I pushed the eager-to-drive Kainzel-san toward the passenger seat and had Ladarion take the back seat before setting out.
Crossing the bridge cost two copper coins per person, but the Pioneer counted as a wagon, so it cost four coins. In total I paid ten.
It was a small expense for me now, but paying ten every single time felt wasteful. Maybe I should find a shallow spot to cross instead.
After the bridge, Misrim was less than two kilometers away and we reached it in about five minutes.
Most of Misrim’s buildings were wooden, and the town wall was made from logs.
It seemed similar in size to Mars, but this town had more people. There were many warehouses outside the walls. Ah, there were soldiers too.
「It is the food depot for Margrave Koraus’ territory. Soldiers are stationed here.」
「Shouldn’t something like that be built inside the city?」
「There is one in the city as well, but it cannot hold everything. That is why the rest is kept here in Misrim.」
I saw. That was how it worked. Not that I cared much.
Under curious stares we entered the town.
Kainzel-san knew where the Adventurers’ Guild branch was, so we would not get lost. Actually, it was right along the main street, so getting lost seemed impossible.
「The buildings are packed tightly together.」
The outskirts were not bad, but the closer we moved to the center, the more crowded the buildings became. A fire here would be a disaster.
「Misrim is the gateway to other territories. People coming and going end up packed together. It becomes chaotic and stays that way. There is nothing to be done.」
Whoever governed this place had their hands full. Urban planning should follow a plan.
「The guild branch is there.」
Kainzel-san pointed to an old three story building. It looked at least a hundred years old. Maybe they should move it somewhere else?
「There is nowhere to park the Pioneer.」
Could we leave it by the road? Would we get ticketed? A fine would be annoying.
「There is a ‘risho’ at the place where the hired carriages gather.」
‘Risho’? Whatever that was, I followed Kainzel-san’s lead. In a corner of a plaza stood a two story building with a stable. That seemed to be it.
「Here?」
「Ah. The outside requests are handled here, and Ride, the branch chief, is in that building.」
Would splitting the operations into two locations cause problems? Maybe, but since it worked for them I had no intention of complaining.
I parked near the stable and left Ladarion with the Pioneer before entering the ‘risho’.
Inside was about the same size as the guild branch in Mars, though this place had more staff. Maybe there was more work here.
It was not busy, so I walked to a counter and showed the iron tag I had received from the guildmaster.
「My name is Takato. I would like to meet the person in charge. Could you arrange it for me?」
The young male clerk asked me to wait and brought back an older man who looked like his superior.
「I am Magano, the director here. The branch chief has already spoken to me about you.」
「That helps. I was on my way to see the branch chief, but I had nowhere to leave my vehicle, so I came to the ‘risho’. May I leave it here?」
「Yes, you may. Misal, guide him.」
With the director’s permission, a female clerk named Misal accompanied me back to the Pioneer.
「Wh-what is this!?」
「A magic carriage.」
Please do not ask where the horse is.
I urged the shocked Misal-san along and had her show me where the Pioneer could be parked.
「Here, please take this for everyone.」
I took out five boxes of ten Mister-style donuts from my apport pouch and handed them to her. Gifts were important when dealing with people I would rely on. This kind of consideration paid off later.
…I should bring some to the city and to Mars next time too…
After sending unnecessary gear back to the Sefuti Home, I headed to the guild branch.
「It is lively.」
Maybe it was a caravan? Several wagons were traveling together. Distribution was active here.
I watched the town as we walked toward the guild branch. Oh? The usual tax collector who always lurked beside guild buildings was missing. There was no church either. Was God unnecessary here? Serves them right.
Smirking, I entered the guild branch.
Just as I had thought when walking past it, it looked small. This place felt more like a ‘risho’.
Only three clerks sat at the counter. Very small.
I showed the iron tag again, introduced myself, and was guided upstairs to the branch chief’s office.
Inside were Ride-san, a well-dressed middle-aged man, and a young man who looked like a staff member.
「Were you busy?」
「No. We were discussing the goblins. Since you have returned, does that mean you wiped them out?」
「There is no way I could wipe all of them out. Still, I think I took down more than a thousand but fewer than fifteen hundred.」
I think I did well considering how poorly I prepared.
「More than a thousand. As expected of someone who makes a living hunting goblins.」
「It worked out only because Kainzel-san was with me. If I had been alone, I would have run away.」
Well, if I had been alone, they would not have gathered like that in the first place.
「I defeated them deep in the mountains as much as possible, but monsters that scavenge corpses might show up. I also used a bit of poison, so please announce that no one should enter the mountains for a while.」
I took out my sketchbook, drew a simple map and showed the location.
「If I recall, Takato-san, you have a tool that tells direction. If possible, would you be willing to sell one to us as well?」
News travels fast. Do they have some kind of magical communication?
「Even knowing it disappears in fifteen days?」
「That is fine. We will buy more again.」
They are quite decisive.
「I bought something a bit expensive this time, so if next time is fine, I can bring a cheaper one.」
I took out a compass to show them.
「How much is this?」
「About ten copper coins. It will not break even if handled roughly.」
The ones from a hundred-yen shop are not durable. I bought a military model in case of emergencies.
「This is fine. Please sell it. Ten copper coins is cheap.」
Well, if Ride-san is fine with it I do not mind. It only cost a thousand yen.
「Thank you. Next time, please sell us about ten of the cheaper type.」
「Understood. I will bring them when I come next time.」
「Thank you. Will you be entering the mountains again?」
「No. I will be exterminating the goblins in the fields for a while. The guildmaster asked me as well. It will only be on sunny days though.」
「That helps a lot. Before harvest we get busy driving away goblins.」
They said the same thing in Buzz Village. Is this a seasonal custom in the Margrave Koraus Territory?
「Then I will come when it is sunny.」
I said that and left the branch manager’s office.
Posting daily is easy when you have material, but once you run out it becomes hell. But that is still a long way off.
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