「Beautiful forest~!」
After a month’s journey, we finally arrived at the territory of Trentia, where Rose-san presides.
This forest that I look around unintentionally seems to be the entrance to Trentia.
Trees lined both sides of the paved road, which made it easy for carriages to travel, greeted us, and the sunlight spilled through the leaves like that of a tunnel in the forest.
When I get off the carriage and take a quick breath, I feel the fresh air enter my lungs.
「Yuan-san, it’s calming」
「That’s right~」
Kiara-chan, like me, inhales and exhales air as much as she can.
Kiara-chan is an elf, so I am sure she likes places surrounded by nature, such as forests.
「But with so many trees, it looks like it could be inhabited by monsters」
Comparing which has more monsters, the plains or the forests, there is inevitably a tendency for the forests to have more monsters.
Animals gather for food in the forest, and monsters that eat animals also gather. In addition, the visibility in the forest is worse than on the plains, so it is convenient for monsters to target humans.
「Yes, there are monsters, but we have countermeasures」
「We and our adventurers are regularly taking down monsters, so I don’t think there are too many of them」
「I see. I thought for sure that Trents had something to do with it」
The origin of the name “Trentia” seems to be related to the fact that many Trents have inhabited the area for a long time, so I used detection magic to look for Trents , but when I wondered why there was no such response, Rose-san told me the reason.
「There are a few Trents on our side of the border, but they basically live on the edge of the border」
「Is that so」
The Trents inhabited the edge of the border.
Certainly, if they can be manipulated in some way, it is safer to leave them there as a defense.
「I can see it」
「This place is…」
After climbing a modest slope and just as I was about to descend, I saw a large lake.
「Amazing…」
The sunlight glistened and shone off the lake, and the forest looked fantastic as it rippled and swayed in the wind.
And I can see the town on the front of the lake… not on the side of the border, but on the side closer to the Imperial City.
「That’s Trentia」
「Well, it’s a rural town」
A high wall covers the town with the lake in the background, and wooden houses are lined up within the wall.
However, unlike the wooden houses I have seen in the past, these houses are not made of wooden planks laminated together, but are constructed of logs, and they all look very impressive.
「Then, we will go ahead and announce that Rose-sama has returned」
「Umu」
At Rose-san’s brief reply, Fiona-san and Karina-san rode their horses.
「Let’s go leisurely」
「Yes」
I suppress the urge to run toward the town, and patiently walk alongside the carriage. I can’t abandon my job as an escort at the last minute.
「Don’t worry, take it easy, the town won’t run away」
She must have seen that I was fidgeting.
「Open the gates! Open the gate~s!」
As the carriage approached, the double-opening gates opened with a loud voice.
「「「Rose-sama, welcome home」」」
And when the carriage went through the gate, thunderous voices echoed through the town.
We cannot hide our surprise at being greeted as if welcoming back a hero.
Some were even in tears and waved to the carriage, and Rose-san waved back to everyone, showing her safe return.
「Rose-sama is well loved」
「I hope so」
Rose-san says so, but this commotion is not normal just because the lord has returned.
In the village where I used to live, the first thing we did when the lord showed up was to hide.
It’s not the difference between a village and a town, it’s whether you want to see them or not, or whether you want to be seen or not.
After proceeding for a while from the gate, the carriage suddenly stopped.
At the same time, Laura-chan jumped out of the carriage, and the carriage, which was also approaching us from the front, stopped, and a woman jumped out of it.
The woman who jumped out comes toward her with a short run.
Laura-chan then jumped on the woman and started crying loudly.
「Mamaaaa」
As if to let out what she had been holding back, she cries as she is hugged by the person she called her mother.
「Laura… I’m glad you’re safe…」
As she hugged Laura-chan tightly, her mother also shed tears without seeming to be bothered by the public’s attention.
「I am glad that Mother-in-law is safe and sound. And Laura, you did very well」
When a man in fine clothes and two knights appeared from behind the embracing pair, he bowed to Rose-san and patted Laura-chan.
「My son-in-law, I apologize for the trouble I have caused you」
「No, let us rejoice now that you and my daughter have returned safely. I’m sure you must be tired from your long journey, so let’s go back to the mansion. We will discuss the details there」
「That’s right」
It appears that that man is Laura-chan’s father.
Laura-chan’s father got into the carriage, and Laura-chan was put into the carriage on the opposite side, being held by her mother.
It seems that the escort was successfully accomplished.
「Well then, let’s go」
Rose-san’s carriage is about to start moving, chasing after the carriage in which Laura-chan is riding.
But we can’t keep up with it, so I call out to Rose-san.
「Um, we’ll leave you to it」
When I said this, Rose-san looked surprised for a moment, but then immediately laughed.
「I forgot that you are an adventurer, perhaps because we have been together so long. If you want, why don’t you continue to work for me?」
It seems that Rose-san had plainly forgotten about it. Moreover, instead of deceiving us, she recruited us as her guards.
「I’m glad you invited us, but we have other duties to complete」
However, the Princess has asked us to do something for her. Even if I stay here for a while, I cannot serve her.
Besides, in another month we will be treated as criminals.
I am very happy that she trusts us and appreciates us that much, though.
「Shame, but it can’t be helped」
I can see that she are truly disappointed.
Then I was handed a letter from Rose-san.
「If you submit this to the guild, the request will be completed. I cannot go to the guild, so I am sorry to do it this way」
「No, you are a lord, so naturally」
Because although the Adventurers’ Guild is located in Trentia, its jurisdiction is not in the territory, but only in the Adventurers’ Guild.
It is not a place where the lord would personally go, so it is a natural step.
If something goes wrong in the Adventurers’ Guild, both parties can expect damage, so it is basically an unspoken agreement to send a proxy.
「Well, I’ll see you later」
「Later?」
「Umu, Yuan and the others have something to report, and above all, I owe you a debt of gratitude, so look forward to it」
When Rose-san told me to look forward to it, I conversely felt uneasy, but I silently nodded my head and watched the carriage as it began to move.
「Well, we’re going straight to the guild」
I have to report the request and our arrival in the town.
As soon as Rose-san and the others were gone, the people who had gathered there dispersed.
Still, we decided to head for the guild, receiving several stares and attention, though I don’t know if it was as those who escorted Rose and the others or as adventurers from the Imperial City.
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