A Position of Advantage in Negotiation
The Baroa Forest, situated to the northeast of Regor, served as a crucial timber harvesting area in the region.
In resource-poor Regor, the demand for timber, especially as building materials, was exceedingly high. During winter, a substantial amount was also necessary for fuel.
While the straightforward disadvantage of the forest being a haven for monsters couldn't be ignored, people simply couldn't live without the forest's bounty.
There were several work cabins scattered throughout Baroa Forest, providing basic accommodations and facilities for tool maintenance and repair, among others.
Though these work cabins were used by various individuals like hunters and forestry personnel, they weren't open to just anyone. Usage was restricted to those permitted by the guild or recognized by the town.
However, the locks weren't secured.
In such a situation, the fact was, it was fruitless to argue; many would simply start using the facilities without permission. An unlocked building with a roof and walls, facilitating living among the lush forests, naturally appealed to forest bandits.
That's why guild members, like us today, conducted regular patrols, though I believed there was much room for improvement.
Specifically, I wished the use of these cabins could be reserved in advance. It wasn't uncommon for days to overlap even among authorized users, leading to a logjam of individuals sleeping on top of each other, akin to a mountain cabin experience. Frankly, I wasn't the type who could tolerate sleeping with someone else's leg as my pillow.
「You feel it too, right? Outside, there are traces of butchery.」
There's an arbor near the work cabin, littered with unfinished timber projects and haphazardly stacked bricks made from clay.
From a nearby tree, the foot of what appeared to be a Mad Boar dangled, evidence of a butchered wildlife, perhaps.
「There are people in the work cabin.」
「I hear voices... but how many are there?」
「Hunters, maybe?」
「... Well, let's see.」
I scrutinized the Mad Boar's foot hanging from the tree.
Apparently, it was caught in a snare. The snare had forced it to bleed using a barbed mechanism, and it seemed that during capture, the Mad Boar had thrashed wildly, leading to its foot being deeply embedded in the snare, becoming inseparable. The strong cord had nearly melded with the foot.
As it turns out, I recognized this type of snare and cord.
「Damn it.」
Comparing it to the illegal snare I had just retrieved from my pack, it was a perfect match.
The cord and metalwork were both unauthorized, handmade items. But they matched exactly.
Without a doubt, this butchery was the work of the same bandit who had been using illegal snares.
「Well, this is a hassle.」
「Indeed. Had we not found it, we could have pretended it didn't exist...」
Sheena and I exchanged glances.
Like me, she seemed reluctantly apprehensive.
Honestly, minor illegal activities weren't a big deal, as long as they weren't discovered and didn't harm others — there were plenty who bent the rules.
However, finding it during a survey mission, especially since we were working jointly, made it difficult to ignore it...
But the reality was those individuals were already in the work cabin.
Besides, night was approaching. We'd inevitably have to spend the night either in the work cabin or nearby, alongside these petty criminals.
Just thinking about it felt like a headache.
「... Anyway, we must act before it's completely dark. Hey, can I leave the negotiation with the people in the work cabin to Artemis?」
「Sure. Our ranks are... Actually, it would help if I could leave the negotiation to you, Mongrel.」
「What, why? You've got more fame than me.」
「I want to see how you handle dealing with people, particularly bandits. We will, if necessary, protect you with all our might. But if you're not confident, well, that's fine too.」
Aw, come on — what a chore you've placed on my shoulders.
But alright. I'd appreciate any assistance, as long as there were no accidental misfires.
「Got it. I'll try to resolve it peacefully. But just asking, could we simply pretend we saw nothing and share the cabin for the night?」
「Impossible. We can't lower our guard against bandits. Restraining them at minimum is essential. They're unknown criminals; we can't predict what actions they might take.」
In these aspects, Sheena was an exceptionally honorable person.
I understood, given that Artemis was an all-female party, that they had ample reason to remain vigilant.
「Mongrel-senpai, be careful.」
「Gotcha.」
Responding to Raina, who was preparing her bow, I knocked on the work cabin's door.
The lively voices inside fell silent, and a moment later, I sensed someone's presence approaching.
「Who is it?」
「It's the guild. We're here to stay the night. I'm coming in, alright?」
「Well, I suppose that's fine.」
Opening the door revealed three young men inside. Judging by their gear, they were likely hunters. At the moment, they seemed to be sorting through the fat of the boar they'd butchered.
Whether I'd seen them before at the guild was uncertain. They might have been newcomers.
But, at least they didn't seem to be the "thieves" sort of people, which was a relief.
Though they were almost certainly the bandits who had set the illegal snares.
「Three of you, huh. Was the boar hanging from the tree outside the same as that meat?」
「Yeah. It was a small boar, but powerful.」
They admitted it with a boastful air. No intention to hide it?
「Hey, you!」
「Oh, crap...」
It's a little too late to pretend it was a slip of the tongue, guys.
But it's settled. What should I do with them now?
Once we return to town, handing them over along with the evidence to the guards would end it. But the interim period presented a challenge.
「... You guys set the illegal snares, didn't you? I collected them earlier; these ones.」
「!」
「'We didn't know' won't fly. Those iron pendants hanging around your necks mark you as rookie guild members. You can't claim ignorance; you've had at least the basic training.」
The three young men exchanged nervous glances.
Their weapons included butchering knives and machetes. With equivalent reach to short swords and high in lethality, though swings slow without body enhancement through magic power.
「... Hey, old man.」
「I'm not quite an old man yet. Just call me Mongrel.」
「... Mongrel-san. We've been struggling with money, so we're working hard hunting this way. Sure, the snare wasn't right, but it's not that terrible, is it? Just this time, could you turn a blind eye?」
I understood why they'd say something like that.
「Sorry. We're here under the pretext of a survey mission in this forest. Ignoring this undercuts our credibility as guild members.」
「Come on, just this once.」
「Also, you might not think the illegal snares are not a big deal, but this Baroa Forest is under the jurisdiction of Count of Regor, a portion of whose management is entrusted to the guild. We can't weigh noble trust against a plea from unranked, iron-class members like you.」
I didn't want to become an accomplice with people who couldn't follow simple rules. It was unnecessarily hazardous.
Besides, promises to desist were flimsy at best. I'd only found one illegal snare today, but there were likely many others scattered about.
「... Notch, Jest.」
「Yeah.」
「Seems like it can't be helped...」
Though without explicitly saying it, the three placed their hands on their weapons' hilts, inching towards me.
Spare me; I wasn't fond of spilling human blood.
「Hey—let's take it outside. It's cramped in here.」
「... Mongrel-san. Are you alone?」
「Nah, I'm not alone. I've got five people outside.」
「What?」
「There's silver rank and even gold. Three master archers, a swordswoman capable of taking down boars barehanded, and an extraordinary mage. So, it's probably best to give up. Luck's not on your side today.」
Perhaps intimidated by my claims of formidable backup, they hesitated to step out of the cabin.
I mean, it was a scary prospect.
「... This must be a bluff.」
「A bluff, huh!? Then, Roddy, should we...」
「Wait a second. How about you take a look outside, then? Once you see, you'll realize there's no hope. Attack me, and we'll have to retaliate.」
「There's an ambush outside, but the numbers and talk about gold rank must be a bluff. This old man's bronze. No way he'd partner with such high-ranked people.」
Ugh! They're wrong, but it's a reasonable deduction. Damnit, my rank is blowing it! They're spot on!
「Let's take out the old man first, then deal with the ones outside!」
「Yeah!」
Negotiation collapsing, huh. Maybe I should've just had Sheena step out from the start.
「Sorry, everyone, it didn't pan out!」
Announcing this, I darted out of the cabin.
Soon after, the trio of bandits surged out, machetes in hand, advancing towards me.
「Don't shoot, yeah?! I'll handle this alone!」
「!」
Sheena and the others had already prepared to fire the moment the trio emerged.
Yet, thankfully, they held back at the last moment. I was grateful.
The bandits, on the other hand, froze upon stepping outside to see the entourage I'd described, lying in ambush.
「The fate of a slave criminal isn't necessarily death.」
「Guh!?」
With a swing of my bastard sword, I knocked away the stunned opponent's machete.
With strengthening infused in the blade, deflecting a formidable machete was effortless.
I followed by kicking the leader-like man's stomach, forcing him to collapse.
Then, pressing the sword's tip against his defenseless throat ended it.
「Drop your weapons and surrender. I promise not to treat you too harshly.」
「...! Alright, just don't kill Roddy.」
「Fine, so drop your weapons. Both of you. ... Artemis, shoot if necessary.」
「Obviously.」
Despite staying cautious, the three refrained from any further resistance.
Once they'd observed the undeniable disparity in force, their resolve faltered. Compliantly discarding their weapons, they surrendered to our restrain.
Ironically, the strong snare cords became quite useful in binding the rogues.
As strong enough to hold a berserk Mad Boar, using their well-worn implements to bind them ensured they remained subdued.
「... Just one swing of the sword, but it was splendid.」
The young men sat, tied at their wrists, with somber expressions beside the cabin.
Occasionally muttering to each other, perhaps not plotting escape, judging by the lack of interest in eavesdropping.
Watching them from afar, Sheena and I conversed.
「I merely deflected their weapon.」
「True. But to halt someone coming to kill, perhaps being somewhat lenient.」
「I wouldn't have slept well otherwise.」
「Someone could've been injured with one misstep.」
「You're entirely right. No excuses there.」
Ideally, I should've eliminated them once negotiation failed.
Exiting the cabin and allowing Artemis' volley to swiftly finish matters was safest, conventional even. They weren't deserving of mercy — in this world's standard.
「Still, I'm glad you're not someone who kills indiscriminately.」
「... Irrelevant to my strength.」
「True. But it wasn't solely what we were observing.」
「Overprotective, are we?」
「Raina is like family to us, so it's expected. ... With a gentle companion, some shortcomings can be overlooked.」
「Shortcomings, you say.」
Raina skulked about the cabin, gathering firewood, which Gorilliana split into suitable lengths for the campfire.
Seemed tonight's meal... was likely the boar meat dissected by the three delinquents.
「Mongrel, you've earned my respect.」
「Hooray. Joyous news.」
「Why not be happier? ... Would you consider joining Artemis? Mission demands might not always align, but...」
「I'd rather not. It's all women.」
「Haha, just as Raina said you'd refuse.」
Sheena's laugh at that moment was soft, the same way it was shared among her Artemis comrades.
「Too bad. You'd have been the second male member following Ulrika.」
「!?」
That's what she meant? No way I could've guessed!
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Oh, Ulrika was a man?
【(；☉_☉)】