Chapter 811 - Chapter 4: Countermeasures in the North ⑧
According to the Dullahan, there were multiple candidates.
"You know how Difodor is given various things as souvenirs when she returns? Whether it's alcohol or dried meat, they're popular. Moreover, word has it she eats and drinks such things daily. Everyone is hoping to be called upon."
In fact, every time Difodor returns to the forest, she gives souvenirs to the Dullahan. It seems to be a thank-you for introducing her to a good place of employment. Other demons who heard about this have asked her several times to swap places, but Difodor likes her current situation of taking care of rabbits with Saxburg and Duke Hexham, so she has refused them all. Being the only one the Dullahan recommended, Difodor is also quite strong. Therefore, the other female low-level demons are all enduring it, but they are turning to the Dullahan, asking why he didn't choose them.
Isn't that convenient? There's plenty to choose from.
"Then you can't just choose carelessly, can you? No matter who you choose, the ones not chosen will complain to you, right?"
"Well, I suppose that's how it will be."
Saxburg is sympathizing with the Dullahan. The Dullahan also has it quite tough.
"How many demons are there who want to swap with Difodor?"
"In the forest I protect, there are about ten adults, both male and female. Among them, there's one pair, and they're currently raising one child."
"They have a child!"
Saxburg's eyes sparkled.
"I want to hire the whole couple!"
Is that okay? It'll be a disaster if a territorial dispute breaks out with Difodor. No, more importantly, won't Difodor get in a bad mood?
"Brother, how about making them the managers of the hunting lodge in the forest? That's the hunting ground for the facility I'm in charge of."
Apparently, there are some former patients of the Karmic Disease who dislike returning to their family homes, and the healthy ones are hunting. Since they don't go deep, basically only normal beasts appear. The lodge is deep in the forest where those people don't go. It's a base for hunting magic beasts and a place of refuge at the same time. Normally, it's dangerous if magic beasts appear, so it's kept in an uninhabited state. However, if it's demons, there's no problem making them permanent residents. Saxburg seemed to think so. Difodor is in charge of rabbits and is Saxburg's guard, so she's at the facility where we are now. Since they even eat together, the territories are different.
"A-Ah, I don't mind if you do as you like, Saxburg."
"Then it's decided! Black Knight-dono, would it be possible to talk to that family?"
"A-Ah, I've brought them along this time. I think they're right out there. Shall I call them?"
"Please do!"
The Dullahan was also surprised by the sudden talk, but it's convenient. Apparently, he's letting them eat dried meat since they have a child with them. Or rather, if they come here, they can get dried meat and alcohol. It seems they take turns coming, including the orcs, to prevent disputes from breaking out.
I was worried about a territorial dispute with Abyss, but since the Dullahan, who is a much stronger monster, is suppressing them, fights won't break out for a short time.
The demon couple with the child was brought into the hut by the Dullahan. If they can successfully form a contract, they'll be guaranteed safe residence and stable food even in winter, just like Difodor. They seemed to be expecting it, as their eyes were sparkling.
"Saxburg-dono, these are the ones."
The ones the Dullahan introduced were three demons in their true, pitch-black forms. One was a burly type as tall as an adult human male, one was a head shorter with a swelling chest... judging by her appearance, she's likely the mother... and the one clinging to that mother-like demon must be the child. Its height was about up to the mother's waist, so it would be about three years old in human terms. It seemed scared, as its gaze was tense.
"Saxburg, give this to that child."
It's the usual Highway Cookies. There's no better negotiation than delicious food.
Saxburg took the Highway Cookies I handed her, crouched down, and offered them to the child. The mother said thank you and encouraged the child, but the child clung tightly to the mother. It must be afraid of a human it's meeting for the first time. The mother was pushing its body, but it stood its ground and wouldn't move.
"I even put Highway Cookies in the souvenirs I give to Difodor, though."
She looked this way, wondering what to do.
"It's okay. Look."
Duke Hexham went beside her, broke the one he held in his hand in half, and ate it himself.
"Mmm, it's delicious."
Saying that, he handed the remaining half to the mother. The mother crouched down, broke the handed piece in half again, and ate it herself.
"Sweet. Delicious!"
Showing a particularly big smile, she handed the remaining half of the half to the child.
It ate! It immediately broke into a smile.
"Here, Father too. There's more."
She handed a piece of dried meat to the father and gave the one she held to the mother.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
When Saxburg thanked Duke Hexham, he returned it with a smile.
Duke Hexham, the husband, is better suited for this kind of thing.
The contract was successfully formed for the couple together.
The demons' role is as the lodge keepers of the hunting lodge in the forest spreading behind the isolation facility.
In the forest, the demon couple's job is to hunt wolves with chicken carcasses and bears with pots while acting as lodge keepers. Both will be good earnings if they can bring them down successfully. As a guideline, the quota became one bear every two months and three wolves a month. The rewards were the free use of the lodge, regular delivery of food and alcohol, and the proceeds from the hunted animals and magic beasts would also be paid in barter. In place of a contract fee, clothes prepared in advance, weapons for both parents... since the opponents are magic beasts, arrows with silver arrowheads and the latest bows, plus one-handed swords and knives... and equipment... which would basically be leather to not impair light movement... were provided on the spot.
The couple was overjoyed. We had the parents take human form, and had the father and mother each put on undergarments, leather armor, and green marble... we brought the autumn/winter version, but it's hot! And since they said it was hard to move in, we made it the spring/summer version. We put green marble on the child, who wasn't used to human form yet. The father had a serious-looking face, and the mother had a cute feel.
Immediately, we took them to the mountain lodge on the ultra-high-speed bowl. Since it was over the weight limit, Gwyn-sama, the two wolves, Henry-sama, and Will stayed behind. We went with the others.
On the way, the three family members were so overjoyed that Eleanor-sama got carried away and performed acrobatic flight, which was the usual.
When we arrived at the mountain lodge, we dug it out from where it was buried in snow and went inside. For a place not usually used, it's kept clean. According to Saxburg, except during the severe winter, she has the villa's guards tidy it up about once a month and has them exchange the emergency food supplies. From now on, the couple will use it as a base and hunt.
When we went out the back of the lodge, a small stream had formed. Seeing as there's a ditch, it must be a creek. Apparently, if you go upstream, you'll reach a spring. They can secure clean water.
From here, it's the Alraune's job.
When she set up the small Teleportation Circle we brought, she began to explain various things. For the time being, the Alraune will act as the instructor for the management of the lodge.
Then, Abyss undid his possession and came out. I thought a territorial dispute between males might break out, but since the Dullahan, a much stronger monster, is here, it's fine.
The humans decided to watch silently, and had the Dullahan, the four demons in total, and the Alraune have a discussion, and had them explain the work as managers once through. I wondered if they could actually do it, but a contract is a powerful thing, and the couple was listening earnestly to the Alraune's explanation.
"You can just remember things in order from now on. It might be difficult to do everything perfectly from the start, but I'm sure you'll get used to it soon."
They were saying thank you for the Alraune's consideration.
"Although we live in the forest, we aren't that different from humans. Don't worry."
They were also given words by Abyss, who lives in the royal palace, and they were nodding and nodding.
Judging from my experience living with Keira, differences in habits... like toilets, garbage disposal, and cleaning might be troublesome, but they'll get used to it soon.
"Hey, Saxburg."
The Alraune called out to Saxburg, as the conversation seemed to have finished.
"What? Is something wrong?"
"You see, this place has a pond and good sunlight, right?"
"That's right. It's a good place, isn't it?"
"Yeah. If it's okay with Saxburg, can I move some of my companions here when spring comes? Of course, only if there are volunteers."
"Really! That's wonderful!"
Saxburg is overjoyed. Humans basically don't come in and out of here. It might become a place for trade with other races, centered on demons and Alraunes. This is exactly the place Saxburg had hoped for. If the helpful Alraune is here, it'll be easier for the demons to manage the lodge. The Alraune can also be protected by the demons in a new breeding ground.
Next, it was decided to teach them how to hunt. Normal animals should be fine since they have Charm. It's the magic beasts. Even for demons with silver weapons, if the opponent is a magic beast, they won't manage easily if they clash head-on in the forest. Therefore, we'll teach them the method we're using.
What we'll teach is hunting wolves with chicken carcasses and hunting bears with dried meat pots. Since bear hunting is easier than wolf hunting and can be done alone, we went with that.
As usual, all you need is a pot, water, and dried meat. It was good that the father could use Fire Ball. It's better if it's close. We had Saxburg, the Alraune, the mother, and the child stay inside the lodge, and after preparing the pot with the father, we climbed onto the roof. Even Duke Hexham came up. I thought he'd go inside since he probably dislikes hunting. He only has a small knife, so he'll just be spectating, but honestly, it was unexpected. He's acting very naturally, not because Saxburg told him to. I wonder if his state of mind changed after getting married.
The roof is, of course, piled with snow. While Beatrix-sama melted it with Flame, Eleanor-sama manipulated the melted water with Clump Water, and Wilson-san froze it with Freeze, making a temporary lookout on the roof. What skillful people. The demon father was also surprised.
After spending a short time there, the smell of the pot wafted up. Almost at the same time as the father's stomach growled, the mother opened the door and peeked out. Quite a reaction, but we had them endure.
As usual, a bear came along. It must be hungry in the winter. It thrust its head into the hole where we set the pot and began to eat.
Both of the couple can use bows. We had them practice before setting the pot, and their accuracy was quite high. So, we'll have them work hard here too.
When he notched an arrow with a silver arrowhead, drew it back, aimed, and released, it hit the neck beautifully. Moreover, it pierced through the back of the neck.
"Splendid!"
When Eleanor-sama praised him, he looked happy.
The bear didn't move, with its mouth still thrust into the hole for the pot.
"Wow, to aim at the neck from this angle and take it down with one shot..."
Bonnie, who had notched an arrow just in case, raised her voice. It must be quite difficult.
"It's wonderful. I wonder if I should have him become my archery teacher."
Saxburg, I think you're fine with knife techniques.
We also had the father deliver the finishing blow. He gouged the neck with a silver knife. Then we all butchered it. We also called those who were taking refuge in the lodge. It was clear he could defeat it alone, but he apparently had never skinned a beast. Bonnie ended up teaching him how to skin it. What they used was a silver knife. The sharpness is good, but it's fatal to demons. We warned them to absolutely not let the child touch it. Saxburg and Duke Hexham also helped. As the priest, after offering a prayer for the dead, I decided to watch with the child.
While they were skinning the bear spread out on the snow, I talked about various things with the father and mother. That they've heard various things about humans from the Dullahan, that they think those whom Eowyn-sama, Saxburg, Duke Hexham, and Henry-sama bring along, whom they've met many times, seem trustworthy, that they wanted to follow in Difodor's footsteps for the sake of their child since she's doing well, and so on; we talked about such things.
"I wish we could form contracts with as many demons as possible."
They showed complicated expressions at Saxburg's words. It's likely because of territories.
"I wonder if I should talk to the Black Knight-dono. About exchanging the proceeds from the magic beasts in the forest he protects for alcohol and dried meat."
That might be good.
"It's difficult. Everyone is supposed to eat the prey we hunt together. Besides, in the forest, meat that can be eaten immediately is more important than furs or alcohol."
The father explained it to us. Apparently, they don't do something as leisurely as skinning the fur carefully so as not to damage it. They apparently hack it with swords, cut it into chunks, and eat it as if tearing it apart.
"Orcs can't understand human speech, and they'll do whatever they want if the Dullahan isn't there. They don't have the concept of a contract. It's better to keep it to just us demons. Besides, there's the Demon Lord's army. Even the Dullahan probably won't go as far as trading with humans."
The Dullahan is doing well, isn't he? As expected of the Knight of the Forest.
However, the realization of Saxburg's wish seems impossible.
"I see, it's too early for now. I understand."
Neither in Finis, Sertoria, nor even King Seldic is trading with orc swarms. It must be difficult.