Chapter 147
“Good thing a last minute request popped up.” (Shizuma)
“Yeah. Umm…the Konkon Company? It’s an escort job for them, right?” (Melt)
“They said a transport job was suddenly approved, and they have to depart in a hurry.” (Shizuma)
While we were checking requests on our way toward Izbel, we found a guard request that had just opened, so we decided to take it.
It seems they’re a merchant company from outside Lindblum. They originally planned to transport their goods up to this city, but for some reason they ended up needing to transport the rest of the route themselves. They were now urgently looking for new escorts since their original guards already finished their contract and left.
“Isn’t this the Travelers’ Inn street? Commercial district? So it’s not over there, huh.” (Melt)
“Well, they’re not merchants from this city. They’re traveling.” (Shizuma)
“I see. So they came from somewhere really far away?” (Melt)
That’s probably the case. We also heard they came from the port…maybe they’re a foreign merchant company.
So we headed to the inn on Lindblum’s main street for travelers, where we were supposed to meet. —————–
Normally, you’d see travelers preparing for long trips on this street from early morning, and this time, the Konkon Company we took the job for was no exception. They were checking the cargo of their wagons in front of the inn.
It looked like a small caravan: three cargo wagons plus one carriage carrying merchants and spare drivers, making a pretty large group.
Guarding these four vehicles with just the two of us… That’d be quite tough.
“Good morning. Are you from the Konkon Company?” (Shizuma)
When I spoke to a man who was working, he immediately lifted his face and looked at us.
Oh, he’s a beastkin. Same as Melt…he looks like a fox-type beastkin.
“Oh! You must be the adventurers who accepted our request! Pleased to meet you. I’m Koyan, the person in charge of this caravan. I’m so relieved… With only one day of recruitment and immediate departure, I thought we wouldn’t find anyone.”
“I see. Looks like you have four wagons… Are the only guards the ones hired through the guild?” (Shizuma)
When I asked that, surprisingly…
“No, you two are the only ones from the guild. But actually, last night, someone on a nearby street kindly offered to take on a guarding role. They’ll be guarding us as well. So including you two, we’ll have six guards.” (Koyan)
Hmm… To accept a job without going through the guild, you normally need to be Topaz, and to take escort jobs you need at least Emerald… So these people must be fairly skilled, right?
“Well… According to the standards of this city, or more like, this country, normally…” (Shizuma)
I explained the basic rules of escort missions to Koyan-san.
However, it seems the ones who offered to guard them aren’t part of any organization like adventurers or mercenaries. That’s…something to be cautious about.
“Hey hey! What’s in this wagon? It’s super heavy!” (Melt)
“Melt…when did you get there…? Sorry, my companion tends to wander.” (Shizuma)
“Oh? Your companion is a foxkin girl? What a coincidence! Everyone in our trading company is a foxkin.” (Koyan)
Looking closely, everyone working on the other wagons also had fox ears and fluffy tails similar to Melt’s.
What a soothing group just to look at.
“Wow, it’s true! White foxkins, foxkins, black foxkins… That’s rare!” (Melt)
“I see you’re a white foxkin of a rare bloodline, young lady. And where are you from? The Sekiryo Country? Or could it be the Shiju region?” (Koyan)
“Uh… I’m from this continent. Born and raised here.” (Melt)
Hmm, countries I’ve never heard of. Must be beastkin nations. I’d like to research other continents someday.
“Oh! That’s rare indeed. It’s uncommon for foxkins to cross continents. Well then, for the next four days, please take good care of us.” (Koyan)
So we helped prepare for departure and headed out of the east gate toward Izbel.
—————–
“Um, those other guards…they never joined us after all. What happened with them?” (Shizuma)
“Well, apparently they said there’s a campsite up ahead where they’ll meet us.” (Koyan)
“Oh, that campsite? I’ve been there a few times.” (Melt)
“Yeah, we know the place too, so don’t worry.” (Koyan)
Melt and I rode beside the lead wagon, talking with Koyan-san while traveling.
Hmm… something feels off about this.
“Koyan-san. I don’t want to suspect people unnecessarily, but those guards might be suspicious. Wanting to meet specifically at a quiet campsite, not belonging to any guild or mercenary group… Also, the road to Izbel has a high rate of bandit attacks. Escort missions here are common.” (Shizuma)
“Oh, now that you mention it, when I took an escort mission before, I got attacked on the way back.” (Melt)
“Exactly. Despite how we look, Melt and I are among the strongest adventurers currently in Lindblum. We’ll stay alert, but please stay cautious too.” (Shizuma)
I warned him just in case. Still, with the number of refugees lately, some might be desperate for work. We can’t assume they’re criminals…but better safe than sorry.
—————–
And so, when we reached the eastern campsite and went to meet these alleged “guards”…
“The hell? So there’re other guards too? You can go home, we took the job first. We don’t need any more guards.”
That’s his opening line.
Well… the client should decide this, but we’ve already warned them. I should handle it.
“What’s a bunch of unregistered fakers saying? Want me to drag a guild official here? Escort missions can only be taken by Emerald Rank and above. You guys have the strength for that?” (Shizuma)
“Hah? I don’t care about your rules. I made a contract with this merchant as a person.”
“It’s reckless to travel a bandit-infested road with guards who have no ID or proven ability. He’s a merchant from another country…he wouldn’t know this nation’s system or its dangers.” (Shizuma)
“Quit yappin’, pretty boy. I said go home!”
…Fine. Then I’ll deal with them accordingly.
I caught the punch the man suddenly threw, then slammed him to the ground with full force.
I pressed my foot on his head as he fell and slowly increased the pressure.
“You idiots don’t even know how to read guild tags. I’m high rank…someone who doesn’t hesitate when life’s on the line. Amateurs or bandits or whatever you are…you’re not the kind who can handle me.” (Shizuma)
“Aggg… ag… gah…”
“Hey, you three. Move, and I crush him.” (Shizuma)
“Eek!”
Please don’t look at me like that, merchants…! These guys are probably part of a bandit group! They planned to pretend to be guards and attack together with the main bandit force somewhere on the road!
“Seimu…bad news! Looks like it wasn’t just three! I got caught!” (Melt)
“What?” (Shizuma)
Melt, who should’ve been waiting near the wagon, was grabbed from behind by another man, who pressed a knife to her.
“Get your foot off Bro! Or I’ll kill this woman!”
“…Melt, you can take him down.” (Shizuma)
“Eeh… you’re not going to help me?” (Melt)
She was just playing. Melt calmly slipped out of the man’s hold and walked back to me.
The man was already frozen stiff…his body encased in ice.
I see… She must’ve manipulated the snow into mist or water around him and frozen him.
“He resisted, so…you get this. That makes four left, right?” (Shizuma)
Thus, we handed over the four suspected bandits…and one corpse…to the campsite staff.
—————–
“Thank you so much… I now fully understand how careless I was… This was my first time leaving my country, and I was chosen as a caravan leader for the first time. I should’ve studied this nation’s safety and regulations more thoroughly…” (Koyan)
“Yeah. Honestly, you were in the wrong this time. We’ll be taking an additional fee since actual combat occurred. Normally we’d also require compensation for putting my partner in danger because of your mistake, but we’ll overlook it. Just be more careful next time.” (Shizuma)
“Y-Yes… But you two really are strong… Seimu-san, was it? Both you and Melt-san… Natural magic users are extremely rare in my country.” (Koyan)
“Is that so? Hmm…” (Shizuma)
Right now, Melt was following behind the caravan on horseback, staying alert.
From here on, we need to stay cautious.
“When we arrive, I’d like to hear about your country. We hardly get information about foreign lands. Consider that our compensation instead.” (Shizuma)
“You truly mean that!? Understood. Ask me anything once we reach Izbel!” (Koyan)
Well, that’s a good compromise. Originally, I could’ve just forced the issue with the staff and ignored the campsite entirely.
The first day ended without further problems after crossing a flat road, and we set up camp for the night.
—————–
Day two.
Today we enter the mountain path, so we need to be more alert.
According to Melt, she wasn’t attacked last time on this mountain road, but at a ridge road near a cliff further ahead.
So today, she’ll get off her horse and move through the forest, scanning the surroundings with magic.
“By the way, when we departed, Melt touched the cargo and said it was heavy. What’s inside? Iron or ore?” (Shizuma)
“Yes, it’s ore. My country’s specialty. Blacksmiths love it. It’s used for alloy materials. You can apparently create rust-resistant, lightweight alloys with it.” (Koyan)
“Ooh!”
Like stainless steel? I’m not knowledgeable about metallurgy, but hmm.
Blacksmithing… Maybe I should try switching to my Blacksmith character at least once.
Honestly, the Blacksmith class skill wasn’t that powerful among crafting classes. Chef and Musician were broken, but Blacksmith had the rather plain skill [Double Strength].
It only had one effect: “Halves the required level needed to equip gear.” So you could use strong gear early, but once you grew stronger, it became pointless.
…But if in this world [Double Strength] worked literally…
Maybe I should try it once.
—————–
After a bit more travel, we exited the mountain and reached an area with sparse trees.
Preparations for lunch began since visibility was good here.
The caravan was experienced in long expeditions, so I wasn’t dragged into helping with cooking, and with the open area, I had some free time.
“I should’ve brought a book like Melt…” (Shizuma)
A little away, Melt was sitting as if watching the opposite side…but was actually reading a book.
I wondered what she was reading and approached…
“! Who! Don’t look!” (Melt)
“Whoa! S-Sorry…” (Shizuma)
“Oh, Seimu. Then it’s fine. You wanted to see my book?” (Melt)
“Y-Yeah…” (Shizuma)
Was she reading something embarrassing?
But on the cover it said: [Alchemical Dream and Wish Manuscript].
Hmm…I think I’ve heard about this.
“This is an old book on alchemy. My grandma wrote it. Everyone says things like ‘it lists impossible ingredients’ and ‘potions that don’t exist,’ like a half-myth book.” (Melt)
“Oh yeah, I think I heard about that.” (Shizuma)
“But this one is probably the original she wrote for herself before it was published. So…everything is in here. Impossible potions, nonexistent materials, secret catalyst methods…everything. That’s why I can’t show it to anyone.” (Melt)
“That…yeah, I get why.” (Shizuma)
An original copy… So something like that existed.
And Melt has all that knowledge memorized.
She must’ve retrieved those books when we visited her home.
“Hmm hmm… I remember most things, but without a trigger, I get fuzzy. That’s why I brought it. And yeah…this might be useful.” (Melt)
“I see. I think this area is safe, but don’t get too absorbed in reading.” (Shizuma)
“Okay, I won’t.” (Melt)
I returned to my post. Time for lunch… What are they making?
Once we finish here, we’ll head into the complicated ridge path where the chance of attack increases.
Better fill up and restore strength.
“…Maybe this potion could… Ah, but no. The ingredients are all too rare…” (Melt)
Melt was absorbed in a certain page: a potion named “Secret Elixir That Instills Life Into Matter.”
She secretly set creating this potion as her personal goal for a certain purpose.
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