CH 171.1

Translator: “Hakou”                             Editor: “Weasalopes”

Summer late afternoon.

A rugged building facing the west part of the Royal capital’s plaza.

A young man entered the building, which is the headquarters of the Adventurer guild.

(I’m so nervous)

He has the impression of an absentminded and soft young man.

Earlier, he went to the merchant guild to return his F rank qualification card. He was also the person who was crouching in the corner of the plaza because he had troubles with money.

(Hm?)

The wide lobby that extends beyond the door. He was surprised when he saw it.

(There’s almost no one here)

A scene where fierce looking men were making fuss here and there. Such was what he imagined the guild would be.

However, the lobby is empty, and there is only one woman sitting behind the counter desk.

Thinking of taking on some kind of gathering quest, he went to the bulletin board in front of the counter.

(There’s none…)

This wasn’t something that the young man was aware of, but the suburbs of the Royal capital are not suitable for gathering quests in the first place.

Various herbs, nuts, animals, minerals, etc. were abundant in the countryside.

The reason why there were a lot of gathering quests in the Royal capital up until now was because the Royal capital is a place with a high consumption rate and the flow of goods was poor.

(What should I do…?)

From the number of sighs he exhaled today, this was the biggest one.

「Don’t worry, I will help you out」

Then, from behind, the receptionist called out to him.

He feels like he has seen her somewhere, but he can’t remember.

「You were troubled because there’s no gathering quest at all, right? There were many people like that actually」

Now that a large amount of high-quality materials are being brought in from rural areas, the number of gathering quests in the Royal capital has dropped sharply.

It was very annoying to the fledgling adventurers who used it as their livelihood.

「I have a nice job for you here, do you want to do it?」

「A nice job?」

The receptionist explained to him who returned the question back like a parrot.

「I have a job that’s easy to do with quite amount of reward」

「And this is the most important part but…」 As she kept looking into his eyes, she continued.

「It is also something that could help a lot of people. Amazing isn’t it?」

(That sounds nice)

The young man who is accustomed to being kind and taken care of, returns the smile with a smile.

But there he realized. He doesn’t even have the money to register as an adventurer anymore.

He worriedly told the receptionist, but the smile of the receptionist remained the same.

「You don’t have to worry about that. I will deduct it from the completion reward」

Those words warm his heart.

He has been longing for kindness from other people ever since he left the noble mansion.

(Now this is how a guild should be. It’s very different from the merchant guild)

As soon as he’s done registering as an adventurer, he was asked to sit in the corner of the lobby.

Two novice adventurers like him were waiting there.

Both of them are young. Especially the one who has a sword on his waist can be called a child.

「Goblin extermination?」

The two people who were already there didn’t respond to the receptionist’s explanation. It seems she has explained it to them already.

Goblins. They are a humanoid demon beast, about the height of a human child.

They are said to be weak among adventurers. It is probably because of their weakness that they live in groups.

「Yes, it seems they appeared in a village south from here」

Then the receptionist looks at one of the two who got here earlier and points at him.

「Luckily this person here has a carriage. So if you go right away, you can get there before sunset」

Having a finger pointed at him, the young man who was brought up in a good environment felt a bit uncomfortable.

(Even though I should’ve told her my name when I registered, and she still calls me “this person”, is a bit…)

Such was his feeling, but there’s an even bigger problem so he prioritized that.

He exchanged a few words with the other two in a whisper.

His concerns were correct, and he spoke up on their behalf.

「But we have never defeated a goblin before」

However, the receptionist is still full of confidence. She put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest.

「It’s okay! We’re talking about one goblin here after all. Give one young man a stick and he’ll be able to take care of it without a problem」

Looking at them who had a weak reaction, the receptionist continued.

「They’re just as tall as a human child, you know? Would you lose to a child?」

Being told so, they tried imagining it.

A child with bare hands or a wooden stick. Surrounded with three people, holding swords and sticks. Certainly, they don’t think they would lose.

The other two seem to agree and nod.

「I understand, we’ll accept the quest」

They completed the procedure on the spot. Then they immediately leave the guild and head for the carriage stop.

It was said that the village would provide meals and a place to sleep, so he wanted to arrive before the evening.

The other two, like him, were having trouble even with today’s meal.

***

A small golem carriage leaves the royal capital and heads south.

Sitting on the hooded luggage cart, the boy strokes the sword on his waist.

(Finally, this guy will have a place to shine)

A short one-handed sword. It’s a popular item that you can get anywhere, but it’s a treasure for the boy.

By the way, he hasn’t used it for real yet. He uses it for a practice swing at most.

For adventurers, a sword is a must. He thought so, but he had no money to buy it and gave up just by looking at the exhibits.

However, the receptionist’s older sister listened to his concerns and gave him advice.

『You can worry about the money later. I’ll deduct it from the success reward after dividing it』

He was able to get his hands on it after she told him so.

(It was really tough)

He can’t be picky about jobs because there was no gathering quest at all.

He did everything from cleaning the red-light district to cleaning up trash and weeding.

However, even after creeping on the ground to earn money like that, half of it was gone for buying the sword.

Everyday feels like it would be his last day.

(Even so… there’s nothing to do now)

Since the other two are on the coachman’s seat, he’s alone on the luggage cart. He has no one to talk to.

He holds his knees and looks back on what he has been doing up until now. It’s an episode in which he went to the royal capital to become an adventurer.

Until a few months ago, the boy was selling lunch boxes in the post town west of Awoke.

He was selling it to the passengers of big golem carriages.

Many customers bought it for lunch that day, and it was quite busy in the morning.

(The Empire is closing in, they say?)

He thought while giving out the lunchbox to the customer from the carriage window and received the payment.

It seems that Landburn was invaded, and the post town has been in a fuss talking about it since the morning.

However, few people, including boys, take it seriously. This is because there have been several cases before and they were repelled in all of the cases.

(Guess I’ll take a look while I’m at it)

Apparently there are dozens of Knights at the prairie east of Landbarn glaring at each other.

(They’re so cool)

Knights are objects of longing for every boy.

If the knight commander’s Knight, the flagship of the kingdom is there, he was going to go even if he had to skip work.

However, after that, the news of the fall of Landbarn arrived, and the boy was very surprised.

(Thank god I didn’t go there)

On the dinner table for two. Hearing the story, he stroked his chest in relief.

Her aunt, sitting in front of him, continued her words.

「Now that Landbarn has become the territory of the Empire, I’m sure the travelers that will come by this town will decrease」

A tinge of sadness floated on her slightly gaunt face.

This post town is only halfway between Landbarn and Awoke. Now that one of them has been lost, the number of customers will drop sharply.

For his aunt who works at the inn, and he himself who’s selling lunch boxes. The chances they both will lose their jobs are high.

The boy makes a bitter expression and scratches the back of his head.

「This place might even be a battlefield soon」

However, he held his breath after hearing what his aunt said next.

That’s right, there is no guarantee that the Empire will stop at Landbarn. For a Knight, a post town that’s only one day away with golem carriage like this place will take not even a day to reach.

「I plan to go to Awoke, but how about you?」

A boy who lost his parents a few years ago. He was taken in by his mother’s sister and has been taken care of by her since.

(Does she mean it’s time for me to decide my own path?)

The boy who was asked such a question by his aunt. He contemplates for a moment, and answers in a strong tone.

「I’ll go to the royal capital and become an adventurer」

He decided. He wants to become an adventurer in the future.

The boy’s parents are merchants. The carriage on which they were riding was attacked by the Gray Tiger on the northern highway, and they became people who never returned.

(I want to avenge them)

He who stayed at home at that time had such thoughts at first.

But then, a wish is born in his heart.

(I want everyone to be able to travel safely on the road. So there won’t be anymore victim like father and mother)

His aunt probably was aware of that wish.

She didn’t say anything to stop him and only nodded quietly.

She just told him to come to her room before going to bed.

(I wonder what it is?)

His aunt who usually works at the inn. She’s rarely at home at night.

(Does she want to give me my father’s keepsake sword or something?)

An old sword that his father got by accident. Its true identity is a legendary sword that has a human heart, and guided by the sword his father embarks on a journey to save the world.

While having such delusion, he goes to his aunt’s room. By the way, his father’s weapon for self-defense was a long wooden stick. Not a sword.

「I’m coming in」

He knocked and opened the door.

When he went in, there was his aunt sitting in her chair all dressed, just as she did when she went to work.

(Whoa)

That figure of hers makes his heart beat faster.

Her aunt is her mother’s sister. No matter what the society says, for the boy, she’s not young.

But she is a beautiful woman.

「Sit down」

Being told to do so, he sat down in the chair facing his aunt.

A moist atmosphere that makes you feel a little tired.

Stared by the aunt he’s secretly longing for made it harder for him to breath.

「You are still a child, right?」

He was confused because he didn’t know what she meant.

He doesn’t think he’s a kid himself, but from his aunt’s point of view that may be true.

「If you want to become an adventurer, you have to be an adult first」

(Does she mean I can’t go to the royal capital yet?)

As he was about to open his mouth to argue, his aunt stuck out her index finger and touched the boy’s lips.

And she smiles bewitchingly.

「That’s why aunty will make you an adult. Consider this a farewell gift from me」

Surprise, expectation, and excitement made him silent.

His half-open mouth was blocked by her aunt’s mouth and he’s holding his breath for a long time.

「I’ll show you how scary adults are」

She whispered in his ear and brought him to the bed.

And from there, a dreamlike time began.

(Ouch ouch)

The pain in his crotch returns from remembering that scene.

Recalling her aunt’s farewell gift, his trousers were sharpened.

(We went all night long until sunrise and it felt good)

The aunt he longed for. That was the first and last opportunity to do it with her.

The boy’s hoops are completely removed, leading to a non-stop activity until morning.

At first, her aunt showed him the horror of adults, but in the end was knocked down by the young instead.

The boy kept shaking his hips until morning against her unconscious aunt.

(I can’t leave it like this. I must do something about this)

He can’t hold it anymore.

Fortunately, the other two companions are in the coachmen seat. He’s the only one on the luggage cart

(They shouldn’t know with all this shaking and rattling sound of the wheel)

The boy nodded and took out a small piece of cloth from his luggage.

It was his aunt’s underwear that he stole before he got the farewell gift.

When he thinks about it, there’s no way he can’t go unnoticed. She surely knew the boy’s feelings.

He gets it from the laundry basket and presses it against his face, breathing in the scent of his aunt.

Then he took off his pants halfway and started working it out.

(Aunty!)

He shouted so many times in his heart. The carriage gave off a young scent from the luggage cart in the rear.