When I arrived at the guild branch in the morning, everyone had already gathered.
「That’s quite a crowd you assembled.」
I said up to twenty people, but isn’t there around thirty here? Did I overpay by offering ten silver coins?
「Good morning, Rusul.」
Even though he’s the deputy branch chief, he looks perfectly natural in adventurer gear. I thought he was the intellectual type, but maybe he used to stand on the front lines.
「Good morning. You’re right on time.」
I had lent Rusul the wristwatch I used before. In Koraus they rely on church bells to tell the time, which is really inconvenient.
「Where I come from, people are strict about time, so keeping it has become a habit.」
I’d like to live freely without being bound by time. Though right now my life is bound to that useless goddess.
「Still, you gathered quite a lot of people.」
I thought he’d gather younger adventurers, but there were older ones than me and even some women among them. Men and women of all ages, it’s quite a broad profession, being an adventurer.
「Yes. I thought we might as well repair the road to the fort while we’re at it. I took the opportunity to piggyback on your request, Takato-san.」
「I don’t mind you piggybacking on it, but is ten silver coins enough?」
In my mind, ten silver coins equals about 100,000 yen. Making nearly thirty people work for five days with that amount, black company bosses would envy that kind of deal.
「No, of course that wouldn’t be enough, so the guild covered half of it. The Yamaguro’s magic stone sold for a high price, so we were able to allocate some budget to fort repairs.」
They already allocated the budget even though the Yamaguro was defeated so recently? Is that even possible? This isn’t an organization known for quick action. They were dragging their feet even while knowing goblins were increasing.
「…Was there already a plan before this?」
Otherwise, there’s no way they could have arranged a budget so quickly. That means they sensed some danger and already needed to repair the forts.
「…No wonder Mishard-sama keeps an eye on you. You really are someone who cannot be taken lightly.」
No, that line should be mine. You definitely guided this whole situation, didn’t you?
Which means Lot is also one of Cyrus-san’s, no, the acting lord’s, people.
I thought it was just Dyne-san, but you’ve even placed people among the staff? I wish they’d stop these kinds of schemes. Though… since I do similar things myself, I guess I’m not in a position to complain.
「If you’re going to use someone, at least tell them the reason. Otherwise, they might do something unexpected.」
I’m not angry about being used. That’s just how people in power operate.
If they want to use me, I’ll gladly become a gear in their machine.
A golden gear, irreplaceable, one that, if removed, would stop the machinery of Koraus itself.
「…………」
「Communication is the key to getting along.」
I don’t want to oppose the acting lord. I’m simply saying we should build a wonderful relationship where we use each other and get used in return.
「…The Demon King’s army has become more active. Towns in a neighboring country have reportedly been attacked.」
Ah… so the Demon King’s army is involved after all.
That useless goddess said something about making the strong face the threat, but since we exist in the same world, there’s no way we could avoid getting involved forever. At some point we’d cross paths,
…Actually, we already have. Seriously…
「I see. Then we need to strengthen our defenses while we still can.」
Or rather, shouldn’t they increase the number of soldiers? Giving a random homeless person a sword suddenly wouldn’t make them useful.
「You seem very calm.」
「I already cried and panicked more than enough before. There’s no point making a fuss now.」
The part where I caused a great flood is a secret. I still have a little pride left.
「Well then, you pursue your objective, and we’ll pursue ours. Let’s cooperate peacefully.」
In the end, the goal is the same.
Let’s join hands and accomplish it together.
「…You really are something…」
「Let’s call it even between us. Now, shall we depart? Please handle command of the adventurers. I’ve never led a large group before, and I don’t know the repair plans for the fort. Oh, and don’t worry about food, we’ll provide it.」
If we can repair a fort for just ten silver coins plus food, that’s a bargain. The Adventurers’ Guild can handle the organization.
「Understood. Actually, we’ve already sent a few people ahead. Could we also have Mishinie go ahead? We’d like to make the route safer.」
「Mishinie, can you handle it?」
「Leave it to me. Bisha, Mebi, don’t stray from Takato.」
「Got it.」
「Leave it to us.」
It sounded less like “don’t get separated” and more like “protect him.”
Well, having the beastkin sisters with their sharp noses and eyes nearby is reassuring, so I’ll accept that explanation.
「We’ll guard the rear.」
「Understood. Barit! Move out!」
He gave orders to a man around forty. First a fully armed team set off, followed by a team carrying supplies, then another group leading three horses loaded with cargo.
「This is pretty serious.」
They didn’t really have to piggyback on my operation, yet they deliberately did. Is there some reason they had to? What is it?
「Bisha, watch the rear. Mebi, watch the flanks. Keep an eye on the treetops and the sky too.」
「Got it. Are we exterminating goblins along the way?」
「No. We won’t kill them. We want to draw them in. If they become cautious and run away, that’d be a problem. When we strike, we’ll wipe them out all at once.」
This Great Goblin Extermination Operation is meant to artificially trigger their frenzy and then annihilate them in one sweep. For that, the preparations have to be done properly.
「Alright. Let’s go.」
The time was 7:08 AM.
We set out toward Fort Miroid.
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