Chapter 119: The Day Before
The discussion with the Adventurers’ Guild’s Guild Master concluded smoothly. The Guild Master was also against sending a single party to face the Hydra.
The Hydra subjugation will be undertaken by several adventurer parties working together.
I plan to issue a request to the Adventurers’ Guild for that purpose.
To be blunt, we could probably defeat the Hydra without much trouble. But if we did that, the adventurers wouldn’t get the Hydra’s head.
I intend to give the Hydra’s head to the adventurer who contributes the most to its subjugation.
And then, I’ll praise that adventurer. They’ll become a goal for other adventurers to aspire to, a symbol of a successful adventurer.
If the goal is clear, it should serve as good motivation for the other adventurers.
“Thank you very much for today!”
“””Thank you very much!”””
The members of the “Crimson Vow,” who had attended the discussion with the Guild Master with me, were bowing deeply.
“Don’t worry about it. Your information was helpful to us too. I’m sure you understand, but keep the information about the Hydra to yourselves, alright?”
“Yes! Um, about that…”
“What is it?”
“How much should we offer for our companion’s treatment costs…?”
Zasha, the leader of the “Crimson Vow,” asked with an anxious look on her face.
Well, if you try to heal severed limbs normally, it would probably cost a considerable amount of money. She’s likely scared.
“I’m not affiliated with the Church. I won’t ask for any money, you know? If that doesn’t sit well with you, then donate to the Baumgarten Territory’s development fund or something.”
“Eh? Um, about how much…?”
“Whatever amount you feel is right. I have no intention of tying down excellent adventurers like the ‘Crimson Vow’ with debt.”
Hearing my words, the expressions of the “Crimson Vow” members clearly brightened. However, their leader, Zasha, still looked dissatisfied.
“But…”
“Figure out the rest yourselves.”
Saying only that, I started walking towards the Baumgarten mansion.
◇
The afternoon before the Hydra subjugation battle. We were having a tea party on the terrace, with Cassandra-san joining us.
On the table were black tea made from tea leaves bought in the Royal Capital, and sweets made in the Baumgarten Territory.
But compared to the sophisticated sweets from the Royal Capital, these look a bit plain.
Among those sweets, there was one that was extremely popular with the Princesses.
It was potato chips.
The Princesses had gotten hooked on this salty snack, something they hadn’t had before.
“So, we won’t be able to fight the Hydra, then?”
Eleonore said disappointedly, while putting a potato chip into her mouth.
“If possible, I’d like to let the adventurers have the glory. It’ll be good motivation for them too.”
“Onii-sama, do you want to give the Hydra’s head to that ‘Crimson Vow’?”
“Any adventurer will do.”
“But haven’t you been getting along well with the ‘Crimson Vow’ lately? Is it because all their members are women?”
Cornelia was looking at me with suspicious, doubting eyes.
“I’ve seen them from afar, and they all seemed to be beautiful people. I heard Onii-sama even had lunch with them and gave them information about the Hydra…”
“They came to ask for information about the Hydra, so I just answered them.”
Is she jealous? Such a Cornelia is also cute.
“Besides, there was no one cuter than Ria.”
“Is that really true?”
Perhaps not entirely displeased, Cornelia turned away, her cheeks slightly flushed red.
“What about Lily?”
“Hm?”
“Is Lily cute?”
“Lily is cute too.”
“Hmph…”
Even though I said Lily was cute too, Lily looked dissatisfied. Everyone at the table was watching such a Lily with amused smiles.
“But, I also wanted to try fighting the Hydra. To see how far my spear would be effective…”
“You too, Onee-sama? I also thought it would be a good opponent to measure my own strength…”
Claudia and Eleonore are quite the muscle-heads, or rather, they’re greedy for strength, aren’t they?
“Give it up. Our role is to protect the adventurers who challenge the Hydra. It would be terrible if they were attacked by other monsters while fighting the Hydra, you know. This is an important role too, isn’t it?”
“I understand, but it is still disappointing.”
“Well, if the adventurers can’t handle it, we’ll end up defeating it, but it’s best not to expect too much. There aren’t any exceptionally skilled individuals, but there seem to be many solid adventurer parties.”
“It’s regrettable.”
I can’t help but give a wry smile at the disappointed Claudia and Eleonore sisters.
“I, for one, am rather relieved. It’s presumptuous of me to say, but it would be terrible if something were to happen to you, Princesses. Truthfully, I’d prefer if you Princesses would remain here in this mansion.”
Just as Cassandra-san says, if we’re to ensure Claudia’s and Eleonore’s safety, keeping them cooped up in the mansion would be more certain.
“Living like that, I’d grow moldy!”
“It’s a precious opportunity to defeat monsters ourselves. If not now, then when?”
Why are they both so belligerent, even though they’re Princesses?
It’s true that this world offers the visible benefit of Gift growth when you defeat monsters, but I don’t think they need to be that belligerent, you know?