Chapter 69 - New Work and a New Abode
It was the Harvest Festival.
The thirty sets of Green Marble gear I worked so hard to make were completely sold out.
This time, even the hunters bought them. Since I originally made them with a focus on practicality, I'm honestly happy that there's demand from people in that line of work.
Several members of the Jaeger unit took leave and came all the way here to buy them. Or rather, they jumped here using Teleport.
As for the Teleportation Circles, only the one connecting the mountain fortress and Nakanohara was left behind, on the condition that Marcelo-san performs regular maintenance. According to Adolf-san, they plan to connect major bases with large-scale magic circles in the future to prepare for emergencies.
After the sales ended, the five members of the Class of 175 went to the Bird's Head Tavern, where we were suddenly greeted with a toast.
When I wondered what was going on, they told me that I had ranked eighth overall in the Nakanohara Madonna rankings.
"Not bad, Jeanne. Congratulations. I knew you'd climb up the ranks."
Owen-san was in high spirits. He must have voted for me.
"Did you vote for Jeanne?"
When Beatrix asked, he looked away.
He definitely voted for Catherine-sensei.
It's not like it matters anyway. As I sat at the table with an indifferent face, Beatrix asked about the ranking results.
First place was the ever-stable Catherine-sensei, followed by Hanna-san, Angelica-san, the Headmistress, Bridget-san, Amy-sensei, someone from the Royal Army, and then me at eighth.
"Well done, Jeanne. At any rate, you've left your name in the history of Nakanohara."
There's no way. As if the town's history would be made by the whims of middle-aged men.
"I thought we'd get a treat to celebrate, but apparently, the purpose is too noble, so it's a no-go."
Stop that, it's embarrassing.
"Maybe the Jaegers came just to vote for Jeanne."
Those people have already been tamed by Angelica-san's cooking.
"Jeanne. That's amazing. Hey, will you treat us?"
Lyudmila, aren't you being a bit too direct?
She intends to make me pay. In Sertoria, there's a mysterious custom where those who gain good fortune share it with those around them. Just the other day, Hans-san became a victim of that custom.
"There's nothing special about being ranked, you know."
"For saying that, you've looked quite happy for a while now, haven't you?"
"Umu. She is indeed grinning."
"If something good happens, you have to share the luck or you'll be cursed. Let's make some good memories together."
"Jeanne. That's amazing. Hey, will you treat us?"
Darn it. It seems it showed on my face. Not good, not good.
However, there's one thing I want to say.
"Among us, there's someone who made money by selling portraits of people likely to rank. Shouldn't that person be the one treating us?"
Everyone looked at Beatrix at once. She looked away, but eventually gave in.
"Fine, I guess. Only one drink each!"
Cheers erupted. Naturally. It's unforgivable to draw someone's portrait without permission and pocket all the sales.
"You're paying for the food, though."
Cheers erupted again, and in the end, I was forced to treat them.
Wait, wouldn't it have been better not to be chosen?
The next day.
After finishing the rat extermination with Beatrix and Will, I dropped by Vice-Captain Hans-san's place, and he told me that Mayor Adolf was calling for me.
Back when I begged Hans-san for dinner... I mean, when he treated me, he mentioned there might be a new job soon. This must be it.
Apparently, the members of the Marcelo Company are also gathering.
Hans-san said he was going too. It seems like it's going to be a large-scale discussion. It might be another support mission somewhere.
When we went to the town hall, we were shown to a meeting room. In addition to last month's members, Bridget-san and her squad of guards were there. In other words, two squads of guards would be participating.
Robinson-san was also there. Perhaps the goblins would be participating as well.
"To get straight to the point, there's something I want to ask of you all. I want you to go to Higashinohara."
Higashinohara?
"As you all know, last month Lord Roberts conducted a ten-day monster hunt in the Northeastern Forest. Thanks to the efforts of those here, the operation was a success, but if we just exterminate them, we'll end up letting go of the area we seized. This time, we've decided to build a human base in that area, and I'd like your help with that. Of course, this is originally something that should be resolved in Higashinohara, and there's no obligation for us from Nakanohara to go. However..."
Adolf-san looked at us and smiled.
"There was a direct nomination from Lord Roberts. He said he'd like to request the Marcelo Company if possible."
This is a big deal. A request from Lord Roberts through Adolf-san is the same as a request from the country. It's not something that can be easily refused.
"We've never built a base before, though. Is it going to be okay?"
It's just as Beatrix says. Something like that should be a major construction project involving the whole kingdom.
"That point should be fine. We have the first net fortress used in the subjugation the other day. In short, it's a reinforcement of that mesh. I heard you all used various ingenuity at the second net. Lewis from the mountain fortress said it was a great help. You just need to take that one step further. It seems the full-scale construction will be done slowly over time after that."
What exactly are we doing? I don't quite understand.
"In other words, are we building a temporary field position for interception?"
"Yes. Simply put, that's it. The groups that were acting as separate units in Higashinohara are scheduled to advance. The Marcelo Company will be their support. Since some combat with monsters is expected, I'll assign two squads of guards and half of Lewis's unit from the mountain fortress as escorts."
"You intend to keep the remnants of the Demon Lord's army out of Nakanohara, then."
"That's right. And it will serve as a frontline base for future invasion operations against the Northeastern Forest."
Paul-san seemed convinced as well. If it's work in the rear, it's reassuring.
"May I ask one thing?"
It was Marcelo-san. It's rare for him to speak up in a place like this.
"If the frontline base is reinforced, we can prevent invasions from the east, but what about invasions from the north? I believe the biggest problem going forward is what to do about the monsters in the northernmost part of Nakanohara."
True, the remnants of the Demon Lord's army that fled to the north are untouched. If their numbers increase, they might surge southward.
"Currently, there's no way to solve that. Since we can't wave sleeves we don't have, we have to wave the ones we do. Besides, if we suppress the east, we can reduce the number of monsters joining the north. At this point, the only thing we can do is ask Robinson's group to keep watch around the lake. How about it, can I count on you?"
Robinson's group refers to the goblins led by Robinson-san. They've even brought forest beasts into their fold, becoming quite a force.
"That's no problem. However, only in the no-fishing zone around the lake. Otherwise, my companions will be hunted by hunters."
Seeing Adolf-san nod, Robinson-san must have felt relieved. "Then I shall accept," he said.
Forest birds have joined Robinson's group. In other words, observation from the sky is possible, and as watchers, one couldn't hope for better candidates. The reward is one gold coin a month, which is cheap for their abilities, but in exchange, they are exempt from poll taxes and corvée labor, and they all live a self-sufficient life freely in the forest of the no-fishing zone.
"Going is fine, but what about the reward?"
Beatrix already said she'd go. Participation confirmed.
"The reward is four gold coins per person. If you exterminate monsters, half of the basic bounty will be paid separately. The source of payment is Higashinohara. I expect the period to be about a month."
"I have one more request."
"What is it?"
"I have to leave the orphanage by the end of this month. But you see, I've been traveling a lot lately so I haven't been able to look. If there are any good properties, could you let me know?"
Beatrix became an adult in April. So, the six-month move-out deadline would be at the end of September, in the middle of our term.
Even so. Isn't that a bit too personal? Normally, you'd look for that kind of thing yourself.
It's a blatant mixing of public and private matters, but surprisingly, the kind Adolf-san had an answer ready.
"I'm living in official quarters, but I actually have a private residence. I've been looking for a tenant at two gold coins a month, but maybe because it looks bad, I haven't found one. It's not that large, but it has eight bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. There's a backyard too. It doesn't matter how many people live there. How about that place?"
"Is that, by any chance, the famous Ghost Mansion?"
The Ghost Mansion refers to a dilapidated building across from the Royal Army garrison. If I recall, it was the first construction office when the town was built, and it had been left vacant and untouched. The town's children call it the Ghost Mansion.
Of course, there are no ghosts; it just looks ragged because there's no one to maintain it.
I didn't know Adolf-san had acquired it.
"I'm nearing retirement, you see. Since it has many rooms, I thought I'd try my hand at being a landlord to prepare for my old age. If you'll rent the whole thing, nothing would be better."
"Is a place that ragged even livable?"
"It looks bad, but the pillars and walls are solid without cracks. I replaced the floorboards myself. There are no furnishings at all, but I've made it cheap to compensate."
"What's the inside like?"
"You should go see for yourself. I'll lend you the key."
We immediately decided to go see the Ghost Mansion, with Beowulf and Will joining the members of the Marcelo Company.
The Ghost Mansion is a sturdy three-story stone building. The east side faces the street leading to the North Gate, the south side faces an alley one block in from the main street, and the west side faces a residential area.
When we unlocked the entrance and went inside, the left side of the entrance was structured like a reception desk, which took me aback. Probably because it was a former office. Other than that, it was just empty rooms with dust piling up. The walls also had very noticeable stains, though I don't know from what.
"Clean Up!"
The walls within the range of my outstretched arms became clean.
I'm going to have to work really hard on this.
There was a small backyard between the building and the town wall towering to the north, with signs of grass having been mowed. There was also a basement, and we could go up to the roof.
"I heard this place was supposed to be a turret if enemies attacked. That's why it hasn't been torn down until now."
"It's too far from the town wall for a turret. You can't even go back and forth to the wall. The view is good, so at most it's a lookout tower."
Now that Paul-san mentions it, there aren't many three-story buildings in this town.
"This town has sewers running underground. You can't build very heavy buildings."
"But this place has a basement."
"This is the northern edge. Even if you dig underground, you won't hit the sewers."
That means there's no worry about rats appearing in the basement.
The bedrooms are twice as large as the rooms in the orphanage.
And with eight rooms, it's perfectly suited.
To be honest, I was troubled. It's dangerous in many ways for a girl to live alone. Children who leave the orphanage usually look for live-in work or share a few rooms with several people.
"It's not bad."
"I don't think there's a problem."
Marcelo-san and Paul-san gave their OK.
Beatrix looked at Beowulf, me, Will, and Lyudmila in turn. If eight people rent one house for two gold coins a month, it's five silver coins per person. The five of us couldn't help but grin.
In the end, our companions still in the orphanage also agreed, and we decided to rent it as the Class of 175.
Beatrix negotiated so that until each person's residency deadline at the orphanage arrives, he would rent to us individually for five silver coins a month per person. Of course, we'll do all the cleaning and preparation of furnishings ourselves.
For a while, Beatrix will be living there alone. But we're going on an expedition to Higashinohara anyway, and we can just take turns visiting to stay over and help with cleaning. Even for the lonely Beatrix, it should be fine.
Though, since she can take her own bath, Lyudmila seems likely to move in immediately.
Because she dislikes going to public baths, she usually wipes her body with water drawn into a basin in her room.