We arrived in Rihar Town and headed for the town hall.
After crossing the moat and entering what looked like the town hall’s courtyard, it was packed with carriages. What is all this?
「They probably evacuated here. It happens often in Rihar Town.」
So this is a common sight. The people who live here must never get any peace of mind. If it were me, I’d either end up with a stomach ulcer or a receding hairline.
We parked the Pioneer in front of the guild branch. While Kainzel-san went in to report to the branch head, I quickly returned to the Sefuti Home.
Miriel wasn’t at the entrance. She was in the central room, washing potatoes.
「Miriel. Good work.」
「Ah, Takato-san. You’re back?」
「I’m in Rihar Town right now, reporting about the Mokudan. I think we’ll be able to return by evening, but Ladarion and two nyaada children will get back first. I’d like you to take care of them.」
「Nyaada…?」
Miriel tilted her head, apparently unfamiliar with them.
「From what Kainzel-san says, they’re like beastkin. It seems they were taken by slave hunters. I’ll explain everything in detail once I’m back.」
「Understood.」
I grabbed the tablet and bought donuts, some for a gift and some as snacks.
「Then I’m counting on you.」
Miriel saw me off as I stepped outside.
I don’t know if anyone noticed me leaving, but if they ask, I’ll just say it was magic. This is a world with magic, but nobody really understands how it works anyway.
I took the leather pouch filled with Mokudan magic stones and entered the branch.
Kainzel-san was nowhere to be seen, probably in the branch head’s office. With all the Mokudan trouble, there were few adventurers around, and the staff looked bored.
「I’d like to sell these magic stones.」
I placed my provisional adventurer wooden tag on the counter along with them.
「Takato-sama, correct? We’ve already heard from the branch head. Please wait a moment.」
「Ah, this is a little something for you. The other branches seemed to like it, so I thought it might suit your tastes as well.」
I don’t know how many people work at the Rihar Town branch, but thirty should be enough to go around. If there are too many or too few, please resolve it peacefully. I take no responsibility.
「Ah, thank you very much. It smells wonderful.」
The female staff stepped away, then returned shortly with a tray holding two gold coins and several dozen silver coins. Just how many are there?
「There are sixty-two magic stones. One of them is a large special variant, so the total comes to two gold coins and forty-three silver coins. Is that acceptable?」
I wouldn’t understand the breakdown even if she explained it, so I agreed and accepted the payment.
「Takato.」
Kainzel-san appeared with perfect timing.
「Finished with the report?」
「Yeah. Let’s head back.」
As I left the guild branch and was about to get into the Pioneer, the twin tax collectors suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Whoa!? That scared me!!
「「Please give alms to the poor children!!」」
「……Is the church really that poor?」
「「We can’t even buy our daily bread」」
Stop that perfect synchronization. Talk one at a time. It’s creepy.
「Learn to read, write, and calculate while you can still eat, and break free with your own strength.」
I dropped three silver coins into their box and got into the driver’s seat of the Pioneer.
「「Thank you, mister」」
I waved to the twin tax collectors, started the Pioneer, and left Rihar Town behind.
I drove while staying alert in case we ran into another special variant, but nothing happened, and we reached Lasagna Village safely.
「Good work. If it rains, we’ll take the day off, so please handle training again in the morning. The afternoon is free.」
I parked the Pioneer in the shed, handed over their share, and explained tomorrow’s schedule.
「Understood. I’ll refill the gasoline.」
「Thanks. Please put the guns back in the safe. I’ll take the empty magazines with me.」
I stuffed the empty magazines into my backpack and headed home.
The door made for Ladarion was wide open, so I went in through there and found the wives inside.
「Welcome back. Sounds like it was rough.」
「Yeah. It makes me hate my bad luck.」
I did make money, but you can’t buy ammo with gold or silver coins. I really want a way to convert it.
「Sorry to ask again, but could you build another house? I want those beastkin children to live there.」
When I tried to head toward the beastkin children that Ladarion and Miriel were washing in a tub, Romy stuck her foot out to stop me. Wh-what?
「Those two are girls」
I see. You don’t want unnecessary suspicions, so don’t get close. Got it.
「I see. Then it’s better to leave them to you two. Romy, I’m counting on you for that too.」
Female beastkin are nothing but a mystery lifeform to me. I’ll leave it to the adult women.
「That’s fine, but won’t you live together with them?」
「I’m not a man generous enough to take responsibility for everyone. Ladarion and Miriel are all I can handle.」
If you want to call me heartless, go ahead. I don’t want to carry other people’s lives just to look good. I’m already at my limit just thinking about how to get past the five-year wall.
「Women aren’t weak creatures who only get protected. Rely on those two more.」
This is why you can’t beat women. You’d think they’re some kind of ultimate lifeform.
「……Looks like Gorg found himself a good wife.」
「I’m the one who found a good husband.」
Yeah, yeah. Sure. Thanks for the show.
I snorted and walked away from the scene.
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