Chapter 47: The Dandy
I’d been giving my impressions for a while, but when I placed a simple camp bed in a corner, they were exasperated.
“Don’t people tell you you’re an unconventional person?”
“Unconventional is an understatement. It’s to the point where one would doubt if you’re really an Adventurer.”
“And it seems you’re earning as much as a high-rank Adventurer, you know.”
“Seriously, the difference in level between us is so vast, all we can do is laugh.”
Since Mii-chan and the others had finished their meal, I put them inside the barrier, and once things calmed down, I explained.
They were once again exasperated at the simplicity of the job for which I was paying a large sum of money.
“So we just have to hang around the market?”
“And if Shinya doesn’t come out, we just stop that carriage and make it turn back?”
“What are you going to do?”
“Is there anything we can help with?”
“Nope. The reason I’m not telling you the crucial details is because if even a little bit leaks out, I’ll either be killed or they’ll escape.”
“Sure, you’re strong, and with that cat and wolf, you could probably beat most opponents. But there’s a limit to what you can do alone, no matter what it is.”
“The reason I’m going alone is because if I had companions, they’d just get in the way… You probably wouldn’t understand even if I told you, so want to experience it for yourselves?”
“Experience what?”
“Just do it. If you don’t brace yourselves, you’ll be too scared to stand.”
After looking around at the seven faces, I unleashed my bloodlust and King’s Pressure on them.
Belga was the only one who somehow managed to start to get up, but he couldn’t even place his hand on the sword at his hip.
The remaining six seemed to have some skill, but their faces were pale, covered in a cold sweat, and they averted their eyes from me.
The two Hoo-chans had their fur standing on end and were growling, but their legs were trembling. Mii-chan was cowering, holding her head.
“If you can move, feel free to draw your swords and attack me.”
I told them that, but not a single one of them tried to reach for their sword.
King’s Pressure. Unless you’re someone who can fight an Orc King one-on-one, you probably can’t move so easily.
Even I, though I wouldn’t say I’m fearless, had to borrow Bee-chan’s and Mii-chan’s help and attack from behind.
So, I dispelled my bloodlust and prepared some tea.
“What incredible bloodlust.”
“It was rumored in the Guild, but to think it was this intense…”
“Stop it, will you? It’s bad for my heart.”
“Ah, I’m gonna have nightmares tonight.”
“It might not be just for tonight.”
“I’d heard bits and pieces about Shinya’s bloodlust, but…”
“I thought the stories were quite exaggerated.”
As a pick-me-up instead of alcohol, I distributed tea to everyone and placed a jar of honey.
Melinda said, “Thank you,” and reached out, but she looked at the jar with a dubious expression.
“What’s this?”
“It makes the tea sweet if you put it in.”
“Hey! That’s honey, isn’t it?”
“No waaaay!”
“I can’t keep up anymore. I feel like quitting this job.”
“More importantly, that little one is Mii-chan, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Eh? I just assumed it was a new tamed beast.”
“Why is she small?”
“Hmm, it’s lighter and better for carrying around when she’s small, and she’s cute, right?”
“No, no, that’s not the issue!”
“How does she become small?”
“Eh? I heard Tamers could make their tamed beasts smaller or return them to normal size, so I tried it, and it worked.”
“That’s enough. My head’s starting to hurt, so I’m going to bed.”
“Yeah, it seems we’re not on the same wavelength as Shinya.”
“This is delicious, isn’t it?”
“I’m not really a fan of herb tea, so when I got some money, I bought some good tea leaves.”
“Honey is this sweet, huh?”
Melinda, enjoying her tea with narrowed eyes, and the men, holding their heads and sulking off to bed.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
We arrived in Kantas in two days as planned, but in order to visit during the morning market hours, we stayed one more night just before the town.
The next morning, after watching the Adventurers and farmers disperse into the surroundings, I gathered Bee-chan and the others, entered the town, and headed straight for the market I’d heard about.
It seemed to be a reasonably large town with a large population. People were hawking their wares from simple tents or with produce loaded onto carts, and it was bustling with vendors chatting idly with customers.
The plaza I’d heard about was also a market, and on its west side stood a particularly large two-story building.
Belga and the others split into groups of three and four; pretending to be strangers, they started appraising goods in the market or buying and eating breakfast. So, I ordered Bee-chan and the others to wait and headed for the target house.
I went up a low step and casually knocked the knocker on the elegant door.
I could sense people inside, but they didn’t seem to be opening the door.
After knocking two or three times and calling out, I finally sensed someone behind the door, and they asked my business through a narrow crack in the slightly opened door.
“Excuse me~. Uhm, the master of the Moran Trading Company asked me to deliver a letter.” As I said that, I rudely thrust the letter forward.
“From the Master?” she said, looking at the letter and offering a few copper coins.
Thanking her, I took the copper coins, but when she tried to take the letter, I pulled it back without handing it over.
“I was told to deliver it directly to Linna-sama and get a reply. If I can’t meet her, I don’t have to hand over the letter.”
At my words, the maid, her hand still outstretched, seemed to be thinking about something.
Behind the door, the presence of someone holding their breath and standing still was so strong, I almost laughed at how amateurish they were.
Just as the Madam had surmised, there were definitely bandits, but the number was the problem.
Without focusing my eyes, as I vaguely watched the maid, she must have received some instruction; after a slight nod, the door was pulled open, and I was invited inside.
I entered, looking around the entrance hall with feigned curiosity. Since I was wearing worn-out clothes bought from a shop frequented by Adventurers, the chances of being suspected should be low.
If they suddenly drew their swords and attacked, it would be dangerous, so I was starting to break out in a cold sweat.
As I started walking after the maid, someone called out in a tense voice, “Hold on, brother!”
“What are you hiding in your shirt!”
“Eh…? Ah, this. It’s Mii-chan~”
Grinning foolishly, I took Mii-chan, shrunk to about 20cm, out from my breast pocket and showed her.
He let out a sigh, 〈Phew〉, and waved his hand as if to say, “Go on.”
Placing Mii-chan on my shoulder, I started walking after the maid, and it was quiet.
I went up the stairs, turned left, and knocked on the first room.
It was the place I’d heard about. The maid went inside and announced that I had brought a letter from the Master of Holm and wished to receive a reply directly.
Besides the maid, I sensed about four other people; one was holding their breath behind the door.
Urged by the maid, I entered the room. A woman who looked to be the same age as Hanna-san was sitting on a sofa, and behind her stood a man with neatly arranged hair and a meticulously groomed beard.
“Are you Linna-sama? The Master of the Moran Trading Company asked me to deliver a letter. May I have your reply?”
While stroking Mii-chan on my shoulder, I impolitely offered the letter with one hand.
“What happened to the Master?”
At the voice of the man who questioned me, alarm bells went off in my head.
“About an hour from Zandra Town, the carriage’s axle broke, and he’s stranded…” Zandra?
Damn it, it’s him! The moment I unleashed my bloodlust, I used 《Jump》 towards him and slammed my short sword down, but he dodged it.
《Mii-chan, get big and slash the legs of everyone except the old woman and the young woman! You can kill them!》
“I see, you’re the brat from back then. That’s quite some pressure, but it won’t work on me.”
“As expected of a former A-rank. I didn’t recognize you with that stylish getup.”
“Kill the old woman!”
The moment he shouted, a scream, 〈Gyaaaah!〉, echoed through the room.
〈What’s with this thing? Eh?〉
“I see, you were that bottom-rank Tamer. So you tamed a Fang Cat. What happened to the bee?”
“Less talk, more action, Owen the Hellfire.”
I stepped in and slashed, but his longsword easily parried it.
The difference in skill with a former A-rank was undeniable, and I was forced on the defensive, but thanks to Agility and 《Super Strength》, I could knock his sword away.
I wanted to break the window and call Bee-chan and the others, but the market outside was crowded, and I couldn’t throw blades.
“What’s wrong? You can’t kill me if you’re protecting the old woman.”
True enough. I have a plan, but it’s an all-or-nothing shot.
《Master, I’ve killed them both.》
《Good, get behind my opponent.》
The moment his attention was diverted by the sense of Mii-chan moving behind him, I threw my short sword underhand and simultaneously pulled a short spear from my Magic Pouch.
I heard a grunt, 〈Ugh!〉, but at the same time, I also heard Mii-chan’s yelp, 〈Gyan!〉. By the time I readied my short spear, he was already charging towards the window.
It’s not like this is an action movie; is he really going to escape by smashing through a glass window?
Looking down, I could see him clutching his shoulder as he ran off.
《Bee-chan, you can sting the legs of the guy who just ran off, but only three times.》
《Leave it to me!》
《Not fair, I was first!》
《Master, may I come inside?》
《Alright, but don’t sting anyone.》
“Aniki, what’s going on?!”
The one who burst in was the guy who’d been in the entrance hall.
《You can sting this guy on each of his limbs, just once.》
《Mii-chan, are you alright?》
《Yes. I was kicked in the stomach, and it hurts.》
《Everyone, don’t sting the furball.》
After conveying just that, I looked out the window to see the Guild Master clutching his shoulder and dragging his leg, still trying to escape, but he was surrounded by Bee-chan and the others and couldn’t get away.
Deciding to act, I too jumped down from the window, just as a fireball flew overhead with a deafening roar.
Damn it! Owen the Hellfire… his power is just as his epithet suggests.
《Sting that guy in the mouth. Just once, mind you.》
《Yay, I’m first~!》
After jumping down, I kept my head low and approached Owen, who was clutching one cheek and sputtering incoherently.
Amidst the swarming Killer Bees, a hateful-looking Owen lay on the ground, so I cautiously approached and snapped his arm.
《Thanks, everyone. I’ll treat you all to some meat later, so wait for me up above, okay?》
With a great chorus of 《Ye~s!》, Bee-chan and the others soared up into the sky from around the window and Owen.