57 53 トラブル対処は丁寧に、後のことを考えないなら雑でも良し (1/2)
Tanaka Jiro, 28 years old, with a girlfriend
Her Suela Hendelberg
Memory Tris
Occupation Dungeon Tester (full-time)
Magical aptitude 8 (general class)
Post Warriors
Excuse me, I am Merry the Peddler. This is Giro, my bodyguard. I have come to this mountain to gather sprite berries.
The peddler himself?
Yes, there is no cost to me if I do it myself, and Sprite Belly fetches a high price this time of year. He and I are engaged and he's helping me raise money.
After the end of the battle, the figure of Memoria, who politely bows her head beside the huge Forest Bear body, is imposing.
You're going to be able to get the most out of your time with the help of a few of your friends.
I'll wait at her side, slack-jawed and weak.
The priestess on the other side is, I believe, a girl who called herself Eshley, who removed her hood to reveal her face.
In our world, she would have been in junior high or high school with her honey brown hair cropped around her neck.
However, her expression does not give you the impression of a child, on the contrary, it gives you a mature atmosphere.
Then why were you on the tree just now? Sprite berries are those that grow in clusters near clear streams.
Even if you're as good as he is, if you protect me, you'll fall before the beast eventually. It is natural for a merchant to avoid unnecessary risks, and I have instructed him to take shelter in a safe place if something comes near him.
”Then why didn't you give us a hand? I'm sure you could see we were on the hook.
The other side does not slacken its hand to blame for the parts it finds suspicious.
If you feel even the slightest discomfort, they're ready to push you further.
He seems to be very determined for his small stature.
I guess I pride myself on being a priest and not overlooking a lie.
Shifting my gaze, I look out for the other knights.
They're all listening for us, all ready to move.
They're finishing up the wounded knight as I was fighting.
That's slick, I need only look and let things happen.
Forgive me for defending my people, but he was concerned for my safety and admonished me for intervening in the battle. As you can see, I'm used to walking in the mountains, but I'm not strong enough to fight a hexenbiest.
Memoria's attitude is reassuring.
There is no need for me to worry about her, but she is not in a hurry to answer her questions.
You'll be able to see that the question-and-answer session will continue for a while, but the clouds have thickened and it's already dim around you.
You're going to be able to find out if this is the right time to do this, and you should not spend too much time doing this, but you can't say anything.
It's not a good idea to show impatience here. You'll have to calm your mind and keep an eye on your surroundings to see if there are any questions or answers from Memoria and Eshley.
Fortunately, the questions and answers don't last too long.
It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with your friends and family. ...... I apologize in advance for giving you the benefit of the doubt, but I recently heard that there has been a recent increase in hexenbiest activity in this area, and I've been trying to figure out what's causing it.
”A touring priestess must have a hard time doing that much,
Memoria, who creates a sympathetic atmosphere while repositioning her glasses with a snap, has the talent of an actress in addition to the direction this time, right?
Or is this the default for those who do business on this side.
She is not her usual volatile self, she is a different person as she mixes lies and truth in her conversations.
From what you're saying, the question up until now was to confirm that we weren't involved.
”We can't leave the people in trouble. So you have any idea what happened?
I've been avoiding battles with hexenbiests for a while now, so I can't say that I've been able to get to know them better ...... than I did before the encounter with the hexenbiest.
Well, thank you for the information. We will be returning to the base now, but I wonder if you would like to join us?
No, I appreciate the offer, but we have plans too.
”I see.
She gives off a disappointing vibe, but it's not a good time for us to get in on it.
End of story, she's putting her hood back on and getting ready to move.
As for us, once we get our bags, we can continue on our way.
I'm relieved to finally be on my way to a place where I can rest.
Then, if we meet again.
...... Yes, God bless you all.
Then they say their goodbyes and leave each other's paths in different directions.
All that's left is a message that they will meet again if they have a chance.
But
””......”
”What is it?
”No, why would they follow us?
”Because we're going in the same direction.
”I see.
We look at each other and I wonder what's going on with Memoria and I. The conversation is over and we're supposed to part ways.
The conversation is over and we should be parting ways, but they are lumbering along like a duckling family, following us as if they were marching after us.
That behavior is nothing short of unnatural.
This time it's even more unnatural that the resolute, mission-driven attitude of earlier is gone if you look at it with an unconcealed suspicion.
They are not passing us who have stopped now, but are just standing still as if to answer our questions.
It's natural to wonder what's going on.
”Where's that base you mentioned, by the way?
Sakal. I'm from there.
”Well, we'll look for sprite berries in the mountains a bit more, so they're not here?
””......”
The words of the memorandum probably would have been a critical hit .
The silent silence is painful.
We were having a serious exchange a while ago, but what's this change in atmosphere?
Memoria seems to have figured it out somehow, and she and the other side are all in an awkward mood.
You'll feel as if you're having a hard time saying that you've done your job, and after moving your body in a nostalgic but not comfortable place, a different kind of sweat runs down your spine.
”Do you have a minute, Memoria?
”Yes, excuse me, a moment, what is it?
”How do you see this situation?
No matter what you say, ......
As expected, you're in no mood to walk away, so you watch Eshley nod to change the air for now and then leave a little distance to buy time.
The other side has Eshley in the lead, keeping a brilliant smile on her face and standing by.
Since the conversation is safe to be heard, you will continue the conversation with memory.
”Considering the current situation, aren't they lost, sir?
Gusari
As the relentlessness of the word stabbed something in the air, even Eshley was moving slightly, but without knowing it, we were discussing each other.
Is that so? I guess it could be a coincidence.
”But given their behavior and demeanor, it's very likely that they will.
No, you've come this far, haven't you? You don't go this deep unless you're very directional.
When I say that possibility, I mean that they should be viewed as natural and lost, not accidentally lost.
I think a moan escaped with the sound of something stabbing again when Memoria said it was more lethal, and I called her directionless.
However, in my mind, the scheme of a knight is equal to a professional, and I'm convinced that a professional would not make the elementary mistake of getting lost when entering the mountain.
Speaking of touring, it's a profession that travels around the world, and I'm well versed in the mountains.
I guessed from the lack of rationality in her words, but what's the matter with you?
Oh, I'm curious about the first unapologetic request for help. How can you make a request like that in a lost child situation?
If I got lost in the woods and was attacked by a hexenbiest that I couldn't win by myself, and someone happened to come along, could I say I'd fight with them?
Depending on the situation, I would say that the first thing to ask for would be a call for help rather than cooperation.
...... Certainly, I don't think you can be the first to say that in such a situation. If it had been wandering in the woods, it would have been even more likely to call for help first.
Yeah, their behavior is also unnatural. But it's also possible that they just happened to be going in the wrong direction during a sudden attack of a hexenbiest, and that's when things got awkward.
If you're in a tight spot, you can certainly get upset about such things if you're in a tight spot. ...... If you put the first statement together with the one I just made, it's more likely to be coincidence. It's a good thing that you have a good idea of what you're talking about, or else you'll be in trouble later on, and you'll be watched. Such a folly is certainly not going to happen.
I hear another rustling sound and multiple sounds of something stabbing and crashing to the ground.
Either way, we might as well see what they're up to.
”Yes, so what's wrong with ......?
No, we apologize, please listen to us, please, please have mercy.