Volume 7 - CH 4

“Every few years, there is an outbreak of Almiraj in the woods near the city. They rarely come out of the forest, but sometimes they attack peddlers’ wagons. They run away from the strong ones, but they attack the weak ones immediately. …… This is why we are losing business because we can’t get our goods in!　So, adventurer, why don’t you go out in the woods and hunt down about 50 of those horned rabbits?  We’ll be very happy to pay you back!”

The request from the Commerce and Industry Association of Keltz to the guild was something like this.

It was a very characteristic request. I have never seen a letter written in such a colloquial tone, even if it is a letter. It seemed that the culture of requests to adventurers was unique.

“Seika-kun, are you still looking at that?”

“What?　Oh, no.”

At the sound of Ifa’s voice sitting next to me, I folded up the paper copy of the request form and put it away in my garment pocket.

Amiyu and Mabel, who were sitting in front of me, were sleeping soundly.

Three days had passed since we left Lakana.

The carriage carrying us was safely approaching the outskirts of Kelts.

At this rate, we should reach the town before nightfall.

I answer Ifa.

“If we make a mistake in the request, it will be a big problem. I just wanted to make sure.”

“Eh, it’s all right.”

Ifa said optimistically.

“Once we enter the city, we’ll all go to the guild’s branch once, right? 　Because we’ll be able to hear the details at that time too.”

For the time being, that was the plan after we entered Keltz.

Even if requests from other branches are posted on bulletin boards, they cannot be accepted unless you go to the town. The forest where Almiraj appears is outside the city, but it was necessary to enter the castle once.

“I wonder what kind of town Keltz is.”

“…Ifa, it looks like you’re having fun.”

“Yeah, it’s fun.”

Ifa smiled and nodded.

“After, leaving the mansion, it was Rodnea, wasn’t it? The imperial capital, right? 　Astilia, Lakana. And Keltz… it’s not normal for someone who isn’t a peddler to be able to go to so many different cities. I think I’m lucky.”

“Yes… that’s right. Maybe so.”

If Ifa had been born as an ordinary peasant girl instead of a slave of the Lamprog family, she would never have left the village where she was born and raised.

She would have married, raised her children, and ended her life with the ability to see spirits.

Of course, there are those who wish for such a quiet life. Most likely so.

But, if Ifa isn’t like that… even if I had to go with her on the run, it might have been a good idea to take her out.

I say with a small smile.

“From what I heard, Keltz is a fairly large city. They grow agricultural products in the large farms that extend outside the city walls, but basically it’s a commercial city.”

“That’s right, I’m looking forward to it”

“It seems that heavy snow falls occasionally, so it seems like it would be a difficult place to live.”

“…? What’s wrong, Seika-kun?”

“It’s nothing. Oh yeah, thanks to the nearby dungeons, there are a lot of adventurers. That’s why the guild’s branch is also big, so it might be a good idea to listen to various stories.”

“I see. I wonder if there’s a place to eat like Lakana’s branch.”

I let out a small sigh as I glanced at Ifa who spoke in a brisk tone.

In addition to the rare heavy snowfall, Keltz had other concerns.

Keltz, located in the northern part of the empire, is relatively close to demon territory.

Of course, it’s not a frontier near the border where the Imperial Army is stationed. However, we will be closer to the demon territory than ever before.

There’s no danger.

Even though it’s close to the demon territory, it’s a large city of the empire. There is no way that demons will appear in that area.

But… I had a strange feeling.

****

“All right!　Let the almiraj hunting begin!”

Amiyu’s resilient voice echoed through the cold spring morning forest.

After that, our wagon arrived at Kelts on schedule.

After getting off the coach, we headed straight to the guild branch office and went straight to the reception desk, where Amiyu offered to take care of the request with her certificate.

The receptionist looked at us with a confused face as we arrived with only four adventurers, all of whom were just under the minimum order threshold of fifth level, but in the end she accepted the order and gave us the specific location of the forest and instructions on how to prove how many kills we had. Apparently, the achievement requirement was to return with 50 horns that grow on Almiraj’s head. She said that these horns would be purchased separately from the reward, so it was quite a tasty request.

The forest was located not far from the imperial highway.

Apparently, the road was forced through a deep forest by cutting it open, and because of this, there is sometimes damage from beasts and monsters. Therefore, they send out similar requests throughout the year to keep dangerous creatures away from the road.

We had come to the forest yesterday, and everyone, including Ifa and Mabel, seemed to be in good spirits, showing no signs of fatigue.

However, I say to them,

“Still, it’s cold.”

Even though spring is near, there is still a little bit of snow left in the shade of the trees.

In the early morning, it is quite cold.

However, Amiyu says proudly.

“The healer noble is weak. A swordsman can handle it just fine. Right?　Mabel.”

“I’m fine.”

True to their word, the two vanguards were fine in this cold weather. And they were still wearing light clothes. Just looking at them made me cold.

I thought I was crazy, but when I looked next to them, I saw that Ifa looked cold, so they were probably the ones who were crazy.

Well, anyway,

“What are you going to do ….? Walk around at random until we find Almiraj?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Amiyu looked in the direction of …… and there was a rabbit with a mottled brown and white fur.

On its forehead was a horn like a narwhal.

Was that Almiraj?

It looked very different from an ordinary hare. The way it looked at us with its eyes set slightly in front of its face resembled those of a wolf or bear rather than a herbivore.

Without warning, —- the Almiraj kicked the ground.

It turned its horns forward and plunged straight toward Amiyu.

“Hahaha, here it comes.”

Amiyu flicked the flying arrow-like rush with the thin blade of her staff sword. A hard sound echoed through the forest, as if blades had been clashed.

It is difficult to receive a piercing attack, but she is very good at it.

The Almiraj, who had landed on the ground and regained his stance, then noticed Mabel trying to get behind him and quickly turned around.

“You can’t hit it with a throwing sword, Mabel!”

“I know.”

Saying that, Mabel unleashed several throwing swords at once.

Almiraj avoided it with ease, but it seemed that he was completely enraged by that and pointed his horns clearly at Mabel.

Both of Mabel’s hands are fitted with something like simple gauntlets today.

Somehow… it looked to me like Mabel was going to punch the Almiraj with it.

Although she carries the usual battle ax on her back, she doesn’t seem to pick it up, as if she gave up on hitting a quick opponent from the beginning.

Probably, she intends to challenge him with the most maneuverable combat.

The Almiraj kicked the ground again and ran towards Mabel――――,

“……ah”

He immediately turned 90 degrees and ran off into the depths of the forest.

“Eh, you’re going to run away!?”

Ifa panicked and created a blade of wind, but it only gouged out the trees and the ground and didn’t hit the fleeing rabbit monster.

In the meantime, the Almiraj disappeared behind a grove of trees.

“Oh, it escaped.”

Amiyu says regretfully.

“Horned rabbits run away as soon as they see that they can be defeated.”

“…Hey, Amiyu”

I ask timidly.

“Is Almiraj such a monster? Fifty at this rate… how long will it take?”

“Hey hey”

Amiyu says optimistically.

“Because there are so many of them, aren’t there? Once you get used to it, I’m sure it won’t take long.”