Chapter 51: Bistole, City of Demihumans

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/52/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

The day after I clung crying to Liza.
I go to the guild as usual, and Liza with a somehow troubled smile and Glad with a wrinkle between his brows greet me.

Uwah. Nothing but a bad feeling.
But I can’t not hear this, right?

“…What, what’s up?”
“Ah, Ouka. We’ve got a bit of a problem.”
“I can tell looking at you. I’ll listen, if it’s just listening.”
“Then we’ll go to the room. Liza, I’ll leave the rest.”

Shown into Glad’s room, Kanon is waiting inside.
She has a troubled smile too.

Uwaa. The bad feeling just got worse.

“Good morning. I have an insanely bad feeling, though.”
“Ouka, good morning. That feeling is correct.”

Stop. Don’t confirm it. Please.

“You know Bistole, west of the capital?”
“Umm. The demihuman city, right? I’ve never been.”

The demihuman city Bistole. A city where all sorts of peoples mix, cat demihumans like Ellie, wolf-type demihumans, and so on.
Known for a unique culture and as a producer of all kinds of spices.
Also known as fluff heaven.

“Yeah, a request for aid came from the guild there.”
“…Haa. That so.”
“Seems remnants of the Demon King army have set up a castle, but… we don’t have a skilled adventurer who can head that way right now.”
“Eh, why? I mean, isn’t that important?”

Remnants of the Demon King army… isn’t that a pretty bad story?
And no adventurers, what’s going on?

“Bad timing; they’re doing the regular dungeon subjugation around Asura.”
“Older brother and the others have gone that way as well… right now only Kyousuke and I are at the royal castle.”

Uwao. I shouldn’t have asked.
Meaning a friendly city is in trouble and they’re short on people.
I see? The nasty feeling is coming bishi bashi.

“Fortunately there hasn’t been much damage yet, but apparently they declared war from that side.”
“Uwah… what, another war?”
“No, probably just a skirmish, but damage won’t be avoided.”
“Bistole is an allied nation, so we want to help, but if we send troops carelessly our own defenses become a problem.”

Both of them are staring at me with very apologetic faces.
Ah, well. I mostly get the talk.

“Meaning, see. Besides a Hero, we have to send someone who can put up the same results as an army solo.”
“Yes. And here, there happens to be someone with a record of going one-on-one with our country’s knight order.”

I see. All right. I get what you want to say.
I get it, but.

“…But that, I’ll stand out like crazy, right?”
“I’ll be honest. As long as it’s aid to an allied nation, standing out can’t be avoided. If we send you as the army, it goes to the king too.”

Ah. Yeah. Arei told me to avoid standing out.
Nn? Wait, though…?

“…Just for example, a certain adventurer happens to go to Bistole for fun and smashes the Demon King faction or whatever?”
“No problem with that, but… you won’t get any aid or pay from the country, you know?”
“Nah, that’s fine. There are people in trouble, and if I’m the only one who can help, I have to do it.”

Pay, if someone says “thank you,” that’s enough.
No, frankly it’s pretty scary.
But they said I’m the only one who can.
After that I just pray I don’t become a wanted person myself.
Uwaa. Thinking of it that way, this is a pretty dangerous story. Worst case, I make an enemy of the kingdom.

…Whatever. When that time comes, that time.
If it’s Sister Naria, she’ll manage the church people somehow. If it’s just me, I’ll work it out.
And doing nothing when I’m told people are in trouble goes against my principles.

If someone is in trouble, help within what you can.
The people you helped help other people in trouble.
That’s how the world turns, Sister Naria raised me hearing.

That’s a way of living carved into my roots.
And at the same time, the way of living of the person I looked up to.
Then there’s no reason not to go.

“Then I’ll go to Bistole as one adventurer. If something happens over there, that’s on me.”
“…Sorry. The guildmaster in Bistole is an old acquaintance. They should know if you give my name.”
“Ouka. This should have been a case we handled… I’m truly sorry we’ve relied on you.”
“Please don’t worry. Glad, you treat me to a meal next time.”

When I say that, the kind man with a villain’s face puts on a nikari, villainous-looking smile.

○○○○○○○○

I buy ingredients on the main street, go back to my room, and make a few days’ worth of food.
After that I stuff it all in the item box together with the stuff in the room, prep complete.

Man, this is seriously convenient. Anything but living things goes in.
I don’t know why, but if you put in hot food it stays hot. What were all my hardships until now.
I can’t thank Liza enough for telling me.

Still, Bistole, huh.
I’ve wanted to go for a long time, but I thought it was too far.
A city where demihumans like beasts live. A fluffy city. Truly a fluff paradise.

…I’m not going to suddenly fluff strangers, though.
But if I make acquaintances, maybe a chance?
The capital doesn’t have many cats, and the ones there are wary, so I had no chance to fluff; the frustration had piled up.

Of course the main thing is reinforcement, so it isn’t a pleasure trip.
…When it’s over, sightseeing a bit is fine, right?