One More Thing, Just To Ask

The next day. Leaving Aria’s house while she still hadn’t returned, Kikori headed for the Hero Gate.

Maybe because of yesterday’s uproar, the merchants doing business in front of the gate today were… the same as always.

No—was there even more heat in the air than usual?

“Come on, come on—if we’re talking about what’s hot right now, it’s axes! The reliable destructive power when you need it in a pinch! You won’t regret having one!”

“How about this axe! Thick and solid, isn’t it!? Now’s the time to buy!”

He could see they were pushing axes for some reason… and it felt a little too on the nose.

Still… Kikori understood all too well that it was obviously because of what he and Aria had done yesterday.

They’d gone on a rampage, even using War Cry. It wouldn’t be strange for word to spread from the guards, and the adventurers who had joined the mop-up operation yesterday would have understood the pair’s results.

…Well, he wasn’t sure whether that actually translated into sales, but seeing adventurers seriously looking over axes, maybe they really were selling a bit.

“Oh, Kikori!”

As that was happening, Kuon—who had been near the gate—spotted Kikori and ran over.

“Sounds like you went wild yesterday! Man, that’s awesome. I wish I could’ve joined!”

“It wasn’t that great.”

“Really? Well, maybe.”

“It wasn’t. And besides…”

Kikori scanned the area and sensed more than a few eyes on him.

“Honestly, if people start thinking I’M the amazing one… that’s a problem.”

“Let them think it. Adventuring is image-based business too, you know?”

Since Kikori could understand part of what Kuon meant, all he could do was answer, “Yeah.”

Better to be seen as strong than weak—there would probably be more work offers that way.

“Anyway, putting that aside… what’s it like in the forest? Have the normal monsters come back?”

“Nope, not at all. Survival for the scouting team looks hopeless… and more than that, there’s a chance things have gotten really bad.”

“I can imagine, but… how bad?”

“The existence of an individual that can command hobgoblins.”

“So it’s not that the Big Goblin is doing it.”

“If it were, this would be easy.”

But Kuon said it probably wasn’t.

“So look—see how a lot of people have more baggage today?”

“Hm… yeah.”

Sure enough, some parties had someone accompanying them with a large pack, and there were adventurers shouldering big bags as well.

“They’re planning to go deeper and find the commander. If you take it down, the reward is huge, and your adventurer rank will definitely go up. If you’re confident in your strength, it’s a good option.”

“Just to be sure—”

“I don’t want to die.”

“I’m relieved. Neither do I.”