Eternal Adventurer (WN): Chapter 16

 

Chapter 16: Collapse

The day after the merchants arrived, there was a clear change in the way some of the guys were behaving.

First, there were the adventurers who drank a lot.

They were drinking less and going out more during the day.

The manager, as they call him at the administration, didn't show up as often as he used to.

"There are no people today either."

"It's not like there were that many requests. Do you know anything, Fisse?"

"Hmm~? Perhaps they got serious after seeing Wince and Shiro-san?"

How could those drunks be so auspicious?

"No way."

"Well, if you look at their usual behavior, that's true."

“Ahaha… both of you are so helpful.”

And at this rare moment, we have a visitor.

"Shiro-san, Wince-san."

A member of the caravan.

"Are? Is something wrong?"

"Yeah, we were just thinking we'd like to move on to the next town."

"Really?"

"I'll accompany you guys halfway."

"Thank you very much, the captain would like to thank you in person, but he's busy getting ready."

"Then let's go, Wince."

"Yes!"

"Take care."

With Fisse's voice in the background, we went out.

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"Um... why the forest?"

"Eh?"

"Eh?"

Shiro-san and the member of the caravan are dumbfounded.

"Eh? Perhaps you thought it was true all this time?"

"It's just acting..."

It seems I'm the only one who doesn't understand what's happening.

"Shiro-san! Wince-san!"

The caravan captain and all the others were waiting in the forest.

Fully armed.

"It's like you guys are going to war."

"It would be nice if we could end it with just a war."

"Eh, um. What do you mean?"

Shiro-san seemed to understand.

"The reason the merchants didn't make it to this town was the work of the Administration. Right?"

"Correct."

"Eh?"

"Wince-san, you registered as an adventurer with the Administration five years ago. Am I correct?"

"Yes."

“There is no such person as Wince registered with the Bureau in the royal capital, in other words, the Bureau's headquarters.”

“And neither am I. And, for that matter, neither are the adventurers who were always drinking, right?”

"That's right."

“B-but I have filled in the adventurer’s form properly!”

"Please calm down. You are not to blame."

"And the manager?"

“The person they call the manager doesn't exist either. It's more like they call him 'the manager', which is funny."

"Since it is a management bureau, is the manager correct?"

"Yes, at that point, it is suspicious. The town is so isolated from the outside world that people in the town are probably unaware of it."

"No way......"

Everyday life as we know it is shattered.

"Who are they?"

"That's what we're all going to find out. May I ask you to accompany me?"

"I don't mind. But how can a mere merchants do something like this?"

“We are a trading company, but we have some adventurers on the side. As soon as this letter arrived, it became an official request from another city's administration."

How did this happen?

-----------

Wince is stunned by the sight in front of her.

The scene through the forest with the merchants was hell.

"The city...... is burning."

Flames rose from everywhere, and the sky was covered with black smoke.

"Not good, we need to help!"

The captain tries to save the people who have escaped from the town.

"Stop!"

"What are you......"

I yelled and grabbed the captain's arm.

"We need to..."

Countless arrows rain down on the fleeing people.

"What! Where did that come from!"

"Over there! On the hill!"

On the hill, armed men with bows.

Bandits.

"Wince and the others, help the escapees!"

You can't do this!

It's almost winter!

Some of those people who got shot with arrows had children!

Absolutely.

"I won't let them get away."

---------

Shiro-san chased the enemy into the forest.

I have to go after him, but...

"The administration... ah! Fisse!"

I saw the burning administration and remembered Fisse.

"Wince-san! It's dangerous!"

Ignoring the captain's words, I went to the administration.

"Fisse! Fisse! Answer me!"

Fire and smoke all around obscured my vision.

"Wince! I'm here!"

A voice rises from behind the administration.

"Fisse! You're safe......"