Chapter 2 : Adventurer-like Work
Using carriages, the distance between Brook Town and the Neutral Comrcial City; Fhuren, was six days of travel.
They moved before sunrise and prepared to camp before sunset. This has already repeated for three days. Haji and his party were three days away from Fhuren. Only half the travel distance remained. So far no incidents had occurred during their journey. Even though Haji and his party were in charge of the rear, it was truly peaceful.
Even today, nothing special happened as they prepared to camp. Regarding als, the adventurers were eating by themselves. They had to eat while minding their surroundings, that’s why, as escorts they couldn’t settle down when eating together. It also seed to be the rule to eat on their own. Additionally, when on a mission, the adventurers only eat cruel, simple als. In a way, preparing tasty als would only increase their luggage, and would disturb them in ergency situations. Because of that, it beca a theory that after they’ve arrived at a town they would eat tasty als until their stomachs were full, as their reward.
That story was sothing Haji and his party heard from the adventurers when they ate als on the second day. Haji and his party had prepared warm bread soaked in luxurious mock stew to eat.
“Gah—, good! It is truly delicious~, just as expected of Shia-chan! Mou, I don’t care if you’re a demi-human anymore, so will you be my wife?”
“Gluck gluck, gulp, puhah, bastard, don’t just run your mouth! Shia-chan is my wife!”
“Hah, just what is a small dirty pig-like man like you trying to say? Know your place. By the way Shia-chan, how about a al with after we arrive at the town? Of course, it’ll be my treat.”
“Th-Then, I’ll take Yue-chan! Yue-chan, have a al with !”
“Yue-chan’s spoon… … Haa, haa.”
The adventurers kept eating the mock stew made by Shia, saying it was delicious. On the first day, these guys were eating dried at with things similar to camping goods when, Haji and his party started to cook next to them, using ingredients and tableware taken out from “Treasure Box”, just as usual. The adventurers were attracted by the delicious drifting aromas. Looking around, they saw Haji and his party eating the hot al while blowing on it, nearby. It beca a situation where all of the other adventurers stared at them with blood-shot eyes and drooling mouths. Shia who felt that they were truly pitiful proposed to share their als, resulting in the current situation.
In the beginning, even in front of these starving dogs, Haji continued to calmly eat his al. Naturally, he didn’t intend to share at all. However, because Shia took over the job of preparing the als when they camp, he had to rely on her to make delicious als. It was not like Haji and Yue were incapable of cooking anything, but the taste would be flat. Haji was only capable of making manly dishes while Yue was inexperienced, being a forr noble. That’s why, it was not an easy thing for Haji to refuse Shia’s, who was able to cook delicious als, proposal to share.
From then on, although at first the adventurers that crowded like hyena during als were grateful, they started to get carried away and jokingly tried to persuade Shia and Yue.
Toward the adventurers who made such a ruckus, Haji silently used “Pressure”. Although their bodies should have been ward up by the hot mock stew, the adventurers imdiately felt the chill and could only stand still with pale expressions. Haji swallowed the at inside his mouth and glanced at the mock stew while slowly letting out a whisper. Even so his voice could be clearly heard by everyone.
“So? Having filled your belly, who’s the guy that wants to be thrown?”
“””””I am sorry for getting carried away.”””””
The adventurers apologized while prostrating in splendid harmony and synchronization. Although these guys were senior and veteran adventurers compared to Haji, they had no dignity at all. Even though there was also the “Pressure” that Haji used, it wasn’t like they would go against Haji, because they knew what happened in Brook town.
“Mou, Haji-san. Since it’s finally ti for a al, a little ruckus is fine. A-Also, no matter what they say, I-I am Haji-san’s, you know?”
“I never cared about that.”
“Hau!?”
Although Shia tried to casually appeal to Haji while feeling shy, Haji cut off her words with a single phrase.
“… … Haji.”
“Nn?… … What is it, Yue?”
Because of Yue’s criticizing glance, Haji flinched a little. Yue pointed her forefinger and said, “… … bad!”. In short, it was about his promise from before to be nicer to Shia. Haji, who didn’t harbor love for Shia even now, thought it was enough to treat her as a relative… … however it seed that was an out for Yue.
“Haji-san! If you keep that attitude, I won’t give you the “well-done” skewered at!”
Following that, recently Shia was not as easily discouraged. She didn’t even twitch at Haji’s tsun-remark. Even if she received the shock, she imdiately revived and repeated her strong and positive approach.
“… … Like I said, how did you know that mate-… … no, it’s nothing. I understand, so quickly hand over the at.”
“Fufu, do you want to eat it? Th-Then, a~n”
“… …”
While blushing, Shia presented the well-done skewered at in front of Haji’s mouth. He seed to really want to eat it. That’s why Haji took a peek at Yue. Yue readily stood by his side with skewered at at hand. Probably, she would follow after Shia’s “A~n”.
While feeling the adventurers’ gazes, Haji let out a sigh then opened his mouth toward Shia. Shia’s expression was dyed in happiness.
“A~n.”
“… …”
Haji bit then chewed the presented at in silence. Shia’s expression was in pure bliss while she looked at Haji. Then, this ti another skewered at was presented from his other side.
“… … A~n.”
“… …”
He once again took a bite. Silently chewed it. Again, he took a bite when Shia from his other side, “A~n”. He bit again when Yue said “A~n”.
Their subjectivity aside, the voices of the n’s hearts who had objectively seen this spectacle were splendidly unified. In their minds, “We beseech you, please just explode already!!”. They could only use formal words in their minds because they were clearly shown that they couldn’t do anything in face of Haji’s power .
Two days had passed since then. The distance was only one more day of travel, finally soone appeared to inelegantly obstruct their travel and to assault them.
Shia was the first to notice it. Her rabbit ears, piko piko, moved while pointing toward the forest beside the highway, her unconcerned expression suddenly tightened and she warned the others.
“Incoming enemies! They number more than 100! They’ll co from the forest!”
When they heard her warning, the tension between the adventurers imdiately increased. The highway that they were currently advanced on was not known for the danger from the adjacent forest. After all, it was the only route to the one Neutral Comrcial City in the continent. The highway was safe, was what was guaranteed. That’s why, although there were stories of encountering demonic beasts, they were only 20, at most. Even if there were a lot of them, 40 was the limit.
“Shit, more than 100 you say? Recently, I haven’t heard stories of assault. are they saving up their power for this ti’s sake? Damn, even though I had investigated about accidents along the highway!”
The leader of the escorts, Galitima, was cursing with a bitter expression. The escorts of the rchant company numbered 15. If Yue and Shia were included, they beca 17 people. Considering the number of people, it’d be difficult to flawlessly defend the rchant company. It was simply because they were overwheld in number.
By the way, for them to calculate Shia as a combat potential despite knowing the Rabbitman tribe’s gentle nature was because there was a ti when Shia lost her temper by the extre actions of the “We want to be Shia-chan’s slaves corps”. She blew off those perverts at once, that beca well-known to adventurers and made them awe.
The mont Galitima started thinking of letting the majority of the escorts stay and at least making the rchant company escape, a proposal’s voice rang out and interrupted his thinking.
“If you’re perplexed, should we kill them?”
“Eh?”
It was said with a light-hearted tone, as if he was just going to go for a little shopping. The unbelievable proposal ca from none other than Haji. Galitima was able to grasp the significance of Haji’s proposal, then spontaneously asked back with a stupid voice.
“Like I said, shall we annihilate them?”
“W-Well, that’s certainly, because it’ll be difficult to flawlessly defend the rchant company if this keeps up… … umm, can you do it? Although there are no strong demonic beasts around here, their numbers are…”
“There is no problem with the numbers. It’ll end soon. With Yue, that is.”
Haji said that and imdiately put his hand on Yue’s shoulder who moved beside him. Yue looked particularly eager, and as if it would be very easy work for her, she replied with “Nn…”.
Galitima hesitated a little. At least he had heard the rumors that Yue was a user of rare magic. For argunt’s sake, even if she couldn’t completely annihilate them, from the attitude of Haji and his party they should be able to cut down a reasonable number. That’s why, rather than letting the rchant company escape ahead using their various combat potential, he steadily thought of another strategy.
“I understand. I’ll entrust the first strike to Yue. Even if you can’t completely annihilate them, it’ll be no problem as long as their numbers considerably decrease. Then, we only need to decrease them further with our magic, and beat the last of them directly. Everyone, you understand!?”
“”””Affirmative!””””
The other adventurers replied to Galitima’s decision with voices filled with spirit. Apparently, it seed they couldn’t believe Yue was able to annihilate them alone. Haji thought in his mind, “There is no need to worry that much~”, but because it was not common sense for magic-users to be capable of annihilating more than a hundred of demonic beasts, he felt their judgent couldn’t be helped as he shrugged his shoulders.
The adventurers took a united line in front of the rchant company. Although tension hung in the air, their faces were resolute. There was no remaining joking atmosphere, like the one during al ti. On the way, even though they had heard various stories from the veteran adventurers, only by seeing their current appearance, indeed, they were able to nod and acknowledge them as veterans. The people of the rchant company were frightened when they heard the large number of demonic beasts, now their faces peeped in from the shadows of the carriages.
Haji and his party were on the roof of the rchant company’s carriage.
“Yue, for now, start chanting. If not, it’ll beco troubleso.”
“… … Chant… … chant… …?”
“… … Did you not know any?”
“… … Don’t worry, there’s no problem.”
“Well, that material… … It’s nothing.”
“Contact in 10 seconds~”
Because it’d be troubleso if others inquired about it, Haji told Yue to use chants, but Yue who originally had no need to chant was only able to float “?” above her head. Even so, it would be good as long as she made them assu she was chanting by whispering, although there shouldn’t be any big problems, her reply sohow made Haji anxious.
While he thought of that, Shia’s report rang out. Yue, suh, turned and hung her right hand toward the forest, then her chanting voice began to perate.
“You are the one who brought bright red light into this perpetual darkness, crush the prison of old, the one who t face on as an equal, using the power of the strongest fragnt, together with him, beco the light capable of swallowing heaven, “Thunder Dragon””
With the end of Yue’s chant, she pulled the magic’s trigger. At that mont, a dragon made of thunder appeared from the dark cloud just like in her chant. Its appearance was reminiscent of a snake just like an oriental dragon.
“Wh-What’s that…”
It wasn’t known who muttered that. Even with the crowd of demonic beasts in front of their eyes, everyone’s gazes were fixated at the sky towards the bizarre thunder dragon that let out blue electrical discharge. Even those who were well-versed in magic in the rear, could only open and close their mouths towards the magic they’ve never seen nor heard before.
Then, as if it was no one’s ally. The demonic beasts that had co with killing intent for their prey from the forest, ca to a halt between the rchant company and the forest, having been glared at by the huge thunder dragon, it was as if they were frogs that were stiffened by a snake’s glare.
Following that, as if it was heaven’s judgent, Yue flicked her slender and beautiful fingers, causing the thunder dragon opened its jaws that were even able to swallow heaven and attacked the demonic beasts.
GOoGAaAAA!!!
“Uwah!?”
“Dowaaa!?”
“Kyaaaaa!?”
The thunder dragon let out a trendous roar from its huge opened mouth, and so demonic beasts were voluntarily jumping into the opened jaws. Then, they were eliminated by the jaws of thunder and disappeared without any resistance.
Furthermore, as Yue commanded, the thunder dragon coiled around the demonic beasts to encircle them. The demonic beasts that were in the middle of escaping penetrated that wall of thunder and turned into dust before their eyes. Once again, above the demonic beasts that had lost their escape route, the thunder dragon opened its jaws with a thundering roar, and the demonic beasts jumped into it as if they chose to die. Without any ti to suffer the pain, their flesh turning into dust coupled with the majestic appearance of the dragon gave off a solemn atmosphere. Having swallowed all of the demonic beasts, the thunder dragon let out a thundering roar for the last ti then disappeared.
Every one of the adventurers that were in formation and the rchant company, because of the flashes along with thundering sounds, and followed by a severe earthquake were inadvertently screaming and crouching. Finally, the fear of a life-threatening attack and the impact left them, and when they opened their eyes slightly to see what happened ahead… … there was nothing at all. There was only the ground, scorched in a coil-shape, it was proof that the unreal spectacle just now had truly occurred.
“… … Nn, I overdid it”
“Oioi, that magic, even I know nothing about it…”
“It is a Yue-san original, right? It seems to be a combination of magic that’s used in the stories of dragons from Haji-san as a reference.”
“To have made sothing like this when I shut myself inside the guild… … Rather, Yue, the chant just now…”
“Nn… … A song of eting and the future.”
Yue looked at Haji with expressionlessness that gave off an, “How about that!”, atmosphere. She was probably proud of it because it was sothing she made herself. Haji quietly used his hand to stroke Yue’s hair gently while letting out a wry smile. Having allowed her to finish the chant to avoid trouble, although it was completely aningless, his caution disappeared once he saw Yue boasting about herself.
That was Yue’s original magic; “Thunder Dragon”. It’s a compound magic using the high-ranked magic; “Thunder Hamr” that creates a dark cloud then drops a huge amount of lightning, and Gravity magic. The lightning that originally just falls down was arbitrarily controlled using Gravity magic. To purposely make it form like a dragon from Haji’s story was sothing made by magic using Yue’s sense. This thunder dragon was filled with gravity magic in the mouth’s parts, that’s why objects would be pulled toward it when its jaws were opened. This is why the demonic beasts looked like they voluntarily jumped toward it. Comparing its magic power, it was at the highest level even among high-ranked magic, that’s why just by looking at Yue’s expression one could see that was the gem of her pride.
And, the adventurers who looked dumbfoundedly at the scorched ground began to regain their senses. Following that, they vigorously turned around to look at Haji and his party, then started to make a commotion.
“Oioioioioi, what was that? What was, THAT!”
“A-A strange beast was… … from the sky… … from the sky… … ah, it’s a dream.”
“Hehe, I, once we arrive at the town, I am going to marry.”
“I know how shaken you’re, but calm down. Rember that you don’t have a lover, not even a girlfriend.”
“It can be made by magic! It’s not even strange to make a strange beast like that! That’s why I am not wrong!”
“Well, there is no magic related with the life and death cycle, you know? That’s why this situation is abnormal, okay?”
“What!? Bastard, are you saying Yue-chan is abnormal!? Aan!?”
“Everyone, calm down! Listen, Yue-chan is a goddess, that’ll explain everything!”
“”””Indeed!””””
Maybe because Yue’s magic left too much of an impact, the adventurers beca a little broken. That couldn’t be helped. After all, there was no existing magic that could take the shape of living things. Furthermore, that was even impossible to be used by the magic-users that were employed by the country. It could be said the thunder dropping magic; “Thunder Hamr”, was only usable by ultra first-class magic-users.
Inside the broken adventurers that shouted, “All hail Yue-sama!”, sothing along that line was the sole sane person; the leader Galitima, who could only sigh after looking at his comrades and approached Haji and his party.
“Haa, first of all, thanks. Thanks to Yue-chan, we were able to get through with zero damage.”
“We are co-workers now. There’s no need to thank us. Right?”
“… … Nn, I am only doing my job.”
“Haha, I see… … so, that is. What was that just now?”
Galitima asked without being able to hide his bewildernt.
“… … Original.”
“O-Original? Do you an a magic you created yourself? High-ranked magic, no, is that a highest-ranked magic?”
“… … I didn’t create it. It is a compound magic.”
“Compound magic? But, what on earth combines to make that…”
“… … That’s a secret”
“Kh… … That’s, well, it should be. No adventurers will simply reveal their trump card after all…”
Accompanied with a profound sigh, Galitima gave up the pursuit. He seed to be sensitive to the tacit rule of veteran adventurers. While he shrugged his shoulders, he turned his attention to the broken comrades. “They would give birth to a new religion called the “Yue faith” if this keeps up, that’s why Galitima must work hard”, that’s what Haji thought as a man.
While receiving gazes from everyone in the rchant company that were mixed with awe and respect, their group resud their travels.
* * *
Since the ti Yue removed the guts of every rchant company’s people and adventurers, she didn’t have anything to do at all, and their group finally arrived at the Neutral Comrcial City; Fhuren.
There were six reception desks in Fhuren’s eastern gate, the goods that were brought would be checked there. Haji and his party were queueing in one of the rows. It would take a while until their turn.
On the carriage’s roof, Mottou approached as Haji laid down and rest his head on Yue’s lap pillow, while being attended by Shia. It seed there was sothing he wanted to say. Mottou looked toward Haji with a sowhat amazed look, then Haji lightly nodded and jumped down from the roof.
“Geez, you’re so bold. Don’t you notice the surroundings’ eyes?”
Just as Mottou said, the surrounding eyes were the usual and familiar eyes that contained jealousy and envy toward Haji, followed by eyes that are filled with wonder and hate toward Yue and Shia. In addition, currently the gazes that appraised Shia were increasing. As expected of a big city’s entrance gate. In the place where various n gathered, there were not only those who simply looked at Yue and Shia with dirty-minds but also those who looked at them as profit.
“Well, although they’re annoying, I can’t do anything about it. So, it’s useless to worry about it”
Haji said that while shrugging his shoulders and Mottou could only put on a wry smile.
“There’ll be more trouble once you enter Fhuren. As expected, to sell her…”
Although Mottou tried to casually offer a trade for Shia, “Didn’t that conversation already end?”, was what was expressed by Haji’s silence, and he could only raise a hand as a pose for giving up.
“You aren’t calling for such talk, right? What business do you want?”
“Well, it is sothing like that. I’m offering a trade negotiation. It is about the artifacts that you carry. Will you sell those? When we arrive at my company, under the notary witness, I’ll pay the amount that can make soone live his whole life without working. Your artifacts, especially “Treasure Box” are sothing that rchants will desperately try to obtain after all.”
Along with the word “desperately,” Mottou’s unsmiling eyes were perfectly expressing “even if I have to kill.” It was because “Treasure Box” would be able to solve the problem of cheaply and securely mass transportation goods, that always beca a concern in rchants’ heads. That’s why it was understandable.
When he saw various things taken out from the “Treasure Box” while camping, Mottou’s expression was as if soone who had wandered around for tens of days in the desert finally found an oasis while on the verge of dying. Because he persistently tried to negotiate, Haji gave out slight bloodthirst and maybe because of his intuition as a rchant told him a warning, he withdrew dejectedly.
However, he was unable to give up after all. In front of Donner-Schlag, he was sohow able to approach Haji and proposed another negotiation.
“I’ll say it again and again, I won’t sell any of it. Just give up.”
“But, those artifacts are too useful for an individual to carry. Isn’t it more reasonable for them to be used by soone who knows their value? If not, it’ll be much more troubleso… … for example, those girls wil—!?”
Mottou, for a little, took a peek toward Shia and Yue on the roof with a mad and threatening look and at that mont, gochih, sothing cold and hard was pressed on his forehead. That was accompanied with a subli bloodthirst. No one in their surroundings noticed it. One of the reasons was because they were in the shadow of the carriage and also because Haji had pinpointed his bloodthirst toward him.
“That, can I think of that as a declaration of war?”
That was said in a quiet voice. However, that voice that was as cold as ice made Mottou stiffen and the eyes of Haji that peered into his eyes were just like thick darkness. Mottou’s whole body was drenched in cold sweat and he desperately let out his voice.
“Th-that’s wrong. Sohow… … because, guh… … I wouldn’t… … be able to hide about you… … that’s why, I said those… … words. That was all… … uh”
Just as Mottou said, Haji didn’t intend to seriously hide his artifacts and their ability. Because he had considered it a little to avoid troubleso things, there was the case of Yue’s chant, but if it was reversed, if it was more than “a little,” he didn’t intend to hide it. Haji had decided “to not hold back” against this world. He would mow all of his enemies down. He had the resolution to do that.
“I see, let’s just leave it at that.”
Having said that, Haji put away Donner and dispersed his bloodthirst. Mottou crumbled on the spot. While drenched in sweat, he panted.
“Well, it’s up to you on what you want to do. For example, even if you spread that to others, and those people took action, then I wouldn’t care about it. However, if you beca an enemy that tried to obstruct … … Do you think you can survive? I don’t care if it involves the country or even the world. I’ll just sink everything into a sea of blood.”
“… … Haa haa, indeed. It will be an unprofitable business…”
Although he was still pale-faced, Mottou who was capable of firmly replying, was an excellent rchant. Even from the interactions with the other rchant company mbers, he seed to be quite adored. Normally, it would be impossible for him to take such a firm posture even now. The things that chard and drove him mad were Haji’s artifacts.
“Well, this ti I’ll overlook it. But, there won’t be a next ti, okay?”
“… … For the love of god. It is who has beco senile. For to kick the butt of a dragon in front of my eyes…”
“Kick the butt of a dragon” is a proverb of this world, it referred to the Ryuujin race and dragons. They boasted their defensive power as an impregnable defense because of their whole body covered by scales, excluding their eyes and mouth, the butt hole that wasn’t covered by scales was their only weak point. Because of their high defense, as they were deep-sleepers, they wouldn’t awaken once they fell asleep, but they would wake up at once, once their butt that was their weak point received stimulus, and beca enraged like raging fires. A long ti ago, it was not known why that was done, but the fool was completely crushed. From that, it beca the aning of soone who is foolish enough to purposely disturb soone that was harmless as long as they weren’t disturbed.
By the way, the Ryuujin race was assud to have perished more than 500 years ago. Although the reason was uncertain, these guys own a characteristic magic called “Dragon Form” that made them between the boundary of a person and demonic beast, there are various opinions such as they were turned into exclusion because of discrimination and they were weeded out by the gods as an incomplete race.
“Now that you ntion it, Yue’s magic from back then was imitating the dragon. Although I will apologize if that was truly a dragon, but it’s good that no one knows anything about it. After all I also never heard anything about the Ryuujin race. Well, I think it’ll be okay because it looks more like a snake than a dragon.”
Mottou who sohow recovered, managed to stand up and he advised Haji while tidying his clothes. He was a sowhat bold person. Although he was going to be killed just now, to be able to casually talk to Haji ant his nerve wasn’t average.
“Is that so?”
“Ee, they are incomplete beings between people and demonic beasts. Nevertheless, they are frighteningly strong. In addition, they are infidels who don’t believe in any gods. That’s why, I can only nod that they are an odd existence for the church’s authoritarian.”
“I see. Rather, you’re completely okay with it. Are you also one of those infidels?”
“I have a god I believe in, the one where the power is not held by “people”. People are “custors” after all.”
“… … Sohow, I can relate with what you just said. Must be a born rchant, you that is. Having seen it, I can only nod at your recklessness.”
Having said that, towards Haji that fiddled with the ring on his hand, Mottou showed a mixed expression of apology and pride, truly a complex expression. His rchant-like attitude from just now could no longer be seen. Haji’s bloodthirst was like having bathed in cold water for him.
“Although I have committed a blunder, if you have a demand, please co to my company. You’re different from the usual adventurers after all. Because I want connections with such a peculiar person like you, I’ll give you so discount.”
“… … Really, what a firm business spirit.”
While being looked at by Haji with an amazed glance, after saying, “Well then, please excuse ”, Mottou turned his heels and returned to the front.
Yue and Shia, even now, no, gathered even stronger gazes. If you chased Mottou’s back, imdiately there were rchant-like people who were talking while pointing at Yue and Shia. Although it was supposed to be a relaxing trip toward Fhuren, Haji could only think that more troubles were waiting ahead.
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