episode_0080

After Lernum and Hamil faced an unfortunate end at the hands of bandits, Ben, who was left alone, became increasingly timid and cautious, like a nervous chicken.

He constantly watched our every move, paying extreme attention to every word spoken, perhaps becoming so polite that it seemed he was instilling fear rather than consideration in the adventurers.

Days passed like this, fending off attacks from bandit groups, wild animals, and wandering monsters.

It was an exhausting journey.

“…This carriage, is it going to collapse any moment now?”

“Well… Let’s hope not.”

The luggage carriage, which had been in good condition at the start, had now deteriorated to the point where it looked like something salvaged from a dump.

Perhaps it was due to a significant decrease in the number of people compared to when we started our journey.

While dealing with attackers wasn’t too difficult, protecting the carriage at the same time turned out to be more challenging than expected.

Was it a lack of manpower to cover the carriage?

Kikel, Ben, and Amy did their best to protect it, but defending against arrows and spears aimed at the carriage was no easy task for just the three of them.

Turning Bardu to guard the carriage from behind would mean risking several enemies slipping past us and wreaking havoc near the carriage.

Rather than enduring such situations, it seemed better to just take a few arrows or spears.

As a result, as we continued forward, enduring shots aimed at the carriage, our once sturdy carriage became tattered within just a few days.

From a distance, it was hard to tell whether it was made of wood or sponge.

The wheel, having been repaired once, rattled every time it rolled, and the waterproof cloth covering the top of the carriage was now in such a state that it couldn’t even be used as a rag.

So we continued riding the carriage, and although it was a bit more comfortable than going uphill, we had to quietly get off and walk back down just like when we were going up.

“Is there no such thing as an easy ride?”

“Hahaha! That’s life for you!”

Kikel, who had raised his body temperature with Amy’s magic and ignition stone, laughed and patted my shoulder. If that’s how life is supposed to be.

◆◆

A few days later.

As soon as we returned to Vesperian, we went straight to the guild to report the details of this request.

“It was an undercover request… from the upper echelons of Reville?”

“That’s right. It was quite unexpected.”

Bardu, who took charge, sighed deeply with an exaggerated attitude, tilting his head.

“Isn’t confirming the client’s identity the basic duty of the guild? The most fundamental of basics. Isn’t that right? Tell me. Where did I go wrong in what I said?”

“Well… I’m sorry. Given the circumstances…”

“No matter how chaotic the situation may be these days, that’s not an excuse. If the guild neglects even such basics, what use is it?”

The receptionist at a loss couldn’t come up with a proper rebuttal and bowed their head.

If it had been a low-ranking adventurer complaining like this, they would have been ignored, but coming from a reputable mid-level adventurer with good credit and experience, the guild couldn’t afford to dismiss it.

With the recent increase in casualties among mid-level adventurers due to the previous incident, if even the remaining mid-level adventurers turned their backs, what would become of us?

It wouldn’t be surprising if the guild found itself in a situation where it had to close its doors due to a lack of manpower.

Therefore, the guild had to treat the remaining mid-level adventurers with sincerity and prevent further loss of manpower.

From the start, it was clear to anyone that this was a mistake on the part of the guild.

“Do you know who we ended up meeting because of this undercover request? Bellita Lados, the ‘head-hunter’ Bellita!”

“Wait, Bellita? You mean that wanted criminal?”

“Yes! A major criminal who has killed several knights! We almost died because of your careless confirmation of the request!”

The receptionist pressured Bardu even more as he came out in a humble manner.

It was a natural attitude.

Just as the old saying goes, “If you’re going to steal, steal from a burning house,” the current chaotic situation within the guild was undoubtedly a golden opportunity for individual adventurers.

Now, at a time when the value of Dongpae adventurers had increased more than ever, it was a moment when every possible gain had to be seized.

◆◆

Bardu’s protest brought us all the greatest results.

Not only was the promised success reward immediately paid, but also a written agreement from the guild to appeal to the top of Reville for an apology and appropriate compensation for this matter.

It seemed like proving that taking everything while delicately balancing was indeed not in vain.

“Well then, I think we should be off. If you ever need extra hands, feel free to contact us anytime. If our schedule allows, we’ll gladly join.”

“Thanks for saving my skin. I owe you one. Let’s have a drink together sometime in the future. Because we’ll be alive.”

After finishing all the conversations, Bardu and Jane bid us farewell with a handshake filled with gratitude.

Saying they would help anytime if there was a need for additional Dongpae-level reinforcements.

“Yes, that’s right. See you next time.”

With a gentle smile, they bid farewell to each other and left, sticking close together.

After seeing them off, we also headed back to our lodging by carriage.

Oh, what about Ben?

That guy also bowed to us and quickly turned away, heading far off.

Is he going back to his hometown to help his younger brother and live there, abandoning the life of an adventurer? His nephew was born recently, so he must be very busy now and will be warmly welcomed by his family.

I don’t know if things will work out that well… but as long as he doesn’t die, he’ll probably live just fine. It was something not worth worrying about.

After about thirty minutes or so…

“Click! I’m off too! Remember, you can’t choose your job!”

Kikel, who was staying in a different lodging, bid farewell and turned in the opposite direction.

As we discussed before, along with the advice to relinquish the right to choose requests directly in the future and give it to other party members.

The face that I chose was one that was convinced that the situation would definitely get messy with a 100% probability.

Well… I can’t really argue since that’s what actually happened.

I could only nod my head with a wry smile.

“Come to think of it, Amy, don’t you need to go back to Matap?”

Unlike Kikel and I who returned to our lodgings, Amy followed us to Freide’s lodging instead of going back to Matap.

Is she suggesting another drinking session? I’m not in the mood for that.

Having marched, battled, and camped for over a fortnight, I was honestly feeling dirty and exhausted.

Whether it’s alcohol or whatever, right now, I just wanted to soak in a bath, clean myself thoroughly, and then lie down in bed to get a good rest.

“I’m tired. I’ll just rest here today and go back tomorrow.”

Fortunately, Amy wasn’t particularly expecting a drinking session either.

She just found it too bothersome to even go back to Matap and planned to rest at the inn for a day.

“Oh, really? Well, if that’s the case. But I wonder if there’s a spare room left…?”

“If there’s no spare room, I can just crash at your place, Hilde. Is that okay?”

It sounded like the tone of a college friend trying to use someone else’s place as free accommodation.

Well, there was no reason to object. After all, just last night, we had slept in the same space.

For adventurers who frequently camp, sharing a room with party members was quite common.

“If you want, you can do that.”

So, I readily nodded.

In the past, I used to sleep separately to avoid revealing my face, but Amy and Freide could be considered exceptions.

Perhaps they didn’t know about Brünhilde, or even though they saw my bare face, they didn’t recognize my true identity.

“Oh, no!”

Interestingly, it was Freide, not me, who expressed opposition.

“Freide? Why all of a sudden?”

“Well, um, you see, uh, Hilde is tall, right? The bed might be uncomfortable because it’s small!”

“Is that so…?”

Well, the room itself is a single room, so it’s a bit small for two adults to sleep together.

It wouldn’t be a problem if you slept close together, but if you lie side by side, one arm would stick out beyond the edge of the bed.

It might be a little difficult to get a comfortable night’s sleep.

“If you don’t have a room, I’ll lend you mine! You can sleep there! That should work!”

That’s a kind offer, but would they end up fighting all night if they did that…?

You two don’t get along very well. You may act like you’re killing each other in battle, but when chatting, you argue about every little thing.

“Well… what can we do? Let’s just do that.”

As I hesitated whether it was okay to leave the two of them together, Amy readily nodded in agreement with Freide’s suggestion.

It was quite unexpected. I thought she would definitely refuse.

“…Huh?”

Even Freide seemed taken aback, as if she didn’t expect her to agree, looking at Amy with a slightly surprised expression, taking a short breath.

“Why are you so surprised? As you said, when resting, you should rest properly, right?”

Amy smirked as if it were obvious. It seems she, too, had been worn out by the previous camping trips.

She would accept sharing a bed with an awkward companion without hesitation if it meant she could sleep more comfortably.

◆◆

“You’re back earlier than expected, huh? Did things go really well, pussy?”

As I entered the inn and opened the door, the innkeeper, who was wiping a glass with a cloth, glanced at me and greeted me.

“It’s the opposite. Things got messed up, so I came back in the middle of it.”

“I see. So that’s how it went.”

The innkeeper let out a bitter laugh at my sighing response.

After asking him to store two carriages for me, I inquired if there were any rooms available.

“Do you have any empty rooms left? Saying there aren’t any is my wish.”

Contrary to our previous discussion, the innkeeper burst into laughter, saying that there were plenty of empty rooms.

It was a smile that didn’t seem genuinely happy.

Well, it’s not something to laugh about from the owner’s perspective. Saying that the inn is overflowing with rooms is basically saying that it’s halfway to ruin.

It’s only natural.

The only advantages of this inn are that there are no lowlifes and it’s safe, and that it’s comfortable to bathe… but compared to that, the inn fees and food prices were blatantly extortionate.

Most adventurers just used inns with cheap lodging and alcohol, and didn’t bother staying at this inn by paying high prices.

Such advantages did give female adventurers some merit, so the number of guests wasn’t entirely nonexistent.