Chapter 16

From inside the carriage, good morning. It's me, Hermann. After thoroughly enjoying the carriage journey, I'm now as full as can be. How have you been? I'm tired of just being jolted around. I need some kind of excitement. No, I don't mean an attack. It's just that, sometimes, finding a good item while gathering can really boost your mood. So, I can't help but hope for something during this carriage journey.

Well, I haven't neglected my daily training. If a real attack were to happen, it would be a disaster. ...Moreover, the driver mentioned that monsters have started to increase in this area, and I've been on edge, ready for stray monsters to attack. I remember there being a salt spring near here, so it's best to be cautious. ...And just when I need to be cautious, I end up setting the flag, as usual.

Beep――――

‼ Look, look, they're here. This whistle signal means monsters are approaching. They really did come, these scoundrels.

"Boy, there are three goblins ahead. Can you handle it?"

"I can!"

"Good answer. If it gets too much, I'll take care of it, so go all out."

Well, it seems you'll clean up after me. Shall we get this first battle over with? ...I may look calm, but I'm nervous, yes. I observe the goblins, which are smaller than me, with green, emaciated bodies, running towards me from about ten steps in front of the carriage. ...I'm surprised I can observe them so calmly, but there's no time for that, it's a battle of chance.

I hold my rapier in a middle guard stance with my right hand, and I have a mangus in my left hand. ...But I want to decide before I need to use the mangus. The goblin in front jumps from outside my reach. I'm grateful for the jump; it gives me time to aim. I rely on my talent. The trajectory aims for the goblin's throat, now! As I step forward with my right foot, I thrust the rapier forward. The rapier pierces through the goblin's neck. I pull it out, using the weight to rotate and shake it off. Two more to go. I step forward with my right foot and slash the first one with a reverse diagonal cut, then pivot on my left foot and use a horizontal cut to sever the second one's head. One more. I go to the fallen goblin and behead it, ending the battle.

Phew. It's done. I've thrown all three goblin corpses into the 'Extend Space' for cleanup. I got a little splattered, but it's within acceptable limits. For a first battle, I think I did well. When I return to the carriage, the driver applauds me. I thank him and return to the carriage. Well, being applauded makes me feel a bit itchy. The driver talks to me while the carriage moves forward.

"Wow, that was great. Was that really your first battle? You handled it so cleanly. You must be blessed with talent."

"Thank you. But I was at my limit during the battle."

"Is that so? It's good not to be arrogant, but you can have a bit more confidence."

"I'll hold back. I'm afraid of arrogance."

"Haha, I see. Have you almost been consumed by arrogance before? If so, it can't be helped. ...By the way, you were splattered. Do you have a basic potion? You should drink one if there's been a battle. If not, I can sell you one at cost when we reach the town. It's five copper coins. What do you think?"

"Alright, I'll buy it when we reach the town."

"Haha, got it."

The driver ends the conversation and focuses on driving. The goblins were probably related to being close to the monster-infested area. Even goblins can make you nervous. My hands are still a bit shaky. But it was good that the attack really came. It might have been good that this was my first battle. I don't know what would have happened if there were other adventurers, but I probably wouldn't have been able to defeat even one. Three goblins at once was quite a burden for a first battle, but I'm glad it went well.

Immersed in the afterglow of defeating the goblins, I was about to think about what the next city would be like when:

Beep――――

The second attack of the day came. Random encounters are too frequent, God.

"Boy, this time there are two goblins. Can you handle it?"

"I can."

"Great, I'll count on you again."

Let me enjoy the afterglow of victory, you scoundrel. This time, two goblins. If I rely on my talent like last time, it should be fine. This time, I'll take the initiative. I run and, just before passing them, I turn sideways and swing my sword horizontally to sever the head. First one. I pivot on my right foot and stop. Then, shifting my weight to my left foot, I cut the second goblin's head off with a reverse diagonal cut. Two goblins. Phew, battle over. Good work!

The cleanup after the battle is simple. I properly store the goblins in the 'Extend Space.' It's good that the cleanup is easy. If there were attacks in such a short time, it would be a disaster.

"This time it was quick. Are you getting used to it?"

"I'm glad it went well. Can I buy a potion first? It's five copper coins."

"Sure. Here you go. Thanks."

The potion was a green liquid in a bottle sealed with a cork-like stopper. Wow, this is a potion. Do I drink this? I guess I do. I'll confirm after getting on the carriage.

"Should I drink this?"

"Yeah, that's right. If you get splattered in the mouth, you might get sick later. It's fine to drink it when you reach the town, not every day."

"Got it."

I see, I can drink it when I reach the town. ...That makes sense. If I drank it every time there was an attack, my stomach would be full. It's probably good to drink it at the end of the day. Well, it looks like green tea. Honestly, it looks bad. I guess I'll have to drink it every day in the monster-infested area. I wonder what it tastes like.

Beep――――

I'm angry at the third attack, God. You're probably laughing, aren't you?

"Good luck, boy. Two more goblins, ahead."

"I'll finish it quickly!"

I jump out of the stopped carriage and run forward. I do the same as last time. Just before passing them, I turn sideways and swing my sword horizontally to sever the head. With the momentum, I plant my right foot and step forward with my left foot, thrusting the sword into the neck. That's it. Completely, let me enjoy the afterglow of victory. I throw the goblin corpses into the 'Extend Space' and finish the cleanup. I quickly return to the carriage and wait again.

"You seem to have gotten used to it, boy. Keep it up."

"I'm full. I'm tired of attacks."

"Haha, I see. But it's good luck to have been attacked three times on this route. Other detour carriages get attacked more often because they go near the monster-infested area, but they have better rewards. So, it's good luck to have been attacked three times on the shortest route."

Detour carriages are for adventurers targeting attacks! ...This carriage, which prioritizes travel, has fewer rewards, so it's not popular. ...But it got attacked three times! I want to take it a bit easier. Seriously. I don't particularly want to earn pocket money. ...Please don't roll the dice anymore, God.

After that, there were no more attacks, and we reached the city. Well, if there had been a fourth attack, I would have snapped. Ordinary adventurers might be considered lucky, but for me, who just wants to travel, it's just bad luck. ...Well, I thought it was pure luck to have completed my first battle. But three consecutive attacks were too much. One would have been enough. So, I immediately drank the potion. ...Surprisingly, it tasted fruity, though I can't tell what kind. It was delicious, despite being green. ...The potion bottle still seems usable. I'll keep it.

The driver didn't tell me to get off, so I stayed on the carriage in the city. I wonder how far I can stay on. ...After about 30 minutes, the carriage stopped. It seems to be the final stop. ...There's an adventurer's square in the city, as well as a church and an adventurer's guild. I assume various guilds are gathered here. First, I'll report to the adventurer's guild. The location and scale of the attacks, as well as the sale of monsters, are all part of the package. I must fulfill my duties as an adventurer.

"Well, this is the final stop. I look forward to your next ride, boy."

"Thank you. I'll go report now."

"Yeah, it's your duty as an adventurer. It's your first time, but it's simple, so don't worry too much."

I say goodbye to the driver and head to the adventurer's guild. The adventurer's guild should have a sign with a sword and shield, so this should be it. ...What is this, a huge sense of déjà vu? The layout is exactly the same. It must have been made by an alchemist. They probably standardized the design. The adventurer's guild is in this shape. However, there might be differences depending on the noble's territory or the alchemist who made it, but considering the function, they might be similar. But I can definitely say that the adventurer's guilds in Seronia and Kautz were made by the same person. Even the decorations are different, but the position of the stairs and the reception are the same.

"Excuse me, I'm from Kautz. I came to report a monster attack."

"Thank you. Please move to the small room over there and ring the bell after you enter."

"Okay, got it."

I move to the small room as instructed by the receptionist. Which small room? There are many doors on one side that say 'Not in Use,' but I'll take the closest one. Inside, there's a counter dividing the space, and there's a door on the other side. I can't get to the other side without going over the counter. ...Well, I was told to ring the bell, so I take the bell on the counter and ring it. The sound came from the other side of the door. ...Are these paired alchemical items? After a while, someone different from the receptionist comes through the door.

"What do you need?"

"Well, I came to report an attack on the carriage. The receptionist told me to come here and ring the bell."

"Ah, it's your first time. This is the room where you report attacks and sell monsters. If you have something to report, you come in here and ring the bell. When the paired item rings, a staff member will come to handle it. Don't ring it multiple times by mistake. So, you're reporting an attack. I'll get the map out now."

The brother pulls out a map from the 'Extend Space' and spreads it out. ...Wow, it's rough