Isekai Nonbiri Nouka - Chapter 1015: Adventuring Alfred
My name is Mikel.
No, honestly…… I do not even know what to say anymore.
Yes, I am a slightly tired Mikel.
-0-
Alfred-kun corrected me.
It is true that we are going to a place where demon beasts and monsters appear, but that is not the purpose.
Since we have registered as adventurers, we should say we are going on an adventure.
I see.
That makes sense, and I have no objection.
Then, once more.
Off to an adventure!
-0-
Leader: Alfred-kun.
Baggage carrier: me.
Companions: three princes and three noble young ladies.
Guards: thirty.
Of those: ten are women.
A little distance away: an additional two hundred guards.
Behind them: twenty wagons loaded with water and food.
……
Is this really an adventure?
Is this not simply a military march?
Even the destination ended up being a nearby place that has reported damage from demon beasts, because Alfred-kun was considerate of our companions.
「I was not being considerate. I cannot forgive demon beasts that ravage fields. That is all」
Yes, even so…… this is excessive force, is it not?
「Was it not agreed that the guards would not participate in combat?」
There is probably a unit that has already gone ahead to the destination.
「Even so, that contributes to the peace of those who live in that area. It is not a bad thing」
Hmm, how mature.
I suppose it is unfair to compare him to the princes, who used their parents’ authority to become companions.
-0-
It took two days to travel, and two days at the destination, making four days in total. During that time, we defeated twenty demon beasts.
Alfred-kun did not step in. The noble young ladies defeated most of them.
The princes managed to defeat one beast together, the three of them.
Though, to be honest, they only managed that because one of the noble young ladies had already weakened it beforehand…
Well, it would be troublesome to hurt their pride, so I will not say that.
It should help build their confidence.
Overconfidence would be a problem, though.
Me?
I am the baggage carrier.
Please do not expect too much from me.
Apparently, we can earn a small amount of income by selling the materials taken from the defeated demon beasts.
Considering the wages of the guards who are actually doing most of the fighting, we are probably running at a significant loss… but I will not think too deeply about that.
The guards have defeated even more demon beasts than we have.
However, according to Alfred-kun, the guards’ methods are rough, which greatly reduces the value of the materials and often makes them unsellable.
The noble young ladies carefully leave the usable parts intact when they defeat the beasts, and they even lined up the bodies to explain the differences.
Well, that does not mean the guards are at fault.
It is simply the difference between adventurers who hunt to earn income and guards who hunt to ensure safety.
If guards had to consider how to preserve materials while dealing with attacking demon beasts and monsters, they would not be able to do their job properly.
In any case, we eliminated the demon beasts that were likely destroying the fields.
So, it is fair to say that the objective of this adventure has been achieved.
All that remains is to return to the royal capital.
That is why I let my guard down a little.
I regret it.
During our camp at night, we encountered a suspicious group of four.
-0-
It was just after sunset. The surroundings were dark, but no one had gone to sleep yet.
We were in front of our camping tents, discussing the order of the night watch.
The thirty guards were nearby as well.
Since there were so many of us, there was not just one or two campfires.
There were seven around us alone.
All of those campfires went out at once.
Then came the sound of guards collapsing.
The princes fell as well.
Alfred-kun muttered that it was magic.
The only ones still standing were Alfred-kun, me, and the three noble young ladies.
Only those who had been close to Alfred-kun.
As for the guards… perhaps not all of them had fallen, but with the campfires extinguished, it was impossible to tell.
What we did know was that there were four unfamiliar, suspicious figures.
It was too dark to see clearly, only silhouettes.
Two men, two women… I think.
They were laughing in low, eerie voices.
Enemies.
I gripped my sword and shouted.
Any guards who can still move, secure the perimeter!
There may be more of them!
We have to stay alert.
But there is no need to panic.
If we buy time, the two hundred guards stationed farther away will come running.
All the campfires around the people they are assigned to protect have gone out.
They will notice something is wrong.
The noble young ladies should stay behind Alfred-kun or me.
They are probably stronger than I am, but that does not mean they should be on the front line.
…….
Huh?
Alfred-kun?
Shouldn’t you already be moving by now?
Why are you just standing there?
We should be polite and listen first…
At the Adventurers’ Guild, you punched people before they finished talking, didn’t you?
For now, get ready, get ready.
Grab your weapons.
Telling us to listen to what they have to say feels far too relaxed.
「Forgive us for this late visit… fufufu」
「We are weak against the light, you see. That is why we have come at such an hour」
「The reason we have come here is……」
「Wait. You have forgotten your introductions」
「That is right. It is only proper to give our names… fufufu」
「Tch. Go on, tell them」
「I will leave it to you」
「Haah… very well」
When one of them spoke, the four moved in unison and raised their respective weapons.
「Kaara of the Moonlit Night」
「Aswan the Pulverizer」
「Marcosias the Immovable」
「Neka of the Will-o’-the-Wisp」
「We are Luminous Butterflies. The Four Scythes of the Death God」
Then their eyes glowed red with an ominous light.
In the darkness, it made them look even more terrifying and grotesque.
Without thinking, I stepped forward to strike with my sword.
The distance… even the closest of them was about thirty paces away.
If they are magic users, charging straight at them would be a mistake.
If I move in from the right, Alfred-kun will match me and circle from the left.
First, we take one down…..
Alfred-kun grabbed my shoulder and stopped me.
Is it a trap?
…No?
If they introduced themselves, it is only proper for us to do the same?
That may be true, but still!
This is not the time for that!
I shouldn’t panic?
S-stand here and put on a fearless smile?
He even gives the noble young ladies instructions on where to stand.
This really is not the time for that…
Ignoring my concern, Alfred-kun let his cloak billow dramatically.
「Your courteous greeting is appreciated」
It is too dark to see what kind of pose he is making, though.
「Since you have given your names, it is only proper that I give mine. My name is Alfred. Alfred Machio. Born to a great father and mother, yet still an adventurer who has accomplished nothing….No, that sounds too grand. I am merely a pitiful lost child」
Alfred-kun glances at me.
Huh?
Is this my cue to introduce myself too?
U-um, I am Mikel.
After me, the noble young ladies gave their introductions as well.
Then silence.
……
What are the guards doing?
I told them to secure the perimeter, but are they completely ignoring this side?
And the guards stationed farther away.
Why have they not come yet?
The battle is about to begin.
Even though Alfred-kun worked so hard to buy us time.
-0-
The one who broke the silence was beside me.
It was Alfred-kun.
「I have a question」
「Oh my, what might that be? ……fufu」
The woman who called herself Kaara answered.
「Those red eyes of yours, how did you do that? Magic? Or a drug?」
Eyes?
The ones glowing ominously?
Alfred-kun?
Is that really what you are concerned about right now?
「Fufufu… I am glad you asked! Yes, it is a drug! Amazing, right?」
「Amazing! I want some! How can I get it!」
Alfred-kun?
「I cannot tell you so easily. This is a secret elixir among secret elixirs」
「If I join Luminous Butterflies, will you teach me!」
Alfred-kuuun!!
And you, Kaara, do not start thinking about it so seriously!
What is going on here?
Were we not about to fight?
「Mikel. Relax. They have no intention of being hostile」
Huh?
They do not?
「Indeed. If they intended harm, they would have attacked two days ago」
…….What?
「They have been staying close to us the entire time, watching」
They have?
I… did not notice at all.
「Since we were about to head back, I imagine they decided to speak to us」
W-wait.
Then what about the campfires being extinguished?
「A performance. To make their glowing eyes stand out」
And the spell that knocked down the guards and the princes?
「Also part of the performance. They did not cast it on those near me」
……………………
All right, I will accept that it was a performance, but why go that far?
「That is something we must ask them」
When Alfred-kun prompted Kaara and the others, they exchanged glances before one of them finally answered.
「W-we are shy… and it is a little embarrassing to step out in front of a large group」
It was an unbelievably stupid reason.
Light the campfires again!
-0-
Alfred 「SSSKKKIIIIIBBBBIIIIIDDDDIIIIIIIIII!! Infinite Aura! Absolute peak! The most lone-wolf Sigma to ever mog the Shadow Realm! I’ve got that Void Rizz! I’m the one the Darkness is literally simping for!! I’m the main character, Alfred! ALFREEEED… MACHIOOOOOOOO!! 」
-0-
Mikel「……」
Noble Ladies 「So cool!」
The Four「W-we lost……」
-0-
Alfred 「……This is not quite the direction I was aiming for」
Understanding Guard 「It feels like watching my nephew tiktoking」
Alfred 「I should think of a different greeting then」
