Chapter 32

It has already been three months since the guard request.

I have been taking on a few requests. The guild seems to want me to advance to A-rank quickly and recommends high-difficulty requests, but I decline them. High-difficulty requests usually take several days, and some can even last for weeks, keeping you tied up.

My main activities involve going back and forth between the archive room and the mansion, and occasionally having meals with Natalie. Today, I am drinking mugs with three adventurers I haven't seen in a while at a tavern.

"Still, to think you're already B-rank. It's hard to believe that kid from back then."

Clara laughs heartily while downing her mug. She is one of the three adventurers who brought me to this city and are my benefactors.

"Well... I guess I just kept taking on requests and before I knew it..."

I scratch my cheek with a wry smile.

"By the way, Toya, have you heard? The war between the Kingdom of Generate and the Empire of Lunette has started again?"

"I haven't heard about it... Previously, the Kingdom of Generate would attack, and the Empire of Lunette would always push them back. They never learn, do they?"

"That's true... But this time... A 'Hero' has appeared. They say this Hero is monstrously strong and has already taken down several cities."

"---Hero..."

Could it be the man who was summoned after me? He did mention having the title of 'Hero' back then. Still, that princess said her country was being attacked, but now it's invading. I'm glad I'm not in that country... Even if I can't return to Earth, maybe being sent here was the right choice.

While thinking about this, I listen to Clara's words.

"Right, the Hero. The Empire of Lunette borders this country. Since we have an alliance with the Empire, our country is considering sending troops. It might even be that---"

"Clara! Let's leave it at that. Nothing has been decided yet. The Empire has the strongest knight captain, so they won't lose."

"That's true... I only heard that the Empire's knight captain is rumored to be a monster, so they won't lose. Let's stop talking about such gloomy things and drink! We finally got to meet Toya, after all."

Nina stopped the conversation about Rakuda. Indeed, it's bad luck to talk about a war that has just begun. The night deepened as we continued to drink.

After that, I forgot about the conversation at the tavern, and the days passed.

"Toya, please, will you take this request?"

Milia asked me to take a hunting request.

"---I was thinking of taking a hunting request..."

Since I have dimensional storage, hunting requests are more profitable. I have been asked to take guard requests, but I declined them all. After all, Felis worries.

I can't forget the look on Felis's face when I returned from a guard request after a long time. Since then, I've been avoiding long absences from home.

"The number of monsters in the Northern Forest has increased. We need to investigate... It might be related to the war the Empire of Lunette is waging in the north. Many new adventurers are returning injured..."

"---Is it just an investigation? If you can take the materials, I'll take it."

If there are many monsters, bringing them back will be profitable enough. There was no reason to decline.

"Yes! It's fine. The guild will handle the investigation and the delivery of the monsters."

"In that case, I'll take it."

Milia's face lit up with a smile at my words.

"I'm glad... Recently, all the high-level adventurers have left the city, and there was no one I could trust... The sub-guild master told me to let Toya take it, so if you didn't, I would have been in trouble..."

I smiled wryly at her words. The sub-guild master again... I have a bad feeling about this.

After receiving the request, I returned to the mansion. The Northern Forest is a day's journey by carriage. If I ride Rakuda, it will take a few hours, but it's difficult to return the same day. I came back to the mansion to tell Felis that I would be away for two days.

When I returned to the mansion, Felis appeared immediately.

"...Toya, welcome back? You're early."

"Felis, I'm back. I have a request that will keep me away from home for two days. I'm going to investigate the Northern Forest."

"...Okay... Come back soon, okay?"

Felis looked a bit sad, and I smiled, saying, "I'll come back soon," before leaving the mansion. I walked alongside Rakuda until we left the city, then mounted him.

"Rakuda! Let's go!"

Rakuda, happy to run at full speed, neighed and took off. The speed increased rapidly, and I felt the wind like I was on a motorcycle. Although it was said to be a day's journey by carriage, we reached the entrance of the forest in less than two hours. I dismounted and stroked Rakuda's neck, praising him.

The forest was dense, and a single path led deep into it. This path connects to the neighboring country, the Empire of Lunette. There is a checkpoint along the way, which marks the border. While it's possible to cross the border through the forest, it's full of monsters, and carriages can't pass. Criminals sometimes use this route, but merchants who engage in trade usually take the safer route.

"Let's go a bit deeper into the forest first."

I signaled to Rakuda and slowly moved along the path, always remaining vigilant. As I progressed, I could sense the presence of monsters in the forest.

"There are more than I thought... But they said high-rank monsters won't appear, so it should be fine."

After about fifteen minutes, I dismounted, checked my equipment, and entered the forest.

---

Unaware that a fateful encounter awaited me...

Thank you as always.

Chapter 2 has begun. And finally, XXXX appears.

I have two more chapters scheduled for release (on the 4th and 7th).