Chapter 176:
A Strange Writing Style?
“By the way, did ya hear the news? The scout party of veteran adventurers who went out to look into the gurbars all got wiped out.”
What?! Well, there were rumors that they were behind schedule coming back… But were they all wiped out?
“Please, don’t be silly. They’re fine. They got in touch with us recently. Well…I’ll admit, it didn’t sound like they were in an ideal position.”
That doesn’t sound like they’re doing okay at all…
“Not in an ideal situation… That sounds bad,” Druid’s mentor said. “If ya don’t hear back from them again soon, you’d better prepare for the worst.”
“Well, yes, I suppose so…”
“We’ve gotta do something. They may only be circling near town for now, but it’s only a matter of time before they start coming through the gates.”
Druid sighed. “Yeah, you’re right… But, um…I think we’ll still be safe for a while.”
Druid’s mentor gave him a funny look. His answer had been a little strange. I was also confused for a moment, but then I remembered Ciel. Druid probably thought we’d be safe as long as Ciel was out there protecting us. But if the gurbar herds increased in number, maybe even Ciel—strong though it was—couldn’t stop them, so I wish he wouldn’t put so much pressure on the adandara.
“Isn’t there a way we can make the gurbars go back to the way they used to be?”
“Ooh, that’s a tall order…” Druid’s mentor said.
Druid sighed in turn. “I see.”
Wait a minute, the book said monsters once went berserk like that in the past, too. What did the people do back then?
“Um, may I ask a question?”
“What’s up? Somethin’ on your mind, kid?”
“Yes, sir. You said something like this happened in the past. How did the villagers solve the problem then?”
“Oh! Yeah, that is a good question. What do you think, Master?”
Druid’s mentor had an astounding number of wrinkles between his eyebrows. His gaze was frighteningly sharp, too. Was that an inappropriate question?
“Yeah, about that…” he sighed. “This book said they burned the monsters who died of natural causes.”
They burned them? That sounds…strange. Just a minute ago, he’d said that some monsters went berserk because they ate other ones who died of natural causes. If those other monsters were eaten, how could there be bodies for the people to burn? Did it mean there were just a lot of monsters that died of natural causes?
“Um, Master, are you sure your source is reliable?”
Aha! Yes, it could be false information.
“It was a government-certified book written by the villagers, so it’s absolutely true.”
It was government-certified. That meant the document was inspected and verified to be true. In other words, there really were monsters who went berserk over ones who died of natural causes. Wait a minute, why did they write this in such a roundabout way?
“What’s wrong, Ivy?” Druid asked, noticing I was making a face.
“Um, I was just wondering…why did they specifically mention that the monsters ‘died of natural causes’?”
“Hm? Because it’s true, I assume.”
“Well, yes, but I don’t see why they had to word it that way. Besides, did they even write down what kind of monster it was that died?”
It should have mattered less that they died of natural causes and more what kind of monster they were. If we knew what the monsters were, we’d have something to keep our eyes open for.
“You know, that is a good question,” Druid said.
“Yeah, I guess it is.”
“Master, didn’t the book say anything at all about the type of monster that died?”
“Nope. All it said was ‘The monsters who ate the monsters that died of natural causes went berserk and attacked the village,’ and ‘When the monsters that died of natural causes were burned, the berserk monsters calmed down. That solved the problem.’”
Huh?
“So, the name of the berserk monsters wasn’t written down anywhere?”
“Nah, it wasn’t. I guess it was a pretty half-baked report. I’m surprised they got away with writing somethin’ like that into the public record.”
“I agree. And if they didn’t know the name of the monsters, they should have at least included a few key details about them.”
Since I hadn’t read the book myself, I couldn’t say for sure, but it was a rather strange writing style. But since it was government-certified, that meant somebody else who knew it was true had verified the information. In other words…
“Maybe instead of the monsters’ name, their natural deaths were more important,” I suggested.
Huh? Why did they both gasp and give me a strange look?
“Um, since the account was certified, that means it should contain all the important facts, right?”
“Well, yeah. The book has all kinds of past experiences that’ll come in handy in the future. Like what makes different monsters unique or how to keep ’em at bay. There’s also plenty of firsthand accounts of what happens when ya attack high-level monsters.”
“It’s an important document that ensures our continuing survival,” Druid added.
Wow, I had no idea it was such an important book. “Well, that just makes my theory all the more likely. The monster’s type is much less important than its ‘natural death.’ Maybe they didn’t bother to name the monster, not because they didn’t know it, but because the same thing could possibly happen to other monsters, too.”
“Other monsters?”
“Yes. Um, if they wrote that it was gurbars who died natural deaths in the past, people in the future would only be wary of gurbars. But if any other types of monsters started dying natural deaths and caused the same crisis, the people of the future wouldn’t connect it to the gurbar situation. That would be dangerous.”
“I see,” Druid said. “So, by leaving out the monster’s name, they applied the situation to all monsters.”
I nodded in reply.
Druid’s mentor patted my head. “Wow, Ivy. Druid, this brat’s smart. A little weird, though. Not sure whether he’s more weird or smart.”
“Master, don’t call Ivy a brat—that’s rude. And you shouldn’t call anyone weird!”
“Okay, I’m sorry I called ya a brat. But ya are still weird.”
Druid’s mentor had a rough way of speaking, but I didn’t really mind. I guess it was because his voice meshed well with his general style.
“So, what’re we gonna do?”
“Er, about what, Master?”
Druid and I both shot him confused looks. He really could’ve been clearer.
“Well, Ivy just gave us some important new info. Aren’t ya gonna tell Gotos about it?”
“Oh, right. Yes, I’ll go tell the guild master.”
“Are you sure that’s wise, sir? It’s just a hunch I had.” I knew the guild master would be able to make the right call about this, but I really felt bad burdening him with disturbing information when he was already so busy.
“Ain’t a problem, kid. Gathering intel and sorting out the good from the bad is that bastard’s job. Besides, I think your idea could be big, Ivy.”
“He’s right, Ivy. Though I do think you should have picked up on that clue sooner, Master.”
“Watch your tongue, boy. I was the guy who brought it over in the first place. I did more than enough.”
Erm, how exactly was that more than enough?
“Master, cut the excuses. It’s painful to watch.”
“And what about me is painful to watch, exactly?”
Does he even realize he didn’t own up to making excuses? I somehow managed to hold in my laughter. I didn’t want to get involved—that would be too irritating. I turned my eyes away from the pair so I could calm myself down a bit.
“Oh, wait… Mr. Guild Master?”
My averted eyes caught a glimpse of a very flustered guild master. Oh! He’s entered the plaza. Is he looking for Druid?
“Everything you’ve said and done today, Master. That’s what’s painful to watch.”
“Wooo, look who’s talking big now. Where’s the little brat who used to cry like a baby and run around the forest like a lunatic?”
“I never cried like a baby. For crying out loud…”
“Um, the guild master is here, Mr. Druid. Maybe he wants to see you?”
At the sound of my voice, the two men turned their focus toward the guild master, who was running up to us.
“Agh! I should’ve known!” The guild master looked and sounded terribly annoyed.
Hm, that’s the same reaction Druid had a little while ago.
“Howdy. How ya been?” Druid’s mentor had a look in his eye I couldn’t quite place…like a predator stalking its prey. If he looked at me like that, I’d definitely turn and run.
“What are you doing here? Some fools were saying you’d come to town, so I came here to ask Druid if it was true…”
The guild master’s eyes landed on Druid, but he got no response. Druid had already had enough of being mocked, so he probably wasn’t going to help out the guild master. Hm? Um, Mr. Guild Master, don’t look at me with those puppy dog eyes. It won’t work.
“Good luck, Mr. Guild Master!”
“Ivy, don’t abandon me!”
Well, I don’t think I’m cut out to be the mentor’s playmate.
“Wow, you insensitive bastard. Is that any way to treat your old mentor you haven’t seen in years? Ya didn’t mean that, did ya, Gotos?”
Good luck, Mr. Guild Master!
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