Day 46: An Important Comrade
Holy Era 6102, Month of the Marsh Dragon, 29th day.
Weather: Rain

Today, I plan to investigate the remaining growing areas and then return to the town.

…I finished checking them before midday, but there weren’t any King Namekus.
And so there was no damage to the Momija grass…ah!
An idea just hit me.
I’ll mark all the places they appeared yesterday on my map… I see.

All of the marks created a circle around the underground quarry remains in the forest.
After a quarry is abandoned, hardly anyone approaches them, due to fear of cave-ins.
So it would be the perfect place for them to live…I definitely needed to look into it.

And I was right. The abandoned quarry was overflowing with King Nameku!
Even I felt disgusted by this, though, I did my best to exterminate them.
If all went well, then I might be able to complete the quest now.

Or so I thought…but there were too many.
It was too much… And my sword was starting to become dull.
On top of that, the rain, mud, and their bodily fluids now covered the ground… I didn’t want to fall, no matter what.

As I was thinking about such things, the ground suddenly started to shake.
I was in danger of falling over, when I turned to see what was causing it and…I became speechless.
There was an especially huge one by the entrance to the quarry! Huh? But it looked a little…
Its size was about eight times that of a normal one. And its color was…red? And the surface of its body was covered by numerous spikes… AHHH!!

A Queen Nameku! So that’s why there was an explosive increase in the number of King Nameku!?
King Namekus could multiply even if there is only one, but the rate would be very slow. And so there was no way that they would be able to increase to this number in such a short amount of time.
But it’s a different story if there is a queen! If the conditions are right, they can reproduce as fast as any monster… I have to do something before it’s too late.

I made my decision and gripped my sword tightly. And then the queen’s spikes started to stretch towards me!
“What!? Are they like tentacles!? Nooo!!”
I frantically moved out of the way, but there were so many, and the ground was unsteady. It was the worst.
And then there was the smallest opening. And my right foot was caught.
Before I knew it, I was pulled up into the air. Numerous other tentacles shot towards me… It was all over for me now.

Just as I was about to give up, I heard a great roar and then the queen’s giant body was enveloped in flames!
The queen threw me, and I went flying away… Ah, if I fall on the ground like this, surely I will not…
However, a shadow came dashing forward out of nowhere, and caught me in the nick of time.
When I looked up, it was Ms. Noa… Huh? But why?

As I was too stunned to say anything, Ms. Noa put me down on the ground and then turned to face the Namekus.
In her right hand, she was holding a staff that was as long as she was tall.
The Queen and King Namekus looked at her cautiously.
However, it was all in vain…
She waved her staff, and then in a flash, flames spread out and burned them. They turned into ash right in front of my eyes… So this is the attack magic of an elf.

When it was all over, Ms. Noa bowed her head to me.
Sorry to keep you waiting, she said.
I could not help but throw my arms around her… No, it’s fine.
After all, you came to save me. That is enough.

That’s right! Ms. Noa, there is something I want you to eat!
It’s so delicious. I think you’ll like it!!

…While a lot had happened, like this, the two of us were able to finish our first appointed quest.

Today’s earnings and expenses:
None
————————–
Balance: 6 silver, 51 bronze

(King Nameku slain: 40/40 and more)

(*’-‘*) Ehehe. Ms. Noa really is an important comrade.

Next Chapter

Senpai boukenshasan ga tasukete kureru no de kitto daijoubu nano desu! Shinmai boukensha no nikki-chou