—Eva of Nihil.
She was the third daughter of a clan called Nihil, and she had come to Central as one of the wandering clan who traveled about.
Having paid for her spot to sing in Central, she now told stories instead.
"An expedition force led by Norma arrives at Geoni Village, where a Griffon lurks! Thinking it was just a Hippogriff, she'd only brought a hundred subordinates!"
How many times was this now?
The prepared tin was filled with small copper coins, copper coins, and sometimes even large copper coins — a testament to how well the story was being received.
"The one who rose up, declaring they couldn't abandon Geoni Village, was none other than the expedition's leader — Norma herself!"
"That Norma...?"
"Sounds fake."
"But she actually brought back a Hippogriff."
"There was no Griffon, was there?"
Hearing this, Eva smiled and continued.
"The skilled adventurer who joined the Griffon hunt — as he tried to flee, Norma persuaded him! 'The Griffon you slew is yours! Pay me for it!' The adventurer, broken by Norma's earnest persuasion, promised cooperation and earned the right to purchase the Griffon for five hundred gold coins!"
Without an instrument of her own, Eva had asked a nearby bard to provide musical accompaniment.
She also shared her earnings with those around her, and the crowd never thinned.
(I didn't expect it to be this popular. As I thought, fresh stories really do matter!)
Pleased that people had come to listen, Eva donned her merchant's attire and continued telling her tale to those gathered around.
She would have preferred to deliver it through song, but the piece wasn't finished yet, so this was how it was done.
She had received payment from Novem, and had been told to share the details with the other bards as well.
Instead, what Eva had sought was the truth — and that was the whole point of it.
(A truth that only I know… I'll turn it into a song someday, just you wait!)
A large crowd had gathered around Eva as she told her tale with a smile.
Part of it was because the expedition force had returned, and once people learned the story was true, other bards who had heard Eva's account began retelling it themselves nearby.
As long as the rumors spread, that was all that mattered to Eva — no problem at all.
As the story approached its finale—
"And so the expedition force brought down the Griffon! Just around a hundred brave souls… you all saw them, didn't you? They are the heroes who slew the Griffon!"
When the expedition force had returned, a great many people had gathered just to catch a glimpse of them.
After the story ended—
"Hey, speaking of which, I heard or saw the group carrying the Griffon through the gate."
"That thing! So they really did take it down?"
"Norma? Even now I can't believe it."
Eva smiled.
"If you'd like to hear about individual heroes' stories, please come back tomorrow too!"
Today had only been a short session, but the earnings were several times her usual take.
The dispersing crowd left cheerfully, new topics of conversation in hand.
Eva paid the elven bard she had hired for the performance.
The two tall young elves said to her:
"You've got a nice voice. Are you going to work here again tomorrow?"
"We're leaving Central now, so… You were Eva of the Nihil clan, right? It was fun working with you."
She watched the two walk away with their instruments in hand, then turned to ponder what she should eat today with the reward she had earned ——.
——The Royal Palace.
Having submitted the expedition force's report, Norma wore a weary expression.
Her adjutant Clark was the same.
"I'm grateful for His Majesty's words of praise, but it was all dreadfully stiff."
Norma said this, yet she was grinning from ear to ear as she gazed at the medal she had received.
Clark saw that and let out a sigh.
He had received a medal as well, but he didn't seem able to rejoice in it honestly.
"What's wrong? Your promotion is assured. Could there be anything more? You're officially a Ten-Rider Captain now."
Clark spoke.
"I'm grateful for it. But an entire group receiving promotions like that — and on top of that, a knight was created, even if it's a one-generation honor and not hereditary. The annual pension alone is no small sum."
Norma said.
"That's the civil officials' business."
Clark said.
"Don't you think those very civil officials engineered this whole affair? Where do you think they'll get the money to pay all those people?"
Norma averted her gaze, clearly displeased.
Clark felt his mood sink, sensing something unpleasant coming.
(Pessimistic type. That's why he can't get ahead. But now I'm officially a Hundred Knight Captain… I've finally reclaimed this position.)
Norma had no parents.
Her mother, who had passed away when she was young.
Her father, killed in battle.
And as her family's standing was demoted and those around them drifted away, Norma was determined to restore their former rank for the sake of her young brother.
Even a single step could make all the difference.
To reclaim the glory they once had, to restore the family's honor—
That was what had driven her to claw her way up the ranks.
(Once I use the rewards to install my brother as heir, I can step back into an advisory role. My unpopularity, everything—anything that might stand in his way, I'll shoulder it all...)
The Arnett family would once again be recognized as a house of warriors— that was what Norma believed.
She resented the demotion of her family's rank.
Because her father, who had died in the line of duty, had been unjustly evaluated.
After joining the Knight Order, she had come to understand the full scope of those circumstances.
The Arnett family's rank had been lowered, and new houses had been created.
Moreover, they were robe nobles— second and third sons of titled families, set up to establish their own independent houses.
(His Majesty himself praised me. This time, I'll be the one taking things back.)
Seeing Norma's dark smile, Clark let out a sigh—
"...Why do I keep making the same mistake..."
Sitting on the inn bed hugging my knees, I was dealing with both stomach pain and emotional damage.
I hadn't wanted to see anyone since morning.
Ever since selling the Griffon to the merchant, I'd been moping around with a dark expression, staring into space.
When I heard a knock, I answered.
"Novem? Come in."
"Pardon me. Master Lyle, how is your stomach feeling?"
I'd eaten too much and my stomach hurt.
On top of that, I felt this heaviness in my gut.
Between that and the mental toll, I was probably wearing a pretty dark expression right now.
"...It's the worst, in every sense of the word."
"I-I see."
Novem seemed to grasp my condition, because she set down what she'd brought on the table.
"I prepared some soup, so please eat."
"...I don't want to."
I buried my face in my knees, and Novem picked up the bowl and spoon.
"Just eat a little, even if it's just a bit. I put in some herbs that help with overeating. Come on."
When Novem said "say ahh" with an open mouth, I opened mine and drank the soup.
It was easy to drink and tasted good.
"...If only you hadn't been in that kind of mood."
Hearing me say that with a bitter look, Novem gave a wry smile.
"Everyone has times like that."
"Not you though, Novem?"
When I said that, Novem —
"Well... my body just doesn't change much, so."
She said it so matter-of-factly that I sank even lower.
The Sixth Generation spoke up.
"Lyle, you're really such a pain. Everyone goes through something like this, more or less. Just get over it."
Then the Seventh Generation chimed in.
"That's right, Lyle. And the one saying that is the one who ran away from home, came back, and acted like nothing happened. Normally, you don't come back. And he did that with a straight face..."
The Fifth Generation joined in as well.
"That did happen, didn't it? Was that something I taught you?"
The Seventh Generation said.
"Yes. I heard it from Grandfather."
The Sixth Generation panicked. The memories of the Successive Heads only persisted up to the last point they were touched. They did not hold every memory right up to the moment of death.
"Don't bring that up!!"
The Sixth Generation, the runaway delinquent.
It would make a great story to tease someone with, but I've already been providing even better material, so there's nothing I can do about it.
I want to forget.
I want to pretend none of it ever happened.
"Come now, Lord Lyle... say ahh."
"Ahh."
I closed my lips around the spoon with a gulp and drank the soup.
The Fourth Generation said irritably.
"...Don't be making lovey-dovey eyes while you're moping."
Dinner time.
Swallowing my embarrassment, I headed down to the first floor of the inn and had a meal with everyone.
Monica, looking thoroughly dejected, fidgeted with her twin tails held in both hands.
She kept muttering something about how my collapse had been a huge shock, something about her own inadequacy, and on and on.
(Well, it's Monica, so I guess that's fine.)
Unlike yesterday, I was eating only a small portion. I addressed the group with my plan going forward.
"I'm planning to head to the free city of Baim from here. It's a city of adventurers, and there are plenty of merchants with a wide variety of goods. Once we've sorted our luggage, I intend to take a linked carriage. Any objections?"
Shannon seemed to think this didn't concern her and just kept eating.
Are you fine with this? I was thinking that when Miranda told Shannon to join the conversation.
"Hey, you participate too!"
"Stop hitting me! I'm listening, okay? Baim, right? The free city of Baim. Even I know that."
Rather than not belonging to any country, Baim functioned by deliberately not committing to any particular allegiance.
You could think of it as a small nation.
It had a port, conducted trade, and many adventurers and mercenary groups were stationed there.
Clara said:
"Baim has the Guild headquarters. However, since there are so many adventurers and mercenary groups as well, there are about four reception points. You probably won't need to go to headquarters, but apparently we need to figure out in advance which one we'll register at."
It was a city that couldn't produce its own food, but it purchased supplies from surrounding countries and lords.
It didn't share a border with Banseim, and the linked carriage would only take us as far as the border between Banseim and another country.
Aria said, while chewing on ham:
"The public safety is terrible there, right? One man among a bunch of women... aren't you worried about being targeted?"
I was about to tell the newly manly-looking Aria, "You'll be fine," but she glared at me, so I kept my mouth shut.
Novem said.
"The trip to Baim was already decided beforehand. We won't have many companions, but at this scale or larger, we'll need to cover maintenance costs as well. The risk of being targeted isn't zero, but I don't think adding a few more people would change things much."
When it came to money, our recent earnings had been going well.
After all, there had been a noble willing to pay five hundred gold coins for a Hippogriff.
As for the question of numbers, if we were going to take on more people, we'd need to arrange proper support.
We'd also need reserve personnel to rotate in during combat.
Clara said.
"Even setting aside their abilities, this party is rather unique, so bringing in men would be difficult. And even if we tried to recruit women, I don't think it would be easy to do in Central."
Aria had finished her meal and was now reaching for a drink.
"Can't we recruit somewhere else?"
Clara shook her head.
"There are a few small Guilds along the route to Baim. But most of the adventurers working there are the locally-rooted type, so that would be difficult too."
There were adventurers who thought locally, too.
Travel around, take on Dungeons, gather companions, venture forth again—
Not every adventurer was like that, though.
Miranda said.
"We'll need to sort through our luggage before heading to Baim. They probably have a better selection of goods there than here… Once we buy our tickets, we'll move to the border, and from there—"
Novem said.
"Rather than saying I looked into it, Eva told me that linked carriages operate in Banseim and Baim, but most places don't have them."
So we'd probably be traveling on foot.
Monica is revived.
"Then it's Porter's turn! Let me do a proper job on the modifications!"
Shannon says.
"So it's already decided? Ah..."
"What is it?"
Shannon looks like she wants to say something, and she's staring at me.
"There's something I've been meaning to ask."
"And that is?"
Shannon speaks to me.
"What exactly is this party's goal? Normally people have one, right? Like wanting to grow into a mercenary company, or building a reputation to serve some country, or something like that."
Hearing that, I fall silent.
Miranda says.
"...I never asked either, but there really isn't one?"
Aria says.
"W-well, I want to become a top-ranked adventurer! That's all I know."
Clara says.
"Well, it does seem like I can gain plenty of experience as a support member, and sticking with this party should let me build up all kinds of skills. Someday I'd like to open a bookshop."
Novem says.
"Lord Lyle's goal is to become a top-ranked adventurer and surround himself with as many women as possible. He's getting close to achieving that."
I cover my face with both hands, turning beet red all the way to my ears.
"It's not like that. I mean, I did say it, but I didn't think you'd take it seriously."
Monica looks at me, who is receiving cold stares from everyone around us.
"Don't worry, Chicken. I'll always be by your side. I'm not letting you go... I'm never letting you go, so you'd better brace yourself!"
I bonk the approaching Monica on the head.
"Don't suddenly get all hyper. It's creepy."
"...Tch, you're so impossible to get through to, it's annoying. This must be what they call a generation gap."
I thought to myself.
(She's saying something, but I'm pretty sure it's all wrong.)
Since the conversation had gone off track, I gathered my thoughts and summarized.
"So then, it's settled — we'll prepare for the trip to Baim. Let's rest and recover our energy for a while, and gather information about Baim."
Since no one raised any objections, I decided on the trip to Baim.
(Come to think of it, I've got some free time now, but how should I kill it?)
Even if I say "gather information," it's all for the purpose of going to Baim.
The current state of Baim, whether the route there is safe.
That's all there is to look into.
(Maybe I should find a hobby. And trying out some new things wouldn't be bad either.)
That's what I thought.