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The Branded Female Fencer CH 90

Author:Hermit Category:urban Update time:2023-01-03 14:50:21

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Chapter 90

When Peaceful Times Cease To Exist : The Fairy And Great Beasts Of The Prairie, Part 1 — Wind Reader

Translated by KaiesV

Edited by KaiesV

 

***

 

「Hey, Miranda~ What should we do~」

「What a spoiled voice you have… But what are we going to do, seriously」

 

Alfiris and her friends came to the nearest guild to receive their reward after leaving the abandoned city of Zea.

At the same time, I wanted to hire a special person, known as a『wind reader』to enter the prairie, but almost everyone had already left.

 

「Sorry, ladies.

It’s harvest time for materials, so there are a lot of humans going into the prairie.

I see that the most notable ones are already booked.」

「Is there anybody left」

「There are some… but they’re either shoddy or too good to pay for.

Would you still like to meet them」

「Hmmm, I’ll give it some thought.」

「Well, you should.」

 

After greeting the guild’s window clerk, Alfiris and Miranda return to the others who were gathering information at the attached tavern.

 

「How is it going」

「No good, there doesn’t seem to be anyone affordable anymore.」

「I’m stumped… Lisa is new to the Prairie too.

They say that on the Prairie, Sensors are useless because the place was blocked by mysterious forces.

I’ve heard that wind reading is a must.」

 

Nia folds her arms and ponders, while Lisa poses for a blank stare.

Fenna is in a prayerful pose, watching the events unfold.

Kazas watches intently.

 

「Wait, it’s Sensei.

Why the hell are you even here」

 

The conversation didn’t go well and the bugs were out, which helped, and Miranda poked at Kazas.

 

「No, you guys are interesting and I’d like to keep an eye on you a little longer.

Besides, I’m thinking of going to the Prairie myself.」

「You don’t have to come with us.」

「I am free to go wherever I want.」

 

Miranda glares at Kazas, but since Miranda is clearly the one who is being difficult, she seems to have decided to look the other way and ignore Kazas.

Apparently, the two are not compatible.

Nia speaks to Alfiris, who sighs.

 

「By the way, Alfie, did you get your reward」

「Only the advance.」

「I knew it you’d say that…」

 

Most fees from the guild are paid in the form of an advance and contingency fee installments.

If only a contingency fee is paid, the client may not pay the fee, or if only an advance is paid, the mercenary may abscond with the money.

In order to avoid problems on the part of the client and the mercenary, payment is often made in installments of an advance and a contingency fee, the ratio of which varies from request to request.

Many requests were made in this format because the advance payment allowed for equipment, preparation, etc.

The ratio of up-front payment to contingency fee was 1:4 for this request.

In other words, very little money has come in to Alfiris and her group.

They remain as poor as ever.

 

「I guess we’ll do another part-time job as a maids~」

「We don’t have time for thay, Miranda.

I have been told that in the fall the prairie climate will be so rough and rugged that it will be impossible for humans to even enter.

Lisa suggests that if we are standing on the prairie, we must go now, even if we have to force it.」

「But that’s not the case.

If we don’t know which direction we’re going in, it’s just too dangerous to go in there blindly.」

「Then do you have a better idea, Alfie」

「Hmm~ And we don’t have any money~」

「Let me pay for it.」

 

Everyone is surprised at Kazas’ suggestion.

 

「Erm…… Why is that」

「I’m not a man of war, you know.

Since I said that I would follow you, I wouldn’t be able to say that I am your equal unless I am obligated in some way outside of combat.

Fortunately, I am financially solvent, and I planned to do a survey of the prairie at some point.

I think we can manage with this number of people for about two months, and I would like to hire you all as is.」

「Heh… Scholar-sensei, I’m a little rethinking this.」

「Hello, Miranda-san.」

 

Miranda and Kazas called each other somewhat sarcastically, but the atmosphere was softer than before.

 

「So, let’s say this is good for the financial side of things.」

 

But nothing was going on with the guide to the prairie.

Then a man approached from the next table.

 

「You guys want to go to the Prairie」

 

There was a man there with a cloth wrapped around his face except for his eyes and wearing brown-lens glasses.

His expression was unreadable, and beside his seat was a package that could have been his own size and a walking stick.

It was a typical costume for a profession called wind reading, as they had heard.

 

「Are you a wind reader, perhaps」

「Indeed.」

「Are you possibly available right now」

 

Alfiris asks a question that runs a gleam of hope, but the man shakes his head.

 

「No, I’m afraid I’m booked too … but I don’t want to see you ladies being in trouble.

I’m bored while waiting for the client anyway, so I’m just trying to kill some time and offer some advice.

Call it an old man’s wisdom.」

「I’m glad to hear that, but, erm…」

「It’s Zaza.」

「What does Zaza-san want to teach us」

「Before I go any further… is the young lady there a Seeker」

「Ah, yes!」

 

Fenna suddenly jumps up at the call.

 

「How do you know what they’re called」

「I have a long career as a mercenary, that’s all.

But being Seekers, are you folks going to the Seeker settlements on the north side of the Prairie, right」

「That’s right.」

「No offense, but don’t do it.」

 

Zaza shakes his head at Fenna’s reply.

 

「Why is that」

「The prairie is completely different in the north and south.

The south is better.

The winds are still readable and the fiends are quieter.

As long as we have wind readings, we will be able to collect materials with little risk to our lives.

But the north is different.

The wind blows relentlessly as if it is hunting a creature, and the fiends couldn’t be more powerful.

If there have been any since the defeat, they are roughly class B or above.

Besides, the Seeker village itself is hidden from accepting strangers.

You’ll die before you can find it and wander around.

No matter how many lives you have, it won’t be enough.」

「How can any number of lives not be enough」

「…It is said that only one in ten of us wind readers can enter the north and survive for three days.

And that’s with a wind reading of C or better.

By the way, I made the mistake of entering the north when I was young, but miraculously managed to survive for three weeks.

It was sheer luck.

So I went back to the guild, and all of a sudden I was even promoted to B level.

That’s how much it’s all about getting into the North and surviving.」

「No way…」

「So how did you survive」

 

Lisa puts in a sharp point.

 

「I told you, I was lucky… the natives up north picked me up.」

「The natives」

「Yes, they were decent people… but… they were not human in many functions.

They would fight the demons of the north with impunity, and their wind-reading skills were clearly superior to mine.

My skills as a wind reader are partly a gift from them.

They said I was one of the top 20 wind readers in the world.

「Then we’ll hire them…」

「Impossible.

They basically have no contact with the outside world.

I’m the exception.」

「Then what do you want us to do」

「It means give it up this year…I’ll follow you next year if you want.

But only up to the northern front.」

 

Zaza stood up from his seat after saying that.

Alfiris and the others were speechless and hung their heads on the spot.

Zaza, perhaps feeling bad about their gloomy mood, stopped just before leaving the guild and looked back at Alfiris and the others.

 

「If there was a way to do it… it would be the fairy.」

「The fairy」

「Yes, most of the fairy you rarely see around here are from the prairies.

They would understand the northern winds.

But even I see them once every 10 years… anyway, they are a very cautious species.

And they hate people.

The chances are slim to none.」

「Still, it’s better than having no hope for anything.

Thank you, Zaza-san!」

 

Zaza stops his movement, perhaps a little surprised at Alfiris’ honest thanks, but quickly turns away and leaves the place with his hands raised.

 

「Go to the tool guy and mention my name… maybe you’ll hear something good.

Because he said he’d recently purchased something interesting from someone returning from the prairie.

Blessings of the wind upon you all…」

 

Then, after Zaza left, Alfiris and the others decided to follow his advice and visit a tool shop.

 

***

 

「Haah~ I don’t know what to do…」

 

The owner of a tool shop sighs alone.

He was having trouble dealing with the aftermath of his purchases.

 

「I bought it without thinking because they were going to sell it cheap, but I guess I should have been more skeptical.

I never expected it to be like that… Haah…」

「Excuse us.」

 

Alfiris and others visited that tool shop.

The toolmaker, perhaps unable to shake off his heavy mood, came out of his shop somewhat languidly.

 

「Oh, come on in.」

「We were referred to you by Zaza-san.」

「Through Zaza That’s unusual, that bigot introducing someone.

So you want prairie-related products」

「Yes, we was told that you had purchased something unusual from someone returning from the prairies.」

「Well, did I tell him… well, that’s unusual.

But do you really want to see it」

「…Is it bad if we look at it」

 

Alfiris looks doubtful.

Were those such dangerous products

 

「It’s not bad, but it’s going to be a bummer.

Like I am now.」

「What should I do」

「I think Lisa has to see it to get started.

I’m not sure if I’m hesitating now or not, big woman.

Don’t be a waste of time and bring your tools shop quickly!」

「You’ve got a foul mouth being a lady, huh… They look a lot alike.

Hold on a sec.」

 

The owner is urged by Lisa to go to the back.

 

「What does it resemble」

「I don’t know I don’t think there’s another perfect beauty like Lisa.」

「I don’t know how you can be so sure…」

 

Lisa brushes off Nia’s prodding without hesitation.

Soon after, a noisy voice is heard from the back of the room.

 

「Uwaah!! This guy, grow the hell up!」

「…What’s happening」

 

The toolmaker brought a larger-than-usual birdcage-like object.

The entire surface was covered with a thick cover, so that the contents could not be seen.

But it rattles and shakes, and they can hear some people screaming inside——

 

「Get me out! You slippery slop!」

「I ain’t bald! Damn, still bad mouthed!」

「Erm… What’s that」

「Seeing is believing.

Well, you’ll see.」

 

When the toolmaker removed the covering, they found that inside…

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