Chapter 72 (2/2)
U~n, well, I don’t mind going, but… Besides, he said it was fine to turn back if it was dangerous… No, I understand that it is dangerous but.
「I’ll verify the contents for the time being, okay? Firstly, the commission, escort Graham-san along to Mount Elres. Excavate and return with the ore from within. Graham-san will do the excavation, is that right? During that time, it’s fine if I guard the perimeter and eliminate foreign enemies, right? And so on the way inside, at the time I judge that it’s impossible to advance, thereupon it’s fine to turn back.」
「Aah, that’s right. Of course, I’ll prepare the necessary items, even if we turn back midway, I’ll still pay half the reward. This is my last request to jou-chan. If it turns out I partic.i.p.ate in the contest with a regular iron weapon and lose to that guy, I won’t be able to regret it even if I wanted to…3 Please…」
「Haa… I understand already, so please raise your head. Alright then, since I’ve been in your care, Graham-san, I will undertake it. However, at the time I think it’s impossible, even if our goal is in front of our eyes, we will turn back, okay?」
「Really!? I’m grateful!」
「And so, when do we depart? If it takes five days one-way, there isn’t much time, right? I don’t know how long it takes for Graham-san to make the weapon but… If I remember correctly, the mountain side of Mount Elres, the snowfall normally begins in November, right? As expected, when it begins to snow, it will be impossible to climb, you know?」
Well, if I use sorcery, we will be able to manage some way or another if it’s a little bit of snow, but we won’t be able to move once we reach our destination ne…
「It’s currently the 6th of November right? Since the arrangements and preparations are necessary, how about departing in four days? If so, I think we’d be able to return before it begins to snow. Jou-chan should also prepare your necessary arrangements. I’ll also prepare the carriage, so come to the eastern gate after three days at 3 koku. Aah, do you need to go to the guild and accept the commission?」
After saying that, was it because he was happy that I accepted the commission? Graham-san returned home as if he was hopping.
After that, I purchased clothes to protect me from the cold and other necessary items, and departed with mountain climbing provisions.
We jolted on a carriage, which Graham-san had borrowed, for five days, stopped for one night at the town at the foot of Mount Elres, then began mountain climbing early in the morning the following day for approximately a day.
「There’s an awful lot of beasts ne… As expected, I wonder if it’s because winter is just around the corner, so the beasts are hungry?」
Fortunately, we didn’t encounter any monsters, but there were many beasts… We’ve been attacked by bears and wolves over ten times. I defeated them all, but as a result, the distance that could have been crossed in half a day, ended up taking a day.
「Ahhー, well, ain’t it good that we’re safe…? As expected, at the time we were surrounded by over forty wolves, even I was feeling nervous na. To easily defeat them, as expected of a dragon slayer.」
That’s easy to say ne… Well, thanks to them huddling together, with an area-of-attack magic explosion, half of them were unable to fight…
「For the time being, let’s camp here for today ne. There is a good looking cave over there. Let’s take a rest there.」
At a location a little ways from the mine entrance, a small cave can be seen. The depth is…… around five meters, I think? Its height is close to three meters, it’s enough to keep out the evening dew.
We decided to make camp there, and began setting up the necessary preparations.
I’m in charge of firewood gathering and things like barrier magic, and also the cooking. Graham-san is in charge of securing the beds and producing the stove. It seems like I have a larger amount of work, but since there are the right people for the right job, it can’t be helped. I can’t have Graham-san, who is more or less the escort target, to gather wood where monsters or beasts may appear during that time, and Graham-san can’t use sorcery. In addition, even if I leave the cooking to Graham-san, it would be tastier if I did it. Yes, it can’t be helped you see…
During the time the sun completely set, I collected the firewood and a fire was started. While Graham-san was lighting the fire, I prepared the barrier and alarm magic. Once that finished, it was time to cook.
By the way, barrier magic has a similar effect as a barrier magic tool, but because it’s said that the levels of the monsters around here are high, I’m using sorcery. For sorcery and a magic tool with the safe effect, although it depends on the ability of the pract.i.tioner, sorcery basically displays a higher effect.
Well, because even barrier and alarm magic doesn’t mean absolute safety, us two will take turns keeping watch.
After having dinner, the first watch was left to Graham-san, so I decided to quickly sleep.
With my tired body from the mountain climbing I was unaccustomed to, I was lured into sleep right away.
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