Volume 4 Chapter 16: The Staging Outpost

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Author: 夜州 (Yashu)

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Cain was on a two-day-long escort mission after exiting the gates of the royal capital.

The noble’s private soldiers led the way, followed by the noble’s carriage, which in turn was followed by the luggage cart Cain and the other four adventurers were riding on.

“Just two more days, then we’re finally going to be there. I only got to enjoy a little of the royal capital…”

The party of four had been on the escort job from the noble’s hometown, and had already been working for ten days as escorts.

“What town did you come from?”

Asked Cain, but Lagett looked away, so Ninalee answered instead.

“It’s a town far south of the royal capital called Misinga. It’s right next to the sea. The seafood’s really delicious there.”

“Seafood… I definitely want to go!”

As a lot of materials were harvested from monsters in the royal capital, Drintor, and even in the Gracia territory, they all had meat-based cooking.

Seafood was rarely sold in the royal capital, because while Item Boxes existed, ones with a function to stop time inside were very precious indeed.

“Cain-kun, do you usually stay in the royal capital or Drintor?”

“Well, I grew up in the Gracia territory, but I’ve been staying in the royal capital since I turned ten. Lately, I’ve been coming and going to Drintor a lot though.”

“You’re not even a grown-up yet, and yet you still work so hard as an adventurer. Don’t worry though, if any monsters appear, we’ll protect you.”

“––Yes… thank you.”

Naturally, he couldn’t just say he was S-Rank after that, so Cain just nodded. Since the area between the royal capital and Drintor was thoroughly guarded, bandits rarely appeared there anyway.

On the other hand, the rate of encounters with monsters coming out of the forest was high, but to ensure the safety of the merchants coming and going, they were regularly cleaned out. Moreover, even a staging outpost had been built halfway between the two places.

Cain had talked to Alec about it, and traffic had been improved as a public works project, making the circulation of goods prosper as well.

So, while the party was moving toward its destination, they were often passed by merchants’ carriages going in both directions.

“So… why is a noble lady going to Drintor?”

“We don’t really know the details either. Apparently it’s in order to meet someone though…”

(I haven’t heard anything about something like this… Maybe it’s Alec-nii-sama…)

As they talked about such things, lunchtime arrived, and they pulled over to eat.

The servants unloaded some tables and chairs from the luggage cart and set them up. The escorting adventurers split up to check the surroundings. Then, a noble’s daughter disembarked from the carriage.

Ninalee and the other three had light brown hair and sunburns befitting adventurers who came from near the sea, but this noble’s daughter was a beautiful girl, still in her teens, with straight, blonde hair and not even a hint of a sunburn.

She walked up to Cain and the others and spoke to them.

“Escorts, thank you for your hard work. Everyone’s going to have lunch ready in just a bit, so please wait a little more. Thank you for taking care of me until tomorrow.”

Cain was impressed, thinking ‘What a strange and un-noble-like girl, speaking politely to us commoner adventurers.’

Then, she walked over to Cain.

“Thanks for taking care of me for the two days from the royal capital to Drintor. I’m Leline von Legant. Nice to meet you… ummm…”

Cain stood up as well, then bowed.

“I’m Cain. I’ll be showing you the way to Drintor from the royal capital. Nice to meet you too.”

Cain was also a count and the head of a noble family. While it was a simple introduction, its elegance was not something belonging to a commoner. Leline nearly instantly caught on at Cain’s greeting.

“––You’re Cain-sama, then. Cain-sama is… ummm… where have I…”

Cain simply smiled at Leline’s question.

“Currently–– I’m just an adventurer, Cain.”

Leline nodded at Cain’s words, a smile making its way onto her lips.

“––Is that so… well then, just an adventurer Cain, nice to meet you.”

Leline greeted him elegantly, then returned back to the table prepared for her by the servants.

“Cain-kun, that was amazing. You weren’t scared a bit, even though she’s a noble.”

“It’s ‘coz he’s a kid. Doesn’t know when to be properly afraid…”

The shocked Lagett picked up the food given to him.

“Honestly, Lagett… Cain-kun, don’t mind him. He’s always like that. But regarding combat, you can rest easy with him around.”

“Okay! It’s fine. I don’t care what he says anyway.”

Cain also picked up the food he had been given.

After they finished eating, they took a short break, then set off again.

“I think we’ll be in the staging outpost by evening. I’ve booked us places there too.”

“There’s an inn on the way there!?”

“Yep… it’s two days away, but as there was enough room for everyone…”

“Now I’m motivated!”

They got on the luggage cart, which then began to move.

And then, they arrived at the staging outpost before evening.

The staging outpost was surrounded by a simple fence of wooden planks that could withstand monster attacks. Also, as per a request in Drintor, there were always a number of adventurers on standby there. They patrolled the surroundings and subjugated any monsters that appeared.

There were also a number of inns divided by class, and Cain had reserved the highest-class one in the very back.

Cain passed through the staging outpost’s gate first, leading the others over to the inn.

And then, the carriage stopped in front of a three-story building in the very middle of the outpost.

“These are the lodgings for today. While there aren’t any baths, as this is a staging outpost, they can provide hot water. Us adventurers will be in the neighbouring inn…”

With Cain leading the way, he finished checking in alongside one of the servants.

Then, he had the person in charge lead Leline to the very best room.

“Cain-sama, thank you for looking out for me like this. I can take it easy thanks to you.”

“Not at all. I’ll try my best tomorrow too.”

Cain bowed, then left the inn, rejoining with Lagett and co.

“We’re all in the neighbouring inn. We can’t very well stay in the same inn as a noble now can we, was what I was thinking…”

Everyone nodded at that.

“Aren’t you sharp. Aight, let’s eat when we’re in the inn!”

In a good mood, Lagett patted Cain on the shoulder, then went into the inn.

After they had all checked in, they gathered in the cafeteria.

“Then, let’s meet here in an hour.”

They all nodded at Ninalee’s words and went off to their own rooms. Cain had also booked himself a private room, so he headed there.

“I could just Transfer to the mansion, but… why not experience the adventurer life once in a while.”

Cain took off his equipment and put it in his Item Box, then relaxed, eventually making his way to the cafeteria at the appointed time.

Everyone else was already there.

“Cain you’re late. We were just thinking of starting.”

“Sorry. I had stuff to do…”

“Hey, we were early! You were the one saying ‘I’m starving, let’s eat already!’ weren’t you!”

Cain gave a sideways glance at Lagett, who was now being lectured by Ninalee, then sat down.

After they had finished their orders and the drinks had arrived, they had a toast.

“Well, tomorrow we’re finally arriving in Drintor! Good work for the past two weeks! Cheers!”

““““Cheers!!””””

Cain was still a minor, so he only had fruit juice, but the others bumped cups full of alcohol together.

Then, Lagett and the other three began eating the food brought out one after the other with relish.

“The food here is delicious! The alcohol too!”

The amount of alcohol steadily increased as they ate and drank.

When Cain was full and had finished eating, a voice called out to him from behind.

“Umm, excuse me. Is now a good time?”

Turning around, Cain saw one of the servants.

“Leline-sama has called for Cain-san…”

Said the servant apologetically, to which Lagett began speaking.

“Cain, go on then! You can’t drink anyway!”

“––Right… I’ll be going then…”

Cain and the servant headed to the inn where Leline was staying.

She seemed to have also already finished eating, so he was guided to her room.

It was a special room, consisting of a master bedroom, a bedroom for servants, and a reception room. The neighbouring room also belonged to security; it was truly all built for a noble to stay there.

Shown in, Cain sat down opposite Leline, who was sitting on a sofa.

“I’m terribly sorry for calling you so suddenly. I wanted to thank you for arranging such a wonderful room for me…”

Leline tried to bow, but Cain motioned for her not to.

“Please, don’t worry about it. I’m just fulfilling the request…right?”

“As I thought, Cain-sama is…”

“I’m Cain the adventurer. No-one else.”

“––Is that so… of all people… Anyway, could I ask you for some advice please?”

“If you’re fine with it coming from me… also, sorry to be so childish, but…”

At Cain’s words, Leline had everyone else leave the room.

Her servants were confused, but Leline gave them a kick, saying ‘Don’t worry about it,’ and chased them all out of the room.

Then, she looked at Cain with a serious face.

“The truth is, I’m heading to Drintor because––”

◇◇◇

Smiling, Cain left the inn Leline was staying at and went back to the one where Lagett and the others were staying.

Then, as he opened the door, –– he saw Lagett and another adventurer locked in a grabbing match.

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