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Volume 2 Chapter 4: Attackers at Gateside

 

“ Satou here. Ants are used to describe diligent workers, but with white ants (termites), it can only mean trouble when they start working. In this world, there seems to be even more troublesome ants… „

 On the way back to Gateside Inn, we run into county soldiers who have just returned from patrol.

 “Lilio! Iona-san and Lou too!”

 Perhaps having battled another wyvern, Miss Iona and other armored soldiers have all sorts of scratches on their equipment.

 Running up to them, Zena-san hurriedly start chanting Wind Magic healing spells.

 “Yes, please.”

 In place of Zena-san who is busy chanting her spell, I chat with Lilio and others.

 “If wyverns show up that often, I would have quit the army long ago.”

 “Today, we fought with ant monsters called ‘Large Fang Ants’.”

 Miss Iona tries to explain for Lilio, but the tall Lou makes it more confusing.

 “Before we ran into the group of Large Fang Ants, we discovered ratman1knights trespassing upon the county. Lou is angry because she thinks the ratmen lured the Large Fang Ants here.”

 I see, the ratmen had led a Monster Train2 here.

 But, is it really fine to tell an outsider about this? Maybe the discipline here isn’t as strict, or maybe Shiga Kingdom doesn’t see intelligence control as important.

 As if to appease Lilio, Zena-san casts her healing Wind Magic spell.

 “You’re welcome.”
 After responding to Lilio and the others with a smile, Zena-san goes to heal the other wounded.

 “Noo——!”

 —Shit, I haven’t reset the range of the Radar.

 For some reason, Lilio and the others follow me.

 “Goshujin-sama! Praise us, nano desu!”

 Seeing that, Lilio and the others unsheath their swords at the same time.

 “No need to worry, it’s already dead.”

 “What’s with that ant?”

 “Defeated~?”

 The two wave their hand around to answer my question.

 “Goshujin-sama, there doesn’t seem to be more monsters around.”

 Probably having been spooked, Yuni-chan is gripping Liza’s coat with her small, shaking hand.

 The Radar’s range is too small, so I open the Map to reveal the forest beyond the main gate.

 “Pochi, Tama, go get your short swords. Arisa, bring Lulu down here. Liza, go get the tent that was used as bed cover.”

 “Aye!”

 “Yes, sir.”

 My actions probably seem out of nowhere, so Miss Iona asks suspiciously

 “This Flying Ant, it can’t be acting alone. I’m afraid there might be more. You should send at least several riders out to check—”

 They probably saw the ants approaching.

 The Madam and Martha-chan look out from the inn with uneasy faces. Yuni-chan had turned to hug my leg after Liza left, and I usher her towards them.

 Only, these Flying Ants all have sharp claws and exoskeletons tougher than normal ants. What’s more, they can fly. They seem fairly dangerous for the average citizen.

 The ants are flying right past the city wall, but like birds suddenly encountering glass, they then turn back toward the other side.

 —What was that?

 As if predicting the question in my mind, Arisa explains, already having brought Lulu downstairs.

 “This isn’t Space Magic. If they set up a constant physical barrier, it would waste too much mana.”

 “Arisa, take Lulu inside the tavern to hide. That place has stone walls on three sides, so it should be safe.

 I order Arisa, and also have Pochi and Tama stand at the entrance when they come back with their short swords. Then using some tables and the tarp Liza brought here, I make a barricade for in case the ants get in.

 “Yes nano desu!”

 “I’ll be clearing the monsters that come close to the inn with Liza.”

 The county soldiers stand in formation at the front gate. Zena-san is casting a defensive spell against air attacks, but it’s taking a while likely because of the sheer size.

 Like a rude commuter trying to get on a train that’s about to depart, an ant lodges itself into the gap of the nearly closed front gate.

 From within the Guard Office, the voice of Sir Soun orders the guards.

 During the brief moment the gate paused, one by one the ants pile onto the gap, wedging open the gate—in the end, the ants have successfully broke into the city.

 Ants that try to take flight after entering the city are struck down by Zena-san’s “Fallen Hammer”, while Lilio and the guards shoot down any that avoided the spell with their crossbows.

 Turning into a ground battle is in the county soldiers’ favor, but there are still to many ants.

 “Goshujin-sama, allow me.”

 Some low-flying ants try to go for the horses in the courtyard, but I blast through them by flicking Micro coins.

 If I practice a little more, I can probably even hit enemies behind obstacles.

 “You shall not pass no desu!”4

 Blocking the ants trying to attack the inn, Pochi and Tama stand in their way.

 “Hah, nano desu!”

 Seeing Pochi stop her movements, the remaining ants on both sides swing down their claws—

 Hopping onto Pochi’s back, Tama blocks the ants’ attacks with her short sword and buckler.

 “Just doin’ what ‘ah can~?”5

 When the ants pull back their claws, Tama takes the chance to jump into the air, stabbing her short sword into the head of one ant.

 The inn erupts in a deafening cheer for the tiny warriors who took down three ants in the blink of an eye.

 In less than half an hour, the ants in Gateside Plaza have mostly been eradicated.

 Probably Arisa’s Mind Magic. I see her making peace signs with her tiny hands.

 “Liza, I’ll leave this to you for a moment.”

 As if to prove her determined response, Liza takes down two ants with one strike of her black spear.

 Inside the All-Round Agency, I take out a metal bar from Storage, after making sure I’m hidden from view. It isn’t a mace, but actually the handle of some sort of weapon.

 I exterminate the ants that try to attack me with the iron bar.

  >>> Skill obtained: “One-Handed Blunt Weapon”.

 Speaking of which, I haven’t gotten a blunt weapon-related skill before.

 Two ants are gathered at the wooden door leading to the basement, and I quickly dispose of them with the iron bar.

 I can tell Nadi-san is unhurt from her status displayed by the Map, but I call out to reassure her.

 “Y-, yes, I’m alright!”

 If I line the floor with gold coin, they shouldn’t be dissolved by the acid, but that will be the back-up plan.6

 Before I can actually do so, a small figure runs in.

 “Boss!”

 “■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Ivy Control.”

 Soon, Nadi-san is brought up by the vines.

 “Thank you very much, Satou-san! And Boss, too.”

 “No, I really am thankful!”

 “Who?”

 The boy turns around, and thanks me by saying only the word “Grateful”. So terse, it makes me wonder if he’s really being sincere in his gratitude.

 He is of the most famous race in all of Fantasy—an Elf.

 “Is something wrong, Satou-san?”

 I was going to blurt out “Elf”, but I stop myself and go with his hair color instead.

 “Elf, huh? With long ears?”

 Hearing my words, the Manager turns his face away like an upset kid.

 His name is Yusalatoya Boruënan9. As later explained, rather than a family name, “Boruënan” is actually the forest where he lived, and all Elves who lived there bear this name.

 While pacifying the Manager, Nadi-san confirms with me.

 “Ever since the First Hero and Founder of the Saga Empire called the Long Ear Tribe ‘Elves’, there have been people who confuse the two, even after a thousand years.”

 Surely, just like me, the First Hero must have been influenced by that classic Fantasy work, set on a “cursed island”11, and mistook the Long Ear Tribe as Elves.

 A Japanese who lived that long ago couldn’t have known what an “Elf” is…

 “Therefore, mistaking Elves for the Long Ear Tribe is a bit of a taboo!”

 I smile at Nadi-san for informing me about this, and bow to the Manager in an apology.

 “Sheesh, Boss. That doesn’t even sound like you’ve forgiven him.”

 As she spoke in place of the untalkative Manager, Nadi-san brushes back the Manager’s hair, unveiling his ear—slightly more pointy at the tip than a regular person’s—so that I can see.

 From their casual interactions, these two are probably married or in love.12

 “Then, Nadi-san, I’ll come to you later about housing.”

 After saying goodbye to Nadi-and the Manager, I leave the place.

 When I get out of the building, the battle at Gateside is already over.

 “Satou-san!”

 Perhaps unused to running in a skirt, she trips over it just as she reaches me. I put my arm out to support her before she can fall.

 “You alright?”

 Though I would like to stay like that a little longer, Zena-san’s guards are giving me looks, so I help her get back on her feet.

 The injured ones aren’t badly hurt either, and priests who answered the alarm have already begun treatment.

 “Bummer, your hard-earned vacation is up in smokes!”

 As Zena-san explains, nearby villages all have a system that repels monsters known as Barrier Pylons, but they are not as powerful as the wall barrier in Seiryuu City.
 I watch as Zena-san leaves with her team and some light cavalry. The Arcane Soldiers besides Zena-san seem to also be mobilizing, and other teams have already departed.

 Hearing Liza calling for me in front of Gateside Inn, I go up to her. A man who looks like a soldier is here.

 “That’s correct. I’m Satou.”

 Checking inside, I find the Cores of Flying Ants.

 “No problem, but shouldn’t treating the casualty and clean up come first?”

 He didn’t evaluate the cores, count them, or even ask for my name. Not that I’m particularly paranoid, but this is nothing less than trying to pull wool over my eyes.

 “What?”

 Looking firmly into the side of his face, I assert my stance.

 In terms of my net worth, the value of these Cores is a drop in the ocean, but it isn’t right for Liza and everyone else’s hard work to be taken advantage of.

 “A merchant is alway cautious. Even if the client is a saint or a Hero, we will always take a written contract over any oral agreements.”

 The man scoffs, then scribbles something with the ink and paper I provided. When he tries to write down a price lower than market, I merely draw out the calculations on the ground to correct his “mistake”.

 His words are harsh, but I’ll take the IOU note without complaint. I’ll be able to exchange this for money with the County.

 “Are you not going to stamp it?”

 The man’s face twists in displeasure when I remind him, and grabs the certificate from my hand and stamps it forcefully.

 Not seeing any more tricks, I put the certificate away this time.

 A crook like that, he’ll be fired for fraud or embezzlement before long.

  >>> Skill obtained: “Calculation”.13

  >>> Title obtained: “New Merchant”.
  >>> Title obtained: “Shady Merchant”.

 Checking the Logs, I see additional titles and skills.
 I really want to ask whever is governing the skill system, “When did I ever indimidate someone?”

 As the sun sets, people on the streets have returned to their everyday life.

 As for why the guards at the gate didn’t discover it during inspection, Lilio and her team which just returned from patrol was right behind the carriage, so they probably let it go without a thorough check. Old habits die hard.

 Hearing the Madam’s praise, Pochi and Tama become bashful.

 Doesn’t seem like she is going to be praised.

 “Is this good?”

 The Husband is moving a large table to the courtyard, while the Madam directs where it should be set.

 “In front of my other patrons, I can’t let these kids stay inside, but I’ll be damned if I can’t express my gratitude! Allow my husband to show off his cooking, enjoy!”

 “It smells great!”

  “So hungry~?”

 I can’t help but smile at the four standing back to get out of the way, yet staring so intently at the food.

 “Thank you, Yuni-chan.”

 These fruits are for Lulu. She was already feeling unwell and only got more anemic after the scare from the Flying Ant attack, so now she is all pale, lying down next to me.

 If only there were some medicine for this. Let’s go check out the alchemy shop on the westside or an apothecary after eating.
 —Oh, and all the food tasted great.

 

Ratman is the only beastkin race so far with furigana that dictates how what they’re called, so I conceded to the author in this instance. I will still translate the others as “whatever-kin” unless otherwise noted.  A “Monster Train” is where players purposely (or mistakenly) lures a mass of monsters around the map in an MMO.  Small point about Pochi’s grammar. I think I mentioned it in Volume 1 Chapter 5, but here’s a reminder: After certain clauses (for example, い-adjectives), it would be incorrect to use the “な” particle, so she will drop it. I will leave it alone as I think the small variation in her speech pattern adds to her charm.  She literally says “ここは通さないのです!”, while Gandalf’s famous line is translated as “ここは通さぬぞ!”  The text says “なんくるないさ”, an Okinawan idiom. Nico Nico Pedia states that it comes from “真(まくとぅ)そーけーなんくるないさ”, meaning “Do the best one can, and leave the rest to chance”.  So rich he can line the floor with gold… (Options: He is making it hail!) Anyway, the important thing to know here is that gold is usually resistant to most acids except aqua regia.  For some reason, I’m imagining Übel Blatt’s Köinzell, with a pointy hat. (from the description it should correct)  No, not the tiny ones with butterfly wings. The term used here is “妖精 yousei”. Broadly speaking, “fairies” can refer to all kinds of mythical races.  That isn’t a Germanic umlaut, but a trema used to indicate that the vowel needs to be pronounced separately, like in “Noël” or “naïve”.  The furigana says “ブーチ” and I have no idea what it refers to. (Options: It can be read as “booch”. I believe it’s just a slang term for people with long sacks on their ear, or so I heard from my friends.)  The reference is Record of Lodoss War, the famous, Dungeons & Dragons-inspired Japanese Fantasy franchise.  Or they’re more like father and daughter with, what, a 260-year difference in age? (Options: No, age doesn’t matter. She address him quite casually so I think they are in love) (Miaomix: Well, this is just my opinion, and as later revealed, the romantic love is quite one-sided. Reminds me of a certain 29-year-old in a teen’s body…) Note how this subtly mirrors the way he obtains this skill in WN Volume 1.
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