71 Episode 71 "A certain amount of compensation was required for'holiday work'".txt

From the top of Knot Hill, you can look down on the road leading to Ilgafa.

It is a wide road made of earth that carries goods from the port city inland.

To the east of the road, there is a small forest with a gaping hole in the middle. According to Iris, there is a lake in the forest. I think that's where Eterina-Harsburg said that she hid the golem.

Regular soldiers and adventurers are gathering in the open area of the forest.

They all seem to be armed and ready to face something.

Don't attack...!　One person's life...!

The one who appeared there was a giant several meters tall.

To be frank, it was a golem.

Basically, it takes the form of a person. But in addition to its legs, it also has a large number of tentacles growing out of it. They're made of metal or something, and they make a grating sound every time they move. They're stretching and contracting to intimidate the soldiers and adventurers.

It's literally a 'deformed golem'. Its head looks like a squashed frog, and it has something like fins on its hands too.

The guy who made it might have learned a lot about the "Legend of the Sea Dragon". The legend that the natural enemy of the sea dragon is a monster with tentacles is well known to the public.

Don't flinch!　Don't flinch. Don't flinch!

The soldiers are shouting, but they're not attacking.

That's probably because - there's one man caught in the hands of the golem.

He was lightly grabbed by the body, and only the upper half of his body was sticking out.

From here, I can't make out his face. It's just that he's wearing expensive-looking clothes. But ......

'You know what, Iris. Maybe that guy is .......

Iris needs to disappear now.

The next thing I knew, Iris was on her knees under my feet.

As if he had been spurred on, Rafilia was next to him, too, with her head stuck to the ground.

''I knew it, is the Lord of Ilgafa the one being held?

'Yes ....... I'm pretty sure it's your father: ......

I pulled Iris and Raphilia up. This is not Iris and her friends' fault.

Iris properly informed the lord. She said that the Eterina-Harsburg golem is hidden near the town. And that it's something very dangerous and should be disposed of carefully.

Rita. Rita, do you see Eterina Harsburg - or rather, a dark-haired, dark-eyed woman - around the regulars and adventurers?　Also, Cecil, check the magic of the golem. Iris, work with me to assess the situation.

Yes. Brother?

If I put him down on the ground like this, he's still going to start getting down on his knees.

I put Iris on my shoulder. Light. Or rather, thin.

Iris lets out a 'wow', but she understands my intentions and begins to look around with me.

'Based on their physique, there aren't any women among the regular soldiers. There are no female black hair among the adventurers either. The color of her eyes are ...... as expected at this distance.

Rita shook her golden hair and stared at the forest.

'All right. I think 'gone' is fine then. If they're bringing that guy with them, they should be restrained or have him under surveillance. What did Cecil find out?

Embedded in the golem is a magical crystal.

Cecil said, rubbing his red eyes.

'It's much, much bigger than the one in the ice golem in the basement of the dungeon. But it must be very expensive. You would have to be a nobleman or a local lord to buy something like that. ......

So, you mean that the lord can buy it.

If there's no Eterina-Harsburg here, it's very likely that he's done it: .......

'Your father was afraid all along. That he would take the place of a priestess.

Above my head, Iris said.

''If Iris doesn't have a child, the 'Sea Dragon Festival' will be handled by the lord. If that happens, I'll be targeted by my political enemies. ...... The day before yesterday, I had regular soldiers around the room, so ......

Is that why there were no regulars around the dungeons?

...... Yes.

Me and Iris held our foreheads at the same time, 'Aha!

You've done it, lord.

Did you think you were going to research and study that golem and convert it into a bodyguard ......?

On the ground, a golem is running amok, wielding metal tentacles.

The wizard tries to cast a spell, but the regular soldiers stop him. 'I said stay out of it!　If my lord is killed, it's our responsibility to protect him.

This is happening on the ground. We don't need to be sent there.

I mean, we could enjoy our day off as normal.

I'll just get us some more tea and we'll continue with our picnic.

I can't do ────, can I?

If the lord dies now, the story will be complicated.

The lord (Iris's father) has approved of Iris and me to a point, but I don't even know if the next lord will have the same attitude. On the contrary, it's possible that the succession battle could take a turn for the worse and Neuer-Hafeumea could come back. Then the treatment of Eterina-Harsburg would change. That would be the worst thing that could happen. I've finally calmed down.

............ It's a shame.

I took the trouble to give everyone a 'Yuukyu Kyuka' (paid vacation).

Gomen, I've got some urgent business to attend to, so cut off your day off here' is the worst line I've ever heard. If you're going to give me a day off, you have to promise me an alternative. I'm not going to be a black employer.

What do I do?　Should I get paid more: .......

Or should you go on a company trip - a vacation?

Well, I'll deal with that later.

You know what, Iris? We need you to ask us to rescue our lord.

I lowered Iris to the ground and said.

'You were the one who kept Iris in the Ilgafa lord's house, weren't you, lord?　If that's the case, then Iris is both my slave and a member of the Ilgafa lord family. If it's an emergency right now, there shouldn't be any problem with Iris hiring an adventurer to save the lords.

"...... Oh. Ha, yes. That's right big brother!

Iris rolled her eyes for a moment, but quickly nodded her head, cockily.

'The port city of Ilgafa is in danger right now. Therefore, in the name of Iris-Hafeumea, I will ask my master to rescue your father. And what's your reward?

I'm thinking of taking a leisurely company trip instead of a paid vacation today. That's why I need to rent the lord's house. It should be by the sea or in a tourist area. If possible, I'd like you to pay for the trip as well, but that's up to you. I won't say anything reckless.

'A company trip?' I'm not sure what's going on here, but it's not a problem. Iris will convince your father later. If not, I will pay you, even if you have to sell off Iris's personal belongings.

'You don't have to go that far. I'll negotiate that part with my lord.

If that golem was made by Eterina-Harsburg, it was probably beyond the reach of the regular soldiers. Well, maybe.

But the ice golem in the basement had regenerative powers and even used flying tools. And they can even act autonomously.

And now they're even taking hostages, which is an added bonus. If we don't get this right, our lord will be flattened. As for the man himself I'm not interested in him other than the fact that he's Iris's father but I don't want him to get into any trouble afterwards.

So I think we should do our share of rescuing, my lord.

I turned to everyone and said.

''The ones rampaging in the forest are probably cheat golems created by the visitors, so they're hard to defeat without cheat skills. The lord is Iris's people, so we can't just leave them alone.

...... However, since I'm going to make everyone 'go to work on holiday', I'll be able to rip off a good amount of reward from the lord-sama when I succeed. I promise you that. Legally ...... moderately. Absolutely ...... by all means. ......

...... That's fine, but, um, Nagi-sama, is there something you're upset about?

The next thing I knew, Cecil and his friends were staring at me.

Are they angry?　...... Maybe so.

'I'm allergic to the word 'holiday work'.

'And. That kind of Nagi-sama is also .............

Cecil looks somewhat embarrassed. Everyone around her is nodding their heads in agreement. Why is that?

'That's why I'll definitely make this up to you. Let's go help the lord now.

Getting myself together, I declared to the five slave girls.

Without hesitation, they all raised their hands and said "Oh", which was a relief to me as a master who made them work on holidays.

The regular soldiers and the adventurers were confused.

Things were going well until they found the golem hidden in the lake and the regular soldiers pulled it up to the shore. When the lord saw it, he asked, "Can you control it? I was wrong to ask one of the adventurers about it.

For some reason, the lord had prepared at least one package of "magic power crystals".

It is literally a crystalline body containing magical power, and it is an expensive item that can feed a family of ten people for a year on its own. He should have stopped it when he attached it to the golem. No, the regular soldier captain stopped it.

But the lord shouted at him, ''Then you can continue to protect me forever? The situation was made worse by the fact that the lord shouted at him, ''Then you can continue to protect me forever? The regulars turned away and the rest of the curious adventurers did what they were told. What face did the one that said it could control them have to lower to be here?

The moment the golem embedded the magic crystal, it began to run out of control, and the lord-sama was caught - and this was the result.

Inside the forest, the regular soldiers can't deploy their forces well.

They all had no choice but to leave the forest once and take a stance to intercept the golem. The soldiers lined up on the street with their spears at the ready, with the adventurers in the rear.

''............ This is why we can't trust adventurers. ...... No, no?''

The regular soldier captain recalls.

He remembers the adventurers that the maiden Iris had with her.

Even though they were hunted down by the 'Shinmei Kishidan', they protected Iris to the end. They even taught me that they would awaken with the 'Sea Dragon Mask' during the festival. To be honest, I can't praise them openly because if I praise them, they'll think they were out of touch, but I'm grateful for their work.

I wish they were here: ......

"The regular soldiers of Ilgafa. And to all adventurers present, I announce to you!

Suddenly, a clear voice rang out on the street.

The regular soldiers and adventurers turned around at once, and there was - an elf with cherry-red hair and a small girl riding on her back - the sea dragon priestess Iris-Hafeumea.

Where did they run from? The elf girl is out of breath with a bright red face. Iris-Hafeumea, who is on her back, is also drenched in sweat. Wobbling, Iris-Hapheumea stands on the ground and stretches her small body to the fullest.

''Everyone step back!　From now on, those who have been blessed by the Sea Dragon will rescue your father!

The regular soldiers buzz at the sound of Iris' voice. The adventurers nod their heads. But he begins to follow their instructions. He slowly backs away, taking his time to distance himself from the forest.

It was probably just an excuse for them to get out of the way.

No one wants to meddle and let their lord die. I don't want to take that kind of responsibility. And now we don't have a good solution to the situation.

''Hey, everybody, let's get out of here!　Obey the instructions of the miko-sama──!

The regular soldier commander raised his voice.

He probably has some idea of who 'those who received the blessing of the sea dragon' are. But he doesn't say it. He has served the Ilgafa Lord for generations, and the faith of the sea dragons is heavy for him. So he doesn't talk about it.

But he does trust it.

''Explain the situation, Legionnaire Dalus. 'Be precise and concise. 'Be quick with information, before your words are interrupted by an unexpected storm' - you know the proverb of Ilgafa, right?

Yes, sir.

The regular captain knelt in front of the girl with the green hair.

'How did this happen? About the capabilities of the enemy. Tell me everything you know!'

Shot by the little girl's authority, the regular soldier commander speaks up quickly.

How the golem was activated.

The range of his tentacles' attack. The movement speed. The regeneration ability.

When he takes damage, he reflexively packs up his hand with power, so he can't even attack when he thinks of his lord...

Iris listened silently to such words of the regular soldier commander.

Repeating each one of them in her mind.

And when the commander of the regular soldier finished speaking...

''That's all the information we have. After all, it seems that the regular soldiers and the adventurers here can't get enough of it.

So please go to ....... ''Big brother.''

Iris sent a message to Nagi, who was still connected to her through 'Shared Consciousness (Mind Linkage) LV1'.

''Thank you for the information. Iris, please follow my instructions.

'Thank you' is the line over here, brother.

After the link was broken, Iris pressed her lips to her own.

This is the second time I've had her use "shared consciousness"; the first time I was in a half panic, but this time I remember it clearly. And the feel of Nagi's lips on hers, and the warmth. The warmth. I remember the warmth of Nagi's lips, the warmth of his touch, the warmth of my own heart, the thrill of my own heart, and the feeling that I was going to be unable to stop myself.

Be careful, big brother. Cecil, Rita, and Aine.

I'm sure I would be destroyed if I lost the warmth I had finally found.

It's all right for the ............ master. Dear Iris.

"...... Shakespeare.

Raphilia holds my hand to reassure Iris.

Before she knows it, her vision is blurred with tears.

The two of them lead the soldiers and the adventurers, blocking their view.

''Please prepare any flying tools that you can use. We are now going to make a threat to the golem. This is to protect the safety of the streets. So, fall in front of the forest. Let him think it's dangerous outside the forest.

Raphilia recites Iris' words, and then the regular soldier captain tells the others.

The soldiers and adventurers raise their bows, and the wizard begins to chant.

Now, let the operation begin.

Iris - and perhaps Raphilia too - repeats Nagi's words in her mind.

''At least may the conclusion of this battle be worth the sacrifice of 'paid leave'.