After a three-day rest, "The Red Vow" came to the guild to take on another job as a hunter.
During the rest period, the Abbott Trading Company, known for its lowball offers, sent messengers several times asking to buy the Rock Lizards. Each time, they were turned away with the response, "The prices are below 60%, and we only have defective goods." When they offered 15 silver coins for the lizards, Pauline replied, "The guild is buying them for 20 coins, so we've already sold them there. If you had come earlier, we could have sold them to you for 15 coins, but it seems we missed our chance..." The merchant, grinding his teeth, left.
Ordinarily, a trading company would buy Rock Lizards for about 25 to 28 silver coins each and sell them for over 40 coins in total after dividing them by parts. Buying them for 15 coins would mean a profit of 25 silver coins per lizard, equivalent to 250,000 yen. Knowing that there were not just three but a large number of lizards, the merchant must have regretted it even more. It was his own fault.
Moreover, the sight of the guild selling a large number of Rock Lizards every week, which the merchant could not buy, would be quite a spectacle.
"Then, let's look for the next job."
Nodding at Lenna's words, everyone scanned the request board.
A few minutes later, one request caught Lenna's eye.
"Hmm..."
"What's wrong?"
Mile asked, seeing Lenna deep in thought.
"It's this request. The reward seems too good. There must be some reason behind it..."
"Escort Request. Round trip to Amros, 9 days total, with 1 day of free time in Amros. C-rank or higher, total of 12 members. Reward: 24 silver coins per person. B-rank and above receive a bonus."
An 8-day job with the risk of losing one's life, 24 silver coins per person, or 3 coins per day. It sounds cheap as a price for one's life.
However, it's not as if there's a battle every day. In fact, the possibility of nothing happening throughout the journey is much higher. If it were a route where attacks were frequent, the business wouldn't be viable.
However, the risk of being attacked by bandits without an escort is much higher, and even if the monsters are relatively safe for hunters to handle, they can cause damage to merchants and drivers. Therefore, it is common to hire guards according to the size of the caravan to avoid bandits and prepare for monsters.
However, the going rate is cheaper, around 2 silver coins per day.
"Let's check it out, shall we..."
Lenna walked to the reception, and Mile and the others hurriedly followed.
"Oh, that escort request, you mean..."
The receptionist, Leria, frowned slightly and answered Lenna's question.
"Actually, there's something on the road to Amros..."
"Is it a ghost?"
Mile, who interjected, was lightly hit on the head by Lenna.
"Don't say unnecessary things! So, what is it really?"
Lenna's face turned a bit pale.
(Eh? Could it be that Lenna...)
As Mile thought this, Leria continued.
"W-well, actually, there are... g-ghosts..."
"Ah! Ah!"
"They don't actually appear... Oh, I'm sorry!"
It seemed to be a light joke, but Leria quickly apologized when she saw Lenna and Pauline genuinely scared.
"It's bandits! There's a group that has recently come from another country, and they are a bit larger in number. That's why the reward has increased to attract more people. Merchants are avoiding that route now, so there aren't many carriages, and consequently, not many guards either...
The risk of being attacked is high, so I suggest you avoid it. The reward is only 50% higher, but the risk is several times higher, so it's not worth it."
After hearing Leria's explanation, Lenna and the others moved away from the reception counter.
Bandits usually don't operate in large groups.
If they do, they can't get enough profit from attacking a single carriage and have to attack larger caravans, which increases the risk of their own casualties.
If the damage to merchants becomes too great, it will hinder commercial activities, and the country or lord will have to take action, leading to the formation of a large-scale extermination team.
Therefore, bandits operate in small groups, widely and thinly.
They only attack those who are unlucky or try to save on guard fees. If properly prepared, it's almost safe. Bandits also tend to avoid tough opponents and target easier prey.
If attacked, one might be killed during the fight, but if they surrender, they are usually just stripped of their belongings and not harmed. If they are killed even after surrendering, the last resort is to set fire to the cargo, which increases the damage and reduces earnings.
The guards are told that "if you surrender, you won't be killed" to reduce mutual damage, and the merchants are told to "work hard and bring more carriages to be prey." Therefore, if the client consents and the guard leader decides to surrender, it is considered that the duty is fulfilled, and the guards receive their full reward without penalties.
"Let's take that one."
"Wh-what...?"
"If we let Mile wear cute clothes and sit on the driver's seat, it might attract other bandits too."
The three were surprised by Lenna's words.
"But, that request is dangerous..."
"Yeah, and the reward doesn't match the risk."
"Also, if we're gone for 9 days, the inn fees will be a waste..."
Pauline, Maevys, and Mile expressed their concerns, and Lenna raised her voice in anger.
"You guys said to leave it to me and take the escort job!"
"True, but we meant a normal request.
We will eventually take escort jobs, and it might be good to get used to it and gain some combat experience if the opportunity arises.
However, that request has a much higher risk of attack, a low reward, and a large number of bandits. There's no need to take on a dangerous and unprofitable job. There are other escort jobs, and there's no need to rush into a strange request."
"I agree..."
Maevys was followed by Pauline in opposing the idea.
"Also..."
Maevys continued.
"There will come a time when we have to kill someone. But it should be when it's unavoidable and we make the decision ourselves. Otherwise, we can't convince ourselves that 'I made the right decision and don't regret it.'
Lenna, are you taking that request to kill bandits rather than to fulfill the escort mission? Are you trying to force the 'first time to kill someone' on yourself instead of letting it come naturally? And..."
Maevys paused and continued.
"Making Mile wear cute clothes on the driver's seat, what's that about?
The first goal of guards is to deter bandits with their presence. Showing a girl instead of guards to invite attacks is dangerous. What if the carriage and cargo are damaged? What if the client, drivers, or other guards are hurt or killed? Why take such risks?
Also, if Mile is made to wear such clothes, she will have to fight without armor in her first combat against multiple bandits. Have you thought about that?"
Maevys threw the final question at Lenna, who was silently looking down.
"......Why are you in such a hurry, Lenna..."
Lenna remained silent for a few seconds, then suddenly turned and ran away.
"Lenna..."
The three members of "The Red Vow" stood still in a corner of the guild.
Lenna returned by dinner time.
Hunters, who rely on their bodies, don't skip meals, and eating elsewhere would be a breach of trust with the inn that gives them a discount. Lenna was particular about such things.
"......"
Lenna ate in silence, and Maevys spoke to her.
"Lenna..."
"......"
Lenna ignored Maevys and continued eating in silence.
"I've already taken that escort job. We're leaving in the morning, so don't oversleep."
Buh!
"Ah! It's dirty, Lenna!"
"My food!"
Mile and Maevys screamed. Pauline, for some reason, had already moved her plate to safety.
"But, you guys said you wouldn't take that job..."
"Hehe, that was a lie!"
Lenna glared at Mile, who quickly hid behind Maevys.
"No, I just raised questions and suggested reconsideration. I didn't say we wouldn't take it.
Since Lenna disappeared before reconsidering, the remaining three decided to take it. What's the problem with that?"
Maevys said nonchalantly, and Lenna glared at her.
"After all that criticism...
What about those questions?"
"It's fine. After considering everything, we concluded it's within acceptable limits."
"What does that mean!"
Lenna was about to protest, but a tap on her shoulder made her turn around. Lenny, smiling, handed her a bucket of water and a rag.
"Sorry..."
In the morning, after Lenna ran off from the guild, Mile and the others were at a loss.
It was clear that Lenna had some kind of fixation or issue.
However, it wasn't as simple as letting Lenna do as she pleased to satisfy her.
Doing so could lead the party in a dangerous direction, and failing to correct a teammate's mistakes would mean they weren't true "companions" or "The Red Vow."
After some thought, Maevys said:
"Let's gather more information about that request."
They went back to the reception and arranged to meet the client to get more details.
Fortunately, it was early in the day, and they had plenty of time.
"I see, so that's the situation... Then, can we do this?"
"Eh? Well, it would help, but is it okay for you to do that?"
"In return, we can do this..."
"Wh-what! But the budget..."
"But if we fail, it's all for nothing, right?"
"Ugh, that's a tough one..."
"How about this instead?"
"Wh-what! Can we really do that?"
"Yes, it's fine."
"If that's the case...
Then, since we've been waiting for the guards to gather, we can leave immediately. Is that okay?"
"No problem. We, 'The Red Vow,' are ready to go at any time."
By midday, a meeting was held in a guild conference room between two men and three girls, and they reached a satisfactory agreement.