Kays Translations

Part II, Volume 3 – The Sea, the Port, and the Island

Chapter 161

March 10th.

Because we were on foot, it took longer than the trip out, but we safely returned to Lindblum.

Melt had mentioned, “Maybe we’ll see a lot of carriages along the way,” and sure enough, when we reached the mountain pass and looked down toward the Isbel side, we spotted a great number of carriages moving along. In the end, though, none of them caught up to us.

I had hoped that, if there was a chance, we might be able to negotiate a ride back with them, but… too bad.

This time, there weren’t any escort requests or shared carriages heading from Isbel to Lindblum. Melt even said, “Probably no one’s going to be using that road for requests for a while.” Did she know something? Or maybe it was just the equivalent of a mass “return rush” for all the people who had gone to Isbel.

“So with the travel time included, we were away for about a month and a half, huh…”

“Yeah, the town looks like it’s calmed down quite a bit.”

“It’s getting warmer now, so the farmers are busy with preparations. I guess the whole town is settling into that rhythm.”

“I see! This year the harvests are supposed to be huge, right? Not just around this town, but across the whole kingdom.”

“That’s the plan. But at the same time… adventurers and mercenaries will have their hands full too.”

The festive mood in Lindblum had quieted, but now the busyness of farmers—those who supported the kingdom’s livelihood—was evident all along the way.

People were hauling farming tools, leading livestock, even transporting what looked like fence materials, perhaps to expand farmland.

The reports of the land being blessed with bountiful fertility had been accepted as truth. The real joy and celebrations would likely come in summer with the harvest, or in autumn during the harvest festival.

I was already looking forward to seeing how the kingdom would be by then.

“Wasn’t there talk about monsters becoming more active? But I’m sure it’ll be fine. At least Golde managed, and I think Lendia will handle it well too.”

“True. …The real concern isn’t inside the country, but rather outside of it.”

“Right… even Awa-awa-san is struggling with that… Hey, you really aren’t going to pair up with her, right? That was just mimicry?”

“Of course. I’m Melt’s family.”

“Then don’t you dare leave me behind. Even if you did pair with someone else, you have to take me along.”

“I doubt it’ll ever come to that. I’ll always be with Melt. …Anyway, more people are around now, so let’s switch back to normal speech.”

“Got it! Then, Silent, let’s stop by the Adventurers’ Guild?”

“Yeah. You reported you’d be away for a long time, right? You need to officially check back in.”

“Oh, that’s right! What about Same?”

“We’ll have him take care of it before we leave for the port.”

Honestly, if I could summon everyone and give them wills of their own, even this kind of troublesome stuff could be handled more smoothly.

…It’d be lively. And fun.

Within my consciousness, I could always talk with everyone at the Round Table. I wanted Melt to feel that same sense of security—the warmth of being surrounded by family.

As we headed toward the guild, I let myself imagine such a future.

The General Guild building was more crowded than I had ever seen before.

It wasn’t a commotion or emergency, though. It was simply packed with people who had business to do, all holding numbered tickets and lining up in long queues.

“W-wow! Even though this guild is so big, it’s completely stuffed with people! Looks like everyone’s lined up at the job request counters!”

“Seems so. Our line—the one for adventurers submitting reports—isn’t as crowded, but even here it’s busier than usual.”

We waited in line, and Melt stepped forward to file her return report.

The receptionist happened to be the same lady who had handled Melt’s guild registration.

…Come to think of it, she was also the one who had handled my own registration as Silent.

“Next, please!”

“It’s me. I’m reporting my return, and I’ll be leaving again for a while. I need to file the paperwork.”

“Wha—! Silent-dono! The kingdom has already informed us of your long absence, but… you’re leaving again?”

Apparently, word had spread to the guild that I had taken part in the war.

I completed the formalities to report both my return and my upcoming absence. Honestly, I could’ve just skipped the paperwork and vanished again…

“Your paperwork is complete. But Silent-san, the situation has changed quite a lot while you were gone…”

“I’m aware of it all. …Tell Remiya that I’ve returned. I still owe her a debt.”

That would no doubt ensure news of my return reached the guildmaster as well.

Still had been wary of Guildmaster Burke, but as long as I remained registered as an adventurer, my movements would be fully known anyway. It couldn’t be helped.

…If Remiya did come to meet me later, I’d have to ask her what had become of Fulerica—the one supposedly imprisoned in the underground cells.

If Still’s predictions were correct… then she had already escaped.

After finishing the paperwork, I once again looked around the guild.

From their clothing and builds, it seemed that most of the ordinary citizens who had come to file requests in such large numbers were people who worked outdoors—likely farmers.

It was the season just before spring. In fact, with the temperature already beginning to rise, it wouldn’t have been strange if farm work had already started. Perhaps they were here to request monster subjugations around their fields and farms.

“Silent, Silent, what should we do after this?”
“Let’s see… I’ve already reported my return, so for now, what I should do is ‘done.’”

In other words, as Silent, his obligations were finished.
Perhaps sensing that, Melt spoke up.

“Then, why don’t we go take a look at the Adventurers’ Den? If you’re there, I bet all the weirdos will get scared and run away!”

“I see. There was a bit of trouble there, after all. Even if things are lively now, there still might be some problems left behind.”

As Rue, I had dealt with the presence known as Abyss Fang, who had ruled the Underside through kidnappings and intimidation, worsening public safety.
It had been resolved for the time being, but that didn’t mean no issues lingered.

“Captain!? Is that Captain Silent!?”

It was at that moment. Despite the hustle and bustle of the crowd, a loud voice calling my name rang out clear above the noise.

Wondering what was going on, I searched for the source of the voice and saw a woman pushing her way through the crowd toward us.
If I recalled correctly… Nemuri. She had been assigned to my squad during the subjugation force—a jade-ranked archer, I believed.

“Nemuri, huh. It’s been a while.”
“It’s been so long! …No, more importantly—Captain, you’re safe!?”
“Oh? Did someone tell you something about me?”

“I heard from someone in Basker that you had headed to the battlefield in that war. But afterwards, no one could trace your whereabouts, so everyone was trying to find out what had happened. Among the refugees, there were even rumors of someone who looked like you… The details weren’t certain, but we all felt sure you’d gone to the frontlines. And since you hadn’t returned, everyone was so worried.”

“I see. But still… would you normally worry that much about someone you only worked with on one mission?”

“What are you saying!? The fact that we survived that dangerous mission, that you defeated such a mighty enemy in a way straight out of a heroic tale, and that you told us to share the spoils fairly among everyone—that’s all engraved in our hearts! You’ll always be our captain!”

“She speaks true. We were moved by your overwhelming ‘strength.’ Even I, who had grown weary of adventuring and battle, felt my blood stir again when I witnessed your might, Captain.”

Another person joined us.
He was… yes, one of the magicians in a party that had been part of my squad.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know his name.

“Oh, it’s Easton-san! Long time no see!”

Apparently Melt knew his name, for she greeted him happily.
So—Easton, was it.

“Melt, it has been long indeed. And Nemuri as well. I imagine you’ve been busy?”
“Long time no see, Easton-san. Yes, I’ve been taking farmland patrol requests day after day.”
“Ah, I thought so. Probably because farm work is starting again?”

“Indeed. I’ve recently retired from adventuring to devote myself solely to the Scholars’ Guild, but… with the change in climate, it seems farming must begin earlier than usual this year. So all those who make their living from agriculture are in a great rush. Not only that—the nation is encouraging the expansion of farmland. To assist with that, commissions for adventurers and mercenaries are being subsidized.”

“Is that alright? Wouldn’t that cause dissatisfaction on the part of the adventurers or the guild?”

“Of course, the nation is covering all of it. In my opinion, the rumors of the Core are true, and the kingdom wants to seize this chance to develop rapidly—even if it means pouring out state funds. Fortunately, since we won the war, we also have tax revenue from Golda.”

“I see. Then this commotion, this crowding—it all makes sense.”

“Exactly. Hm… Captain, your return is honestly the best news I’ve heard in quite some time. It feels wasteful to end this reunion here. Don’t you agree, Nemuri?”

“Yes! Captain Silent! Let’s gather as many of the squad members from back then as we can and let everyone know you’ve returned! We were really worried, you know!”

“Ugh…”
“Hey hey, Silent? I think it’s fine, really. I worried too, so I’m sure everyone else felt the same.”
“…You’re right. Very well, Easton—can I leave it to you?”
“Of course. Nemuri, will you help as well?”
“Absolutely! I’ve stayed in touch with other adventurers, too.”

And so, before I knew it, the talk of my return had turned into a plan for everyone from that squad to gather at the Adventurers’ Den.

…True enough, word of me heading to war would have spread through Kill crawler, and it was a fact I had made people worry. Yes—making it up to them by joining everyone for drinks at the Den wasn’t a bad idea. In any case, I had wanted to see how that place was doing.

In the end, nearly everyone who had been part of that subjugation force mission had gathered at the General Guild. Just as we were about to head out together toward the Adventurers’ Den, Melt poked me in the side.

“Hm?”
“Silent, Remiya-san is here.”
“Oh, really?”

I stopped walking and called out to her across the reception counter.

“Remiya, I’ve returned. Thank you for the medicine!”

As soon as I said that—

“Silent-sama! Is that truly you, Silent-sama!!”

She dashed out from behind the reception desk at incredible speed, weaving through the crowd-packed floor as if no one else was even there, and in an instant stood right before me.

“Calm down, Remiya.”
“Silent-sama, is your body truly alright now!?”

Her usual calm expression was gone; instead, she asked me in a voice filled with urgency and desperation.
…Yeah, I really must have worried her. This had to be Still’s fault—he must’ve said something that broke her spirit even further.

“There’s no problem. I hear you gave the medicine ingredients to Same—thank you. I’ll repay that debt someday.”
“There’s no debt between us… No, rather—since it looks like you’re heading somewhere with a group, may I accompany you?”

Huh, an unexpected offer.

“We’re only going to eat. Apparently there are people who were worried about me, so I figured I’d make it up to them.”
“Then I have every right to participate as well, don’t I? Please allow me to join.”

Seriously!? I never imagined she’d want to take part in a gathering like this…

At any rate, along with me and Melt, the members of the subjugation squad, and now even Ms. Remiya, we all headed toward the Adventurers’ Den.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter