CH 56

Apology to Klaus

***---***

When I knocked and got permission to enter the room and opened the door, I saw Klaus-san with a stern look with his arms folded.

"Enter and close the door."

"Yes ..."

Klaus-san did not lose his gentle demeanor even when the thing with Beatrice was revealed, but today I can't see that gentleness.

From the standpoint of the lord of Volzard, it's clear that this uproar isn't something to laugh about.

I stood in front of the desk where Klaus-san sat and bowed deeply.

"My classmates made a large turmoil in the city and caused a lot of trouble. I'm really sorry."

"Kent ..."

"Yes ..."

"I declared ..."

"Eh ..."

"I declared ..."

Sweat dripped out all at once.

When bringing my classmates to Volzard, I was told to remove all the slave bracelets to prevent trouble with Resenburg.

So, before arriving at the city gate, I removed all the bracelets.

This time's trouble was not caused by that, it's highly obvious, but I don't recall hearing anything about the case of the disposal at the time.

I don't remember missing anything, but Klaus-san says with confidence, so maybe I've forgotten something very important.

But what's wrong ... I don't feel like I understand, and I desperately wrack my brains and try to remember it, but I can't seem to find anything.

"Kent ... you don't mean to say you don't remember, right?"

"Yes ... yes, no, that ..."

Sweat dripping from my head runs down my chin and drips, and sweat also drips to my back.

As I was standing bowed over and desperately searching my memory, heavy footsteps approached and the door was knocked upon.

"It's Donovan ..."

"Enter."

"Excuse me ... what happened?"

Donovan-san asks suspiciously when he sees me stuck with my head lowered.

"Ah .. apparently I've forgotten what he declared."

"What he declared ...?"

Donovan-san answered with a suspicious voice.

Was it something that was declared while Klaus-san and I were alone?

"Klaus-san, polygamy is allowed in Landshelt, and premarital romance is free in the first place."

"Huh ...?"

"Sh, shut up! Kent, I told you, if you're thinking of extending your hand towards Rise, you can't put your hands out to other women."

"Eh ... it was about that ...?"

I thought it was about the matter of the classmates' uproar, so I lost my strength and sat down on the floor.

"Bastard, It's bad enough to get sticky with Rise on the way to school, but you were sticky with Manon in the guild, you're getting carried away by increasing your genus, you bastard!"

"No, that was, because Rise ..."

"Rise?"

"Mou, so annoying ... Beatrice-san kissed me, so I thought it would be unfair if I didn't do the same to Manon ..."

"Bastard, do you think my Rise is a hassle?"

Ah, it's getting really annoying.

Should I take a defiant attitude?

"On the contrary, the troublesome one is Klaus-san, Beatrice is rather pleasant ...?"

"Ba, ba, bastard, what did you do to my Rise!"

"Nothing was done by me, just, Beatrice hugged me, and then kissed me ..."

"I'll kill you! Bastard where's my sword ..."

Zushin ...

At the vibration that shook the entire building of the guild, instinctively Klaus-san and I looked at each other, and then turned our gaze sideways.

Donovan-san, who is in a state of anger, stands there with his arms folded.

I think the vibration was caused by Donovan-san stomping his food just now.

"I'm not free enough to watch you two bicker ..."

"Well, let's get to the main subject ... right, Kent."

"Yes, of course, Klaus-san."

Cold sweat also gathers on Klaus-san's temples.

After clearing his throat again and again, Klaus-san began to talk about the main subject concerning my classmates.

It seems that the commotion started as a trivial argument about judging glares, smug looks, cockiness ... etc. At one point, Kondo intervened to settle the matter.

However, fake glasses said something unnecessary, and it became a skirmish again, and Kondo who stepped in this time got beaten up, and it seems that it developed into a brawl in which both sides got mixed up.

In the brawl, the old and new duo and fake glasses pulled their swords out and fought, and it became a bloody situation and riled everyone up even more.

In the confused situation, Takayama tried to use magic, and the opponent who felt the danger got out of the way, so he missed his target, and a fireball flew into the storefront of the shoe store and burned it up all at once.

"To be honest, it's a child's fight. It's ridiculous to judge which one is worse. But it's a different story if you wield a weapon and burn down a store with magic."

"Yes, I'm sorry."

"The Volzard brats were also arrested and confined, and will pay a fine based on their charges. Kent, I decided to impose forced labor on your companions."

"Yes, I heard a little about it yesterday."

"Originally, slapping a light fine on a person is fine, but your companions have no money, and a heavy charge would be confiscating the guild card and expelling them from the city, but if they go missing, you're in trouble ... isn't that right?"

"Yes, if I can rescue those who remain in Lastock, I would like to negotiate with Camilla as soon as possible and return everyone to our original world as soon as possible, so they will go home. I don't want to not know where they are when that happens."

Klaus-san nods at my explanation.

"I thought that would be the case, so I made it into forced labour, but of course they will be treated as criminals until the end of their sentence."

"Yes, that can't be helped anymore."

"Kent, how are criminals treated in your country?"

"Well, in my country? Um ... I wonder if they get dressed in a prison uniform and have their hair cut ... so they put them in jail."

"What do they do when they go to work outside?"

"Well, outside is it? Umm ... maybe handcuff them and move them ... I don't understand much, so I'm not sure."

"What is a handcuff?"

"It's like a lock with a chain that connects your hands like this?"

"Really ..."

After listening to my explanation, Klaus-san started to talk after a while.

"Kent, it's forced labor, but the place is the construction site of the ramparts."

"Yes, I went to work there before, right?"

"No, I'm afraid to put them with the general public, so I'll have them do it in the section planned for the future, but in any case, it's out of prison, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I don't know how much magic your companions can use, but they can't go out without doing something."

"Yes ..."

"Then ... I'll use these ..."

What Klaus-san took out of the drawer and put on the desk with a clatter was a bracelet that looked like carved obsidian.

"S, slave bracelet ..."

"Yes, it's a slave bracelet."

"But in Landshelt, slavery has been abolished, right?"

"Yes, slavery has been abolished, but it is allowed for use on criminals."

Those with meagre possessions, low rank, those who cannot atone for property confiscation or deprivation of rank may atone for their crimes with forced labor, in which case magic is used to prevent escape and riots. It seems that slave bracelets are used for the purpose of limiting their actions.

"This is something your companions don't want to see, but it's a necessary step to force them into labor rather than expulsion."

"Yes, that's ... I think so ..."

"Kent, this is different from the one managed by the Resenburg royal family ... can you remove it?"

I was able to remove what I thought was a special product that my classmates had, so I think I can remove what Klaus-san has without any problems.

"Yes, I think I can probably remove it."

"Don't remove it ... If you remove it from your companions without permission, they will have to leave this city, including the rest of them."

"Yes, I understand."

Klaus-san sighed after staring at my face.

"Hmm ... I don't want to say this since you cleaned up the horde of orcs yesterday, Kent, I want you to stay in Volzard in the future."

"Yes ..."

"But I can't just let someone who disturbs the city's order go unchecked, do you understand?"

"Yes, I know."

"The number of days of forced labor depends on what you have done."

"That depends on the content, Takayama who burned Marcel-san's shop ..."

"The sentence won't end until he finishes paying the damages."

Compensation is one million Helts at the moment, and the daily wage for wall construction is 350 Helts, and it will take a considerable period of time to complete the repayment.

I don't think it's a good thing in itself, but after this, if I rescue everyone else and the negotations with Camilla go well, we may be able to return to the original world unexpectedly quickly.

When that happens, will Takayama, who has not paid the compensation, be left behind in this world?

After confirming that, Klaus-san showed a bitter expression.

"Originally, I wouldn't free him until the end of his sentence, however, in the current situation you're shouldering his debt, so I'll give him amnesty only when he returns to your original world. Don't talk about it until then."

"I'm sorry, thank you."

"And I'll allow those who have finished their sentences to use temporary dormitories, but I won't allow you to help their lives. Make them work, earn for themselves, and feed themselves."

From the beginning, I was no longer planning to help the idiots.

"Yes, but let me bear the expenses of the girls who have nothing to do with the uproar."

"Hmm ... are you going to keep all of the women?"

"Well ... that's not the case."

"I know, it's a joke, but I'm just going to say this even if you don't do it."

"Hmm ... that's right ..."

"Well, if after seeing this turmoil and saying they're still going to make a turmoil, whether it's a man or woman, I won't forgive them."

"Yes, I understand, thank you for your consideration."

Once again, I bowed deeply toward Klaus-san.

"Okay, let's end this subject with that, Kent, yesterday's orcs, how many were there in total?"

"Yes, there are 374 in total."

"That many ... What do you think, Donovan?"

"Yes, I talked a bit with Kent yesterday, but this activity should be considered quite large."

"Is there a possibility of a maximum outbreak of thousands or tens of thousands?"

"I'm not sure, but if we don't prepare, what is waiting for us is annihilation."

For a moment, I imagined the city of Volzard overflowing with monsters, and chills ran down my spine.

"What are the measures?"

"IS it enough to check the shutters of each house, and to stockpile food and water?"

"Is the notification to the adventurers ... already issued?"

"Yes, at the time of the rock ogre's invasion, if the alarm sounds, adventurers of rank C or higher were told to gather on the wall."

"That ... I haven't heard about that ..."

"Hmm, won't you come without being called."

"Hah ..."

If the warning bell rings like yesterday, adventurers of rank C or higher will gather at the wall, and adventurers of rank D or lower will be urged to evacuate to the city and evacuate together.

"Oh ... I didn't tell my classmates ..."

"Tell them quickly, I don't know when it will happen."

"Donovan-san, what should I do if we're away from my house or the dormitory?"

"There is a building that accepts evacuees, I'll give you a map later, and the door of the accepting building has a guild mark, so if you don't know the location, look for the mark."

"Well, it's a sword and hammer mark."

"Yes, it's important, so be sure to tell them."

"Okay, I'll go there soon after this."

Most people will be in the temporary dormitories, and everyone who went out looking for a job has Manon, so it's okay today.

For the boys ... I think it's better to explain it.

"Donovan-san, is there any precursor to the outbreak of monsters?"

"If it's a precursor, then things that have happened so far can be counted."

"Is it the size of the horde?"

"Yes, there must have been less than a hundred rock ogres that caused great damage to Volzard eighteen years ago."

"That is ..."

Certainly, I heard that Klaus-san's brother was killed by allowing the invasion into the city at the time of the rock ogre attack 18 years ago.

When I remembered the story I heard during the construction of the ramparts, their eyes were on me.

"Well, umm ... what is it?"

"Kent, I'm really glad you are here, I don't want to feel like I did eighteen years ago."

"Kent, about yesterday's story, think about it."

It's no exaggeration to say that Klaus-san, and Donovan-san, Volzard's top two, if they ask with a serious face, you must also think seriously.

"I will consider it positively, and I'm not sure if we can return to the original world yet, and I am indebted for the time being. Since the number of genus has increased, please be assured that I will leave the personnel to monitor and contact me even when leaving Volzard.

"I'm sorry, please."

Of the five undead kobolds entrusted to the Reinhardt Corps, I decided to leave two of them in Volzard by rotation.

When something happens, I'll have one of them go to me and the other to Reinhardt.

We can move in no time, so it should be okay, but if you come up with a better way, let's improve it.

By the way, let's use about half the orc magic stones that we defeated yesterday to strengthen everyone.

It was a little before noon when I finished the meeting with Klaus-san.

I moved from the guild to the garrison of Lastock and had lunch in the knight's dining room today.

The food for my classmates doesn't look delicious, but the food for the knights is quite delicious.

I'd like it if they could at least serve decent food as much as they eat.

Looking into the examination room where the chairman is, I feel that there are more injured people than ever before.

[ Kent-sama ... Training has become stricter again ... ]

[ That's because it seems like fifty people have been wiped out? ]

[ Although they're knights ... everyone's crazy ... ]

[ I see ... ]

It is believed that even the Novice Hero Takayama was eaten by the orc mages, so it seems that all of my classmates think that they will die if they don't get stronger.

On the other hand, there are some people who have given up because they can't do it if even Takayama couldn't do it.

For such people, the knights' beatings seem to be terrible, and as a result, the number of injured people is increasing.

The chairman is desperately continuing treatment with a deep blue face.

It's hard to watch anymore.

After finishing the morning treatment and after Erna left, I came out of the shadows, hugged the chairman, and immediately cast a healing spell.

"Kent ... it's painful ..."

"I'm sorry, I'm moving the rescue operation forward, so do your best a little more."

"Stupid ... stupid Kent ... you smell like a girl again ..."

It's dangerous, I was hugged by Beatrice and I forgot to hug Manon.

"Sorry, I was careless this morning, and got hugged ..."

"Hmm ... I won't consent, but once I go to Volzard, we'll face each other directly."

"No, no ... that is ..."

"Be prepared, if you don't come to pick me up as soon as possible ... I'll go wild."

"Hey ... but I'll do my best."

"All right ..."

After kissing my cheek, the chairman kept hugging me and didn't let go until Erna came back.

[ Kent-sama ... one step closer to the harem ... ]

[ No, I feel like I'm getting closer to bloodshed before that. ]

However, I'm a little happy, aren't I?

"Goshujin-sama, we will lick too."

"Peropero, Peropero!"

"Pat me, pat my stomach!"

"Yes, yes, I understand, I understand."

Let's Fluff before going to Volzard's garrison dormitory.

For a long time, I petted everyone.

Stroking each in turn and being licked to the fullest, Mart and the others were satisfied, so let's head to the garrison's dormitory.

When I went to the courtyard of the garrison, all the girls were practicing horseback riding under the guidance of the stableman Raymond.

"Hello, Raymond-san."

"Oh, did Kent come to train?"

"No, I'm here for a different matter ... I'm sorry, I'm sorry to trouble you."

"Hmm? Oh, I'm saved rather than being troubled, because everyone has been conscripted for the processing of the orc corpses, so it's a great help for the ladies to help me with horse care and stable cleaning."

"Wow ... I'm sorry, I left that unfinished ..."

"Aha, what are you saying, I don't know how many people would have died if we had to deal with that many orcs, no one would complain and would rather be grateful."

"Hmm ... it makes me feel better."

"So, is there something you need to do?"

"Oh ... that's right."

The people who are with the dekoboko sisters are the group of Sumika Kizawa.

I looked at her face, she had a sulky look on her face, but once I interrupted their horse riding training, I handed out the map I got from the guild and explained it.

"If the alarm sounds when you're in the city, run away to the buildings with the guild mark, and my genus will deal with the monsters, but unforeseen circumstances may occur, so pay attention."

Unlike yesterday, today is a life-threatening story, so everyone seems to be listening seriously.

I asked the dekoboko sisters to tell the girls who don't want to work.

"Raymond-san, what should we do when the alarm sounds here?"

"Ah, it's basically the dining room that we evacuate to. The dining room has food and the building is sturdy, so it's the best place to have a siege."

According to Raymond-san, the cafeteria was originally designed to withstand a siege, and it can directly access the food warehouse, and there is water and cooking utensils such that 100 people can survive for about a month.

Even if thousands or tens of thousands of goblins and kobolds attack, they will have to move if there is nothing to eat, so there is a high possibility that they will disappear if they wait.

The buildings designated as evacuation shelters in Volzard are designed to give you time to wait, and it seems that food is stockpiled in each building.

It is said that Klaus-san prepared such evacuation buildings.

Klaus-san, who lost his brother who was the lord in the rock ogre invasion 18 years ago, is working on the construction of the walls and evacuation buildings so that no one will be sacrificed.

If he's not being an idiot parent, I respect him as a great person.