The Protagonist’s Party is Too Diligent – 64
EP.64 Forced Training (7)
Even though we arrived on Thursday, they didn’t immediately put us to work. We had time yesterday to slowly explore the place we’d be staying. After lunch, we spent a few dozen minutes walking around near the station, then regrouped and followed Jennifer to Winterfield Castle, where we received a tour and introductions to various parts of the area. It made sense to get familiar with the locals early on, as it would make it easier to get help later if needed.
Because we were a group of fifteen noble students led by a teacher, who was also a noble, no locals dared approach us as we wandered. I suppose seeing a whole group of us, all wearing coats, would make anyone hesitate. While our inner uniforms were lighter and more casual, the coats we wore were practically indistinguishable from those worn by military officers. To the residents, who likely had little knowledge of military details, we probably looked like a group of officers on the move.
Alice, Charlotte, and I rested well after the tour, returning to our rooms in the afternoon to recover until the next day. It seemed like some of the others were more active, spending their time walking around and exploring. Even Mia Crowfield had been part of that group.
“Ugh… It’s so cold out this early in the morning.”
Alice muttered as she shivered.
It was already May, yet the northern region remained icy cold. Northern lands lived up to their reputation. I couldn’t help but wonder if this chill was because the game developers had meticulously designed the continent’s climate or if it was simply a matter of fantasy settings dictating that the North should always be cold.
Either way, it didn’t matter.
The cold was unbearable enough that I had to properly wear my coat, which I had been draping like a cape. I had already pulled on thick, black stockings as soon as we got off the train. The moment I felt that harsh chill, fashion became irrelevant; survival came first.
Apparently, my hasty decision to bundle up made quite an impression on my friends, because everyone quietly purchased additional warm clothing alongside me. Thanks to that, we were able to brave the cold and come outside at this early hour.
“At least the request office is open. Look.”
Claire said, pointing to the office near Winterfield Castle.
All the surrounding shops and restaurants were still closed. The gas streetlights were on, but they couldn’t fully dispel the eerie silence hanging over the main road. Fortunately, since we were within the castle walls, the atmosphere was less unsettling. If we had been near the station, the forest at the edge of our sight would have looked especially ominous.
The Empire’s law enforcement system was surprisingly modern, with a clear separation between the military and police. The Imperial Army handled military matters, while the Imperial Police maintained law and order. However, the Imperial Police’s jurisdiction mostly extended to the Emperor’s direct territories. Despite the Empire’s efforts to centralize power and abolish private armies, local lords still retained some degree of autonomy. Those who could afford it ran their own police forces using local taxes.
Though they couldn’t outright form private armies without drawing the Emperor’s attention, these regions often maintained forces capable of at least defending themselves in case of an imperial crackdown. Private armies had been officially abolished, but border counts—those charged with defending against foreign threats—or houses like the Winterfield Duchy, located in unstable areas, were allowed to maintain “imperial auxiliary forces” for security. However, since they were considered part of the military, ultimate command rested with the Emperor.
If the Emperor judged that a military force violated the “exception” rule, he could order its dissolution, and failure to comply would result in the imperial army sweeping in and obliterating it. Whether they could do the same to the Winterfield Duchy was uncertain, though. In this region, even the imperial forces were deeply loyal to the local commander, the Duke of Winterfield.
Because of this imperial “strangling” policy, many of the more prominent local lords pondered how to establish something akin to a private army, and what emerged were “land-managed request offices.” To put it plainly, these were essentially mercenary groups directly employed by the estate.
The request offices had been established several decades ago under the guise of handling problems such as beasts on the roads, maintaining order in undeveloped areas of the estate, or addressing petitions from the people that required some degree of force.
To keep these request offices in check, the Empire dispatched students under the pretense of “assignments,” requiring them to handle a certain amount of tasks registered at these offices. As a result, the offices became linked to the academy, falling under its supervision to some extent.
“We might freeze to death if we stand out here any longer. Let’s head inside.”
Charlotte said, and everyone nodded in agreement. Even Mia Crowfield, who looked sleepy, and Jake, who had seemed drowsy after the meal, suddenly looked wide awake.
…Were we really going to take on requests in this cold and darkness? Did they all have eyesight akin to a bird of prey?
After thinking about it for a moment, I realized they probably did. In a world where terms like “sword aura,” “meditation,” and “swordmaster” were casually tossed around, of course they would.
It seemed like today was going to be a long one, with us resetting time dozens of times.
I silently thanked the existence of steam pipes running beneath the stone roads, keeping snow from piling up where the carriages traveled, as I hurried to follow the group walking ahead of me.
*
“Ah!?”
Bang!
“Eek.”
A muscular woman, who looked like a character straight out of a Japanese manga, slammed her hand on the reception desk, causing Mia Crowfield to let out a frightened squeak.
“You come here at this hour and expect me to give you work!?”
This angry-looking woman seemed to have had quite a career in her younger days, judging by the large scars crisscrossing her arms. She wore a tight-fitting short-sleeve shirt, proudly displaying what looked like wounds from battles with bears. She definitely didn’t seem like a mere receptionist.
Twitch.
One of Alice’s eyebrows moved slightly, clearly displeased with the woman’s attitude. Still, she didn’t say anything, probably because there had been prior communication between this woman and Jennifer.
“Oh, but the office was open… Have you not started your shift yet?”
Oh.
I recognized Leo’s bold line. In the original work, this was what he said if you chose the “don’t be intimidated, answer firmly” option. Bonus point, 1.
Not that points mattered here, though.
In the original work, it seemed like the character only acted stubbornly after the sun came up, but now it felt slightly… more like a justified complaint. Well, if this were truly during working hours, it wouldn’t be normal for her to be angry.
“Hmm?”
The receptionist’s reaction matched what I had seen before. I knew this scene well since I had read it several times while noting down the choices. In the game, there were only a few expression data points, so normally, she would still look angry at this timing, but the expression on the receptionist’s face now was more like a “What do you want?” Her line would have been “……”.
“I’m sorry for coming in so early. But… we were under the impression it was working hours…”
Leo asked a bit cautiously.
“Well, that’s true enough…”
The receptionist replied, still wearing a bothersome expression. After shrugging her shoulders, she pointed to the wall on the right with her index finger.
“There are plenty over there, so pick something suitable. If you fail and give up, I’ll smack you on the head with my knuckles, so be prepared and choose wisely. Only pick what you can handle.”
I glanced down at the receptionist’s hand.
…Her hand was so big that my face could probably fit right in it.
Could that really be described as a “smack on the head”?
Well, I figured I wouldn’t have to worry about failing with these guys around.
The receptionist’s expression relaxed a bit as she scratched her orange hair, which was splayed out in all directions. If I were in her position, I’d probably lose my temper quickly too if I had to be angry from dawn.
With the yawning receptionist behind us, we approached a large corkboard that covered the wall.
“…There are so many.”
“Yeah.”
Claire murmured, and Leo replied.
In the game, there were usually only three to four requests visible at a time, but now the number of requests spread before us was so large that I couldn’t even count them at a glance.
Considering that we had fifteen students and the hired mercenaries needed to handle requests as well, it made sense that there would be this many.
“Hmm…”
“How about this one?”
While Claire was deep in thought, Charlotte pointed to one of the request sheets.
[Request – Eliminate the Elemental Bear “Crimson Claw.”
Capturing alive is not required. The body will be dealt with upon notification.
Request fee: 5 pounds. Additional compensation possible if the corpse is intact. Other details have been communicated to the receptionist.]
Five pounds for one request was quite a decent amount. To convert it into Earth’s currency, it would be just over 500,000 won. The value of the 1900s pound was converted to yen, setting the formula at 1 pound = 10,000 yen for easier calculation for players. So, it was probably around that much. However, if the yen fell, it might drop below 500,000 won.
If the five of us worked together to complete it, that would be just 1 pound per person. It would be enough to make a living for a day. Though if we sold the corpse directly, that would change things, but the requesters weren’t foolish. People handling these kinds of tasks usually had their connections, and unless hunters sold it for a much lower price, it wouldn’t sell.
Moreover, dealing with the magical aspects of Marmaros and other factors required quite a few connections.
Everyone nodded at Charlotte’s words. While it would be impossible to catch a bear alone, with a group like this, it was worth a shot.
Charlotte selected a few more requests alongside the one to capture the Elemental Bear. In total, there were four requests, and fortunately, all of them were side quests that I recognized.
“Hmm? An Elemental Bear?”
The receptionist glanced at us, then her gaze became fixed on Leo’s hair. After noticing Claire’s hair color next to him, she let out an “Ahh,” as if she had just realized something.
“So, you’re the little ones from the Grace family?”
I found it somewhat annoying that she recognized the baron’s children while ignoring the princess beside her, but well, it was the same in the original work.
“Uh, yes, that’s correct.”
“I see. Then I can trust you with this.”
…And judging by the way her gaze flickered back to Alice and me, it seemed she didn’t truly miss us either.
“Alright, I’ll give you the paperwork with the details.”
The request details often contained information that one might want to keep from others, so if the receptionist didn’t consider us trustworthy, she wouldn’t reveal those details.
“Thank you!”
Claire took the not-so-thick stack of papers and smiled happily.
“I’ll handle it right away!”
“Sure, just don’t die.”
Seeing Claire’s cheerful expression, the receptionist seemed to feel uplifted, smiling back at her.