Chapter 16 – I’ll be Going Alone Part 1 (1/2)

«TN: Long chapters are the bane of my existence, let’s try this parts post thing…»

Carla and I reached the town of Roleil together with the rising sun, we then headed straight to the guards’ HQ.

That’s because I have reservations against going around town with a severed head.

“It’s Ash! Ash the Steel!”

I unbagged the head at the guards HQ and the head of guards Glock let out a loud shout.

Ash used to participate with many mercenary bands, a strong man who ran through battlefields.

“Well well, so Ash the Steel was leading the bandits! He’s a tough one”

I told him the location of their hideout and also that there were survivors.

“Uh huh! I’ll consult with the count and confirm it later, but now that the head’s been taken down, that bunch won’t be so big a threat anymore”

Looks like he’s also going to issue edicts to the merchants, too.

“Which reminds me, I heard Ash goes around with an adult woman, did you find her, too?”

“Let’s see, we didn’t find her, but if she’s his mistress she probably ran away in the confusion, no?”

As thanks for Claire’s ass I glossed over her here, as promised.

“Well, mistresses and stuff doesn’t matter,” said Glock as he patted my shoulder.

“I want you more and more now! How about 60 gold a year?”

Please stop with that phrasing.

I feel like I’m being solicited to be a macho man’s lover.

“No, I’m only going as far as returning my debt now. I plan on leaving soon, too”

“Oh? Where are you going this time?”

I honestly told Glock I’m heading north, to which he grimaced.

“North, huh……… Surely you don’t plan on getting work in Arcland?”

Now that you mention it, Triea Kingdom doesn’t have good relations with Arcland.

“No, I’m going to pass through Arcland. I plan on going much much further north into the Federation”

“Ooh! The Federation! But it’s all snow and ice there other than the North Teljes riverside this time of the year”

“I don’t know any other country besides this one since I was born. It’s probably going to be good experience”

“I see, can’t be helped then,” he says as he patted my shoulder again.

He then took out some bag filled with gold coins.

“I’ll pay as I promised! 100 gold!”

This guy pays big, huh.

“Nevertheless, this isn’t anything special. Ash was previously employed by Arcland and mowed down many of our soldiers. Which made him have a 50 gold cash bounty on his head”

And 50 gold for the bandit subjugation was added on top of that.

“The town council doesn’t get involved like last time, don’t they”

“The bandit subjugation fee was paid out of Miranda company’s and other merchants’ purses so there’s no loss for the town”

I see, so they’re letting them do as they please since it doesn’t concern their own wallets.

“Don’t be stingy with travel expenses. The Federation is cold, really cold! Get yourself and the horse a fur coat!”

Carrying a purse that had gotten rather heavy, I went towards the Little Bird Pavilion.

Carla’s been silent since a while ago, does she know?

“Yo”

“Wa~ It’s Aegir~ I missed you~”

Maria jumped from the counter into my chest.

Though it hasn’t been long since she last saw me she received me quite passionately.

I thought about getting a room and taking her right away but before that, I had something to say.

“Carla, Maria, listen”

“Hm~? What~?

“…………………..”

“Tomorrow I’m going to be taking Schwarz north through Arcland and even further north into Olga Federation”

Maria opened her eyes wide, Carla looked downwards, saying nothing.

“I’m aiming to go to the Olga Federation capital, but the journey is long and full of dangers”

“‘I’m going to go alone’…. right?”

Carla finished my sentence.

“Yeah, I don’t want you to die”