91 . Mysterious bandits 4



 I moved to the town hall with Kobold, a guard who came to the room.

 I was ushered into the lord's office there.
 In addition to the lord, everyone in the upper echelons of Liberty, such as Foldente Erdena, had gathered there.

''I think you've heard most of what I'm saying...''
 Then he began to speak, according to the lord.

 The three adventurers heard about the job of collecting eggs in Urina Combe, a small frontier city further north of Batcombe!

 This Urinacombe is a city that could have been upgraded to a frontier city if only the population were to be considered.
 There's not a lot of good things to say about this town anyway.
 The person who runs the city is a woman named Erna Cotta.
 And he's leading a dark organization called the "Dark Attraction" that's controlling the town.
 Normally, the Central Frontier Agency should be in charge of this, but this city is a member of the dark charmers from the point of view of its lord, and it's a city that can't be taken seriously, well, like an extraterritoriality.


 So.
 The guys I just talked to said they heard about egg collection in such a tavern at the end of Urinacombe.

I'm telling you that we have an advance unit on site and we've been asked to join them.
 That's what my lord says.

 So..........that means that the bandits we're going to capture are most likely to be Urinacombe, or rather, those who are under the breath of the charming voice of darkness.......right?

 I folded my arms and thought about it.

 Aside from Lil Pop, this is not a case where I can take Goopop with me.
 Well, we'll have a family meeting about this when we get back to the room.

 In.
 After this, Eel from Guianacombe also came to this place.
 However, I didn't know much about this dark winning voice, probably because Eel lives in Guianacombe in the far north.

 But
''The eggs of the ancient monster race have been traded in secret for a long time at a high price, so it may have strong implications.

 A secret deal.
 It's not a bad delicacy.
 Maybe that's not what the people who want it want.
 I think that's extraordinarily true, just because I'm looking at a real-life example of a goop.
 Probably for the child that was born.
 If you can instill obedience in them from a young age, they'll be able to control big magical beasts as they please in the future.

 But here's another question.
 What kind of ancient monster tribe around the abandoned frontier village that the bandits are looking to collect eggs from?
 Last time we went out to investigate, Lil' Pop knocked him down in front of Eel in Gianacombe and it wasn't pretty.

No, that's all right. I've already heard the story. Since you're all attacked, I think it's only natural that it's self-defense.
 Eel bowed reverently to me after saying that.

 I was so relieved to hear that.

 And here's the thing.
Our team of Guianacombe investigators have had a chance to take a closer look at the area around the settlement, and it appears that the ancient monster tribe is still lurking around that settlement village.
 According to Yale.
 I heard that they found traces of an ancient monster tribe roaming around the pioneer village.

 Come to think of it.
 When we went out there to investigate, they put some kind of animal trail outside the settlement.
 Maybe that was also, perhaps, a trace of a different guy than the one who was lurking in the cave in the village.

'We explored that possibility based on the Gugs' report.
 So the results of the Googs' findings were really helpful.
 It's a bit of a shame that we didn't find the others as well, although the lord said so.
 ........Well, even so, there were half of academics or non-combatants in the investigation team at that time.
 To be honest, it was tougher than that.

 And I heard that this information has already been sent to the Green Convoy's survey team that is coming this way.

 We're going to go after this.
 I opened a map on the desk in the lord's office and examined the route to investigate and capture them, as well as predicted where they might be hiding.

 At the same time, I also flushed out the places where the ancient monster tribe might be hiding out.
 Putting all of this together, a wetland area to the south of the settlement village emerged.

 This is a densely forested area that is perfect for the ancient monster race with its huge body to hide itself.
 
But don't the ancient monster race also have the ability to turn into human forms like Eel?
 I said, and Eel shook his head from side to side.
The ancient monster tribe that can take human form is limited to the royal family and a few other tribes. We have no idea who is missing from those tribes, so the only people who can take human form are the ones in ancient monster form.
 That's what he said.

 Hmmm.
 I don't believe in absolutes in these things, but well, I won't dare to say it.

 After that.
 It was agreed to send an advance team to that swamp.

 Before we capture that bandit group.
The first thing we need to do is to get rid of the ancient monster tribe that's laying eggs for the bandits to swarm around.

 So, it was Foldente's opinion that he was adopted.

 In
 I was naturally chosen as the advance team, since I was on my way to investigate Kaitakumei Village last time, and they're going to choose about five more people by tomorrow.
 I heard that five more people will be joining from Eel.

You're dealing with an ancient tribe of Kaiju, right? Are you sure you can handle this number?
 So I asked the question.
Later, me, Aura and Sara will join you.
 And, lord.

 And Sarah's a salamander.
 The aura is a wyvern.

 I see, I think it's a good decision to silence the ancient monster race, right?

 Then, we'll confirm the next morning's meeting time, etc.
 At this point, the discussion in the lord's room was broken up.

◇ ◇.

 I made a face at the guard's quarters before returning to my room.
'Ah, Captain, good evening, sir.'
 And the XO was leading us all through it.
 He was one of the first guards I hired when I arrived in this village.
 I was useless back then... but seeing you working so hard now, it's very emotional.

 I'm going to be the XO.
 I picked five men from the unit that was supposed to leave the day after tomorrow and told them to meet me at the town hall entrance tomorrow morning.
'Yes, sir, then, as soon as possible.
 The XO was quick to say so, or he ran off at a run towards the guards' dormitory.

 Well.
 That's all the manpower we need.


 I went back to my room on my feet.

 I opened the front door.
Welcome home, Daddy.
 As I said that, Goopop ran up to me like he was waiting for me.

 If you look closely, you'll see that he's wearing the clothes I bought for him in town today.
'Oh, that looks good on you,'
 When I said that, Goopop smiled happily.
I'm so happy because my dad bought me these clothes.
 As he says this, he turns around and shows me the spot.
 Then.
"Goop, the Googs are tired of talking.
 They must be fed quickly.

 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.....

 Then dinner for the three of us at the kitchen table.
"Luxury is the enemy.
 
It is enough to eat. It's not so extravagant.
 Saying that, Lil Pop, who is turning away and chewing his own meat.

 

 And that night.
So, what was decided at the meeting just now, sir?
 Just as Goopop started to sleep, Lil Pop opened his eyes with a snap and asked him.
 
 Lil Pop is a demon, but he doesn't have to force himself to sleep, right?
 Before he came to live with me, he used to spend all night maintaining his magic infantry.

 And then I thought, well, I can't hide it any longer either, so I made up my mind.
I heard that the bandits are working for some pretty nasty people, and I'm sure they're not the only ones.
 We're sending out an advance team to investigate and capture the ancient monster tribe lurking in that area.
 And tell them, Lil Pop.
I understand and I'll try to convince Gupop to do what I tell him to do.
 It was kind of anticlimactic, and he easily agreed not to take Goopop with him....
Then I will go and do a final check on my magical firearms for tomorrow, sir.
 And as he says this, he gets up out of bed and...

 .... although...
 When you're dealing with a group of people who are the breath of the Darkness' winning voice, you certainly need Lil Pop, the strongest guard in Liberty, to be the strongest guard in Liberty.
That's what I call rational thinking.
 You couldn't argue with a lil' pop like that.

 I've been staring at the ceiling, thinking about asking around Unja to take care of Goop tomorrow.
 Then Lil Pop looked into my face and saw me.
Don't you want to do that today, sir?
 and

 
 Well, I'm not really a fan of it either, so...

 I got out of bed so I wouldn't wake Goop up.
 He moved into the next room.