chapter 8
Everyone gathered in the drawing room of the guild looked at each other with terrifying expressions. In addition to the request fee guaranteed by the guild, a guild in another city sent a considerable amount of compensation in return for rescuing an adventurer belonging to it.
Now the work of dividing it has begun. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small amount, but in order to prevent a quarrel with a large amount, the guild employees calculate the money by hand and divide it.
Female guild members in neat uniforms counted the gold coins and presented them in sacks.
“Adventurer Crank.”
“Adventurer Adam.”
“Party Molly Wizards.”
“Ah, why did you name it like that!”
“It was temporary, so I made it roughly, sorry, do you think it should be changed?”
The guild leader, who was sitting at the desk, skipped the sight of Molly and the ghetto talking.
“You worked hard. everyone.”
“Oh, no. Guild leader.”
The middle-aged guild leader looked at the crank.
“Crank, are you thinking of arming that shield?”
“I will sell someday, but not now. This was pretty good.”
“Then, please use our guild when selling someday.”
Crank’s pitch nodded. The guild leader who smiled at me put both hands on the desk and said.
“Now, folks, good news. A dragon rare expedition is planned. Teams from 4 cities will gather and depart. It is a large-scale expedition with an investigation team. And the guild leaders of those 4 cities really want you to participate. In particular, two automatons called Carrot and Green, as well as Lena and Ghetto, were directly mentioned by name. Would you like to attend?”
“Ah, let’s take our hands off…”
“I will guarantee a reasonable amount. Wouldn’t it be better for those who have been there first to guide you? Will you take care of it?”
The guild leader leaned out as if he were going up to his desk and looked at the people sitting on the sofa. After staying up all night, the guild leader’s eyes were bloodshot.
“When are you leaving?”
“oh! crank! I was believing. That you would come first! We are going to wait for 2 teams before we start. The rest of the team is an appointment to meet locally. It takes time to prepare, so it will be in about a week at the earliest.”
Cranks have a few more requirements. It wasn’t too difficult, so the guild leader immediately gave permission, and the rest of the teams decided to attend.
“I can take a break for a week and then go.”
“Okay, take a break and start preparing. And by the way, Adam, won’t you guys come to our party?”
“yes?”
Adam, who was opening the bag of money, asked in surprise. Ghetto expressed his honest feelings.
“It’s because Lena’s ability is a waste. Even though they are a team with the enhanced human, there is a limit to what the two of them can do. Wouldn’t you like to earn money more efficiently? Of course you have to risk your life.”
When Adam hesitated and couldn’t answer, Crank said something.
“I recommend. A person’s true nature is revealed in extreme situations. In that regard, I think you, who have fought together, know best. You are pretty good people.”
“Oh oh! Rejoice guys, it’s rare for a crank to compliment others!”
The guild leader laughed mischievously. said the ghetto.
“Right now, I’ll even rent an automatic crossbow for you. Reinforcement of power is important.”
“I’ll do it.”
“good. Let’s go out and have a meal and talk. Bring Lena too. And Crank! let you come too Carrot too,”
“I’ll stop by City Hall and then go. You go down first.”
Everyone stood up from their seats and looked at the guild leader.
“I will share the progress, so please come back here in three days. If it’s urgent, I can pick you up from this side. You know.”
Everyone bowed their heads to show respect to the guild leader and then left the office.
At the same time, Carrot, who was wandering around the hospital where the adventurers rescued from the Oak Cave were taking care of, found someone.
“ah! Elf man!”
“The introduction is late. My name is U.S. Carrot, the automaton girl.”
“Elves are very cultured when it comes to talking. Are you doing this on purpose?”
“It’s considered polite among us to say this.”
“Yes, US. How are you feeling?”
U.S., who was sitting on a bench in the hospital yard and straightening her long hair, said.
“When my Orc friends hung me upside down, I felt like I had lost the whole world, but now I feel much more comfortable. I never dreamed that a hard hospital sheet could be so cozy. But did you come here to see me?”
“No, I came to see the test subject. And do some experiments.”
“huh?”
Carrot shouted.
“green! green! Come out and see!”
After a while, an automaton slowly appeared at the entrance.
“Did you call me?”
The elf US remembered what he had forgotten and put on a thrilled expression. Carrot, who was watching, smiled happily.
“how is it? Do you still remember what I said that night?”
“ha ha ha! I don’t think I’ll ever forget you until I die. One more thing to talk about over and over again.”
“I’ll add one more story.”
After speaking, Carrot started to install the items he had brought in the yard. It was a large pot. He put a magic furnace with a tripod on the floor, boiled water, ground the well-roasted coffee beans in his bag with a grinder, put the powder in a cloth bag, and threw it into the pot. Then the faint aroma of coffee spread all over the place.
After a while,
People started walking out of the hospital one by one.
“Carrot? Is it Carrot?”
“Is that coffee?”
“It is a conditioned reflex. Aren’t you curious?”
“Oh my God! ha ha ha!”
Excited, S&B hugged Carrot and rubbed her cheeks. Carrot, who had laughed with him, got out of his arms, put the tin cup he had prepared on the folding table, scooped out coffee with a ladle, and served it.
“how is it? Warriors, would you like to have a cup of tea with the automaton?”
The warriors of the day, dressed in casual clothes, were delighted to see Carrot, who had come to visit him, and accepted the cup.
From the morning of the next day, the two were busy. Because today is moving day.
Hearing the crackling sound from the second floor, the innkeeper let out a bitter sigh.
“I’m a little sad to hear you’re leaving.”
said Carrot, who had come down carrying a large bag with all sorts of odds and ends stuffed into the bed sheet.
“Don’t talk like that. Maria. I will come over sometime.”
“I owe you five years.”
Krank came down with a bag in each hand and bowed his head to his mistress.
It’s always something that adventurers come and go, but if you’re a good-natured and skilled friend who helped the store in many ways, you’d be disappointed.
“Carrot, are you leaving now?”
The waitresses knelt down and hugged Carrot, whining.
“It’s not that I can’t see you, so why are you crying?”
“Ew! But now that I’m lonely at night, how?”
Carrot lifted the waitress’s chin with her small hand, looked into her eyes, and whispered.
“Now go to sleep hugging a good man, not a doll. ‘Cause I’m old enough Have confidence.”
“Kyaaagh! ha ha ha!”
Employees screamed and loved it.
Crank left the inn door with a wave of his hand, threw his bag into a cart parked by the roadside, loaded up the bundle Carrot was carrying, and put Carrot on top of it to pull the cart.
Carrot, sitting on a large bundle, asked.
“But where is your new house?”
“It is not far from here. I bought it on the condition that the surrounding public order be maintained.”
“Maintaining peace?”
“Well, just living here is enough.”
After leaving the residential area, I finally arrived at a storage area located near the western wall of the Argon.
“Wow, was there a place like this in town?”
“There.”
The place Crank pointed to was an area lined with warehouses, and among them was the number 6.
“Eh? It’s not a detached house, it’s a warehouse?”
“It is a detached house. It has to be equipped, filled with tools, and also serves as a workshop.”
Considering his inclination, this choice might have been natural. Carrot jumped off the cart and helped Crank move the load inside.
“Wow, how wide is it?”
“I have a lot of work to do, so decorating is for later. We need basic furniture and fixtures. Let’s go buy it.”
Crank, who came out after closing the warehouse, held out a leather bag to Carrot.
“What’s this?”
“Pin money. Do you remember what I said in front of that orc bronze door?”
He said he would definitely give me some money.
“to?! give me this much Enough to buy the kids candy!”
“They say money is also an expression of love and concern.”
Crank turned and started walking, and Carrot mentally puffed up his cheeks as he looked down at the large bag of money.
Crank went around the market, buying food, furniture, and daily necessities to eat right away. Carrot was a little uneasy.
“Master, are you okay? Aren’t you sick?”
“no? why?”
“A person who is usually close to a mistress suddenly starts spending money.”
Crank looked down at Carrot and started walking again.
“As long as you accumulate money, your eyes will be happy, but your heart will rot. I’m not a handmaid I was just waiting for today.”
Those that could be delivered were delivered by delivery, and those that were not returned to the house full of carts.
As furniture, sofas, and tables were placed in the spacious warehouse, the appearance of people living was established. It was getting dark, and Carrot cooked while temporary light balls were installed on the ceiling. Since there is no kitchen, I used a pot hanging on a tripod like when camping.
“It’s rice! Eat and do!”
“huh.”
Large grilled beef, stir-fried vegetables, and bread were placed in front of Crank, who was sitting at the table. And the transparent glass was filled with greenish-yellow liquid.
“Is this cabbage juice?”
“Yes, it is good for stomach ailments. Crank, do you have to live a long time?”
Crank started eating without saying anything. Carrot said after seeing him eating with the mouth cover open while wearing a helmet.
“There’s no one here, so why don’t we take it off and eat?”
“Ah, I see.”
He took off his helmet and lowered it to the floor, revealing the face of an ordinary man. That’s how it looked in Carrot’s eyes.
thump-!
Crank, startled by the knock on the door, quickly put on his helmet, and Carrot watched as if it was a little funny, then turned his head.
“who is this?”
“excuse me.”
Carrot looked at Crank.
“Your name is unusual, do you have a friend named Excuse me?”
“It is green.”
“that’s right. But why did you come?”
Crank, who had stuffed all the meat on his plate into his mouth and chewed it, gestured for him to bring it. When Carrot ran to the door and opened the door, an automaton wearing something like a cape stood there. it was green
“Carrot.”
“Green is here. What’s happen?”
“The head of the Argon Guild asked me to deliver the letter.”
Crank, who shoved the stir-fried vegetables into his mouth and chewed it a few times, passed it over with cabbage juice, approached while chewing on the bread.
Carrot shouted.
“Eat some slowly! So you get a stomachache!”
“If there is no work, I will eat slowly.”
After reading the letter Green gave him, Crank nodded and looked at Green. The normal automaton was the size of an adult, so I didn’t have to bow my head like that.
“Green, we’re leaving for a large-scale dragon rare expedition soon, and you have to go too. Everyone is looking forward to you. So, try to be as prepared as possible. I will repair your body as long as I can. This letter is a temporary repair permit from your guild.”
“Is that so? What can I do?”
“Climb up on the long workbench over there and lie down. And turn it off.”
“All right.”
The automaton trudged along, took off its robe, climbed onto the workbench, and lay down. Then he closed his eyes and didn’t move.
“You are steady. But if I tell you to turn off the power, don’t you have to say no? Have you forgotten the 3 principles of the automaton?”
“I’ve explained it enough, so you’ll believe it. What would you do?”
“I?”
Crank examined Green’s body, then took a tool and began to open the covers on his arms and legs. Carrot, who had been thinking about it for a while, said.
“I guess I will act differently depending on the situation. If I were fully prepared, I would decline. Because I have to protect my body. If it’s in dire need of repair and I can trust the operator, I’ll go along. Because I have to obey human commands.”
Crank said in a voice mixed with laughter.
“It’s you.”
“Ahem! Praise more!”