The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick up Trash - Volume 4 - Chapter 173

Chapter 173:

All Sorts of Problems

As Druid and I walked back to the plaza, I kept getting a nagging feeling that I wanted to ask him something…but what was it? Everything had been so hectic that day that I’d completely forgotten.

“Something troubling you, Ivy?”

“There was something I didn’t understand and wanted to ask you about, but I forgot what it was.”

“Huh. I wonder what it could be?” Druid joined me in my puzzlement.

“I’m not sure… Oh! Yes, it’s about all those migrants coming in from the neighboring village. Why are they doing that?”

“Oh, that. There was a power struggle in their village.”

A power struggle? Do villages even have power struggles?

“Whenever a village chief has more than one child, there often are disputes when the chief dies. And when it’s a feudal lord, those disputes can get pretty bloody.”

Aha. Maybe if the villagers could elect the people they like to be chiefs or lords, something good could come of that.

“So did the people who lost in the power struggle move here?”

“No, the ones who didn’t want any part in that mess fled the village and came here. I hear it got pretty violent.”

Wow. I didn’t know there were villages like that. It’s amazing how traveling lets you hear about all kinds of village disputes and scandals.

“I guess villages have their fair share of problems,” I said.

“Well, it’s inevitable when you gather a group of people together. The biggest problems come up when a feudal lord and village chief swap places. Their disputes over the line of succession spread all the way out through the entire town.”

“I always thought it was the eldest son or daughter who succeeded.”

“In most cases, that’s how it works. But power corrupts, after all. And sometimes the people on the edges get stirred up by it. The next-biggest problem after that is when a new specialty product is invented. Disputes over the patent are motivated by money.”

Money disputes, patent disputes… Past Me was in tune with these phrases. I guess that means you’ll find those types of disputes in every world.

“Oh, right! Did I give you the guild master’s message?” Druid asked.

“No, sir.”

“Sorry about that. Anyway, he says he’s sorry for the wait; he’ll be ready about three days from now.”

“Ready? Ready for what?” I’m not waiting for anything from the guild master…am I?

“Your gratuity. Did you forget?”

Oh! I was gonna get that. I completely forgot.

“Now I remember. For clearing out the gurbars, right?”

“Right. Twice, in fact.”

Ahaha, oh yeah. Ciel hunted up a bunch of gurbars twice.

“Ciel sure was magnificent. So agile and light.” I imagined the scene of Ciel hunting. The adandara’s movements were so smooth and precise.

“Yeah, I was amazed when I saw it hunt.”

We reminisced about Ciel’s magnificence as we walked the rest of the way back to the plaza. We arrived at the tent and…huh? Did I invite Druid over for dinner today? Well, it’s not a problem that he’s here. I can just make something simple.

“Oh!”

“What’s wrong, sir?”

Druid looks troubled. Is something wrong?

“Oh, no, Ivy. I just realized I came back to your tent without meaning to.”

Come to think of it…this isn’t the first time this has happened.

“This reminds me of the day we met. Would you like to stay for dinner? I can make something quick and simple.”

“Oh, I couldn’t. I don’t want to impose so many days in a row.”

“It’s just as easy for me to cook for two.”

Druid hummed as he fell deep into thought. It didn’t seem so complicated to me.

“That’s it! I’ve got an idea, Ivy.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Want to go out for dinner tonight? At the food carts. My treat. You know…to thank you,” Druid trailed off, his cheeks a light pink.

When I saw that silly look—er, I mean, that look on his face I’d definitely never seen before—I was a bit startled. I wondered what he could possibly mean by ‘thanking me,’ but nothing came to mind.

“For helping me with my parents.”

Oh, for helping him patch things up with them? That must be it. But they weren’t exactly enemies before. Their relationship would have repaired itself over time anyway.

“You helped me be myself in front of my parents for the first time in a long time.”

Well, he does have a point. When he first set foot in his father’s shop, he looked so…pfft!

“Ivy.”

“Ha ha ha! Sorry, sir. Yes, you and your father both act the same way to cover your nervousness.”

“Huh? Do we?”

“Yes, you do. I was really surprised when I first saw it.”

Druid appeared startled by what I’d said. Didn’t he know about that?

“Like father, like son. Eh, sir?”

Druid did say that he deeply respected his father. He must have watched him closely since he was a child, copying his every move without even thinking.

“Huh…how about that… Like father, like son…” Druid covered his mouth, but I could still see the smile in his eyes. I was really proud when he smiled like that. It felt so good to help people.

“Okay, I’m gonna buy you a delicious feast.”

“Ha ha ha. Oh, do you suppose the food carts have enough ingredients right now?”

“That’s a good question. I wasn’t thinking—I just assumed everything would be okay without any proof.”

Well, most people don’t develop a sense of impending danger if everything around them looks normal.

“Why don’t we keep an eye out while we walk around the food carts, sir?”

“That’s a good idea. And if you see anything you want to eat, don’t hesitate to tell me.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

I slipped inside my tent to check in on Sora and Flame and ask if they wanted to come with us to the food carts.

“Hey, we’re going to the food carts! Would you like to come with us? Or you could stay in the tent. Um, if you want to come with us, give me a wiggle together. If you want to stay in the tent, stay still. Okay?”

The two slimes wiggled in unison as they looked up at me. They both wanted to come along.

“Thanks, Flame, thanks, Sora. You’re both so kind.”

I lightly patted their heads, and the way they happily wiggled in reply was so adorable that a smile filled my face. After getting my cuteness fix, I gently put the slimes into their bag, slung it over my shoulder, and left the tent.

We talked about food as we walked along the street that led to the food carts. Druid recommended a soup that had a bunch of meat in it.

“All right, sir, let’s go to that food cart.”

“Sounds good.”

Once on the main road, we could see the food carts in the distance…and we could tell something was wrong. The air was dead.

“And the shortage rears its ugly head.”

“Looks like it, sir.”

As my eyes passed over the row of food carts, I noticed a few of them were closed. They probably had to close shop because their ingredients were either too expensive or not available at all.

“Even if we get everyone to eat rice, the problem’s never really going to go away until we do something about the gurbars. They’re what’s causing it.”

“You’re probably right,” Druid said with a heavy sigh. According to the plaza grapevine, the veteran adventurers hadn’t returned as scheduled, and many of their comrades were worried that something had happened to them. I remembered three teams of veteran adventurers had gone deep into the forest to scout the gurbars. I really hoped they would come back in one piece.

“Well, hullo there, Druid.”

I glanced over at the owner of the voice and saw a rather brawny old man. I felt Druid shiver next to me at the sound of the voice. I glanced at him curiously, and for some reason he had a forced smile on his face.

“Hey, aren’t ya happy to see your mentor? It’s been ages.”

“Uh, yes. Glad to see you’re looking well.”

Aha. So that’s Druid’s mentor. The old man grinned at the uncomfortable look on Druid’s face. Oh dear, Druid. You look so stiff. Things were so tense that I almost offered Druid my condolences.