Chapter 25: Armored Buffalo
“Kaito, a letter from Marquis Hamawar has arrived for you.”
As I took the letter from the tray and read it, I learned that I would need to head to the Royal Capital again and that he wanted to request my protection. He also asked me to come to the marquis’s residence for a meeting.
I was sent to the marquis’s residence in a hotel carriage. Upon arrival, I was escorted by the head butler, Efor, to the marquis’s office, where we discussed matters over tea.
“Kaito, do you remember when I mentioned that ‘there are many nobles involved with the Hoen Trading Company who have been squeezing out the company’s associates, turning forbidden items and abducted women and young boys into slaves to be offered as bribes to the nobility’?”
“Yes, you said something like, ‘I wonder how many nobles will be stripped of their titles or fall from grace after the Magic Tournament.'”
“Since the other party is a noble, we’ve been conducting our investigation cautiously. However, we are now at the final stages, and the king has instructed me to ask for your assistance. It seems that the nobles involved are quite adept at magic, and both Hyalda and I have been summoned. I would like to request your protection during our journey.”
“Understood. When do we depart?”
“I want to leave as soon as preparations are complete, so please stay here for the night.”
Once I agreed, I was guided to the salon by Aisa, the head maid.
“Hyalda, more trouble again?” I asked.
“I think it’s just precaution in case they resist. More importantly, it’s reassuring to have you along, Kaito.”
“Right now, Hyalda and Fiene are the ones who are more capable.”
“But your ability to sense danger is reliable,” she replied.
“Kaito, I’ll be going too, so please take care of me.”
“That’s fine, but what’s with that outfit?”
“When we went to hunt goblins, your attire blended perfectly into the forest, while we stood out too much. So, I made something in the same color as yours.”
It was a camouflage-patterned samue in olive green.
“Maybe you should reconsider that camouflage pattern.”
“Camouflage?”
“Ah, that mottled pattern is meant for the forest. It stands out too much indoors or in the city. The only time it won’t draw attention is when you’re mixed in with other adventurers.”
Two days later, as the adventurers gathered for our escort, we departed for the Royal Capital as planned. The formation was the same as last time, so many of the adventurers who had previously accompanied us were present.
The journey was going smoothly, and we were three days away from the Royal Capital when we encountered a troublesome foe. Three Armored Buffaloes appeared, their tough, armor-like skin making them formidable opponents. They stood as tall as warhorses and were known for their aggressive nature, snorting and ready to charge.
I had heard that even packs of Rush Wolves wouldn’t dare to engage them… or so the trembling adventurers standing guard around the carriage said.
“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?!”
I hurriedly positioned myself beside the marquis’s carriage and used Earth Magic to erect six stakes, each as thick as a utility pole, at equal intervals.
Dogo-on! A dull thud echoed as the stakes shook.
“What’s the plan, Kaito?” one of the adventurers asked.
“Fiene, go to the front, and Hyalda, take the rear. It’s disadvantageous to face them head-on, so let’s hit the tough one in the belly from the side.”
I glared at the buffalo, which seemed irritated by the unyielding stakes. After taking a step back, it charged again.
Dogo-on! The second impact caused the stakes to lean slightly.
This isn’t good; they won’t hold out much longer. I locked eyes with the beast, its rancid breath and fierce gaze sending shivers down my spine.
How long had we been staring each other down? Slowly, the buffalo began to retreat, but I couldn’t tell how many more times I could endure this.
Having created six thick and sturdy stakes, I worried about my dwindling mana. If I reinforced them, I might run out of mana entirely.
After a sufficient distance, the buffalo let out a triumphant roar, as if it had already claimed victory.
Now’s my chance! I steeled my trembling body and fired my shotgun into its roaring mouth, twice, three times.
The roar ceased.
The buffalo, legs braced and head held high, stood frozen with its mouth agape, blood pouring from it. Slowly, its front legs buckled, and it collapsed forward.
Huuuu! Before I could even catch my breath, the ground shook with the thunderous footsteps and snorts of the remaining buffaloes charging at me, but I was nearly out of mana and couldn’t shoot again.
Two Armored Buffaloes charged at me, seemingly seeking revenge. Suddenly, a crimson flash pierced one of them, sending it crashing headfirst into the ground. In the next moment, the other buffalo stumbled as its front leg was blown off.
When I awoke, I was surprised by the soft sensation beneath me; it seemed I had been resting on Fiene’s lap.
“Good morning, Kaito.”
“Ah, I’m alive! Oh, sorry, Fiene.”
“It’s fine, Kaito. Thanks to following your instructions, we managed to take down the Armored Buffalo.”
“You were remarkably calm. I heard you were glaring at the buffalo until you nearly collapsed from mana exhaustion. It’s a shame your mana grade is only 40.”
“Well, it’s a gift from the gods, so it can’t be helped. I need to increase my mana.”
As I got off the carriage, the knights and adventurers who had surrounded the three Armored Buffaloes parted to let me through. One buffalo lay nearby, blood pouring from its mouth, while another, shot in the belly, lay a bit farther away, missing a front leg.
“Hyalda, you were quite flustered.”
“A little, yes. It was because I saw you fall.”
“First, let’s put that away; we’re departing.”
At the marquis’s urging, I stored the Armored Buffalo in my Magic Pouch and climbed back into the carriage.
“Thank you, Kaito. The Hamawar family has once again been saved by you.”
“I’m just doing my job as your escort, so it’s only natural.”
“Even so, your life is at stake here. The adventurers quickly assessed they couldn’t win and fled, and the knights had given up as well. It’s impossible to withstand a charge from that thing, so I don’t blame them, but you fought splendidly.”
“Running away wouldn’t change the fact that you’d die. So, I’d rather fight.”
“Thank you, Fiene and Hyalda. You both saved me.”
“Oh, Kaito, just call me Fi.”
“I’m fine with just Hyal.”
“I remember being called Fi when I was younger.”
“Me too; we used to call each other Fi and Hyal, and everyone else did too.”
“When we arrive at the Royal Capital, I’ll properly thank you, Kaito.”
“Since I’m being paid as your escort, just the escort fee is enough.”
The marquis, Hyalda, and Fiene all smiled silently. As the carriage began to move, our journey continued, and we arrived at the Royal Capital three days later in the early afternoon.
Well, something did happen. Fiene and Hyalda insisted that outside of official occasions, I should call them by their first names, Fi and Hyal. It feels strange to call them that in front of the marquis. The marquis was grinning, but if I accidentally called them that in an official setting, it would be a disaster.
After arriving at the Royal Capital, the carriage didn’t head to the marquis’s residence but stopped in front of the Adventurers’ Guild. Prompted by Fi and Hyal, I got off the carriage and entered the guild with the escorting adventurers.
It was unusual for a noble’s carriage to pull up to the Adventurers’ Guild, and with over twenty adventurers and nobles present, the sight of a child in adventurer attire drew attention.
We went to the buying counter to request the purchase of the Armored Buffalo.
“Ah, could you say that again?”
“Old man, are you hard of hearing?”
“Is he senile?”
“You’ve probably never seen an Armored Buffalo before, have you?”
“What the hell? Is this really the Adventurers’ Guild in the Royal Capital?”
“Shut up!”
“Hurry up and assess it!”
Everyone was teasing the old man at the buying counter.
“It’s definitely an Armored Buffalo. Please proceed with the assessment.”
Hyal was grinning next to me, likely enjoying the guild’s customary banter.
We were led to the disassembly area in the back, and everyone followed along. The old man spoke to the disassembly supervisor, who then designated a spot for us.
“Um, it’s a bit cramped here.”
“Ah, come on, it’s an Armored Buffalo! Why is it cramped?”
“Well, you see, we have three of them, and in this space, we can only bring out one.”
The adventurers who had followed us burst into laughter. They were clearly enjoying the situation.
The old man at the buying counter and the disassembly supervisor looked at me with their mouths agape, as if to say, “What is this guy talking about?”
“So I’m saying we have three! Were you even listening?”
“Useless, aren’t you?”
“The Adventurers’ Guild in the countryside is way better.”
“Should I take over the assessment for you?”
“Three of them, huh? That better be true!”
The dismantling supervisor shouted, his patience wearing thin. I nodded vigorously, while Hyaru and Fi smiled cheerfully beside me, and the other adventurers added to the chaos with their chatter.
We moved to a different spot to line up the three Armored Buffaloes. The dismantling supervisor grunted in frustration, while the old man who was supposed to buy them looked a bit intimidated by their massive forms. The other adventurers were equally awed by the sight.
Word of the commotion spread, and soon enough, staff from the dismantling site and even the Guildmaster gathered around.
When we mentioned that the three buffaloes would be shared among the adventurers who had acted as our guards, the adventurers erupted in protest. They insisted that this couldn’t be accepted. Although we had a deal that any prey caught during our journey would belong to us, they firmly refused, stating that since we had merely fled, accepting this would tarnish Egdra’s reputation as adventurers, and we would return home in disgrace.