Episode 114: To the Eastern Forest
The full-scale development plan for the Baumgarten Territory started today, two days after the welcome banquet. First, monster extermination and land acquisition by the adventurers. We finally got permission from the King to take as much land as we could, so there’s no way we can’t use it.
We were gathered in Higashi no Higashi Village, where the adventurers congregate.
Higashi no Higashi Village is a village even further east than Higashi Village. It’s located roughly in the middle of the burnt forest that caused the Stampede. The land around here seems to be fertile due to the slash-and-burn effect, so they produce wheat.
It doesn’t matter, but Higashi no Higashi Village is hard to say, isn’t it? We might need to think about a new name for the village.
“Alright, adventurers! First of all, thank you for gathering here. I appreciate it.”
Standing on a wooden box prepared by the villagers, I looked out over the adventurers. Everyone was wearing their own equipment, with no sense of uniformity. Their faces were brazen, befitting adventurers.
What’s surprising is that the church members are also participating as a party.
Well, they’re the guys who came all the way to the Baumgarten Territory for training. They might be thinking of this as part of their training.
Or did they participate because of my command, since I evolved my Gift?
That seems more likely.
“You may have heard it at the Adventurer’s Guild, but I’ll tell you anyway. From today, my house has issued requests to all adventurers. In addition to the usual monster subjugation rewards set by the Adventurer’s Guild, we will also provide rewards from my house!”
“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
The adventurers roared with a volume that was almost deafening. Good, that’s the spirit.
“That’s all from me. Do your best, it’s time to earn!”
As soon as they heard my words, the adventurers headed into the forest. There are no top-tier parties among the adventurers, but there are many mid-level parties and few newcomers. Well, I probably don’t have to worry about any major accidents.
“Well then, shall we dive in too?”
“Yes!”
“Indeed.”
That’s right. This time, we’ll also form a party and dive into the forest. The members are me, Cornelia, Lily, Eleonore, and Claudia.
Old Man and Cassandra are doing office work. And the Baumgarten Territory Army, led by Achim, who had somehow grown to ten members, was dispatched for security to guard the village.
Unintentionally, it turned out to be a party of all girls except for me. Some of the adventurers were looking at us enviously.
“El will be in the lead, followed by Lily. Ria and Clau will be on either side of Lily. And I’ll be at the rear. Let’s go with this formation.”
Eleonore, with her shield, is tough and resilient at the very front. Lily, who has top-class firepower but low defense, is positioned so that she is surrounded.
“I’m at the very front?”
“El, do you remember the mock battles at the academy? It’s the same as that. If you never fall and manage to draw, then it’s El’s win. There are reliable members behind El.”
“Understood. I’m a little nervous, but I’ll try.”
Eleonore and Claudia are princesses, so is this their first time in actual combat? I’ll observe carefully and be ready to provide support at any time.
“Brother is at the very back?”
“There may be surprise attacks from behind.”
“Hmph.”
Well, my Gift has already grown considerably. There’s no need for me to force myself to defeat monsters. It’s better to grow the Gifts of the other members.
The Evil God will be resurrected. An era will come where individual strength is valued more than ever. We should prepare for it.
“If there are no questions, let’s go?”
I look around at the party members, but there don’t seem to be any questions.
“Then, let’s go.”
◇
“Hyaa!”
Eleonore’s sword flashes as she leads the way. Eleonore’s sword shattered the Goblin’s club and ran diagonally from its left shoulder to its right flank. One down.
“Ugh!”
Eleonore defeated the Goblin, but the gap she exposed in return was significant. She is immediately attacked by two Goblins.
“Hah!”
“Ei!”
However, the Goblins’ attacks don’t reach Eleonore. Claudia and Cornelia, who were waiting behind Eleonore, slay the two Goblins with a single blow.
“There are two Hobgoblins!”
Even at times like this, Eleonore doesn’t forget her princess-like speech. She’s a true princess.
The reason I can think so leisurely is because those Hobgoblins are already dead.
The Hobgoblins were skewered by stakes that grew from the ground. It’s Lily’s magic.
I silently stroke the head of Lily, who is in front of me.
“Mmm. More strokes.”
When I try to pull back my hand that was stroking Lily, Lily takes my hand and rubs her head against it. She’s like a cat.
I give a wry smile and turn back to the front.
The girls are looking at Lily with envy, but that’s just my hallucination, right?
“Three Goblins and two Hobgoblins were instantly killed. Everyone did well. Collect the right ears and let’s move on.”
Other monsters’ corpses are useful, but bringing back Goblin corpses is just a nuisance. In the case of such monsters, the right ear is cut off to prove subjugation.
“May I cut them off?”
“El?”
I thought she would hate this kind of work…
“El, are you okay?”
“Sister, everything is experience.”
Saying that, Eleonore approaches the Goblin’s corpse with her sword in hand. She was supposed to be a princess who was raised with great care, but she’s surprisingly strong.