Chapter 50 – Journey to Fluud
The morning of the 30th, the time is 7:50am.
I’m currently at the depot in front of the Royal Capital’s eastern gate.
In front of me is this time’s client, Afgar Vesta-san.
And right now, I’m troubled.
「Like I’ve said na, ojou-chan. You ain’t s’posed to lie. Look, I’ll keep silent ’bout this, so quickly return it to the owner na.」
「Even though I’ve already said this many times, I’m the owner! This card is also mine!」
Right, it’s that exchange.
Furthermore, this time’s opponent is quite tough, or rather, he’s completely ignoring my story.
Up until now, people understood when I displayed my adventurer’s card, but it seems this person thought I picked up or stole this card.
I wonder, have we been exchanging like this for around ten minutes?
「kaー, Ojou-chan is stubborn na! This ain’t a game! If you remain persistent, I’ll hand you over to the guards!」
Who’s the stubborn one!
「Might you be, Afgar Vesta-san?」
A dignified voice was heard from far away.
Afgar-san turned towards the direction of the voice.
I can’t see from my position because of the carriage’s shadow but…… it seems to be a woman from the voice.
「I received this time’s escort commission, I’m Mary Mersol. My party behind me has also received the same commission.」
「Aah, I’m Afgar. Nice to work with you.」
Those people appear to have accepted the same commission it seems.
「By the way, is there some sort of trouble? Also, there should be five people if I’m not mistaken. Where’s the last person?」
「n? Aah, it ain’t a big deal but… Just a kid telling a lie about receiving this commission na. It looks like the last person still hasn’t come yet. Really, even though I’ve said our departure is very soon…」
Are you still saying that?
「Like I’ve said, I formally received this commission from the guild, haven’t I said this many times!」
I’m sure you just don’t believe it.
「Is that the child who was saying that?」
The voice of the leader-like woman appeared from the carriages shadow.
「Aah, I’m sorry but, could you somehow drive her away?」
Although Afgar-san said something, that woman and I didn’t move.
Where do I feel I’ve seen…?
「「AAH!?」」
Our pair of voices overlapped.
「The person who always helped me at the commission board!」
「The guild’s angel!」
Eh?
I have a feeling a heard some strange words but…
No, leaving that aside.
「This is perfect! Please explain that I’m an adventurer, onee-san! No matter what I say, he wouldn’t listen to my story!」
If it’s this person, then she’d know I’m an adventurer!
「Onee-san…. Onee-san huh, that’s nice…. ufufufu.」
Oh? Hey…? O~i?
「Mary, what happened? Oh? This kid is…」
hyoi, from the shadow of the onee-san called Mary, a different woman appeared.
「It’s the child that always jumps up and down by the commission board.」
Wai-, always? I haven’t done that recently you know?
「What’s this? You girls, are you this ojou-chan‘s acquaintance?」
「
Aー, rather acquaintance, we just recognise her. Because this child, is famous in the guild.」
What do you mean by famous? I haven’t done anything to attract attention you know?
「The trouble you were just talking about, was this child?」
「Yeah, she said she received the commission from the guild na. She also showed me the card but, I think she just picked it up from somewhere right?」
「Ahaha, the card and certificate, could you show me it for a bit?」
I handed over my adventurer’s card and commission certification to the lady.
「Hm~m, Sakura Fujino, 15 years old, ah, so you’re 15 years old. Human race, rank is D. You’re already rank D? It hasn’t even been a month right? Isn’t that too fast?」
「Well, various things happened…」
「Various things you say…. n, the certificate is genuine as well ne. The thing this child said, it’s true you know. It seems she received the commission.」
I received my card and wooden tag back.
「Oi oi, even you’re saying things like that? The card and certificate as well, weren’t they just picked up or stolen?」1
「Aー, that’s impossible. Don’t you know about it? The glyphs won’t show on the adventurer card unless the originator allows it you know? In addition, this child receives commissions at the guild almost every day.」
Ah, now that you mention it, there was that sort of function ne…
I had completely forgotten about it.
「Eh? That means, this ojou-chan is an adventurer, and came here after accepting the escort commission?」
「Didn’t I say that from the beginning?」
「I’ll say this while we’re at it, I’m 15 years old as well.」
「Eh? 15 years old you say, seriously? You’re even smaller than my 8 year old niece ya know?」
「nー, well I was surprised as well at first ne. Since it’s written as so on the card, it shouldn’t be a mistake.」
Afgar-san grumbled for a short moment, but when he finally calmed down, he suddenly turned his body in my direction and lowered his head.
「I’m sorry! Even though ojou-chan has been tell the truth this whole time, I arbitrarily decided you were lying from the start… I’m a failure of a merchant.」
It was me who was surprised at this.2
「Please raise your head! I also forgot about the matter of the card… I understand, so it’s fine already.」
At that moment, the bell for the 4th koku sounded just on time.
「Look, it’s already time for departure. Let’s quickly prepare.」
Taking advantage of that, I change the topic.
「n, aah, that’s right. Well then, I’ll go check the on carriage. You guys can introduce yourselves.」
Aah, that’s good. If he continued to lower his head like that, it would’ve been hard on my mentality3.
As I was feeling relieved, the voice of the lady from just now appeared.
「Is it alright to call you Sakura-chan? I’m Meriana Schuzlbal. Meriana is fine. The bow is my forte. And, Mary Mersol over here is a swordswoman ne. That male beastman over there is Bolt Mardeano, and that other man is Sindhi Melano ne. We’ve all formed a party together, everyone is D rank. Best regards during these five days ne.
Meriana-san introduced the remaining members.
「Ah, yes. I’m Sakura Fujino. I look forward to working with you all.」
After exchanging a brief introduction, Afgar-san’s voice was heard.
「O~i, we’re leavingー.」
It seems we’re ready for departure.
「n, then shall we get on the carriage? Hey, Mary. You coming?」
Meriana-san dragged Mary-san while she was still staring at the sky and boarded the carriage.
The carriage was a wagon with two canopies attached to it, it was fairy large.
Afgar-san was the coachman, one person could sit beside him, and the remaining four people could board the open luggage s.p.a.ce.
Sindhi-san sat by the coachman’s seat at the beginning, and Bolt-san was in charge of guarding the rear.
The remaining three people, chatted in the open s.p.a.ce.
Since this was my first escort commission, I was taught various things.
I was also taught other things like the troubles of a female adventurer, and the stuff I should be careful of.
According to their story, there’s very few female adventurers, it seems there are less than ten ~ twenty percent of them.
It appears there were many discriminations and animosities, or even s.e.xual hara.s.sment towards female adventurers in the past, however the guild strengthened the punishments and made various improvements, and it seems to have become considerably better.
However, those kinds of consciousness are still around even now, women are often looked at lightly even when they receive commissions.4
Besides that, I was also taught advice for travelling.
Well, such as not to approach places with bad public order, or investigate as much as possible for the places you’ll be going to for the first time, and things like not getting involved with suspicious commissions, I felt like there was a lot of fundamental advices.
For some reason, Mary-san persistently said things like ‘if a stranger calls out to you, don’t follow them’, or ‘don’t accept food from a stranger’… Why was that?
Although we had a rest and lunch on the way, the first day pa.s.sed by without incident.
Evening, probably around 6 o’clock. We decided to camp out beside the forest.
Bolt-san and Sindhi-san constructed the tents, Mary-san drew water, and Meriana-san and I gathered firewood
I did a few round trips, and collected firewood for tonight’s portion + a portion for myself to use.
The reason why, it’s because it seems everyone has their own preserved food and water for dinner.5
In other words, the portions of the dishes I’ll make will be guaranteed for myself and I won’t get bothered, was what I thought.
Although I didn’t have the time for lunch, since there’s time for dinner, I think I’ll at least make some soup.
Everyone gathered around the bonfire after their preparations were done, I separated a little and made a fire on my small stove.
I then filled a pot with water, as one would expect, it can’t be pa.s.sed as soup stock but, I teared some dried meat and bacon, cut them into small pieces, then boiled them together with vegetables.6
Though it would be convenient if there were something like instant soup stock…
After thoroughly heating the vegetables, I flavoured it with herbs and spices, and it’s completed.
I transferred it to a mug and matched it with some bread, and that’s dinner.
I lightly washed the pot that was used for the soup, then I filled it with water again and placed it over the fire.
It’s for the after meal tea.
When I began to eat my dinner, everyone else had finished eating.
As I restlessly ate dinner by myself, Meriana-san peeked at me with great interest.
「Isn’t it troublesome to go out of your way to cook? It’s impossible for me. Although it’s certainly nice to have soup, it’s quite troublesome don’t you think? Oh? This bread Sakura-chan is eating, you also ate this at lunch right? It’s being easily teared off but,eh? It can be eaten without water or soup? What is that? Is Sakura-chan actually an amazing muscleman?」
That’s a little, annoying.
It’s troublesome if someone began one-sidedly talking when you’re eating right?7
I think having a lively meal is different from a noisy one.
Furthermore, because she’s bending her body forwards in order to peek, it’s extremely difficult to eat.
Ah, a strand of hair slightly went into my mug!
「I just want to eat delicious things. So I cook for myself as well. I don’t think that it’s troublesome. Also, regarding the bread, it’s a secret.」
I reluctantly answered.
The reason why the bread is a secret, is because I think it’ll be incredibly troublesome if I talked about it.
「Ehー, even if it’s only that, it’s amazing ne. As for me, all my meals are the same. Every day during a journey, it’s preserved food you know? Ne, ne, that bread, even a bite is fine, let me eat some okay?」
「Wait, you’re close! That’s no good, since this is my meal!」
「Isn’t that fine, don’t be so stingy~. Just one bite, even a crumb is fine! Okay? Pleasee~」
「I said that’s no good, ah, wait, please don’t pu-, ah!」
basha
Aah, the soup is…. Even though there was still half left…
「acha~, sorry ne~?」
Even if you apologize here…
「What happened?」
Maybe she was curious because of the noise we made, Mary-san approached.
「Meriana you, again…」
When Mary-san saw the spilled soup on the ground and the fallen mug, she seemed to have understood the situation.
「Ahaha, I’ve done it.」
From the conversation, it seems something similar has happened several times.
「Sorry, for Meriana troubling you…」
「No…」
Haa…
I awkwardly turned my back towards Mary-san, and restlessly ate the remaining bread.
I washed the cup, made some herb tea, and finally relieve my mind.
It seems that while I was eating bread, Mary-san dragged Meriana-san and went somewhere.
Although I thought she wasn’t a bad person at first… No, I think she isn’t a bad person. Only, how do I say it…. Troublemaker? Even so, a neither ill willed nor self-aware natural airhead, isn’t that the most troublesome type?
Oh right, about this time’s companions, Mary-san has blond hair up to her shoulders, a cool beauty-san. Her height is also tall, with a slender body to go with it. As for her chest…… I can’t tell since she’s wearing a metal breastplate. Though I said she was cool, it’s like she’s distant towards me, her replies on most of our conversations we have are things like 「aah」 or 「that’s right na」, nothing but single phrases8. The next thing I’ll know, she’ll be intently glaring at me. Could it be she dislikes me?
Meriana-san has light brown hair, a cheerful and lively woman. Her height is slightly shorter than 170cm? I think around there, but her characteristic is that self-a.s.serting chest. Isn’t that an F? She’s easy to talk to, and as long as she has spare time, she’ll talk to someone. I realized not long ago, but it seems, she’s actually a troublesome person.
Sindhi-san is about the same as Mary-san, around 180cm I think? He has reddish blonde hair, a man around 25 years old. He’s had almost no conversations with me, this person also looks at me with glaring eyes.
As for Bolt-san….. he’s, big. He seems to be a tiger beastman from the story Meriana-san told me, his height should exceed 2m. I can tell he has brawny muscles even from over his clothing, together with his height, he’s like a wall. He’s expressionless, should I say, even when I tried starting a conversation, he only shook his head, I still haven’t heard his voice. His features are his large body, the ears above his head and his tail.
Oh? Other than Meriana-san, I’ve barely had a conversation with them.
……As expected, do they dislike me?
After a short time, I heard about tonight’s lookouts from Mary-san.
With two shifts, it seems the first will be me and Sindhi-san, during the night will be Mary-san, Meriana-san, and Bolt-san taking turns.
Honestly, it seems there’s going to a delicate atmosphere no matter who I partner with, it’s depressing.
As for the better one, it would be…… Bolt-san?
Leaving those sorts of feelings in another place, Sindhi-san and I were left as everyone else slept.
Sindhi-san and I were sat across the bonfire in silence.
It’s, awkward…
I tried to bring up a topic, but because Sindhi-san was intently staring at me, I gave up.
In order to do something about this silence, I tried serving some tea.
「U-Umm…, would you like to, drink some tea?」
I was ignored.
Furthermore, the sound of me drinking tea and chewing on cookies, that were subst.i.tuting as dinner, could be heard during that awkward atmosphere.
「……Hasn’t been one month.」
Without any warning, Sindhi-san began to talk.
「Eh?」
I completely didn’t understand what he was talking about, and ended up letting out a stupid sound.
「D rank after a month of registration? Normally, it takes half a year to become D rank. What on earth did you do?」
It seems like he’s not convinced with me being a D rank since I’m a beginner.
I thought it would be simple to rise if you accept commissions, but it seems it’s not that easy in reality.
For example, the harvesting commissions I mainly accept, there are many of them which usually can’t be completed in a single day. It’s because for a beginner, it’s difficult to find the place where the medicinal herbs grows.
Also, even if the place where they grow is found, a number of them would already be picked and there won’t be enough, so it generally takes a number of days.
I grasped the said locations from my previous life’s knowledge, many people can’t go to those locations to harvest.
In other words, most of the commissions I accept in the morning can be completed on that same day, which can be said is an abnormal occurrence.
…..I haven’t considered that sort of thing.
Since I also took half a month to become an E rank, much less becoming a D rank, it seems it’s an impossible occurrence.
「Even if you ask me what I did, I’ve only just accepted commissions. Well, could I say it was ‘luck’ that I became a D rank? Though it was a coincidence, I caught some kidnappers so…」
「Luck you say? With just that, isn’t it impossible to become a D rank with that short amount of time? Kidnappers huh, aah, is it that kidnapping incident? Hmph, you seem to be good at walking around na.」
I felt something like an unpleasant aura, but.
「However, I won’t accept it. Even I almost took a year to become a D Rank. Even catching those culprits, you just seized them after somebody defeated them after all right? How can I accept you becoming a D rank, the same as me, practically right after you registered!?」
Even if you say that…… right?
Suddenly, I had a feeling my ears heard some sort of growl.
Animal…? No, those footsteps…… several presences…
It’s approaching this way.
Sindhi-san hasn’t noticed yet.
「Excuse me, could you wake the others up? Something is approaching.」
I said that while standing up with my weapon.
Numbers are…… five, no, could it be six?
I took out the lamp magic tool from my baggage and illuminated the surrounding area.
「Something, you say…, alright. What’re you going to do?」
Sindhi-san had a doubtful expression, but it seems he noticed the presences.
「Their numbers are probably, six. I’ll gain some time, so I’ll leave everyone to you.」
I replied while staring at the forest.
「I’ll return immediately.」
I understood Sindhi-san headed towards the tents from his presence.
「Now then, I wonder what’ll appear…?」
I slowly walked towards the forest.
「GURAAAAAAA!」
What appeared from the forest was a bipedal…… pig?
A stout and chubby body and a head which looks just like a pig. It’s height is around 2m and its holding an axe and a sword. Shabby armor was attached to its body.
It’s probably, an Orc.
Contrast to its dull body, I was attacked with quick movements.
The numbers were as expected, six of them.
「fu!」
I cut down the one that attacked me at the beginning with iai, then killed the next one with a diagonal slash.
I quickly jumped back so I wouldn’t be covered with the blood spurt, then turned to the remaining Orcs.
With the two Orcs killed within seconds, the remaining raised their voices in anger and immediately attacked.
I cleaved open the stomach of an Orc attacking with his arms swinging, then continued to cut that Orc’s body in two.
When they saw that, an Orc stopped moving for an instant so I cut its leg, then finished it off when it fell down.
Although the last Orc tried to escape, I instantly approached and cut it down.
All the Orcs were killed, I confirmed whether there was anymore, then finally relaxed my guard.
Although I didn’t feel anything at the time I fought, the moment I relaxed, from the fact that I took away lives and the sensation of cutting flesh, I shivered.
If I think about it, this was my first time I cut and took away a person’s (?) life with my own hands.
Not being as shocked as I thought, as expected, could it be my previous life’s influence?
When I was slightly absorbed in my thoughts, I felt the presence of people approaching.
「Oi, are you alright!?」
It seems Sindhi-san woke everybody up.
「I’m fine. Since it’s over already.」
I answered while wiping the blood off the katana and returning it to its sheath.
「Over, you say……. these guys, aren’t they Orcs!? Did you do this yourself?」
Well of course? Since I’m the only one here.
「Yeah, this weapon helped me out. ……Something wrong?」
When I looked, everyone was petrified. Was there something strange?9
「……Something wrong you ask, that, isn’t that obvious!? An Orc is a C rank monster you know? We can barely defeat one even with several of us D ranks. Just you alone with six of them, and even defeating them in such a short time…」
……Could they have been that strong?
I do think they were quick, but…
If it was master, master would immediately defeat around fifty of them you know?
「No, leaving that aside, why would Orcs appear in this sort of place? This area has a relatively small amount of monsters, even if there were, it should be Goblins at most but…」
Mary-san pondered with serious expression.
Come to think of it, the Chivalric Order regularly patrols along this highway, monsters should’ve been immediately eliminated.
Which means, could they have recently appeared?
I didn’t understand even when I tried thinking about it.
「For the time being, let’s return to the camp. We’ll just report this to the guild, isn’t that fine?10」
Everybody nodded at my words.
When we returned to the camp site, everybody (Afgar-san is sleeping) surrounded the bonfire.
That’s because, since it’s almost time to change lookouts, even if they slept now…… that’s how it seems.
「I’m sorry about that.」
Sindhi-san suddenly apologized.
「Because I wasn’t aware of your ability, I said those sorts of things. Most likely, I didn’t want to accept it. I think it’s my foolish pride but… A position I took almost a year to reach, I think I was envious of you that took a month. That’s why…」
Aー, un, well, I’d also think that’s strange ne.
「Please don’t worry about it. I believe it can’t be helped you thought like that you know? Because of this appearance of mine.」
Ah, I’ve somewhat become sad after saying that.
「However, you have the ability. To defeat six Orcs by yourself. It’s even difficult for a C rank to do alone you know?」
「Like I said, this weapon helped me out you see. If I didn’t have this, it would’ve been a harder fight.
Could it be thanks to the glyphs? I recalled the excessively sharp katana.
Although it was an expensive purchase, I think that that alone was worth it.
「Ne ne, doesn’t that weapon have an unusual shape? Where did you get your hands on it? Though you said it helped you, does it have some special power?」
It appears Meriana-san showed an interest for the katana.
「Although I purchased it at Garam’s Weapon Store, Garam-san said it was purchased from a merchant from an eastern country. I’ve had it etched with glyphs, but I don’t think it has any ‘special’ powers.」
Since there’s no reason to hide it, I answered.
Otherwise, it might serve as trouble again…
「Garam’s Weapon Store you say, that hard to please dwarf’s shop? Heeh~, so you bought it ne? That place, although the items are good, I’ve heard the shopkeeper won’t sell if he dislikes you, you know?」
Hard to please…? It didn’t seem like that to me…
Besides, to not sell if he dislikes you, how much of stubborn old man is he?
「Is it okay if you show it to me it for a little?」
While saying those words, Meriana-san’s hand had already grasped the katana.
Aah, it’ll turn into something troublesome again if I decline ne…
「Hey Meriana. Stop that.」
Although Mary-san rebuked her, Meriana-san didn’t listen.
「I don’t mind but…. Please be careful okay?」
Since I think it’s useless even talk, I submissively handed it over.
「Thank you. Oh, it’s quite heave ne.」
Well that’s because, it’s a lump if iron so…
「Oh~, it’s single edged? Ah, it’s the glyphs. I wonder what’s written?」
「It’s 『Fixing』 and 『Sharpness』 you see.」
「Heeh. Ahaha, what a weird shape~.」
She drew it from the sheath, then swung it around with a hum
「Wait, isn’t that dangerious? Stop it.」
「Tsk, oka~y.」
After getting scolded by Mary-san, she stored away the katana while sulking.
She’s a childish person ne…
After our talk, since the time to switch had pa.s.sed before we realized, I decided to go to bed.