I’m Back in the Other World? Chapter 72

Chapter 72 – Graham-san’s Request

「Is it here…」

A location around five days away northeast from the Royal Capital, on the mountain side of Mount Elres at an abandoned entrance to a mine.

Right now, we were standing in front of it.

The beginning of this event started ten days ago.

「Jou-chan, I have a small request…」

In the evening of that day, Graham-san unexpectedly turned up at my house.

And as if it was a difficult subject to talk about, he cut off his words.

「Does jou-chan know about Mount Elres? It’s a location northeast of here around five days away by carriage…」

「Uhh…, I more or less know about it, but if I remember correctly, there’s currently an abandoned mine within that mountain, right? But currently there are monsters and beasts that have settled in that mountain, the mining area also has things like monster dens in it…」

When I tried picking it out from my knowledge, that mine should have been closed for nearly fifty years from now. It was formerly used to excavate gold and unusual ores, the town at the foot of it was extremely thriving.

However, the amount of output decreased, and after the mine was closed, monsters settled there after a short time; many adventurers attempted to seek out the remaining ores, and have supposed to have died. That story was from twenty-five years ago, but I don’t know what it’s become nowadays. Well, looking at Graham-san’s appearance, it doesn’t seem to have changed for the better…

「Aah… Truth is, ya see, it’s absolutely necessary for me to gather a type of ore over there no matter what. I put out a commission in the guild a little while ago, but there still hasn’t been a fella that would take it. Therefore, it’s that. ‘Wouldn’t it work if it’s jou-chan?’, was what I thought na. After all, you’re the sacred treasure wielding dragon slayer, right? Though you’re B ranked, I believe you’re almost the strongest within the adventurers, ya know?」

Eh…? That, how does…? The guild has laid out a gag order, I also have not told anyone, and yet…

「Even I have various connections, ya see. Don’t worry, I haven’t said anything about this to anyone. Well, some humans know about this, however.」

「How did you know what I was thinking…」

「I can immediately understand from looking at jou-chan’s expression. Well, for that reason, I’d like to request jou-chan but, could you possibly accept it? Aah, of course, if the contents seem unreasonable, I won’t mind if you pull back. Because even I value my life na. We can also come to an agreement at that time in order for you to not get a minus for the commission failure, ya see.」

Fumu…, if it’s fine to just go, then I don’t mind trying…1

「But, why is that ore needed? Besides, even if you don’t go pick it up yourself, shouldn’t you be able to buy the ore itself? I don’t think it’s necessary for you to go as far as to risk yourself going there to pick it up…」

If I’m not mistaken, that ore can be mined in other locations. Like for example, the northern country… Wait, the northern country?

「Aah, it’s just as jou-chan thought. Though the ore itself can be mined in a country other than here , the yield is considerably small.2 So far it’s mostly imported, the majority of it are from the northern country. But that place, the northern country ceased its exports. Thanks to that, the value of the ore in this country has raised drastica
lly, and it’s by no means easy to buy it. There’s practically none on the market… Because of that, if I’m to buy the required amount, the cost would be outrageous, and there absolutely wouldn’t be enough time. Which is why even though I know the risks, I have no choice but to rely on that mountain.」

I see… So that abandoned mine, is it? Certainly, even though it’s said to be abandoned, just because it was abandoned because it wasn’t profitable anymore, doesn’t mean it was abandoned from exhaustion ne.

By the way, the northern country is the one Takahashi-san was summoned at, called the country of Soutines.

「Also, the reason I want that ore… It’s for the sake of revealing a weapon at the contest taking place at this time’s New Year’s festival. A weapon made of iron would be fine regularly, but this time’s contest is a little different na. There’s an opponent that I absolutely can’t lose it. For the sake of that, I need that ore no matter what. Therefore I ask. Could ya take me along to that mountain?」

U~n, well, I don’t mind going, but… Besides, he said it was fine to turn back if it was dangerous… No, I understand that it is dangerous but.

「I’ll verify the contents for the time being, okay? Firstly, the commission, escort Graham-san along to Mount Elres. Excavate and return with the ore from within. Graham-san will do the excavation, is that right? During that time, it’s fine if I guard the perimeter and eliminate foreign enemies, right? And so on the way inside, at the time I judge that it’s impossible to advance, thereupon it’s fine to turn back.」

「Aah, that’s right. Of course, I’ll prepare the necessary items, even if we turn back midway, I’ll still pay half the reward. This is my last request to jou-chan. If it turns out I partic.i.p.ate in the contest with a regular iron weapon and lose to that guy, I won’t be able to regret it even if I wanted to…3 Please…」

「Haa… I understand already, so please raise your head. Alright then, since I’ve been in your care, Graham-san, I will undertake it. However, at the time I think it’s impossible, even if our goal is in front of our eyes, we will turn back, okay?」

「Really!? I’m grateful!」

「And so, when do we depart? If it takes five days one-way, there isn’t much time, right? I don’t know how long it takes for Graham-san to make the weapon but… If I remember correctly, the mountain side of Mount Elres, the snowfall normally begins in November, right? As expected, when it begins to snow, it will be impossible to climb, you know?」

Well, if I use sorcery, we will be able to manage some way or another if it’s a little bit of snow, but we won’t be able to move once we reach our destination ne…

「It’s currently the 6th of November right? Since the arrangements and preparations are necessary, how about departing in four days?  If so, I think we’d be able to return before it begins to snow. Jou-chan should also prepare your necessary arrangements. I’ll also prepare the carriage, so come to the eastern gate after three days at 3 koku. Aah, do you need to go to the guild and accept the commission?」

After saying that, was it because he was happy that I accepted the commission? Graham-san returned home as if he was hopping.

After that, I purchased clothes to protect me from the cold and other necessary items, and departed with mountain climbing provisions.

We jolted on a carriage, which Graham-san had borrowed, for five days, stopped for one night at the town at the foot of Mount Elres, then began mountain climbing early in the morning the following day for approximately a day.

「There’s an awful lot of beasts ne… As expected, I wonder if it’s because winter is just around the corner, so the beasts are hungry?」

Fortunately, we didn’t encounter any monsters, but there were many beasts… We’ve been attacked by bears and wolves over ten times. I defeated them all, but as a result, the distance that could have been crossed in half a day, ended up taking a day.

「Ahhー, well, ain’t it good that we’re safe…? As expected, at the time we were surrounded by over forty wolves, even I was feeling nervous na. To easily defeat them, as expected of a dragon slayer.」

That’s easy to say ne… Well, thanks to them huddling together, with an area-of-attack magic explosion, half of them were unable to fight…

「For the time being, let’s camp here for today ne. There is a good looking cave over there. Let’s take a rest there.」

At a location a little ways from the mine entrance, a small cave can be seen. The depth is…… around five meters, I think? Its height is close to three meters, it’s enough to keep out the evening dew.

We decided to make camp there, and began setting up the necessary preparations.

I’m in charge of firewood gathering and things like barrier magic, and also the cooking. Graham-san is in charge of securing the beds and producing the stove. It seems like I have a larger amount of work, but since there are the right people for the right job, it can’t be helped. I can’t have Graham-san, who is more or less the escort target, to gather wood where monsters or beasts may appear during that time, and Graham-san can’t use sorcery. In addition, even if I leave the cooking to Graham-san, it would be tastier if I did it. Yes, it can’t be helped you see…

During the time the sun completely set, I collected the firewood and a fire was started. While Graham-san was lighting the fire, I prepared the barrier and alarm magic. Once that finished, it was time to cook.

By the way, barrier magic has a similar effect as a barrier magic tool, but because it’s said that the levels of the monsters around here are high, I’m using sorcery. For sorcery and a magic tool with the safe effect, although it depends on the ability of the pract.i.tioner, sorcery basically displays a higher effect.

Well, because even barrier and alarm magic doesn’t mean absolute safety, us two will take turns keeping watch.

After having dinner, the first watch was left to Graham-san, so I decided to quickly sleep.

With my tired body from the mountain climbing I was unaccustomed to, I was lured into sleep right away.