Volume 6, Chapter 1 – An Ominous Presence

Several weeks had passed since we heard the news that the Demon Lord Alert in Yan’an had been raised to Level 3, and we had made our way to Novarbour.

We were escorted there by a transport unit from the Red Sky Empire.

During the journey, we could feel firsthand that monster attacks were becoming more frequent.

Up until now, we had rarely been attacked by monsters; most of those cases happened in special places, such as the forests of Jinsha or the Crescent Moon Spring.

It was uncommon for monsters to venture onto the main roads.

Even when they did appear, it was usually just a stray monster attacking once a week or so; more often than not, we were more concerned about guarding against bandits.

However, from the moment we crossed the desert and left the Red Sky Empire, the frequency of monster attacks clearly increased.

We were attacked almost every day, and on bad days, multiple times a day.

“Saint-sama! Please, stay safe!”

“Thank you all for your help in getting us this far. May God’s Blessings be upon the Red Sky Empire.”

“Hah! Long live Saint-sama! Long live! Long live!”

After shouting this mysterious chant in unison, the soldiers of the Red Sky Empire headed back home.

“Well, we’re back to being a party of four again.”

Reαd oո KаtRеαdіոɡСafе

“Yes. Given the situation, the number of monsters appearing in the direction of the White Moon Kingdom may also be increasing. First, we should gather information, such as whether the stagecoach services are still running properly.”

“And we must also arrange for tonight’s lodging.”

“Food! First, let’s eat food! We haven’t had lunch yet!”

Three people, three different priorities; it felt like their personalities were showing quite strongly.

“Then, let’s have lunch first. However, we don’t have much time, so let’s make it quick with some simple Durum. After that, we’ll go to the inn we stayed at before, take a room, and check the status of the stagecoaches.”

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

“As you wish.”

After eating Durum at a shop recommended by Lu-chan and getting a room at the inn we stayed at before, we headed to the stagecoach information center.

By the way, that Durum was delicious, so I had them make about a hundred servings and saved them in my Storage.

It’s the best that things don’t rot no matter how long you store them, right?

Now then, the news waiting for us at the information center was that all regular services to the White Moon Kingdom had been suspended.

Rеaԁ οո KаtRеadіnɡСαfе

“We absolutely must go to the White Moon Kingdom. Is there nothing that can be done?”

Chris-san asked the receptionist, but she only shook her head.

“In the first place, why have the services been suspended? No matter how much monster attacks have increased, it shouldn’t have reached that point yet.”

“I am very sorry…”

Chris-san and the receptionist were talking past each other. That’s when Shizuku-san chimed in from the side.

“Then, is it not possible to rent a carriage? We shall return it to your depot in the White Moon Kingdom. Let me see, the original regular service was bound for Calvara, yes? Then, would it not be fine if we returned it in Calvara?”

“Eh? Ah, s-such a thing, I cannot…”

“Then I request that you call someone who can make that decision.”

“Eh, um, well…”

As the receptionist faltered at Shizuku-san’s proposal, a man called out to us.

“What seems to be the trouble, guests? Hm? Oh! That outfit! You are Saint Fiene Argentata-sama, are you not!”

When we turned around, there stood a somewhat plump middle-aged man.

Rеαԁ οn ΚαtRеaԁіnɡСаfe

“Welcome to our Guild. I am Benito, the Guild Master. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?”

“Nice to meet you. I am Fiene Argentata. We are looking for a carriage to return to the White Moon Kingdom, but we were troubled to find that all services are suspended.”

At this, Benito-san wore a grave expression.

“I see. So that is the case. Which means you are heading toward the Temple in the Royal Capital.”

Benito-san paused, then spoke in a low voice.

“I cannot say this too loudly, but in truth, there have been signs of a Monster Stampede in the town of Calvara. Because of that, all regular services have been suspended until we receive further word from Calvara.”

“What!?”

Chris-san reacted sharply to this information.

As expected, for Chris-san, who became a knight to protect the people of the White Moon Kingdom, this was something she could not ignore.

“Guild Master-dono, if regular services cannot run, would you not lend us a carriage?”

“Regrettably, if we send a carriage into an area where a Monster Stampede warning has been issued, the coachman’s life would be in danger. We would love to cooperate, but…”

“I can act as the coachman. I belong to the Order of Knights in the White Moon Kingdom. A horse and a four-person carriage will suffice. Is there truly nothing that can be done?”

Rеаd оո КаtRеαԁіոɡCafе

“B-but…”

To the hesitating Guild Master, I presented a condition.

“In that case, how about this: we buy it outright once, and upon return, you buy it back from us minus the rental fee?”

“Eh? Ah, if that were the case…”

“It’s settled then. Now, Shizuku-san, please handle the price negotiations.”

“Leave it to me. However, I am impressed that you thought of such a system so quickly.”

“I figured that since Benito-san is also a merchant, he’d agree if he knew he wouldn’t lose money.”

“True. Besides, for Benito-dono, a carriage just sitting idle is nothing but a money-sink. I shall negotiate firmly.”

With that, we were invited into the back room for negotiations. Thanks to Shizuku-san’s thorough negotiating, we reached an exceptional contract: we bought the carriage for 10 gold coins, and it would be bought back for 8 gold coins in Calvara.

Of course, they included one horse as well.

Incidentally, we were told that for feed, we could simply let the horse eat the grass growing nearby.

Having finished the negotiations, we returned to the hotel.