I Said Make My Abilities Average! (LN) - Volume 4 - Chapter 31

Chapter 31:

To the Capital 

The Crimson Vow and the eighteen rescued humans made it safely through the forest and onto the main road leading to the regional capital. 

Though it was called the main road, it was a small country road, just wide enough for a single cart. Two carts couldn’t pass each other except in the designated pull-off spaces placed here and there for that specific purpose. 

Just as they had planned, the group didn’t stop in at the village at the edge of the woods. They no longer had to worry about the beastpeople’s retrieval team, but they had wasted more time than they anticipated on questioning, and if they stopped in town, it was unlikely they would make it to the capital before dark. Not a single person objected. 

“If only we’d had prisoners, if only we’d had prisoners , the reward would…” Pauline sighed. 

“Oh, be quiet,” the guard leader yelled. “I already told you, I’ll make sure they know you all did take prisoners, and we were the ones who decided to let them go! We got a bit of information, so we can use that as a bargaining chip to raise your reward a bit! That should be fine, right, Miss Guild Employee?!” 

Tiffy jolted. “Y-yes, I will give my endorsement as well!” 

The guard leader, worn down by Pauline’s incessant, obstinate complaints, finally snapped. He hoped the offer was more than a baseless promise. He wondered what might have happened if his opinion wasn’t well received and suddenly recalled Pauline’s gleeful face as she broke the beastmen’s legs. He shuddered. 

“By the way, Doctor, ” Mile suddenly began. Dr. Clairia looked her way. 

“Yes~?” Clairia replied. 

“D-do you happen to know a woman from the capital branch of the Hunter’s Guild named Theresa?” 

“Ah…” Clairia made an amused but slightly weary face. “I’m not sure how many times I’ve been asked this. A lot of people assume her to be an elf or half-elf because of her youthful appearance, but both her parents are completely human. Well, I mean, maybe there’s some elf blood somewhere way back in the family line and a recessive trait just reared its head. That’s not impossible. But, as far as I know, she’s a perfectly normal human.” 

“Whaaaaaaat?!” 

There was a cry of shock from not only the Crimson Vow, but Tiffy and the guard hunters, as well. Apparently, Theresa was well known around these parts. 

Tiffy was flabbergasted. “Since it’s a taboo in the guild to pester other hunters about their personal details, no one had the nerve to actually ask her. We all just assumed she was an elf or half-elf or something…” 

The secret to maintaining a youthful appearance was worth its weight in gold, especially for women. If it was just a matter of elven blood, the matter could be easily abandoned. But when it was a human who managed it, well, that was when jealousy arose. 

Apparently, they had stepped on a land mine. 

The city of Helmont wasn’t so far from the royal capital. The five days’ distance between them was considered “relatively short.” Plus, it was the capital; it wouldn’t be strange to see information be exchanged between guild employees. 

“That woman…” 

Growing frightened of Tiffy, who stared at the ground grumbling, Mile and the others hurriedly gave her some space. 

The party managed to arrive in Helmont before the sun set for the evening. They headed straight for the guildhall. 

A few hunters who saw them along the way rushed to the guildhall ahead of them, kicking up a fuss. They were likely acquaintances of Tiffy, the guards, or the other rescued hunters. 

When they finally arrived… 

“T-Tiffyyyyyyyyyyy!” 

The guild master, who had been waiting in front of the building, ran toward them, arms flung wide. His face was soaked with snot and tears. 

“Tiffyyy!” 

Before he could embrace her, Tiffy stepped aside. Half-blind from tears, he continued rushing forth and eventually wrapped his arms tight around Clairia. 

“Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!” 

*** 

“…And that’s the sum of it,” Mile concluded. 

The guild master gave an emphatic nod, both cheeks bright red and covered in stark scratch marks. 

It was intensely undignified. 

Mile was the one talking because this was their job completion report and she was the best-equipped to tell the story. When it came to most things, the others treated Mile’s mindset as somewhat unfortunate at best, but even they were aware that when it came to recalling and delivering facts, Mile was far superior to them. 

The investigation team would give their report once all matters with the Crimson Vow were settled and the girls had returned home. 

“After this, I’ll take the report from the investigation team,” the guild master explained. “Then I’ll send my report over to the lord’s estate. Compensation will be settled then, so please come back tomorrow. We can’t thank you girls enough, and we’ll never forget what you’ve done.” 

What he wished to say was, “Thank you for saving my daughter,” but now he spoke as the guild master. He had to be mindful of the ceremony expected of him. 

The Crimson Vow, recognizing this, nodded and left the conference room. 

“Guess it’s over.” 

“That’s the end of it.” 

The entire investigation team had been brought back alive, which was something the client probably hadn’t expected. They had also rescued nearly half of the other missing hunters (the rest had probably fallen victim to unruly monsters who had been forced from their territories, so bringing back half, safe and sound, was quite an achievement). 

It was an impressive, unexpected success. Even Mavis and Pauline couldn’t help grinning in satisfaction. 

“Now then, for dinner tonight,” Reina proposed. “Let’s pay them triple the rate and have them cook us up something special. Sound good?” 

“Yeah!!!” 

Reina’s proposal was unanimously well received. 

*** 

The next morning, the Crimson Vow headed for the guildhall right at the first morning bell. It went without saying that they were there to collect their payment. Once they collected what was owed, they planned to turn on the spot and head straight for home in the capital. 

When they reached the reception counter, the exchange proceeded normally.“Here is your reward for rescuing the investigation team,” the receptionist said while processing their payment, “your reward for uncovering the source of the change in the monsters’ habitats, and a bonus for rescuing Dr. Clairia. Plus, while it isn’t much, you’ve been awarded a bonus from the Hunters’ Benefit Society for rescuing those nine other hunters and an additional sum as thanks from the hunters themselves.” 

“You can give that last part back to the other hunters. I’m sure they’re in a bind after losing their gear,” said Reina, to which Pauline nodded in agreement. 

Seeing Pauline, the group miser, go along with this, had Mile reeling in shock. 

Wh-what is going on?! They say that the only thing that would get TV Tokyo to interrupt its usual broadcast for a special report would be the end of the world, but this is way bigger than that!!! 

TV Tokyo was a remarkable television station that, even on the brink of the Gulf War or impending natural disasters, had perpetually refused to deviate from its scheduled programming. Also known as the western SUN-TV or East TV Tokyo, they were pioneers—nay, heroes —in the world of television, the pride of Japan. In her previous life, Mile had been a firm devotee. 

“No, that won’t do,” the receptionist explained. “If we make an exception here, others will start hesitating to pay the reward, citing you all as an example. If that happens, you’ll start seeing all sorts of absurd situations, such as people refusing to save others when they figure out that the victims have no intention of paying a reward or delaying helping until payment is confirmed…” 

Reina looked a little taken aback, but understood. “Well, guess we better take it then.” 

“Including your compensation for releasing the prisoners you took on the investigation team’s orders, and the reward for the intelligence you gathered, this is the final amount.” 

The receptionist placed a leather sack atop the counter with a resounding thud . 

“Whooooooaaa!!!” 

The four of them shouted in shock, their eyes wide. The reward was far greater than they had expected. There couldn’t just be silver or copper pieces inside. 

“The guild master requested you stop by his office, as there’s something he’d like to discuss with you. So, if you all would,” the receptionist directed. 

Thinking the guild master wanted to give them an additional reward for saving his daughter, or that he wanted to discuss the particulars of their payment, the four proceeded to his office with a spring in their steps. When they entered the room, the guild master and Dr. Clairia greeted them. 

“We’d like you all to go back to the beastmen’s camp,” the guild master said without introduction. “It’s a direct request from our lord.” 

“Huhh???” 

The four of them stood there, shocked at the sudden request. The guild master continued. 

“We sent a messenger out to the Capital this morning with a report. A forward rider went ahead as a herald, with a messenger behind them in a carriage. The lord’s own subordinates, along with the entire investigation team outside of Dr. Clairia, will be traveling with them.” 

“But the escort party’s weapons…” Mile started. 

“The guild lent them some free of charge. They might be returned once they get back.” 

“Oh, I see…” Mile was relieved at the guild master’s reply. 

To prevent the spread of information, it was reasonable to take the rescued hunters along as both witnesses and guards. Plus, this would help the hunters, whose very livelihood was threatened without their gear. More likely than not, it had been ordered by the guild master, who would have considered that. Although having to return the weapons once they came back was probably quite the bummer. 

“Should you make an enemy of the beastpeople, or should the beastpeople begin moving in any sort of organized fashion, and things go sour, there’s a chance relations between us will deteriorate as a whole. In the worst case, we may return to a state of public enmity with the beastpeople. You understand this, yes?” 

The four of them nodded. 

“We cannot prompt the lord of this region to make any careless decisions. Not without approval from the Crown… However, we also can’t afford to overlook the mysterious activities of these beastpeople who have invaded our territory. Bringing an envoy from the capital would be an empty gambit, and without knowing their intentions, there’s no telling what they will do next. Also…” 

“Also?” 

“The lord desires whatever treasures they may have unearthed.” 

“Ah…” 

The four understood exactly what was going on.