「Takato-san. Please wake up」
I thought I was just resting a bit, but it seems I fell completely asleep. Miriel shook me hard until I woke up.
「S-sorry. Has the acting lord arrived?」
「Yes. I escorted her to the manor dining hall and served alcohol and snacks」
Then she must have arrived about thirty minutes ago. If this were some stuck-up noble, I’d have been beheaded. I don’t know if beheading is a thing here, though.
「Tell them I’ll be there right away」
Good thing I showered earlier. If I had put it off, I would have greeted them while smelling like sweat.
「Ah, leave your weapons behind. If something happens, Miriel should return to Home. I’ll have it ready at the entrance」
I have the Aport Watch, but I want to avoid using it if possible. I want to keep it as a trump card until it is exposed.
I put on clothes that look as non-combat-oriented as possible and limit my concealed weapon to just the push knife on my belt. Having nothing at all would make them suspect I have a hidden trump card, so it is better that they know I am carrying something and stay cautious.
After getting ready, I head outside and walk toward the manor.
I expected her to bring guards, but she brought nearly twenty soldiers. This has turned into a big deal.
…When calling in important people, preparation is necessary. Noted.
「Takato」
Kainzel-san was standing in front of the manor, fully armed. What is going on?
「I will be on guard duty. It is far too presumptuous for me to sit at the same table as Mishard-sama and Cyrus-sama」
Well, they were his superiors, even if in the past. It must be awkward. I also would not want to have dinner with the company president.
「Understood. Have Bisha and Mebi do the same. We had a spy around, after all. If something happens, it will be trouble for us and for Koraus」
I cannot take responsibility for that. So, we should be on guard to avoid having to.
「We will coordinate with the soldiers who came. You do not worry and just deal with Mishard-sama」
「I don’t want to deal with important people either」
It just makes my stomach hurt.
「Well, you are already the Guild Master of Sefuti Bullet. Do your job properly」
Ah, right. I became a Guild Master. I did not even realize it…….
「I’ll do my best somehow」
I do not want to die, and I do not want my companions to die either. Get serious and do it.
Perhaps under Miriel’s direction, LED lanterns had been placed around the manor. Thanks to portable batteries, the dining hall was bright enough to feel like we were inside a proper room.
……I should have brought out a generator too…….
「I apologize for not greeting you properly」
「No, it is fine. I was enjoying good alcohol and good food」
「I’m glad to hear that. I prepared plenty, so please enjoy」
I take my seat as well and reach for the food.
Mishido-san, who I cannot quite tell is a butler or an attendant, told me that excessive hospitality was unnecessary. Even so, to avoid being rude, I only had Miriel present at the table, while Ladarion stayed with the giants.
「Is the seasoning not too strong? If it is, I can serve something lighter, so please do not hesitate to say so」
The dishes are izakaya-style food. They should be strongly seasoned for people here. Then why did I serve them? Last time, the acting lord seemed to like highballs, so I chose stronger-flavored food to match.
「Ah, I am quite satisfied. Especially this dish where vegetables are wrapped in meat and grilled. It goes very well with a highball」
So the acting lord likes bacon-wrapped asparagus.
「I like this chicken. It goes well with cider」
I cannot tell whether this couple is similar or not at all.
「Ah, right. Miriel. Did you prepare meals for Mishido-san and the others?」
「Yes. I prepared them in another room」
Since we did not have a detailed discussion beforehand, I had not even thought about meals for the attendants. For the future, I should probably hire maids or something. I have a feeling the acting lord will be coming by fairly often.
「Thanks. Having you here really helps, Miriel」
I cannot pay attention to small details like that. Seriously, I owe Miriel a lot.
「No, I’m just glad I could be of help」
It feels like I will not be able to live without Miriel anymore. I really need to get myself together.
「By the way, where did Mishinie go?」
「She went out. She said this place does not suit her」
She ran away. Just having her here would be reassuring. If nothing else, it would help split the acting lord’s attention.
「She does have a free-spirited side. You handle her reins well, Takato」
Even the Guild Master worries about Mishinie. Just how bad is she?
「I thought goblin hunting was nothing but a hassle, but if I can eat food like this and drink good alcohol every day, I would want to hunt them daily」
「If you were in a position where that was allowed, that would be wonderful. Goblin exterminators are short-lived, after all」
A maximum of five years really kills motivation. If it were at least ten years minimum, I might feel more driven.
「Short-lived, you say?」
「After doing it myself, I understand it well. This is a job that makes you die young」
「It is just goblin hunting, is it not?」
「Yes. If it were only goblins that needed exterminating, maybe we would not die early. But that was not all we had to do. After all, a man who is supposedly just exterminating goblins is now sitting at the same table as the acting lord」
The more strength you show, the more troublesome people take notice of you and dump troublesome tasks on you. No matter how hard I try, I am just an ordinary man. If I push past my limits, I will die. I am not going to awaken some hidden power. Do not underestimate an ordinary man!
「What an ordinary person can do is increase the number of goblin contractors and protect himself」
Of course, there are other things I can do, and I will prepare stepping stones to survive. But right now, turning important people into contractors is the priority.
「I will continue capturing goblins, but if you want to eat good food and drink good alcohol, please ask adventurers to do the capturing」
They say luxury is the enemy, but to me right now, luxury is a weapon. A tool to motivate people.
「……I do not think you are as ordinary as you say……」
「I am ordinary. No matter how far I go」
Even ordinary people have their own way of fighting. Even if it is not pretty, I will cling to life and survive!
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