Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Scar-14
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After drinking my fill and waking up, the surroundings were noisy.
"Everyone's gathered? Get up, we've got work to do!"
"Ugh..."
My body still felt heavy with lingering fatigue. I hadn't passed out drunk; I'd properly lain down on the inn room bed.
The noise came from outside the window. No way would soundproofing be decent in this era, and with people chattering out there, sleep was impossible.
"What is it..."
A maid slept soundly in one corner of the room. I could've gotten her another room, but she stubbornly came into my room to sleep every time.
"Maybe I should put a stop to this soon..."
Even yesterday, she'd been running around on some errand or another. She'd even wielded a sword, so she had to be just as tired as anyone.
I couldn't tell if she actually felt fatigue or if it was all an act, but either way, I couldn't just leave her curled up in the corner like that.
"Oh, you're awake...?"
"Relax. What are you being so formal for now...?"
Thanks to the drunken waitress, I'd gleaned some interesting info—nothing crucial, but stuff like "what folk songs are popular around here," the kind of thing with ethnographic value.
If the mood got dull, she'd pull a slightly regretful, sad face, making it hard to just up and leave while thinking of her sorrow.
Then she'd dive right back into adventure tales without pause, and before I knew it, they were so engaging I'd listen late into the night, drawn in by some strange charm.
She'd treated me like nobility at first, but at some point started speaking casually. And honestly, I didn't mind.
"So... what's going on? What's left to do?"
"First, we gotta bury the dead."
There were far fewer casualties than expected, but they were still organic matter spilled onto the earth, rotting away.
I couldn't make individual graves for each, but we couldn't just leave them either. We'd dig pits—at least bury them separately from the orcs.
"Should I help...?"
"They won't make you do that. You're a guest, right?"
"Still, no need for me to just lounge around. If it's something that needs doing, I'll pitch in..."
"You really grew up nice. Yeah, I figured as much! Don't worry too much. Everyone wants to do it."
"...Why?"
After a moment's thought, I came up with a perfectly obvious, simple reason.
"Loot, huh..."
The Hero Party didn't need money.
Anything solvable with cash could be requisitioned under the Princess's authority and the grand cause of the Hero's quest.
Gold coins aren't light, and if I lugged around all the usable ones, my shoulders would've given out first.
If gold got that treatment, there was no reason to eye some dead human's belongings.
We rarely touched monster corpses unless the mage or saintess needed something truly valuable, so this was bound to happen outside my expectations.
Whether scavenging hyenas stripping armor and weapons for a profit, or grieving relatives wanting to keep a final memento—they had every reason to show up.
And I couldn't even curse the hyenas. At least the ones who'd fought in that battle were claiming the reward for risking their lives and winning, not looting like cowards.
"Well, glad to hear it."
Her voice had sounded oddly chipper—must've been right. Hell, even I'd grumble if thrown straight into corpse cleanup after a fight like yesterday.
"Rest up. No more pay, so don't worry."
"No need for that."
"It's fine. Plenty of folks came just to see your face."
She pressed down firmly on her wooden leg to secure it, then grinned sheepishly.
"How long you planning to stay?"
"Tomorrow, or the day after at latest. Leaving right after."
"Got it... Yeah, makes sense. Kinda sad, though."
She smacked her lips lightly, fidgeting restlessly.
"Got any... goals or something you wanna do?"
"Heading home."
It'd just take a bit longer. I'd definitely go back someday.
"Home?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"I see... Yeah. Home's important. Shame. If my leg was fine, I'd love to visit your hometown sometime."
For fighters, death is too familiar. Injuries and wounds, even more so.
That she could still fight like other adventurers in that state proved her skill, but battles had too many variables.
Handicaps make daily life tough; combat, even tougher.
Missing an eye, an arm, or a leg means struggling even against foes way below your level.
"Thanks just for the thought."
The adventurer with the prosthetic might've wanted to set off with me.
"What a shame, really..."
And realizing the gap between her skills and mine, she might've shelved the idea.
"Never thought I'd say this, but if I don't, I'll regret it. Hey, if you're okay with it... wanna stay here?"
Words I never saw coming.
For a brief moment, this place didn't feel bad. It was just... comfortable.
Too many people here liked me. No imperial whispers of "who's that guy?" like at the palace. These folks owed their lives to my hands.
But I couldn't stay forever.
"Gotta go back."
She paused, flashing a wry smile.
"Ha, yeah, figured. You're a baron and all—must have something huge waiting..."
Class differences hadn't really hit home, but she was just an adventurer, and I was nominally nobility.
"Not that, but no choice."
"Still, I can at least see you off? Sorry to Dad, but I'll guide you partway."
"Well... to get home, I need to find some stuff."
"Like what? Tell me. Body's not great, but back in the day, I was a pretty decent adventurer. I can help look."
Appreciated the offer, but no plans to ask her. The materials were on a different scale anyway.
"Phoenix remains... unicorn blood, and a dragon heart?"
She clamped her mouth shut for a bit, debating whether to believe me.
"That's not baron-level! Did you do something bad before heading home?"
Deciding to buy it, she yelled dramatically.
"No normal race needs stuff like that to go home unless they're angels or demons!"
"Yeah, it worked out that way."
Seeing her stick out her tongue and give up, I felt glad I'd told her.
"Seriously... Can't fetch 'em myself. But I got info that might help."
"What?"
I'd figured she was no ordinary fighter, but hadn't dreamed she'd connect to these materials.
After rummaging in the storeroom, she came back with a crumpled sheet of paper.
"This is a real secret, but I'll show you. No choice..."
The map itself was plain. But what they'd found and sold here was significant.
"Unicorn tail hair... right?"
"Sold stuff picked up here to the Magic Tower, no complaints—so genuine for sure."
Not just once or twice either. An unmanaged wild unicorn habitat? Unheard of info.
"Wait, why would adventurers like you be out here...?"
"Heh, well, this was way beyond our league back then. Still, dumped our life savings into potions and gear, never dreamed it'd be our last adventure."
"Still, gotta pay up..."
I planned to hunt phoenix remains first, but this intel was precious. I'd have worked like a dog for it if paid—the first lead mattered.
"Enough, enough! I'm the one who should be thankful."
But she wanted nothing.
It'd been ages since I'd felt such pure gratitude.
Or maybe I'd gotten it dozens of times but wasn't ready to accept it.
"Thanks."
"Remember me and the village! Swing by before you head home!"
"...Got it. Won't forget."
A little courage welled up.
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It pained me, like it dragged down all the good vibes, but it had to be done.
"...You're here."
Pashier's outfit was surprisingly neat, but Elenor still looked like the scars of battle hadn't faded.
"Thanks for this time. But... this, you were tailing me, right?"
If she'd rushed here to save the fief, it'd be Hero-like. But she'd pinpointed me, come just to rescue me alone. I was definitely under surveillance.
"Pashier. How'd you know I was here?"
Plus, a mage's spells aren't cast on a whim.
Even at Pashier's level, a battlefield-shaking Meteor needed at least a week's prep.
Wherever from, clearly aimed to drop that massive rock.
"Be straight. What do you all want?"