「Aaaaahh!! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!」Eliza
Early in the morning, what woke me up was neither the chirping of the bird nor the light from the morning sun, rather, it was Liz's scream of agony.
What a loud screamー Liz!
Fearing that something bad happened to Liz, I quickly jumped out of the bed and rushed as quickly as I could towards her room. On the way there, I met Yuna, also rushing towards Liz's room.
「Yuna, do you detect anyone?!」Grey
「No, only Liz.」Yuna
Crap! Is it someone who can bypass Yuna's 『Detection』?!
While thinking of such a thing, Yuna and I finally arrived at Liz's room, but...
「Grey-oniisama... Yuna-oneesama... Help me... It really hurts!」Liz
Liz pleaded to us with tears trickling down her face.
... rather than screaming because of fear, she was screaming because of muscle pains.
Ah... So it was just muscle pains...
When Yuna and I saw that spectacle, we were dumbfounded by it. After all, we were so scared that something happened but it turned out that it was just muscle pains.
Haah... At least she's safe...
「Alright, stay still...《Heal》.」Grey
Since Liz tried extra hard on yesterday's training, she ended up suffering from rapid mana exhaustion, and since it's her first time experiencing it, it must have been really painful.
Come to think of it, I also casted a lot of healing spells on Yuna on the first days of her training. As for my first days of training,I still haven't learnt healing magic at that time, so I just persisted through that hell.
Ahh... The old times...
「Th-thank you...」Eliza
Looks like the pain had subsided...
「Liz, now that you experienced the pain of suffering from rapid mana exhaustion. Are you still going to continue your quests with us?」Grey
Liz is a noble lady so she doesn't really need to undertake this kind of training. It would be understandable if she quits, but...
「Un! This pain is nothing... at... all...」Liz
... knowing her, she probably won't. Though, I can really feel her despair.
「Eliza-sama! Are you alright?!」Sebastian
And just after Liz steeled her resolve, Sebastian-san and the guards finally arrived at Liz's room to ensure her safety.
「Don't worry, it was just muscle pains.」Grey
「Oh... I... see...」Sebastian
After confirming the state of affairs, Sebastian-san ordered the guards to go back on their duties and leave the rest to him.
「Is Eliza-sama fine now?」Sebastian
「Yeah, I already applied healing magic on her.」Grey
「Thank goodness... Still, it's amazing how quick your responses are, Grey-sama, Yuna-sama.」Sebastian
「Well, that was because we thought Liz was in danger.」Grey
「It also helped that our rooms weren't that far away.」Yuna
「I see... Still, I'm really grateful. Also, Eliza-sama, you should apologize to Grey-sama and Yuna-sama for troubling them.」Sebastian
「I-I'm sorry!」Eliza
「Don't worry, Liz-chan, it's our job after all.」Yuna
Well, although my sleep was disturbed, I'm not really bothered by it, but it would be troubling for the servants if this continues happening everyday. We should find a solution for this.
Oh, right. Yuna can use healing magic too.
「Hey, Liz, for tonight, why don't you sleep together with Yuna.」Grey
「Hmm... Why all of the sudden?」Yuna
「Well, so that when this happens again, Liz can just ask you to heal her muscle pains.」Grey
「That makes sense...」Yuna
「Am I going to sleep together with Yuna-oneesama?!」Eliza
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After Yuna nodded to answer Liz's question, Liz jumped on the bed with excitement, contrary to how she was just a few moments ago.
And because she was so excited about the thought of sleeping together with Yuna, she monopolized Yuna and talked about what they should be doing before going to sleep.
Leaving me and Sebastian-san out.
Ah, I should probably ask Sebastian-san about "that" while I still have the chance.
「Sebastian-san, how did the interrogation go?」Grey
When I asked Sebastian-san about it, he didn't say anything, instead, he just silently shook his head.
「Although the guards did all they could, it was futile, the ambushers didn't say a single word to them. It seemed like they were experienced in that line of work. I'm terribly sorry.」Sebastian
「No, you don't have to. It's nobody's fault, we're just unlucky, that's all.」Grey
Haah... I doubt that there will be another chance where we can catch another group of ambushers. I just hope that we can solve this before we head back to Galderia, I don't want Liz to be in danger after all.
「Sebastian-san, the lord is calling for you.」
「I'll be there in a minute.」Sebastian
While I was worrying over Liz's safety, a maid conveyed a message from Fritz that he was looking for Sebastian-san.
「Well then, Grey-sama, I shall excuse myself.」Sebastian
After Sebastian-san bowed his head before us, he left silently with the maid and headed to Fritz's office. And since the two ladies were still busy inside their own world, I decided to go back to my room and prepare myself.
Minutes later, I helped Rhodes-san and the other chefs on preparing breakfast, we just cooked the usual but added some twists into it.
When it was time for breakfast, Yuna and Liz joined us, wherein they complained about me leaving them. And since I was hungry at that time, I just kept munching on my food and just ignored them.
Having had our breakfast, the three of us left the mansion and went to the adventurer's guild. When we arrived, we then headed straight to the H-rank quest board.
「Grey-oniisama, Yuna-oneesama, could we pick that one?」Eliza
Liz pointed to a quest made by a village just a few kilometers away from Moterno. The details of the quest tells about a goblin nest subjugation just a few hundred meters from the village, and the reward is 350 kiels.
Hmm... a monster nest, huh...
In most cases, monsters would spawn individually, as a group, or as a horde, where they will wander aimlessly and destroy anything on their path. But even though it's uncommon, monster nests may spawn in areas with high concentrations of mana.
Unlike wandering monsters, monsters from a nest wouldn't stray away from it, and will kill anything that enters the territory. Time after time, the nest will expand and the monsters inside it becomes stronger. That's why, it is of utmost priority to destroy a nest as soon as its existence is learnt of.
And the only way to stop a nest from expanding is to kill the nest's leader, which is usually a higher variant of the nest's occupants.
「But why would you pick this, Liz-chan?」Yuna
「Well, my father always says that as nobles, we must prioritize the safety of our subjects. That's why, I want to stop the monster nest from expanding before it can hurt the villagers.」Eliza
Although Liz is just ten-years-old, she is already being taught the duties of a noble. It must be hard being a noble.
「Grey.」Yuna
Yuna looked at me with eyes asking to fulfill Liz's request.
「Alright, alright, we'll be picking this one.」Grey
「Thank you, Grey-oniisama! Yuna-oneesama!」Eliza
「Alright, then I'll just process this quickly.」Grey
After I plucked out the quest from the quest board, I headed to the counter and took the quest officially.
We then headed to the village afterwards, and since it was a little far away, Liz once again rode in my back.
「Yaaay!!」Eliza
Even though I was running extremely fast, Liz was just enjoying herself to the fullest.
Haah... She really is fearless. Doesn't she realize that we're traveling almost two hundred kilometers per hour? She might bite her tongue if she's not careful.
Minutes after we departed from Moterno, we could already see the village's silhouette from the distance, and so, we slowed down to avoid scaring the villagers.
「W-Who goes there?!」Guard
We were about to enter the village when a guard stopped us in order to check our identities.
「We're adventurers from Moterno, here to fulfill the goblin nest subjugation quest you posted a few days ago.」Grey
「Ah... I see... Then I'll take you to the village chief.」Guard
Or so he said, but it was obvious that he was suspicious of us. No, rather than suspicion, it was more like he was worried if we can even complete the quest.
「Chief! The adventurers are here!」Guard
「Oh!」Chief
Shortly after the guard knocked on the chief's house, a scrawny elderly man came out and greeted us.
「Welcome, dear adventurers we're thankful... for... your...」Chief
But rather than a warm welcome, he welcomed us with despair in his eyes. Well, I couldn't really blame him since the ones who were in front of him are two youngsters who barely reached adulthood and a child who is just ten years old.
If I were in his position, I would also doubt the guild's judgement in sending us. But even so, it's still troublesome to deal with it, so I'll just do this...
「If you're doubting our identity, you can check these.」Grey
In order to clear their suspicions, Yuna and I handed them our guild cards. And their reactions were as expected.
「「W-We apologize for our rudeness!」」
Both the guard and the chief bowed their heads and apologized.
「Ah, please raise your heads. We're not bothered by it anyway.」Grey
「O-Of course...」Chief
「So, can you tell us the details of the quest?」Grey
「Oh, yes. But first, I would like to invite you to my humble home.」Chief
When we accepted the chief's invitation, the chief asked us to take a seat, and served us some drinks. After that, he started telling us the quest's details.
According to him, it all started a week ago. A group of villagers were about to head too deep in the woods to harvest some herbs like they usually do, but on the way there, they discovered a goblin nest. Other than posing as a threat, the nest also prevented them from harvesting necessary herbs.
About the nest, it was located about 700 meters north of the village, and the last time they checked, there were about 20 or so goblins with a hobgoblin as the nest's leader.
So far, no one has been hurt, and it would be best to keep it that way.
「Well then, we'll be going now.」Grey
「Are you taking this young lady with you?」Chief
「Yes. But don't worry, she can hold herself」Grey
「It's her training after all.」Yuna
「I... I see...」Chief
Having learnt the quest's details, we then headed to the quest's location. There, we saw a couple of primitive sheds being made, with 22 goblins in the vicinity, and a hobgoblin at the center of the nest.
Although a hobgoblin is a goblin's higher variant, it is still at H-rank. But even if they are at the same rank, the difference between a goblin and a hobgoblin's strength is vast. While a goblin is physically weaker than an average adult, a hobgoblin can take on multiple adults and still win. It's like comparing a scrawny person to a wrestling champion.
「Alright, just like yesterday, Liz will be the only one fighting. Yuna and I will defend Liz when it gets dangerous.」Grey
「「Un.」」
After I said the plan, Yuna and I then went to position, with me protecting the front and the left flank, and Yuna protecting the rear and right flank.
「《Water Blade》!」Eliza
When we were in position, Liz then fired a spell and hit a goblin right in the head. Although it didn't finish the goblin, it still received a large wound.
Noticing one of the goblins getting hit, the other goblins started searching for us. While they were doing that, Liz prepared to fire another attack.
「《Water Blade》!」Eliza
With a second attack hitting the same goblin in the same spot, the goblin fell to the ground and turned back into mana, only leaving a mana crystal behind.
「22 left. Keep going.」Yuna
「Un.《Water Blade》!」Eliza
Khieeeekkkkk
The third attack also hit another goblin successfully, but because of it, the hobgoblin found out about our position and ordered the goblins to attack us.
「《Water Blade》!《Water Blade》!《Water Blade》!《Water Blade》!」Eliza
Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit!
Before the goblins could reach us, Liz was able to take down three more goblins, reducing their numbers to 19. And seeing the disadvantage at casting spells in short range, Liz immediately unsheathed her sword and switched to close combat.
Khieeeekkk
「《Heavy Slash》!」Eliza
As a goblin tried to attack her, Liz released an art and decapitated its head. She then twisted her body to dodge another goblin's attacks and landed a counter-attack by bashing it's head with the back of her sword and delivering another art straight to its neck.
「《Heavy Slash》!」Eliza
While Liz was dealing with the ones attacking her, Yuna and I cut down the other goblins to not give her a hard time.
After a few seconds, all that was left was the Hobgoblin who was staring at us with eyes full of hatred.
I wanted Liz to do the job, but it looks like she was tired out by the constant casting of spells and execution of arts. She was already panting heavily.
Khieeekkkkk
「Shut up.《Water Blade》.」Grey
With a swipe of my finger, I sent a basic-level spell straight towards its neck and quickly ended his life.
「Looks like she's really exhausted, she's already falling asleep. Grey, let's head back to the guild.」Yuna
「Yeah, but let's inform the village chief first.」Grey
With me carrying the sleeping Liz on my back, Yuna and I returned to the village to inform the chief of the quest's completion. He tried to offer us lunch, but since we wanted Liz to rest in her bed as soon as possible, we declined it politely.
When we were back in Moterno, he headed to the mansion first to drop Liz off. After that, Yuna and I headed to the guild to process the guild's completion. But, while we were in the middle of the process...
「Grey-sama and Yuna-sama, there's a letter for you.」Receptionist
... one of the receptionists handed over a letter for us. The letter was well-made, and when I peeked inside, I saw a peculiar crest embedded on it.
「A letter? Who sent it?」Yuna
「It was given to us by a messenger, other than that, we have no clue who sent it. And as members of the adventurer's guild, we have to right to open it and confirm the sender.」Receptionist
「I see...」Grey
「Then, I'll be excusing myself.」Receptionist
「Ah, yes...」Grey
After the receptionist left, I opened the letter, and what was written inside was something I did not expect.
「What did it say?」Yuna
「It's an invitation for tea, but I doubt that it's as simple as that.」Grey
------
Dear Blizzard,
I would love to invite Count Grey-sama and Countess Yuna-sama into my humble abode to join me for an afternoon tea. If you would permit, my carriage will be waiting in the front of the Merchant Guild's building until the clock strikes three. It would be my greatest joy and pleasure if their excellencies fulfill this humble commoner's wish.
Yours truly,
Argas
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CHAPTER 34 END