Chapter 66

As I entered Dycatt, the first thing that caught my eye was a statue resembling a Valkyrie.

I had seen one like it once at the Velasra church.

I think it was Lady Setrans.

The statue is made of stone, so its color is completely indistinguishable, but her figure, draped in a cloak and armor, holding a long sword, is truly that of a female warrior.

Halu said she is the goddess of battle and victory.

(I thought the same thing before, but if it’s Lady Setrans, a spear would be better, wouldn’t it?)

I was thinking such silly things.

Incidentally, a donation box was thoughtfully placed in front of the goddess statue.

"The Arandel Kingdom worships all six goddesses as the state religion, but Dycatt has Setrans as its state religion. She is the goddess of battle and victory. It is said that because the majority of the people in this country are nomads, they have always had more opportunities to encounter monsters compared to people in other countries, and battles have become a part of their daily lives."

Caro, as always, was very knowledgeable.

Incidentally, because Collat is an agricultural country, statues of Lady Koshamare are built in various towns.

I am grateful to Lady Koshamare, but I still think I made the right choice in coming to this country. If those statues were placed everywhere, I would probably just end up with a wry smile.

Anyway, we managed to cross the border and enter the town safely, but the level of the common people did not increase. It really is harder for them to level up.

I remember that Halu, who is a devout follower of Lady Setrans, along with Caro and myself, put in some coins and prayed.

Incidentally, Marina is hiding in the carriage for some reason.

"But just crossing the border, things have changed so much. It’s suddenly become a vast grassland."

We are still in the town, but the fence surrounding it is low, so the outside is clearly visible.

"Umm, I’m sorry, but could I have my mask back now?"

Marina, who has the same Japanese background as me, pleaded with teary eyes. We haven’t had a proper conversation yet.

I am currently holding her mask.

Because, you see, she was quite dangerous during the immigration inspection.

"My name is the great sorceress Marina! I have risen to stand with the hero who has descended upon this world to defeat the great demon king. Remember that. For the purpose of entry? Yes, with my great magic, I will guard this carriage and deliver important weapons to the base in the capital—"

I took the mask from Marina after she said that much, and told them that our purpose was to trade and deliver a knife to a hotel in Ferit, and they let us through.

"If I give this to you, you’ll definitely say something stupid at the adventurer’s guild. Just stay quiet. And don’t talk about defeating the great demon king so much."

Firstly, the demon king of this world has already been defeated by a hero. It’s impossible to defeat someone who has already been defeated.

Secondly, Halu feels a sense of gratitude towards the demon king. I wouldn’t feel good about badmouthing him in front of her.

Thirdly, we might be seen as fools too.

So, I decided to keep Marina like this.

She’s quite a handful, but she’s been teary-eyed the whole time.

We left the carriage at the stable and headed to the adventurer’s guild. We already knew where it was because we had passed it on our way to the stable.

This is our third visit to the adventurer’s guild.

When we entered, it was a place with tables and chairs, much like a tavern.

"Are you here for the adventurer’s guild, or just for a meal?"

A green-haired woman with pointed ears called out to us.

She’s probably an elf.

It seems this place is both a restaurant and an adventurer’s guild.

"We’re here to register a party. And we’d also like some drinks."

We had lunch at a street stall, so we’re not hungry.

"Please, this way."

The three of us sat down, but for some reason, Marina didn’t try to sit.

"Marina, aren’t you going to sit down?"

"Um... Is it okay?"

"Of course it is... Oh, right, slaves usually don’t sit, do they?"

I remember Halu was also hesitant to sit at first.

"Slaves usually stand or sit on the floor. Like those people over there."

Caro gestured to a table in the back. One person looked like a mage, and behind him stood a slave who looked like a swordsman.

"Sitting at the same height means you’re eating on equal terms. I heard from Halu that Mr. Ichino likes to eat with people sitting at the same height, so we are sitting."

"Is that how it works? I guess Marina knows, but since she’s Japanese, she might not understand. Go ahead and sit."

"Thank... you."

Marina sat down, looking down.

Well then.

In Florenz, we were hassled by adventurers because of Halu.

In Velasra, we were hassled by adventurers trying to take the brown bear.

Surely, the third time’s the charm.

No one will bother us here.

But then,

"Hey, buddy. What are you doing with three slave girls?"

"Give us one too."

"Beast girl, girl in a tight outfit, and a lolicon. Don’t worry, I don’t discriminate. My Magnum is always in top form, no matter who it is."

Three crude men with lecherous grins approached us.

I remembered the saying, "What happens twice will happen a third time."

It seems that for people from another world, the adventurer’s guild is a kind of gateway to trouble.

～Interlude: The Request from the Delinquents～

Frio, a red-haired, freckled boy.

Suzzino, a short, black-haired boy with glasses.

In front of them was the biggest event in the history of the secret society, Masakuru.

The request came to the secret society, Masakuru, yesterday.

Suzzino, the vice president, took it on his own.

Usually, Frio, the leader, would get angry at Suzzino for taking the lead, and Suzzino would calm him down, resolving the situation.

But today was different.

Because in front of them were two gold coins.

Gold coins... enough to live a modest life for a year.

Seeing the two gold coins, the timid Frio quickly hid them and looked around.

This was a corner of a tavern. Suzzino’s father runs the place, and Suzzino usually works here.

He was on a break and sitting in front of Frio.

"Are they fake?"

"No, they’re real. And this is just the advance. The success fee is eighteen gold coins! The guy said he’s some kind of count, but it’s amazing. The biggest job in the history of Masakuru."

"Wow! Twenty gold coins in total. Alright, let’s gather everyone—"

"Wait, Frio. Think about it. If we gather everyone, we’ll have to split the gold coins. Ten people working means two gold coins each. But if we do it ourselves, we get ten gold coins each!"

Two gold coins versus ten gold coins. There’s no need to weigh the options. Anyone who can count knows which is better.

Still, Frio hesitated a bit.

Not because of any sense of duty as a leader or guilt about betraying his friends.

"Can we do it with just the two of us?"

The issue is the nature of the job.

If it requires numbers, we’d have to gather all the members.

In that case, he planned to lie and say the reward was only two gold coins, divide it into twenty silver coins per person, and after a big party with his share of twenty silver coins, split the nine gold coins with Suzzino.

"The job is very simple. Just take this black ball to the statue of the goddess in the western dungeon."

"A beginner’s dungeon. It’s a place we often go. It makes sense that the request came to us."

Frio and the other members of the secret society, Masakuru, went to the western dungeon once a week to hunt monsters and earn some pocket money, in order to strengthen the members.

It’s a dungeon managed by the state, and soldiers enter three times a month for training, but it’s otherwise closed.

However, Grutch, the son of a laundryman, would check the schedule when he delivered laundry to the barracks, and Frio, the son of a locksmith, would open the door and sneak in.

Suzzino didn’t keep the job to himself but told Frio because he needed Frio’s lock-picking skills, not out of loyalty.

"Still, he’s a really nice guy, isn’t he?"

"By the way, what’s the client’s name?"

"I think it was Vanf? No, Valf, maybe."