When I returned to the fort, the acting lord’s aide had arrived.
It was not even noon yet, and she was already here. On top of that, it seemed she had come alone without attendants.
「I’m Ichinose Takato」
I had not met her when I visited the castle, so I introduced myself.
「I am Mirold Shardman」
Her voice was calm, and her eyes were those of someone who fought.
Perhaps because of her elven blood, her body was as slender as Mishinie’s, but I could tell for certain she was stronger than me. She might even be as strong as a Gold Seal.
「Mirold. Let’s finish this before the sleep magic wears off」
「Understood. I would like to bring fifty back, so please help」
There was no reason for me to chat with Mirold-san, so I left the rest to Cyrus-san. I gathered everyone and started cleaning up.
──Pi-roon!
Haah. So the voice in my head was starting again.
──Congratulations on surpassing fifteen thousand kills! As a special reward, I shall give you valuable information! This winter, Mysenz is highly recommended! There are lots of goblin nests there～(*＞∇＜)ノ
If devils truly existed in this world, please appear before me now. If I could put a bullet through that useless goddess’s head, I would sell my soul and anything else.
「…T-Takato-san, just now…」
「A compulsory order from the goddess」
I knew it somehow. If I refused, she would absolutely send me there.
I pulled out my flask and drained it in one go. My precious Johnnie Black had no taste at all.
「Takato-san, you’re drinking too much」
「If I don’t drink, my mind won’t hold together」
Right now, whiskey was my tranquilizer. If I did not get drunk, my sanity would collapse.
「Miriel」
「Understood──」
My consciousness cut out, and when I opened my eyes, I was in my room at the manor. Huh? What? Wait… Was that a dream?
「…That was a terrible dream… no, it wasn’t. That useless goddess’s announcement and that stupid emoticon are burned into my mind…」
I got out of bed, reached for the plastic bottle on the table, and chugged the water in one go.
「…Mysenz, huh…」
Since that useless goddess said winter, I had no choice but to leave the simple fort to Cyrus-san and go.
「More importantly, where the hell is Mysenz? Give me some map data」
I finished another bottle and let out a deep sigh.
You always see people smoking in war movies, and now I understood why. They used it as a tranquilizer.
That said, I still had no intention of smoking. If I ruined my lungs and could not run anymore, that would be a problem.
「──Ah, Takato. Looks like you’re awake」
Misaro came out from Home.
With a tray piled high with onigiris.
「Ah. So next is onigiris」
「Yes. I just can’t make delicious salted onigiris no matter what I do」
She was aiming for something simple yet at the very peak. Just do not start saying you want to cook rice in a traditional pot next.
「Can I have one? I’m so hungry I might pass out」
「Not just one, eat plenty. Shall I make some rolled omelet too?」
「No, I want pickles. Go buy some takuan」
I had enough rolled omelet for a while. Right now, I wanted salty pickles.
「Understood. Takuan──」
She disappeared into Home, and after a while Miriel and Sierra entered the room. At least knock before coming in.
「Takato-san, are you alright?」
「I’m fine. What happened to me?」
I remembered being at Miroid Fort, but why had I woken up back at the manor? Other than the useless goddess’s words, I could not remember much.
「You collapsed from exhaustion. Azur Rise-san carried you back to the manor」
Azur Rise did? I owed him for that. Maybe I should hold another dessert buffet for him.
「Umm… the acting lord’s… what was it again? I feel like someone came and I met them…」
What was it? I vaguely remembered some slender woman.
「The acting lord’s aide, Mirold Shardman-sama」
「…Ah, ahh, I remember now!」
The half-elf woman as slender as Mishinie. Not that I could say that out loud. Mishinie was in the room.
「The goblins… they must have killed them」
My reward money had increased. It was a little over 3.8 million yen now.
「Sierra. Do you know where Mysenz is?」
「Mysenz is the name of a forest bordering Count Ashikka’s territory. From Koraus, it would take about five days by carriage」
That answer came from Mishinie. As expected of an adventurer. She was well informed.
「Once preparations are complete, we depart for Mysenz. We’ll take the Pioneer and the Wolverine, so six people… no, I’ll bring out the KLX too, so seven. Sierra, appoint an acting manager of the manor. I’m taking you to Mysenz」
I wanted her to carry the funds available for the manor, and I had promised her before.
「I’m going too」
「Me too」
As soon as Mishinie and Azur Rise spoke up, everyone else started shouting me too, me too, us too.
「We still have the simple fort, so I can’t take everyone. We’ll be in Mysenz through the winter, so we’ll rotate people in shifts. First, we’re going with seven to build a base and investigate」
If we were rotating people, then I would take Kainzel-san. We would need to cut trees, so Ladarion too. Sierra and me made four. Mishinie as guide made five. Then I would take two dwarves as stay-behind support.
And that was how I ended up spending until night convincing everyone.
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