第１８４４堀：新パーティー結成 (Part2)
In the north, where monsters are viewed with deep-seated loathing, we would likely be met with hostility rather than hospitality.
"Well, I suppose you're right."
Kishua nodded, seemingly having no objections. Or perhaps she had been prepared to argue against including Alfin in this endeavor? These days, Alfin was no longer on the front lines of battle; she spent her time surrounded by people, a gentle smile on her face as she baked sweets. There was no reason to drag her back into the fray now. I agreed with that sentiment entirely. Though, I did wish she would stop providing lethal doses of sugar to everyone.
"And so, Brother, do you have any concrete plans? For instance, where we might depart from?"
"That’s still up in the air. We have scouts already operating within the Giadana Kingdom, so we need to gather intelligence from them first. Even when it comes to registering at the Adventurer's Guild, we’ll need to be selective about the location."
"Is it truly necessary to go to such lengths?"
"Well, if we make a name for ourselves, people will start digging into our origins. If they trace it back, they might find something suspicious. We could play it off as being 'drifters,' but..."
"But 'drifters' also raise questions about our past experience, don't they?"
"Exactly. If we’ve been active somewhere, there should be eyewitness accounts. It would be convenient if we could claim we came from a village that was destroyed by monsters—that would keep the trail of information thin..."
But then again, finding a location that fits that narrative perfectly is a tall order. I suppose we’ll have to compromise somewhere.
"Well, in the worst-case scenario, we can just say we left home in a fit of youthful rebellion and don't care to talk about it, right?"
"That is... a plausible excuse, I suppose."
Kishua and Sia offered their support to my suggestion. It was true; it was common enough for youths to leave their villages in search of glory, and just as common for them to be tight-lipped about the circumstances of their departure. Still, once we started making a name for ourselves, that excuse would lose its luster. I’d treat it as a way to buy us some time.
"And what about our equipment? Surely we can decide on that much?"
"True. But don't expect anything grand. You can't exactly carry those Holy Swords of yours, can you?"
"We know. We keep them hidden precisely because they draw too much attention."
With that, she carelessly displayed the Holy Sword—a weapon whispered of as legendary across the If Continent. It would be fine if it looked like an ordinary blade, but true to its legendary status, Comet had adorned it with such elaborate decorations that it was impossible to miss. Being a woman, she certainly had a flair for that kind of ornamentation.
"You should avoid using your high-end gear for daily tasks, too. We need to look like newcomers. What is your standard equipment?"
"Oh? Shall we show you?"
And so, I was treated to a display of their armaments. As expected of battle-hardened veterans who had carved their names into the history of the If Continent as Holy Sword wielders, the quality was undeniable.
"It’s decent gear, but it’s definitely not the equipment of a novice."
"Indeed. It’s obvious at a glance that these are high-quality pieces."
Vilia immediately agreed with my assessment. The weapons were all well-balanced and standard in type, but they weren't the sort of things a beginner would own; they were expensive, meticulously maintained, and any discerning eye would recognize them as the tools of a veteran.
"Well, obviously. We use them every day—you don't treat your life-line with carelessness."
"That is certainly true."
"Naturally. If you neglect the maintenance of your gear, you die."
Their logic was sound, but novices usually lacked the luxury of such care, and they usually carried much shabbier equipment.
"I’m sure you understand, but you can't use these."
"We know, we know. A newcomer wouldn't have such fine things; it would invite suspicion about our background. But that brings us back to the question: what *are* we supposed to use?"
"Ah, don't worry about that. It’s about time..."
Just as I began to speak, the office door swung open.
"Hi-ya! Are you looking for 'strongest-tier' gear disguised as absolute junk?"
"..."
Narjia-san walked in with a beaming smile, and there was no doubt that everyone’s faces went rigid. Damn it. She used to refuse to make weapons without decorative flourishes, but had she recently developed a hobby for these "hidden" armaments? I prayed there weren't any self-destruct mechanisms installed.
A four-person party: Vilia, Nina, Kishua, and Sia. All of them were swordsmen, which might look unbalanced to an outsider, but since they all possessed secondary talents in magic, the synergy was actually quite good. Besides, Vilia and the others could use bows and magic as secondary weapons, allowing for a proper division of roles.
Now, the only question left was whether Narjia-san’s weapons were actually safe to use.