Volume 2 Chapter 25

Volume 2 Chapter 25: Road to the Survey Site

After stuffing the supplies that were provided for the survey by Lilac, into the transportation bag. I was walking on a narrow woodland road, northwest of the City of Water, Sylvestre, together with the two adventurer siblings, who I was supposed to observe and support.

As very few people usually pass here, the road was rough.

There is a rocky coastline past this area, so large rocks that are taller than me, can be found scattered in this area. In addition, the forest is quite dense, making visibility a bit bad.

However, with the smell of the sea breeze that could be felt, this road was a bit different from those around the City of Stars, which I found a bit refreshing in a way, then—

「Axel-san, how are you holding up, stamina-wise? Since a while ago the terrain turned quite bad.」

Cecil who was walking ahead of me with George, asked such a thing while tilting her head.

「Well, I can manage this much. No problem, Cecil.」

After I said that, she opened her eyes slightly wider and then—

「Yes… That’s good. As the head of Marine Guild said, you are a first-rate carrier.」

She smiled, breathing a small sigh of relief.

「Hm? How did you arrive at that conclusion from this exchange?」

I didn’t particularly help in any way and didn’t do anything special. Thinking so, I asked Cecil—

「Because an ordinary carrier, who doesn’t have that much endurance, would’ve already exhausted himself and asked for a break after walking through the bad terrain, while constantly being vigilant of the surroundings for one hour . I’m very sorry, but having combat jobs both of us walk pretty fast.」

As she said that, Cecil scratched her cheek and smiled wryly.

「Every time we hired a support introduced by the adventurer’s guild, they would start getting tired already and ask for a break, but you are showing no signs of exhaustion. You are the best carrier among those we have had to team up this far.」

「Oh, is that so? As for me, I’m just normally following after you.」

「Having a carrier that doesn’t require frequent breaks is already a good thing for us, combatants, who have a lot of physical strength, Axel-san. It will be a problem if the sun were to set before we reach the survey area.」

As she said that, Cecil shifted her sight back in the direction we are going. And so she walked forward while glancing over the surroundings. George next to her was the same.

「And so far… Well, there are some small monsters, but no powerful magic stones or strong monsters.」

「That’s to be expected, Cecil. Since the goal of our investigation is that rocky area on the coast.」

「I’m just making sure. We received a detector for magic stones anyway.」

With a faint smile, Cecil looked at a small jewel on her wrist.

That was a special magic tool provided by Lilac to the adventurers that undertook the investigation request. It’s supposed to glow in the proximity of magic stones.

Using this we are to conduct our survey but—

「But, I also wanted the hero-sama to oversee us…」

Looks like George was concealing his frustration for a while.

「George. You are still saying that?」

「Of course I do. It was a chance that rarely comes by… To demonstrate the style of our dojo.」

「Style of your dojo? You were from some kind of a martial arts school?」

When asked, Cecil was the one to reply.

「Yes, there is a martial arts dojo called Grand Arble at the City of the World Tree, located northeast of Sylvestre. We were taught there. I learned spear and George sword. There we raised levels and ranks of our jobs.」

She said while slightly pushing up the spear that she carried on her shoulder.

「Ooh, do you have experience with real combat?」

「Of course. A certain amount. We just joined the adventurer’s guild, but on our way from the City of the World Tree to Sylvestre, we fought off many monsters on the plains. We faced dozens of low to mid-class monsters, but we easily dispatched them every time.」

「Oh, you sound pretty strong.」

「Hey, hey, it’s only natural, Carrier-san. Grand Arble Style was designed in such a way that it allows to hunt even large monsters.」

When I expressed my admiration, George replied, puffing his chest with pride.

「Because it’s a school founded by one of the leaders of the knights, who played an active role during the great war. It’s on a level when it can be perfectly used even during the war.」

「Ooh, pretty practical one.」

「That’s right. That’s why I wanted the hero to see it. It’s not like there is any problem with you, Carrier-san…… It’s just that it was such a rare chance……」

As he said that while running a hand over a large sword on his waist, George, dropped his shoulders in disappointment.

「George. Are you going on about that again——」

Cecil reprimanded him with a bit of a fed up look. That moment—

「——Stop, both of you.」

Her expression changed.

No, not only her, but George’s expression also changed, and now they were staring ahead.

At the point where their gaze was directed—

「……Is that a hostile magic beast, George?」

「Yeah, it’s pumping with killing intent, Cecil.」

A group of large rabbit-like monsters was waiting ahead in an intimidating pose, baring their fangs.