The Town of Mikhan (2)

I treated the adventurer who'd been teased by Wataru to a drink at the guild's bar as compensation for the trouble.

That aside, let's continue with our Adventurer Guild business.

"Oh, since we're here, let's check if there are any delivery quests heading toward our next destination. We'll actually accept it just before we leave the day after tomorrow."

"Hm? Why's that?"

"It's better than bringing extra luggage to the inn and worrying about losing it. If someone else takes the quest in the meantime, we can just let them have it. There's no reason to accept it now."

That makes sense.

I wondered what kinds of quests were available, so I went to check the bulletin board. The good quests had already been taken during the morning rush, but I could still get a sense of what was typically available from the leftovers.

… Hmm, lots of subjugation quests. There weren't many gathering quests, and most were for D-Rank and above. The rest were E-Rank and below quests for in-town work.

"Tsuia has beginner herb-gathering quests, but here, most of the nearby grass is livestock feed, so you'd have to go all the way to the forest. That's why there are quite a few C-Rank and higher adventurers with decent experience here."

According to Wataru, beginners here either travel to Tsuia or earn money with in-town quests. There used to be villages nearby, but once the frontier development shifted to Tsuia, the villagers in this area mostly all moved into Mikhan and the villages disappeared.

Just then, the receptionist came over holding a quest ticket.

"U-Um, Wataru-sama? There's a quest I'd really love for you to accept while you're here…"

"Oh, what is it? I'll consider it if it can be done in about a day… Hmm, a subjugation quest? This looks easy enough. Kehma-san, want to do it together?"

"I'll be sleeping at the inn, so count me out. Just take whoever wants to go."

I glanced at the quest details. It was for an Elk Bear subjugation. Apparently it's a bear with elk-like antlers growing from its head. The target was larger than normal, and several C-Rank adventurers had already failed. The reward was one gold coin.

… Just go by yourself. Take Shikina if you want company.

"So yeah, I'm heading to the inn. Wataru, what inn do you recommend?"

"There's an inn called [The Ripe Fruit Lodge] nearby. That should be good. — Oh, I'll accept this quest. I'll bring my co-participants later."

"Y-Yes! Thank you very much!"

Seen off by the bowing receptionist, we left the guild.

We immediately met up with Rokuko and the others who were carrying food right outside the guild.

"That took a while. Here, want a salad wrap? We have skewers too, lamb ones."

"… Sure, I'll have some. But don't wander around too much, okay? This is our first time here and we don't know the area."

"Ichika and Roppu were with me, so it was fine. It's not their first time here either."

Well, the Team Bacchus members have a decent amount of experience, and Ichika was a C-Rank adventurer before becoming a slave.

"I'm going to subjugate an Elk Bear tomorrow. Anyone want to come? Kehma-san isn't participating."

"I'll pass. Gotta drink up while I can."

"I'll pass too since I'm going with Gozoh. Wataru, join us when you're done."

"I shall go! I may have been bested by that orc, but a bear should be no problem!"

From Team Bacchus, only Wataru was participating, and Shikina wanted to go too.

"I'd like to see more of this town. Want to walk around with me, Kehma?"

"No, I'm sleeping at the inn. Niku's my hug pillow, so take Ichika with you."

"Muu…"

So none of our party would participate—

"In that case, Niku, I'll be Kehma's hug pillow, so you go help with the Elk Bear."

"… Goshujin-sama."

"Ah… Niku, if you want to go hunting, go ahead. It's a good chance to learn from the hero's fighting style."

"Yes. Then, I'll be going."

"Then I'll go get food sorted with the coachman."

And so, our party's plans were decided.

Niku must have wanted to go hunting. Her tail was wagging. But when she glanced back at me, her tail drooped. It's okay, I'm not angry. Go ahead.

"Then I'm Kehma's hug pillow!"

"… Um, well, I don't really need a hug pillow. If you want to see the town, Rokuko, go with Ichika and…"

"Oh, about that… wanting to see the town was just an excuse to go on a date with you. I don't actually care that much about sightseeing. So, um, h-hug pillow please."

Rokuko said this with her face beet red.

… …

I really am going to be killed by Haku-san when we reach the imperial capital, aren't I?

"Hey, Wataru. What are you grinning about?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking I should report this to Haku-sama."

"Do you want me dead, you heartless jerk!"

"It's fine. You won't die, just get more work piled on you."

If it's just more work, that's still tolerable… but I really don't want the kind of work that involves separating my head from my body.

"Huh? Kehma and Rokuko aren't married yet? You should just hurry up and do it already."

"You're one to talk, Gozoh. What about you and Roppu, huh?"

"Ah, well, y'know, it's all about timing. Yeah."

"Becoming B-Rank sounds like good timing to me. Want to have a Beddhism wedding ceremony?"

Gozoh tried to tease me, so I turned it back on him.

"Kehma, what's needed for a Beddhism wedding ceremony? We'll need to prepare, right?"

"… I'll think about it."

Including a spectacular self-destruction on my part.

The next day, Rokuko really did come to my room, so I was troubled, but in the end we decided against the hug pillow thing.

Well, she asked "Can I stay in your room?" without mentioning the hug pillow part, so I said okay.

There shouldn't be anything fun about a room where I'm just sleeping… (distant look)

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

Now then, after sleeping the whole day and stocking up on rest for the road, it was finally time to leave Mikhan.

Honestly, I didn't quite get enough sleep, but I was able to use my own futon that I brought, and at night, after Niku returned satisfied from hunting the Elk Bear, I could use her as a hug pillow. Being closer to my usual sleeping environment helped me recover somewhat.

By the way, dinner on the second day was bear hot pot. Fresh bear meat really does have a wild flavor!

"Oh yeah, was it okay that we didn't greet Mikhan's lord?"

"I don't really know this town's lord, so it's fine."

He said that since we used the aristocrat entrance and reported our arrival to the guild, the lord was definitely informed. Since they didn't approach us, there was no need for us to go either.

Apparently, going uninvited could be seen as "a subordinate coming to pay respects," which would make you look weak. Since we're using the Tsuia family's crested carriage this time, there are considerations about their family's standing and… yeah, nobles are just plain troublesome, is all I can say.

"Alright, nobody forgot anything, right? It's three days to the next town. This time we're taking a safe route, so Kehma-san, there will even be post towns along the way."

"Oh, so I don't have to camp… wait, did you just say 'this time' it's a safe route?"

"Ah, coachman, let's head out please."

"Hey, Wataru. Hey. Was there a route from Tsuia where we didn't have to camp outside?"

After interrogating him, I learned that besides the shortest route that passed near [Abyss Forest], the forest that had been visible to my right the entire time, there was also a detour that went around the mountains. The detour was overwhelmingly safer and more commonly used. It apparently would have taken more than double the time, but still…

No wonder monsters that C-Rank adventurers could barely handle, like orcs, kept showing up in groups!