Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyusoukyoku (WN) - Volume 6 - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: 20

6-20 . People of Baron Muno Territory (10)

Although, ever since I led a life of brief sleeps after I became a working adult, I never dream anymore .

◇

Pochi and the girls come to change place with us since the time is up . Arisa says, "I'll be watching you so you don't go out in the night . " and takes up the position beside me to sleep together . Usually I would toss her, but since she's done well during the negotiation with ossan today, I'll let her off for once, though this is not a reward .

Of course I warn her that if she tries to sexually harass me, I'll tie and hang her on a tree .

Since even Lulu is taking the position on the opposite side while saying, "M, me too, I'll watch too . ", requesting while fumbling her words, we end up looking like character for river .

<TLN: River=?>

I hope 5 years passes fast .

Contrary to my expectation, Arisa went asleep without trying to do anything funny .

If she's always like this, I'll let her sleep together anytime .

I check on the demon's movement before I go to sleep .

It's loitering around at the castle and the thieves in the forest like usual, but sometimes, it produces a level 1 split body (Splitter) and lets it wandering around in the city .   I tried monitoring it for the whole night before, but since it didn't seem that it killed anyone, it was probably a split body used for gathering information .

There is also another suspicious movement from elsewhere .

The thieves around Muno city are merging with the large thief group in the forest near the city . There are also quite a lot of serfs who have escaped from nearby villages mixed in, they've became a group of around 500 people . If the smaller groups who're moving join with them, it would become 700 people . A revolution could probably takes place .

Furthermore, from northwest--about on the right from where we are now, a bit away from Muno city--armies of demi-goblin are entering the territory . There were only 50 of them in the evening yesterday, but they're nearing 1000 now and are still increasing coming from outside the territory .

Still, I wonder if they have 'demi' because they're subspecies of goblin . Surprisingly, they're not demi-humans but more or less monsters . I'd like to look at them since I've never seen one in person yet .

I've also never seen orcs, but since they're written on this world's tales, they surely exist somewhere .

The one that knight Eral was looking for during the noon was probably the second daughter of the baron . Why I would think so is because she's currently at the base of the large thief group . She might have been kidnapped and became a hostage . I wonder if it's because of her parents .

Looks like tomorrow, our journey is going to be peaceful, thanks to the movement of the thieves . Since the unnecessary troubles would be decreased, let's strive to reach Muno city at the morning of the day after tomorrow .

I went asleep after I've finished the general investigation .

◇

I had an unusual dream .

I'm dreaming of me playing with the girl who's my first love from the countryside on the grounds of a shrine during my childhood .

If it's just that then it would just be a nostalgic dream, but the scene is different and her personality is also different even though I'm sure that she's the same girl .

I cannot remember the girl's name, but I wonder why do I have this dream during the time when I'm embraced by Lulu and Arisa .

◇

"Like I said, I can't accept with only river . "

Arisa gets up while shouting some strange words . She's been grinding her teeth which let out a loud sound since a while ago . In addition, her fingernails on her hands which are grabbing my arms are painful . It's recovered even before I take damage, and it only redden my skin so I leave it alone, but painful thing is painful .

"Good morning, Arisa . "

"Good morning? I'm Arisa, your darling . "

"Almost there, the last one was wrong . "

She only answers by repeatedly pretend-hit me, but there are traces of tears on the area around her eyes . What kind of dream did she have .

Lulu is still sleeping, but she also has traces of tears on her face . When I lower my line of sight, Pochi and Tama are sleeping while curling up like balls on my stomach, saying, "I hate cold~", "I hate hunger nano desu . " . It looks like they're having nightmares .

Since everyone seems to be having nightmares, I wake them up by pinching their noses in turns .

"Master? Thank goodness!"

"Morning~? Nyau, it's warm nodesu . "

"Good morning nano desu . It's time to prepare for breakfast nano desu . "

The three seem to be still half-asleep, they're rubbing their faces on my chest and shoulders with sleepy eyes . It's rare to see such state of Lulu . Usually Arisa would have took this chance to jump in, but she's gone to wash her face .

I'm thinking that an incubus might have came but there's nothing when I search for it . If it was really incubus, my crisis perception would have kicked in earlier .

Mia and Liza were also dreaming about their hometown . It seems that Nana didn't have any particular dream . So she did not see something like electric sheep or magic sheep .

There is nothing attacking us that day as expected, it's a truly a peaceful day .

It just that, Pochi and Tama become excessively clingy to me while rubbing their face on me today, I couldn't  make anything during the travel . Since they look really uneasy, I play card and shiritori with Pochi and Tama for the whole day today .

I invite Hayuna couple since they look bored, but it seems Ossan gets addicted to the games, he becomes really frolic . I wish Hayuna-san infuses him with her elegance .

◇

That night I have the continuation of the dream from yesterday . And sure enough, everyone also had strange dream when I asked them the next morning .

I thought that it was the work of the demon, but after seeing the demon's skill and its tribe's innate skill, it doesn't seem so .

The demon is from a tribe called Short Horn, it seems they have short horn with bat wings, and look like gargoyles . Its skill are, [Ghost Magic], [Mind Magic], [Transform], [Bewitching], only those fours .

This demon has been staying in the neighboring forest since the noon yesterday .

The gathered thieves were peaking at more than 700, but the number is only in one digit now . I don't understand how it could decrease so sharply during the time I wasn't looking, but after seeing zombies which keep appearing with the demon at the center, I understand the situation .

The demi-goblin lot are also coming near the zombies . They've stopped increasing, but they've became 3000 strong in the end .

Sometimes the zombies' number decrease, in exchange skeletons appear, I don't want to know what happen .

The baron's daughter who seemingly was kidnapped by the thieves seemed to have successfully escaped .   She's running into the forest depth together with a man with conspicuously high level among the thieves, I don't know if he's charmed or if they're acquaintance from the beginning .

Inside the baron's area, the territorial army has gone toward the thieves' forest early in the morning, it looks like the rescue operation for the daughter has begun . They're numbering in over 1000 . Apparently, they've also employed local mercenaries and slaves .

The hero isn't among those in the army . Looks like he's inside the baron's castle .

With these many flags standing, even without crisis perception skill, I get premonition for great tumult happening .

I must evacuate everyone to the safe place as soon as possible .

◇

We've finally arrived at Muno city, but the gate is sealed shut, we can't get in .

Right now, we negotiate by showing Ossan's dagger, but since none of the guards are familiar with the seal on the dagger, we've been invited to the castle .

"I will go with Toruma couple to meet the baron . I'd like everyone to go to the village up ahead with the wagon to do something . "

Ossan invited us all, but if I'm careless here, the couple could die and I wouldn't be able to visit the workshop .

Even though I'm going to meet face to face with the baron, I don't really have the intention to tell him to do something to his territory . I feel sorry for the people like the children and the elders I've meet back then, but it's not at the degree where I want to save them no matter what . Even regarding the fake hero, I only feel that I should help in some way or other .

Therefore, I want to ensure the safety of Liza and the girls .

"Master, what should we do?"

"Un, there's a village up ahead . I want you to gather pebbles that look like this at the river beside the village . I want you to ask the village's chief to request everyone to collect those pebbles . "

"Tama will gather~"

"Pochi will work hard too nodesu . "

I continue the talk while putting my hands on Pochi's and Tama's head who take firm poses with "Swoosh . "

"Un, I'm happy for your eagerness, but we should give the works to the villagers . "

I explain it to everyone in detail .

They have to gather 100 pebbles . I'll buy the pebbles for 1 copper coin each .

I leave the judging of the gathered pebbles to Tama who has gathering skill .

I'm entrusting Arisa with calculating the money and negotiating with the village's chief .

Liza will be beside the wagon so that the villagers won't underestimate them .

Nana will be the master, while Lulu and Mia will be the servants .

"What should Pochi do nodesu?"

"Pochi will act as bodyguard for Arisa when the pebbles are exchanged for money . "

"Roger~ nano desu . "

Now then, the explanation is OK with this . I should join with Hayuna-san and Ossan .

Arisa catches my clothes before I can get off the wagon .

"No, absolutely no . "

Tears accumulate on Arisa's eyes, and she refuses wholeheartedly .

Huh, does she really not want to be the negotiator?　I think she's more suited for that than anyone else here .

"Then, would you swap with Lulu?"

"No, I don't want to let y, master go alone . "

<TLN: She was going to say Anta>

It's fine of her to call with anta, but she used the stiff goshujin-sama huh .

"It's not like I'm going to a battlefield . I'm only accompanying Toruma couple to the baron's castle, I'm only thinking of seizing the chance to meet with the baron face-to-face you know?"

I try to sound as carefree as possible with some jokes .

"I've thought of appealing to him about the people if he's a person who's easy to talk into, but I will prioritize my safety first, so it's going to be alright . "

However, sensitive Arisa doesn't seem let this pass . She presses on me while raising her shoulders .

"That's a lie, the fact that you don't take us into the city is the proof . "

You're spot on .

Now then, what to do .