Chapter 84

Early morning. Even in summer, the mornings are cool and comfortable.

Thanks to the low humidity, unlike in Japan. There are no cicadas here, so it’s pretty quiet. Other insects are quite noisy, though.

While thinking about such things, I waited at the carriage station by the North Gate, and I could see the members of Artemis walking over.

Lina, Ulrika, Shina, Natasha, Gorilianna… the usual crew.

"Hey, you’ve been waiting, huh?"

"Senior Mutt, you’re always early."

"Wow, you’re carrying a lot…"

"…Quite an… excessive amount of luggage."

Shina looked up at the tip of the fishing rod I was holding and muttered. At least look at the backpack.

"It’s been a while since we’ve gone on a trip. After escorting to Dryden, we’re going to spend a few days there, right?"

"Calling it a trip is a bit hurtful… we’re going to hunt around the lake."

"Eh? But the captain said this expedition is also for a break… Ow, sorry, sorry."

Ulrika’s cheek was pinched, probably for saying too much.

Still, it’s a good thing the party gets along so well.

"The client’s carriage is already here. Is that it?"

"Looks like it. It’s the usual caravan that transports supplies to Dryden."

This time, we’re escorting ten cargo carriages.

Dryden is a remote town right next to the Latreille Mountains, so supplies must always pass through here, Regal. As a result, there are many regular carriage trips, making it a familiar town for us guild members, despite the distance. Most livestock products that reach Regal come from this side, so we have an inseparable relationship.

However, because there’s a guild branch in Dryden, the relationship between our guild members isn’t very good. It’s mainly due to the competitive spirit of the Dryden-based guild members.

Due to its location near unexplored mountains, Dryden is constantly battling wild monsters. As a result, the guild branch there is filled with skilled hunters, and in terms of average quality, they might be better than Regal.

However, it’s Regal where guild members can earn money… so there’s a tendency for talent to flow this way. Even Lina and Ulrika are like that. So, I can kind of understand why the Dryden branch is tough on the Regal members. It’s the sorrow of the provinces…

"Senior Mutt, is it okay to carry a fishing rod during an escort…?"

"Oh, this? It’s fine, fine. They said it’s okay to bring it with the luggage."

"Really? They didn’t get mad…?"

"Not at all. In situations like this, if you get along with the other party beforehand, most things can be managed. Remember that, Lina."

"Ah, I see…?"

"Still as cheerful as ever, huh…?"

That’s rude. I’m trying to teach you about building good relationships.

Lina doesn’t really worry about that kind of thing, though. She’s the type of athletic club manager who’s liked wherever she goes.

The line of carriages started moving, and our escort mission began.

You might think carriages pulled by horses would be fast, but they move slowly and steadily, a pace that’s fine even for us on foot.

If they go too fast, the horses will get tired. Besides, even if they cover a moderate distance quickly, there’s no guarantee a convenient inn or village will be there when it gets dark. So, they maintain a steady pace.

This country has abundant feed and food, so even a slow march isn’t a problem. The priority is to deliver all the cargo in perfect condition, which makes it easier to transport delicate items, making it quite profitable.

I’m here to provide the main firepower for this caravan, as expected of Artemis.

There are guards for the caravan, but they’re more like security personnel hired by each carriage, and can’t be relied on much in terms of combat. If monsters or bandits attack, it’s up to Artemis to handle it. The guards will buy time while Artemis takes care of the situation.

Even with a stretched-out line of ten carriages, Artemis, with their archers and mages, can cover everything. They’re a true elite squad.

As for where I am, I’m at the very back of the caravan.

I’m the melee fighter. Gorilianna is at the front, and I’m at the back. If you want a strong defense at the front, you’d put Gorilianna there. Attacks from the rear do happen, but they’re rare, so this is the natural formation.

There are no other members of Artemis nearby, so my only conversation partner is the driver of the last carriage.

"We’ve got a lot of cargo. Sorry, but there’s no room for you to ride."

"No problem, really. A lot of cargo means business is good, right?"

"Things have been good lately. The stuff we load in Regal sells well. But for some reason, it’s a bit slow coming from Dryden."

"Ah, I see, that makes sense."

"But, going back and forth between the capital and Regal gets boring. You have to wait at the gates, pay fees, and sometimes you can’t even find a place to stay in the inns because there are so many similar businesses."

"But this route is good. The roads are clear, and the schedule is less likely to be disrupted."

"Ah, I see. It’s a steady job, huh?"

"Exactly. You get it, don’t you? In the end, this kind of job is the best."

The old driver is right; this route is indeed stable. There are no particular troubles, and it’s a continuous stretch of uneventful country roads.

In contrast, the road to the capital is congested and unsettling. If there’s a traffic jam, it can cause significant delays, and you might even have to camp in the inns, which can be a sad experience. Like in the town of Brayley. It’s really… well, let’s just say the people there are a bit narrow-minded, but it’s not a big deal.

The peaceful carriage journey continued, and on the third day, the first real trouble finally occurred.

"Monsters spotted! Three Bizarfur Gears from the right front!"

Shina’s clear voice echoed from the middle of the caravan. She must have been scouting from the top of the carriage, probably using her Gift’s power.

Right front… I probably won’t be needed, but I’ll check it out. I moved to the front at a quick pace and drew my bastard sword just in case.

"Hey, Mutt. Over there, over there!"

"I see them, Ulrika. …They’re still creepy as usual."

"Me too… I’m not good with them…"

Bizarfur Gears. The best way to describe them is as pig-sized pill bugs.

If you’re not familiar with pill bugs, imagine a smooth, hairless, creepy tarantula, and you’ll get the idea.

They usually live underground or in caves, but sometimes they come out in the summer. They’re relatively rare, but they don’t yield much in terms of materials, so they’re not particularly profitable.

Their white, prominent bodies suggest they might be poisonous, but they’re surprisingly not.

However, they’re fast on their legs and have powerful jaws, which is what makes them scary.

"…They’re coming. I’ll intercept the one in front…!"

Gorilianna drew her greatsword from her back and got into position.

Go for it, Gorilianna!

"Roar!"

With a roar, she swung her massive, curved blade, cleanly bisecting the Bizarfur Gear’s head and jaw, silencing it without any resistance.

The reach is different, the reach is. The buster is still the best.

"Another one got through!"

She dealt with another one with her greatsword, but in the meantime, the third one slipped past her from a slightly farther position.

Its target was the carriage, and the horses in it.

It’s hard to understand what insects are thinking, but Bizarfur Gears are sensitive to ground vibrations, so they probably reacted to the sound of the horseshoes. They likely targeted the horses as their first objective… but they were within Shina’s range.

"Light Beam Shot"

Her eyes glowed blue-white, and she drew three slender arrows, releasing them all at once.

I know a lot about archery skills, but I’ve never seen or heard of anyone else using this skill besides Shina.

"Screech"

The three arrows quickly converged on the Bizarfur Gear, severing its right legs, left legs, and head.

The poor Bizarfur Gear, having lost its legs for movement and its head for thinking, slid to a stop on the ground and wouldn’t move again.

…Shina’s skill doesn’t have the same weight as Ulrika’s, but the fact that three arrows can hit their intended targets with considerable power is impressive.

She can aim for the head, heart, and other vital points. Even if you could deflect one arrow with a sword, how would you deal with three? I wouldn’t want to face her as an enemy.

"Gorilianna’s done… Lina, can you help her with the skinning?"

"Sure. …Senior Gorilianna, where’s the proof part for the Bizarfur Gear?"

"The eyes…"

"Got it."

"Let us know when you’re done. We’ll be leaving soon."

I thought I wouldn’t be needed, and I really wasn’t. Maybe I should have stayed at the rear, keeping watch.

"Hehe, what do you think, Mutt? Our captain is amazing, right?"

"Yeah, she’s definitely gold-class. Another reason not to anger her."

"Really, she’s scary when she’s angry. But she’s a good person who cares about her comrades."

That’s obvious just by looking at Lina.

I’m really glad to be in such a good party, Lina. Enjoy being a parasite. Staying at Bronze 3 for a while might be fun too?

In the end, the only real attack was on the third day. Nothing else happened until we reached Dryden. No bandits or bounty targets appeared.

Maybe they only attack carriages with noble ladies or something. It would have been nice to have a few more for the extra rewards…