Chapter 38: "Departure"

Chapter 38: "Departure"

We returned to the Oratorium mansion in two days as planned.

When Fatima heard the report from us after our return with a nonchalant look on her face, she was deliberately surprised and made various arrangements.

What a farce.

"Now, I guess we are done cleaning up after Zubel. Now that everything is settled, what are you two going to do?"

The place was the reception room.

Fatima, who had heard the report, began to talk about her future plans.

I don't need to be asked. I'm going to take it easy.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but I've decided to set myself up as an adventurer."

Fatima's eyes are downcast with sadness.

That's a real performance. You should be an actress or something.

"You haven't changed your mind?"

"Yes."

"Do you plan to return?"

"Whenever I feel like it."

Fatima simply says, "I see," and now turns her attention to Heidi.

"Heidi-sama will now..."

"I'm going with him!"

Heidi replies with eagerness.

Let her finish.

I mean, I haven't heard anything. What are you deciding for yourself?

"I want to be with him... well... him... yes! I want to be with him!"

............ Yes?

Fatima narrowed her eyes.

"Can I take that to mean that you have feelings for Mr. Rothfeldt?"

Oh, come on, come on, come on.

What are you talking about?

Heidi was silent for a moment and then started to panic, her ...... cheeks flushed.

"No, no. It's not like that. No, no."

For a while, she kept saying, "No, no, no."

...Ha-ha-ha. What is this? Can you please do this somewhere else?

Heidi took a few deep breaths and regained her composure.

"I respect him... not as the opposite sex, but as a person. ...... I want to travel with him and find what I'm missing!"

I'm glad you're so determined, but don't drag me into it.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your excitement, but I didn't agree to go with you, did I?"

"...... what?"

Heidi was staring at me with a "why?" look on her face.

No, "Why? is my line.

What are you trying to take for granted?

"......Why... no, that's what you're saying..."

She started to mumble something.

Huh? What was she convinced of?

Heidi looked down as if thinking about something, then brightened her expression and looked up.

With cheeks flushed....

"Oh, he and I have pledged our future to each other."

Fatima moves her eyebrows and looks at me as if to say, "I didn't hear that."

What is she talking about?

I don't remember pledging my future to you.

"He...well, he told me. He said he would give his heart and soul to me..."

Ha-ha-ha. Don't make me laugh.

I'll kill you if you talk too much.

I slowly put my hand on the sword at my waist.

"Fatima-san must have heard that."

Fatima looked a little thoughtful...

".............You certainly mentioned it."

Hey, hey.

What are you even saying?

Did I say such a stinky, toothless line ......... Oh, I did.

I think I said that to agitate Fatima when we fought in front of the mansion...I did say that.

"Yes, that's why I'm going with him!"

She came at me with a lot of force.

You've been saying a lot of things that aren't quite right.

Why do you want to come with me again? I wonder what you're up to...

And stop making that smug face.

What are you trying to accomplish?

"I'm going with him!"

"Where are you headed from here?"

"After reissuing my adventurer's plate in Acothern, I'm heading south to the Medream Territory. After that, I plan to tour the continent as I see fit."

Fatima leaned over me and began patting me all over my body.

What is this all of a sudden?

"You can come back any time you want, you know? I will always be waiting for you."

Oh, yes, yes. Call me if there are any changes.

I'll contact you regularly.

"Whenever I feel like it."

I said that much and left the place as it was.

Heidi hurriedly followed me.

We were silent for a while, but Heidi, perhaps finding the silence distressing, immediately asked.

"You're going back to Enkau now, aren't you?"

"Yes, as I told you before, I need to reissue my adventurer's plate."

I lost my adventurer's plate when I was attacked in the tavern.

It seems a long time ago, even though it hasn't been that long.

"Do you have to go to Enkau to do that?"

"Yes. Yes, you can only get your plate reissued at the branch where you are registered."

To explain in detail, when you create an Adventurer's Plate, your information is registered at that branch.

Incidentally, I cannot accept work quests from other branches in this state.

If I want to accept a quest at another branch, I have to show my plate at that branch and register it there.

Once that is done, the plate can be reissued (with a fee) even if it is lost.

As a side note, the higher the adventurer's rank, the more expensive the plate is, so higher-ranked adventurers take better care of their plates.

In my case, I only work in Encau, so I can only reissue plates there.

"I see. Then I'll register as an adventurer there too."

Oh, that's good. You have to earn your own food.

I'll at least pay your registration fee.

The travel route is the same as when we came.

We crossed the mountains between Oratorium and Acothern to Enkau.

Unlike the previous trip, there was no need to hurry, so we took it easy.

We arrived at Enkau after spending half a day more than last time.

We went to Hoffer's place, who might be able to get us a place to stay, but we were a bit reluctant to do so, so we took a place to stay in town.

I went to the Adventurers' Guild immediately after my arrival to reissue the plate and complete the registration procedures for Heidi.

Since the plate would be issued the next day, we were both free to do whatever we wanted until then.

Heidi said hello to Hoffer and left early.

I went to a lot of trouble to get a place to stay....

I spent my free time checking on the situation in the city and my request.

There was a bit of a commotion because of the attack on the tavern and Hoffer's mansion, but things seem to have calmed down now.

Currently, I was checking corkboard requests.

What I'm looking for is an escort type request, best if there is an escort quest to Medream.

Hopefully we can get a ride on the wagon.

... the horses are normal, aren't they?

They are slightly different from the horses that were in my world, but they are perfectly horses in name and appearance.

The difference is the horns, and they have a variety of horns, depending on the species.

I thought it might be a unicorn, but it didn't look like one because of the appearance of its horns.

There were goats, sheep, and even one with a horn that I had never seen before.

There are unicorn-like ones for sure, but they seem to be lumped into one category of horses.

Other features seem to be able to use magic or special abilities depending on their horns, but the horses used for carriages and other purposes have their horns cut off so that they can't use their abilities.

Incidentally, horses are so expensive that in some cases, merchants even prioritize horses over goods.

...Well, I don't have any money at the moment, so I don't need it.

Now, what are the requests?

Herb collection. Nope.

Find the lost grandpa. Find him yourself.

Investigate the wife's infidelity. Is this something you want to bring up here?

Searching for and slaying a local dragon. Oh, I didn't know they were still looking. I hope you find it.

Escorting a trading company. Acothern~Medream~....... Oh, there it is.

It goes beyond Medream. The last stop is... the Royal Capital.

I should try to negotiate if I can get off on the way.

I told the receptionist about the situation and asked to meet the client to negotiate.

I thought he might refuse, but he said he didn't mind.

It seems that this trading company is moving while replenishing the guards that left in each town.

That's a good thing for adventurers, isn't it?

We could move around and get some roadside silver.

...At any rate, I had the roadside money and the transportation arrangements in hand.

Our departure is in three days.

After receiving the plate tomorrow, I will do a simple request to kill some time until we can leave.