「Damn it! I really want a GPS!」
I want to look for higher ground, but I don’t know the roads around here. If I keep going only to hit dead ends, I’ll get lost unless I keep checking my direction as I drive.
「This is 00. What’s the situation?」
「This is 01. I’m about to catch up.」
「This is 02. I’ve fallen far behind. They’re heading east.」
「00, acknowledged.」
I took out my sketchbook and drew Rihar Town, Mubando Village, and Brando Village, added the roads, and confirmed my current position.
「They’ve gone pretty deep. I’ll go back to the original road.」
I reversed, found a place where I could make a U-turn, changed direction, and returned to the main road.
「This is 01. I’ve caught up. Three Mokudan. One looks like a special type.」
Another special type? Is there a different group out there?
「Was that a SCAR gunshot?」
If it wasn’t a G3, then it must be Ladarion. When he turns gigantic, even the sound is incredible.
From Kainzel-san’s presence, it feels like he’s less than a kilometer away.
I placed the sketchbook map and compass down, aligned them to the north, and checked Kainzel-san’s position. It was to the east, slightly to the south.
「This is 02. I’ve caught up with 01. The special type was kicked to death. One had its upper body blown off. The last one is nowhere to be seen. It probably escaped.」
「00, acknowledged. Do you need support?」
「No need. Right now, 02 has made contact with what the Mokudan were chasing. Wait for a moment.」
「00, acknowledged. I’ll wait.」
I let out a long sigh, took a canned coffee from the apport pouch, and took a break.
「Huh? Made contact with what they were chasing?」
After catching my breath, I tilted my head at Kainzel-san’s report. That sounds like something you have to make contact with.
There was nothing I could do right now, so I decided to wait while drinking my canned coffee.
「This is 02. Secured safely. We’re heading back now.」
Secured?
「…00, acknowledged. I’m one kilometer northwest from 02.」
Kainzel-san can sense my presence as well, but I’ll guide him just in case.
「02, acknowledged. I’ve confirmed 00’s presence.」
About thirty minutes later, Ladarion returned at his normal size, carrying two small figures in his arms. Are those animals?
「Kainzel-san, are you hurt?」
「No. Ladarion took them down. We could only get a magic stone from the special type.」
He showed me a purple magic stone about the size of a fist. As expected of a special type. It’s huge.
「So, what did you secure?」
「Nyaada child.」
What? Nyaada? What is that?
「They are beastkin, so to speak. A small race that lives in the northern lands. They were probably abducted and brought here by slave hunters.」
So beastkin exist. What was that useless goddess thinking when she created beastkin? Did she want them to hunt goblins? Then don’t give them lives that get caught by slave hunters. What a waste of life.
「Did we stick our necks into something troublesome?」
Please tell me no.
「That depends on you, Takato. You can send them back to their homeland, abandon them here, use them for goblin extermination, or push them onto someone else. I will follow your decision. Once the Mokudan hunt is over, I am someone you hired, after all.」
I never wanted that kind of authority, but I can’t just throw them away either. What can I even do besides goblin extermination? Can I survive with a slow life in another world? Can I live if I just shut myself in? Am I supposed to find a different job after turning thirty? None of those lead to a bright future.
Considering the people and position I’ve gained so far, continuing goblin extermination is the only option. I need to grow stronger and prepare the situation so I can keep going.
「I’ll protect them for now.」
This isn’t charity. If the Nyaada child refuse to help with goblin extermination, I’ll abandon him. Someone who can’t even save themselves can’t afford to take responsibility for other lives. Even if I’m called cold-hearted, I think I can’t let that resolve waver. I need it to survive.
「Ladarion, carry the child and head back to Lasagna Village. You remember the way, right?」
We still have to report to Rihar Town, and we can’t go while carrying frightened, trembling child. He doesn’t seem afraid of Ladarion. Rather than taking him along, it’s better to have her head straight for Lasagna Village. With a giant’s stride, it shouldn’t take long.
「I remember.」
「Then I’m counting on you. I’ll let Miriel know myself.」
「Got it.」
We followed behind Ladarion for a while, then split off midway, with Kainzel-san and I heading toward Rihar Town.
「Do beastkin live in the Margrave Koraus Territory?」
「As slaves, I suppose. They aren’t a common presence in this country.」
He did say they were a minor race, and when I went to town, I only ever saw humans. Maybe this is a country with few other races.
「Oh, what about elves?」
I had completely forgotten about them. Mishiny was an elf, after all.
「There are quite a few. But their main base is Korel Town, so you won’t see many around here.」
「Is this country tolerant of other races?」
「Rather than the country, it’s probably the Margrave Koraus Territory itself. The marquis two generations ago got along well with the giant race and treated them favorably, and that likely drew elves here as well.」
The former Margrave Koraus must have been quite capable.
「If we’re going to look after those two, we’ll need backing.」
By backing, I mean status. To put it bluntly, something that shows they belong to me.
「Then why not establish a guild?」
「A guild?」
「A goblin extermination guild. You’d take goblin extermination contracts from the Adventurers’ Guild and set it up as a subordinate organization, so to speak. From the Adventurers’ Guild’s perspective, if someone handles goblin extermination for cheap, they’d be willing to act as your backing.」
I see. I’ll try talking to the guild master. If it doesn’t work out, I can always think of something else.
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