Without any trouble, we caught sight of Miroid Fortress just before noon.
「So it’s up on the mountain.」
Well, you probably can’t spot enemies without a clear view, but walking for half a day and then having to climb a mountain on top of that really wears down your spirit.
The adventurers weren’t voicing any complaints, but their fatigue showed on their faces and in their movements. At least it wasn’t just me being soft.
「Takato-san. Are there goblins around?」
「Yes, there are. But not in that direction. Something else is there.」
The goblins in that area feel frightened. That kind of presence only appears when something vicious is around.
「Bisha, Mebi. Go check it out. You don’t have to force yourselves to defeat it. You can even lure it back here if needed.」
Those two don’t look tired at all. I can’t help but envy them.
「Got it. I’ll be the decoy.」
「If we’re going to finish it off, let me do it!」
Saying that, the two of them disappeared into the trees.
「Rusul-san, you and the others should go inside first. Once those two return, we’ll start preparing the meal.」
Just because I said we would prepare the food doesn’t mean they came empty-handed. They should have brought some emergency rations and water. For now, please manage with that.
「Understood. Please be careful.」
After seeing Rusul-san and the others off, I also climbed up to the middle of the mountain.
Since the season was shifting from autumn to winter, the weeds around the fortress had started to wither, and the trees scattered here and there had already lost more than half their leaves.
The mountain where the fortress stood had a high elevation. By the time I reached the middle, the surrounding mountains were already below us.
「Hmm. If we want to drive the goblins into a frenzy, it has to be done at the foot of the mountain?」
Even if we scatter processed meat from the fortress, it doesn’t seem like the goblins would smell it from that distance and come running. We’ll probably have to gather them at the base first and then lure them toward the fortress.
The path leading to the fortress is narrow. It isn’t wide enough to drive the Pioneer through.
This is basically a mountain trail.
「Should I buy an off-road bike?」
Even so, I only have experience riding scooters. I don’t have the courage or the skill to ride up and down slopes this steep.
「Hm? Looks like those two started fighting.」
I heard the gunfire of the P90.
They were only supposed to scout, yet they were clearly going at it with the intent to completely take it down.
Well, you can’t become stronger without risking something. I’ll accept it as a necessary expense for getting stronger.
After about ten minutes, the gunfire stopped. A little while later, I sensed someone running toward us.
「Takato, we got it!」
Mebi came running while holding up a purple magic stone.
「Good work. What was it?」
I had her place the magic stone into my backpack.
「There was one big Mokudan! It had a club.」
A club? It had one? Isn’t that a special variant?
「Were there any others?」
「Nope. Just one big one.」
If Bisha says so as well, then it must have been alone. A stray, maybe?
「Got it. How much ammo do you have left?」
「It was strong, so I almost used it all.」
They properly recovered the empty magazines, so I called over magazines with bullets and left the empty ones back at the home.
「Alright. Let’s head to the fortress.」
We headed toward the fortress while keeping watch on our surroundings.
「They built something surprisingly sturdy here.」
It was constructed with stonework. Around it was a moat about two meters deep, and the walls were roughly three meters high.
It must have cost an absurd amount of money to build. What a waste. Are the lords of Koraus always idiots generation after generation? I honestly don’t understand how their line has continued.
The gate was left open and was only blocked with a simple lattice of wooden beams. If a Mokudan showed up, it looked like it would be destroyed in a single hit.
When we entered, there was an open square with a few rotten huts and shacks.
No, they were just there. That was all.
Wait, that’s it? There was supposed to be a proper building in the center according to the map, right? Where did it go?!
「No wonder they abandoned this place so easily.」
It’s just a fortress surrounded by walls, and there isn’t even a well. Do they carry water up from the foot of the mountain? With this setup, they couldn’t even hold out under siege. Ah, so that’s why there were three people carrying barrels! But wait, are three barrels really enough?
「……..I’m starting to feel uneasy….」
If there’s anyone who could stay positive after seeing this, I’d like to meet them. To the lord who abandoned this place back then, I’m sorry for calling you incompetent. That was the correct decision.
「You really thought about repairing this place.」
If you want to make it usable, it’s going to cost a ridiculous amount of money. The acting lord actually approved it. Where did they even find the budget for that?
「I’ll bring out some food from the home. Lay out a sheet.」
After securing a place to go in and out, I entered the home.
At the entrance, giant-sized bread baked by the giants was piled on a handcart.
To keep food costs down, I had asked Miriel to have the giants make bread and bring it into the home.
「Did Kainzel-san and the others reach Milond Fortress already?」
Several of the plastic tanks that had been lined up were gone, and the ingredients and large stockpots had also disappeared. It should have taken two days to get there.
Well, that can wait. I pulled the handcart and went back outside.
After transferring the bread onto the sheet, I returned to the home again. I brought out giant-sized bacon, giant-sized instant corn soup, a giant-sized jar of honey, giant-sized instant coffee, and more.
「This is incredible.」
Rusul-san and the others looked astonished at the amount of food, enough to last for dozens of days.
「I used a little trick.」
I enlarge the food using the power of the bracelet, and if either Miriel or I carry it into the home, the food stays enlarged. Of course, once it’s enlarged it takes up space near the entrance, so we have to divide it into portions before bringing it in.
「First, let’s fill our stomachs. There’s plenty, so eat as much as you want.」
And after that, they’ll be doing plenty of work.
Leave a Reply