First Connection (1)
I'd gone through all that trouble playing the social butterfly—something that didn't suit me at all—only to feel a surge of anger and defeat when I learned that the bratty Orio had fled with four shiny knights in tow.
My mood was sour, so I was about to drown my sorrows with a drink at lunch when General Liard showed up, still clad in his armor.
“This Liard has no face to show to Hero Kirgil, the neighborhood uncle who slays trolls with ease.”
“That sounds like teasing to me. No, no, forget it.
Did you come to ask me to go soothe the village chief in Agnes Village?”
“Thank you for understanding. I must depart soon. Word has come that demons are encamped in the southeast forest, leading an army.”
“You don't mean war's breaking out, do you?”
“It could happen if we show any weakness. To keep them from stirring up trouble, we'll station ourselves nearby.
Standoffs like this are commonplace.”
During truces or between nations on bad terms, borders see armies maneuvering to test reactions, poking if the other side looks vulnerable.
Back in my old world, whenever our country ran large joint exercises, the north went into 24-hour alert.
They'd even fire off missiles now and then to provoke.
Come to think of it, on my first day here, Liard had rushed back from some deployment.
“That's why I've come to you, hoping you'll handle this wisely.”
With that, Liard handed me travel funds and asked me to deal with any contingencies before riding out with his soldiers.
His pouch held a solid gold coin—heavy for mere travel money. Bribe cash, plain and simple.
Maybe I should head to Agnes Village with this?
For now, I gave one gold coin to the innkeeper and told him to treat all the guests to food and drinks.
I was feeling down, so I tried venting like in some comic or movie. But it was just noisy, nothing more.
Mood boosters like this aren't my style.
Didn't feel right carrying all that cash alone, so I rounded up Suu, Rada, and Ashushikara and headed to Lirisa's place.
Treating it as seed money for the temple crew—an investment. Piterio's shop has top-notch gear.
Ashushikara's joining our next adventure, too.
That's why she gave me the ring, she said.
“M-Master! M-Maaaster!!”
“Ashushikara. Lirisa isn't gear for sale. Put her down.”
“Oh dear, what a pity.”
Ashushikara glanced at the wares, then scooped up Lirisa like she was taking her home.
Strange way to say she's not interested in the equipment.
Suu got new daggers, Rada a shield, and Lirisa waved off anything since it was her own stock.
Way better than blowing it randomly at the tavern. Feels good.
And Ashushikara's at it again—grabbing Lirisa to leave!
This woman's stronger than she looks. Even with Lirisa's small frame, she hoists her up like a cat.
“Sir Kirgil, you have a keen eye for quality. My daughter chose her master well.”
Lirisa's father was sweating bullets but smiling. No wonder—everything I picked was enchanted gear.
Suu's daggers and Rada's shield, both. Thanks to my Status Window ability.
For reference, my sword shows as “longsword infused with sharpness magic.”
No fancy name like Reshi's spear yet. Spears with unique names must be special.
Unique items, right?
“I've got a good instinct for it.
But I lack a merchant's financial sense like yours, Mr. Piterio, so no worries there.”
“Hahaha, Erba already told me you're quick with numbers.”
“Dad, there's so much to learn from Master. Every chat sparks amazing ideas.”
Maybe it was Lirisa's charm, but Liard's money covered it all.
Piterio said these weren't priced that low normally. For his daughter's sake, no margin—he'd sell at cost.
Who knows if a merchant's true to his word? But for Lirisa's sake, probably not lying.
I'll trust it.
Wrapped up the day like that. Off to new adventures tomorrow—we parted ways.
And the next morning.
“Sir Kirgil, a named request. Could you come alone to the second-floor meeting room?”
The middle-aged receptionist who'd hounded Kerry before singled me out.
First I'd heard of named requests, and she picks me specifically.
“Can I hear the terms and refuse?”
“The higher-ups will explain. And...”
She whispered so no one else heard.
“I'd never turn down a request like this.
As Prosek's hero, Sir Kirgil, you'd be wise to accept—for your own safety.”
Sounded like personal advice.
She winked. Something's up.
Following her lead, I opened the second-floor meeting room door.
“F-Ferio!? When did you get here?”
“Heard from Liard and rushed back at dawn yesterday.”
I was so glad I nearly hugged her, but her face was grim.
She'd probably shove me off with a “don't get close.”
Never seen Ferio this despairing.
Time to hear her out.
Liard had briefed her on Orio's antics too—thorough guy. Probably called her to cheer me up, in case I soured.
Ferio judged it necessary and had no reason to refuse seeing me, so she came straight back at dawn. But then...
“Mother's carriage was ambushed by a monster unit lying in wait.
And Darania's cavalry, en route to link up, got hit by wild trolls before they could join.”
“......Targeted.”
Liard leaves, and wild trolls hit right then?
Timing's too perfect.
“The coachman played dead, then Darania knights arrived after slaying the trolls and rescued him.
So at dawn today... I heard about Mother's kidnapping.”
That's why Prosek's hero got the named request.
Countess acts alone, screws up—embarrassing to publicize.
Kidnapped, though.
Not killed or looted—abducted. Means a reason.
Don't tell me this world's monsters do vile things to human women for breeding...
“Monsters won't demand ransom.
But they could torture for info, publicly execute her before other monsters to crush morale, or enslave her for lifelong shame.”
...Not that kind of world, huh.
Expected it, but confirming feels weird.
“Whatever happens, if Mother's dragged to demon territory, she's gone for good.
That's why... I'm pinning faint hope on you.”
“Other units? Monster unit means dozens, hundreds escorting—not something me and a few can handle.”
“Sorry. I don't know why I'm expecting this of you.
But no forces can move now. Asked Liard for support, but it'll be late.”
Time's the issue.
Ferio's grasping at me like a straw since I can move immediately.
“I really don't like your mother Orio.”
“I know. Sorry. Still...”
“Someday I'll spank that arrogance out of her bratty head.
But first, gotta bring her back.”
Only then did Ferio's eyes glisten as she smiled faintly.
No matter how much she irks, blood's blood. Orio did this for Ferio, even if misguided.
Otherwise, more spanking.
“Yeah. Please do. Slap her cheeks or her butt—just bring her back alive.”
“The mother who bore you, Ferio.
Tell her she almost died for your sake.”
“...Thanks.”
I spoke confidently to reassure her.
But can me, Suu, Rada, Lirisa, and Ashushikara pull off a rescue?
Coldly, no.
Ferio knows. But stalling till rescue arrives or learning their direction boosts odds hugely.
Hiring more adventurers? No time, no trust.
Best to depart ASAP.
I gathered all intel on the incident site before leaving.
“What do survivors and knights say?”
“When trolls hit the knights, lightning struck repeatedly from a clear sky.
It broke their formation, delayed the takedown.”
Trolls point to suspects.
Now I get the recon.
Clear-sky lightning means a magic user—likely demon.
Good they downed the trolls.
Sent Ferio off, formally accepted at the guild.
Told Rada, Suu, Lirisa, Ashushikara: prep rations and gear, meet before noon.
Outside the outer gate.
We had funds and experience, so everyone packed full gear and supplies.
Ashushikara, first-timer, shows her veteran side in prep. Backpack and mace scream experience—scratches on the head, stains on the grip.
We rode army-loaned horses, departing with grim resolve.
More precisely, a wagon pulled by two horses.
Wanted to gallop off heroically on my own mount, but reality bites.
Tons of gear, no one but me can ride, army short on warhorses. Ugh...
Thus, I earned “Hero of the Neighborhood Wagon.”
Kids who recognized me followed, chanting it.
Hey, coachman, speed up! It's embarrassing!