Chapter 62 - Monster-Summoning Monster and the Transferred Protecting the City
The caravan passed through the white stone gates of the city wall and entered the city. The sun was still high in the sky. They were headed for the Mateo Trading Company branch in the city. A group of Wandering People had also planned to stay outside the city, but after hearing about the monster attack, they seemed to have decided to stay within the city walls. The other caravans, arranged by Claire through the Mateo Trading Company, parked at stables operated by other trading companies. The Mateo Trading Company had also arranged our inn. We were assigned a room that could accommodate all six of us. I had made plans to pick up Karpana later in the evening. The rest of the party members and I headed to the guild to gather information about the grasshopper monsters. On the way, as we reached the main street, we noticed a crowd had formed. Approaching it, we saw a giant pink grasshopper carcass lying on the ground. Even lying down, its height was no different from mine. The fact that it was dead was evident from the numerous stakes driven into the ground to secure it, and the strange odor of the bodily fluids leaking from it—most likely a stench of rot. The stakes were over twice my height. I couldn't even imagine who could drive them in and how they did it. There were workers trying to remove them. I met Aira's eyes. She gave me a calm look. I considered playfully nudging her in the ribs, but decided against it, as it could be dangerous.
"It's a Big Hopper," Maira said. I wonder if she puts "Big" before everything to make it sound like a monster.
"It doesn't disappear even after death. So, strictly speaking, this isn't a monster," Aira said.
Maira nodded. They must be terrified by the existence of an insect of this size, even if it's dead. Is there more oxygen in this world than in our original one?
"The green Big Hoppers act alone, but when they turn brown, they start acting in groups of hundreds. Their aggression and physical abilities also increase. Inside a closed dungeon, they aren't much of a threat, but in the open field, they're the worst. They always move in large groups, and any city that gets in their way is destroyed."
"Hundreds...? Is this pink one in charge of...attractiveness?"
Is there even a demand for a "sexy" grasshopper?
"The pink ones act as commanders. The brown groups move in sync with the movements of the pink individuals. A Big Hopper herd will arrive here sooner or later."
I looked up at the sky. The blue expanse stretched out before us. Clouds drifted slowly eastward. There was no sign of monsters in the peaceful sky.
"Even when dead?"
"Monsters are controlled by pheromones released by the pink individuals. And it's said that they can sense it even from a considerable distance. There's the story of an adventurer who took on a quest to subjugate a pink individual. But during the battle, he was splashed with the monster's fluids. After returning, the entire city was attacked by Big Hoppers."
Maira finished her explanation.
"It would be terrible if we were attacked at night."
"Big Hoppers are diurnal. So, you don't have to worry about that."
I nodded at Maira's response. Then, I couldn't help but glance at Aira. If a horde of grasshoppers of this size attacked, she might die from shock.
"Since they're monsters, it's fine. We just have to defeat them."
As if reading my thoughts, Aira said,
"No, it's easy to say 'just defeat them,' but what can we do if hundreds of these guys came flying at us?"
"It'll be fine. The pink ones are this big, but the others are only about half that size."
Maira said. Even half that size is still big enough.
"...You sisters, I don't think you're right. I wonder who did something like this?"
"Honestly, who did it? Apparently, there was a loud noise in the middle of the night. And this morning, it was like this."
Hyakka was suddenly there. She was with a boy who looked like her brother. The boy was slightly taller.
"Didn't anyone see anything?"
"Looks like it," she replied.
"..."
Could this only be the work of someone with special skills?
"You think we did it, right?"
"I did. Or did you not?"
"Nope. We thought you guys did it. The timing of you arriving in the city is too perfect. But, we heard your conversation just now, so I guess it's not you guys."
It was good that the conversation moved quickly.
"Hey, wanna go on a date with me?"
"Just the two of us?"
I looked at the boy. His features were delicate, almost feminine. No wonder Mizuki mistook him for a girl.
"He's my younger brother, Chihiro. I don't let him walk alone because he's too cute. So, bring one of your own. A double date."
So, they were siblings. Maira was looking at me with bright eyes hoping I would choose her. I tried to call Fam, but Hyakka interrupted.
"All of your party are beauties! Let Chihiro choose!"
"...Well. Fine. But I'm not letting him hold hands with anyone."
Not ideal, but it sounded interesting, so I decided to go along with it.
"Cheapskate...well, okay, pick who you like!"
"Sister..."
Hyakka urged the hesitant Chihiro. He looked at everyone. He seemed about to point to Cecily, then hesitated. Finally, he pointed to Fam. No doubt about it. He's a "small chest" type.
"Fam, come here. Mizuki, please gather information at the guild. And if possible, meet up with Avera. I want to know what she's thinking."
"Got it."
Mizuki nodded. Maira's shoulders slumped next to her.
"Maira, go take a look at the church in this city."
"Mash is so mean..."
Maira responded.
"Alright, let's go."
Hyakka grabbed my arm.
We were climbing the side defense tower, which was a tower between the city wall and the main wall. It looked sturdy, made of stone, but I could feel the aging and deterioration from the gaps and slight warping. This was on the west end of the city. I thought it was just the hustle and bustle of preparations for defending against the Big Hoppers, but there were no guards, and we were able to enter freely. The wind from outside the city stroked my cheek. The four of us gazed at the world spreading beyond the city. To the north was the flower field we'd seen on the way here. There were also herds of cattle grazing in places. The sun was setting, but they didn't seem to be heading back to the barns. Perhaps they don't run away? Farther north, beyond what we could see, lay the forest where we had first arrived, but we couldn't see the city of Richelle from here. To the south, there were wheat fields. It was a peaceful scene. Come to think of it, I also met Emma on top of a bell tower.
"Does the wind always blow from the west?"
"Not always, but mostly during this season. Sometimes the wind changes to an east wind."
Hyakka replied. It was surprisingly quiet.
"You're surprised, right? There aren't any soldiers here. Not enough manpower."
I remembered that there was a city in a state of war to the east. Was this the reason?
"During times like these, do the citizens not fight?"
"They each prepare on their own. But they don't have weapons."
Hyakka continued.
"We were also transferred to this world a year ago. We sometimes go out, but we've always been in this city. So we want to protect it."
Hyakka didn't seem to have any intention of hiding that they were transferees. I wanted to leave the city with the caravan immediately.
"I heard the Big Hoppers move in groups of hundreds?"
"That's the story...But no one knows where the pink one was brought from. And we don't know which direction they'll come from. But it's not the north, apparently."
In other words, Hyakka and her brother's inspection today was a wild goose chase. But the enemy can fly. They can move quickly over long distances. We don't know how the pink individual was brought into the city, but it's likely that the area within half a day's walk has been ruled out.
"How many guards are there?"
"Two hundred. Even with the adventurers, it's less than three hundred. And the city volunteers."
Was there a possibility that there were more monsters? I remembered hearing that the Red Brigade, which attacked Fam's village, had 500 men. Fewer than I expected. But since we don't know the size of the enemy, I don't know if it's enough.
"What about the storage?"
"Storage?"
"Yeah, I was thinking about how to keep them from approaching the city. If we somehow secured the fluids and hid the carcass in storage so that the herd couldn't find it, wouldn't the grasshoppers not come?"
The person who brought the pink Big Hopper was probably someone who has an adventurer's storage, or someone whose companion has one. Only the owner or someone who has been allocated shared permissions can deposit or withdraw items from a storage. I don't know if there's anyone who could put a body of that size into storage, but isn't it more natural to assume that someone brought the remains of a monster they'd defeated somewhere, using some means or another? Then, I remembered that some people had special skills that allowed them to carry monsters. But the monsters that were brought in are technically insects. It's probably not their doing. Where are they now?
"Master, the city is filled with the stench of Big Hopper fluid."
"The fluid is being spread around?"
Fam nodded. What for? Is it spite towards the city? An attack on Hyakka and her brother by transferred individuals? Or a trap set for us, anticipating our passage?
"Then, let's just cut it off entirely. Can't we take that carcass out of the city? We don't have to take it far from the city. We can place it on the west side, somewhere advantageous for us. Lure their main force there and crush them. Then we crush the monsters that have entered the city after that."
We can't prevent enemies flying in from the sky from entering the city. On the other hand, it doesn't seem like there are enough soldiers to cover the entire city.
"Why the west side?"
"I was thinking about who did this. They probably set this up, expecting significant damage to the city. Since they wouldn't want to be caught up in a monster attack, they'd want to escape to a safe zone before it starts."
"That's true," Hyakka nodded.
"I'm guessing the Big Hopper horde is on the west side. This area usually has west winds. It's probably a seasonal wind. During that time, the smell wouldn't reach the west side, which is upwind. During that time, the person who set this up would leave the city. You said that the wind sometimes changes to an east wind. At that time, the smell would be carried to the west side. If we leave the monster carcass on the west side, we might be able to stop its advance before it reaches the city."
I paused to catch my breath.
"To summarize my speculation, the person who created this situation killed only the pink Big Hopper somewhere, secured its remains so the herd wouldn't attack, brought it into the city, hammered stakes into it to prevent it from being moved, spread bodily fluids throughout the city to ensure a monster attack, and anticipated and planned to use the change in wind direction to escape. An ordinary person couldn't do that. They alone could bring the city down. Furthermore, there's also the question of why they spread fluids around the city and even went so far as to leave remains for us to see."
"Wanted to draw attention, maybe? The culprit might still be in the city."
"So, you're saying they're setting something up behind the scenes, using this as bait?"
Hyakka nodded.
"...For now, let's try negotiating with the guild," Chihiro said.
"Assuming they can reliably predict when the wind will change to an east wind. And as for the smell of monster fluid that's been scattered around the city, can't we get the help of the beastmen race?"
Chihiro left the tower. I hope what I said has already been considered.
Thank you for reading. Thank you to those who pressed the like button, bookmarked, and rated. It encourages me to keep going. I'll do my best.
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