CH 73

“…… Hmm. If Souya-san says so much, he must be right …… Forest elf lady, I apologize for my rudeness earlier. This Peryton is looking forward to seeing what you can do, Merylou-san, as a Silver-class adventurer.”

The merchant Peryton, who heard Souya’s words, bowed to Merylou.

“No. I’m sure that Souya is the strongest. I wasn’t acting like an adult earlier too. I’m sorry. I promise to do my best to live up to your expectations, Peryton-san …….”

Merylou was surprised to be bowed to and apologized to Peryton in the same way. Even if the client disregarded the appearance of the adventurer, he was still a customer who enriched the adventurer and the adventurer’s guild. As an adventurer, I’m sure Merylou is well aware of this fact.

“…… Well. It’s best if nothing happens on the way. I’m eager to see what you can do, but I’ll need to pay some extra fee …… Ahem. I hope you have a peaceful journey and don’t need to show me your skills.”

Peryton’s coughing and muttering elicited a small laugh from the adventurers.

He had a point, and it was customary for escort requests to pay the adventurers an additional fee if they fought off an enemy during the escort. As a client, it was natural to want to avoid additional rewards.

As for the adventurers, if there is no battle, they will be paid for a few days of walking and sightseeing.

“So, Peryton-san. The silver-class Merylou, the bronze-class Souya, Mia, Tat, and Aisha. These five are fine, right?”

Louise gave Peryton the final confirmation of the request.

If Perytton agrees to accompany the adventurers, the request will be successfully completed.

“Yes, that settles it …… Adventurers, it takes two days to get to the city of Lingen one way. The round trip will take four days. The escort will consist of myself, the coachman, the horse, and the wagon. You will be responsible for your own food on the way, but we will pay for your stay in Lingen. So, please refrain from camping out or lighting fires in the town of Lingen. Anyway, please be sociable in town.”

Peryton seemed to be willing to pay for our lodging and food in the city of Lingen.

I guess he was worried that the adventurers he was escorting might give a bad impression to the people in town. It was true that outsiders camping out and lighting fires in the city could be seen as suspicious.

Lingen’s favorability in the city is a matter of his future business. The fact that he generously paid for our stay, including the escort, was probably due to this calculation. He may be aiming to appeal as a good customer who is willing to pay for the stay of several people in addition to the wine he plans to buy.

“That would be great …… So, Peryton-san, where do you plan to spend the night on the road?”

“There is a mountain lodge on the way to the mountain. We’ll use that place again this time. However, Souya-san, I would like you to take turns guarding the wagons. We need to be careful, especially on the way back. We’ll be loading barrels of wine and bottles of wine right up to the wagon’s capacity.”

Escorting the wagons was an important role. As well as guarding them during the day, the wagons could also be stolen while they were sleeping. It is not difficult for a Thief to open the locks on the wheel stops, and there is a magic that does exactly what it says in the name, called unlocking. Locking is not a guarantee of absolute safety.

“……. I hope you’ll take care of it for me …… I’ve got a wagon waiting at the east gate stop. …… It is now 9:10, so let’s meet at the east gate at 10:00. If there are any preparations to be made, I would like them to be in place by then.”

Peryton took his pocket watch out of his pocket, checked the time, and told the five people who had accepted his request. Then, at the reception desk, under Louise’s direction, he began to prepare the documents to conclude the request.

The distance to the east gate of Ilstadt is only a fifteen-minute walk from here, and we have about half an hour to spare, but it would be better to go to the east gate so as not to be late. The only thing we can do now is to buy some food for the road.

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“…… Souya. You are stronger than me. If you follow up me like that, it’ll only embarrass me.”

After the split up, Merylou complained in a whisper to Souya at the entrance of the adventurer’s guild. It is true that as a result of following up on her abilities, Peryton apologized and Merylou, who made him apologize, ended up apologizing as well.

Souya didn’t mean to say anything wrong about her abilities, but he did make both Peryton and Merylou feel uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry about that. It made me a little upset that you were taken so lightly …… Well, I’m relieved to see that Peryton-san doesn’t seem to be such a bad person. I want to make sure that this request is successful.”

I’m not sure if it was Souya’s pretentious words that ticked her off, but Merylou quickly approached Souya and poked him in the side with her elbow.

“I told you not to be nice to me …… Hmph. I’m going to the east gate stop first. Don’t be late.”

Merylou pulled down the hood of her cloak and quickly flipped herself around and walked away from the entrance of the Adventurer’s Guild. 

Souya looked over her back and let out a sigh as he rubbed his side lightly. He must have chosen the wrong words.

“Souya-san. I think Merylou-san was happy …… She’s not used to being treated gently. I think she feels ticklish about it.”

Mia smiled and told Souya, who had her hand on her side.

From her point of view, Merylou’s attitude just now was not that she was angry.

“I wonder …… I guess it’s hard to get a good sense of distance. I hope Merylou-kun is not in a bad mood.”

Mia was sharing a bedroom with Merylou, and they had become such good friends that they went forest bathing together. Souya also wanted to hear the secret.

“I’m fine. I have a special way to improve Merylou-kun’s mood. I’ll do it for you when we get to the mountain lodge.”