Chapter 4

This was my first time riding a magic airship, but it was so cramped that I couldn't help wondering if it was really safe to ride in it.

The ship, shaped like a plump, square whale, was about the size of four containers put together, and most of that space was loaded with cargo.

Humans were an afterthought; the main role was for the cargo.

The border barony was indeed a production site for rare monsters and plants, and the adventurers who found them would temporarily entrust them to the Adventurer's Guild, which would then transport them to the Holy Capital to be converted into cash.

The cash would accumulate in the Holy Capital's Adventurer's Guild, so the adventurers who earned money in the border barony would return to the Holy Capital with a receipt.

In other words, the border barony did not receive any money.

— Because coins are heavy, they cannot be loaded onto the airship.

To Lady Mira,

— If that's the case, they should be transported in small amounts. Since two airships travel back and forth each month, it's not impossible to transport them.

— I have proposed this to the Adventurer's Guild, but since this is a "branch" office, it is weaker in terms of power compared to the "headquarters" in the Holy Capital...

— If the guild won't do it, shouldn't the border baron do it himself?

— Well, we don't have much money... and even if we did, we would use it to help the villages in the barony that have been devastated by disasters or monsters.

Lady Mira, who seemed to be already involved in the finances of the border barony, sighed deeply.

Still, what the border baron was doing was correct and noble.

— Then, what about the fuel for the magic engine?

— Fuel...?

— I think it refers to magic stones or catalysts that carry magic power. Do they have enough for the round trip from the Holy Capital?

Upon checking, it turned out that the fuel for the round trip was loaded in the Holy Capital, and it was a considerable amount.

If the border barony could supply the fuel, the load would be lighter. This would allow more cargo to be loaded, or the lighter weight could improve fuel efficiency. Magic stones could also be sold in the border barony.

From the Holy Capital, grains and salt, which are "cheap but heavy," are transported to the border barony. However, these items are expensive in the Holy Capital and cheaper in neighboring territories.

— But if they stop buying from the Holy Capital, the magic airships will stop flying.

— What are you saying? The Holy Capital wants the rare materials from the border barony. We are "allowing" them to fly.

— Indeed.

— We should buy grains from nearby areas. The airships should come to the border barony empty. When the money starts circulating, we will want to buy things, so we should reserve space for that.

Human preconceptions are terrifying. When there are many things that have "always been decided," it is difficult to question whether "this is really true." Before you know it, there are many "premises," and you don't realize that these "premises" are wrong.

I discussed with Lady Mira and went through the improvements that could be made in the border barony.

While doing this, I was also engaged in "mock battles" with the border baron's vassals. Incidentally, all the previous conversations took place while I was surrounded by many soldiers in the training ground, and Lady Mira was reading documents at a table she brought to the training ground.

At the end of the "mock battle," the border baron himself appeared, shouting, "I can't take it anymore!" but was stopped by his wife, who had left her sickbed, and retreated dejectedly.

Regarding the baroness's illness, there was a bit of a commotion when I looked at it with [All Things], but that's a long story.

In any case, I spent two incredibly intense days and waved goodbye to everyone as I left the border barony. The vassals, who were covered in injuries, were saying things like, "You must come back," "We'll win next time," and "I'm looking forward to the dark elves," but sorry, Knock, I leave the rest to you...

I immediately fell asleep in a corner of the airship's cargo, wrapped in a blanket, and when I woke up, I was already in the Holy Capital. I had slept for more than a whole day.

"Whoa!? Who are you!? You can't just board without permission!?"

"Ah, no... um, where am I?"

"This is the Holy Capital's landing field!"

I explained myself to the cargo handler on the Holy Capital side and got off the ship. If someone said it was a "comfortable air journey," it was indeed, but I couldn't remember anything about my first interworld flight...

I looked at the Holy Capital, which I hadn't seen in a long time.

"...Before I get sentimental..."

I really need to go to the bathroom.

There were no airships heading to the Lef Magic Empire from the Holy Capital, and airships were so valuable that it was especially rare for them to fly to the border barony. This must mean that the materials from the border barony are very precious.

Feeling refreshed, I thought about immediately boarding a carriage to the empire, but the carriage for today had already left.

"—What's the situation in Lef?"

"—It's a seesaw battle, they say."

"—Has the Holy King gone there?"

"—He went before. Well, the current king is just ordinary, for better or worse..."

I heard such conversations here and there.

To find out what was happening in the empire, I headed to the Holy Capital's Adventurer's Guild.

I had been to this guild many times, but I had never used it as an adventurer. Looking at the sturdy stone building, the windows with iron bars, and the thick, massive door that remained open during business hours, I felt as if I hadn't been here for years.

"Hey, kid, you can't stand at the entrance."

"Ah, sorry."

As I hurriedly moved aside, I heard, "If you're going to eat here, stop it. They're all cheap bastards." Huh? I thought, and saw a tall adventurer in clean clothes entering the building.

After a moment of thought, I understood.

With my hooded cloak, which was quite dirty and frayed at the bottom, I must have looked like a homeless person.

In the border barony, fortunately or unfortunately, no one cared about appearances, but this was the Holy Capital. Looking around, under the late summer sky, everyone was wearing clean shirts and dresses, and I alone looked out of place.

"...Well, can't be helped."

I didn't have the time to get new clothes, so I entered the Adventurer's Guild—only to be greeted by another surprise.

What I heard was the cheers from the attached tavern.

In the center was a bard plucking a lute-like stringed instrument and singing.

'In the reign of the holy blue king, our great Holy Capital,

Dark clouds gather, and the calamity that appeared

Is a great serpent from hell,

Devouring and rampaging, even the bravest swordsman.

A boy clad in light, sword in hand,

Swings his sword, shattering the great serpent,

Severing its life, bringing peace to the Holy Capital.

Praise the hero, his name is Raze,

The adventurer of light, his name is Raze.'

I stood there, dumbfounded, for several minutes.

"What is this...?"

At that moment, I suddenly remembered a conversation with Dantes, a fellow party member.

—It's like a fairy tale hero slaying a monster.

—Huh?

—When I went to the Adventurer's Guild the next day, a bard asked me for the story. It seems he had seen the scene from a distance.

—A bard? I have a bad feeling about this.

—He was very enthusiastic about making a song about you slaying the Uroboros.

—...

—I, I refused. I didn't become an adventurer to stand out. But he was so persistent, and when he said, "Everyone wants to know the hero who saved the city," I couldn't help but think of Raze, not me—

—So Dantes, you sold Raze and made sure they didn't sing about you by giving them the details.

Dantes! I hate you!? No, I already hate you!!

Is this it! Is this what the song is about!

What's with "Adventurer of Light"! That light was Non's [Light Magic]! It has nothing to do with me!

"Great as always. Today's song too."

"Yeah... have you seen the aftermath of the great serpent's rampage? It was huge, and to think such a guy was in this Adventurer's Guild..."

"As a fellow adventurer, I'm proud."

The adventurers are misunderstanding!

I've never been active here! I only sent a letter as a request! The client, not me!

(Oh no, this is so hard to listen to! Hard to gather information!)

I was scratching my head under my hood, seriously considering whether I should turn around and leave, but I wanted to know about Lef...

"Ch-ch-ch, that's not it. 'Adventurer of Light Raze' is—"

"Huh? What's that, miss beastfolk?"

"Even I have gone on many adventures with Raze... I know more about what kind of person he is."

"Hey, really?"

"I've heard of it. The 'Adventurer of Light' was said to be traveling with a feline beastfolk."

"Hehehe, that's me."

"Really! Tell us more!"

"Want to hear it? Sure, for one silver coin each."

"Huh!? You want money!?"

"Of course, it's information about the 'Adventurer of Light'... and the monster slaying stories Raze told me as bedtime stories while seeking my body at night!"

"...Wow, I'd like to hear that."

"Right, right! For that, one silver coin is cheap—"

The feline beastfolk's face froze.

"A, a, a..."

"Long time no see, Zelly, a companion of 'Adventurer of Light Raze.'"

I grabbed her face firmly. It was an Iron Claw-like move.

"Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh