kscans

Chapter 87 - Mireille Road

The three of us, Yoshino-san, Lin-san, and I, arrived at Mireille Road and decided to confirm our coordination in front of the Gate.

"Alright, before we start our adventure, let’s decide on the important stuff first. The rewards. Okita-kun, how do you want to divide them?"

Lin-san asked about the most important aspect of forming a party. The distribution of rewards is the most common cause of disputes in a party.

"What’s the standard way of dividing them?"

"First is an even split. We just divide it by the number of people. It’s simple, but it can easily lead to arguments over contribution."

I get that. In an extreme case, you could get a third of the loot without doing anything, which would frustrate the person who did all the work.

"Let’s not do that. Our careers are on different levels, and I’m more of a guest today anyway."

Putting skill aside, today I’m in a position where they’re taking me to an area I’ve never been to before. If anything, I should be the one paying them, so an even split is out of the question.

"Then let’s do the last-attack system. The item belongs to whoever deals the finishing blow."

The common issue with this is what happened with those high school kids who accused me of being a hyena. If you work hard to get a monster with 100 HP down to 1 HP, and then someone who did nothing swoops in and lands the final blow, the reward becomes theirs.

"Are you okay with that?"

"Well, at least for us, we can defeat most things in a single blow. There are no large monsters here."

A single blow… In that case, the last-attack system might be better. In fact, when Eleanor-san works with Nanapon, we use the last-attack system too. Skeletons are weak, after all.

"Then let’s do that, please. I don’t know how strong the monsters are here, so that’s fine."

To be honest, today is just for reconnaissance. My main activities are with Nanapon, so today is just to check if she could handle this place.

"Alright. As for coordination………… we’re all swordsmen, huh."

Lin-san looked between me and Yoshino-san.

"You and Yoshino-san can use magic, right?"

"We can, but we rarely use it. Here, it’s only really for the Great Eagle."

So their main weapon is the sword.

"Why don’t we take turns? The two watching can be on the lookout for surprise attacks from monsters, including the Great Eagle."

Yoshino-san suggested.

"That works for me too. If it looks tough, I’ll call for help."

"Then let’s do that. Since I suggested it, I’ll go first."

It seems Yoshino-san will take the first turn.

"Please do."

Having decided on the plan for today’s adventure, we set out, walking down the road with Yoshino-san in the lead.

The road was paved with stone and easy to walk on, and the weather was nice and warm, making it feel pleasant. I wanted to investigate the grass growing nearby for buff potion ingredients, but since I couldn’t do that, I walked while watching Yoshino-san’s back.

"Lin-san, by the way, where are the other members? I thought there was a former member of Satsuki-san’s party with you, right?"

I was curious why there were only two of them, so I asked.

"Are you not satisfied with just the two of us? You want more women?"

I’m not looking for that kind of harem.

"No, it’s just that there were only two of you for the newcomer training the other day too, so I was wondering."

"We don’t really operate as a single party that often. We have a total of seven official party members, but that’s a lot."

"Seven is a lot, indeed."

If you have to split the rewards seven ways, it wouldn’t be very profitable.

"To be more precise, we have over twenty non-official members like you. We form parties with them in various combinations. Someone will just post a recruitment, and whoever wants to go, goes. To be honest, it’s been over a year since all the official members went on an adventure together."

Is that really okay?

"Do you not get along?"

"No, both Yoshino and I are turning 26. The others are around 30. We’re all veterans. Some of us are married, so we’re not at an age where we’re desperately adventuring anymore. It’s more like we occasionally go with our juniors and act like seniors."

"It sounds like a school club or a circle."

"It’s actually pretty similar. Yoshino is technically the leader, but she doesn’t really give orders, and everyone does their own thing. Yoshino often goes solo, too."

Come to think of it, I did hear that Yoshino-san often works solo. In fact, when I met her, she was alone.

"It’s more relaxed than I thought…"

"Well, yeah. So you don’t have to be so tense. We’re the same age, so let’s just take it easy."

Someone my age is a veteran… Hearing that makes me realize what a late-blooming rookie I really am.

"Are you thinking about when to quit, Lin-san?"

"I think I’ll keep going for a little longer. Maybe until I’m around 30?"

Oh! Same as me.

"You’re quitting at 30?"

"I want to have kids."

I want kids too! Same!

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"I have a husband."

…………It seems she was married. Not the same after all.

"Huh? Seriously? You’re married? Your husband was okay with it?"

Normally, you’d think he’d be against such a dangerous job.

"I agreed to his proposal on that condition."

Oh…

"Still, you’re already married. You’re such an adult."

"I’m 26, you know. It’s not particularly early, is it?"

Well, I guess that’s the age when people start getting married.

"Now that you mention it, that’s true."

"Right? Oh, so for that reason, I don’t go out in the evenings or on weekends."

That makes sense if she has a husband.

"I don’t go out on Kaede-chan’s days off or in the evenings either. I might if Kaede-chan has a night shift, though."

"You sound like Kaede’s stalker…"

At least call us a lovey-dovey couple!

"Haa………… The two of you behind me are killing my morale."

Yoshino-san, who was in front, let out a sigh.

"You have your teenage idol girl, Yoshino-san. She’s in middle school, right?"

"She’s the mistress of a big-shot TV host, isn’t she?"

Lin-san and I tried to console Yoshino-san.

"Those are all lies, of course………… I’m devoted to my VTubers."

So she’s the same as her cousin in that regard too…

As we walked along, talking casually, a black mass came into view on the plain to the left of the road. Looking closely, it looked like a dog.

"I’m guessing that’s a High Wolf."

I stopped and pointed in the direction of the dog.

"Correct. Yoshino, it’s just one."

Lin-san also stopped and called out to Yoshino-san.

"I know."

Yoshino-san drew her sword from her waist and took a stance. After waiting a short while, the High Wolf got quite close.

The High Wolf was about the size of a large dog and was running towards Yoshino-san. Of course, it wasn’t because it wanted to be petted. As proof, the High Wolf’s eyes were filled with killing intent, and it was sprinting at full speed with its sharp fangs bared.

When the High Wolf got close enough for us to hear its heavy panting, hah hah, it kicked off the ground and leaped towards Yoshino-san. Without showing any signs of panic, Yoshino-san moved her body to the side, dodging the High Wolf’s lunge while raising her sword into an overhand stance. Then, she swung her sword down at the wide-open torso of the High Wolf.

"—Gyan!"

The High Wolf let out a yelp as its torso was slashed, and it disappeared into smoke.

"It’s like that."

Yoshino-san said as she picked up the 20-centimeter-long white fang-like object that the High Wolf had dropped.

"It’s not very strong. It’s just like a bigger version of the Wolf from Eden Forest."

"That’s pretty much what it is. But you have to be careful, because if it bites you, it’s really dangerous. Especially since you’re in a jersey."

"I’m wearing an inner suit, for what it’s worth."

"Then you’re fine. I don’t think it’ll tear your arm off. You’ll just get injured."

She says "just injured," but it sounds like a serious injury. Well, I have Healing Potions, so I should be fine, but it sounds painful. At the very least, Nanapon would cry.

"How much is that drop item worth?"

"Around 8,000 yen, I think? I don’t quite remember."

It seems an A-rank isn’t interested in the prices of materials from around here. She probably earns a lot more.

"It’s stronger than a skeleton, so I guess that makes sense…"

"High Wolves basically appear alone. But be careful at night, because they sometimes form packs."

So those things form packs… Considering Nanapon, night is impossible. It might be different if there was one more person to protect her, but I can’t handle a pack of High Wolves while protecting Nanapon by myself.

"Night is probably not an option for me."

"I think that’s a good idea. It’s dark and dangerous at night."

It seems it’s better to avoid it even when Kaede-chan has a night shift. That said, since we started living together, Kaede-chan hasn’t had a night shift.

"I’ll do that."

"Good, good. So, what’s next? Will you take a turn? Or should I leave it to Lin?"

Hmm… I wouldn’t mind giving it a try…

"Lin-san, could I ask you to go first? I can learn a lot just by watching."

It’s better to be taught in person than to just research online. If I were alone, it wouldn’t be a problem, but considering Nanapon is in the rear guard, I want to learn as much as I can.

"Sure. I’m next then."

Lin-san readily agreed. Yoshino-san stepped back, and Lin-san took her place at the front.

"This is the first time you’ve seen Lin swing a sword, right?"

Yoshino-san asked as she came to stand next to me.

"Yeah. A B-rank, huh. She seems strong."

"Well, she is strong. She’s only a B-rank because she’s not very active."

The way she said that implies her skill is A-rank level.

"She is a married swordswoman, after all."

"Let’s not call her that…"

Can’t be helped. It’s the truth.

Jersey Swordsman. Boob Swordsman. Married Swordswoman.

Man, we sound super weak…