「I’m Takato. My work is exterminating goblins. I’ve decided to take you under my care. If you object, you don’t have to come with me. Decide before noon. Also, be aware that anything I provide will disappear after fifteen days due to magic.」
I told the dwarves that.
It must be difficult to hear something like that so suddenly, but I cannot afford to take things slowly either. I have a lot to do. If they do not want to follow me, then that is the end of it.
「We will follow you! Please, save us!」
The man who had been wielding the axe moved first and knelt in a deep bow in front of me. With that body of his, kneeling like that must be tough.
「Please save us!」
The others followed and also began bowing deeply.
「I will only give you work, pay you wages, and provide a place to sleep. If you want to be saved, then do your best with your own strength.」
Do not treat me like some kind of savior. I do not have that kind of charisma or leadership.
I ordered three machetes and two tactical tomahawks that I had bought as a test and handed them to the dwarves.
「Make do with those for now. Once we reach a town, we’ll get proper equipment.」
Dwarves have a different body build from humans. Even the tracksuits in size 3L were stretched tight on them, and their shoes would not fit either. It would probably be better to find equipment in town rather than searching through things from my original world.
「Also, someone take this.」
I handed the unused KSG shotgun to a large-built man.
「What’s your name?」
「Gato.」
「Alright, Gato. That’s a shotgun. I’m lending it to you, so learn how to use it.」
We went outside the fortress where I gave him a quick lecture on how to use it and had him fire about thirty rounds.
「Practice with it for a while.」
I ordered a bucket filled with ammunition.
「Yes! I will master it!」
He seemed to like it and was full of motivation. Do your best.
We continued preparing for departure and arranged water and food for those who would remain at the fortress. Canned goods and dried giant bread and things like that.
「I intend to return within fifteen days, but please secure more food just in case we cannot come back.」
I informed Barit-san, the representative of the adventurers remaining at the fortress.
Barit-san holds an Iron Seal and has been hunting around this fortress for decades. Apparently, he has stayed at Miroid Fortress hundreds of times.
「Yeah, understood. But if the goblins come flooding in, we’ll run.」
「Yes. Please do that. The goblins are our prey.」
If they end up nesting in the fortress, that would be the ideal situation. We could throw in tear gas and then pick them off as they run out through the gate.
We departed from the fortress at eleven thirty.
We skipped lunch and instead ate small portions during breaks along the way, arriving at the town of Mars a little after sixteen.
「Rusul-san. We’ll take our leave here. If nothing happens, we’ll return within fifteen days.」
「Understood. Please be careful. If you tell the inn my name, there will be no problem.」
We parted beside the guild branch and headed to an inn that Rusul-san had introduced, one that could accommodate a large group.
The inn was the type where sleeping together in a shared space was the norm, so we rented the large upstairs room, the most expensive option, for two large copper coins.
「Is this cheap?」
The empty room was about twenty tatami in size and not particularly dirty, but six thousand yen for one night felt questionable.
「Well, it’s not cheap, but there are inns that dislike outsiders or other races. It’s probably more like Rusul’s name and two large copper coins made them keep quiet.」
「Did you have trouble finding inns too, Mishinie?」
「In the town of Korel, there was an inn run by elves. I’ve never had trouble finding a place to stay.」
Living among humans must be difficult for other races. Actually, besides elves, beastkin, and dwarves, are there other races too?
「Well, for now let’s get something to eat. Bisha, take care of the women.」
It might sound rude to say this about Bisha, but she is surprisingly attentive. She was even changing the baby’s diapers. She will probably become a good mother someday.
When I entered Home, Ladarion was there, maintaining the MINIMI.
「Did something happen?」
Three MINIMIs that had been placed on the shelf were gone.
「A herd of Mokudan appeared.」
「Any injuries?」
「None. We took them all down. But we used quite a lot of ammunition.」
Ten box magazines for the MINIMI, each holding two hundred rounds, were gone. I usually kept thirty in reserve.
「Well, as long as no one is hurt, that’s what matters most. I’ll restock them.」
My remaining funds will drop below three million yen, but this is not the time to be stingy. Times like this are exactly when preparations should be thorough.
I bought more box magazines for the MINIMI, shotgun shells, and Glock ammunition.
I brought out giant bread, bulk sausages, a large pot, and a cassette stove. To help them relax, I also brought out some boxed wine.
「I-Is it really alright for us to drink wine?」
「It’s fine. This is cheap wine, and you’ll probably only get about two cups each. Whether you can drink more in the future will depend on how well you work.」
「Yes. We will work hard.」
The dwarves bowed deeply again. It must be part of their culture, but it still leaves me with an unpleasant feeling. It makes me feel like some kind of scumbag.
「Mishinie, have you ever been to Mirond Fortress?」
「Yeah. I know it. I’ve been there several times.」
「Sorry, but could you head there tomorrow morning? I’ve got a bad feeling about this.」
Whenever I get this bad feeling, it means the goblins are making some kind of move. That useless goddess is definitely messing with me again.
「If you say so, Takato, I’ll go. Looks like it might be a good chance to earn some money too.」
I envy that kind of positivity.
「Mebi, you go with her. Leave markers along the way to Mirond Fortress.」
「Got it. Bisha, make sure you protect Takato properly.」
「You don’t have to tell me that. I already know.」
No matter what, I’m always the one being protected. Well, whatever.
「You lot. Once you’ve eaten, wipe yourselves down and go to sleep early. We’ll be walking for another half day tomorrow.」
Well, the women and children will ride in the Pioneer, but the men will be on foot. As for me, I’ll be the driver.
Leave a Reply