Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Four: Adventurers’ Problems 5
It all started about two weeks ago.
Specifically, it happened the day before Karen’s group set foot in the adventurers’ camp.
“To prevent the ‘Almost-Theres’ and the nobles from butting heads, I initially went through the trouble of coordinating with the nobles to strictly divide the exploration zones. But, as luck would have it, those damn Royal Guards had to go and barge into the exploration zone of the ‘Almost-There’ adventurers.”
“Ah. Like stealing their prey?”
Stealing prey was one of the acts adventurers hated most.
At Karen’s words, Gunther nodded.
“Well, that’s how it turned out, so the adventurers tried to quickly kill those knights. But I stopped them. I somehow placated the adventurers and managed to avoid trouble that time. That was the conversation I was having with the C-rank party leaders when you all first came to my tent.”
It must have been that time when he looked clearly troubled but pretended nothing had happened to Karen and the rest of them.
“So it wasn’t because of bad food…”
After that, regarding the adventurers’ meals, Waltride apparently negotiated with Isaac and had him provide supplies. "Apparently," because Karen didn’t accompany her, so she didn’t know the details. There was a strong possibility that Isaac would be reluctant because Karen was with Waltride. However, it seemed he was rather fawning precisely because Karen was on the princess’ side.
This was proof that Karen’s reputation had properly reached Isaac. Though having him fawn over her at this point hardly moved Karen’s heart at all.
“That too, no doubt, added to their discontent.”
When Karen glanced toward Sepl, who stood a bit away, he wore a sheepish expression, as if to say, “My bad.” Karen glared at him with a sullen expression and turned back to Gunther.
“So, if everything was supposed to be settled peacefully, how did it end up with them being merely ‘alive’, so to speak?”
“Those idiots, having had their lives spared once, got cocky and came to hassle the ‘Almost-There’ adventurers again. They said things like ‘B-rank adventurers are nothing to fear,’ and whatnot. They also claimed it was justified retaliation for their companion nearly having his head cut off. And then something about taking back the special potion that should rightfully be theirs.”
“Ahh… why does it have to turn out like that…”
Hearing that one of the reasons involved a potion she had made gave Karen a headache. Even regarding the previous incident, it was obvious the Royal Guards had been in the wrong.
Ordinary nobles, like Irmlinde, despised the Royal Guards who caused that uproar. Both Julius and Tristan felt the same way. And how could they not understand that they stood no chance against B-rank adventurers?
“Because they’re idiots. So, naturally, the ‘Almost-Theres’ easily routed those idiot nobles, and it should have ended there… but those guys insulted the adventurers and enraged them. Especially a party called ‘Crimson Thunder’—they wanted to kill the nobles and wouldn’t let it go. That was yesterday.”
What a terrifying party name.
Karen shuddered and asked to be sure:
“But they are alive, right?”
She had heard that the Royal Guard was little more than a dumping ground for high-born noble offspring with terrible conduct. While parents might endure if their children only suffered physical or mental wounds, if they lost their lives, the parents would be devastated. Even if it was a good-for-nothing son, they surely couldn’t help but resent the adventurers, and Waltride, who was supposed to be responsible for supervising the adventurers.
“To be precise, they were alive yesterday.”
“That’s not a reassuring way to put it…!”
“Sepl says you might be able to resolve this, Karen. What do you think?”
“Me!?”
What does that mean? Karen looked at Sepl, but Sepl turned away.
“Does that mean they might listen in exchange for panacea?”
“The possibility isn’t zero. There are quite a few who have problems—some are secretly cursed, others were poisoned by high-rank monsters and can’t be fully cured no matter what detox potion they take. Their bodies are strong enough to keep them alive, but they suffer constantly. They just don’t talk about it because it’d show their weakness.”
“I see…”
Karen recalled the faces of the adventurers who rejoiced after eating her panacea.
Perhaps one of her potions could help again.
Karen clenched her fist tightly.
“As someone entrusted with the adventurer corps by the Adventurers’ Guild, I’d prefer to have as few problems as possible. If you can placate them, I’ll pay you. We can negotiate for things other than money, too, and obtain them. Won’t you accept this request?”
“Understood. I accept!”
“Haa, so you’re really accepting it.”
“Uncle Sepl?”
When Karen turned around to face Sepl, who spoke with dissatisfaction, Sepl was looking at the depths of the forest with cold eyes.
“Wouldn’t it be better to just say those guys died from monsters? That’s what I think. But if that’d cause trouble for you, Little Karen, then I guess we’ve got no choice.”
Not just Sepl, but all the adventurers surrounding Karen were looking toward the depths of the forest with terribly cold eyes.
Karen gulped and said:
“The one, one entrusted with supervising the adventurers is Lady Waltride… and I, I want to be on Lady Waltride’s side… so, so it would trouble me!”
“Then you’ll have to stop them yourself, Little Karen.”
“Ehhh! Help me out!?”
“We can’t stop ‘em.”
Sepl said with a carefree laugh.
All the adventurers who were trying to repay their debt to Karen for the panacea showed their agreement with Sepl.
Half of them didn’t want to save the nobles’ lives at all. The other half seemed to genuinely think it was impossible.
“If you can’t stop them, we’ll just say the nobles were unfortunately killed by monsters… So please, keep this between us—especially from Sir Julius and Her Highness.”
“Ehhhhhhh!?”
Burdened with this heavy secret by Gunther, Karen was on the verge of tears.
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