A phenomenon will suddenly arise regardless of the circumstances.
It was certain day, when I was looking around for weapons in a weapon shop.
This specific weapon shop is on the main street of the town, from which both the border wall and the barrier gate could all be seen.
Since the town of Malt is built on the border of two countries, there exists a system for the administration of the territories and belongings of the different Lordships; however, the whole of this is still called Malt, regardless of which side it is.
For convenienceâs sake though, they are called East Malt and West Malt on each respective side of the wall.
By the way, West Malt is governed by Milis Kingdom â the side we are currently on.
Entering through the barrier gate, there is a group hastily entering West Malt.
Pushing through the residents and adventurers, I advanced to the barrier gate.
This group, however, continued to pass in front of me, and disappeared into West Maltâs government office.
[Whatâs going on? Itâs a little *too* busy, donât you think so?] (Haruto)
Me, not knowing what was going on, heard the old shop owner mumble back,
[Itâs probably âthatâ, since theyâre rushing over from the other side.] (Weapons Shop Owner)
Apparently, he was also watching the figures disappear down main street.
[Well, itâs got nothing to do with us. By the way, have you finally made your decision? Even if you come and look every day, itâll never get any cheaper.] (Weapons Shop Owner)
The old man urges me to decide.
There are a total of 3 weapon shops in West Malt.
This shop, though, I believe to be the best out of all of them.
As for why, a short sword made from Mithril is on display.
A sword made out of Mithril is far and away better than the Saint Silver sword I bought before.
The magic transmission was good when I was allowed to test it out.
By all means, this is the weapon I want to have replace the one I lost when I was fighting against the Golemâs ridiculously hard Magic Power Nullification.
However, it is Mithril after all. Itâs ridiculously expensive.
Even though I wished it wasnât so, the expenses have begun to add up after I came to Malt. I find that I donât have anything in my wallet anymore.
Fortunately, since I came to see the sword each and every day, the old man has begun to complain. Iâve also come to become acquaintances with him.
Iâve managed to become a regular customer of the hotel, the clothing shop {Jack of All Trades}, and the weapon shop now.
[Umm. . . .Can I get it for half the price?] (Haruto)
[Thereâs no way thatâs gonna happen. If youâre here to crack jokes, go home.] (Weapons Shop Owner)
Che.
Iâm a customer. I can always come back later.
I havenât bought anything, and now Iâve been driven out by the old man. Thereâs not really any reason for me to stay around here anymore.
How about I go buy some food for Laurier, as a gift?
Thereâs a bakery which sells melon flavored buns. Itâs supposed to be a delicacy . . . I wonder if sheâll be happy?
Ah~, no, no, sheâll end up spoiled with that.
Laurierâs current activities are mostly eating and sleeping. After meals, she goes and falls asleep. . . Sheâll become fat sooner or later with that kind of habit.
As for the person in question, [Not at all!] she says. Even though she denies it, normally, one would gain weight. Is it because sheâs a demon that sheâll be okay?
Well, itâll be a problem if Laurier got fat, so Iâll curb this myself.
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With the day wearing on towards evening, and dinner time encroaching, Rithina has yet to return.
[Hmm. . . Where did Rithina go today?] (Haruto)
[Rithina-sama?, If I am not mistaken, she went off to a certain government office. . . That reminds me, itâs become really late. . .] (Laurier) (ED: Best guess at the identity of the speaker.)
Youâre right.
Today, Sharon, Mina, and Rithina all went to the guildâs and governmentâs offices today.
Usually, she would have returned long ago; has something happened? Should I go and see how things are? . . . . While lost in thought, she seems to have returned.
[Haruto-kun! Please, a moment!] (Rithina)
[Welcome back. However, you seem a bit late, did some â â -WOAH?!?] (Haruto)
While greeting her, Rithina has come back and caught my arm immediately.
What!? What is it!?
Is it because I visited the {Jack of All Trades} and put in an order for underwear? Was it bad of me to ask Mina for the definitive sizes of everyone!?
[Itâs an emergency, please come!] (Rithina)
[Eh? Huh? . . Wh, what is it?] (Haruto)
I was taken by Rithina, and just like that, I left the hotelâs room
Left behind, Laurier and Tanya -along with myself- were all dumbfounded.
Sharon and Mina are waiting just outside the room.
They both have a difficult face showing.
What?
Something is this serious?
Are we doing it in the back alley?
. . . .No, it doesnât have to be that.
The trioâs expressions are quite serious.
Today, Rithina went to the governmentâs office.
I remember the busy government officials I saw while in the weapon shop this morning.
. . . . I see. Though I donât understand the contents, some problems have arisen.
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[So the demons have begun overflowing from the labyrinth?] (Haruto)(ED: Best guess at the identity of the speaker.)
Rithina has brought me to one of the rooms of the government building in West Malt.
When I entered, I was completely surrounded by old men. Iâve just received a briefing of the situation.
Along with Rithina and myself, Sharon and Laurier have followed and heard the story.
Beyond the border, 5 days further east from East Malt, there is a famous dungeon.
Scattered throughout the area are numerous small, isolated villages. Since Malt is the largest habitation around, the surveyor from Milis Kingdom has named the dungeon after it.
From Maltâs Dungeon, two days ago, a crowd of demons began overflowing from the dungeon.
The group of scouts aiming to examine the dungeon have been utterly destroyed.
Naturally, there is no such thing as âsafetyâ for the people who go to survey dungeons such as these.
However, one person somehow managed to make it out, and ran all day and night to deliver the news.
From the information provided, the demons that have begun to overflow from the dungeon have started advancing towards Malt town.
[Why did such a thing happen. . . .] (Haruto)
I complained instinctively.
[The cause is still uncertain. Something like this is quite unprecedented.] (White Mustachioed Man)
The man with a white mustache provides a slight explanation.
Heâs showing an expression of complete loss.
Perhaps, this person is the highest ranking here. . . .?
Is he perhaps the Town Mayor? What is he waiting on? I didnât hear anything about this. . . Is everything going to be ok?
Anyhow, thereâs a horde of demons approaching.
Fumu.
This is certainly an emergency.
Thereâs no specific number. Their purpose is unclear. However, the demons approach anyway.
[Though I donât know how fast the demons are marching, if itâs the usual, then three. . . no, I would say they would reach the town in two days, probably.] (Rithina)n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Rithina supplements from the side.
Unlike the norm, she has a pretty serious expression on right now.
As expected of the 3rd princess. Her wickedness shows through during something like a national crisis.
. . . . It is not the time to have frivolous thoughts.
Since Malt is divided into two by the border, both sides maintain a non-intervention agreement between the two. However, this time, they have agreed to join forces.
As per the agreement, the residents of East Malt have been evacuated to West Malt, and the border forces will work together to repulse the demonâs onslaught from outside of the town.
Though it would be of tremendous use if some magician could prepare large scale magic, the magician currently responsible for the town is not present.
Are these the tactics? Or the strategy? Though I donât understand it well, thereâs no complaint in prioritizing the state of the people more than the state of the town.
So, as to the reason why I was called here.
[I heard from your highness, the princess, before. That Haruto-sama is an excellent adventurer.] (White Mustachioed Man)
The fellow with the mustache said.
Rithina-san. In a place full of strangers, will you stop excessively promoting me?
Of course, I will cooperate if it is necessary.
[Ah, well, pretty much.] (Haruto)
I returned an ambiguous answer.
I do not overestimate myself! I could probably say it with full confidence, but I will not overestimate myself.
[If possible, please donât damage the town as much as possible. We will lead and engage the demons!] (White Mustachioed Man)
Rithina is burning beside me.
Well, itâs all good.
[We do not mind engaging the demons, but Rithina-sama is useless.] (Haruto)
[Huh!?] (Rithina)
Rithina, whatâs with you?
[It is quite natural. Rithina-sama and Mina will be remaining here, while the four of us will be going; Sharon, Laurier, and Me. (TL: That 3. . . Maybe Tanya?)(ED: Left it as-is because Author-san wrote it this way.)
I might also take Tanya, but then, when the horde comes, Rithina and Mina will be left alone.
Even though my magic power has piled up considerably, and I seem to be able to fight well after a long time, it might be better if I left someone to guard the two here.
[Eh . . . But, I have been practicing for a while now. Iâm confident that I could put up a decent fight. . . .] (Rithina)
When I stare at Rithina with a serious face, even she hesitates.
[Please be obedient this time. Sooner or later, when I judge that you will be safe, then we will fight together.] (Haruto)
[Uuuu~. . . .] (Rithina)
I said so and patted Rithinaâs head.
Though Rithina has a dissatisfied air about her, she has rescinded herself from the fight.
This is bad.
In front of someone with a high position, someone has seen the way I have been treating the princess.
Was it bad?
[It will be my responsibility, Iâll keep her highness safe.] (White Mustachioed Man)
The old man with the mustache answered powerfully.
Very well.
Dang it! You should be angry.
Well, weâre all in agreement here.
Letting the princess engage in a head on battle would be quite problematic.
Thus, while our pursuit of the Golem hasnât yet borne fruit, we now have to face a new fight.
No. The only witness information on the Golem is that it might be in the dungeon.
Could there be a possibility that the Golem is involved in this? (TL: Finally, he used his brain.)
Itâs possible, if I think about the timing.
. . . . .
Itâs not productive to think about it here.
For now, letâs concentrate on the immediate problem.
[Well now! Has everyone heard the story? Then letâs quickly commence the drafting of a plan of action!] (White Mustachioed Man)
[Yeah!]
[Umu.]
[Yes!]