Volume 2 Chapter 96 Request For Reinforcements From Izerland Fortress I
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I’m here.”
As I called out to the old Guild Master who entered the tavern hall, he strode over to the table where Kian and the others were sitting, accompanied by his staff.
”Kian, I’m presenting an urgent quest to you. Here.”
The sender was Natasha, the Head Magician.
Apparently, while investigating the mishmash of the mithril golem and the underground ruins, she sensed a magic power wave believed to be from a ‘Thorn Demon’ in the northeast of Izerland.
If that Demon has revived, it would undoubtedly cause tremendous damage to the surrounding ecosystem if left unchecked.
She insisted they immediately investigate.
”……”
He silently placed the finished document on the table.
Serena, Natra, Rufna, and Aliona leaned in to read the urgent quest’s details.
Except for Aliona, the others furrowed their brows with each line they read, while Aliona tilted her head in confusion.
Friedrich spoke up.
”This quest has been personally assigned to you. However, given the nature of it, I plan to send along several staff members. You need only report whether the Demon has revived and collect samples of the contaminated soil and thorn brambles as requested in the quest. But──should you encounter a freshly awakened Demon, it would be greatly helpful if you could assist the staff.”
”Of course. The document states ‘depart as soon as possible.’”
”Indeed. The Adventurers’ Guild will fully support your preparations. I’ve already contacted the ‘Knights of the Sun.’”
There was a sense of reassurance that everything would be alright if Oswald was coming.
Since he heard ‘Thorn Demon’ is a vampire, he should be a perfect match for the Holy Sword of the Sun he wields.
(But why did they give the emergency Quest to me instead of Oswald from the start? Is it because they know the power of my magic sword, ‘Windsong Blade’?)
”If you gather soil, you’ll get ten gold coins. If you manage to recover the withered thorn’s spikes, there’s an additional 20 coins──a total of 30 coins. That’s an incredible reward for a gathering Quest. ────Serena, what do you think about this emergency Quest?”
”I think we should accept it. The ‘Thorn Demon’ was a powerful monster that caused a ruckus in this land in the past, right? It’s even become a poem.”
”Yeah.”
Serena raised her eyebrows sharply.
”If it’s possible that it has come back, we should go defeat it. If we leave it alone, ordinary people might get hurt. Even now, the nearby residents might be waiting for the help of adventurers.”
”I see. What about the 2 of you? Any objections?”
Kian covered his face with a hand, looking over at the familiar that was hiding.
Natra and Rufna exchanged glances.
”I have none. If Sir Kian says he’s going, I’ll simply follow.”
”I don’t have any objections either. Taking the quest from the Head Magician instead of the lame reward from Shield Cain seems better for both reward and contribution points. Even if the Demon is too strong to defeat, we could just collect the soil and thorns and retreat for 30 gold coins, right? This is a sweet deal.”
After saying that, Rufna put away her notebook and continued, “But…”
”Isn’t something off? The payout is too generous, and why did they specifically request this serious Quest from the Master? If it’s the Head Magician, then surely Her Excellency Maribel could command Ramsey’s lord using her name. The ‘Knights of the Sun’ are famous for being obsessed with vampires. They’d jump at the chance if it meant getting material for my research.”
”That’s true.”
”If I can move the ‘Knights of the Sun’ and their subordinates, there’s no need to pay Master. Thirty gold coins should be a hefty sum for the current public treasury.”
”But perhaps the lord of Ramsey refused. So it might be that the lord, who was evenly matched at the ceremony, was given the task.”
”────”
The castle is currently short on personnel.
Natasha probably has few soldiers she can mobilize as well.
That’s why it makes sense to request adventurers, but instead of asking Kian, she should consult the guild master of the fortress or Friedrich.
Why did she skip that and come to Kian?
(Something feels off. However, since she’s requesting through the Guild, I should receive money and contribution points once the Quest is completed. It seems best to accept it straightforwardly without overthinking.)
After a moment of silent contemplation, Kian looked around at everyone and spoke.
”I would like to take this request as well, just like Serena. Thirty gold coins. Since I’m not doing adventuring as a charity, we should prioritize this over defeating Shield Cain based on the reward.”
”So, you’ll accept this urgent Quest?”
Friedrich emphasized this while signaling to his staff with his fingers.
”Yes.”
”Good, I will start supporting you immediately. Write down anything you need, like rations and weapons with magic language. I think we can prepare most things. While you head out for the investigation, I will issue an emergency Quest for the advanced-rank adventurers in East End. If we confirm the revival of the Demon on site, we’ll be ready to send reinforcements right away. Now, everyone──”
”Could you wait a moment, please?”
Before the old Guild Master gave his order, Aliona raised her hand, having silently listened until then.
Her usually gentle, priestly voice silenced even the surrounding onlookers with its clear authority.
”──Aliona Gouldrin. You don’t have permission to deploy. It seems that the Western Church will take action, so until then, please follow the instructions of the watchman in the monastery territory and wait.”
”Yes, Friedrich. I know how to handle myself, but one thing. This request from little lady Natasha, it’s probably a fake.”
”What nonsense. This is an official document sent from the Adventurers Guild at Izerland Fortress. The identity of the requester has been verified.”
”That’s not what I mean.”
Aliona looked at Kian and continued.
”‘Thorn Demon’ hasn’t resurrected. To be precise, the heir hasn’t appeared yet. If little Natasha really issued this quest, it’s just a misunderstanding. If not, then if she’s aware that ‘Thorn Demon’ hasn’t been inherited and still issued this quest, she has another purpose.”
”What purpose do you think it could be? The quest doesn’t seem particularly impossible, and even if ‘Thorn Demon’ hasn’t revived, it should be just a journey to have a picnic in the northeast and return.”
”At the very least, using it as a way to kill the Master is far too convoluted.”
”No, I think she wants Kian to go on a picnic, this girl.”
At Rufna words, Aliona dropped her gaze to the documents lying on the table and continued.
”The goal is to temporarily remove Kian from this area. They’re making this quest because having Kian around the East End, near Izerland Fortress, is inconvenient. That girl has some plans at Izerland Fortress.”
”Even if that kind of intention exists, as the one overseeing the area east of East End, I have no choice but to send personnel. It would be too late if something happened.”
Friedrich said this with a stern look.
(Even if what Ms. Aliona said turns out to be a fabrication from Natasha, it would just mean Friedrich secretly peeked at the adventurer’s request and sent out people on his own. For Natasha’s side, it would be something like ‘Sorry for the misunderstanding, we only tried to have the adventurers investigate since the information was uncertain.)
’What will you do, Kian? This one thinks that even if it’s her strategy, it’s still worth going.’
(What’s the reasoning behind that?)
’First, we’ll get money. And going to the Thorn Demon’s resting place means encountering many Bloodsucking Kinds. You could absorb them as vampires, charm them, or turn them into your servants. It’ll be a good change of pace, so it’s not a bad idea.’
(That’s true. Considering my personal situation, that sounds reasonable.)
If it were the Kian from earlier, wearing those glasses, he would have immediately prioritized himself and joined Natasha’s cause.
But now, his thoughts are clouded by the faces of Christy and Maribel.
Should he really leave for the northeast?
”Kian, what will you do? You’re the party leader.”
”It’s a strange request, but if I can get thirty gold coins, I think it’s fine to accept it.”
”If they offer thirty gold coins and say, ‘Go somewhere for a while,’ then accepting it isn’t a bad idea. Given her character, it’s probably a political maneuver. As an adventurer, Kian should just pretend not to know and follow her. But just be aware, this request might be fake. I’ve caused a bit of a stir, but that’s what I wanted to say.”
”——”
Kian lowered his gaze at Aliona’s words.
He quickly calculated the schedule and budget in his mind.
Eventually, he raised his head and spoke to everyone.
”We’ll head to the northeast. As Ms. Aliona said, Ms. Natasha might have some ulterior motive. But if her urgent quest is ‘real,’ it could become irreversible if we don’t act. I plan to accept this quest in cooperation with the Guild leader. We might be tired from yesterday’s work, but let’s start preparing for departure——ah!?”
In the middle of his sentence, Kian suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right arm.
”Kian?”
”I’m fine, Serena. …This is——”
Natra and Rufna, aware of the situation, didn’t cause a commotion.
Kian placed his right arm on the table and rolled up the sleeve of his Nightshade coat in front of everyone.
”——”
”This is…” “──The effect of the ‘promise’ magic scroll.”
His muscular brown arm.
The skin revealed faint blue patterns.
As Aliona said, it was the effect of the ‘promise’ magic scroll.
If this had activated, it meant that the person who handed him the scroll had called for Kian’s help.
The image of the stubborn black-haired witch appeared in his mind.
Kian slowly withdrew his arm from the table and showed his arm with the glowing patterns to the silent onlookers.
”It’s probably a rescue request from Izerland fortress. Ms. Aliona was right. Something’s going on there. Since the scroll activated, a quest has automatically been issued. I expect to hear from the Guild there soon.”
Before Kian could finish his sentence, a new intruder appeared at the tavern, ‘The Boar’s Trot Inn.’
It was the receptionist Miruru.
The pink-haired receptionist, with twin tails, caught her breath at the door and held up a sheet of paper high.
”Mr. Kian, are you here!? An urgent quest request from Famille at Izerland fortress!”
* * *
That morning, she had an uneasy feeling from the moment he woke up——
”Mmm…”
After staying awake for thirty hours straight.
Christy, who had lost herself when Kian decided to leave for Izerland fortress, felt better when she woke up in the rest room and found her body much improved.
Though still a bit groggy from sleep, her head was clearer.
Christy removed the blanket covering her and groggily crawled out of bed.
”——”
It was a tiresome task, but she needed to prepare for work.
But before that, it would be wise to at least wash herself.
It had already been 4 days since she last took a shower.
(Kian, he’s already gone, right…?)
She quickly prepared hot water in a tub and cleansed her hair and face.
While the warm cloth felt nice against her skin, her heart felt as if icy drafts were seeping in.
She moved her hands instinctively.
She took care of spots prone to sweat rash, like her armpits and the valley of her breasts.
”…What was the last thing I said to Kian? I don’t really remember, but it feels like I blurted out something that would make him think less of me…”
Stiffening while gripping the cloth tightly.
Christy’s face flushed bright red.
Oh no.
She felt like she said something at the lowest level possible to send her boyfriend off.
In a way, it sounded like something a mentally troubled woman might say──.
(I did it again, it seems… I must’ve definitely made Kian dislike me. Ugh…)
Tears welled up slowly, but before she could fall apart, someone knocked on the door of the nap room.
”Christy? I’m sorry to disturb you while you’re sleeping. But we need you to wake up soon. I’m coming in now.”
”Manon. …Yeah, I’m awake. I’m just wiping down a bit, so if you’re bringing a guard, have them wait outside.”
”It’s just me.”
”Oh. In that case, you can come in.”
”Excuse me.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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