Chapter 79 – The Gatekeeper of the Desolate Town
“Welcome to Yoshanka. This is a town where ‘the wind is cold, but people’s hearts are warm.’ Please enjoy your stay.”
After conveying the town’s rather unceremonious catchphrase to the traveling merchant and allowing them through the gate, Siderock, a town guard, began to pick his nose.
It was a slow job,
Being a gatekeeper in a rural town.
North of Yoshanka, was the Aseto Bay and right at the south of this town was the Kaise Forest.
Towering cliffs known as the “Huge Dragon’s Claw Marks” lining the edge of Aseto Bay, while the Kaise Forest was a well-known demon’s domain.
Back in the day, the journey between the Demes and Tenidis all passed through Yoshanka, making this place a relatively bustling town.
… And, Siderock had heard all about this from his father, who also served as a town guard.
However, with the opening of new trade routes, the number of people visiting Yoshanka had significantly dwindled.
Nowadays, not many bothered to come here. Only merchants like the one he had just let through, who came to sell daily necessities, and individuals from the Drogg Trading Company buying materials from the Adventurer’s Guild outpost.
Occasionally, adventurers would arrive to steal the eggs of the collosal bird, Tohgord that lives on the towering cliffs, or braving the dangers of the Kaise Forest seeking materials from the forest’s creatures. But with each passing year, the town grew lonelier.
(Well… it can’t be helped. The wind is strong here, and the weather is always cloudy. It’s not exactly the most enjoyable place to live.)
Thinking about the town’s declining future brought a chilling wind to Siderock’s heart.
Still, Siderock was a lowly town guard.
He couldn’t come up with any means to save the town.
(What kind of “Ryuu” is scarier than dragons? That’s called the “current of time.”)
[T/N: Dragon = Ryuu / 竜 — Current of Time = Jiryuu / 時流]
While pondering such trivial matters, Siderock proceeded to pick the other nostril.
“Mister.”
It was at that moment.
Siderock was addressed from behind, or in other words, from the town’s side.
It was a sweet, girlish voice.
“Hmm? Ah, the kid who passed by earlier. So, did you become an adventurer?”
Turning around, there stood a child with an expressionless face, her head wrapped tightly in cloth.
“Not yet. I have to complete a ‘task’ to become an adventurer.”
“…? Hmm?… I- I see. Well, I guess sometimes things work that way… Really?”
This was the first time he heard about completing a ‘task’ to become an adventurer.
Siderock tilted his head in confusion. However, upon noticing the black hair that escaped from under the cloth on the child’s head, he understood the situation.
“So, you want to go outside for the ‘task.’ Alright alright, understood. Even if you go missing, I won’t search for you. If you want to die, feel free to do so.”
“I’ll be fine. I won’t die.”
The child walked away briskly through the path that Siderock created by moving aside.
“By the way, where are you headed?”
“The Kaise Forest.”
“… I see.”
The child exited through the gate and ran south, disappearing in no time.
“Well… can’t really blame it. After all, she’s a cursed child.”
Siderock muttered to himself, still picking his nose.
He had known that child was a cursed child.
From the moment she arrived in Yoshanka.
However, she had a letter of recommendation from a baron.
It would be troublesome if he rejected someone with such a letter and later be held accountable for it. Even if it was a cursed child.
However, revealing that he had allowed a cursed child into the town might also lead to complaints from the townsfolk.
Therefore, he pretended not to notice the strands of black hair that fell from the cloth.
He chose to turn a blind eye to it.
Given his perspective, it seemed like a good plot for that child to recklessly challenge the demon’s domain, the Kaise Forest, and meet her end there.
In fact, it would be preferable.
That was why he didn’t stop her.
That “task” was likely an impossible request from a guild that didn’t want to make the cursed child an adventurer.
There was no way a child like that could complete a “task” related to the Kaise Forest.
But Siderock had no idea how unreasonable the “task” truly was.
(However, when it comes to the Adventurer’s Guild, didn’t there used to be a famous adventurer with black hair and black eyes? Even if she’s a cursed child, I thought they would at least register her.)
However, that wasn’t the result.
Instead of refusing her adventurer registration, they assigned her an outrageous “task,” effectively sending her to her death.
(Well… I suppose the guild’s policies might have changed.)
Time flowed, and things changed.
Yoshanka declined, and the Adventurer’s Guild’s policies shifted.
Siderock grew tired of thinking about it and gave up delving too deeply into the matter.
After all, it’s all about the cursed child. It doesn’t really matter to him.
Whether that child lives or dies, it’s of no concern to Siderock.
“….. Hey! Hey, gatekeeper! Did that cursed child come through here already!?”
Lost in thought, his finger still probing his nose, Siderock was once again addressed from behind.
This time, it was a haughty boy’s voice.
Turning around, Siderock saw a silver-haired youth brandishing a sword.
It was Kamasse, a 4th Grade adventurer who had recently come to Yoshanka.
“Yeah yeah, young master, it was just a moment ago. She said she’s heading to the Kaise Forest.”
“H-Hey, don’t call me a young master!”
Kamasse protested, his face turning beet red, flustered.
Surprisingly, he might be a real young master from a good background.
“Any- Any- anyhow! Move aside! I’m heading to the forest too! Open the gate!”
“Sure sure. Don’t get hurt, okaay”
“Hurt?! Don’t underestimate this Kamasse! Well, thank you for your service!”
Siderock stepped aside, and Kamasse, huffing in anger, went on his way to the Kaise Forest, his shoulders tense.
(Even a little brat like him… Might be stronger than me…)
Watching Kamasse’s retreating figure, Siderock recalled something Dakkante, the branch director and his drinking buddy, had said during their drinking sessions.
“Kamasse is strong. Among the newcomers of his age, he’s remarkable. However, on the mental side, he’s still quite immature.”
He was sure that’s what Dakkante had said.
(Well, it doesn’t matter.)
But then again, Kamasse was ultimately none of Siderock’s business.
Whatever.
Siderock stood before the gate, where few pedestrians passed, and began to pick his nose again.
Chapter 79 – The Gatekeeper of the Desolate Town
“Welcome to Yoshanka. This is a town where ‘the wind is cold, but people’s hearts are warm.’ Please enjoy your stay.”
After conveying the town’s rather unceremonious catchphrase to the traveling merchant and allowing them through the gate, Siderock, a town guard, began to pick his nose.
It was a slow job,
Being a gatekeeper in a rural town.
North of Yoshanka, was the Aseto Bay and right at the south of this town was the Kaise Forest.
Towering cliffs known as the “Huge Dragon’s Claw Marks” lining the edge of Aseto Bay, while the Kaise Forest was a well-known demon’s domain.
Back in the day, the journey between the Demes and Tenidis all passed through Yoshanka, making this place a relatively bustling town.
… And, Siderock had heard all about this from his father, who also served as a town guard.
However, with the opening of new trade routes, the number of people visiting Yoshanka had significantly dwindled.
Nowadays, not many bothered to come here. Only merchants like the one he had just let through, who came to sell daily necessities, and individuals from the Drogg Trading Company buying materials from the Adventurer’s Guild outpost.
Occasionally, adventurers would arrive to steal the eggs of the collosal bird, Tohgord that lives on the towering cliffs, or braving the dangers of the Kaise Forest seeking materials from the forest’s creatures. But with each passing year, the town grew lonelier.
(Well… it can’t be helped. The wind is strong here, and the weather is always cloudy. It’s not exactly the most enjoyable place to live.)
Thinking about the town’s declining future brought a chilling wind to Siderock’s heart.
Still, Siderock was a lowly town guard.
He couldn’t come up with any means to save the town.
(What kind of “Ryuu” is scarier than dragons? That’s called the “current of time.”)
[T/N: Dragon = Ryuu / 竜 — Current of Time = Jiryuu / 時流]
While pondering such trivial matters, Siderock proceeded to pick the other nostril.
“Mister.”
It was at that moment.
Siderock was addressed from behind, or in other words, from the town’s side.
It was a sweet, girlish voice.
“Hmm? Ah, the kid who passed by earlier. So, did you become an adventurer?”
Turning around, there stood a child with an expressionless face, her head wrapped tightly in cloth.
“Not yet. I have to complete a ‘task’ to become an adventurer.”
“…? Hmm?… I- I see. Well, I guess sometimes things work that way… Really?”
This was the first time he heard about completing a ‘task’ to become an adventurer.
Siderock tilted his head in confusion. However, upon noticing the black hair that escaped from under the cloth on the child’s head, he understood the situation.
“So, you want to go outside for the ‘task.’ Alright alright, understood. Even if you go missing, I won’t search for you. If you want to die, feel free to do so.”
“I’ll be fine. I won’t die.”
The child walked away briskly through the path that Siderock created by moving aside.
“By the way, where are you headed?”
“The Kaise Forest.”
“… I see.”
The child exited through the gate and ran south, disappearing in no time.
“Well… can’t really blame it. After all, she’s a cursed child.”
Siderock muttered to himself, still picking his nose.
He had known that child was a cursed child.
From the moment she arrived in Yoshanka.
However, she had a letter of recommendation from a baron.
It would be troublesome if he rejected someone with such a letter and later be held accountable for it. Even if it was a cursed child.
However, revealing that he had allowed a cursed child into the town might also lead to complaints from the townsfolk.
Therefore, he pretended not to notice the strands of black hair that fell from the cloth.
He chose to turn a blind eye to it.
Given his perspective, it seemed like a good plot for that child to recklessly challenge the demon’s domain, the Kaise Forest, and meet her end there.
In fact, it would be preferable.
That was why he didn’t stop her.
That “task” was likely an impossible request from a guild that didn’t want to make the cursed child an adventurer.
There was no way a child like that could complete a “task” related to the Kaise Forest.
But Siderock had no idea how unreasonable the “task” truly was.
(However, when it comes to the Adventurer’s Guild, didn’t there used to be a famous adventurer with black hair and black eyes? Even if she’s a cursed child, I thought they would at least register her.)
However, that wasn’t the result.
Instead of refusing her adventurer registration, they assigned her an outrageous “task,” effectively sending her to her death.
(Well… I suppose the guild’s policies might have changed.)
Time flowed, and things changed.
Yoshanka declined, and the Adventurer’s Guild’s policies shifted.
Siderock grew tired of thinking about it and gave up delving too deeply into the matter.
After all, it’s all about the cursed child. It doesn’t really matter to him.
Whether that child lives or dies, it’s of no concern to Siderock.
“….. Hey! Hey, gatekeeper! Did that cursed child come through here already!?”
Lost in thought, his finger still probing his nose, Siderock was once again addressed from behind.
This time, it was a haughty boy’s voice.
Turning around, Siderock saw a silver-haired youth brandishing a sword.
It was Kamasse, a 4th Grade adventurer who had recently come to Yoshanka.
“Yeah yeah, young master, it was just a moment ago. She said she’s heading to the Kaise Forest.”
“H-Hey, don’t call me a young master!”
Kamasse protested, his face turning beet red, flustered.
Surprisingly, he might be a real young master from a good background.
“Any- Any- anyhow! Move aside! I’m heading to the forest too! Open the gate!”
“Sure sure. Don’t get hurt, okaay”
“Hurt?! Don’t underestimate this Kamasse! Well, thank you for your service!”
Siderock stepped aside, and Kamasse, huffing in anger, went on his way to the Kaise Forest, his shoulders tense.
(Even a little brat like him… Might be stronger than me…)
Watching Kamasse’s retreating figure, Siderock recalled something Dakkante, the branch director and his drinking buddy, had said during their drinking sessions.
“Kamasse is strong. Among the newcomers of his age, he’s remarkable. However, on the mental side, he’s still quite immature.”
He was sure that’s what Dakkante had said.
(Well, it doesn’t matter.)
But then again, Kamasse was ultimately none of Siderock’s business.
Whatever.
Siderock stood before the gate, where few pedestrians passed, and began to pick his nose again.
