Another new morning arrived. A morning of a hangover.
……I got carried away and drank too much……
Adults are creatures that slyly and messily experience hangovers over and over. Honestly, humans are foolish beings who never learn.
「Did Mishinie go back?」
I looked around and saw only Bisha and Mebi sleeping in the beds. It seemed that Kainzel-san had returned to his own room.
「……Haa. Ever since coming to this world, I really have been drinking more……」
I understand the feeling of not being able to get through things without drinking, but if I do not rein it in a bit, I feel like I will die young.
When I returned to Home, both Miriel and Ladarion were asleep. Wait, it is only five in the morning. I woke up really early. Maybe I passed out early too.
I went into the unit bath and took a hot shower. After feeling refreshed, I drank some water. Ah, water tastes amazing on a hungover morning.
I sat absentmindedly in the floor chair for a while, then Ladarion got up, followed by Miriel.
It seems they also went to bed early and ended up waking up early. It is not a job that allows for a well-regulated lifestyle.
It was still too early for breakfast, so while drinking coffee, I told Miriel about today’s plans.
「They finished leveling the grounds, and it seems they are starting construction today」
「They work fast. At this rate, it might be finished by the time we get back」
「That might be the case. Romy-san’s father and his three apprentices are there, and people from the village are helping too」
「Will we run out of alcohol?」
We have already put out quite a lot of alcohol, scaled up to giant size, and even added a large batch of umeshu. If that many people are there, we will definitely run out.
「Gorg-san is providing it, so it is fine. He also said that payment can wait until you get back, Takato-san」
「I see. Well, I think we will be back within ten days at the latest. If it is finished, tell them we will hold a thank-you party」
「Yes. I think everyone will be happy」
I talked with Miriel until breakfast time, then bought onigiri, hamburgers, sandwiches that could be eaten right away, and even a whole pot of family restaurant corn soup.
「Ladarion. Let’s go」
When we went outside carrying breakfast for three people, Bisha and Mebi were already awake, and Kainzel-san and Mishinie were drinking coffee.
We held a breakfast meeting, rested at an easy pace until eight thirty, and then set out.
「Kainzel-san. I’m counting on you」
「Yeah. If nothing happens, we’ll be back in three days」
After seeing the three of them off, we also checked out of the inn and headed for Dyne-san’s place.
The Millet Company had already been up and running, and a wagon loaded with barrels was just heading out somewhere.
Barrels, huh. Come to think of it, my section chief was a mini barrel enthusiast. He let me try some once, and it had aged surprisingly well. Maybe I should try aging something in a mini barrel too, as a kind of wish. Ninety days later, please be delicious.
I asked a shop worker to call Dyne-san.
「We’ll be heading out for about three days. Is the schedule unchanged?」
「Yes. We’ll be staying another five days」
Then there is no problem.
「If anything happens, please send Vice and the others. The contract workers can track my location」
「Understood. Please take care」
We were seen off by Dyne-san and headed outside the capital.
「Bisha. You know you can stay behind, right? Mishinie is willing to take you on」
I am about to do marching training.
I thought this back when the king stood up as well, but I really lack stamina. That is why I decided to use this period for a two-night, three-day marching training.
But Bisha has more stamina than me and is good at walking in the mountains. There is no need for her to go out of her way to accompany me. She could stay in the capital and be on standby, just in case.
「No. I’m coming with you. I want to train too and get stronger」
Well, if she says she wants to do it, there is no point in turning her away. I brought the camping gear and had Bisha carry it.
「Are we just walking at random?」
「No. We’re heading west. Supposedly there’s a lake several dozen kilometers out」
Having no destination is its own kind of misery. A lake makes for a good goal. We will be going a bit into the mountains, so there should be goblins around.
…There might be monsters too, but if that happens, we will retreat immediately…
After walking about a kilometer, I set up a pole with a flag as a marker. Each one costs around two hundred yen, so it is not something to begrudge.
「Bisha. Keep an eye on the surroundings」
While she scanned the area with the binoculars I handed her, I checked our bearings and sprayed directional marks onto the ground.
Every kilometer or so, I planted another pole and drew the directions on the ground.
After ten kilometers it was noon. I had Bisha keep watch while I returned to Home and brought back lunch.
We ate while taking turns standing guard, rested a bit, and then set off again.
「Takato, wolves!」
I immediately brought up the VHS-2 and stood back to back with Bisha, scanning the area.
「Direction southwest. Five to seven of them. They seem aware of us」
I pulled out the monocular scope, shifted position, and looked southwest.
Sure enough, several wolves were watching us, but they were at least a hundred meters away.
「I’ll take the front. Bisha, keep an eye on the wolves while we move」
「We’re not taking them out?」
「If they attack, we will. But killing them won’t earn us a single yen. I don’t want to waste ammo. Still, maybe I’ll scare them once」
I drew my Glock and fired a single shot into the air. The VHS-2 has a suppressor on it, after all.
Startled by the noise, the wolves scattered and vanished.
「Bisha. There are more trees ahead. Stay sharp」
Your beastkin instincts are what will decide whether we live or die.
「Leave it to me!」
Relying on a twelve-year-old when you are thirty. Do not call it pathetic. I am not a superhero. I am just an ordinary man in his early thirties. I threw away my pride a long time ago in order to survive.
We continued forward, staying alert to our surroundings.
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