Chapter 48

“Aah, Why can’t I pass!?”

Sitting at the counter, although not quite drunk she kept repeating the same complaint.

Maybe because he couldn’t overlook her, the owner called out to the girl.

“You seem pretty mad, Jou-chan.”

“Of course I’m mad! Even though I came all this way, how could it be blocked off right before my eyes…”

“Blocked off?”

“I want to go there.”

“Eeh!? Jou-chan, you plan on entering Mount Giran?”

“What about it?”

“Give up! I don’t know what your objective is but there are a lot of monsters in the mountains.”

“I know. That’s why there’s a restriction to entering the mountain. For that reason I hired those guys to come with me…!”

“The capable people in this town also turned me down…”

With no spirit Lifa spits out the words as if they were poison. Seeing that a bitter smile appears on the shop owner’s face. Because they live in Attis they all deeply understand the dangers of Mount Giran.

“It can’t be helped. You need permission from the Knight Order to climb Mount Giran anyway.”

“Is there anyway I can enter~…”

The first impression is black. A young man who’s atmosphere was filled with indifference stood there. Looking at all the customers with distant eyes he mumbled something to himself. It couldn’t be described as a good atmosphere.

“Who’s that?”

Being caught by the surrounding customers tension Rifa asks the shop owner in a small voice. But the answer came from a different place.

“He’s Harold Stokes. He carries the nickname ‘Knight Killer’ and is the country’s strongest swordsman. Before he was called ‘Bad Boy Harold’.”

“Hmmm… And, you are?”

“I’m just a humble traveler.”

“Before that, Harold Stokes is quite an infamous name. Do you not know it?”

“Unfortunately his infamy hasn’t reached where I’m from.”

But for Rifa that kind of thing didn’t matter. The important matter was the next point.

“You said he was the strongest swordsman in the country. Is that strong?”

“Of course. To the degree that he could take on the several tens of the elites of the Knight Order and come out unharmed. His strength could be said to be near the current head of the Knight Order, Vincent.”

“So he’s in the strongest class of humans then.”

“Oi oi, Jou-chan, it can’t be…”

“Got a minute?”

“…Who the hell are you?”

“I’m Rifa. You’re Harold right?”

“…”

“I have a request that suits your capabilities. Of course there will be a reward.”

“Request, is it?”

“That’s right. I want you to climb Mount Giran with me as my guard!”

◊

(I just wanted to get some food, how’d it become this…)

“A little brat like you wants to climb a mountain? Don’t make me laugh.”

“Even though I look like this I’m 15 years old!”

“In the first place what’s your objective? That mountain doesn’t have anything like toys or amusement parks.”

“I want to get data on the body of a Hydra. If possible a sample too.”

“But I don’t have any obligation to listen to your stupid request?”

“I’m not forcing you. I’ll ask others.”

“I don’t think such a suicidal guy can be found easily though.”

“…a month or half a year, I’ll keep at it. I have a reason to go that far.”

He could feel her obstinacy. If Harold refused she’d probably keep looking for months like she said.

“…Fine. If you’ll take my conditions I’ll lend my power.”

“Eh, really!? Yatta-!”

“What an interesting conversation.”

“If it’s alright, I hope I can come along too.”

Before he knew it standing next to him was the information broker Giffelt who asked without breaking a smile.