Episode 71: A Difficult Road Ahead
Kaede and I headed to the Striders Guild.
On a whim, we decided, “Why don’t we take on a light job together?”
Well, everyone’s pretty much idle during summer and winter. It’s a geographical thing; Striders don’t work much on days when the heat or cold is severe.
Maintaining a battle-ready condition is part of a warrior’s job. Reducing workload during periods when your condition is likely to deteriorate makes sense!
Of course, that’s just a general tendency, not everyone does that.
In any case, Striders are like independent contractors.
When they rest and when they work is up to them.
And so, to the usually deserted Guild…
…Nah, there were quite a few people.
“Yo, Dru.”
“You got another girl with you… wait, is that you?!”
“Unbelievable! You’ve snagged the Blue Comet’s vice-captain?!”
Oh, it’s the veterans from The Fang of the Wolf Gang.
The fatty, the skinny one, and the old lady.
They’re Bull, Bucky, and Joze, respectively.
The Fang of the Wolf Gang is basically a mercenary group that even shows up on battlefields.
Naturally, they’re rough. And naturally, there are a lot of casualties.
About ten new recruits join every year, but about three or four die or ruin their bodies and quit being Striders. That’s the kind of group they are.
In that kind of environment… even if they’re goofy guys like these, the fact that they’re “veterans” who’ve survived tells you something about their skills.
They may look like this, but all three of them are pretty strong.
“Hey, hey! I didn’t say I’ve snagged her yet?! If Katerina finds out, I’m dead, so keep it down!!!”
“Chu~♡”
While stroking Kaede’s butt as she clung to me and kissed me, I pointed a finger with my free hand and warned them.
“That’s contradictory already.” “Too fast! It’s making me recoil!” “You’re incriminating yourself…”
“Shut up! I’m in the right! I’ll kill you!”
I glared at the blockheads, put my arm around Kaede’s waist, and went to look at the job postings…
“Alright, Kaede. Let’s pick a job, which one looks good?”
“Hmm… for today, Highway Patrol would be good.”
“It’s fine, but… there might be bandits this time of year, you know?”
It’s summer, after all.
In spring, this area is geographically north, so it’s still cold even in spring, but in summer it’s usually around 28°C, which is a comfortable time.
So, you can come in light clothing. Even bandits who can only wear light clothing can come to this Missgancia region…
In the first place, it’s common knowledge that Missgancia is one of the wealthiest regions in this country. Especially recently, rumors of the successful northern development have spread throughout the country for a long time.
I think we’ll end up having to kill people… is that okay?
“Huh? Bandits? Just kill them…”
Ah, yeah.
That’s how it is in this world.
There’s no difference between people and Monsters.
Whether they’re alive or whatever, if they harm their community, they’re killed.
That’s how it is.
Speaking of which, some Tribesman like to plunder and kill. Those kinds are recommended for “extermination” just like Monsters…
Even bandits and drifters, if they cause harm, are treated the same as Magic Beasts. Like goblins.
For better or worse, there’s no discrimination. No, the criteria for distinguishing existence are different from Earth.
The one who’s strange is me, with knowledge of “human rights” that doesn’t exist in this world.
Humans aren’t special creatures in this world…
“I’m not good at fighting people…”
But that’s another matter.
If you ask me if I want to go out of my way to kill people, the answer is no.
“Ah ha, bandits aren’t people, they’re like Magic Beasts! There aren’t many who use swordsmanship, so it’s okay!”
Ah, yeah.
You’re a demon.
The fact that you know what I’m thinking and give that answer is pretty scary.
…No, it’s fine.
I’ve been living in this world for a long time.
I don’t want to kill without a reason, but conversely, if there’s a reason, I can kill and I will kill.
And this time the reason is to defeat the villains who attack people!
There was no shortage of reasons to swing my blade.
“Alright, then for the first time in a while, let’s go on a highway patrol… I mean, patrol!”
“Gah.”
Highway Patrol isn’t something you do with one or two people.
If bandits appear, of course there will be multiple of them. It’s better to have multiple people on our side too.
More than anything, walking around in a group makes you look scarier, so it’s highly effective at scaring the villains.
That’s why Highway Patrol is done by about ten Striders.
What are the guards doing?
Unfortunately, they don’t have enough manpower!
Monsters appear in this world, so even we thugs, the Striders, are needed for maintaining public order.
Or rather, Knights and guards are professionals, unlike us Striders, who are disposable cannon fodder.
Guards have an average combat ability of about a fourth to third-class Strider. Knights are like second to first-class?
There’s no way they can scatter such important military strength around for maintaining public order. They’re kept on standby so they can respond immediately in case of an emergency.
Rather, it’s like the Striders patrol, and if there’s a problem, the Knights and guards come rushing in.
…So, make a group of ten!
In such a situation, Kaede and I, apparently.
It seems that I was mixed into The Fang of the Wolf Gang’s group…
Yes, the three people I met at the Guild earlier.
The fatty, the skinny one, and the old lady, Bull, Bucky, and Joze.
In addition to that, two general members of The Fang of the Wolf Gang and one new recruit.
Two kids who aren’t affiliated with any Clan at all.
Hmm, the members are making me uneasy.
Have I been made the caretaker of the newbie trash?
“Long time no see, you three. It seems I’ve been made to look after the new recruits. Of course, I have no intention of doing it, so please do something about it.”
“It’s, it’s impossible! We’re already busy looking after our new recruit!”
“That’s right! We don’t owe you anything…”
“Why don’t you take care of them? Do something that’s like a Strider for once.”
Eh…?
“No, I don’t take care of anyone but women.”
“You piece of trash…”
“Huh? You wanna go? You wanna go?”
“Hey, hey! I’ve been listening to you guys since earlier!” “What are you, thinking you can take care of us!”
The new kid… a man in his mid-teens with a used wood-splitting ax, barks, but well, ignore him.
“Well, they can at least run away if they encounter bandits…”
“If the Guild judges that you intentionally let them die, your evaluation will go down!”
“No, they understand too, right? There’s room for negotiation, it’s okay.”
“Whatever, let’s go quickly! If something happens, we’ll think about it then!”
…And so it began.
The Highway Patrol mission with a difficult road ahead…