Isekai Nonbiri Nouka - Chapter 1014: Preparing Alfred

My name is Mikel.

I can fight well enough to defend myself, but I have no desire to willingly go to places where demon beasts and monsters roam.

Because it is dangerous.

And yet, Alfred-kun is planning to go to a place filled with demon beasts and monsters.

He is strong, so he will probably be fine, but……

Letting him go alone?

Is that really okay?

It is not, right?

……

Mother, O’Brien-sama!

Please lend us some guards!

-0-

「Fear not. Going there immediately is not a plan of mine. It will take a few days to prepare」

Alfred-kun’s words ease me a little.

「First, we will go to the Adventurers Guild」

?

「If I do not register as an adventurer, many things will become troublesome」

Really?

「Is that not so?」

According to Alfred-kun, the Adventurers Guild handles complicated matters such as the rights to mined materials, the rights to newly discovered dungeons, exploration rights in already discovered dungeons, and ownership of newly found items.

To receive the Guild’s mediation in such matters, adventurer registration is essential.

I had never heard that before.

Then I went to the Adventurers Guild with Alfred-kun……

And we were confronted by some strange men.

「Hey, hey, you brats…」

That was as far as the first man got.

Alfred-kun punched him and sent him flying into the wall.

「You bastar…」

That was all the brave second man managed to say.

He was launched straight into the ceiling.

The third was smashed into a nearby table before he could utter a word.

Hmm.

Powerful.

But is that not a bit violent?

Maybe he could have listened to what they wanted to say?

This is some kind of ritual?

Showing strength change how the guild staff treat you?

For example, the registration we are about to do.

Look, it started right away.

Apparently, if you do not perform the ritual, they will make you wait for half a day.

And sometimes, they will not even process your registration.

Is that so?

Ah, so they are waiting for bribes.

You are quite knowledgeable about this. Have you experienced such treatment before?

Oh, you learned it from an adventurer acquaintance.

I see.

By the way, I somehow ended up being registered as an adventurer too…

「You are my guide, are you not?」

…….

Mother, please make sure the guards you lend us are very strong.

-0-

Alfred-kun was very experienced.

He gathered everything efficiently, water, food, cooking tools, sleeping bags, blankets, lamps, and packed them together.

If he had asked, I am sure Mother would have prepared all of it for him.

「Fushu-san is busy. That is why I simply do what I can myself」

Hmm.

He is so dependable that it is hard to believe he is younger than me.

I need to be more reliable too.

By the way, while we were buying supplies, we were attacked by a group that seemed to be the companions of the men Alfred-kun had knocked away at the Adventurers Guild.

Alfred-kun beat them down as well.

Then, dragging what looked like their leader, he raided their hideout.

He crushed them thoroughly.

Even when they begged him to stop, he continued.

If he left them half-defeated, they would absolutely retaliate later, he said.

「Killing them would remove any future trouble…… but I do not prefer such methods」

So instead, he gives them a fear they can never forget, ensuring they will never approach him again.

I understand the logic.

…What?

Next?

The ones backing this group?

It seems to be a major trading company.

Ah… I see.

So the large company hired this group to harass their business rivals.

That explains why there were so many expensive items in their hideout that did not fit their image.

Should we inform the guards?

They have probably committed many other crimes as well.

-0-

The head of the major trading company has changed.

Officially, it was announced to the public as a retirement due to worsening chronic illness.

Alfred-kun works efficiently.

Hm?

According to your little sister, you are inefficient?

After all that?

N-no, I was just wondering what kind of little sister she must be.

A little frightening?

-0-

Now then, preparations are complete, so we set off for the place where demon beasts and monsters dwell.

Leader: Alfred-kun.

Porter: Me.

Guards: Three princes.

……..

Princes, what exactly are you doing?

Do you really think those disguises will work?

And where are your actual guards?

You sent them back?

…………………………………………

Are you idiots trying to get yourselves killed!?

This is a matter of life and death!

Alfred-kun, do not stop me!

These guys, let me wreck their arse first!

I can’t?

Then!

I dropped my fist with a solid thud onto each of the princes’ heads.

-0-

Let me see… the three princes.

First, Prince Istre of the Asamud royal family.

Next, Prince Nirk of the Seibourg royal family.

And finally, Prince Monren of the Darglin royal family.

If I remember correctly, Prince Istre and Prince Nirk are about one or two years older than Alfred-kun.

Prince Monren might be the same age as Alfred-kun, or perhaps one year younger.

I am not entirely sure.

These three once clashed with Alfred-kun and were firmly dealt with by Mother and O’Brien-sama.

After reconciling, they began acting as something like Alfred-kun’s representatives and were entrusted with various duties.

They should be busy.

Which is exactly why it makes no sense for them to be here.

Also, I cannot imagine their guards allowing them to go somewhere filled with demon beasts and monsters.

I have never heard that any of the princes are particularly strong.

And yet, their guards are nowhere to be seen.

Which means they acted on their own.

I dropped my fist again.

「If you strike princes in public, their authority will decline」

Alfred-kun said that while pointing toward a nearby hiding place…

There stood the guards Mother and O’Brien-sama had arranged for us, looking apologetic.

So, they could not defy the princes, but at least they did not actually leave.

That is a relief.

We entrusted some of the daily equipment to them as well.

Well then, if we send the princes back, everything should return to normal.

That was what I thought.

But the princes resisted.

If they are not near Alfred-kun, they are afraid of what he might do next?

W-well… I can understand that to some extent.

Being with Alfred-kun makes the food taste better?

I understand that too.

Ah, but excuses like “since we are already here” or “we came all this way” will not work.

We have not even departed yet.

We have not even left the city.

I will not be swayed by such words.

First, princes, think about the people who would suffer if something were to happen to you.

Your guards are probably searching for you right now with deathly pale faces.

Alfred-kun agreed with my opinion, so for now, whether the princes will accompany us or not can be decided later.

First, we will reunite them with their guards.

-0-

The princes’ guards thanked us with tears in their eyes.

And the princes themselves were tied up with ropes.

It may not be my place to say this after dropping my fists on them, but… is it really acceptable to treat princes like that?

Alfred-kun’s little sister was tied up in a similar way?

…….

Let us not think too deeply about that.

In any case, with things like this, there is no way the princes can accompany us.

Alfred-kun… had no intention of letting them come from the beginning?

Perhaps because of their disguises, their equipment did not fit them properly.

That would be dangerous.

I see.

Well, either way, we compose ourselves and prepare to depart.

…….

At this rate, it sounds like I am the one eager to go.

-0-

Just as I thought that, another problem appeared.

「Well, what a coincidence」

「This must be fate」

「May we accompany you?」

Three women… I recognize them.

They are daughters of nobles from the Kingdom of Raywhite.

Not from the highest-ranking houses, but of sufficient standing to attend parties where royalty is present.

And now they stand before Alfred-kun dressed as adventurers.

Which means they were likely waiting for him.

I can appreciate their initiative, but we cannot simply allow them to join us.

As I was about to refuse……

Their equipment fit properly and showed clear signs of use.

The way they packed and organized their belongings was skillful.

From their demeanor, Alfred-kun judged that the three women had prior experience as adventurers.

「That is correct」

「We have been called upon to subjugate demon beasts and monsters around our family estates」

「We have some confidence in our abilities」

I-I see.

They seem more capable than the princes, but……

Alfred-kun refused to let them join.

The reason was that they had no female guard accompanying them.

I was unsure what that meant, but one of the guards explained.

When going to places inhabited by demon beasts and monsters, one generally travels in groups.

In such situations, the main issues are sleeping and relieving oneself.

For sleeping, it is best to stay together as much as possible.

Even for relieving oneself, someone must stand watch.

Ah… I see.

In such circumstances, it would indeed be a problem if only men were around noble ladies.

Female guards are necessary.

「It is truly regrettable that we cannot accompany you. Let us hope for another opportunity」

Alfred-kun said that to the three women, but… does that not mean next time they will simply bring female guards?

Let me correct myself.

Look, they are already moving to hire female adventurers as escorts.

-0-

We were having quite a difficult time before actually departing.