Chapter 18

The period until Ravia's escort was supposed to be "three days later" or "three days from now (with two days to spare)," which was a bit ambiguous in the writing. I apologize.

"Three days later" is correct:

- Meeting with Ravia (0 days later)

- Hunting three Redhorn Rabbits (1 day later)

- Defeating the Boss Goblin (2 days later, in this chapter)

- Escorting Ravia (3 days later, time unspecified)

Hikaru, who had hunted a lot of monsters, did not want to be noticed for trivial reasons and did not bring back any materials from the monsters he had killed.

He was not short of money. His priority was to avoid standing out—so it was supposed to be.

"Master Hikaru!!"

At the entrance to the town, Hikaru was told by a guard to head to the Adventurer's Guild. Waiting for him there was Paula's voice.

Incidentally, it was already dusk.

The guild should have been closed, but Jill was still at the counter. When she saw Hikaru, her face lit up, but it quickly turned sour as Paula ran over to him.

"...What is it?"

Hikaru said this as casually as possible, but Paula paid no attention.

"Welcome back. I've been waiting to see you, Master Hikaru."

"...No, it's impossible to extend the guild's closing time. What happened?"

"Thanks for understanding."

Pia, looking exasperated at Paula's attitude, said:

"Actually, I wanted you to testify as well..."

"Testify? About the betrayal of the adventurers?"

"No, not that. That was accepted right away. Apparently, they will hear the other side's story and make a judgment."

"I see... Then it's about the information on the goblins, right?"

At this point, Jill interjected.

"The guild wants to know the details about the goblins. Will you tell us?"

"Ah, sure... But what is this?"

Hikaru's arm was firmly grabbed.

And where Jill was heading was—outside.

"I'm hungry."

"Is that so?"

"Because Hikaru didn't bring back the important information about the goblins quickly, I got hungry after waiting for so long."

"......"

"There's a restaurant that serves delicious pasta, you know?"

"Wait. You're not asking me to pay again, are you?"

"Wh-What do you mean!? Are you taking advantage of Master Hikaru!?"

Paula chimed in.

"Oh? I'd be happy if you treat us?"

Since Ravia would be escorted the next day, it wasn't the time for Jill to have dinner with Hikaru. However, the conversation with Jill, more than the dinner itself, was necessary for the next day's operation.

"...Alright. I also have something to ask you. Is it okay to leave the guild open?"

"Mr. Unken is still here. I told you before, one of the receptionists and the sub-master are on a business trip to the capital. They are returning today. It's to welcome them."

"Hmm."

Hikaru had his own thoughts on this but decided not to ask about it for now.

"So, what about those three?"

When they left the guild, Paula, Pia, and Priscilla followed.

"...I can't help it. I wanted to hear about the goblins. I'll just tag along with Hikaru."

"Are you planning to make me pay?"

"You should pay for your own share."

"I doubt it..."

Judging from their appearance, the three of them didn't seem to have much money. A place where a single pie costs over 100 gilans would be quite "expensive" for them, Hikaru thought.

Jill led them to a side street, two blocks away from the main road—a place they would never enter unless they had a specific purpose. The pasta restaurant "Pasta Magic" was nestled between rows of houses.

(What a naming sense...)

While inwardly criticizing, Hikaru opened the wooden door. The interior was as narrow as the exterior, with only two box seats in addition to the counter.

"Hey, Jill."

The bear-like, stocky owner, who was cooking behind the counter, raised his hand to Jill. They were led to a box seat, which had been reserved. Since it was a four-seater, an extra chair was added, and the plump Priscilla sat down with a thud. Hikaru tried his best not to stare at her chest, which jiggled as she sat down.

Jill sat next to Hikaru, and Paula was across from him. Pia, who took the last seat, was holding the menu with trembling hands.

"Too expensive! It's way too expensive! I can't afford this!"

- Beef Stew and Red Spring Grass Pasta — 210 gilans

- Seafood Oil Pasta — 160 gilans

- [New Arrival] Redhorn Rabbit Green Sauce Pasta — 590 gilans

...

The prices were so high that even Hikaru almost whistled.

Especially the price of the Redhorn Rabbit was outrageous.

"Owner, this is Hikaru."

When Jill said this to the owner, who had come to take their order,

"Wow... You're really small."

Looking up at the owner, who was nearly two meters tall, Hikaru muttered to himself, "Of course, compared to you, most people would be small." He wasn't particularly small, he wanted to believe.

There was a reason the owner had come himself.

"Is that so? I'm relieved. Recently, we haven't been able to get any Redhorn Rabbits. It's one thing if the price is just high, but it's impossible if they're not available at all. Then, suddenly, I got a call that they were in stock. And today, they came in again. When I investigated, I found out that a new adventurer had hunted them. So I told Jill to bring you here. I'll let you eat your fill."

The owner chose this restaurant because of the Redhorn Rabbits.

"I see. I was also curious about which restaurant they were sold to."

"How about it? Why don't you sell them directly to us? I'll pay a premium."

Jill panicked.

"Hey, Owner! That's not allowed! If you do that, the meat wholesaler's guild will come after the Adventurer's Guild!"

"Ha ha ha! Just kidding, just kidding. But this is fine, right? Hey, kid. I'm interested in the Redhorn Rabbit's innards..."

The owner's eyes gleamed with the professional spirit of a chef.

"Are you going to throw them away? Bring them back next time. I want to try cooking them. Since they're not available on the market, I can buy them directly. Got it, kid?"

"...It's Hikaru."

"What?"

"Are you going to call your business partner 'kid'?"

When Hikaru glared at the owner, the owner's expression turned serious.

"...You're right. Sorry, Hikaru. I like you. I'll treat you today, so eat whatever you want! In exchange, think about the innards, okay? —Jill, but the drinks are on you. Pay for them properly, okay?"

"Uh..."

When she heard the owner would treat them—perhaps she had been hoping for it—Jill's face lit up, but she was also being warned.

"......"

"I don't drink that much, you know? I have self-control."

"......"

"Hikaru, don't look at me with such cold eyes!"

...How much does she usually drink... Hikaru was exasperated.

Paula and the others in front of him were stunned.

"—That's what he said. You can eat as much as you want, but you have to pay for the drinks."

"Is that okay?"

"Pia, your eyes are too greedy. Hikaru is drooling."

"Your drool is terrible, Priscilla!?"

Pia and Priscilla were overjoyed at the sudden "free food" announcement.

Paula, on the other hand, looked apologetic.

"I'm sorry... Master Hikaru. I didn't expect this..."

"I didn't know either. And please stop calling me 'Master.' I'm younger than you."

"Is that so? ...If you say so, Master."

"Why did you upgrade it?"

"I am your... n-night slave."

"If you can't say it without blushing, don't force it. And don't ever say that again, okay? I'm serious."

Thus, the meal began—

"—So, Hikaru, how did you drive away the goblins?"

When the food arrived, Pia and Priscilla ate silently. Pia, who spoke bluntly, ate politely, creating a slight contrast.

The pasta was delicious. It was the first time Hikaru had eaten pasta in this world, but it was good enough. The taste of oil and spices was strong, but something was missing... Ah, there's no garlic, he thought to himself.

"I heard from Mr. Unken that there might be goblins."

"That's true, but I don't know how to drive away a group of them."

"Of course, it's because you're Master Hikaru, right?"

"Paula, be quiet. You're not helping the conversation."

Jill casually brushed off Paula's flattery.

"...Goblins that act in groups are collectively called 'Goblin Family.' Especially well-organized groups have a command structure centered around a boss."

"That's true. You know a lot about it? Did you hear that from Mr. Unken too?"

"No, it was in the encyclopedia in the archive."

"The encyclopedia... That thick, old book? It's impressive that you read it."

"Of course. Information can mean the difference between life and death."

Jill fell silent as if struck by something.

At that moment, an idea formed in her mind.

Jill had always thought of Hikaru as a "lucky" boy.

But maybe that wasn't the case?

This boy didn't have any special powers—Jill believed that—but he was using all the knowledge he had gathered to be an adventurer?

She had only half-believed Paula and the others' stories about the goblins. Adventurers tend to exaggerate.

"Over 100 goblins? It was probably 10 or 20. And Hikaru drove them away? Hmm," was her level of belief. She thought it would be a good opportunity to have a meal.

"...Hikaru, was there a Goblin Leader?"

"There was a goblin bigger than this owner and a sidekick with a horned trumpet. I thought attacking the boss would cause confusion in the group, so I attacked."

"Did you do that!? Are you okay!?"

"It hurt."

"Oh!"

His shoulder was suddenly grabbed.

It was that reckless.

When a Goblin Leader is confirmed in a group, the nearby town's Adventurer's Guilds work together to eliminate them. If left alone, they could attack a village far from the town and multiply.

It's like pest control. The rule is to eliminate them before the damage becomes too great.

"You're here, so you must be fine."

"That's true... Sorry. You attacked the Goblin Leader and managed to escape. Did you throw something? A bow?"

"...Yeah, there were some poisonous plants nearby, so I coated a stone with the poison and threw it."

Hikaru lied. He had killed the Boss Goblin—Goblin Leader—but he didn't think they would believe him if he said so, and even if they did, it would only bring trouble.

He had weakened it with poison.

This was a story he had prepared in advance.

"I thought you had to attack the boss to drive away the group. Fighting the whole group would be absurd."

"That's true."

"......"

"......"

"......"

Paula, Pia, and Priscilla looked dejected. They had fought the whole group. They must have realized how reckless their actions were.

Pia spoke up.

"Um... Hikaru, thank you so much for helping us. How can we repay you?"

"Offer your chastity."

Despite her plumpness, Priscilla was quite bold.

"That's a great idea!!!!"

"Oops, that was a reward for Paula."

"Cut it out! It would be a problem for Hikaru to receive such a thing! Right? Right? You don't need it, do you?"

Jill, who had suddenly grabbed Hikaru's arm and shook it, was desperate.

If it was his first time, it might be different—Hikaru's mind briefly entertained the thought before regaining its composure.

"I don't need any repayment. I don't want it."

"But then..."

"Then, there's one thing I want to ask. This is for Jill too."

"What is it?"

Jill looked at Hikaru, hearing her name.

"I don't want anyone to know about this. I want to be a quiet adventurer. It would be foolish to increase the chances of being approached by other adventurers."

Jill, who knew that Hikaru had been approached by other adventurers—due to her own actions—nodded solemnly.

"That's true. There's also the investigation into the betrayal of your party. If the goblin incident spreads, it could cause panic among the citizens. So, please keep this to yourselves."

"Such..."

Paula, who had felt a connection and thought they could casually have a physical relationship, now looked utterly disappointed.

"That's all for this."

Hikaru said firmly.

It was a bit of a waste, but there were more important things to think about now.

"Jill, I had something I wanted to ask."

"I remember you saying that."

"Is the adventurer who will escort Ravia to the capital already in Ponde?"

"!"

That was the adventurer who had taken on the escort mission for Ravia.

Paula and the others, who didn't understand what was being discussed, looked confused but realized it didn't concern them and started talking about the food.

"...What will you do with that information? You won't say anything more..."

"The out-of-town visitors are returning tonight, right? I just wondered if they came together."

"Ha. Hikaru, you're surprisingly sharp."

"I'm just making small talk. They're skilled adventurers, so it's natural to be curious."

"Well... That's true. Yes, they're expected to arrive tonight."

"Tonight? It's already dark. The gates are closed, right?"

"Guild-related personnel can enter with a special reason. They arrived in the capital quite late, and it took them time to get here—"

"Wait a minute. 'They'?"

"Yes? The escort party is a four-person team, all women."

Hikaru thought.

Women. He had assumed they were men—because the escort was a woman?

"And their adventurer rank is B."

"Choke!"

Pia choked.

"B, B, B!?"

"Disgusting."

"Disgusting... "

"Disgusting, Pia."

"Terrible."

"...Sorry."

Pia apologized under a barrage of criticism.

"Is B rank impressive?"

When Hikaru asked,

"Well, the highest rank for permanent adventurers in Ponde is D. I think there's one A rank in the capital, and only 10 B ranks besides this team."

"...10 is quite a lot, I think."

"Hehe. Have you never been to the capital? The population ratio is 40 to 50 times that of Ponde."

"Really?"

It was that big.

Hikaru had vague memories of the capital from Roland, but they were mostly of the carriage and the library of some mansion.

"The name of the B-rank adventurer party is 'Four Stars of the East.' I've never met them, but their success rate for quests is 100%."

Hikaru etched this information into his memory.

When he parted ways with Jill and the others, it was around 10 PM.

In this world, 10 PM is quite late, and the town was mostly asleep except for taverns and some night spots.

(The lights are on.)

Hikaru headed to the Adventurer's Guild.

Ravia would be escorted the next day, but the exact time was unknown.

This meant he had to do "money-making" and "leveling up" yesterday and today.

The last thing he needed was "information," but with "skills"—i.e., points—he could turn the tide even without it. He had also predicted that the adventurer he needed to outsmart, the one escorting Ravia, would arrive the day before the escort.

He had planned to gather information on the second night, as originally intended.

(Well, what kind of people are they?)

Instead of the front entrance, which was locked, he entered through the back door. The door was unlocked. He quickly located the people inside. The Adventurer's Guild was quiet, and the only sound came from that area.

Of course, all stealth-related skills were activated.

"Heh heh. Guild Master, you're worrying too much."

The one who said this with a laugh was a portly man. Next to him stood a beautiful woman with a somewhat tired and shadowy expression.

They were the Adventurer's Guild sub-master and receptionist who had been on a business trip to the capital.

"You're the one who's strange for not worrying when things don't go as planned."

Unken, the Guild Master, as Hikaru had guessed, replied.

"Wh-What did you say? You guys..."

"‘Distant Stars.’ I'm C rank, you know? You should be grateful we came to this second-rate city."

The one speaking arrogantly was a man in his 30s, an adventurer.

There were three of them.

What made Hikaru say "Oh?" was that the voice was male.

Hikaru listened in the hallway.

He could enter without being noticed, but the adventurers were B rank, and with Unken's "Intuition" 4, it was too risky.

"Basically, how are you going to escort with just three people? The basic rule is four or more. At least one person in front, right, left, back—"

"Hey, old man. We're all C rank. I've never heard of bandits attacking on the main road, and even if they did, we can take them down. Even if the girls run a bit, they can't escape."

Hikaru recalled Jill's information.

The name was "Four Stars of the East," the composition was "four women," and the rank was "B." The information Hikaru had heard was different.

There must have been some issue, and "Four Stars of the East" couldn't come, so these men were sent as replacements.

And Unken was worried about it—

"......"

"We're not substitutes for 'Four Stars of the East.' We're better than them. What's with this attitude