked at me after hearing my voice, his body trembled in alarm.
「You! How dare you do this!」7
While shouting, he tries to stand up, but his hands and feet are tied.
Without any change, he falls down sideways with a koten.
「s.h.i.t, untie me!」
「Don’t want to. Aren’t you going to just attack me again once I untie you? Leaving that aside, I want to hear why you suddenly attacked me.」
「Haa? What’re you saying? Even though you received a commission from the guild to search for them. What’re the contents of the commission? Our capture? Or is it the search for the children? Don’t ya think it’s a little late now to ask me about it.」
Ha? What does he mean?
「The guild has put out a commission for the capture of you and your friends? And the search of the children, what do you mean by that?」
「What the h.e.l.l are you saying. The parents of the children we kidnapped put up a commission at the guild. You accepted it and came here in order to search. Ain’t that how it went.」
fumu?
「So you’re saying, you guys are a group of kidnappers that kidnapped children, so you attacked me because I came here?」
「That’s what I meant isn’t it. s.h.i.t, even though we were planning to leave this place tomorrow, how unlucky.」
I see, I was mistaken as an adventurer that came here in order to search for the children, so they attacked me.
Ahh, come to think of it, the owner of the inn and also the receptionist onee-san have been saying「Recently, I’ve heard a number of children have been kidnapped so please be careful」or something like that.
So it means these people are criminals?
「I understand the story. And so, where are the kidnapped children?」
「Aa? The bas.e.m.e.nt. There’s five people together in there.」
「You’re awfully obedient ne?」
「I’ve already been caught. There’s no use hiding it right? Besides, you’ll discover it immediately if you investigate a little.」
Uーn…, now that I know, I can’t leave this as it is…
There’s no other way, the ship has already sailed.
I’ll rescue the children for the time being.