After preparing for 3 days, we rode on Rheinbach-samaâs Ignis dragons, and headed for the Trail Canyon. Right now, weâre taking a breather somewhere in the mountain roads, but it wonât be long before we reach Teressa, the town closest to the canyon.
Everyoneâs carrying an item or two with them, but most of our luggage is being stored in mine and Sebasus-sanâs Item Box and Dimension Home. Iâve especially packed plenty of medicine, weapon, equipment, and other tools in mine.
Thereâs enough that we can afford to stay in the canyon for a long time and still have enough to sell to other adventurers. Itâs common courtesy for adventurers to help the ill-prepared. Of course, thatâs provided that thereâs material to spare.
Two of our partyâs members are S Rank Adventurers, and Sebasu-san and I can fight pretty well too. And when you add the grave slimes on top of that, thereâs no question that we have more than enough to watch over the girlsâ training. I mean if anything, this much is overkill.
Anyway, setting up the camp defenses at the canyon was my job. So, Iâll be doing just that while selling to the passing adventurers and digging out magic jewels. The place hasnât really changed much in the past years. And with the grave slimes being the undeadâs natural predator, there wonât be much for me to do.
âShould we head out now? We should be able to reach Teressa soon.â [Rheinbach]
Itâll probably take another 2 hours, which means⊠Weâll be arriving at noon.
And so, we rode on the two dragons, and headed for Teresa. The dragon Iâm riding on will listen to orders even if Rheinbach-samaâs not riding it, so Iâm sure we wonât fall, but itâs still nerve wrecking.
And Iâm not sure why, but for some reason, these Ignis dragons donât seem to like me. They donât hate me, but they have their guard up⊠Ah, whatever. Rheinbach-sama did say that itâs fine, so Iâm sure itâs safe. Iâm sure theyâll eventually get used to me. And people back at my previous life did say that animals can feel when people are nervous, so⊠Ah, wait, can I even put dragons and animals in the same basket?
A strong wind blew as we passed over the mountains, but the dragons continued on, unfazed, About an hour later, the walls of Teressa finally came to view.
âWhat a big town!â [Elia]
âItâs gotten a lot bigger these past two years! It was so small back then too!â [Ryouma]
The sound of the wind drowned our voices, so we had to yell at each other to talk even though Elia was right behind me.
Teressaâs no Gimuru but itâs a lot bigger now compared to when I first visited it. A lot of undead had started appearing at the canyon, and when adventurers went to investigate, they happened upon a magic jewel vein. From then on, a lot of adventurers and diggers started coming, resulting in the townâs exponential growth.
The town walls that appeared from a distance grew closer in the blink of an eye, a testament to the dragonsâ speed. Weâd cause a ruckus if we were to land in town, so we landed some ways away from the town, and then walked. They were already expecting us, so when we got to the gates, there were eight guards all-in-all ready to receive us.
We did ride in a dragon after all, two no less. So, of course, theyâd be able to prepare even without us asking them too. Thanks to that, the process went a lot smoother, and we were able to get into the town quickly.
It was then that Shiva-san spoke.
âWe should be staying at the inn tonight, but we can also go ahead if youâre all fine with it. Is everyone tired already orâŠ?â [Shiva]
Itâs almost noon but weâve already eaten, so thereâs not really any reason to walk around townâŠ
âIâm still fine. I was just riding at the back of the dragon, after all.â [Riera]
Everyone nodded. And so, weâll be pushing our plans forward a bit. But before thatâŠ
âCan I drop by the adventurerâs guild? I figured I might as well get some simple requests.â [Ryouma]
No problem, they all said. Like that we headed for Teressaâs Adventurer Guild. The Town of Teressa is situated at the western edge of the country, a frontier, so to speak. Yet despite that the streets were hustling and bustling with people and carriages.
âThereâs so many people even though itâs the border. Oh, by the way, would it be alight to dig some magic jewels myself?â [Kanan]
âAs long as you give a part of it or pay the corresponding tax, then there shouldnât be any problems.
I donât know whether the lord in charge of this place is just tolerant or because he needs that much money, but he seems to be just watching how many the people can actually dig⊠He might also just decide to monopolize everything one day. Yeah, thereâs a lot of rumors going around now, good or bad, but for now it should be fine.â [Ryouma]
The future is a mystery. Even if you can right now, that doesnât mean youâll be able to in the future, so you should take your chance now! ~Is what everyone else is thinking which is why thereâs so many people here⊠Oh, weâre here.
We saw a couple of adventurers when we entered the guild. Itâs noon, so most of the adventurers are either out working or eating. Itâs a lot quieter here than outside, but as soon as we entered, all eyes focused on us.
âŠMost are just glancing, but a fifth of them are outright staring at us. Well, we do stand out, so it canât be helped. Ah, it seems there are people who know of Remiri-neesan and Shiva-san. Iâm sure they mustâve been trying to be hush about it, but itâs really quiet, so they can still be heard.
After I greet everyone, I walk up to the request board. Letâs hurry and find something Elia and the others can do, and then get out of here. And just as I was thinking that, I found something suitable.
An investigation of the Trail Canyon that can be accepted anytime by E Rank adventurers up. The payâs cheap but theyâll pay more if the info is good. Itâs really more of a patrol than an investigation, so itâs really easy.
Also, because a lot of monsters appear in the night, itâs recommended that only C Ranks above go. And as such, theyâll also be paying more for those who can investigate in the night.
We were planning to stay at the canyon for a long time anyway, so we might as well. But was there always such a warning? While Iâm sure itâs necessary since lots of undead frolic in the night, a D-Rank should be enough. I should ask the receptionist first.
âExcuse me, I was thinking of accepting the Trail Canyon request but thereâs something Iâd like to ask first.â [Ryouma]
âYes, what is it?â [Receptionist]
The receptionist was a young woman. From my conversation with her, I found out that thereâs a lot of people who have been going missing lately.
âItâs unfortunate but the issue isnât just the undead. The footing in the area isnât stable, and a lot of people have already disappeared in some accident. Because of that, weâre recommending that C Ranks go. Also, a lot of the people whohave gone missing are low rankers who pushed themselves too hard in that investigation request.â [Recipe]
The receptionist was a bit sad when she spoke, but it shouldnât be an issue as long as we take careâŠ
âI understand. Iâd like to sign up for this request. Oh, and do you have a list of the missing people? Weâre planning to stay at the Trail Canyon for a while, soâŠâ [Ryouma]
âVery well.â [Receptionist]
The receptionist immediately processed the request, and then came back with the list of names. The genders, ages, and other special characteristics were also written in the list. As for the time they went missing, well that wasnât really important.
After that we left the guild, and then the town through the gate close to the Trail Canyon. The guards asked if we were going on a trip, and I said we were going camping. Iâm sure theyâre talking to me because itâs too hard to talk with the others.
âWe plan to come back anywhere from one to two weeks.â [Ryouma]
âThatâs a long trip, please be careful. A lot of people have been going missing lately.â [Guard]
Might as well ask them about itâŠ
âAre there really that many?â [Ryouma]
âWellâŠâ [Guard]
The guard made a troubled face as he looked at a particular direction.
âItâs because there are people like those, soâŠâ [Guard]
At the end of that direction wasâââ
âLetâs make lots of coin today too!â [Adventurer 1]
âShould we try going a bit deeper this time?â [Adventurer 2]
âThatâs dangerous.â [Adventurer 3]
âNah, itâll be fine. Weâve beaten plenty of zombies, right?â [Adventurer 1]
âButââââ [Adventurer 3]
It was a group of three young, inexperienced adventurers.
âItâs great that the cityâs flourishing, but a lot of reckless people have been coming too⊠But then againg, thereâve always been reckless people around here, so if anything, I guess theyâve increase.â[Guard]
The guard whispered those words while watching the three leave. He was trying to keep up appearances, but I donât think thatâs really necessary.
âYou mean like those people?â [Ryouma]
âYes, like them. Itâs especially dangerous the day after they make some bank. Itâs safe around here unless they go in deep, so everyone who goes missing usually brought it on themselvesâŠâ [Guard]
I thanked the guard that seemed to have a lot on his mind, and then we left.
We traversed the mountainous roads and entered into the canyon.
People walked beside and above the now barren cliff, and people dug holes left and right, but as we continued, the people around us grew less and less. After an hour of walking, there were still no zombies in sight.
âThe undead still hasnât shown up.â [Ryouma]
âI thought theyâd be more proactive.â [Remiri]
âThere sure are a lot of civilians here though.â [Elia]
âItâs still close to the town, so itâs not just adventurers whoââââ [Ryouma]
While I was talking, a man dressed in blood-drenched clothes with vacant eyes walked up to us. Most of the manâs neck had been hollowed out, and his body was clearly rotting. It was a zombie. When the girls noticed that, they immediately assumed stance.
In contrast, Remiri-neesan casually spoke.
âThereâs just one zombie, so relax. Youâll do fine as long as you follow your training.â [Remiri]
The girls nodded to her words. A rotting smell filled the area as the zombie approached, and the girlsâ countenance visibly soured. Seeing that thing face-to-face is quite a shocker⊠Though I think theyâd be nervous either way.
ââStrengthen Bodyâ⊠Letâs go!â
After a deep breath, Riera used her strengthening magic. She matched the speed of the zombie, then she swung down her sword. That flash embodied all the efforts she had spent training her sword. And it cut down the zombieâs left arm so quickly that it didnât even have the time to cry. Then she followed up by bashing her shield against the zombieâs face.
âElia!â [Riera]
ââFire Ballâ!â [Elia]
As Riera called out to Elia, Elia casted a fireball, and the zombie was no more.
âHuh? Thatâs it?â [Kanan]
âWell that was easy.â [Michelle]
Complained Kanan and Michelle who didnât have a chance to fight. Miyabi hadnât said anything, but she seemed to think the same.
âOf course, itâs easy. You kids arenât so weak that youâd have a problem offing one zombie.â [Shiva]
âZombie flesh is a lot softer than a humanâs, and their bones are brittle too. You girls cut a lot of bamboo back at Ryoumaâs place, right? Then itâs only a given that youâd be able to cut one down with ease.â [Rheinbach]
âYour magic has gotten stronger too, and the one who shot that fireball just now was Elia who has the strongest magic of you lot. The real practice starts way deeper into the canyon. Being able to kill a few zombies is a given.â [Remiri]
âYouâve always been fighting against Ryouma-samaâs slimes, so you might not be aware of just how strong you are.â [Sebasu]
Zombies are D-Ranked magical beasts but they can be beaten even by E-Rank Adventurers when toppled over, so itâs obvious that the girls would be able to kill one. Thatâs also the reason why thereâre so many greenhorn adventurers in the town.
Killing a few zombies wonât be an issue for them, so weâll be leaving the fighting to them from here on out.
âThis time Iâll be the one to finish it!â [Michelle]
âRiera, Kanan, stop them!â [Elia]
âUnderstood!â [Riera]
âLeave it to me!â [Kanan]
âBe careful, thereâs a lot of them!â [Miyabi]
As their movements had got better over time, Riera and Kanan was able to quickly cut off the limbs of the zombies to stop them in their tracks, while a barrage of magic was unloaded on them to stop them from regenerating. And just like that, the girls offed seven zombies.
Meanwhile, we were nonchalantly watching the girls fight.
âThey can still handle more.â [Shiva]
âShould we up the difficulty?â [Remiri]
âWe should give them more to fight withâŠâ [Rheinbach]
âHow about ghouls and wraiths? The grave slime can bring them.â [Ryouma]
âI suggest allowing the ojousamas to get used to the zombies first.â [Sebasu]
We discussed like we were watching a sports tournament.
Then after some more walking, we made camp beside a cliff that was roughly 6 meters tall. Time for work, I guess.