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Chapter 257

「It’s finally come, it seems.」

It had been a few days since the events with Axe of the Thunder God. Rei murmured to himself after seeing the new request on the guild board.

The request was for the recruitment of mercenaries for the war. The war with the Bestir Empire hand’t started yet, but no one was surprised as they all understood that it was only a matter of time before the war began.

E rank adventurers or lower were not permitted to take the request and the basic daily payment was 1 silver coin. If you had a higher rank, past achievements or some sort of special ability, additional rewards would be given.

In addition, their employer, Margrave Rowlocks in this case, would take care of everything including clothing, food and shelter during the request period. Military blacksmiths would take care of weapon maintenance and repairs. As a result, the 1 silver coin earned was basically 1 silver coin of profit.

However, the amount of alcohol distributed at meals was only a few cups and the food was ordinary. If you wanted to eat or drink any more, you would have to pay for it.

The adventurers around Rei were also discussing whether or not to accept the request.

「Hey, what do you plan to do? There were rumors that the war would start after winter……」

「I will join. Can you stand the Kingdom being trampled over by those guys from the Empire! With the rewards being that great, I’ll do everything I can.」

「Well, what should I do? Aside from monsters, I don’t really like killing people.」

「……My rank isn’t high enough, so I’m automatically rejected.」

「Why not E ranks! I’m confident that I can beat a D rank adventurer with my skill.」

「I’ll stay behind. I can’t let the city’s protection be weakened if everyone leaves for the war.」

「With my arrows, I’ll put a hole into the heads of those Empire invaders. Their heads will become more ventilated after I knock out their brains.」

As Rei listened to those adventurers talk between their friends and party members, he suddenly felt a pull on his Dragon Robe and turned to take a look.

Turning around, Rei saw Kenny, the guild’s catkin receptionist.

But, instead of her usual curious eyes, she looked somewhat anxious.

「What’s wrong?」

「Rei-kun, you have a nominated request. That is, about this war.」

「……I see.」

As for Rei, he had been expecting a nominated request as his ability was much higher than his rank. Rather, even if he hadn’t received a nominated request, having a score to settle with the Bestir Empire, he would have taken up the request anyway.

(Elena should also be participating as a leader of the nobles. And……)

The next thing that passed through his mind was a murderer who found pleasure in killing people. A traitor who revealed his true nature at the very end while serving as one of Elena’s bodyguards.

(Vel Sails……I’m the reason why we couldn’t finish him off. This time, his head……)

「Rei-kun?」

「No, it’s nothing. A nominated request you said?」

Looking at Rei with a somewhat worried expression, Kenny replied as per her duties as a guild employee.

「Yes. You have a nominated request from Margrave Rowlocks. He’d like you to go to the Lord’s residence to receive it……what will you do?」

You shouldn’t accept it if you don’t need to. Kenny spoke with such an expression. But Rei nodded with determined eyes even though he understood her concern.

「No problem. Of course I’ll accept.」

「……Are you sure? This is a request for the war, isn’t it? Unlike before, you’ll be dealing with people instead of monsters you know?」

「Ah, I know. But, I’ve killed bandits before. I’m not going to say I can’t kill others because they’re also people. In the first place, if you can’t deal with that, you shouldn’t become and adventurer in the first place.」

In fact, Rei had killed many people since coming to Elgin. Of course, he didn’t love to kill people, unlike Vel, who had the habit of taking pleasure in murder. However, he was the one who chose to be an adventurer in the first place. The world wasn’t such a kind place that he could survive by showing kindness and compassion to those who fought against him……the frontier wasn’t such a wonderful place.

「Is that so. I understand, I will let the Lord’s residence know……when do you plan to go to hear out the request?」

「I’m fine anytime. I can go whenever it’s convenient for you.」

「Then, you can head there now.」

「……Are you serious?」

As the other party was a noble and the lord of this region, Rei had thought that it would take a few days to before he could get a face to face meeting. Kenny’s words surprised him.

「Ahahaha. It’s the first time I’ve seen Rei-kun have that expression. But the other party requested you to hurry as fast as you could. Well, I can guess why.」

「My item box, right?」

「Yes. Correct.」

Kenny’s words weren’t to surprising for Rei. Especially in this case, he knew that the Mireana Kindgom would be in a full scale war, so naturally no one cared about factions anymore. No, rather, if they were still concerned about factions, it would be impossible for them to win against the Bestir Empire.

Rei judged the situation to be so, knowing about the Bestir Empire’s Demon Soldiers and magic items they could create from alchemy.

However, while that was true, it was also not true. As the saying went, seeing is believing, many people who hadn’t seen the power of the Bestir Empire didn’t believe the reports and considered it to all be nonsense.

「This time, a lot of power will come from the Neutral faction as well. Many adventurers in Gilm have taken up this request. Naturally……」

「They’ll need food, spare weapons, tents for the night and all sorts of other supplies.」

「Correct. And, of course, the number of carriages required to carry the supplies will increase. But, if there is an item box……」

「There is no need to worry about the transportation of goods. And finally, the speed at which they can leave the city will also increase greatly.」

「That’s the way it is. Depending on whether or not Rei-kun accepts the nominated request, the speed at which troops can depart the city will change considerably, so it’s natural to sort that out as soon as possible. Besides, if Rei-kun accepts the reqeust, they won’t have to worry about the quality and quantity of supplies.」

「I guess. ……I understand. Then I’ll head for the Lord’s residence.」

「Yes, please. ……Rei-kun.」

Kenny called out to Rei again as he turned around was about to leave the guild.

「……Don’t die, okay?」

「Ah, leave it to me. Regardless, I’m the adventurer who reached C rank in the fastest period of time since I registered with the guild right? And that was in Gilm. Besides, I also have Set. I’m not planning to get caught out, so I won’t die so easily.」

Rei responded to Kenny in a light tone.

In actual fact, he would likely have to fight Demon Soliders, who could be considered the Empire’s trump card. And with magic items made from the Empire’s high level of alchemy, there was no situation where he was defintely safe. However, he didn’t want Kenny to worry any more than she already was.

「That’s true. Yes. Rei-kun will be fine. Rei-kun’s strength is unfair after all.」

「When you say that, I can’t really agree completely……well, don’t worry, I’ll be back soon after the war. And even if I do go to war, there’s still some time. If you’re so worried now, your body won’t be able to hold up later.」

Rei walked out of the guild with a smile as he said that to Kenny, who waved her arms at him as she pretended to be angry.

「I’m Rei, a C rank adventurer. I would like to meet with Daska-sama regarding a nominated request.」

「Ah, I heard about that. Wait a moment.」

Perhaps the guild had already contacted them, when Rei called out to the gatekeeper in front of the Lord’s residence, he was immediately allowed in.

As Rei watched the gatekeeper leave, the other gatekeeper, who had already become familiar with Rei, called out to him.

「Have you come this time regarding the war?」

「They seem to have given me a nominated request.」

「Ah, your item box.」

The gatekeeper understood what kind of request it was without Rei needing to say any more.

「……You know about this quite well.」

「Why do I know that? I’ve heard many of the knights from logistics fervently appealing to Daska-sama about it.」

「To go that far……」

「Gururu~?」

Hearing Rei’s words, Set tilted his head slightly to ask what was wrong.

「No, the more supplies they have, the slower their travel. It’s not like moving with just you and me Set.」

It would take about half a day to get to Abuero, the nearest city, by carriage. And, it would take more than a day to get from Abuero to Sabrusta. If the supply wagons had to travel with the infantry, the travel time would only increase and not decrease.

As Rei and Set talked with the gatekeeper, the one that had left earlier returned.

「Daska-sama will meet with you. The maid will guide you.」

「I understand. Set, same as usual.」

「Guru~」

At Rei’s words, Set gave a cry before heading for the stables in the Lord’s residence.

After seeing Set leave, Rei was guided through the Lord’s residence by the maid and evenutally arrived at a door that looked like a piece of art.

(This door feels overwhelming every time I see it.)

As he thought about that, the maid knocked on the familiar door.

「Master, I’ve brought Rei-sama.」

「Ah, come in.」

Hearing the reply, the maid turned to look at Rei.

Asking if he was ready with her eyes, Rei replied with a small nod.

With that, the door was opened……

「Oh! Thank you very much for coming Rei!」

Daska Rowlocks, the lord of this region and a central figure in the Neutral faction, Margrave Rowlocks, welcomed Rei with a bright smile as he stopped reading the papers on his desk.

(As usual, he doesn’t look like a lord.)

Looking at Daska’s strict face, Rei thought that to himself, but he didn’t reveal his thoughts as he bowed his head.

「Daska-sama, long time no see. I heard that you have a nominated request for me.」

「Ah. I’ll tell you more about it, so take a seat for now. Hey, bring me something to drink and some light snacks. And call Keo.」

「Yes, right away.」

The maid who had brought Rei here gave a bow before leaving.

As he heard the sound of the door closing, Rei also gave a light bow before sitting down.

「So, I’ve heard that the nominateed requested was about transporting things using my item box. Is that correct?」

「That’s right. The only way to carry supplies is to use carriages, which takes too much time. We haven’t decided how many adventurers we’ll hire, but if we add in the soldiers and knights we will dispatch, the amount of supplies needed will be quite large. If you pack the carriages into your item box, it should be a lot easier to move around.」

「……My item box can’t store living things, so what about the horses?」

「It’s nothing to move then as they will be carrying my men. Ah, in this case, I’m refering to general soldiers and not knights. The knights all have their horses and servants.」

「I see. In that case, they’ll be able to reserve their physical strength to some extent and will also be able to move faster.」

Of course, not everyone leaving Gilm will be able to ride a horse, so their speed will have to match the infantry. However, if you look at it as a whole, their speed should definitely increase.

「That’s that. Then there’s Keo……we’ll have a detailed discussion after the person in charge of this supply plan arrives, but there’s a possiblity that you won’t just be carrying military supplies. Please be aware that you may also have to carry supplies for nobles belonging to the Neutral faction and possibly the Noble and Royal factions as well.」

「……The other factions as well?」

Rei’s eyes widened unconciously at Daska’s unexpected words.

Despite the power struggles, they would still assist with the hard work.

Perhaps he read Rei’s question from his expression, Daska held a bitter look but noddedly silently without withdrawing his previous statement.

「That’s right. This war, the Bestir Empire will likely be pouring in considerable strength. In this situation, if we still have faction infighting, the disadvantageous situation would become even more disadvantageous. In that situation, the least influential of the factions, the Neutrals, will have to act as a go between for the Noble and Royal factions and do something about it. ……All for the Mireana Kingdom to survive.」

It was a decision Daska had made after seeing Gilm, the place he governed, be the location of several attempts of the Bestir Empire to cause trouble. He had a sense that this war would be different from the past ones.