15 - It's a Simple Job Where You Just Stand There
The request I submitted to the guild reception was a commission for adventurers.
By paying the guild a request fee and a security deposit, I decided to gather manpower.
However, Hawkins-san looked back and forth between the documents and my face several times.
"R-Riel-kun... are you sure about this amount? The period is four days. Two silver coins just for participating. The content says they only need to stand at the destination?"
It was only natural for him to be suspicious.
The amount of money and the nature of the work were completely disproportionate.
"It is correct. Also, as for the number of people to recruit..."
"Ye-yes...!"
Hawkins-san looked troubled, but he checked the number of recruits on the document.
"One hundred!?"
"I wouldn't mind recruiting up to two hundred. Basically, they just need to stand around the destination... the ruins of the abandoned mine. Also, since I'll be paying the reward separately, I'll be looking for people who can actually do the work as well."
Hearing that, Hawkins-san checked the documents over and over again.
'If the number of bandits is around twenty as the information suggests, this is overkill. But in reality, only Riel and the others will be moving. Well, if you think of it as participating in a war, it's not a bad earning.'
As the Third Generation spoke, it hit home for me too.
(Working for one day earns about six to ten large copper coins. Yet, two silver coins can be obtained in two days. But if I don't do at least this much, applicants won't flock in.)
'People blinded by money will gather. Let's go flashy then.'
As the foolish son, that is.
I, subjugating a bandit group of several dozen with several hundred people, must look utterly ridiculous to the residents of the city of Darion.
That will also lead to my whereabouts being known to House Walt—my family home. Though, it's more likely they already know.
But if I act this foolishly, I wonder what they'll think?
They might even send an assassin eventually.
(If it's Celes's whim, it wouldn't be strange for her to do that much.)
In that case, what if I'm seen as ridiculous—as a foolish son struggling?
(Basically, it's all a gamble.)
While Hawkins-san was checking for any deficiencies in the documents, I decided to mention something in passing.
"Ah, that's right. I wanted to ask you, Hawkins-san, may I ask a question?"
"Yes. If it's something I can answer."
Being told that, I confirmed with Hawkins-san.
At any rate, Zelfie-san hadn't complained.
I didn't think the guild would deny it either.
(The more cards in my hand, the better.)
In front of the first floor of the guild.
In a place with a lot of foot traffic, I gave a speech in a loud voice.
"I am of House Walt—the former heir to a Count's house! I have decided to rise up and exterminate the bandits nesting near the city of Darion! Those who believe themselves worthy, step forward!"
'Look, your voice is too small. It's fine if people laugh, so let's go flashy here.'
Instructed by the Fourth Generation, I advertised the bandit extermination in a loud voice.
Ridiculously.
And in a way that invited laughter.
"A noble subjugating bandits?"
"I mean, if he was kicked out..."
"Isn't he just a useless guy?"
"Leave the bandits to the Lord."
"He'll be back as soon as the labyrinth subjugation is over. He should just be patient until then."
While chuckling, the adventurers passed in front of me.
Among them were passersby who were laughing out loud.
"Now is the time to rise and fulfill my mission as a knight—(A-at this point, I'm just desperate!)"
Enduring the embarrassment, I called out to the adventurers in a loud voice.
After the call ended, I joined up with Novem and returned to the rented house.
Then, in front of the entrance, a red-haired woman—Aria Rockwood—was waiting with her arms crossed, standing firmly.
Her breasts were pushed up by her crossed arms.
It was different from usual, but since I was mentally exhausted today as well, I glanced at her chest for just a moment before asking Rockwood-san.
"Um, do you have some business at my house?"
"'Do you have some business' is not the right way to put it! What on earth was that today!"
By 'that,' she probably meant the fact that I had advertised so grandly.
"No, I was recruiting for the bandit extermination..."
"Riel-sama, you were wonderful."
While I was feeling embarrassed by Novem's flattery, Rockwood-san approached me.
She walked with wide strides, an action that made her seem far from a former young lady.
"I would have been fine if you just lent me Zelfie! If you had, I could have used my connections to storm in with a small elite group and take back the Orb... but if you advertise that flashily, word will reach the bandits too!"
Then, Novem said to Rockwood-san.
"Are you perhaps misunderstanding something?"
"W-what is it? I mean, everyone was actually making fun of that."
I acted specifically so that would happen.
So, it wasn't a mistake... yet for some reason, I started to feel sad.
"The reason we are acting is simply because we have our own reasons to do so. Or... do you think we are acting for your sake?"
At Novem's harsh words, Rockwood-san flinched.
I heard the First Generation's voice.
'U-um, you know, Novem-chan... if possible, I think I'd like you to forgive her. Come on, let's get along, okay?'
Then, the Second Generation spoke.
'Whose side is this guy on? There's no need to humor her. We're doing the same thing anyway.'
My goal is undoubtedly to take back the Rockwood family's Orb.
Because that is also the condition for obtaining the First Generation's assistance.
However, I also had a not-insignificant desire to help her personally.
This time, the ancestors are cooperating in order to make the First Generation recognize me. And to ensure my safety.
"B-but, if the bandits run away because of that, it'll be pointless!"
"...Then, why don't you take action yourself?"
"Eh?"
Novem spoke coldly to Rockwood-san. At the same time, it was a very logical point.
"Zelfie-san has accepted the role of our instructor through a request from the guild. Of course, we paid a reward as compensation. We are asking her for a different job now, but we are paying the request fee."
"I-I feel sorry about that. But I don't have that kind of large sum of money..."
Rockwood-san's family is in decline. No, they had fallen.
If she could prepare such a large sum, she wouldn't have relied on her old acquaintance, Zelfie-san.
"Why do you criticize Riel-sama's actions without doing what you can? Or did you intend to extort the Orb if Riel-sama succeeded? Just how selfish are you?"
"I-I also..."
Seeing Rockwood-san looking frustrated, I tried to step in. But the Third Generation stopped me.
'Riel, let's leave this to Novem-chan. That will also be for the sake of the girl named Aria.'
When I stopped intervening, Novem confirmed it and spoke to Rockwood-san.
"Even if I am laughed at, even if I am embarrassed, I do not intend to laugh at those who make an effort. I believe that people who only watch have no right to say anything."
Rockwood-san talked back.
"That's why I properly sought help... what am I supposed to do alone! What can a slip of a girl like me even do!"
I watched the two of them.
The Third Generation gave me a warning.
'Novem-chan took on the role of the villain in Riel's stead. Normally, Riel is the one who should say those things to her.'
The First Generation also spoke to me.
'That's right! Pull yourself together, you brat!'
The Second Generation cautioned the First Generation.
'Do you understand that we're doing this troublesome thing because of you? I mean, look in a mirror before you say those words.'
After looking down, I raised my face.
There was Rockwood-san, breaking down and shedding tears. The strong-willed woman from before was gone.
She wants to recover something important.
But recovering it is impossible alone.
She must have agonized over it, and she must feel a sense of urgency.
I decided to lead Novem into the house. And as I passed by Rockwood-san, I said.
"We depart tomorrow morning. If you see a group waiting at the entrance, that group is the bandit extermination force. Do as you please after that."
"Eh?"
Saying that, I pulled Novem's hand and entered the house.
The next morning.
I nodded, looking at the wooden sticks and boards loaded onto the horse carriage.
"With these, they won't be mistaken from a distance."
'Hmm, you gathered these well in such a short time. The merchants seemed to be quite concerned as well.'
The Seventh Generation looked at the items loaded on the carriage and confirmed that the preparations were complete.
If I distribute these to the gathered adventurers—one hundred and thirty people—they will look like soldiers from a distance.
(The other things are ready too.)
'—The girl named Aria has also come.'
When I shifted my gaze, the red-haired Rockwood-san was there.
Seeing that, Novem said nothing. She didn't speak, but she looked a little relieved.
"Wouldn't it be better for her if she didn't come?"
When I said that, Novem shook her head.
"She has always had that kind of personality. I believe that someday, she will regret it. I wonder if she might lose her way because of that regret... though it's just my own guess."
Most of the personnel had no actual work. They were truly just hired to head to the destination. Those with actual work didn't even make up ten percent of the group.
It was truly a job of just standing at the destination. I advertised it that way and gathered them on a large scale.
However, since there was no time, the number of people who gathered was smaller than I thought.
'You understand, Riel. The war has already begun.'
At the Seventh Generation's words, I nodded silently.
"Now, let's depart."
At my words, Novem nodded.
The ruins of the abandoned mine near Darion—.
There, with the treasures gathered so far behind him, a man sat on a wooden box.
In his hand, he held a red Orb.
Holding it in his right hand and gazing at it, the man was laughing.
"I've gotten my hands on a good item. Thanks to this, I was able to wipe out the monsters that had settled around here."
A large man with a scraggly beard, standing over two meters tall.
He was the man who had started the bandit group and rampaged in various places.
The twenty-three subordinates were bowing and laughing to the man who was their leader.
"As expected of the Boss. Even so, the noble brat probably didn't imagine that everything was leaking through."
When one of the subordinates said that, the large man burst out laughing.
In front of the twenty-three subordinates, he told them about the subjugation force.
"If you advertise grandly at the guild, of course it'll leak. Besides, without even knowing that my subordinates have infiltrated. Let's have them bring some cardboard soldiers for our sake."
The information about Riel and the others was leaking.
There were twenty-six subordinates in total. Among them, three had been acting as adventurers in the city of Darion.
While they were buying necessary supplies in the city and preparing to welcome all the bandits, they obtained information about Riel and the others.
From the information in hand, the large man had seen through that most of the military strength consisted of adventurers with just wooden sticks and wooden shields—and moreover, people with no significant skill.
"They probably intend to call for surrender while we're surprised by the numbers... but that's not going to happen. We can't end here."
The large man had an ambition.
To escape the status of a bandit and lead a mercenary group.
And then, he had the ambition to one day obtain a country.
He had the ambition to stand among the legendary men who became lords from mercenary groups.
He had drifted to Darion and established connections with the city's residents. He was gradually infiltrating his subordinates and selling the gathered treasures to make funds for independence.
The reason they didn't carry out looting in Darion was so they could live as a mercenary group from now on.
The card to make that happen was now in his possession.
"As long as I have this Orb, there's nothing to fear. When that noble brat comes, I'll take his head."
"Boss! The woman that brat is bringing is quite a beauty!"
When one of the subordinates said that, the large man laughed.
"Is that so! Once I've had a taste, I'll lend her to you lot."
"Hehehe, thank you very much. I've liked her since I saw her at the guild."
Some of the bandits who had infiltrated the Adventurer's Guild had informed the group of Riel's actions.
Using that, they planned to make their names known.
"The chance to raise our names has come from the other side. You bastards, get fired up!"
"'Yeah!'"
The morale of the bandits was high.
The reason lay in the red Orb held by the large man.
In the Orb, skills specialized in close-quarters combat were recorded.
It was an important Orb that the Rockwood family had passed down for generations.
—The bandits were waiting for Riel and the others at the ruins of the abandoned mine.