Kays Translations

Just another Isekai Lover~

Chapter 230: Investigation Quest

On the same day that Tauro politely sent Count Dareder’s messenger away, Black-Gold Wings visited the Adventurers’ Guild as usual to look for work. Among the posted requests was an urgent E-rank investigation quest.

“An investigation quest… ‘Confirm the safety of a village that has had no contact with the surrounding settlements for one week and investigate the situation. The bridge leading to the village has collapsed, making it difficult for ordinary civilians to approach. If an incident has occurred, determine the cause and report it. Resolve the problem if circumstances permit.’”

“The reward is rather low for an urgent request. Perhaps there will be an additional payment depending on what we find.”

Tauro wondered whether they should accept it.

“The client is a traveling peddler. He probably conducts business with the village.”

Ankh leaned over Tauro’s shoulder and checked the client’s information.

“If it’s urgent, we should take it. Even with the bridge gone, Tauro can get a rope across safely, can’t he?”

Aeris suggested that Tauro’s abilities could solve the immediate access problem.

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“I can get a rope across, but repairing access isn’t the purpose of the quest. The client suspects that something happened in the village, so we need to remain alert.”

Tauro corrected the direction of the discussion.

“I agree with Aeris. People may be in danger, so we should go.”

Ragune nodded.

“As I said, the request isn’t merely to replace the bridge. What do you think, Ankh?”

“We should speak to the client first. According to the map, the village lies near the border between Count Dareder’s territory and a neighboring domain, but it isn’t even named. It’s extremely remote, and simply reaching it’ll be difficult. I’ll leave the final decision to you, Leader.”

Ankh was right: they needed more information.

Kannes, the receptionist with an appraisal skill, told them the client was staying at the Dwarf Inn, so the team went to meet him.

In the Dwarf Inn’s dining room, a man who looked like a traveling peddler waited beside a large pack.

“Are you the adventurers considering my request?”

“Are you preparing to leave?”

Tauro asked, noticing the man’s luggage.

“Yes. I’m a traveling peddler and stopped here only long enough to submit the request. This area is normally handled by Marches, another peddler, so I need to return to my own route. I planned to check back in several days, but I’m relieved someone responded so quickly.”

The client spoke naturally to Tauro despite his young appearance.

“Please tell us more about the village. It isn’t named on the map, and none of us has been there.”

“I call it the Children’s Village. It’s small, but there are many children. The residents are wary of outsiders, so be careful when approaching them. The route becomes steep partway there, and beyond the collapsed bridge it turns into a difficult mountain path.”

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“The Children’s Village?”

“Yes. There are about ten adults and nearly thirty children. They’re mostly self-sufficient, so I sold them general goods, seasonings such as salt, and iron tools such as knives. The bridge has collapsed before, but the villagers immediately stretched a rope across the ravine. This time an entire week passed without any sign of them. That worried me enough to submit the request.”

The peddler was clearly concerned about the children. Although they weren’t his relatives, he had raised the quest fee from his modest earnings.

“Understood. Our primary duty will be to investigate and report what happened. If we encounter a problem we can safely resolve, we’ll do so. If it’s beyond us, we’ll return immediately. Is that acceptable?”

“Of course. I leave that judgment to you.”

“Then we’ll prepare today and depart first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you. I must continue to another village where I have business, so please excuse me.”

The peddler bowed and left the Dwarf Inn.

“Nearly thirty children… That’s an unusually large number for such a small village.”

That detail seemed to interest Ankh more than anything else.

“Perhaps they take in orphans.”

Aeris offered one possibility.

“Gathering children and raising them in an isolated, harsh environment reminds me of the Dragon’s Den, where young dragonfolk are trained as warriors.”

Ragune compared it with the customs of her own village.

“The Dragon’s Den sounds concerning in its own right, but your comparison does suggest that the village might be some kind of training or educational facility. Whatever it’s, everyone should be ready to leave at dawn.”