While I was busy getting the manor in order, three familiar boys and two girls about the same age came by.
「Migis, Razul, and Bobus, was it?」
「Yes. Thank you very much for what you did back then!」
Oh. Even I am surprised I remembered. It was only a one-night, two-day connection, after all.
「You are very polite. Just what I would expect from kids who stick with Rondario-san」
They are nothing like that trio from Rydand. They must have been well taught by Rondario-san and the others.
「So, what brings you here today? Did you come with a request?」
「No. We want you to make us contracted members for goblin extermination」
That is what Razul said. Looks like he is the leader.
「The word has already reached the town of Mars, huh. I do not mind, but are Rondario-san and the others okay with it?」
They were not exactly exclusive, but it is true they were treated kindly. They even went along as porters. Is it really fine for them to branch off?
「Rondario-san and the others recommended that we become contracted members. They said it would be better if we are going to act together」
Ah, well, that does make sense. If they are kept as reserves, Rondario-san’s group would have more tactical options. And if we let them exterminate goblins and earn money, we can make them buy food as well.
「Alright. I will make you contracted members. Sierra, sorry, but please make a roster for them. Once they are registered as contracted members, I will go do a bit of goblin extermination」
「Understood. If possible, please capture a few. I would like to become a contracted member as well」
Ah, right. It would be strange for someone working at the guild not to be a contracted member. Whether they actually go out or not is another matter, but maybe I should register everyone as contracted members.
「Then I will take Miriel with me」
There is no way I can capture even one goblin by myself. I will bring the one in charge of putting them to sleep.
I called out to Miriel, who was in training, and prepared for goblin extermination.
After equipping the VHS-2 and returning to the manor, the roster for the three was finished, and I made their contracted member cards and handed them over.
「Are you all okay with not going home for about two days? If so, we will head out on an overnight goblin extermination」
「We are fine! Rondario-san and the others went to Rydand on a request」
Huh. So Rondario-san and the others went to Rydand as well. Well, they cannot keep doing goblin extermination forever. As Silver-seal adventurers, they are in a position where they have to take on regular requests too.
「Alright, let’s go. Over to Miriel──oh, I still have not heard the names of the girls」
I forgot there were two girls with them.
「I am Ryouna」
「I am Ruka」
The one holding a bow is Ryouna, and the one dressed like a mage is Ruka.
「Ryouna is our childhood friend, and Ruka is Zora-san’s daughter」
「Zora-san has a daughter!?」
Age-wise, it would not have been strange, but I never imagined he had a child. Was he raising a kid while working as an adventurer?
「Thank you for taking care of my father. I am his daughter, Ruka」
「No, I am the one who should thank him. Are you a mage too, Ruka?」
「Yes. I am learning under my father」
Oh. So they are parent and child, but also master and apprentice. That feels like something out of a drama.
「What kind of magic can you use?」
「I mainly use wind magic, but against monsters I often use fire arrows and magic arrows」
Come to think of it, Zora-san used those as well. As expected, rear support tends to rely on arrows.
I want to ask more about magic, but the manor is still not fully in order. I will treat this as training for the boys and girls and as the first job for the contracted members.
I attach the trailer to Number One, load the boys, and set off.
「Where are we going?」
「Beyond Lasagna Village」
I learned this recently, but the abandoned village where Ladarion and I met is connected to Lasagna Village, and there is a road leading there.
Well, since there has been no traffic for decades, the road is in terrible condition and collapsed in places, but I have hired idle giants to repair it.
They only started about two days ago, so I did not think they would have made much progress, but they had easily covered ten kilometers. Seriously, the speed of giant labor is unreal.
「Ladarion!」
I have Ladarion and Marg handling the repairs, doubling as guards and taking care of goblin extermination as well.
「What is it?」
I thought they were heading into the forest, but they were reinforcing the ground using large trees.
「I have made these kids contracted members, so this is training for goblin extermination」
I explain to the now smaller Ladarion.
「Where is Marg?」
「There was a deer earlier, so he went hunting」
I wondered if it was safe to let a six-year-old go alone, but apparently a grown-up who can properly use a bow went with him.
I can clearly feel Marg’s presence. He is roughly two kilometers away. Well, for a giant’s legs, two kilometers is basically nearby.
We park the Pioneer in an open area and head into the mountain opposite from where Marg is.
Well, when I say head in, with Miriel here we are only going to cross one ridge or so and lure the goblins out.
I have the boys and girls scatter processed meat, and after waiting an hour, I can sense goblins gathering from all around.
I have Miriel climb a tree and scatter processed meat around the area.
「Miriel, I am counting on you」
「Yes. Leave it to me」
We move away from the area for the time being.
Miriel’s sleep magic is far more powerful than I expected. When she gets serious, she does not discriminate. Even allies within a fifteen-meter radius will fall asleep. With a magic stone, it can apparently reach up to thirty meters. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to those who helped with the experiments.
For safety, we move fifty meters away and have the boys and girls spread out.
Goblins begin to gather around Miriel, and once it feels right, I blow the signal whistle.
As Miriel’s sleep magic is released, the goblins’ presence shrinks as if ripples were fading away.
「Quickly hunt down any goblins that did not fall asleep! The sleep magic is still active, so do not enter the affected area!」
The duration of the sleep is about five to six minutes. If you enter the area, you will fall asleep.
I also stay cautious and, to prevent frenzy, call in surströmming to overwrite the smell.
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