Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.
TL:SummerPeanut
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I and Clarice are heading for Irgusia together on a horse-drawn carriage.
By the way, the distance from Grantham to Irgusia is about 2,000 km.
Basically, it is a round-trip in a straight line from Tokyo to Kagoshima.
Since Clarice is going with me, it would be better to take a horse-drawn carriage because of the additional luggage.
However, there is no one else to ride the horse. I'm so glad I learned how to ride a horse.
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“I think Count Beetle must have thought a lot before asking father and mother to entrust me with you.”
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Clarice spoke to me from the carriage.
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“Yup.”
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“I've already publicly revealed that I can use Holy magic, haven't I? This is a lot more dangerous than I initially thought apparently. He told us that such magic users are traded at a ridiculous price by the higher ranking nobles and demons*1 so as long as I remain in Grantham, there is a high possibility of a kidnapping case occurring…the residents who are there now are all good people but there will definitely be people who will try to kidnap me in the future…and that if I am kidnapped by bad adventurers, it is likely to be much worse...”
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“Yup.”
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“But you know what? Even if it’s you we’re talking about, Mars, don’t you think it’s outrageous to send a six-year-old girl to a hostile country? I think that's why the Earl has made the Lampards a baron house.”
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“What do you mean?”
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“I heard that the treatment of prisoners of war differs between commoners and nobles in case someone with malicious intent finds out that I am from an enemy country and takes me in as a prisoner. I’m not sure about the details but a noble from an enemy country will definitely not receive any dubious treatments. They don't suddenly turn into slaves or anything like that. But that’s assuming that they do not know that I can use Holy magic.
Besides that, the Count delivered your letter to Mars’s parents via his fast horse, right? In that letter, you see, the Count himself wrote to them asking for their cooperation if I were to accompany you. That the girl accompanying you…is uhm…”
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“Oh, I kind of get it......”
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Count Beetle must have been very concerned about us. Also, Clarice must be feeling anxious. Going alone to a hostile country, what if she isn’t accepted by me, my family, and Irgusia’s citizens, what if we have arguments…she lacks her usual vigor as she said this.
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“Listen to me, Clarice. I will never let Clarice become a prisoner of the Balkus Kingdom.
Besides, it was very painful for me to not see Clarice for a week after we conquered the labyrinth.
I thought that you were avoiding me one way or another, that maybe you hated me.”
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“There’s no such…”
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“I know, I know. But I was worried. I took being together with you for granted as long as I stay in Grantham and then I suddenly lost sight of you right after conquering the labyrinth.
I felt like my heart broke...”
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…so I just realized something right after saying that! This is just like a confession!
I can feel my face getting hot. It's not just my face, it's like sweat is pouring out of my body.
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“I'm sorry. I was thinking about a lot of things and had been struggling just to take care of myself...
That the time with my father and mother, 3 of us, is about to end so…”
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I’m glad that she ignored it. Or maybe she didn’t notice?
Luckily Clarice is in the carriage and I'm on horseback, so she can't see my face.
Either way, I vow I will protect Clarice who came to Irgusia alone.
At the very least until she turns 15.
If she is not accepted by my family and the residents, I am prepared to leave home.
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My journey with Clarice was going well.
There were several reasons for that but one is that Count Beetle had written a letter to allow two children to stay the night, which I just had to show to the host, and he let us stay without asking any questions. Though we had to pay for it.
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The second reason is that we had access to Holy magic.
If the horse feels a little weak, we can heal them and it will regain its strength. We left the lodge at 8:00 a.m. and only had to take a lunch break while traveling until 5:00 p.m.
Well, I have to give the horse some water every now and then along the way but that's easily doable if I use my water magic.
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Lastly, the route that Count Beetle chose for us is also good.
The route was a bit of a detour but it seemed to have been carefully calculated to stay away from the royal capital, the more remote areas, and areas with poor security.
It’s obvious to avoid areas with poor security but it’s recommended to stay away from the royal capital too.
There are various reasons for this. The Count did not give us the details though.
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When we arrived in town, we went to the Adventurer's Guild and took an errand quest.
Anyway, we were heading west so we did as many quests as we could to deliver things to the west.
Well, since we are six-year-olds and going into the Adventurer's Guild, I expected a certain template-like development, but as expected, there was no one who would get involved with some six-year-old kids.
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However, we were occasionally approached about Clarice's luxurious equipment.
It is doubtful that the other adventurers know the exact performance of these items but anyone can see that they are valuable.
They asked how we got it and who gave it to but we were never attacked.
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My gear consisted of a silver mithril sword, a wind dagger (sylph dagger), and a disguise bracelet.
The silver mithril sword is a very good piece of equipment but it can’t be compared to Clarice's equipment.
They probably thought I’m Clarice's follower.
Well, that's OK with me.
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By the way, I heard that Clarice was also registered as an adventurer. She is an E-class adventurer so that she could dive into the labyrinth previously. Well, I had expected that much from Count Beetle since he was the one who discovered my origins.
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“Traveling is fun. Seems like I enjoy traveling.”
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“I enjoy it too. But it would have been boring if I had been on my own. Thanks for coming with me, Clarice.”
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We were talking at the Adventurer's Guild, doing our usual errand quests.
The door to the Adventurer's Guild opened with a bang, and a merchant-like man shouted out loud.
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“I would like to put up an urgent quest! A slave for the Duke has escaped! He ran towards the Devil's Forest nearby where our hands can’t reach! I'll pay you at your asking price so someone do me this favor!”*2
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There were more than 10 people in the Adventurer's Guild besides us but no one wanted to accept the quest.
Would the slaves be in danger if someone did not accept this?
Then an official from the Adventurer's Guild said
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“Could you please tell us the details properly? Can you tell me the characteristics of the person to be protected?”
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“...E, he is an elf slave… I can't tell you any more than that. But the reward is 10 gold…no, 100 gold coins! Please! Please, someone take the request!”
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Then one of the adventurers said
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“Certainly, 100 gold coins is exceptional. But the Devil's Forest is a place where even a B-class party made up only of B adventurers would even die, you know? Money is important but there’s no substitute for one’s life. Sorry about that but you should give it up.”
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The Devil's Forest is a very dangerous place apparently.
I heard from Count Beetle that there is a significant difference between C-class and B-class adventurers.
It must be really dangerous because a party made up of only B-class adventurers could be wiped out there.
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Clarice and I left the Adventurer’s Guild as if nothing had happened.
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TL’s note:
<ol> This author suddenly dropped a bomb that there are demons in the story but it’s not clearly stated whether both races have a connection to do trading or if they are trading magic users internally. Previously, 魔物 -> demon beast. Not sure if the author gonna drop beast race suddenly later or not. The elf gender is not specified in the raws. I bet 50 cents it’s female though.</ol>