The first thing the three of them bought was shoes. Why?
「The shoes you are wearing, Takato-san, we thought they looked cool and wanted them」
The shoes they were wearing, or rather sandals, were made of leather and had no protection or shock absorption at all. I am honestly impressed they managed to walk around in those.
「The knife you have on your boot looks cool too」
The boot knife is partly for emergencies, but more importantly, it works as a barrier so my ankle does not get bitten clean off.
「Come to think of it, do you guys not use swords?」
They had knives at their waists, but the blades were not even twenty centimeters long. Were they really planning to fight with that in an emergency?
「Yes. We fight with these」
He said that and took off the whip attached to his horse.
「Huh. You fight with whips」
I thought they were a mounted tribe, but they turned out to be cowboys. Or maybe natives?
「Yes. Wolves are common around here, so when we cannot take them down with bows, we fight with whips. The knives are for butchering」
Different places really do mean different customs. Maybe I should buy a whip for Marg as a souvenir from Rydand.
「Also, buy underwear and socks. If you are dirty, girls will not like you」
They smelled too, like they had been wearing the same clothes for days. If they are goblin extermination contractors, they should put some effort into their appearance.
I taught them how to search for underwear, socks, soap, towels, and similar items using the contractor cards.
「Let’s head back soon. Sorry, but guide me to the adventurers’ guild」
I had a rough idea of where it was, but having a guide was better. Getting lost would just be annoying.
「Understood」
With Vice and the others running ahead, we headed for the adventurers’ guild.
After about thirty minutes, we arrived at the capital and reached the adventurers’ guild inside the city walls.
It was a two-story stone building, smaller than the adventurers’ guild in Koraus. More like a branch office.
「Does Rydand have few adventurers?」
「I am not sure. We do not know other places」
That makes sense. They said they had only been adventurers for about a year. It would be stranger if they knew the outside world well.
It was almost four in the afternoon. I thought about waiting while drinking some coffee, when Kainzel-san arrived.
「Good work. Did anything happen?」
「No, nothing. I heard you went goblin hunting?」
「Yes. We were asked to make these three into contractors, so I took them out to teach them」
I gave him a brief explanation.
「I see. Well, the liquor you sell is tempting. Dyne and the others must have thought hard about it」
As expected of Kainzel-san. He saw right through their plan. Honestly, if they could not see that much, they would just be fools.
「Then, shall we go?」
Carrying the Roselan magic stone and the parchment the Guild Master had written, we went inside the building.
The inside was also about the size of a town branch. There were fewer than ten staffs, and only three at the counter. It was not a busy hour yet, and there were no adventurers around.
I went to the counter, told them I was an adventurer from Koraus, requested registration, and once that was done, handed over the parchment written by the Guild Master.
「Please wait a moment」
The female clerk took the parchment into the back and returned with an elderly man. He was apparently the Guild Master of Rydand.
「So you are Takato, eh. I have heard the rumors」
「Half of those rumors are exaggerated, so please do not believe them」
「I see. It seems your absurd level of humility is true」
Did he even write that on the parchment?! I seriously need to learn how to read, or I am going to end up buying some suspicious jar someday!
「It is not humility. It is just that my ability does not live up to the reputation. I am not shameless enough to boast that I can do things I cannot」
Of course, I will make an effort when something must be done, but being asked to do things beyond my ability is a problem. The idea that effort lets you do anything is a fantasy. There are things you cannot do no matter how hard you try. In that case, change the person or change the method!
「I see. You are a tough one. No wonder Cyrus-sama takes an interest in you」
So please stop putting me on a pedestal! I am an utterly average guy, chosen by that useless goddess precisely because of that!
「We will be staying in Rydand for a while. If you have any information on goblins, could you share it with us?」
「So the title of Goblin Killer is no lie」
The Guild Master glanced at Vice and the others, who were laying goblin ears out beside him.
「Goblin hunting is about the only thing I am good for」
Even that ability was not exactly something I was generously given. At the very least, could I get a skill that marks goblins on the world map? Actually, mark all monsters while you are at it.
「We appreciate anyone who hunts goblins, but we may run into a budget shortfall」
So even here there is no money to spare for goblins. Humanity is going to get reset by that useless goddess at this rate.
「If you do not pay what needs to be paid, it will be too late. This world has a Demon King, after all」
「So it seems. I will have to report this to the Count」
Please do not overestimate me in that report. If you dump some troublesome request on me, I am running.
「Also, please buy the Roselan magic stones」
「That reminds me, there was an incident at Mirand Pass. You defeated them?」
「I do not know if we wiped them out completely, but we killed six. I would like you to buy five of the magic stones」
I placed the Roselan magic stones, packed in a cardboard box, on the counter.
「If funds are tight, I can reduce the number」
「No, that will not be a problem. Blue magic stones sell immediately」
「To the church?」
「Yes. For the church, blue magic stones are necessary to enhance their authority. They will buy as many as they can get. Of course, it is also profit for the guild. We will purchase them anytime」
He inspected the stones and handed over three gold coins. Even then, he could apparently sell them to the church for more. Then send that money to orphans instead of letting the church skim it. Seriously, the church is garbage.
「Let us talk about goblin information in the back」
「Understood. You three, use your own ingenuity to hunt goblins. As long as I am in Rydand, I will listen if you need advice」
I parted ways with Vice and the others there, and headed into the back with Kainzel-san.
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