We were led to a reception room of sorts and given information about the goblins.
「So there has not been much damage」
There were goblins around the capital. Livestock had been eaten by the higher species, maanu, but it had not reached a serious level. There were no reports of children being eaten. Just annoying pests. That seemed to be how they were viewed here.
「Around here, wolves are a bigger problem. No matter how many times we drive them off, they keep coming back. Still, their pelts sell well, so it is a mixed blessing」
「Do wolves not attack goblins?」
「They seem to taste bad, so they do not bother attacking them」
With tasty sheep around, there is no reason to eat foul-tasting goblins.
「However, we have been hearing reports from the east, near the border with Baron Marsez’s territory」
I took out my sketchbook from my backpack and drew Koraus and Rydand, marking the reported sightings. The locations formed a route along the mountains from where the king had appeared.
「Did the remnants escape?」
We did not wipe them out completely. More than two hundred escaped. Those survivors could have regrouped and produced a new boss. Or perhaps, without someone to lead them, they scattered.
「Any information on damage?」
「Nothing detailed. That area is made up of small villages, and there is no guild branch there」
Apparently, this is the only Adventurers’ Guild in Count Rydand territory. Even though he is a count, he is a frontier count. Among counts, his status is said to be low.
「What is the difference between a margrave and a count?」
Sorry for the basic question. I was born in a democratic country.
「Margrave Koraus is of royal blood. In terms of rank, he would be just below a duke」
That was Kainzel-san’s explanation.
Then what about the acting lord? Or did she marry the Guild Master and become a commoner? But she is still acting as lord, so maybe she did not step down? What is going on? In a society with rigid class systems, it is hard to know how much you can ask. I do not want my head chopped off for disrespect.
「So that is why his territory was so vast」
That means frontier regions are generally like Count Rydand territory.
「Kainzel-san. Could you take Ladarion and Mebi and go check it out? If there are a lot of them, I will head there in winter」
Distance-wise, maybe forty or fifty kilometers? Depending on the roads, the Pioneer should be able to make it in half a day.
「Understood. I will go as soon as tomorrow. I will scout the area for about two days」
「Please do. Bisha and I will cover this area」
We can go over the details after we get to the inn.
「Guild Master, thank you very much. This was very helpful. If anything comes up, I will consult you again」
「Yeah. Come anytime. If goblins decrease, that helps us too. Those things are annoyingly troublesome」
That annoyingly part is what really gets on your nerves.
After thanking the Guild Master, we left the guild.
Kainzel-san led us to the inn, and we found Mishinie and the others in the dining hall. So we were staying at the same place.
「Already having a drinking party?」
「This employer is generous. We are getting paid even while staying in Rydand」
「That is nice. Do not blow all your pay on booze」
There is no entertainment here. Drink, buy things, or gamble. That is about it.
「Aren’t you drinking, Takato?」
「We are having a meeting first. We will drink after」
Tonight is decided. Ume-sour, simmered beef tendon, and kushikatsu. Nothing else is acceptable.
「Mind if I join you? It is hard to drink calmly here」
「I do not mind. But bring your own alcohol」
Being a woman alone, it must be hard to drink at ease. Kainzel-san and I both prefer to drink at our own pace. We are not the type to get distracted by women.
…Well, having a beautiful woman around does make things livelier, though…
「I know」
First, we decided to gather everyone in the large room we rented and hold a meeting.
Mebi looked half-asleep and not really thinking straight, but I left everything that happened while we were apart to Kainzel-san. With him as the leader, he will not push things too hard or do anything reckless.
I told them that we would split up again tomorrow and discussed the main plan.
「If you feel it is dangerous this time, you can withdraw. If you cannot pull back, we will go support you. Contact us through Miriel. I will also return to Home from time to time」
「Yeah, I will not push myself. Pulling all-nighters really wears you down」
True enough. I do not want night shifts either.
We went over what happened after we split up at the plaza. Information about Rydand, information outside the capital, rumors about people, things about Vice and the others. We shared everything we had learned.
「Count Rydand territory feels mostly peaceful」
There is no sense of an approaching crisis, nor anything strange happening. The only issue is that trade with Koraus is being disrupted by the Roselan. Around here, people seem to think of it as just one of those things again.
「Yeah. It really shows how much of a crisis Koraus was in. If Takato had not come, it might have been destroyed」
「That is an exaggeration. You had the Gold Seal and the Guild Master. You would have gotten through it」
An opponent I could not beat even if I fought with everything I had. At least, they would not have lost.
「Well, let us wrap up the meeting here and start drinking. Ladarion, help me set things out」
Tonight’s dinner was the all-you-can-eat izakaya course for five thousand yen. Everything on the menu comes out, which makes it great. Of course, it includes simmered beef tendon and kushikatsu.
「Being with Takato is great because we always get good food」
「Alcohol costs extra, you know」
With alcohol included, it comes to six thousand yen. When I was twenty, it was five thousand for all-you-can-drink and all-you-can-eat. Prices really have gone up.
「Yeah, yeah, I know. Alright, let us drink. Cheers!」
Mishinie started right away. Seriously, such a live-for-the-moment way of life.
Once the dishes were all set out, I made myself an ume-sour and toasted to the fact that I survived today.
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