Chapter 40 – 『Lion』and『Tiger』 (1/2)
Chapter 40 – 『Lion』and『Tiger』
On the appointed day sister’s request started and everyone had participated.
I and Elk reached the place we had learnt of beforehand from sister about 10 minutes earlier than meeting time.Though in previous world as Japanese, it’s standard for fast mobilization, or rather something like a belief.
However there were other adventurers already, and apparently we both were the last ones. So there are lots of damn diligent people.
The Trader Group is of a large-scale, so the numbers of escorts for it are suitably present, there are about 20 people.
Moreover, the equipments and weapons are also varied. Various sorts of adventurers have gathered here, from ones using dagger to longsword……there are also people with bow and whip.
Looking at them, there are many variations, and I can see interaction with them in various sorts of situations. Though I don’t know if gathering this sort of group was pure coincidence or intentional.
And among them……there were 2 people I knew.
「Huh? Ain’t this Minato-kun and Elk-chan. What, you two also took this quest?」
One was……Zari wearing light armor and short sword as equipments, and seemed to have noticed us just now. After all his orange hair is somehow or other too impressive, so I immediately recognized it.
So he also took on this request, what a coincidence.
He looks flashy and frivolous as always, but what might he be thinking in his mind, this secret intelligence adventurer.
And the other one……seemed to have noticed us faster than Zari and came walking near me walking briskly, which I noticed from the peripheral vision.
……Should I say as expected, or what.
「Howdy, we meet again『Black Lion』-kun♪」
There stood, Sherry-san, the dark elf in same attire as the other day, while showing a cheerful and friendly smile.
Truly a coincidence, she……Sherry-san also had taken the quest for『Malras Association’s Trader Group Escort』, and will head towards the『Flower Valley』along with us for a whole 2 weeks.
Ah, even Zari.
Indeed……it is limited-time offer request and can help change the mood for taking mental breaks.
☆☆☆
Shortly after the meeting time, we exchanged some words of greeting with the person in charge of this time’s Trader Group, after that boarded the carriage for escorts use and departed from the city.
The Trader Group this time moved forward in a single line, among that, at fixed distances the carriages for boarding escorts were dotted in. In those the hired adventurers like us were boarded. It’s for promptly dealing with whatever attacks them at any time from any direction.
And while the groups were being decided on, it was decided that coordination would be great if acquaintance and familiar people are near, so I, Elk, Zari and Sherry-san boarded the same carriage.
That Sherry-san, just like what I had thought of her the other day, seemed to not create walls in when talking to anyone, –not like she is defenceless though- I’m a given, she even talked informally to Elk and Zari.
At this rate, both of them would soon become friendly, especially Zari who strong point is having wide relationship connects due to his occupation (?).
But Elk……she did talk normally though, for some reason she seemed to be wary of Sherry-san and would sometimes send a not-so-good glare to her. Just why?
Anyhow, it didn’t turn into a dangerous gloomy atmosphere, after doing the self-introductions, while talking for killing time; we left the driving to coachman and were enjoying the journey of carriage.
While chatting, various things about Sherry-san was confirmed.
Sherry-san’s age was, indeed above me……she was 20 years old, like a college student.
She had been working as adventurer since she was 17 and reached A Rank in 3 years.
Considering the normal standards this can already be said to be quite fast success pace, especially when she became B ranker in just a year and little, there was uproar in the base point city she was present in at that time.
Well B Rank itself is a rank that requires great talent, so it could only be regarded as natural.
And I don’t even have to say, that one year after that, in other words previous year, she reached A Rank and again there was uproar……this time she got fed-up dealing with the lingering effects of uproar, so she came to City of Volka.
I know, I know it full well……that damn feeling of irritation when the people just wander here and there around you. After all I also reach A Rank just after 3 months since the debut.
Moreover, the city Sherry-san had chosen as her base point before was quite small compared to Volka, so the appearance of an adventurer with this much talent was a really great news and relative importance weight was also great.
If it was Volka she would have been recognized as great again, but it wouldn’t have become that great of an uproar. And conversely, if I had made my debut in that city and became A ranker within 2 months……holy shit, I don’t wanna think about it.
And another thing was that I surprised to know that Sherry-san too had a『Second Name』just like me or Zari.
Though I say that, apparently she herself didn’t know……rather this name came into light after this man, Zari, displayed his information broking prowess and told us about it.
That is……『Red Tiger』. She also had various other names just like me, but among them this one was particularly famous, apparently.
It ain’t something this『Black Lion』should say, but well this too is one damn funny Chunny name.
Well the naming sense is pretty logical if you think about it. Sherry-san’s hair and clothes both are red. Even the light armor she is wearing is red……or rather crimson.
But……I’ve got no idea why she got『Tiger』and from where.
……But recently, let it be Elk (green) or Suura-san (blue), I’ve been meeting people who seem to have a sense of unity with their hair color and equipments, is it a coincidence?
Well, leaving that aside,
Sherry-san seemed happy upon knowing our names of lion and tiger, though different, were quite similar.
「But to actually reach A Rank in just 2 months……I did know you weren’t some ordinary person, but to have a career history this great——」
「Huh? Did I not tell you, Sherry-san that day?」
「I heard it, but just you rank, not about your feat of reaching there in just 2 months. Just how did you make your way up?」
「Well in Minato-kun’s case……he was already strong before registering and was blessed with chances to appeal about it frankly. I also don’t know the details, though」
Zari said in a humorous manner. This bastard just because it’s someone else problem……
It’s not like I fucking wanted to fight an ancient big serpent or a crowd of giant grasshoppers.
And when Zari said『I also don’t know』 -like my training period, or the place- an inquisitive stare came flying at me, but I just ignored it like totally. I got no intention of telling this guy.
Then, Zari moved his stare to Sherry-san maybe because he sensed my actions.
「But even you, Sherry-san wouldn’t be lacking in heroic sagas, right?」
「Is that true?」
「I have heard the latest one was the A Rank demon which appeared abruptly near the city and you killed it alone, right. If I remember correctly……it was『Hellhound』, right?」
「Ah, that, well it’s true……but it was just a normal dog gone big」
“It is anything great”, Sherry-san said, but looking at her Elk was seemingly fed-up while staring in mute amazement. Even Zari seemed similar, though he was laughing.
From what I heard from Elk, that『Hellhound』, the『Normal dog gone big』according to Sherry-san is a black haired-fox demon with total length crossing 3 meters, and runs around quite nimbly as if it’s large body is a lie.
……If I remember correctly they were also in the『Woodlands of Gradwell』. A giant wolf which could eat a child as whole in just one bite, so, it had that sort of name.
I see, if those actually appear near human habitat, it would be troublesome.
After all being a A Rank monster, albeit the individual differences, a single one of them has fighting strength to mow down a squad of a regular army (or so Elk was saying), well there strength is somewhere near that was something I understood from the experience during the training period.
Most probably, if four or five of them gather up, then a small village or city would be exterminated in the blink of an eye.
Thereupon, Elk who had been hearing till now, sighed with a sense of tiredness.
「……Well as for me, being in this carriage is more than enough safe, so I’m grateful for that……」
Looking at us with a gold combo of reproachful gaze and sanpaku eyes, she muttered words with sarcasm.
「1 B ranker and 2 A rankers……most probably it is more reliable than being escorted by the guards」
Hearing that, the guy showing his embarrassment saying『No~』, Zari is a B ranker, and if I had to say it is a near A rank sort of B, or so I heard just before.
No wonder when in『Crimson Forest』he said he was able to take on two of the exceed hopper……he can even use magic, truly he is strong.
Then, as if he suddenly remembered, Zari,
「Well though the Trader Group of『Malras』hires good quality escorts every year, but this year they are quite extravagant. As for safety, without any sarcasm, is surely more than enough」
「Is that true?」
「Yeah. Before getting on the carriage I surveyed the people, there were some famous ones, and the total average rank of escort in all can be said to B near C rather than A」
「Is that with us included?」
「Yeah, we three are without a doubt the Top 3. If taking us out……the average rank would get low by 1」
「Isn’t that just boasting about yourselves. ……well it’s not something an ordinary person like me should say」
Elk is seemingly self-destructive from before. On her head, Alva is tapping his feet as if saying『Cheer up!』.
「Uh-huh, thank you~, Alva is so kind~……but you would also leave me behind and become strong all of a sudden……」
However in the end Elk still remains depressed. She’s sure a busy girl.
……At that moment,
SFX: ——BIBIBIBIbibibibiBIBIBIBI——!
「「「!?」」」
Suddenly an noisy sound resounded in the carriage……no, crying voice.
Criminal: Alva.
「……What was that just now?」
「Alva seemed to have find something. What happened Alva?」
Alva, who had been on Elk’s head till now, perched on my extended hand……and like that face another way making『PiiIIIiiii!』sound, I see so that side.
「……or rather, what was that crying voice from before……?」
「Ah, sorry. I was free recently so tried to teach it」