Chapter 21

I'm sorry for not being able to post for two days in a row.

In a good mood after getting my guild card back, I was walking around with the bewildered Levi, enjoying street food. Of course, most of what we could buy was seafood, and with the skewer of fish I'm eating now, it's the third type of fish.

"I want to eat some fried fish, though..."

"I can make as much as you want later, so bear with me for now."

For this guy, who usually lives in the sea—rather, rules over it—fish is something he's already tired of. That's why he fell in love with the white fish fry as a new cooking method. It's nice to be asked to eat my cooking, but this time, I want him to accompany me in my good mood.

"It's the fish bones... Sure enough, this is a different world—wait?"

I was surprised that the fish I bit into had no bones, and I felt a gaze from behind me for a moment. It wasn't out of jealousy or hostility for walking with a beautiful girl. Levi seemed to notice it too and was looking to me for a decision. If it disappeared in an instant, it would just be a passerby glancing over, but it was clearly following us. However, there was no hostility, and there was no sign of it trying to talk to us. It seemed to be hesitating about something.

To avoid being followed, I signaled to Levi with eye contact to go to a back alley. She agreed, and I led her into a deserted alley between two shops.

"Who's there?"

I walked a bit into the alley and confirmed that the presence was still following us before calling out. A stack of wooden crates in the corner twitched, and a girl cautiously emerged from the shadows. She had short black hair and was wearing an adventurer's outfit designed for easy movement. She was about the same age as Ruri, but her build was more solid.

"Do you have something to say?"

"...I'm sorry for following you like this."

In response to my question, the girl first apologized sincerely. Then, as soon as she finished, she bowed her head with all her might and said:

"But... I really need to ask you for something, will you listen to me?"

Levi, who heard this, gave me a look that seemed to ask, "What should we do?" The girl's voice was filled with pain, and it felt like she was willing to cling to anything.

...Well, we can't know unless we hear her out.

"I'll listen to your story, but whether I'll help you or not is another matter."

"Thank you so much!"

The girl's face lit up, and with tears of joy in her eyes, she began to tell her story.

---

"---A group of lizardmen?"

"Yes... They are attacking my village."

We were still in the back alley, and Levi and I were sitting on some wooden crates, listening to her story.

The girl, named Armer, was from a village deep in the forest and had just left a few days ago. As an adventurer, she had hunted monsters around the village, gaining enough skill to be considered a C-rank. She had moved past the novice stage and could take on extermination quests without any problems. Her equipment was a short sword attached to her belt, which showed signs of use appropriate for her rank.

Her request was to exterminate the monsters attacking her village. Armer's village was near a dragon's nest. A dragon's nest is, as the name suggests, a place where dragons live. It's usually a cave large enough for a dragon's massive body. Dragons, as a species, have at least S-rank strength. Their ability to fly and breathe fire makes them a significant threat. The monsters they spawn are called lizardmen. B-rank monsters, lizardmen are typically born to guard the nest when the dragon leaves. Dragons have the habit of storing valuable items like gems in their nests, so there are many who try to raid them. However, average adventurers can't defeat lizardmen, so it's not easy to get the treasures inside. The problem arises when exceptional adventurers come along. They defeat the lizardmen and take the treasure. When the dragon realizes the state of its nest, it goes berserk, causing significant damage. Therefore, raiding a dragon's nest is generally prohibited.

A group of lizardmen—some might have already realized the oddity. Lizardmen, born to guard the nest, usually don't leave it unless something extraordinary happens. Armer said that her village was being attacked by these lizardmen, which shouldn't move.

"I thought it was impossible too... but they really did attack!!"

"...Do you know where they are coming from?"

"From the direction they appear, it seems to be from a nearby dragon's nest. But that nest was supposed to be empty because the dragon had died..."

When a dragon dies, lizardmen are not born, and only the treasure remains in the nest. Adventurers who find it can become extremely wealthy, or some might even defeat the dragon and take the treasure. I've done something like that... though it might not be called a defeat.

"Lizardmen from a dead dragon's nest... huh"

"What does that mean?"

Levi asked, but I couldn't answer.

First, there's no precedent. But I haven't lived since ancient times, so I can't say for sure that there's no precedent. At least, I've never heard of such a case. Even so, logically, it's impossible. If lizardmen were to spawn from a dead dragon's nest, several villages would have been destroyed by now. If that had happened, there would be restrictions on dragon hunting. Since there are no such restrictions, it means there are no precedents.

"What's the current situation? A group of B-rank monsters isn't easy to stop."

"Right now, they are being held back by a few skilled individuals who are blocking the lizardmen's path."

A strategy to avoid a group battle, indeed. With rotations, they can maintain the defense.

"There are soldiers with A-rank strength, so they can take down a few while the others are fighting... but the numbers don't decrease."

"...Is it like an endless spawn?"

I've seen this in games before... where enemies keep spawning as long as you stay in the area. In games, completing a certain objective stops the spawning—...

"I... I think there's something in that dragon's nest. If we can get rid of it..."

"You want us to take care of it?"

"Yes... I heard you are an SSS-rank adventurer... Can you please help?"

Indeed, a group of B-rank monsters would be tough to handle without S-rank or higher. Attacking a dragon's nest infested with lizardmen would end in being torn apart by their sharp claws.

At first, I thought Armer might be lying, but her eyes were serious, and there was no sign of deceit. If I left her, it would leave a bad taste in my mouth, just like with Ruri.

I crossed my arms and thought. The answer was already "help"...

I'm also interested in the phenomenon. But I need to go to the Beast Continent... a few days shouldn't be a problem, though.

"Please... if we don't, the village won't be able to make honey wine..."

"What!? Honey wine!? Do you make it in your village!?"

"Eh? Ah... yes, we do."

Honey wine is, as the name suggests, a wine made from honey. It was the first alcohol I liked in this world. When I was summoned, I was technically an adult, so I naturally started drinking more. I was often recommended grain and tia by Grain and Tia, and I tried them each time, but my unrefined palate usually couldn't handle them. Then, by chance, I tried honey wine. First, it was overwhelmingly sweet. But it wasn't cloying, and the aftertaste was clean and easy to drink. The slightly yellow liquid, with honey dissolved in just the right amount, made it so drinkable.

I haven't had it since I came back... I can't let the production of honey wine stop. At that moment, my slight hesitation disappeared.

"I'll definitely help you, Armer. Leave your village to me."

"R-Really!? A-Actually... really?"

Levi, standing next to me, gave me a look that seemed to say, "Is it for a trivial reason?" I ignored it and shook hands with Armer.

"Then, let's introduce ourselves again—my name is Setsu, nice to meet you. As you know, I'm SSS-rank."

"Ah... I'm Levi. I'm not officially registered as an adventurer, but I consider myself to have S-rank or higher strength."

"A-Armer!! Nice to meet you! Setsu-san, Levi-san!!"

We hadn't introduced ourselves, so we did so now. Armer followed suit, introducing herself again. She seemed a bit intimidated by our ranks, but Levi's face twisted at being addressed with "san." Forgive her, I forgave Ruri. Ruri's polite speech is clearly natural, but Armer's felt forced in places, which might have bothered her.

"Shall we go to your village, then?"

"Yes!"

Armer, with a full smile, led the way as we left the spot. We could have left immediately, but she wanted to prepare, so we accompanied her to do some shopping. When was the last time I used a recovery potion... I can't even remember. By the way, I have a top-grade recovery potion in my magic bag. I should give it to Levi and Armer later.

When I gave the top-grade potion to Armer, who had finished preparing as an adventurer, she fainted and couldn't move for a while. That's another story...

Maybe top-grade potions are expensive?

Next time, at the village being attacked by lizardmen.