Chapter 2: The Hunza Outcasts
I headed to the Adventurers Guild on unsteady feet.
The Guild in the town of Hunza, located within the Vorgul Territory belonging to Willer Honnings, Baron, was small.
Being a rural town, about half the adventurers were small parties of a few members or individuals doing Herb Gathering alone. The rest were parties of 5 to 8 people specializing in beast subjugation.
“Cokes-san, good morning.”
“Oh, haven’t seen you lately. What have you been up to?”
“Well, I was sick, and I’ve only just recovered.”
“So they kicked you out to earn money even though you’re still recovering?”
“It was the epidemic, so until my strength recovers, I’ll gather herbs nearby on my own.”
Hearing my words, the surrounding adventurers moved away with disgusted looks on their faces.
It seems quite a few of the townspeople also suffered from it, and apparently, there were a fair number of deaths, so their reaction couldn’t be helped.
“Didn’t your old man give you even a single Potion?”
I just offered a wry smile and didn’t answer.
He is the lord, after all. I can’t speak ill of him openly, but he’s certainly disliked.
It’s common knowledge that I’m the child of a maid serving in the lord’s house. Anyone would realize who the father is when a child is born without one while serving the Honnings Barony.
Ever since I turned 12 and finished my basic education, I was entrusted to the adventurer Party, 〔The Hunza Outcasts〕.
His excuse at the time was quite something.
He couldn’t just feed some brat whose father wasn’t even known for free, so he told them, “Teach him Herb Gathering and the like.”
Being locals, they couldn’t refuse the lord’s request.
He placed me with The Hunza Outcasts and didn’t provide a single coin, yet he thoroughly took all my earnings.
The Baron receives monthly financial support from his father, Norca Honnings, Marquis, the lord of Fohlen in the Vorgul Territory.
His wife is the second daughter of the chairman of the great Aberio Merchant Guild in the City of Fohlen, and she seems to go back to her parents’ home almost every month to receive spending money.
He became a baron through his father’s authority as a Marquis, yet he seems full of complaints even though he received a corner of the territory.
After greeting Cokes, I headed towards the town exit.
I greeted the guards at the gateway set into the beast-repelling barrier
“Gyaa!” “Gowa!”
Just as the Goblin pierced by the arrow screamed, Cokes and Bolt also lopped off Goblins’ heads.
In the meantime, Hattie’s second arrow flew and struck deep into the chest of a Goblin that was getting up.
The remaining two turned their backs to flee, but arrows from Hattie’s third shot and Kilza’s second shot struck true, and they collapsed.
“Fernan, finish it!”
Shouted at by Hattie, I hurriedly rushed forward and stabbed the Goblin writhing with an arrow in its back with my Short Spear.
No matter how many times I stab them, I just can’t stomach the feeling of my spearhead sinking into flesh.
If I’m going to become an adventurer too, maybe being a Short Bow user like Hattie would be better.
I can never get used to the feeling of directly cutting or stabbing, no matter how many times I do it.
“Still hesitant as ever, huh?”
“But lately, your scouting skills have improved.”
“Even if you’re only one-quarter, perhaps it’s a feat owing to your Cat-folk blood?”