Trouble Comes Whether You Call It or Not

After finishing lunch and helping with a few more tasks, there was nothing left to do, and the pioneer site's work officially wrapped up.

When we'd arrived yesterday, the land had been nothing but rough, overgrown terrain. Now it looked like proper fallow farmland.

It was ready for planting right away.

Apparently they'd start sowing seeds tomorrow.

Fences and other measures against monsters and wildlife would still need to be built, but as farmland, it was more than sufficient.

The plan was to expand further in time.

Even as it stood, a substantial harvest could be expected.

"With this much progress, there won't be any issues if someone asks for a status report. You really helped."

"That's a relief to hear."

What I'd expected to be backbreaking manual labor had been mostly solved by Alexia's magic, making it an easy job.

I collected the payment and the mission completion certificate from Kwad.

Submitting this to the Adventurer's Guild would finalize the quest.

The payment was ten gold coins. For four people working over two days, that was more than fair.

It wasn't much as compensation for a mage's services, but the arrangement had been irregular from the start, so there wasn't much that could be done about that.

The Earth Elemental Stone sat quietly in its place.

"As long as that's here, the land in this area will yield bountiful harvests. It's a blessing that fewer people will go hungry."

"You do say something befitting a cleric now and then."

"… And what exactly do you think of me the rest of the time?"

Elza's smile was frightening.

I brushed it off and we left the pioneer site.

Apparently I'd flipped her sermon switch, because she lectured me with pious wisdom the entire way back.

If I was going to have faith in something, I'd pick money over a god. You can touch it, and it's actually useful.

After a short walk, we arrived back in Alsarm.

The tense atmosphere hadn't changed.

The security check to enter was noticeably more thorough than usual.

Foot traffic in the city had dropped to about half of what it had been on our previous visit.

People whispering among themselves were a common sight.

This atmosphere was one I recognized.

It was strikingly similar to the days just before the statue incident in Kassad.

A pall of gloom settling over the entire city, draining it of vitality.

The fact that it had deteriorated this quickly, just a few days after the attack on the duke's manor, was probably because information spread faster here than it had in Kassad.

If it were just word of mouth, it should have taken longer.

There might be some kind of news medium at work.

It was hard to imagine nothing would come of this.

We should get out of Alsarm as soon as possible.

We went to the Adventurer's Guild and completed the quest.

The letter request had apparently been accepted without issue.

The portal was still sealed off with no prospect of it reopening.

I bought a map and checked. The nearest city with a portal was over ten days' travel on foot.

We might be able to resupply at villages and towns along the way.

With a cart, a journey like that would be manageable enough.

Alternatively, we could cram food into the three girls' supply bags.

After returning to the inn, I stocked up on non-perishable food.

This sort of thing was second nature for a tool shop owner.

We had sleeping bags but no tent, so I procured one of those too.

That ate up a good chunk of our carrying capacity.

After buying as much food as four people could carry, we secured enough for roughly five days.

Hopefully we could hunt monsters or game along the road to supplement it.

Water, I could leave to Alexia.

Not having to carry water, which normally accounted for half the weight, was a huge advantage.

If we had to carry water too, we couldn't even bring three days' worth of food.

"Am I just a faucet to you?"

"Turn the handle and water comes out. Wonderful, isn't it?"

That earned me a silent kick from Alexia.

Conduct unbecoming of a slave.

But since she provided our lifeline of water, I'd let it slide.

If Alexia kicked a civilian like Yohane with any real force, it would break bones.

Yet the kick only stung a little, the damage carefully restrained.

A bit clumsy, but this too was a form of communication.

The inn was paid through today.

We'd rest up properly tonight and depart tomorrow.

Back at the inn, I instructed everyone to stay inside and avoid any trouble.

Unfortunately, trouble sometimes comes to you.

The duke's daughter, Anatia, arrived at the inn with an escort.

The innkeeper came to the room personally to explain the situation.

He said we could refuse the visit if we wished. I accepted, and noted the gesture.

Out of respect, I decided I'd make it a point to stay at this inn whenever I came to Alsarm.

Anatia-jou entered the room with her escort.

The incident had only just happened, yet here she was, out and about. The woman had nerve.

She settled gracefully into a cushioned chair, and her presence lent the inn room a certain elegance.

"Yohane-san, I didn't properly thank you back then."

"Oh, it was nothing. I was there on business anyway. Consider it a complimentary service."

That wasn't untrue.

All I'd done was ensure a client's safety.

"My, how modest. I did a little looking into things. It seems your companions are quite accomplished as adventurers."

"They are. It's a party I'm proud of."

"I see, I see. With you, the merchant Yohane-san, at the center. That's rather unusual. But I don't dislike it."

Safe to assume she'd already learned that Azu and the others were slaves.

Not that it mattered one way or another.

"So, what brings you here today? If it's about the thanks, what you've said is more than enough. For someone of my station, receiving personal gratitude from Lady Anatia is an honor beyond measure."

"My, you have a way with words. Or is that your way of telling me to get to the point?"

There was indeed something she wanted.

A valuable connection, to be sure, but right now, I'd rather not get involved.

"I have a favor to ask, given your exceptional abilities."

A request from a beautiful young woman. How much easier life would be if I could simply say no.

Even as someone who'd saved her life, a merchant didn't have the standing to refuse. I understood that all too well.

The power held by a noble, and one connected to a ducal house at that, was immense.

In the past, I might have refused regardless, but I'd seen the weight of that power with my own eyes too many times by now.

"I see. Please, let me hear what you have to say."

"Thank you. I was worried you might turn me down on the spot."

"No man alive could refuse a request from you."

If such a man existed, I'd like to meet him.

Besides, Anatia-jou surely understood her own position.