The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick up Trash - Volume 1 - Chapter 27

Chapter 27:

Information Fees

RATOMU VILLAGE seemed livelier than other villages, with lots more adventurers, too. It felt like the villages were getting bigger the closer I got to the town of Otolwa. Huh. Was it easier to build bigger if you were near Otolwa?

The office should be near the village entrance, so I started looking at the signs nearby. After checking them one by one, I spotted the mark of the office a little way down. They might not trust some child traveling alone, but I didn’t have any other option—people were dead.

I entered the office, where I saw four adventurers and a lady.

“Excuse me.”

All of them looked at me at once. I froze, nervous.

“Do you need anything, honey?” The lady called out to me in a kind voice.

Phew. “On the road leading to this village, I found some people who died from a monster attack…” I explained.

“Huh?! Which road?”

“The one that connects to Ratoto Village. It’s very close, though.”

“Um, could you estimate how far, exactly? A rough estimate is fine.”

“Less than thirty minutes on foot, I’d say.”

The lady frowned. Then, without another word, she ran into the back of the building. I could hear them talking…they were really loud. The adventurers around me all looked toward the back room, too.

“Wha? Monsters have appeared nearby?” someone asked in the back.

“Yes! If we don’t investigate soon, they might attack the village.”

A tall, slightly scarred man came out of the back with the first woman. When he stepped out in front of me, he squatted down to eye level and lowered his voice a little bit.

“Now, then,” he said. “We don’t doubt you, but let’s go over it again: It really was on a village road near here?”

“Yes, sir. After I saw them, I got so scared that I ran away. So I don’t know the exact distance, but it didn’t take me long to hear noise from the village.”

He looked searchingly at me for a moment before letting out a long sigh and clawing at his hair. “Ah, jeez…seriously? Ugh. Monsters…” It sounded like this was a big deal. The man stood up and addressed the adventurers in the office. “Sorry, but I need to make an urgent request. We need the exact location of the bodies and, if possible, the species of the monster. We’ll post an official request through the guild later, but for now…”

The four adventurers understood and promptly left to get to work. They were probably a team.

“Thank you,” said the scarred man. “I’m sure you understand, but we’ll pay you the information fee after we’ve looked into it.”

“Uh…okay.” Information fee? For telling them about the monster? All I said is they might’ve been attacked by one, that’s all…

I must’ve looked confused, because the lady quickly explained. When information about monster attacks or deaths near the village reached the public office, an informant fee was paid. That’s because they needed information on monsters as quickly as possible. While I hadn’t confirmed that it was a monster for sure, telling them about the deaths had earned me a fee in itself. Tomorrow, I’d have to come back.

“Thank you very much.” I thanked the nice lady and left. Things had gone in a different direction than I’d expected. I wasn’t looking for money. I just thought they needed to know…

But if there were monsters near the village, it really would be a big problem. If there are monsters around, it’ll be dangerous in the forest. I should sleep in the adventurers’ plaza tonight. Oh! But first, I need to find food for Sora. I only have five potions left between the both of us. Come to think of it, Sora hadn’t stretched out to beg for more potions on the way here. It was, fortunately, satisfied with what I had given it.

I’ll pray for lots of blue potions at the dump. You’ll be able to eat your gooey heart out, Sora! Let’s see, now…where’s that dump?