Published: September 9, 2025
Corrected typos on 9/15.
This time, it’s not from Satou’s perspective.
“What’s wrong, Kena? Looks like your gang’s grown quite a bit.”
“These guys are just extras. More importantly, I have a report.”
As soon as we reached the city, Kena went to talk to the gatekeepers about the strange occurrences we saw in the mountains.
We tried to sneak into the city quietly while we still could, but the other gatekeeper caught me easily and pinned me to the ground. Even though he was just stepping on my back, I couldn’t break free.
It’s been half a month since I last saw the city; couldn’t they be a bit kinder?
Reluctantly, I paid the city entry tax with a beautiful striped stone I found in a creek in the mountains. This kind of pebble can only be found deep in the mountains, so it’s worth something. Still, one small bag was only worth two copper coins, so Gadi and the others made fun of me.
“If you’re going to pay in kind, why not catch some beasts?”
“I told you before, without traps or bows, you can’t catch any beasts.”
“Why don’t you just throw stones with a catapult like Katabane?”
“That’s harder than it looks. I practiced before, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t hit the target.”
“Huh, it looked easy.”
“Exactly.”
While brushing dust off my chest plate, I chatted with the younger gatekeeper.
“Gadi, I’m heading over to the guardian’s place. You handle the message to the boss.”
“Got it.”
Kena and Ordo went with the older gatekeeper to the guardian’s mansion. The younger one closed the main gate as ordered by the elder, and for some reason, I was made to help.
“Make the next entry tax free, okay?”
“You idiot, this is a duty. If the city gets overrun by monsters, you don’t want that, right?”
“Yeah, I don’t want that.”
I somehow felt talked into it.
The other Demon Hunters were already gone, probably enjoying the city after half a month away.
◇
“Hey, why are you closing the main gate in the middle of the day?”
Leaning against the closed gate, I heard a carefree man’s voice.
Looking up, I saw a middle-aged man talking to the young gatekeeper.
Next to him stood a handsome man dressed like a knight, a female priest holding a pole that looked like a clothesline pole, and another woman in a robe holding a staff, probably in her twenties.
The middle-aged man carried a large greatsword on his back.
Could they be explorers?
“Actually, there have been hydras spotted in the nearby mountains—”
“Hydras, huh?! Those are tasty.”
“Hey, you got stomach pains for a week last time you ate one, and you’re still not scared?”
“This time Kyura’s here, so it’s fine.”
“Ugh, idiots who knowingly eat poison deserve whatever happens to them.”
What are these people talking about? Hydras are edible? Wait, they just said they’re poisonous.
“Boy, this man has a bad habit of ignoring his own level. Hydras are opponents that an entire army fights together. Don’t even think about taking one on alone.”
I nodded to the handsome man.
“Excuse me. Hmm, this is wonderfully made.”
“Huh? Let me see. The material’s just ordinary wolf skin, isn’t it? Hey, what’s this shell?”
“Ah, I think it’s from a Soldier Beetle or Assault Beetle, but I’ve never seen such exquisite craftsmanship. And they only used the thickest part of a single beetle’s carapace.”
“Yasaku, Tan, cut it out. The kid’s eyes are spinning.”
I was glad they praised my chest plate, but I wished the two of them wouldn’t crowd me like that.
“Was this made in this city?”
“Yeah, it was.”
“Then, could you introduce me to the armor craftsman?”
“Sorry, that’s impossible.”
“Is he a grumpy guy? If you introduce me, I’ll reward you handsomely.”
A reward? Money? Hmm, I want to help, but it’s impossible.
“Sorry, that person’s no longer in the city.”
“I see, that’s unfortunate. The Duke’s Capital lacks craftsmen who handle monster materials. I was looking for someone to repair my armor damaged in the martial arts tournament.”