Chapter 125 - Chapter 2: Daily Life in May
Spring had arrived, and monster extermination had become stable.
Thanks to Adolf-san's arrangements, we were now allowed to handle foxes and boars around Nakanohara without supervision, in addition to the rat extermination. We could even call for backup if we were shorthanded.
Basically, the three of us—myself, Beatrix, and Bonnie—were the fixed members. For fox extermination, Paul-san and Mary, who came once a week for herb gathering, joined us. For boars, Paul-san and Matilda would join in, and we had started to manage quite well.
As a result of our battles with Orcs and Dragon Revenants, I learned [Holy: Purification], and Beatrix became a mid-level mage at the age of sixteen, learning the fire attribute magic [Flame].
"It's nice that our pay went up, but I didn't think it would be this difficult to use."
It couldn't be used in forests or woods because it might start a forest fire. It was effective for rat extermination, but since it didn't hit all the gathered rats at once, one or two would always escape. Fortunately, she had become able to cast low-level magic without chanting, and since the power had increased significantly, the duration of paralysis from her lightning magic had lengthened.
"Our pay went up, so it's fine, isn't it? I'm still at the low-level."
"Since you learned Purification, you've become Wilson-san's natural enemy."
"I might end up trapped like Mel."
As the day ended and the two of us were laughing in Beatrix's room, Mary brought over a design.
"Beatrix. Check this. It's the one to be sent to Gladys-sama."
Looking at it, it was a one-piece dress with a dark red base and pink and black lines flowing from the neckline.
"You've gone for a rather bold style there."
The shoulders were completely exposed.
Even if one wasn't a priestess, it wasn't something you could easily wear in public.
"It's finished by draping this cloth over the shoulders."
She brought out a pattern for a cloth colored with a marble pattern of light and dark forest green on a white base.
"This is almost Green Marble. It's not a field uniform, you know."
"But since the shoulders are bare, I thought it would be better to cover them."
"Wouldn't it be better to send both the bare-shouldered version and the covered version and let Gladys-sama choose? Only nobles would wear something that shows that much shoulder, anyway."
"What about this cloth?"
"I don't think it's necessary, but... maybe just include it just in case?"
"Maybe it really is too bold..."
"If anything, if you made it a solid red, it might work as nightwear. Or maybe high-society fashion for a dinner party to catch a rich husband."
Wait a minute. I just thought of something good.
"Hey, about that cloth..."
"Jeanne, do you think it's better to have it?"
"No, not that. It might be useful for field operations."
"Wearing Green Marble over Green Marble?"
"For hiding the head or face, or for people who don't have Green Marble to cover themselves and hide, or for covering luggage."
"That's so rugged."
"Call it practical."
I was met with an exasperated look from Mary, who prioritized fashion to the end, but for us, field gear was the basis.
"Do you know the right size?"
Beatrix asked me, and as luck would have it, there was an expert at the orphanage. I decided to go ask the next morning.
At the orphanage, there is an hour of free time after breakfast. If I go then, I should be able to ask.
"Good morning."
"Oh, Jeanne. Good morning. What brings you here today?"
Jennifer-sensei came out to greet me.
"I have something I'd like to ask Henry-sama and the others."
"Right now, they're watering the fields with Lyudmila. They should be around the back."
They're already working? How diligent.
When I went to the back field, Lyudmila and three others were watering the vegetables they had sown.
Being coached by Wilson-san, a former serf, they looked quite practiced. After all, even Lyudmila was being taught by him.
"Good morning. Thank you for your hard work so early in the day."
"Oh, is that Jeanne? What is it?"
They were all wearing Green Marble, though two of them were actually royalty.
"There's one thing I'd like to ask you."
"The watering will be finished in a moment. Wait a bit."
The May Festival is this weekend, and the three of them intend to stay in Nakanohara until then. After all, none of them have any money. Apparently, they take on civil engineering work through Adolf-san to earn daily wages to pay the orphanage for their food and stay. They could stay in a luxurious place for free if they wanted to, but it seems that goes against their principles.
Thanks to that, when we invited Mel to Beatrix's birthday party, she immediately sat on Wilson-san's lap and engaged in a lively, playful argument with him.
By the way, very few people know their true identities, and at the work sites, they apparently eat the same bento as the other workers.
The watering seemed to be finished, and they came over.
"Good work."
"No, no, we must do at least this much. We are being allowed to stay in a very cheap lodging, after all."
The orphanage isn't exactly a lodge, but...
"So, what is it?"
"Actually..."
I asked if a Green Marble cloth would be useful in the field.
"Hmm. I think that's a good idea. Wilson, what do you think?"
I explained it to the expert I was aiming for.
"In my opinion, Green Marble field uniforms don't mean much if the person wearing them is moving around. So, it's good for soldiers in roles where they don't move much."
So it's not suitable for cavalry.
"Heavy cavalry and heavy infantry. Those branches must intimidate the enemy, so it's better if they stand out. If anyone were to use it, it would definitely be the scouts. Also, light troops like archers and mages are better off with Green Marble."
I thought it would sell to all the soldiers in the Royal Army, but I guess not. My profit projections are shrinking quite a bit.
"In other words, you just need to make it so that the guys who usually stand out can carry a cloth large enough to cover themselves. For example, wouldn't a size that could be wrapped around like a sheet for sleeping be just right? That way, they could use it when lying in ambush too."
I see. That way, we can make and sell enough for the entire Royal Army. Linen fabric in sheet sizes is easy to come by, and if we have a loom, we can make it ourselves.
"What about luggage and such?"
"I don't think you need to think about that yet. If they need it, they'll specify the size themselves. It's better to make it as requested later so you don't waste fabric. Oh, if you're making individual ones, put strings on the four corners. That way, they can tie it to trees to use as a blind, or stretch it overhead as a rain cover."
As expected of someone with Henry-sama's endorsement. I received a very convincing explanation.
"If you like, shall I speak to the current King and the Grand Commander of the Knights?"
"Yes, please!"
Henry-sama said something wonderful. If he can tell them directly, we can just wait to make them until they're adopted.
"Oh my, you all look like you're having fun."
Jennifer-sensei had brought well water for the four diligent workers.
Eleanor-sama stood up and helped distribute the bowls.
"Oh, Jennifer, thank you. We were just talking with Jeanne about that Green Marble."
Henry-sama told Jennifer-sensei about the conversation we just had.
Through Adolf-san's mediation, Jennifer-sensei became the instructor and judge for the Green Marble made in Nakanohara. Apparently, one gold coin per month will be paid from the town's budget.
Though small, it contributes to the orphanage's finances, and work can be done by gathering people at the workshop. Since there are children there, mothers with small children can feel at ease.
"My, Jeanne. Thank you. Not only are you helping those in need, but to think you're considering the orphanage's finances even after graduating... it's truly a blessing."
"No, I'm just putting your daily teachings into practice."
"Jennifer. I heard from Jeanne in the Royal Capital. You teach them to become able to use money for the sake of those in trouble, don't you?"
"It is all thanks to the Headmistress."
"You're too modest."
Eleanor-sama looked happy too. Eleanor-sama had said that Jennifer-sensei had received the Headmistress's teachings along with the King and Roberts-sama when they were in the Royal Capital. In a way, she's a fellow disciple of mine.
"By the way, are you all doing civil engineering work today as well?"
"Indeed. We must earn our daily wages to cover our stay until this weekend and the travel expenses to return to the Royal Capital."
"Please don't overdo it. Take care of your health."
"Sorry about that, we'll be careful."
As I watched the three of them talking harmoniously, Lyudmila pulled on my sleeve, signaling it was time to go.
"Well then, Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, Wilson-san, I'll see you again this weekend."
"Yes, I'm looking forward to it."
"Is Mel coming too?"
"She's visiting the festival in Medioland during the day, so she'll arrive after evening. We're having a party at our place after the festival, so please come, everyone."
"I see, understood."
"I'll certainly be there."
"Leave the marble dyeing to me. We shall meet again this weekend."
"Thank you very much. Excuse me then."
Having successfully obtained the expert's opinion, I stopped by the Marcelo Company to go boar hunting, where Matilda was waiting with her war hammer on her back.
"You're late. Everyone's waiting."
I arrived exactly on time, but the Mad Dog is impatient.
"Is Beatrix here properly?"
"Yeah, she was sleeping, so I peeled her off her bed. She got tired of waiting and is sleeping over there."
The mage who had been pounded awake by the Mad Dog was slumped over the table.
She probably wasn't sleeping because she was tired of waiting. It's the usual thing.
Just then, Paul-san and Bonnie arrived.
Apparently, they had been dropping boar bait from the bowl since early morning.
"Everyone's here. Shall we go then?"
The current trend was a strategy of setting bait and launching a surprise attack from the bowl. Since it was a mixture of leftovers from the Mountain Bounty Tavern and grains and beans harvested from the Lyudmila Agricultural Testing Ground, we could rack up numbers without spending money or time searching.
That allowed us to spend more time at the Class of 175 Shop.
It hasn't opened yet, but we have to advertise at the festival this weekend to make it in time for the opening on the following Saturday.
Since everyone is preparing after work, I, who have the most time, have to work hard.
"Alright, let's go!"
Matilda woke Beatrix up by grabbing her by the scruff of the neck and dragging her along.
"Then, let's head out. I've already spoken to Hans, so let's go straight there."
As we walked down the main street, shops that open in the morning were preparing to open.
"Yo, Priestess-Knight Jeanne. What are you hunting today?"
The owner of the pub where I always eat lunch called out. Recently, the combat-oriented members of the vigilantes have been calling me by that mysterious job title. No matter how many times I tell them to stop, they say "Got it," and then call me that again the next time we meet. It's the same thing over and over, so I've given up.
"It's boars today. We're going to the northwest forest."
"I see, then I can expect some boar meat at the Mountain Bounty Tavern."
"Yes. Please look forward to it."
"I heard you're opening a shop soon, have you settled things with the tailors?"
"Yes. I went to greet them last week."
Since we'll be selling marble-dyed clothes, I took Beatrix and Mary with me last week to make the rounds and greet the others in the same trade in town.
I thought they might demand protection money, but when I said we'd only be handling marble dyeing and accessories for young girls, they actually worried for us, asking, "Can you really make a living with just that?"
When Beatrix suggested that during the May Festival, those in the same trade should rent a space together and hold a clearance sale, they were very much in favor. Lately, Beatrix has been busy with drinking parties disguised as meetings. Since the May Festival also serves as our debut, her 'old-man-killer' skill is truly a blessing. If it goes well, we might be able to do it for every event.
When we reached the edge of town, we boarded Paul-san's bowl, which was covered with a sheet, and set off.
"Today, I scattered bait to the west of the lake where we haven't gone before, so there might be quite a few!"
Bonnie showed us the location with a map in hand. Since she became able to do aerial reconnaissance, she's been able to make maps of a wide area. The range for boar hunting can now go quite far north.
"Reclamation is progressing quite a bit, isn't it?"
"Indeed. Since the range of boar hunting has expanded, places that could only be used for grazing can now be planted with wheat and beans."
"Do wolves come?"
"They might, but I haven't heard of any sheep out at pasture being taken, so it should be fine."
"What, they don't come? It'd be more interesting if wolves showed up."
The Mad Dog was saying something dangerous.
"In that case, shall we go bear hunting next week?"
"Sounds good. I haven't scrapped with a bear yet. Gotta go give 'em a greeting at least once."
I don't think either side would want a second time, but will she be okay? A bear isn't the kind of opponent you can just settle for a draw with.
"Ah! There they are. There are six of them!"
The sharp-eyed Bonnie found them immediately. Their faces weren't visible because they were swarming over the leftovers. From above, the trees were in the way, so we couldn't aim.
"Beatrix, wake up. They're here."
By the time Beatrix woke up, we had landed a short distance away.
"Bonnie and Jeanne, circle around to the left. Beatrix, to the right. Matilda, I'll leave the finishing blow to you."
Since the young leaves were lush, we blended into the low thickets and advanced from downwind, slowly semi-encircling them.
The leaves rustled. That was Paul-san's signal. He must have released the bowl a bit slowly.
With that as the signal, a barrage of Holy Water arrows was fired, followed by a succession of [Holy] and [Energy Bolt].
We aimed relentlessly at anything that moved, waiting for the targets to fall into a panic and flee, but as expected, one stood its ground.
"Come at me!"
The moment Matilda barked while brandishing her war hammer, it was one-on-one. The long-range group must not interfere with that one. We'd be severely scolded later.
One was already unable to move.
All that was left was to finish off the rear guard.
As the boar charged in with a growl, Matilda dodged a step to the right and, with a shout of spirit, swung her hammer down and bashed it right between the eyes. The boar, its footing unsteady, crashed into the tree Matilda had been standing in front of from the momentum. The moment she slammed a second blow into the back of its head, the day's hunt was over.
"You're getting better at dodging."
"Is that so? I've been taking Beowulf's charges lately, after all."
She looked happy to be praised by Paul-san.
At first, she would finish off the ones that crashed into the [Wind Barrier] by coming out from the side, but she started saying that wasn't enough and began training with the guard for days until she was battered, just to face them head-on.
"It feels more like a battle than a hunt."
"That's why it's good."
Beatrix probably meant it sarcastically, but it didn't get through at all.
"It's a wonder you didn't join the guard."
"I don't kill people. I just punch 'em."
She really is a Mad Dog. Normally, people would just complain with words.
"But you're in the vigilantes, aren't you?"
"Can't help it if a fight's picked with me. But I don't pick 'em from my side. I hate war."
"I see. At any rate, well done. Once we've bled them, we'll send them to the warehouse and head back."
While bleeding them, we all gathered herbs.
Today, we took down two boars.
Tomorrow is rat extermination.