Chapter 76 - Return to Nakanohara
We stayed inside the position until dawn, and moved atop the cliff once morning came. When we returned to the rocky ledge, everyone from the Marcelo Company gathered.
"Everyone looks energetic. Is no one injured?"
Paul-san called out vigorously. They look quite dirty, covered in mud, but everyone is safe. Usually, I would use Clean Up magic, but I don't have that kind of leeway.
"By the way, about the reward for this battle..."
"About how much will it be?"
When Paul-san brought it up, the mud-covered mage immediately bit.
"This time, we shouldn't count the Gargoyles, which are a pain to count. In that case, since we only fought in the position below the cliff, there are sixteen Cyclopes and Fenrirs combined. That makes one hundred and sixty silver coins. Since it's half, it's eighty coins. After subtracting the fee, there are six of us, so it's a bit over twelve silver coins per person."
"Ehhh! Even after facing that many monsters, it's not even one gold coin?"
Beatrix is full of complaints. Well, that's true. Everyone almost died. It was a horde of monsters that actually caused several deaths among the soldiers.
However, there should have been Orcs too.
"Aren't Orcs included in the count?"
"No Orc corpses were found."
"?"
"They were wearing armor. I think they took them back. They probably didn't have time to strip the armor off the corpses."
"What about the ones Angelica-san froze at the end?"
"At that time, we were busy protecting the fence and only made a wall. They must have carried the corpses of their allies away during that time."
These are the words of Angelica-san and Marcelo-san, who actually saw the scene. There's no doubt. However, I didn't know Orc armor was reused. Monsters are frugal in their own way. Next time we pursue them, it might be better to give them enough time to strip the armor.
"I think it's strange that a rat and a boar are the same amount, but what about a spider and a Fenrir being the same amount?"
That's exactly right. If I told the proud Fenrirs, who chose an attack prepared for annihilation over retreat, the Royal Capital would surely be attacked.
"Well, wait. There's more to the story."
"More?"
The smile returned to Beatrix, who had been sulking.
"We've been given the meat, fur, and fangs of one Fenrir, and two Cyclops clubs."
Um, I don't know the value. When I tilted my head, Marcelo-san told me.
"At market price, one Fenrir's worth of meat is twenty gold coins. The fangs are five gold coins. A Cyclops club is about five gold coins each. The Fenrir fur is almost undamaged since we got the one we defeated with only our magic. It should be worth thirty gold coins. This isn't a subjugation reward, so there's no fee."
"Then, we had a profit of sixty-five gold coins? Over ten gold coins per person?"
Beatrix, Lyudmila, and I high-fived and rejoiced.
When dawn came and we went atop the cliff, Orc corpses were piled high. Lumps of black stone that seemed to have been Gargoyles were rolling around here and there on the ground. Several people were kicking them, so it seems the cleanup is about to begin.
We've been told to sleep. As we were about to walk toward the rest area at the pass, someone called out, "Good work." When I looked in the direction of the voice, it was Lord Roberts on a horse. Thankfully, he's wearing the Green Marble. I wonder if the embroidery on his left shoulder is Lady Gladys's.
"Last night was a full moon. While the majority of the Higashinohara Corps was ambushing the enemy, we came here as reinforcements."
Lady Gladys is also next to him. Furthermore, there were four accompanying soldiers. Lady Gladys, who bought it directly, is one thing, but even the accompanying people are in Green Marble. Is it a trend in Higashinohara?
"Where was the Higashinohara Corps fighting?"
The direction he points is far beyond the position below the cliff...
"Was Lord Roberts's subordinate force launching an attack on the Demon Lord's army?"
"Yes. Although we call it an attack, it was only a temporary delay."
Will asks, but I don't quite understand. After having it explained, I finally understood. The main force of Higashinohara had set out from the Higashinohara mountain fort south of here to reduce the Demon Lord's army's numbers.
"Then, the opponent we fought last night was only part of the whole enemy?"
"About half of the Cyclopes, I'd say. I told them to crush any big ones and withdraw. It would be troublesome if the fence was broken."
That's right. I felt the Cyclopes were faint-hearted cowards for their size, but if there had been a few more, the fence might have been broken.
"Were you here, Lord Roberts?"
"At the mountain fort. Since that operation has reached a milestone, I came to see how things are here."
"In that case, was it Lord Roberts who came to help on horseback from the pass when we were surrounded by Orcs last night? Thanks to you, we were greatly helped."
Will bows her head. Next, Beowulf followed Will's lead and said, "Thank you very much."
"Don't worry about it. I only fulfilled the role of a general reserve. More importantly, you all. Are you going back up now? We're also going back. If you'd like, I can give you a ride."
Kyaaaaa! I can ride behind royalty? I can brag about this for the rest of my life! Please! I beg of you!
While I was squealing with joy, Lady Gladys tilted her head.
"You are..."
"I am Lyudmila. Nice to meet you."
Lyudmila places her right hand on her chest, crosses her legs, and gives a greeting. It's the 'nice to meet you' greeting I couldn't do satisfactorily. Since she's a priest, the etiquette is different, though.
However, the reason Lady Gladys tilted her head wasn't because it was the first time they met.
"You are, um... which are you?"
"My heart is a girl's, so the orphanage teacher told me."
She saw through it at a glance. I'm surprised. Lady Gladys and Lord Roberts looked at each other, but they seemed to have understood.
"Then I can't let you ride behind Gladys. How about it, will you ride behind me?"
Lyudmila is overjoyed. She let out a cheer and rode behind Lord Roberts.
The first-class seat was taken... But there's still a special seat left...
However, contrary to my wish, Will ended up behind Lady Gladys due to Beatrix's strong desire. She's having the two of them hold their spears and is watching them entranced.
"What is she doing? That one?"
Lord Roberts asks suspiciously. Well, he would.
"I'm sure she's going to make a portrait and sell it. Pictures of Lady Gladys sell for a high price."
He laughed and asked, "Won't my picture sell?"
"Pictures of Lord Roberts are popular with women when they're a pair with Lady Gladys."
"I see. I must also become able to sell with just my own picture."
He's watching Beatrix with amusement. He's a very broad-minded person.
In the end, Beatrix and I were given rides behind the attendants. Beowulf had to act with the guard unit, so she remained atop the cliff.
I was told by the attendant on the way, but all four of them were people who came from Medioland and were Lady Gladys's guards. They supposedly moved here with their families.
Lady Gladys had been warned by the King of Medioland not to go out to the battlefield since she had married into another family.
"We are the compromise result of her throwing a tantrum and saying no."
He said that and laughed.
Depending on how you think about it, it's like bringing along informants, but they supposedly treat them without caring at all. All four said it's fun just watching the two of them.
After the battle, everything passed without incident, just as Hanna-san predicted. The Higashinohara Corps and the Jaeger Corps at the mountain fort to the south seem to be launching intermittent attacks. Thanks to that, we are probably safe.
Day by day, civil engineering work progresses, and the position is being developed. The forest is gradually changing from green to brown. And finally, the one month of the contract passed.
After receiving a grand farewell party and send-off from the Jaeger Corps, we arrived back in Nakanohara with Teleport. When we went to the town hall to report to Adolf-san, one familiar face with short black hair was sitting on the reception bench with a nervous expression.
It's Bonnie. She's wearing a Green Marble with blue embroidery. I had forgotten. It was already October. The sixth member of the Class of 175 had reached adulthood.
She intends to become a hunter and scout. Since she said her dream is to be the head of Sertoria's scouts, she'll be the national version of Paul-san or Angus-san. It's already decided that she'll apprentice under Paul-san. In other words, she's a new employee of the Marcelo Company. However, since it's a contract as the Class of 175, her salary is commission-based.
She's a quiet and easygoing—or rather, always absent-minded—girl. We in the Class of 175 were worried about her as a hunter. But according to Paul-san, her skill with a bow is better if she's a bit dazed. Since there's no monster extermination work, it's tough, but she's also an aspiring hunter. She can be self-sufficient since she goes hunting daily. She might even live with the Goblins along with Robinson-san.
After Hanna-san and Will received grand applause from the town hall people, they took Bonnie to see Adolf-san. The report itself had already been finished by Hanna-san and Will. Since it was only the Marcelo Company this time, it was in the mayor's office.
While drinking the beverages provided by Hanna-san, who had returned to being a receptionist, Paul-san passionately performed the final battle. The reward was also as expected and perfectly satisfactory.
"For a while from now, there will only be work like rat extermination, but new things will come out in November. Winter is near, so I'm counting on you."
It's a shame there are no high-earning emergency calls, but it's that peaceful. That in itself is important. Monsters supposedly don't hibernate, and damage to villages concentrates in winter. They supposedly come down to human settlements when they run out of food. I was told to prepare for that time.
Paul-san invited me, "Shall we go hunting toward the lake?"
"It's about time you all exterminated at least a bear on your own."
"A bear!"
This is dangerous. Moreover, since it'll just be hunting, neither Beowulf nor Will will be there.
"What are you surprised about now, after standing up and blasting magic at a Fenrir?"
Apparently, he's talking about me. To be precise, I didn't blast magic. I only illuminated its face. At the end, it almost became a one-on-one duel, but I was pulled down. But, oh well. I came back safely. If I had really faced it then, I probably would have lost.