Chapter 49

In the end, since I was hungry, I decided to eat while talking with Lean.

"Two of the usual, please."

"Sure thing."

I sat on the simple wooden chair of the street stall in the alley and immediately ordered my usual dish.

I started using this place more often after a coworker from the same construction site recommended it to me, and all the dishes here are quite delicious.

Especially, the dish with noodles mixed with eggs soaked in a milky white soup, topped with finely chopped meat and vegetables, is exquisite.

In particular, the meat on top – I don’t know what kind of meat it is, but it’s incredibly delicious.

When I asked the owner what it was, he just smiled quietly and wouldn’t tell me. I also asked the coworker who recommended this place to me, but he said, "It’s better not to know. If it’s delicious, that’s all that matters."

I thought there was no need to keep it a secret, but since I agreed with his opinion, I didn’t pursue it further.

"This is delicious. I’ve never tasted anything like it."

It seemed that Lean also enjoyed it.

"So, what’s the talk about?"

Lean put down the dish he was holding and turned to face me.

"Right. The favor I need is that I have to go to Misra in three months... It might be a dangerous journey. So, if it’s okay, I would feel much more confident if you could come with me, sir."

"Misra, huh."

"Yes... Is it not possible?"

Lean, holding the bowl of noodles and soup, looked at my face closely.

The Holy Kingdom of Misra.

If I remember correctly, it was the country we planned to visit but had to cancel last time.

Of course, I want to go.

I want to see it.

I haven’t seen that city with my own eyes yet.

That hasn’t changed.

But, there’s something that’s a bit concerning.

"You said it might be dangerous. What do you mean by that? – Could it be that we might have to fight monsters?"

In response to my question, Lean put down the dish, thought for a moment, and then answered.

"To be honest, I don’t know. But, it might be a threat similar to what we faced before."

"I see."

When you say "before," it’s probably just goblins and poison frogs.

Well, I thought that might be manageable, as I slurped the noodles and considered it.

– But, wait a minute.

Is it really okay for me to go?

I’m still weak.

I realized that after various incidents.

During the attack on the royal capital, I managed to defeat goblins and poison frogs, and I thought I could have a bit of confidence... But the next day, I heard a story from the guild’s uncle about a monster that made me rethink everything.

Apparently, a monstrously large creature called the "Goblin Emperor," which was several times the size of the regular goblins we defeated, appeared in the city.

I was shocked and couldn’t believe my ears.

Even the regular goblins seemed huge to me, but the "Goblin Emperor" was reportedly over ten times the size of a regular goblin and moved several times faster.

– It’s just terrifying.

When I said that, the guild’s uncle laughed, but...

I couldn’t possibly fight such an unimaginable monster.

Moreover, several of them appeared in the city.

Despite that, the city’s adventurers worked together to defeat them.

The guild master, who was also a former "Gold-Class" adventurer, led the charge and, with the help of four others, managed to slay the "Goblin Emperor." He even said it was "a good workout" and laughed happily.

I learned for the first time that the uncle was originally a "Gold-Class" adventurer.

He was quite impressive.

I can’t even imagine what kind of battle they had with such a mountainous monster.

I also heard that there are even more impressive people.

The king of this country is said to be extremely skilled and managed to slay three "Goblin Emperors" in quick succession, all by himself.

His feat is a legend among adventurers.

– There are truly incredible people out there.

The world is much broader than I thought.

But, to risk their lives to protect the people.

It’s understandable why such people are respected.

When we arrived in the capital, we didn’t see any such enormous creatures, so they must have been defeated already.

I listened to their stories and took them to heart.

I could defeat monsters and even faced a dragon one-on-one and survived... but that’s all. Compared to those exceptional people, I’m still weak.

So, I hesitated.

Is it really okay for me to go?

If we encounter a "Goblin Emperor"-class monster somewhere, it would be dangerous for just Lean and me.

"Are we the only ones going?"

"No, this time Roro has also been invited, so he will be joining us. Of course, if he wants to go."

"Roro has been invited?"

"Yes. So now, I, Ines, Roro, and you, sir, are considering going. We don’t want to have too many people, though."

"…What’s the purpose, then?"

"It might sound a bit strange, but the dangerous task is to attend a friend’s coming-of-age ceremony. There’s a party, and we just need to attend it."

A coming-of-age ceremony, dangerous...?

What does that mean?

It can’t be that...

Is Misra a country where you have to defeat fierce monsters to come of age?

So, attending the coming-of-age ceremony involves some danger.

I’ve heard of such customs in some places.

I see, if the monsters at the ceremony somehow get out, it would be dangerous, so guards are needed.

That makes sense.

If Lean is going, it must be such a dangerous coming-of-age ceremony.

"Is there anything we need to prepare? I don’t know anything about it."

Seeming to understand my concern, Lean smiled and answered.

"Oh, don’t worry about the preparations. You just need to come with us.

We’ll take care of everything, including the costumes. We’ll need to confirm your size, though."

Costumes?

Are they necessary?

Could it be that participants are forced to join the ceremony?

If so, it might be battle gear.

Would it be dangerous not to wear it?

I’m starting to feel a bit anxious.

"Is it really okay for me to go there?"

"Yes, if nothing happens, you just need to be there. I’m sure there will be delicious food at the banquet, so you can look forward to that."

"I see."

Food... that’s something to look forward to.

Different places have different foods.

There might even be mushrooms more delicious than the dragon-destroying mushrooms.

– Thinking about it, my heart races.

Misra.

A place I’ve never seen.

I really want to go.

But...

"I can’t go. I think it’s better if I don’t."

"……What...?"

Lean was taken aback by my response and froze.

– Maybe I didn’t explain it well enough.

"You know, the reconstruction of the capital is still ongoing. There are people who lost their homes in the previous incident. If I leave, it might delay their return. I feel like I’m contributing a little, and the reconstruction will take a long time."

"– That’s true, but..."

"Besides, there are others who can serve as guards. I want to go to Misra and I’m interested in the coming-of-age ceremony. But, if I go, it might not benefit anyone. So, I think I’ll pass."

"…I… I understand… If you say so, sir…"

Lean seemed to accept it, but when I looked closely, her face, though still smiling, had tears in her eyes.

She held the bowl with trembling hands and silently sipped the soup.

It was as if the lively conversation we had just had was a lie.

…Whatever the reason, she seems very disappointed.

Seeing her like this, I feel sorry for her.

"Is there a reason you need me specifically?"

"– Yes, I don’t think anyone else will do."

When I asked, Lean immediately turned around and answered.

"I see."

"– No, let me correct that. The way I asked was inappropriate."

Lean stood up from the wooden chair at the stall, faced me, and placed her hand on her chest, bowing deeply as she had done before.

"Mr. Noor, the only people I can trust with my life are you and Ines. Please, come with us. I will do everything in my power to repay your kindness – I swear it on the name of Linnberg Kreis."

A coming-of-age ceremony, and such a grand gesture.

Well, it’s not bad to be asked like that, but...

Is this girl still misunderstanding?

I’m not as strong as she thinks.

But...

"I can’t help it – I’ll talk to the boss tomorrow. We’ll decide after that. Is that okay?"

"– Yes!"

Lean’s expression immediately brightened.

She seems very happy that I said I would go.

I wonder when her misunderstanding will clear up.

Still, since she’s asking me this much, I want to help her.

Even though I know my skills are lacking, I want to catch up.

– No, that’s not it.

I know my true feelings.

I’m just using this as an excuse.

– In the end, I just want to go on an adventure.

The construction work was fun.

It was fulfilling.

The unseen land, Misra.

There are things I haven’t experienced there.

I know it’s dangerous, but I still want to go.

I want to see it.

I can’t suppress my curiosity.

I can’t lie about such a simple feeling.

– Because I became an adventurer because I wanted to go on adventures.

My mind is made up.

But, if I’m going on a journey, I need to prepare.

It’s going to be a dangerous place, so I’m worried about my current skills.

There are three months until the journey, but that’s only three months.

During that time, I need to train and become stronger.

I know there are many monsters like the "Goblin Emperor" out there.

Even though Ines will be with me, if I go on this journey, I need to be prepared to face them.

If I’m not, I could die at any moment.

So, the training I’ve been doing on the side while working on the construction site is clearly not enough.

– I need to talk to the boss soon.

I feel bad for the boss and the others.

This is just my selfish desire.

What should I say to them when I meet them tomorrow?

After parting ways with Lean, I spent the night thinking about these things.

– The next morning.

I visited the construction site early as usual.

"Boss, I need to talk to you. Is it okay?"

The boss, looking puzzled, asked, "What’s up? That’s unusual. What is it, so serious –"

I was hesitating about what to say.

In the end, I couldn’t come up with a good way to say it.

The boss, looking at me, smiled as if he understood something.

"Oh, I see – you’re going, aren’t you?"

"What? How did you know?"

I haven’t said anything yet.

How did he know?

"Even if you don’t say it, it’s written all over your face. It’s fine, go ahead. You have a dream, right?"

"…Dream? What do you mean by that?"

"Well… I’m a bit at a loss if you ask me, but… it’s about you, right? You have something you want to do, don’t you?"

"Yes, I do."

This isn’t as grand as the boss makes it sound.

But, I do have something I want to do.

"But – if I do this, I’ll have to leave.

I might cause trouble for everyone who has helped me so far.

I feel bad about it."

When I said that, the boss laughed in his usual manner.

"Hey, don’t say it like that.

Basically, we knew this day would come.

You’ve always insisted on being an adventurer, even when I tried to get you to join the construction guild.

I never tried to hold you back.

You’ve worked more than enough, and thanks to you, the construction is two months ahead of schedule.

I’m grateful for that.

No one is saying you haven’t worked enough… in fact, you’ve probably done the work of a hundred people in the past month.

I’ll make sure the guild pays you for it, so make sure to collect it."

"…Alright."

"But – if you ever feel like it, come back.

There’s still a lot of techniques I want to teach you.

And, I haven’t given up yet.

If you change your mind, come to me anytime.

I think you’re worth ten, no, twenty times more than an ordinary employee."

"– I’ll definitely come back. Wait for me."

And that day, I left the familiar construction site.

I decided to start more intense training from tomorrow, aiming for three months from now.

To go on the journey to Misra and return alive.

I need to become much, much stronger – to surpass my limits.