Chapter 184 - Chapter Eight: Monster Hunting Request
It was the end of August.
When I returned to Nakanohara after finishing the last bat extermination of the year, a messenger had come from the Archbishop.
Due to the worsening political situation between Regnentes and Engrio, Medioland had also entered a state of combat readiness, and I was informed that the investigation of the mountain would be postponed.
Well, it was as expected.
I was worried about what I'd do if I ended up having to investigate in a place where James-sama wasn't present.
Instead, there was a job request from Adolf-san to the Marcelo Company.
He said that if Engrio invaded Regnentes, he wanted us to go to Southern Nakanohara.
"This is a letter from the Prime Minister. In other words, it's a request from the Royal Palace."
When I checked the inside, it had Lord Evans's signature.
"We're monster hunters. Not mercenaries."
Paul-san made the first strike.
"No, you don't have to fight Engrio. And the targets you'll be watching aren't the Engrio army. They're monsters."
"Monsters?"
"Yes. They'll be marching through the mountains from Engrio. The magic beasts in the vicinity will all flee at once. They might cross the border. That would be a disaster. I want you to team up with the local hunters and wipe them out."
Bonnie was delighted. Southern Nakanohara is her birthplace.
"What happens if we accidentally cross the border?"
Suddenly, Beatrix said something scary. Illegal entry during a war shouldn't be taken lightly if discovered.
"Regnentes is an ally, so it should be fine, but whatever you do, don't enter Engrio. You won't be able to come back. Well, since the assigned area isn't toward Engrio, you won't go there unless something extraordinary happens."
"Then, will we be scouting near Regnentes?"
"Yes. It will be Southern Nishi-Nakanohara."
Apparently, we can build several mountain huts in Southern Nishi-Nakanohara and temporarily connect them with magic circles. That way, Angelica-san can commute.
"Let me confirm. We are to guard the Regnentes border and defeat any monsters we find, correct?"
Rarely, Marcelo-san repeated the instructions.
He had a solemn face.
"Exactly. We're counting on you. The reward hasn't been decided yet, but if you actually go, it will be a participation reward. It's four gold coins per person per month. All necessary expenses will be covered by the town. However, the town gets all the fur and meat."
Per month?
That's unusual.
Well, it's not a bad reward.
"I want you to start as soon as Engrio's march begins and continue until the campaign concludes."
"What happens if it becomes a month and one day?"
"It'll probably count for two months."
"Is it okay to just get paid for the remaining days?"
"I don't mind. If the contract is on a monthly basis, that's only logical."
What a strange contract.
When I looked at Angelica-san, she was in demon mode.
I'll have to ask her about this later.
Returning to the company office, I immediately asked about it.
"Everyone's acting a bit strange. Was there some problem with Adolf-san's story?"
When I asked Paul-san, he said there was no problem.
In short, it's monster extermination.
Even so, everyone's expression was serious. There was none of the usual cheerful feeling.
"How many monsters do you think will come?"
When Beatrix asked, Paul-san crossed his arms, wondering if it would be five hundred or a thousand.
"No, please stop joking. There's no way we can handle that many."
I couldn't help but interject.
"No. It's not a joke. You should be prepared for a thousand,"
A thousand! M-Marcelo-san! What do you mean by that?
According to Marcelo-san's explanation, in short, there's a possibility that mages on the Engrio side will sick monsters on Sertoria.
"In short, as long as there's no evidence, even if an Engrio monster tamer controls a group of monsters—especially magic beast types—and sicks them on Sertoria, it won't be considered an act of war. Besides, there's no way to stop it, so we'll just have to take it."
"Why against Sertoria..."
The moment I tried to ask, I understood.
After Regnentes, it's Sertoria...
I heard that in the previous Great War, the Sertorian army pinned Engrio down in the border forest.
That's why they're releasing magic beasts to ravage the area first.
It would be killing two birds with one stone if the number of hunters active as scouts decreased.
"If monsters were to invade the plains, it would cause great damage. We have to stop them somehow."
W-With Robinson-san's counter-taming...
"We can't send Robinson-san this time. A special request has come from the Royal Capital."
Come to think of it, Robinson-san is absent this time.
If he had participated, he would have been a great asset.
"He's likely going on a reconnaissance mission near the Engrio border along with the Jaegers."
He's going to war...
I've heard that Robinson-san's family was killed by Engrio.
"He's going for revenge, isn't he?"
Beatrix lowered her gaze.
When I leaned in and pressed against her, she gripped my arm.
Beatrix is also originally from Regnentes. Specifically, probably a village near the Sertorian border.
But since the reason she came to the orphanage wasn't the war, there's no need for her to go for revenge.
"He must have his own thoughts on the matter. He said his role is to fly birds from within the country to find out the position and scale of the Engrio army and inform Regnentes through scouts. Since there's also the matter of the goblins, I don't think he'll be on the front lines. I'm sure he'll come back."
"What will happen to the goblins while he's gone?"
Robinson-san is an irreplaceable existence for the goblins, acting as an intermediary with humans.
"Flora, you understand, right?"
At Marcelo-san's words, I looked at Flora, and she was nodding.
"I was asked to look after them if something happened to Robinson and he had to leave the goblin nest."
She slipped out of her main body and hugged me.
"I'm sorry. I can't go with you."
"It's okay. More importantly, what will you do if you encounter monsters?"
Apparently, several members of the Nakanohara Jaegers will come to support us.
In that case, it's a relief.
I patted her head.
Come to think of it, she was receiving technical guidance.
Flora would sometimes lower her main body's basket herself and go to the goblins. She was probably acting as an interpreter for the Jaegers.
"Then, it seems we should worry about ourselves."
At Beatrix's words, everyone nodded deeply.
Returning to the Ghost Mansion, I asked Beatrix, Lyudmila, and Bonnie to come to my room for a consultation.
Flora and Fiona also participated.
"I wonder what will happen?"
We've never fought monsters in the thousands.
Even Angelica-san, who didn't lose her smile during the support in the Eastern Plains, had a serious face.
"Like Paul-san said, if a thousand or two thousand don't come all at once, won't it be a war of attrition?"
Paul-san said that based on the number Robinson-san could control at once, groups of dozens or at most a hundred would probably attack almost every day.
The problem seems to be how many mages are participating. However, since they aren't invading Sertoria, they should hold back to some extent, he said.
"A lot of allied hunters will gather too, right? I'm sure it'll be fine."
For some reason, Bonnie is optimistic. I don't think it's that simple.
"Lyudmila. Will you be okay with the field alone?"
When I asked, she said she'd be fine.
"I'll talk to the Jaeger on duty. I'll do my best alone, so it's okay."
There probably won't be a need to stay overnight, but it'll be tough if everything is done alone. If Angelica-san is participating in the monster hunt, she won't even be able to make lunch boxes.
"Don't say impossible things, and have Fiona help you. Fiona, can you look after Lyudmila's meals?"
"I don't mind. But are you all going to be okay?"
"I think we'll be fine. Regardless of just us, Paul-san and Marcelo-san accepted Adolf-san's request, so they must have something in mind."
Beatrix seemed to have known it would turn out like this from the start.
When we talked at the company office, she was strangely calm.
With that decided, Fiona would go to the Flatlands, and then Will burst into the room.
"I heard! Under the command of Defense Commander Adolf, we're going to intercept the magic beasts crossing the border!"
She suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs.
She's calling him Defense Commander instead of Mayor.
"Once the Engrio forces move, the forest monsters will all flee, so the town hall has started selecting people to repel them with all of Nakanohara's strength! All the heads of the hunters in the relevant areas are being called. Didn't you all get the same talk?"
Did she just barge in and start making a fuss without knowing?
And apparently, it's becoming a big deal.
"I'm amazed. Is that what the talk has become already?"
Beatrix was also surprised.
Adolf-san was supposed to have said to fight with the hunters...
"Will, are you going?"
"Yeah, that's the plan. Half of the Resident Affairs Division is going out. Oh, and Hanna-san said she'd participate too. Since squads will be formed with hunters at the center, we have to say which department we want. If the Marcelo Company is also going out, let's fight together!"
Apparently, she invited Hanna-san too.
"Isn't Hanna-san going to team up with Angus-san and the others?"
When Beatrix asked, she said no.
"Apparently, she'll be in charge of the southern part this time. Angus-san will be in the north. Since we have to watch out for northern monsters too, I don't think he'll be stationed there."
"Then, will Hanna-san be with us?"
"That's the plan. There's also the matter of the Eastern Plains. Expectations are quite high."
After saying we might be number one this year, she looked at me and said, "Sorry."
Why are you apologizing?
While I was glaring sideways at Will, who was looking in a completely different direction, Beowulf and Matilda arrived.
"Hey, I heard the whole town's fighting monsters. You monster hunters are going too, right? Let's team up and show off the skills we've honed daily!"
She's completely fired up.
I hope she doesn't plan to shoulder her warhammer and charge into a group of monsters.
"It seems everyone's going to repel the monsters crossing the border. The guard is participating too. Why don't we team up? It's been a while since we all fought together, right?"
"Whether it's boars or bears, as long as it's not rats, leave it to me!"
Matilda showed off her clenched fist.
Well, there shouldn't be anyone sicking rats on us.
"Is the guard coming too?"
When I asked Beowulf, she said half of them would be watching the forest.
Since they'll be fighting alongside the hunters, it seems the usual formations will be dissolved.
"The Mayor will likely take command. They'll build several mountain huts as bases, set up monster-repelling fences, and defend from there. Since the formations will be based on those mountain huts, could you let us into the hut guarded by the Marcelo Company?"
While I was dumbfounded, even Mary arrived.
"Hey? My sisters were saying that a lot of monsters are going to attack from Regnentes, is that true?"
When did the story become like that?
Apparently, a crowd has gathered at the vigilante meeting place.
"It's becoming a big deal, isn't it?"
Beatrix sighed.
"Adolf-san is really going for it."
"What do you mean?"
"He's launched an information war against Engrio. Saying we're fully prepared, so come if you're coming. If they don't come because of that, it's a win. If they do, he intends for everyone to repel them. I'm sure he'll take the lead in command."
I wonder if the money will hold out? If he's paying rewards to that many people, won't the budget hit rock bottom?
"Beowulf, Will. Will there be a special reward?"
When Beatrix asked, both of them said no.
"It's part of our duty. It'll count toward our record, but there's no bounty."
"Indeed. It's the duty of those in public office."
"I thought so," Beatrix muttered.
"Hey, Bonnie. About how many hunters are there in the villages near the Regnentes border?"
Bonnie thought while swaying and answered that it was probably over fifty.
"This time, participation rewards are only for hunters and us civilians. Four coins per person per month. Assuming the number doubles to a hundred people, that's five hundred coins including expenses. For four months, that's two thousand coins. Will, you can afford two thousand gold coins, right?"
"Of course we can. Taxes come in in October. Even assuming children are half-price, the poll tax for Nakanohara Town alone is over three thousand gold coins. And if you include the villages, over ninety thousand people live in the entire Nakanohara region. The poll tax for villages is cheap, but you can imagine the rest."
"Besides, all the profits belong to the town. If civilians hunt a lot at once, the price will drop sharply and there won't be much profit, but if the town stores it in the icehouse and puts it up for auction while watching the market, it'll be a decent amount."
But why is even the vigilante group making a fuss?
"That's the point. Just watch as the entire Nakanohara area enters a state of combat readiness. We won't be invaded so easily. It's surely a deterrent."
"Then, maybe the monsters won't come?"
If so, we'd be able to get the reward easily.
"Based on the current talk, won't they come?"
Will was crossing her arms.
Her daily behavior is... well, that, but she's smart.
"It's likely true that magic beasts flee when a large army passes through the forest. The more magic beasts that flee, the larger the number of troops. In other words, it also serves as a demonstration of power to the enemy. If we can drive them away and add some flair to it, all the better. In the unlikely event that we lose the battle and have to withdraw, we won't have to worry about being attacked."
"If we drive them toward the Sertorian side well, it could stall their reinforcements just in case. The highway is a mountain path. It also serves as a countermeasure against Regnentes's ambushes. It might be convenient for Engrio if they flee this way to some extent."
Beowulf said, as if following up.
As expected of two people with high goals. The future Prime Minister and Commander of the Royal Guard say different things.
I've told them about the [Subordination] using forbidden magic, but they're properly glossing over it.
"Who cares? They're coming from over there, right? Let's all do our best and earn some money!"
Among the three combatants, one of them is saying something different, but I guess it's fine.
"That's how it is. I was surprised at first too, but I thought Adolf-san would do something. Probably, by now, Marcelo-san and Angelica-san are hearing the story from everyone in town and feeling relieved."
Beatrix summarized. It seems like it'll be okay.
In the end, Mary also said she'd participate.
"Because everyone's going, right? I hate being the only one left behind to look after the house."
Um, Lyudmila and Fiona are there, though.
"Mary, I'm sorry, but could you look after the shop and make meals for Lyudmila?"
When Beatrix said that, she asked, "Can't I commute?"
"I'm not saying every day, but could you let me participate about twice a week?"
"Is there something?"
"I'm going to master water magic. I want to learn [Ice Cube] somehow."
[Ice Cube]?
"You, you're planning to make an icehouse, aren't you?"
Beatrix seemed to have seen through her.
"You figured it out?"
"I can tell. You're going to serve cold beer when a lot of hunters who earned money from monster hunting come to the bordello, right?"
"That's right. The current icehouse is small. I want a slightly larger one, but it's expensive, isn't it? After all, beer has to be served well-chilled."
But the temperature is going to drop from now on...
"It's fine because there's a fireplace. I'll have the customers who come in the cold warm up sufficiently by the fireplace, and then have them drink cold beer there."
"...You're so peaceful."
"Oh? Peace is the best!"
Matilda was bursting out laughing, but I guess it's fine. I'll have her commute with Angelica-san.
It's better to have more hands.