Chapter 60 – Bandit Subjugation (Part 2)
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Translator: SFBaka
Editor: Thor’s Stone
Everyone started to move around the place in a hurry. I also moved along and went over to the carriage in order to unharness Tarth and Syrah.
“Sharon, Selena, I’m sorry but can you two secure our dinner for tonight? The river looks shallow so I don’t think there would be fish to catch,” Alan instructed.
“Roger.”
“Understood.”
“Alan, shall I also hunt some game for dinner?”
“It’s fine, Cleria. It looks like everyone is already anxious to share their stories with you. Just stay here and keep them company.”
I suppose I shall do as Alan says. Sharon and Selena took up their rifles and slung them over their backs. They then climbed on Tarth and Syrah and rode away to hunt.
“Would they truly be alright on their own, Your Highness? They look like delicate and fair maidens.”
“Fufu. Sharon and Selena aren’t the delicate maidens you think them to be, Dalshim. In terms of martial arts skills, they may be the strongest among all of us. They are even more skilled than Alan in martial arts after all.”
“More skilled than Alan-sama!? My word…”
“I’ll have them spar with you all next time.”
Alan started making those earthen toilets he created last time with his Earth magic spells. A crowd quickly formed around him.
“Your Highness, that is–!?”
“He’s making toilets for us. They are quite splendid by the way.”
“How truly amazing! I have witnessed the court mages create simple walls made of earth before as well, but I have never seen them make structures that are so elaborate.”
Alan made three toilets for the men and one toilet for the women in less than twenty minutes. He then started explaining how to use them to everyone. It looks like he wasn’t going to put up earthen huts this time. Perhaps it’s because he may be able to create enough for the party, but not for the rest of the knights. That’s so like Alan.
Alan then went over to our carriage and brought out a large metal plate. It was a flat board with a length of more than one meter and a height of 80 centimeters. It was my first time seeing it.
“What is that, Alan?”
“I had the blacksmith workshop make it for me. We’re going to use this to roast meat.”
Alan then made an earthen stove to place the metal plate on using magic and started gathering firewood afterward. Gathering firewood would pose no problem since there were a lot of dried twigs and branches scattered around the riverbank.
After a while more, Sharon and Selena returned with their catch. Two Big Boars that looked to be at least 50 kilos each were pulled by Tarth and Syrah via rope. Selena and Sharon also held one Big Bird each. As expected, the two of them really were quite capable.
“Amazing! To think that they managed to catch this much in such a short time. You lot, hurry up and help the ladies with the game and prepare for butchering them!”
“”Yes!””
A group of twenty knights received the hunted game and started butchering them. Alan instructed them on how to properly cut the meat.
Flames blossomed on the bottom of the stove and the preparations for grilling the meat was finally done. Everyone then gathered around the stove. Everyone probably had not eaten a satisfying meal since they started traveling on the road. I have truly troubled them.
“Cleria, it’s a bit early, but how about having dinner now?”
“Everyone! I’m sure we have plenty to discuss, but for now, let us have dinner first!”
“”Yes!””
Alan selected two of the knights as helpers and gave them metal spatulas. He then started grilling the meat along with them. They used a simple combination of salt and pepper as the flavoring. Perhaps due to the high heat of the flames, the first batch of grilled meat was done in no time. I see. So that iron plate will allow a large amount of meat to be grilled at the same time. The grilled meat slices were placed onto a large plate. There were quite a number of tableware placed right beside the plate for everyone to use.
“Please go ahead and sit, Your Highness.”
The knights set up some foldable chairs and had me, Dalshim, and Elna sit on them. They then gave each of us a serving of grilled meat slices. There was a combination of thin Big Boar and Black Bird slices on the plate.
The flavoring was simple but delicious. Somehow, I felt that the meat was even more delicious than the meals that restaurants served. No, perhaps it’s the presence of everyone here eating happily that has made me feel this way.
“Go ahead and eat as well, Dalshim. The meat is very delicious.”
“If you’ll excuse me then, Your Highness.”
Dalshim brought a piece of meat to his mouth and ate it. After about an hour, everyone seems to have eaten their fill. Since it was already dark, the illumination magic tools were brought out, and several bonfires were also lit around the camp.
Everyone then sat down with me in the center.
“I want to hear your report first. What is the situation of our comrades who have scattered throughout the land and went into hiding?”
“Yes. They are doing fine for now. There have been no reports of deserters until now, so I believe they are doing well for themselves.”
The one who answered was the current representative of my late uncle’s private troops, Walter.
“I see. But I am more concerned about their families. I’m sure there were also a lot of families that have lost their breadwinners as a result of the coup. What about them? How are they doing now?”
“Roberto-sama has distributed the money he received from Your Highness as fairly as he could.”
“I shall be direct in asking then. Was the money we sent enough or was it still lacking?”
“……Unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough.”
“…As I thought. Well then, that means we have to do our absolute best from now on. We have already managed to earn at least a million Guineas during our stay here. Once we return to Gantz, we will send the money to them immediately. Will that be alright with you, Alan?”
“Of course.”
“You are saying you managed to earn a million Guineas in such a short period, Your Highness?”
“It was mostly Alan who earned the money though.”
“Wait, that’s not right. We earned the money as a party, okay?”
“…Yes. That we did. Is there anything else of import you wish to tell me?”
“The taxes in Starveek Kingdom have dramatically risen since the change in regime and the people are becoming increasingly dissatisfied.”
“Ah, we have also heard about that as well. It’s all the more reason to retake our kingdom as soon as we can. Anything else?”
“…Nothing else of import, Your Highness.”
“Alright then. I will now relay our progress during our stay in Gantz to you all. However, we have not undertaken requests as adventurers in Gantz all that much as of now. But we have managed to secure a Home for our new Clan and improved our magic skills.”
“Your Highness, the Home that you speak of is like our main base, correct? We thank you dearly for doing so much for our sake. How many people can the new Home accommodate?”
“The number of rooms can accommodate a total of 120 people if I remember correctly.”
Come to think of it, it actually seems that Alan somehow knew how many people were coming over in advance. But perhaps I am just overthinking things.
“…Then all of us will be able to stay in the new Home?”
“That’s how it is.”
“That is wonderful! I was actually thinking of booking rooms at several cheap inns once we arrive, but now we don’t have to. However, wouldn’t such a big building cost a lot of money to rent?”
“Do not worry. Alan has negotiated with the guild chief of the Commerce Guild and secured a discounted price for us.”
“Oh! As expected of Alan-sama!”
“And that’s not all. Alan also managed to negotiate for profitable designated quests from the Commerce Guild. This bandit subjugation quest is one of them.”
“Oh! However, isn’t it reckless to attempt the subjugation of an entire band of low-lives with just the five of you, Your Highness?”
“I understand why you would feel that way, but a mere thirty or so bandits are not a problem for our party whatsoever.”
“Thirty!? Did you just say thirty, Your Highness?”
Everyone started getting restless.
“This is information Alan has scouted in advance. We will proceed to subdue those thirty bandits tomorrow.”
“Uh, Cleria, I’m sorry. It actually seems that there are thirty-five bandits.”
“I see. Well, thirty-five it is then.”
Everyone started getting even more restless.
“What do you think, Dame Norian?”
Dalshim turned toward Elna and asked in an imploring tone. It’s not as if I do not understand what Dalshim was trying to say. If you think about it under normal circumstances, he truly had a point. However, our party, Shining Star, with Alan leading us, can surely do it.
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