“Adventurers don’t want to die, and the Guild won’t let them either. Because of that, when it comes to emergency requests, the prices will go up, which means that the Guild will tend to assign higher-ranked adventurers to deal with them, even if the situation technically doesn’t warrant them. “
All Enri could do when hearing the former adventurer’s words was to accept them. It was quite hard to have to accept this when they were being pushed into a corner. However, when she looked at it from the adventurers’ point of view, it made sense.
“Well, even if the Guild checks it out, people might still die anyway, that sort of thing happens a lot…”
Brita bit her lip.
“― When I think of that vampire attack, I can’t help but shiver… used to be I couldn’t even sleep without medicine for it…”
“Vampire? What’s that?”
Agu asked without thinking, and Brita smiled bitterly.
“It’s a secret. Well, it’s more like I don’t even want to think about it. You’ll piss yourself.”
“But I was the one who was aski―”
“You’re not in a position to ask questions, brat.”
“Then we’ll go ahead with his plan for the time being and report it to the Guild, and make a request if all goes well, is that it? Although request fees won’t be cheap, we’ll need to break the bank for this one. Tell Jugem-san and the chief about it later. Can you do that, Enri?”
“l’ll take care of the self-defence force. Honestly speaking, I was thinking this was the way to go too.”
Nfirea nodded as Brita spoke.
“Then, I guess I’ll be leaving the village for a bit su~ You really won’t ask Ainz-sama for help?”
“Yes. We’d like to do as much as possible by ourselves. If possible, we’d like you to tell Gown-sama that much.”
“Got it su~”
As Agu looked at Enri and Nfirea, who were moving off, a hard-to-describe feeling welled up within him.
“Just what’s so great about that woman?”
“Hah?!”
There was danger in the adult goblin’s voice, and it made Agu’s body tremble.
Agu felt that the adult goblins were stronger than anyone else in his village. It was only natural for him to break out in goosebumps when threatened by them.
Yet, this still could not overcome his childish curiosity.
“Are women really that great in this Carne tribe?”
From Agu’s point of view, Enri didn’t seem particularly strong. Although she had some muscle on her arms and legs, it wasn’t enough at all. While she didn’t need to be as big as an ogre, but if she were a superior, she needed way more than that.
If she were a magic caster he could understand it. The female leaders of the goblin tribes often used that mysterious power. However, that woman didn’t look like a magic caster.
Frankly speaking, Agu didn’t understand why Enri was placed above the goblins.
“It’s not like that.”
“Is that hunter woman that came later very strong?”
“Well, now. Brita’s not bad in her own way. But we’re better.”
Agu’s opinion of the grown goblin in front of him went up another notch. Although he was still short, Agu had the feeling that there was good reason for his confidence.
“And then, that woman who appeared from behind you, she’s not strong, is she? Scared me to death.”
The adult goblin suddenly clammed up, and stared at Agu.
Unsure of what he was feeling inside, Agu nervously asked his question.
“W-what? What’s with that woman?”
“That woman who suddenly appeared… her name is Lupusregina, and she… she’s very dangerous.
If you want to live in this village, do not ever go near her or speak to her. It’s for your own good.”
“Ah. Ahhhh. I get it.”
“And I have to say this up front. Although it should be blindingly obvious, if you do anything to the people in the village… let’s be honest here, you won’t just get away with a scolding, you’d better be prepared to die.”
“I, I got it. So that’s like with a defeated tribe, right? I promise that I will not harm anyone from Carne Tribe.”
“All right, that’s good… stay away from Lupusregina, okay?”
Agu understood the mix of caution and dread in the adult goblin’s heart, and he engraved the warning into his heart. With that done, he realised he hadn’t gotten an answer to his first question, and he asked again.
“Why is Enri-san so great?”
Agu had learned to behave. Or rather, it was easy for him to learn, since he was the smartest in the tribe and couldn’t talk much with other goblins.
“Ha. …Enri… honestly speaking, she’s very strong.”
“Eh?!”
“It’s because you’re too weak that you can’t tell. if Ane-san got serious, she could take care of a barghest or whatnot with just one hand, and squeeze the blood out into a cup to drink. You know?”
“Really?!”
“Oh yes, yes, of course it’s true.”
Agu thought of Enri. Looking at it calmly, she’d been able to give forceful, effective orders. Maybe that was just the tip of the iceberg?
“Ane-san just pretends to be weak. If she hears anything funny about you, she’ll crush you to death with one hand. After that, cleanup will be a pain. There’ll be blood everywhere.”
“Is, is that so… then why, why does she have to pretend to be weak? If she were strong, wouldn’t there be fewer problems?”
“If you show off your strength, some fool will immediately come and challenge you. Won’t that cause its fair share of trouble as well?”
Agu had thought that strength was the solution to all problems, but that was not the case.
Locked in a labyrinth of self-reflection, he didn’t realise that the adult goblin in front of him had a playful expression on his face.
In the middle of the night, Enri suddenly woke from sleep. Though there didn’t seem to be anything around, Enri remained still while she moved her eyes to check around her. The world before her was pitch black, lit only by a slim ray of moonlight from between the window shutters. She couldn’t see anything strange in this weak light.
But Enri’s ears could hear just fine.
There were no sounds of horses neighing, armored knights clanking, or people screaming. It was just a normal night.
Enri sighed softly, and closed her eyes. She’d been fast asleep, so she was still groggy and couldn’t get up right away.
A lot had happened today. After the talk with Agu, she had gone to explain things to the village chief and Jugem, who had returned from his scouting.
It’ll be all right, right?
In order to confirm the new information, Jugem had gone into the forest again and they had left at night. Moving at night in the forest was just too dangerous. Goblins were different from humans; they could see with small amounts of light, so they could move freely. However, there were many nocturnal magical beasts and monsters, and they would become active after the sun set.