Chapter 231 Part 2
Chapter 231 Part 2
Translator: “Hakou” Editor: “Weasalopes”
At the same time, a rural city in the northern part of the Kingdom. The first notable thing from the city were the people walking along the streets.
「What an impressive shooting star」
A bright white meteor with a long tail was moving through the sky from south to north. People who noticed it late opened their windows and leaned out to look at the sky.
It was the final days of winter, but the night wind in the north was cold. Despite this, people still watched the shooting star without a care in the world.
「It’s a bad sign」
An old woman was looking up and talking to herself. Her voice, rather loud due to her deafness, reaches the ears of the people around her.
However, no one cares. It was because the old woman was known to make negative comments about anything and everything.
『……』
And further north of the northern city. In the snowfield that spreads out there, there is a being that sees shooting stars as well.
A skeletal warrior clad in armor, riding a horse made of bones. It was the 『Winter Shogun』.
He was once defeated by the Old Lady, but was resurrected with the arrival of winter. He stayed there for a while after he reappeared.
『Let’s go back』
The Winter Shogun turned to the north and lightly tapped his horse’s ribs with his heel. As the horse slowly walked away, a large group of skeletons, his familiars, followed after him.
The fierce cold air also moved north with the skeletons. Thus, the harsh winter, which had lasted longer than usual, came to an end.
「That must have been a sign for the Winter Shogun. A sign that tells him that it’s time to return to where he came from」
The people of the northern city later described it as such. The white shooting star from the south was remembered as 『The star that heralds the arrival of spring』.
Of course, there were also those who did not think so. A tall young woman was one of them.
Although she was wearing a hood now, she was actually a beautiful woman with long slit eyes, a pretty face, and straight chestnut-colored hair.
(There’s no doubt about it… that was magic)
The tips of her long, slender ears have grown cold, and she rubs them with her hands over her hood. She is an elf who travels while doing trades.
(I wonder who fired it, and for what purpose. Looking at the direction it’s heading, it doesn’t look like it’s aimed at the forest of spirits)
Since it was that flashy, it must have consumed a considerable amount of magic power. It would be a waste to simply fire it for no reason.
(Is it something like a firework show, perhaps?)
I wonder if some rich person who’s crazy drunk launched it as a sideshow or some sort. If so, I would love to visit them.
A good looking and wealthy man is her ideal customer.
(Should I inform the village?)
She thought for a moment, but quickly shook her head with a bitter expression.
(There’s no need, I guess. It doesn’t seem like a big deal anyway)
She doesn’t want to contact her hometown too much. The reason is that she made a huge blunder against a human.
She had tried to brainwash the Grim Reaper and get information out of him, but she was forced to give in and opened the Heaven’s Gate.
This was a first for the Elves. It can even be said as a historical disgrace.
(Now then, I wonder what should I sell next)
Forcefully switching her thoughts, the elven woman merchant thought about what to do next.
Goods that are intended for elves and are difficult for humans to handle. She loved to see the people who appreciated them and bought them at a high price.
She loved seeing such people.
(What an idiot. But that’s idiotic part of them is what makes them really cute)
She felt as if it could even heal the wound in her heart.
(Heave-ho!)
Sitting down on the driver’s seat, she turns her eyes back from the night sky, where the shooting stars have disappeared, and swings the reins. With that, the single golem horse set forth.
Pulling a carriage with a canopy, it began to move south along the night road.
***
The next morning, I was camped in the shade of a giant rock and looked at the top of the rocky mountain, which had become smaller.
「Large-type demon beast subjugation complete, I guess」
I muttered to myself as I took a simple breakfast of cookies, boiled eggs, and coffee.
Thanks to the abundance of magic power, my camp is comfortable. The back of the old lady’s cockpit is folded down, and I can leave the heater on.
I can even make a pot of hot water, so I can make coffee without going outside. The only times I have to go outside are when I cook the bacon and when I have to take a pee.
(There’s no shower so I can’t take a bath, but that’s not really a big deal)
On the way home, I could go to a brothel in a nearby town and have one of the girls clean me. Getting a chance to visit new places on a business trip is one of the perks of working.
(Still, similar events have been appearing a lot recently isn’t there)
While it happened in a different place, there are few sightings of demon beasts movement. I let my thoughts wander, while washing down the cookies I chewed with coffee.
(Maybe the spirit forest has finally reaching a dangerous state)
My familiars, Imosuke and Dangorou. According to the two spirit beasts, the spirit forest has become a very difficult place to live in.
It seems that the reason why the Heavy Lancers have left the forest and invaded the Kingdom’s territory is because of the decrease in grasses, which was their food.
(It must be the same for those birds too)
It just so happened that they had wings, so they were able to fly over the northern country and reach here. Otherwise, they would have been blocked by mountains and rivers.
(Even Zaratan thinks that the garden forest is better)
The spirit lake in the spirit forest. The guardian of the lake is a giant spirit beast called Zaratan, which is two hundred meters long.
The old turtle had recently shrunk in size and moved into our garden.
(Well, that’s partly because his aim was the pomelos)
The pomelos, which grow in the garden forest. In response to my request, Imosuke and Dangorou worked hard to plant and grow this fruit tree.
The fruit is Zaratan’s favorite. Yesterday morning, he looked up from the pond at the pomelo tree and happily struck the surface of the water with his tail.
I recalled that scene.
「This year’s harvest is supposed to be in the fall」
That’s what Imosuke had told me. Last year, when they harvested before summer, it was apparently a forceful approach by using potions.
Zaratan nodded, but he showed no sign of disappointment. I’m starting to wonder if he really got the message.
『Don’t worry, he understand』
I glanced over at Imosuke on the branch of the pomelo tree, and he nodded and sent his thoughts at me.
『The next one is going to be more amazing』
Continuing after him was a spirit beast that looked just like the fifth instar larva of a swallowtail butterfly, while courageously slapping the branch with its butt. The feeling that came over me at that moment was something like, 『I’ll show you its true flavor when its on the height of its season, so just you wait』.
I heard that the open-season plants harvested in the proper season are different from those harvested in the early season. I’m very much looking forward to it.
(I’m glad I can leave the matter of the garden forest to Imosuke and the spirit beasts)
As expected of my first familiar. I knew I could count on him to manage the garden forest well along with Dangorou and Zaratan.
Having made that decision, I returned from the garden forest to the living room. And my consciousness returned to the present.
(Demon beasts and spirit beasts are overflowing out of the spirit forest. Shall I suggest that possibility?)
A petite, goblin-like old man and a Santa Claus-like old man. I nodded as I thought of the guild master and vice guild master of the merchant guild.
They are excellent and dependable employers. All I had to do was say a few words and they would take care of the rest.
(Alright, let’s go home then)
There are no dropped items, so I’m as light as yesterday.
The remains are there, but they are scattered on the ground after having flown in the air. When I looked at them this morning, it was clear demon beasts swarmed them during the night.
(Guess I’ll have him give up)
An acquaintance of mine, a reluctant old adventurer, was making a fuss about “cockscomb” and “pre-born eggs”. And he said he would pay for it.
But I can’t give him what’s not there.
(Depart!)
I let the Old Lady get up and continued south along the highway. A little further on, I spotted a group of golem-drawn carriages.
(The thing they carry… doesn’t seem to be pigs)
They were pulling a canopied carriage. It is not the type that can carry living things.
It stopped before the crossroads, so I quickly caught up with it. The figure on the driver seat turned to look at me, then pointed the finger of their left hand towards the east and withdrew it.
(What’s going on?)
Wondering what that meant, I made the Old Lady’s face turn to the road that stretches from the east. What I saw was a line of humanoid creatures taller than the trees on the side of the road.
(Knights huh?)
They were approaching in a line. They are not disorganized, but they are not as orderly as the Kingdom’s knight order.
It reminded me of the time when I was on an expedition to intercept the heavy lancers.