CHAPTER 60: [EPILOGUE] DOWN THIS ROAD, MY JOURNEY

Sponsored Content

 

　After finishing the various tasks such as rescuing the injured and removing the debris that needed to be removed immediately, we had a party in front of the West Gate.

 

　We had already prepared grills and wine was already available as supplies.

 

　The best part of the day for me, a new discovery, was the taste of the Great Boar meat.
According to the middle-aged adventurer who was cooking the meat, “The higher the rank of the monster, the more delicious it is, B-rank meat is rarely eaten by ordinary adventurers.
Of course, those with high ranks rarely even eat it despite being of a higher rank.”

 

　This is a really exciting piece of information to get.
This is because I thought it would be difficult for adventurers to enjoy a variety of foods, given the general level of food culture in this world.

 

　However, if the higher-ranked monsters were good, the story would change.
If I became stronger, I might be able to eat a lot of delicious food that I couldn’t even eat in Japan.

 

 

　By the way, the reason why the Baron’s soldiers didn’t come to join us was because of the monster puppets that appeared at the North Gate.
Whether that’s true or false, I can’t judge with the information I have.
And that’s not very important anymore.

 

 

 

 

　A few weeks have passed since the stampede.
A few weeks after the stampede, I spent some time contributing to the reconstruction of the town.

 

　The walls that were destroyed by the Great Boar have been repaired, the hunt for the remaining monsters in the streets has been conducted, and traffic to and from other towns has resumed.
After an investigation, the Lord and the Adventurer’s Guild announced the end of the stampede, though the amount of monsters is still a bit higher than usual.

 

 

　As for the reason behind the stampede, there are several theories and it is not completely understood and come to light.

 

　However, the Adventurer’s Guild has announced that the stampede was caused by the Great Boar moving in from the depths of the forest and ravaging the Shallow Forest, causing a massive migration of monsters.

 

　I’m not sure if that’s correct or not.
I’ll have to ask a great scholar to look into that.

 

 

　And…

 

 

　That day, I told everyone that I needed to talk to them and asked them to gather at the bar below the inn.

 

　I walked down the stairs of the inn to the bar, found everyone, and sat down at an empty table.

Sponsored Content

 

 

“So, what are we talking about?” (Dan)

 

“What’s wrong, you have that serious face?” (Mel)

 

 

　When I didn’t start talking after taking my seat, Dan and Mel asked me.

 

 

“Ah… yeah.
No, there’s something I want to check with everyone.”

 

 

　I cut them off and calmly summarize in my head what I need to say.

 

　It took me a few seconds to gather my thoughts and begin to speak.

 

 

“It’s a conversation about what’s next, what kind of adventurer requests are we going to do in the future?”

 

 

　The three of them looked at each other and answered with confused faces.

 

 

“Hmm… what kind of question is that?” (Dan)

 

“That’s right.
We just work as an adventurer like usual.” (Mel)

 

“…” (Rocky)

 

 

　The three look at each other and answer with a confused face.

 

　Hmm … the question may have been too abstract.

 

 

“I’m not sure what to say… I’d like to hear about your goals as adventurers, what you plan to do with this party, and what your future plans are.”

 

 

　After thinking about my words for a while, Dan replied.

Sponsored Content

 

 

“First of all, we all need to get to C rank.
Then we can go deeper into the forest around here.
And if we can make it to… I want us to have enough power to handle the Great Boar if it shows up in town again.” (Dan)

 

 

　The other two nodded at Dan’s words.

 

 

　Well… I knew it…

 

　I knew what to expect, but… I felt a little sad.

 

 

　And then I asked a question that would convince me.

 

 

“Hey… everyone isn’t planning to move to another town? I’ve heard that towns with dungeons, for example, are easier to gain more power in.”

 

 

　The adventurer rank is basically determined by the adventurer’s abilities.
And the basic way to raise your abilities is to hone your skills or raise your level – the Goddess’s Blessing.

 

　Goddess’s Blessing is difficult to obtain by defeating monsters that are of a lower rank than you.
Even I, a newcomer to this world, noticed this immediately.
Naturally, it’s common knowledge among adventurers as well.

 

　And the monsters around the town of Rankfurt are up to D rank, and if you go deeper into the forest, there are C rank monsters.

 

　So there are only adventurers up to C rank in this town, and the number of C rank adventurers is small.
This is because it is difficult to reach higher than that in this place.

 

　Those who are actively seeking higher ranks travel to places and dungeons where high-rank monsters appear.

 

　And—

 

 

“Hmm… I do not intend to leave this town.
We can still grow in this town.
We can still grow in this town, and we have a base and connections in this town.
I don’t see the benefit of giving that up to move somewhere else.” (Dan)

 

“I’m hoping… my dad will let me.
However, I’m not sure if my father would allow me to go to another village to take an escort request.” (Mell)

 

“…” (Rocky)

 

 

　… I knew it.

Sponsored Content

 

　They don’t want to leave this town.
The first thing they think about is to continue as an adventurer in this town.

 

　They have parents and siblings in this town.
They have many contacts and connections, and they have close ties with the merchants here.
This town has a good amount of industry, is safe, and has few monsters.
I think the environment is very good.

 

　But I…

 

 

“I want to see the world.
I want to go to dungeons, I want to see ruins.
I want to go not only to this country but also to another country.
I want to visit other countries as well… If I can, I want to find places that will remain in legends.
So I want to go to other cities.
That’s what I think.”

 

 

　Then I looked at everyone.

 

 

　A moment of silence followed.

 

　I could hear the other adventurers making noise, and the sound of the master at the counter, preparing the dishes, was strangely clear.

 

 

“I’ve noticed.” (Rocky)

 

 

　I was suddenly surprised to hear a voice from an unexpected source.

 

　It’s Rocky.

 

　He turned to me and continued his words.

 

 

“I knew that Rook wanted to go to different places.
Don’t you two?” (Rocky)

 

 

　With that said, he looked at Dan and Mel.

 

　Dan and Mel looked at each other, and Dan exhaled and said, “Well… that’s right.”

 

 

“I noticed…” (Dan)

 

“Well, I was with you every day.” (Mel)

Sponsored Content

 

“Yeah…” (Dan)

 

“Yup.” (Mel)

 

 

　There was another moment of silence, and then Dan spoke up.

 

 

“We love… this town.
I guess that’s why we can’t leave…” (Dan)

 

 

　Dan said as if to confirm it himself and then continued.

 

 

“There are two types of adventurers: those who are adventurers for food, adventurers for going further.
The other is the one who does it to get to the top… Rook, I think you’re the latter.
Go see… Go see the world for us.” (Dan)

 

“Dan…”

 

 

　What kind of expression do I have?

 

　I’m not sure what I’m looking at right now, but something is rising up in my chest and I can’t look at anyone’s face.

 

 

“You look like you’re ready! Rook! Let’s celebrate! Let’s drink today! Uncle, add four ales! At times like this, we have a toast!” (Mel)

 

 

　Mel patted me on the shoulder and we toasted.

 

 

　No matter how much time passes from now on, I will never forget this day, nor everyone else.

 

　They were my first party since I came to this world.
My first friends.
Even if the paths we take are different, it doesn’t change that.

 

　I’m already starting to feel a little sad, but I’m not going back.

 

 

 

　I decided to move forward.