The day to depart for the Count Rydand’s territory had finally arrived.
I, Kainzel-san, Bisha, and Mebi stayed at the inn. Ladarion entered Home from the gathering point in front of the Luraize Company’s warehouse, made sure he was in perfect condition, and everyone gathered before six in the morning.
Since we had already discussed introductions and the formation plan, we kept greetings brief, confirmed our numbers, did final checks on the cargo and wagons, and set out.
At the head was Pioneer One. The driver was Kainzel-san, with Ladarion as his assistant.
Next came two wagons belonging to Dyne-san. I had thought he was a solo peddler, but apparently he was a mid-sized one, managing two wagons and four employees.
After that were the Luraize Company wagons. Their representative, Margie-san, along with three employees, rode in them.
At the rear was Pioneer Two. I was the driver, with Bisha and Mebi as my assistants.
We matched the speed of the wagons, moving at five to eight kilometers per hour, so Kainzel-san at the front must have had it rough. If this had not been an automatic transmission, I would have been irritated too.
Even though Korel Town was only a little over ten kilometers away, it took us two full hours to arrive. Would it not have been faster to walk?
Like Misrim Town, Korel Town connected to lands beyond the territory, so it was quite large and seemed to have a lot of residents. Smoke was rising in several places. An industrial area? Even so, perhaps because of the Roselan, the town felt lacking in energy.
After passing through the town, we found eight Luraize Company wagons waiting outside, toward the road leading to the Count Rydand’s territory.
I left the merging of wagons to Margie-san and went to meet the adventurers led by Mishinie.
The adventurers hired as guards were Iron Seal rank and seemed to specialize in escort work. Under normal circumstances, I would have liked to hand over command to them. However, the leader of the caravan was Dyne-san, and the command of the guards was mine. That was how the adventurers had been gathered, so I had no choice but to take charge.
「I am Takato. I am officially treated as an Adventurers’ Guild staff and specialize in goblin extermination. My rank is Silver Seal. This is my first time doing escort work, but I will prioritize safety above all else. I would appreciate everyone’s cooperation」
「We will follow Takato’s instructions」
Mishinie immediately backed me up, so no one raised objections or resisted. I appreciate the consideration.
As decided during the briefing, I left the adventurers hired by the Luraize Company under Mishinie’s command, and we set out as soon as preparations were complete.
The time was just before nine. We took several breaks along the way, but if nothing happened, we should arrive before nightfall.
The journey itself was completely peaceful. I could sense goblins here and there, but according to Mishinie’s regular reports, there were no signs of dangerous monsters.
「Bisha. It should be about time. I’m counting on you」
「Got it. Leave it to me」
She jumped off the Pioneer, which was moving at about five kilometers per hour, and slipped into the mountains.
Making a twelve-year-old like Bisha do this might get me accused of child abuse, but whether it was because of daily meals or the abilities of a beastkin, her physical performance was astonishing.
She had already proven herself by escaping Mokudan when she was skin and bones, and since Bisha herself was motivated, I had her circle around behind the rocky area.
「Mebi. Keep watch on the surroundings」
「Got it. Leave it to me」
She moved from the passenger seat to the rear cargo bed and took up a guard position with the P90.
When we descended into the valley, we took a break. The drivers gave water to the horses, and the adventurers took turns attending to their needs.
There were not many, but I could still sense goblins nearby. Really, they are creatures that exist everywhere.
After the break, we reached the camp site at sixteen thirty.
The wagons were parked on the north side, the horses were tied near the river, and the drivers began giving them water and feed.
「Mishinie and the others, keep watch around the area. Kainzel-san, please rest. Ladarion, go eat in Home. Mebi, set up the traps」
After giving those instructions, I went to check what I had set up last time.
The fluorescent paint sprayed on the trees had scrape marks in places, and several goblins had died after getting tangled in the wires.
「So the Roselan didn’t come」
「It probably recognized them as traps and stayed away」
Whoa! You scared me! When did you get so close?! I thought my heart was going to stop!
「……Don’t sneak up on me like that. I’m hopeless against anything that isn’t a goblin」
「Sorry, sorry. So this was to test the Roselan’s intelligence?」
「I just wanted it to learn that if it gets caught in a trap, it can’t safely approach from this side. If it’s smart, it should learn that much」
If possible, I had hoped it might get fluorescent paint on its body and become easier to track, but that was probably too optimistic.
「What are you setting up next?」
「Something that makes noise」
I taped a security buzzer in place and set a string at about knee height. If something tripped it, the sound should alert us.
「We’ve blocked one of the four directions. I also set motion-activated lights by the river, so that makes two. If the Roselan attacks, it’ll be from the west or the south」
「It probably won’t come from the south. There are thorny bushes deeper in. The Roselan wouldn’t care about them, but it wouldn’t be able to approach silently」
「Then it’ll attack from the west」
The west side was mountainous with a very steep slope. It would be hard for humans to climb, but for a Roselan that runs through the mountains, it would be nothing.
「Did you give the earplugs to the Luraize Company?」
「Yeah. I told them to cover their ears if the Roselan attacks」
Let’s hope they follow instructions properly.
「I’m going to rest too. I’ll leave the rest to you」
「Yeah. Leave it to me」
One thing I realized I had grown accustomed to since coming to this world was that I could actually sleep even in a situation like this.
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