Chapter 72 (1/2)

Chapter 72 – Graham-san’s Request

「Is it here…」

A location around five days away northeast from the Royal Capital, on the mountain side of Mount Elres at an abandoned entrance to a mine.

Right now, we were standing in front of it.

The beginning of this event started ten days ago.

「Jou-chan, I have a small request…」

In the evening of that day, Graham-san unexpectedly turned up at my house.

And as if it was a difficult subject to talk about, he cut off his words.

「Does jou-chan know about Mount Elres? It’s a location northeast of here around five days away by carriage…」

「Uhh…, I more or less know about it, but if I remember correctly, there’s currently an abandoned mine within that mountain, right? But currently there are monsters and beasts that have settled in that mountain, the mining area also has things like monster dens in it…」

When I tried picking it out from my knowledge, that mine should have been closed for nearly fifty years from now. It was formerly used to excavate gold and unusual ores, the town at the foot of it was extremely thriving.

However, the amount of output decreased, and after the mine was closed, monsters settled there after a short time; many adventurers attempted to seek out the remaining ores, and have supposed to have died. That story was from twenty-five years ago, but I don’t know what it’s become nowadays. Well, looking at Graham-san’s appearance, it doesn’t seem to have changed for the better…

「Aah… Truth is, ya see, it’s absolutely necessary for me to gather a type of ore over there no matter what. I put out a commission in the guild a little while ago, but there still hasn’t been a fella that would take it. Therefore, it’s that. ‘Wouldn’t it work if it’s jou-chan?’, was what I thought na. After all, you’re the sacred treasure wielding dragon slayer, right? Though you’re B ranked, I believe you’re almost the strongest within the adventurers, ya know?」

Eh…? That, how does…? The guild has laid out a gag order, I also have not told anyone, and yet…

「Even I have various connections, ya see. Don’t worry, I haven’t said anything about this to anyone. Well, some humans know about this, however.」

「How did you know what I was thinking…」

「I can immediately understand from looking at jou-chan’s expression. Well, for that reason, I’d like to request jou-chan but, could you possibly accept it? Aah, of course, if the contents seem unreasonable, I won’t mind if you pull back. Because even I value my life na. We can also come to an agreement at that time in order for you to not get a minus for the commission failure, ya see.」

Fumu…, if it’s fine to just go, then I don’t mind trying…1

「But, why is that ore needed? Besides, even if you don’t go pick it up yourself, shouldn’t you be able to buy the ore itself? I don’t think it’s necessary for you to go as far as to risk yourself going there to pick it up…」

If I’m not mistaken, that ore can be mined in other locations. Like for example, the northern country… Wait, the northern country?

「Aah, it’s just as jou-chan thought. Though the ore itself can be mined in a country other than here , the yield is considerably small.2 So far it’s mostly imported, the majority of it are from the northern country. But that place, the northern country ceased its exports. Thanks to that, the value of the ore in this country has raised drastica

lly, and it’s by no means easy to buy it. There’s practically none on the market… Because of that, if I’m to buy the required amount, the cost would be outrageous, and there absolutely wouldn’t be enough time. Which is why even though I know the risks, I have no choice but to rely on that mountain.」

I see… So that abandoned mine, is it? Certainly, even though it’s said to be abandoned, just because it was abandoned because it wasn’t profitable anymore, doesn’t mean it was abandoned from exhaustion ne.

By the way, the northern country is the one Takahas.h.i.+-san was summoned at, called the country of Soutines.

「Also, the reason I want that ore… It’s for the sake of revealing a weapon at the contest taking place at this time’s New Year’s festival. A weapon made of iron would be fine regularly, but this time’s contest is a little different na. There’s an opponent that I absolutely can’t lose it. For the sake of that, I need that ore no matter what. Therefore I ask. Could ya take me along to that mountain?」