Episode 42: Monster Extermination Festival ④
The moment the Ogre King fell to the ground and I was about to let my guard down, thinking we had won, someone’s scream snapped me back to reality.
The battle wasn’t over yet.
I readied my Laser Gun and fired instantly, piercing the Generals’ heads.
If I kept shooting them down at a pace of about three per second, the heavily armored Ogre Generals quickly disappeared, and the extermination speed increased dramatically.
“Rui! That’s enough from you! Save some Magical Power, just in case!”
“Roger! But are you sure you have enough Magical Power left?”
“I don’t even need enhancement for trash like this!”
“You idiot! Owen! That only applies to you!”
Even the Knight retorting to Mr. Owen sounded a little cheerful.
Realizing we had truly escaped a dire situation, I collapsed onto the high ground, my strength completely gone.
“Mr. Owen, this is bad! My legs have given out, I can’t stand!”
“Oi, oi, is it okay for you to be saying things like a schoolgirl?
If Yurisia finds out, she’ll laugh at you.”
No, I’m not kidding…
How am I supposed to move like this?
Ah, I can just use Magical Power to move.
And so, I extended spider-like legs from my Maso, made the platform disappear, and landed.
As I scuttled around, hanging from my Maso armor to check its functionality, Mr. Owen, for some reason, pointed his sword at me.
“Woaaah!? What are you doing! You’re not a monster, are you?”
“What nonsense are you spouting! It’s my Maso! I told you I can’t stand…”
Even just moving my hands made me tremble.
I was fine when that Ape almost killed me, though.
Well, I defeated that one in an instant, and it didn’t feel like a direct confrontation.
Having been told to conserve my Magical Power, I scuttled around like an insect, still hanging from my Maso, and hid behind the Knights.
“Oi, oi, can Maso really be controlled that freely? Owen’s disciple is something else.”
“Viscount Oldam, he’s not my disciple. He’s the disciple of that prodigy, Yurisia.”
“Huh? Sure, she was talked about a lot back in the day, but this kid’s stronger, right?”
“No, apparently he’s completely useless as a vanguard. Self-proclaimed, though.”
Hmm?
Wait a minute. Viscount Oldam?
No way!? Why is someone like him still in a deathtrap like this!?
Come to think of it, he was the only one calling Mr. Owen by his name without an honorific.
Is he really the feudal lord?
“Hey, hey, Mr. Owen… why is the feudal lord here on the front lines?”
“Hahaha!
I don’t want to be in a place like this either, but this is originally the job of a feudal lord.”
“No, a lord is supposed to command from the rear. Don’t believe him. This guy is just special.”
Mr. Owen and the feudal lord seemed to be on familiar terms, bantering casually while cutting down Ogres and Goblins.
“It’s not just me! Margrave Razbel and Marquis Randall are also leading from the front!”
“No, Margrave Razbel shouldn’t be included in that category.
He was originally a general in charge of national defense and has been in many wars.
Marquis Randall, well, that might be true, but…”
Is Marquis Randall Riana-san’s father?
Still, it’s good that the lord of Oldam seems like a nice person.
“Alright! This should be about enough. If we don’t go back and report, they’ll think we’re dead!”
He laughed cheerfully and commanded the Knights, “The subjugation is complete! Leave the small fry to those who returned earlier!” signaling the end.
“Oi Rui, can you carry the King’s corpse?”
“No, I can’t walk… If I make a Cart, will you carry me too?”
“Sure. I can do at least that much. Make it as big as you can.”
Feeling a little miffed at Mr. Owen, who was laughing at my pathetic state, I took out Magical Power from my last Backpack and created the largest Cart I could.
Not only the King but also the Generals were unceremoniously piled onto it.
“Hey, hey! My spot!!”
If you load that much, I’ll end up being piled on top of the corpses too!
“Just put up with it. This will be part of your earnings too!”
Muu. It’s true that if I leave them here, other monsters will eat them, but…
“Alright, alright. I’ll carry you!”
The one who said that was the feudal lord.
“No, um, it’s okay…”
“Don’t be遠慮. Owen already piled everything up anticipating this.”
When I looked, it was piled up artistically.
Oi, you bastard!!
No, maybe I can stand now?
Thinking that, I desperately tried to stand, but I only managed to reenact a newborn fawn.
While I was doing that, I was deftly hoisted onto his shoulder, and we headed back to town with a dozen or so Knights in tow.
Our first base was empty, so we passed right by it and arrived at the familiar gate in front of the academy.
A large crowd was there, continuing the Goblin extermination.
When they noticed us, they raised their voices, and dozens of people came running.
“The King, what happened to the King!?”
“Oi, oi, is celebrating my return going to be put on hold?”
Even though I was being carried facing backward, I could clearly tell his voice was laced with sarcasm.
I think they’d understand if they saw the corpses piled on the Cart…
No, it’s piled up so much you can’t even see the King.
“No, um, we’re glad you’re safe… So, about the subjugation…”
“Yeah. We’ve exterminated the King and the Generals. Thanks to this boy here.”
No, I don’t need that kind of praise.
The one who subjugated them was Mr. Owen.
“O-o-o-oooooooooh!!
The King, the Ogre King has been subjugated!!”
After that, word spread that the Generals had also been exterminated, and it became a festival-like uproar again, but Mr. Owen and the others just said, “We’ll leave the rest to you,” and passed through the commotion back into town.
Naturally, I, being carried, went with them.
We stopped by the Hunter’s Guild, and with just a single word from the Viscount, “Get this exchanged for cash,” it seemed like the entire guild came out, and everything was carried away in an instant.
He turned on his heel without even going inside.
“Alright. We’re having a banquet at my place as is.
You guys get two weeks of vacation and half a year’s salary.
Drink and make merry for those who died too!”
“Oooooh!”
Oh, this is bad. At this rate, I’ll be taken along too.
“Um, my Magical Power has returned, so I’m fine now. I’ll be going then…”
“You idiot, if I don’t give you a reward, I’ll be laughed at.
Just stay put and ride along quietly.”
Ooh. So I don’t have the right to refuse, huh.
Figuring I had no choice but to go with the flow, I relaxed, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.
Waking up to the sound of murmuring voices, I found myself in what looked like a reception room.
It seemed I had been laid down on a sofa, and a light blanket was draped over me.
Oh crap, was I sleeping soundly in the lord’s mansion!?
I shot up and looked around. On three facing platforms arranged in a row, a spread of food was laid out, and Knights, now neatly dressed, were sitting on the sofas.
Somehow, this doesn’t feel like a lord’s mansion. It’s more like an izakaya…
“Oh, you’re awake! My shoulder must have been pretty comfortable, huh?”
“Hiee!? I’m sorry. I think the tension just got to me…”
“Hahaha, you can be a little bolder, you know.
We’re here now thanks to you!”
The Knights nodded emphatically at his words.
But that’s impossible for me.
They’re a rugged group that looks more like adventurers, and on top of that, they have authority…
“Um, Mr. Owen is…?”
“Ah, he went off to a woman’s place.
Said he couldn’t stand eating with a bunch of old guys after a deathmatch.”
Uwah, that’s definitely Hiroki’s mom’s place.
I kind of didn’t want to hear that…
“What’s with that weird look on your face…”
“No, I think it’s probably my friend’s mother’s place, so…”
“Tch!? Right, you’re in the same class! Hahaha! That’s awkward!”
It seems the feudal lord also knows the situation.
Well, as I was urged to eat, the conversation continued.
“You’re aiming for the Margrave’s daughter, right?”
“Buha!! Wha-! That teacher has no delicacy!!”
“””Hahaha, he certainly doesn’t!”””
Ah, so that’s a common understanding.
However, how should I respond…
No, the atmosphere feels somewhat forgiving, so maybe I should try consulting them?
“After all, a commoner boy like me doesn’t stand a chance, right…”
“Normally, no. But your strength far exceeds the norm.
Depending on how you go about it, you could change various circumstances, so I can’t say it’s impossible.”
Even as he said that, the Viscount showed a slightly troubled expression.
Following his voice, the Knights also chimed in with their own opinions.
“I hear that gentleman is quite the doting parent, so wouldn’t he dislike anyone as a suitor?”
“Ah, and there was that incident too, wasn’t there?”
Hmm? That incident?
“Is that something involving Miss Yurisia?”
“Yeah. It’s a story from her childhood. Do you know that his daughter was called a prodigy?”
Eh, really?
I didn’t know, so I shook my head, but it certainly wouldn’t be surprising if she was called that.
Wanting to hear more, I turned my gaze to the feudal lord.
“In Razbel, it’s common to send kids to a dojo if you want them to become Hunters.
They polish their swordsmanship and Mana Manipulation from a young age, and apparently, she was exceptionally outstanding.”
“Well, the Margrave is also to blame for that, isn’t he?”
“Hey, don’t interrupt the story!”
Eager to hear the rest, I asked, “Did something happen because she was too strong?”
“Yeah, it was a case of childish jealousy. Apparently, she was bullied in the dojo, called a monster and whatnot. It’s a famous story that when the Margrave found out, he flew into a rage and physically crushed the entire dojo. Because of that, some bad rumors started spreading about him. He’s not a bad person, though.”
Eh? Weren’t the dojo people unrelated to that? So, that’s the kind of father he is, huh? Yuri did say he was overprotective.
“She’s probably hiding her strength because of that past, but who’s stronger, you or her?”
“Eh? Um… I’m a rear-guard, and I’m completely hopeless at swordsmanship… Besides, I don’t think she’s ever shown me her full strength either.”
She probably would have shown it if the opponent had been stronger during that Assassin incident, but it was over in an instant…
“I see. Well, you did receive two Backpacks from her. She must have some kind of feelings for you, but what are you going to do? Are you going to go for it?”
Well, if there’s a chance, then of course… But that doesn’t mean I can make her abandon her precious family home. And before that, she might still think I’m dead…
And just like that, I found myself explaining everything from the beginning.
“Hoh. Earning ten times your evaluation quota and storming her family home with Potions as a gift, huh? If you can pull off something like that, why don’t you just aim for a peerage?”
“Huh!? No, is a peerage something I can even aim for?”
“It’s a narrow gate, but you could aim for it easily. You’d definitely be able to get a knighthood.”
Huh? Definitely?
“Does that mean I’d be joining some noble house? If that’s the case, wouldn’t it make things with Yuri even more impossible…?”
“No, that’s not it. Are you willing to offer those Potions to the country?”
“Eh, I don’t really mind, but… not the magic?”
“Magic Circles are normally registered to become a privilege of one’s own house. Many houses keep them secret, though.”
Huh, from the way he’s talking, it sounds like I might be forgiven even if I don’t teach them the magic. Could it be that I was worrying too much?
“If you can provide them, a knighthood is pretty much guaranteed. How many of those Potions do you have left?”
“Um, about a hundred.”
“You have that many…? In that case, if you play your cards right, you might even make it to Baron.”
“Huh? N-No way, just for that?”
Wait a minute. Is becoming a Baron really that easy?
“Let me tell you, Potions that can instantly heal missing limbs don’t exist, aside from Elixirs. And this country doesn’t have Elixirs. Even Royalty would kill to get their hands on something like that.”
“Um… I’m not actually that strong, though. Is that still okay?”
“Are you an idiot! What’s a guy who casually defeats Ogre Generals talking about!”
Ah, so the General part is good enough. That’s a relief. Well then, should I go for it? I have a lot of worries, but if there’s a chance I can secure a future with Yuri, it’s worth a try.
“If that’s enough, then could I ask you to please make the introductions?”
“Sure. You’re my benefactor and my brother-in-arms. I’d be happy to make some introductions for you. Sounds interesting, too.”
Alright, then just in case, I should have more Potions made. Material-wise, I can still easily make a few hundred more.
“Ah, but I already told them I’d enlist as a soldier after graduation!”
“Huh? If you get a peerage, you can just request to participate as reinforcements. Don’t bother seriously dealing with fools who’d receive something that valuable and send you away without even taking you into their house!”
Ah, I see. As long as I can protect what Yuri wants to protect, if I can participate in the war, the result is the same, huh? It’s not like I can nod along if someone asks if I’m going to be Razbel’s soldier for life. In that case, the next thing is what to give the Lord as a thank-you gift…
“Um… would Potions be okay as a thank-you gift?”
“You’re pretty out of it, you know. We’re the ones who should be thanking you, right?”
Since he said, “Well, I’d be grateful to receive them though…” I promised to bring some later.
The banquet continued for a while after that, and as I was leaving, I even received two hundred gold coins. He said this was separate from the King’s materials, so I returned to the dorm, a little intimidated by the shocking amount I’d earned.