Ch.394Chapter 394 – Information Gathering (1)

In front of the snowy field we need to reach lies the territory of the Lizardmen.

I asked, feeling a headache coming on from the information Beatrice had brought.

“But surely the Lizardman tribe isn’t the only one there?”

Bestia was by no means a small country, likely due to the diverse beastkin living there.

Perhaps there might be a way to move while avoiding the Lizardmen’s territory.

When I asked with that thought in mind, Beatrice fortunately nodded.

“Fortunately, no. The bears and rabbits we saw on our way here also have territories in that area, as far as I know.”

Apparently, there were also smaller tribes, but those three were the major tribes settled in that area.

“Then we could use them to avoid the Lizardmen. This should be easy to resolve.”

“…I don’t think it will be that simple.”

In response to Sia’s words, Sera spoke with a troubled expression.

As everyone’s attention focused on her, Sera nodded and began to speak.

“According to that stronger Lizardman woman, the Lizardmen are currently waging something like a conquest war, right? If that’s the case, they’re probably either picking fights with neighboring territories or have already expanded by conquering them.”

I nodded at Sera’s words, which subtly included the admission that she was weaker than the other Lizardman.

Considering what the Lizardmen had said, it wouldn’t be strange if they were picking fights everywhere.

“If they’re causing trouble all the way to Bestia’s borders, they might have already conquered that area.”

Based on what I’d overheard in the streets, Lizanis was treated almost like a strategic weapon in Bestia.

She wasn’t one to avoid fights either, so it wouldn’t be strange if she had conquered the surrounding territories.

Even if that wasn’t the case, there was a high probability that they were fighting here and there, so it seemed difficult to avoid encountering Lizardmen altogether.

If we’re unlucky, they might try to drive us away because our relationship with the Lizardmen is awkward and they don’t want the burden.

It seemed like it wouldn’t be as easy as Sera suggested.

“…But with three Great Warriors, what are the other two doing?”

“I don’t know. They could be busy defending their own territories… or they’re not interested… or they’ve already been captured as prisoners…”

Sera narrowed her eyes as she spoke.

“Or maybe they’ve stepped back because of some other matter.”

At the very least, it seemed like the other Great Warriors had no intention of stopping Lizanis.

“We should gather information first. Discussing here only means we’re making assumptions based on outdated and fragmentary facts.”

Ive spoke quietly.

“We have today. Since it’s a dangerous place, let’s stick together and gather information rather than splitting up.”

“Let’s divide into two groups: one to guard the carriage and one to gather information.”

Sia was suggesting that we prioritize safety while gathering information.

“How do we divide the personnel?”

“Helmet. You decide.”

Beatrice looked at me as she spoke.

Surprised by the sudden nomination, I noticed Ive quietly looking at me.

Not just her, but everyone else was nodding, indicating that dividing the group had become my responsibility.

Ive opened her mouth.

“Please, Kay.”

“Alright.”

With everyone’s permission, I carefully divided the personnel.

+

“This is unexpected. You bringing me along.”

Beatrice, walking beside me, spoke as if surprised.

And on the opposite side, Sera looked up at me and asked.

“Aren’t you taking Ms. Ive with us?”

“I wanted to bring her since she’s skilled at negotiation, but that would leave too few people guarding the carriage.”

I looked down at Sera as I spoke.

“Besides, even if we need to negotiate, Ive said that with you and me together, we should be fine.”

“If you trust me that much, I’ll do my best.”

Sera said with a smile.

Currently, there were three of us here: me, Sera, and Beatrice.

Ive, Chris, and Sia were guarding the carriage.

“If the carriage faces danger, Ive will likely notice, and with Sia there, they won’t be outmatched in combat, and Chris’s holy magic should allow them to hold out until we return.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if I stayed?”

To Beatrice’s question, I casually replied.

“You’re the most knowledgeable about information among us.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Beatrice narrowed her eyes and smiled.

“I’ll take that as a sign of trust.”

Beatrice said that on her own and turned her head with a smirk.

Sera pressed closer to me while looking at Beatrice with suspicion.

Seeing the beastkin around us watching and talking about us, I quietly asked.

“Should we first look for merchants or information brokers?”

“Generally, yes. But not the back-alley information brokers. I don’t have particular connections with this country’s brokers, so just making contact would take time. It’s better to avoid them as we might be taken advantage of.”

At Beatrice’s words, Sera expressed curiosity.

“Does just meeting them take time?”

“Yes. Especially the more informed brokers tend to hide in back alleys and are cautious. Plus, the contact methods vary slightly by region and country.”

Beatrice said, narrowing her eyes.

She must know the rules or procedures from her time as an information broker.

“I wasn’t planning to go to the back alleys anyway since they’re dangerous. Let’s walk around the streets and inquire.”

Beatrice grinned and pointed to a shop.

A muscular dog beastkin could be seen heartily grilling what looked like some animal’s leg and passing it to another beastkin.

As if something came to mind, Beatrice smiled and said.

“Let’s eat that first.”

“…Aren’t you not hungry?”

“I’m not hungry, but it’s necessary for gathering information.”

Beatrice said, making a slight excuse.

“Besides, merchants’ tongues loosen when their pockets get a little heavier. Trust me?”

“Is that so?”

“That’s how it works. The guild mistress gave us spending money, so let’s use it now.”

Since we had collected a lot of money from the beastkin here, Ive had given us quite a sum to use as information fees, with the remainder as spending money.

For reference, I didn’t usually receive pocket money from her, but since we had collected so much money from the beastkin this time, she, who managed our finances, had given us money for information fees and told us to use the rest freely.

“Or do you dislike it, Helmet?”

“It’s not that.”

“Eating something delicious with beauties on both sides while strolling through the streets. Isn’t that what men like?”

“No, you… hey!”

I couldn’t respond to Beatrice’s words.

While I was about to answer, Beatrice had subtly linked her arm with mine and pressed close.

I looked at Beatrice with a slightly flustered face, while Sera watched her with vigilant eyes.

“…Just kidding.”

Beatrice chuckled and moved away.

Sera quietly addressed Beatrice.

“Ms. Beatrice. Surely not.”

“I just got caught up in the atmosphere of this place.”

Beatrice winked at Sera.

Sera was about to say something, but Beatrice immediately approached her and started whispering something.

“I’m just saying… sometimes I get the chance… just the two…”

“No, I didn’t particularly… want that…”

“Let’s move on… when I’m on watch…”

“…Then… besides me, are there others…”

Sera’s expression changed moment by moment, eventually looking like she was hearing something enticing.

While she seemed somewhat resolute on certain points, not willing to yield, she also appeared pleased, as if making a good deal.

Anyway, we couldn’t just stand here forever.

“If you’re going to keep at it, should I go buy that grilled meat?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. Then please get my share too…”

“Sorry. I’ll ask you for a moment, Helmet. I’ll keep a good watch on our surroundings, so don’t worry.”

Beatrice said with a smile, as if finding something amusing.

“Sera is quite loyal, so we’re having quite an interesting conversation.”

Beatrice looked at me with a fierce smile.

…While I don’t think she’d do anything harmful to me, maybe I should be a bit cautious.

So I briefly separated from those two and got in line to buy the grilled meat.

As soon as I lined up, I noticed another beastkin lining up behind me, as if they had been waiting. I sharpened my senses to prepare for any surprise attack while quietly waiting for my turn.

As luck would have it, they had just run out of freshly grilled meat, and the owner asked us to wait a moment while he went to the back of the shop to get new meat.

‘This might take a while.’

I didn’t mind waiting, but I hadn’t expected the ingredients to run out just as I was waiting.

Standing quietly in line, I touched the sword at my waist.

‘This reminds me of old times.’

I remembered when Haben would touch his weapon as a warning to nearby merchants and adventurers when we left the New Kingdom with Ive.

What I’m doing now probably looks similar.

Especially to the guy behind me who seemed to be watching me cautiously after lining up right after I did.

“You’re quite vigilant, aren’t you?”

I only turned my eyes to look at the voice from behind.

A man with black hair, large horns, and round glasses was looking at me.

‘…Sheep? Goat?’

I thought he might be a sheep beastkin.

But looking at his face closely, his eyes were closed.

‘…Is he pretending not to notice?’

He seemed to have noticed that I was on guard.

When I deliberately turned my head forward as if ignoring him, his voice immediately followed.

“I believe it’s courtesy to look someone in the eyes when they speak to you.”

“Oh, they were open.”

I thought they were closed.

He must be squinting.

Soon, the man smiled and waved the long staff he was holding.

“I see I’ve been misunderstood. …My eyesight is poor, so I’m constantly squinting.”

So the glasses are just for show.

While I was looking at the man with disbelief, he smiled and said.

“Please don’t be so guarded. The meat this owner grills is quite exquisite. The wait itself is quite an ordeal. That’s why I wanted to chat with the person in front of me.”

“I’m not interested.”

“Don’t be like that. Humor me, will you?”

I turned away from the man.

And, as if determined to get my attention, the man spoke in a voice just loud enough for only me to hear.

“You who are rumored to have defeated Lizanis, from another world.”

I immediately changed my expression and looked at him.

He smiled and said.

“…How did you know?”

“Well, the famous adventurer who defeated Lizanis is a helmeted human male, and right in front of me…”

“I’m asking how you knew the term ‘another world’.”

I gripped my weapon tightly, preparing for any eventuality.

The man smiled and raised his hands.

“Ah, I surrender. Surrender. I’m not your enemy. Please don’t be so guarded.”

“How can I trust that?”

“Is asking for your trust… not enough?”

The man said with a smile.

As I slightly gripped my weapon, he immediately waved his hands and said.

“Alright. I’ll stop joking around.”

“Tell me. Who are you?”

I asked, still wary of the man.

“First, please call me Noah.”

The man with round glasses smiled kindly and said.

“I’ve come to meet you following the words left by the First Sword Saint.”

+

“I wanted to go, you know.”

Ive, who had become the one to guard the carriage, muttered softly.

Beside her, Chris also nodded and said.

“I wanted to go too.”

“…Both of you, take it easy.”

Sia said with a smile, as if she couldn’t help it.

“Kay left us behind because he trusts us. Let’s live up to his expectations.”

“…Well, it is the lady of the house’s job to guard the home.”

Thinking of it that way seemed to ease her mind a bit, as Ive’s face brightened slightly.

Looking at such an Ive, Chris quietly asked.

“Will they be able to get what we need, like maps and information?”

“Of course.”

Ive smiled and said.

“Whether by luck or their own skill, they will surely bring back the information we need.”

Ive spoke without a trace of doubt.

To her words, Chris quietly asked.

“You sound so certain. Perhaps…”

“No, I haven’t seen anything.”

Ive smiled in response to Chris’s question about whether she had seen the future.

“But one doesn’t always need to see to believe, right?”

“That’s right.”

Ive and Chris answered with a smile.

They both believed without a doubt that those who went to gather information would return with results.

Looking at the two women, Sia smiled gently and said.

“Then our role is to guard the carriage well and welcome them back.”

“Just standing guard feels a bit… I’d like to prepare something…”

As if wanting to make an effort to welcome them back, Chris spoke quietly, lost in thought.

“Refreshments would be nice… if Sera were here, she would have prepared a delicious meal to welcome them, but she went with them…”

Then Chris suddenly looked at Ive as if something had occurred to her.

“Oh, Guild Mistress. Are you good at cooking?”

“Cooking?”

“I just realized I’ve never seen you cook… I can only do prep work or make porridge…”

Chris said with embarrassment.

“Since you’re good at everything, Guild Mistress, I thought maybe cooking too…”

“I see.”

Ive smiled softly.

And as Chris waited for an answer while watching Ive quietly turn her head, she asked.

“Um, Guild Mistress?”

“……”

Ive had her eyes closed, as if she hadn’t heard.

But in Chris’s eyes, a hint of suspicion appeared.

‘It feels like she’s avoiding answering.’

Come to think of it, when Ive had prepared the carriage, for some reason all the cooking utensils she had prepared were completely clean.

‘…Could it be.’

Just as Chris’s suspicion was about to turn into certainty, Ive narrowed her eyes.

“We have visitors.”

Ive raised her sword.

“Get ready. I thought we’d be safe, but it’s time to work.”

At Ive’s words, Sia and Chris also changed their expressions and entered a combat stance.

Shortly after they prepared for battle, after a brief moment.

“A failure, huh.”

Muscular, broad-shouldered bear beastkin appeared, sighing as if they had originally intended to ambush them.

Each one was approaching with weapons in hand.

“Are we surrounded?”

“No. That’s all of them.”

Ive said quietly.

“But they outnumber us, so be careful.”

“Mm.”

In response to Ive’s words, Sia quietly addressed the bear beastkin.

“What’s your purpose here, bear?”

“I’m carrying out the chief’s orders.”

Perhaps the leader of the beastkin.

A larger bear pointed his weapon at Sia and spoke quietly.

“He ordered us to respectfully escort you.”

The bear beastkin spoke quietly.

Sia’s expression turned slightly mocking as she spoke.

“How very respectful indeed.”

“Come quietly.”

The bear beastkin said while pointing his weapon at Sia.

“If you follow quietly, we’ll guarantee your safety.”

“Ha.”

Looking at the muscular bear beastkin, Sia began to laugh in disbelief.

The sight of them pointing weapons while claiming to come respectfully felt like a provocation to Sia.

And the bear beastkins’ actions were also a provocation to Sia in another sense.

“Even considering my injuries, coming at me with just this many is ridiculous.”

The number of bear beastkin that appeared was about ten.

From Sia’s perspective, it was a woefully inadequate number to face her.

“You’re underestimating me too.”

Sia quietly drew her greatsword.

The bear beastkins’ expressions turned grim, and Sia spoke with a cold expression.

“Let me teach you how to know your place, cubs.”

“…Capture them!”

The bear beastkin charged at Sia with a roar.