Chapter 161
March 10th. Since we were traveling on foot, it took longer than the trip out, but we safely made our return to Lindblum.
Melt said, “Maybe a lot of carriages will be passing along the way,” and sure enough, when we reached the mountain pass and looked down toward the Izbel side at the foot of the mountains, we could see a large number of carriages coming out. In the end, though, none of them caught up to us.
I was hoping that we might be able to hitch a ride if there was room for negotiation, but no such luck.
The reason being that this time, there wasn’t a single escort request or shared carriage heading from Izbel to Lindblum.
Melt also said, “There probably won’t be any requests using that road for a while,” but does she know something? Or maybe it’s just that rush of people heading home after so many had come to Izbel?
“…When you count the travel time and everything, we were away for a month and a half, huh.” (Shizuma)
“Yeah, the city looks like it’s calmed down a lot.” (Melt)
“It’s starting to get warmer, and the farmers will be getting busy with preparations, so maybe everything else settled down to match that?” (Shizuma)
“I see! That means we’ll get lots of food this year, right? Not just around this city, but the whole country!” (Melt)
“That’s how it should be. But at the same time…adventurers and mercenaries will probably get busy too.” (Shizuma) The restless atmosphere that had once filled Lindblum had faded. Instead, it was clear along the roads that things were getting busy again, centered around the farmers who supported the nation’s daily life.
People carrying farm tools, people leading livestock, and even some transporting materials that looked like fencing…probably to expand farmland.
The story that the land had become filled with the power of abundance was being accepted as truth, and the real joy and excitement would likely come during the summer harvest season or the autumn harvest festival.
I’m already looking forward to seeing what this country will be like by then.
“It was monster activity increasing, right? But I think it’ll be fine. At the very least, Golda seemed to be functioning properly. I’m sure Lendia will manage too.” (Melt)
“Yeah… If anything, the place we should be looking isn’t inside the country, but outside it.” (Shizuma)
“I see… Bubbly-san seems to be having a hard time with that too… Hey, you’re really not going to become a mate of Bubbly-san, right? It’s just pretend, right?” (Melt)
“Of course. I’m Melt’s family, after all.” (Shizuma)
“You can’t leave me behind, you know. Even if you do end up pairing with someone. You have to take me with you.” (Melt)
“I don’t think that time will ever come. I’ll stay with you forever, Melt… Alright, we’re about to get into a crowded area, so I’ll switch my tone back.” (Shizuma)
“Got it! Then, Shilent, shall we go stop by the Adventurer Guild?” (Melt)
“Yeah. You filed a notice that you’d be away from the city long-term, didn’t you, Melt? You’ll need to handle your return procedures too.” (Shizuma)
“Oh, right! What about Seimu?” (Melt)
“We’ll have him take care of it before we depart for the port.” (Shizuma)
All these troublesome bits could probably be resolved if I summoned everyone and gave them independent wills.
…It would be lively, and a lot of fun.
I can talk with everyone at the round table in my consciousness, but I want Melt to experience that same sense of security…being surrounded by many companions, almost like being with family.
I let myself dream of such a future as we headed for the guild.
—————–
When we entered the General Guild building, it was overflowing with more people than I had ever seen before.
But it didn’t feel like an uproar or an emergency. It simply seemed that a huge number of people had business there. Everyone was holding numbered tickets, forming long lines.
“Wahh! Even though the guild is so big, it’s packed with people! It looks like everyone’s lined up at the request submission counters!” (Melt)
“Seems so. As for us…we’re at the adventurer report counter, so the line’s shorter, but even so, it’s more crowded than usual.” (Shizuma)
We lined up, and Melt made her return report ahead of me.
It turned out that today as well, the clerk at the counter was the same woman who handled Melt’s guild registration.
…Now that I think about it, she was also the one who handled Shilent’s registration.
“Next, please.”
“It’s me. I’m here to report my return, and also to file paperwork since I’ll be leaving again for a while.” (Shizuma)
“Wa—Shilent-sama! We’ve already received notice from the state that you would be leaving Lindblum for an extended period, but you’re departing again?”
Apparently, word had reached the guild that I had taken part in the war and left the country, so I completed both my return procedures and the application to be away again.
Honestly, couldn’t I have just skipped the paperwork and disappeared again?
“The procedures are complete. A lot has changed while you were away, Shilent-san, but…”
“I’m aware of everything… Also, let Lemia know that I’ve returned. I owe her, after all.” (Shizuma)
This would likely inform the guild master of Shilent’s return as well.
Still was wary of Guild Master Bark-san, but as long as I’m registered as an adventurer, my information is basically an open book. That can’t be helped.
…If Lemia-san reaches out later, I should ask her what happened to Frerika, who was supposed to be imprisoned in the underground cells. If Still’s read was correct…she should have escaped.
After finishing the procedures, I looked around the guild again.
Most of the general citizens who had come to place requests looked -judging by their clothes and builds- like farmers or other people who worked outdoors.
Spring is just around the corner. Or rather, with temperatures already rising, it wouldn’t be strange for fieldwork to have already begun.
They are probably here to request help with farm work or to deal with monsters around their fields.
“Shilent, Shilent, what should we do next?” (Melt)
“Let’s see… I’ve reported my return, so everything that needed to be done ‘for now’ is finished.” (Shizuma)
In other words, it was finished as Shilent.
Maybe she understood that, because Melt said…
“Then, want to go check out the Adventurers’ Den? If you’re there, Shilent, any weird people will probably get scared and run away!” (Melt)
“I see. There was apparently some trouble before. Even if things are lively now, there might still be some issues left.” (Shizuma)
I dealt with Abyss Fang as Rue, the group that controlled the Underside of the city and caused a decline in public safety through kidnappings and intimidation.
It had been resolved, at least on the surface, but that didn’t mean no problems remained.
“Captain!? Captain Shilent!?”
That was when it happened. A voice calling my name rang out amid the bustling crowd…loud enough not to be drowned out.
I looked for the owner of the voice and saw a woman pushing through the crowd, running toward us.
If I recall correctly…Nemuri. She was an Emerald Rank archer who was assigned to my squad during the subjugation force.
“Nemuri. It’s been a while.” (Shizuma)
“It has! …No, more importantly, Captain, are you safe!?” (Nemuri)
“Hm? Did you hear something about me from someone?” (Shizuma)
“People heard from Busker that you went to the battlefield in that war. After that, no one could track your whereabouts, so everyone was looking into it. Some even said they saw someone who looked like you among the refugees… It wasn’t confirmed, but we were sure you were on the battlefield. Everyone was worried when you didn’t come back.” (Nemuri)
“I see. But…would people really worry that much about someone they only teamed up with once?” (Shizuma)
“What are you saying!? The fact that we accomplished that dangerous mission, that you defeated an overwhelming enemy like something out of a hero’s tale, and that you suggested we all share the spoils…those things are deeply etched into our hearts! You’ll always be our captain!” (Nemuri)
“That lass speaks the truth. We were moved by your overwhelming strength. Even I, who had grown weary of adventuring and battle, felt my blood boil again when I witnessed your power, Captain.”
Another person joined us.
He was…right, the elderly mage who had been part of one of the parties in my squad.
His name was… I unfortunately don’t know it.
“Oh, it’s Easton-san! Long time no see!” (Melt)
Melt, apparently knowing his name, greeted him cheerfully.
So it was Easton-san.
“Melt-dono, it has been some time. And Nemuri-dono as well. You’ve been busy, haven’t you?” (Easton)
“Long time no see, Easton-san. Yes, we’ve been taking farmland patrol requests every day.” (Nemuri)
“Oh! Is that because farm work is about to start?” (Melt)
“Indeed. I’ve recently retired from adventuring and narrowed my focus to the Scholar Guild, but…with the change in climate, it seems farm work needs to begin earlier than usual. Those who make their living through agriculture are all in quite a state. On top of that, the state is encouraging the expansion of farmland. The request fees for adventurers and mercenaries are being waived as a subsidy.” (Easton)
“Is that really okay? I’d expect complaints from the contractors or the guild.” (Shizuma)
“Of course, the state is covering everything. In my opinion, the rumors about the Core are true, and they intend to develop the nation in one fell swoop, even if it means scattering public funds. Fortunately, with victory in the war, there’s also tax revenue coming in from Golda.” (Easton)
“I see. Then this commotion and crowding makes sense.” (Shizuma)
“Precisely. Hm… Captain-dono’s return is honestly the happiest news I’ve had in quite some time. It would be a shame to end things here. Don’t you agree, Nemuri-dono?” (Easton)
“Absolutely! Captain Shilent! Let’s gather as many of the people from that squad as we can and let them know you’re back! We were really worried, you know!” (Nemuri)
“Hnn…”
“Hey, hey, Shilent? I think it’s fine. I was worried too, so I’m sure everyone else was as well.” (Melt)
“…You’re right. Then, Easton, can I leave it to you?” (Shizuma)
“Indeed. Nemuri-dono, may I rely on you as well?” (Easton)
“Of course! I know plenty of adventurers too.” (Nemuri)
And just like that, before I knew it, the topic of announcing my return had turned into going out to the Adventurers’ Den together with everyone from that squad.
…It’s true that word of me heading to the war would have spread through Killcrawler, and it’s true that I worried them. In that case, making it up to them by going out for drinks together sounds fine. I wanted to check on that place anyway.
—————–
In the end, most of the people who had been with us on that subjugation force mission were already at the General Guild, and just as we were about to lead the group to the Adventurers’ Den, Melt beside me poked my side.
“Hm?”
“Shilent, Lemia-san is here.” (Melt)
“Oh, I see.” (Shizuma)
I stopped and called out to the counter where she was.
“Lemia, I’m back. Thanks for the medicine!” (Shizuma)
When I did…
“Shilent-sama! Shilent-sama, is that really you!?” (Lemia)
She burst out from behind the counter at tremendous speed, weaving through the desks and crossing the crowded floor as if there were no people at all, until she reached me.
“Calm down, Lemia.” (Shizuma)
“Shilent-sama, are you truly alright now!?”
She was clearly not her usual calm self, asking in a tone filled with anxiety.
…I really made her worry… Still, that guy, he definitely did something unnecessary to break her heart even more.
“I’m fine. I heard you had Seimu bring the medicine materials. Thank you. I’ll repay this debt someday.” (Shizuma)
“A debt, no… Well, then… It seems you’re about to head somewhere as a group. May I accompany you?” (Lemia)
Huh, that was unexpected.
“We’re just going to eat. There were apparently people worried about my safety, so it’s partly an apology.” (Shizuma)
“Then I have the right to participate as well, don’t I? Please allow me to join you.” (Lemia)
Seriously? I never imagined her joining something like this…
In any case, with Melt and me, the members of the subjugation force, and now Lemia-san added to the group, we headed toward the Adventurers’ Den together.
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