Chapter 383 - Chapter 2: Rat Extermination in Engrio
Since walking the passages is a waste of time, we fly over the water channels riding in the bowls. After two round trips, everyone reached the underground of the area where the wealthy live.
The quintet was shouting with joy.
"So this is the Aerial Scout I've heard rumors about."
"It's amazing. Ah—if only I could use wind magic too."
It seems it was their first experience with Flight Magic.
"Are there many people who fly like this in Sertoria?"
"Just a handful. I happened to learn it. Despite how we look, we participated in the Demon Lord subjugation unit."
The quintet recoiled.
"I see. That's why Lord Seldic was with you too."
"Incredible. As expected of high-level mages."
They had been skeptical about the monster rat extermination, but we were able to gain their trust all at once. When I looked at Beatrix, she winked at me. Showing one's ability is important, after all.
"Since we're at it, let's gather a lot of big ones. Let's restock the bait once more. We'll scatter a lot, and once they've gathered, we'll wipe them out in one go."
The mage is saying reckless things, but she has completely won the trust of the quintet. They joined in, saying they should definitely do it since they're at it.
"How long will it take for them to gather?"
At Stephens-san's fortress, after starving them out, it took half a day. This time, there's no starving them out. In that case, we just have to create a similar situation. Fortunately, we have actual experience with the method.
"Let's scatter a lot of bait and wait until evening. Until then, let's aim for normal ones using the rest of the chicken carcasses."
Chicken carcasses cost money, but leftovers can be obtained for free. Usually, they apparently scatter them in small portions in several places, but this time we decided to scatter a large amount in just one place. We'll gather many, including the monsters.
The three men, Bonnie, and Will formed a team to scatter bait and take turns keeping watch so the rats wouldn't approach while they were scattering. Of course, they'll protect it with barriers. For the watch, just throwing small stones occasionally or making noise is enough. Since we protected the skewers from the foxes, rats should be fine even if they are monsters.
Let's have them get sufficiently hungry.
Beatrix, I, and the two Engrio girls are in charge of live capture of normal-sized rats. The two Engrio girls hang the roasted chicken carcasses from the vertical shaft, and I encircle the gathered rats with a wall of Light. Beatrix freezes them. We go around several places and tie up those that have entered suspended animation. For transport, we just have to carry them in the bowl.
Because we were doing it diligently so the chicken carcasses wouldn't run out, we did the capture operation nearly ten times, but we were able to safely catch ten each of males and females. The extra males were defeated and added to the quintet's score.
When we returned to the station to take a break, Will and Bonnie were with one of the boys. The other two are apparently keeping watch.
"You've produced results in half a day. Very well, I shall give you the reward."
Since it was just around lunchtime, King Seldic was also there.
"The mission isn't over yet. The real thing starts now."
"But have you not already achieved the objective?"
"It's the monster rat extermination. Since there might be damage without high-level magic, we're definitely participating."
When Beatrix said that, Henry-sama gave his consent.
"It should be fine. We shall treat you to lunch. Of course, for the five from Engrio as well. Do as much as you can."
"Yay!"
We all high-fived and rejoiced.
Wait? Hold on a second.
"Henry-sama and the others, do you have money?"
When Beatrix, who noticed, asked, Will looked away conspicuously.
"Oh! That's right. We'll treat you, but since we're penniless, we have no cash on hand. Jeanne, sorry, but could you lend us some?"
Does royalty borrow money from a priest?
In the end, it became King Seldic's treat, as he couldn't bear to watch. He rented out a shop he frequents. For the two on watch, two guards ran to take their place.
While the Royal Guards kept watch, King Seldic told the old man who came to take the order to just prepare whatever was suitable.
"It's surprisingly plain."
The penniless royalty is saying something. What did they intend to do for today's lunch? Could they have intended to make do with Highway Cookies?
"This place has been a regular haunt since before I took the throne. When I eat with these guys, I eat here."
The shop we were brought to was, by any account, a tavern in a corner of the lower town. The appearance of the old man who came to take the order was not much different from Owen-san's. Normally, one would never ask who the royal guests are.
"Your Majesty. Who might your companions be today?"
The old man also asks without hesitation.
"Old acquaintances."
"It's Henry."
"It's Eleanor."
Henry-sama and the others are also making their tone more casual.
Below, they finished the self-introductions by just saying their names.
"Heh, I look forward to your continued patronage."
After saying that to the neighboring country's royalty without bowing, he went to the kitchen. What would happen if he knew their true identities?
"I believe he participated along with you as the mainstay of the Demon Lord subjugation unit."
"That's right. He is my sword master. I also learned battle tactics from him. Now he's retired and makes a living like that."
At the place he pointed with his chin, the old man is preparing food.
"It seems he also remembered Henry and me."
"Hoho. You noticed?"
"Since one cannot be a merchant without being able to read changes in expression."
It means they both knew. I couldn't tell any change in the old man's expression. One really can't let one's guard down.
By the time the two from the watch joined and we toasted, the food came out. Bread, cheese, and soup. The soup had plenty of rabbit meat simmered until tender, in addition to beans and carrots. There seemed to be a bit of alcohol in the base mixed with flour and milk, and the rich aroma whetted the appetite. The thick salty taste with the slight bitterness of herbs was just right.
"Peeled shrimp or shellfish would be fine, but this is inland, so that won't do."
"Rabbit is delicious enough."
"Yeah. With this much filling, it's quite a meal."
The three royals are smacking their lips over commoner food. The sense of being out of place is extreme.
"Lord Seldic. Sorry as always."
"Thank you for the meal."
They are apparently treated once every two months.
"It's not the luxurious food of the Royal Palace, but it shouldn't be bad."
"I'll save the luxury for after I become a Royal Guard like my seniors."
The boy who is the leader looks at the guard soldiers. One of the soldiers is laughing while thrusting his right thumb up. The quintet all lowered their heads toward that man.
"Was that person also doing rat extermination?"
When Eleanor-sama asked, the reply was "Yes."
"He didn't learn magic, but since he is good with a bow, I gave him status and made him a scout. He was promoted to the Royal Guard because of his achievements in the previous war. He is a Knight."
Speaking of the previous war, the one where they attacked Regnentes...
"That's right. It was a miserable defeat, but those targeted by Prominence from behind were mainly the cavalry and heavy infantry. The light infantry, especially the scouts, were safe. Thanks to that, during the retreat, they were able to find the escape route accurately and guide their allies. Well, they were probably made to flee quickly. Even so, the signal of the fire arrows and torches he held up was reassuring to his allies. That's his achievement."
The senior Royal Guard bowed to King Seldic.
On the other hand, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama are acting as if they don't know. They are the parties involved. It's only natural.
"Even if we can't learn magic, let's work hard."
"Yeah, let's polish our archery skills too. Shooting in the dark should be useful."
The quintet has serious faces.
"Do you want to learn magic?"
It's Eleanor-sama. The quintet, suddenly spoken to, is surprised.
"Magic is about image. Which magic do you like best?"
"M-Me?"
It's the girl who was complaining. When she checked King Seldic's expression, he lightly lowered his chin while remaining smiling.
"I... guess fire. It's the coolest, after all."
"Fire, is it? In that case, look closely at the flame of a candle and memorize the shape of the fire. Imagine the image of that flame being lit from your palm. It's concentration and image. If it goes well, you might learn Fire Ball."
"R-Really? Can even someone like me learn it?"
"I do not know. However, if you do nothing, you will definitely never learn it. If you want to learn it, visualize the image of fire appearing, and then fire it... let's see. Let's light the firewood."
Actually, she produced fire from her palm and fired it at the fireplace. There was a crackling sound and the firewood caught fire.
"I-I understand. I'll try."
The girl looks alternately at the candle and her right palm. She must be trying to create an image of magic fire.
"Is it alright? If my country's mages increase, our national power will rise."
King Seldic said to Eleanor-sama. Come to think of it, it's an act of aiding the enemy.
"If you were in my position, you would have taken a similar attitude."
"That might be so."
Henry-sama is laughing.
These three must surely be of the same kind.
After the meal was the monster rat extermination.
Saying they hadn't seen it, not only Henry-sama and the others but also King Seldic participated. On the condition that they wouldn't interfere, it became a viewing from Wilson-san's bowl.
Since the bait-scattering team had gathered the bait in a corner of a wide area, we can completely corner them.
"Now, let's go all at once."
The opponents are rats. We should be able to defeat them without much trouble.
First, I produce four Fireflies, securing light and encircling the rats at the same time.
There they are, there they are—seven or eight monsters and a large number of normal-sized rats. The number is too many to tell, but it's much more than what we encountered in the underground of Stephens-san's fortress.
When a monster rat turned back and bared its teeth, the rats at its feet squeaked loudly. The one in front is even making preparations to pounce by lowering its posture. It's not afraid at all.
When I increased the light intensity all at once, the swarm became chaotic as they tried to flee into the corners, hating it.
"Now!"
Starting with Beatrix's lightning magic, the remaining seven fire holy water arrows all at once.
While rats were falling one after another, rats ran toward us as if climbing over the carcasses.
This is unexpected.
The rats are charging with their eyes closed. Their bodies are gradually losing fur due to the influence of the high-level Light, and they are becoming bald rats. Even so, they charge without concern.
The boys, who held shields I brought just in case with both hands, supported them and somehow repelled the pouncing rats. The others put down their bows and began to respond with one-handed swords and daggers. It became a melee.
"T-This is bad. Let's run."
"Idiot! If you run, you'll just be caught! Hold your ground!"
They are desperately supporting the shields that the rats are slamming into with thuds. Through the gaps, they thrust swords and daggers.
"Wind Barrier!"
If the light of exorcism is no good, then a wall of air. The rats are at a standstill at the wall created in front of the shields and try to climb the wall.
The allies also can't make a move.
In the end, after regaining our posture, we rapidly deactivated the Wind Barrier to blow them away, followed up with Over Flow and holy water arrows, and repeated that three times to finally exterminate them.
Fortunately, no one was injured, but as a battle, it was miserable. Although the numbers were large, we have two high-level mages plus sufficient people. However, because the rats were in a clump, the Over Flow was mitigated and those in the back survived. Furthermore, it was revealed that if Light is not strengthened, although it is effective, it cannot stop a charge if the opponent becomes desperate. As expected, rat extermination allows for various studies.
"Somehow, I underestimated the rats. I failed."
Beatrix is also shrugging her shoulders. Since the quintet was completely terrified, both of us apologized, saying, "Sorry."
"It is because you cornered them carelessly. When you completely cut off the escape route, the enemy becomes desperate. Would it not have been better to leave an escape route and concentrate attacks on the rats that flee from there? However, you achieved the objective and earned a bonus. Strive and gain more experience."
"Oh? Is it alright? To say something that will further strengthen my country."
"I do not mind. If you were in my position, you would have said something similar."
At King Seldic's words, Eleanor-sama is smirking.
Henry-sama is laughing loudly.
These three. Are they actually close friends?
The final result was eight monster rats and one hundred and thirteen normal rats.
Our reward is one gold coin, but the quintet earned nearly half a month's worth of results, plus a special allowance of eight silver coins.
"This should be divided among the nine of us. Since we defeated them with your magic, you guys should take one silver coin each."
The leader of the quintet said.
"It's the opposite. It's our fault we struggled. And since our reward is fixed at one gold coin regardless of the number. We have no reason to take the special allowance."
Beatrix flatly refused.
They were arguing about whether to divide it or not, but the one who settled it was King Seldic.
"I will add two silver coins. Divide the special allowance among the five of you. These four are my guests. It is my duty to entertain them. Do not worry."
Heh, he's quite cool.
The quintet also obediently followed their own King's words, saying, "Thank you very much."
After that, we returned to the station and reported. The approval is from the King. The quintet safely received the special allowance.
"What are you going to do now?"
Beatrix asks. If they achieve the quota, they don't have to do rat extermination.
"Hmm," the five of them folded their arms in unison.
"You know, if it ends once you achieve the quota, you won't be motivated. You should at least give a special reward if they exceed the quota. Also, I think it's better to aim for stronger ones, not just rats. That makes it easier to learn magic too."
"That won't do. There's something called a budget. Besides, while these guys might be okay, foxes and bats are too much for the others."
"That's why you share. You team up with strong people. You work hard to deal even a little damage and learn how to fight. We were taught how to hunt by Jaegers who use high-level magic, and we challenged boars and bears at an early stage. That's more training."
"B-But, the salary and profit are different for rat extermination and fox extermination..."
The foreman is hesitating. Is this the wall of the status system?
"It should be fine. Assign one as an apprentice to the fox extermination. However, the salary and fines are the same, and there's no bonus. In exchange, for the experience they gain, raise their salary once they grow quickly. I will secure the budget."
"I have received your command."
The foreman consented.
"T-Thank you very much, Lord Seldic."
The quintet clapped their hands in joy and said their thanks.
"In exchange, the danger of getting injured will increase. Also, you are not to be a hindrance to your seniors. Ah, say your thanks to the monster exterminators of Sertoria."
"Ah, yes. Truly, thank you. I'll work hard on the image for magic."
"That's Eleanor-sama."
"Ah, right. Thank you very much."
"Work hard. Magic is concentration and image. And monster extermination is spirit. However, do not overdo it."
"Yes. I'll do my best."
The countries are different, but we are the same monster exterminators. I hope there will be a day when we can meet again.
Just like that, we departed from the Royal Capital, seen off by King Seldic and the members of the monster exterminators.
"The next time we meet will surely be in heaven."
Eleanor-sama says to King Seldic.
It's a bit spiteful.
"I would like it to be so, but the gods we believe in are different. Surely our destinations will be separate."
On the other hand, King Seldic has a relaxed smile.
"I wish to avoid meeting again while we are alive."
"It was miserable in Regnentes. I would like it to be so."
We boarded the carriage, and King Seldic returned to the Royal Palace without even turning around.